I have seen male ’sex positive’ (’scuze me while I snigger) reactionaries, um, ‘liberals’ referring to radical feminists as ‘fascists’. Now I’m not an expert on twentieth century history, but I’m pretty sure our views have sod-all to do with the murderous followers of Mussolini. We do, as evident from my first line-snarkiness, refer to johns and pornsick men as ‘reactionaries’, because they support the subordination of women and the idea of sexual relations as inheritantly shameful. We also refer to them as ‘johns’ because whether they are personally users of prostituted women or not, they support such men. But we have never refered to them as ‘fascists’ for the simplest of reasons: it does not make sense, and it is juvenile.
The use of such language against us shows such hatred, and moreover, fear. It is coming from the johns, and it is nothing but cowardice. Such language used against women is meant to keep us quiet. They know they have no right to say what they are saying. Don’t expect them to listen to feminist thought; they will shout us down at every opportunity, while claiming the friendship of those of whom they approve. Watch how they shout down women on their blogs who do not fit their image of sexy, agreeable, polite. Pro-feminists, if they are to be worthy of the name, have to listen to things they may find upsetting. They must accept criticism from feminists, listen to all women’s truths, no matter how inconvienient for their desires and masculinities.
Johns parading as pro-feminists! So what else is new?
Edit 27/02/08: We are also referred to as ‘wingnuts’, another rather transparent and disingenuous attempt to contect us to the right wing. Oh my dear pornified gentlemen, saying so doesn’t make it so. And we will continue to expose everything that you are. You may hide your sneer behind a smile- but we will see it.
This post is in no way intended to suggest that the author never is, nor has been, juvenile in her anger. Of couse she has. Duh.
Yeah, the term “Feminazi” also, because clearly we are out to commit genocide.
In other news, I was wondering if you wanted to write for a new, mainly UK based feminist mental health blog?
Comment by nectarine — February 24, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
“They must accept criticism from feminists, listen to all women’s truths, no matter how inconvienient for their desires and masculinities.”
yes yes yes laurelin but *what about teh boner$??!*
Surely all this “women’s truths” mumbo jumbo “criticism” blahbbyblahblah will still result in bountiful orgasms, yessss???
Otherwise, what would pro-feminist menz have to gain?
Comment by pisaquaririse — February 25, 2008 @ 1:49 am
Great observation, Laurelin!
And those who call us “fascists” or “feminazis” do so as an attempt to shut us up. They’re obviously annoyed that we criticize their porn and their so-called “rights” to use prostituted women. The idea of women being objects for their use matters to them more than the fact that women are human beings who suffer. They just don’t understand oppression under patriarchy!
Comment by Maggie Hays — February 25, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
“They must accept criticism from feminists, listen to all women’s truths, no matter how inconvienient for their desires and masculinities.”
This is so so SO true.
Awesome post, Laurelin
Comment by iwantmorethansurvival — February 28, 2008 @ 12:15 am
“We are also referred to as ‘wingnuts’, another rather transparent and disingenuous attempt to contect us to the right wing. Oh my dear pornified gentlemen, saying so doesn’t make it so. And we will continue to expose everything that you are. You may hide your sneer behind a smile- but we will see it.”
Ha, ha, Laurelin, this is excellent! Thank you!
Truthfully, that’s the politics of pro-porners which are right-wing and reactionary: They are cruel, anti-humanity, anti-empathy because they don’t care about the facts that women and children are harmed in porn/prostitution and by pornography; they don’t give a fuck who gets hurt so long as they have their jerk-off material! Atrocious!
Comment by Maggie Hays — March 3, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
I think the men you refer to get sexually excited by their transgressions against women. The more prostitution becomes acceptable the more they need feminists to measure their deeds against. It’s not so much that genuinely believe that we are facists but that they would like us to be in order that they can keep their erections.
Comment by Arantxa — March 23, 2008 @ 5:07 pm