A Stranger Strangely
I go to Lancaster University and work with sandflies. Sandflies are a small insect that carry a parasite called Leishmania which cause a disease known as Leishmaniasis.
More about me: Liberal, pro-choice, progressive, scientist, agnostic, student, entomologist, democrat, American
Things I like: Reading, swimming, quilting, costuming
I will always do my best to give credit for any graphics (pictures, gifs, videos, etc) that I use. Anything I myself put up is free game and doesn't need credit except for my own personal photography. Any pictures that I've taken myself will be tagged with #my photography.
History is not a long series of centuries in which men did all the interesting/important things and women stayed home and twiddled their thumbs in between pushing out babies, making soup and dying in childbirth.
History is actually a long series of centuries of men writing down what they thought was important and interesting, and FORGETTING TO WRITE ABOUT WOMEN. It’s also a long series of centuries of women’s work and women’s writing being actively denigrated by men. Writings were destroyed, contributions were downplayed, and women were actively oppressed against, absolutely.
But the forgetting part is vitally important. Most historians and other writers of what we now consider “primary sources” simply didn’t think about women and their contribution to society. They took it for granted, except when that contribution or its lack directly affected men.
This does not in any way mean that the female contribution to society was in fact less interesting or important, or complicated, simply that history – the process of writing down and preserving of the facts, not the facts/events themselves – was looking the other way.
Ah, slut shaming at it’s finest. Out of curiosity what about immodestly dressed men? And what would be considered immodest dress for a man? Walking around topless? No, wait pretty sure I’ve seen that and hardly anyone batted an eye. Maybe pants that hang so low we can see their underwear? No, that seems vaguely socially acceptable also. So beyond the extreme measure of perhaps walking around in a speedo when there isn’t a pool around is there any way a man can dress to be considered immodest (and to follow on from what this post suggests and the comments that have been made to it) and therefore a slut?
Probably can’t think of any can you? That’s because women are largely viewed as sexual objects. How we dress MATTERS because if we wear a low cut blouse or a short skirt then what will those poor men do? As women it is our job to insure that mean don’t have inappropriate sexual thoughts. We have to watch what we wear, how we act because we are the guardians of the male libido. God forbid they censor themselves. So I’m sorry, but no I’m not going to go along with this double standard. Quite frankly, GTFO.
Seriously, though… why would anyone care?
someone needs to do this! ;D
(from FREE THE PUBES!)
ps:
thank you for the gif thesherlockcode!
Unknown (via grrl-meat)
i want to print this out and give this to my mother.
(via theoceanandthesky)
EVERYONE.
(via labia-saturation)
I have a PSA for you.
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I am 30 years old. I am a virgin (primarily by choice). I have never had sex with anyone. I have never been on birth control.
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I’ve never been on birth control because I was brought up to believe that birth control was for “slutty girls” who want to avoid getting pregnant. Because I wasn’t having sex, and therefore didn’t need to worry about getting pregnant, I also never went to the gynecologist. Ever. Not until I was 29 years old and in so much physical pain that I literally could.not.function.
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1 year, 2 gynecologists, 1 D&C and many, many pain pills later, I was diagnosed last week with Endomterial Cancer, and am now facing a complete and total hysterectomy. Not the kind where they leave some bits just in case, but the kind where they take a robot and completely and totally scrape out everything that was once intended to make babies.
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And that is the best-case-scenario. If it turns out the cancer has spread, then I’m in for the hysto, AND chemo/radiation/etc.
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If your daughter comes to you and wants birth control because she is having irregular periods, because she is having pain, because she is uncomfortable, or just because she FUCKING WANTS IT- it is your goddamn duty as a loving and nurting parent— TO LISTEN AND RESPECT HER REQUEST.
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Things you may do:
1. Open a dialogue with your daughter about WHY she wants B.C.
2. Educate yourself about the benefits of B.C.
3. Discuss your (and her) feelings about sex and sexuality as it relates to B.C. (if applicable)
4. Volunteer to take her to a gyno, offer to make an appointment for her, or accompany her to the appointment if she wants you too. But respect her privacy if she doesn’t
5. Be open and understanding about the fact that she may tell you things you don’t want to hear or know.
6. Realize that her asking for B.C. does not automatically mean she plans to/is/wants to have sex.
7. Be uncomfortable about it, and about your discussions. It’s ok, she probably is too.
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Things you MAY NOT DO:
1. Shut her down.
2. Condescend or pass judgement over her request
3. ASSUME she plans to open her legs to anyone that walks by.
4. Tell her she doesn’t need it.
5. Be verbally or emotionally abusive about her request.
6. Cast upon her your ignorance about what B.C can do.
7. Flip out without listening to what she has to say.
8. Refuse to take her to a gynecologist if she wants/needs to go
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Here’s the deal parents, whether you want to believe it or not, birth control and reproductive health are not SEXUAL issues, they are HEALTH issues. And as someone who is 2 weeks away from the SOONEST oncology appointment to deal with a very terrifying issue- I will tell you that if you refuse to support your daughter dealing with her reproductive health- I consider you tantamount to a child abuser. Because you are denying your child access to life-saving screenings and medications.
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No one ever took me. I didn’t even think about it. It was never an option. I never had that kind of dialogue and now I have Cancer. And maybe being on birth control wouldn’t have changed that- but considering I have never in my life had a normal period, I have to think it would.
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If your daughter trusts you enough to tell you that she wants to look into birth control- that is a fucking GIFT and you should be grateful.
If your daughter trusts you enough to tell you she wants to look into birth control and your reaction is to respond with fear and judgement and cowardice, then I invite you to read my other blog. The one where I talk about my pain and discomfort and regret. The one where I talk about being 30 FUCKING YEARS OLD and having Cancer because nobody every bothered to take me to a gynecologist until it was too fucking late in the first place. Feel free to check in daily, I have 2 weeks to my initial oncology consult and my physical condition isn’t improving in the meantime.
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And I won’t apologize for my anger. I won’t apologize for my language. I won’t apologize for this lecture. Because the person who should have taken me— is dead. And I am having to indoctrinate myself into this, I am having to do this at least 15 years later than I should have. Because she never bothered to tell me anything except that birth control was for “sluts.”
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If you love your daughters, TALK TO THEM. They need you.
<3
THE SCAR PROJECT: Breast Cancer is not a Pink Ribbon
http://www.thescarproject.org/
A series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors shot by fashion photographer David Jay. Primarily an awareness raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.
Up until tonight I never knew exactly what breast cancer survivors looked like after surgery. These courageous women inspire, move and tastefully challenge our notions of beauty. How is it that cancer can reak such havoc on their bodies, yet they are still so unspeakably gorgeous?
- Kate
(via missatralissa)
I went to a Planned Parenthood clinic today, after recently setting up an appointment with a lovely person over the phone.
Things that they helped me with today at the clinic:
- starting birth control at no cost, since I am still looking for a job after losing my career and…
Spoken Word of Staceyann Chin
I’m pretty sure I love her. She is so FREAKING AWESOME.
My name is Kelly Schomburg, I’m the girl with the red hair in these pictures. I was protesting at the Occupy Wall Street march yesterday when I and several other women were sprayed with mace and subsequently arrested. Many have already seen the video, which has been spreading like wildfire over twitter, Facebook, tumblr, and other video feeds, along with hundreds of other photos and videos. This is my recount of what happened.
This is bullshit. I can’t believe they’re trying to get away with this. You can even tell they’re on the sidewalk in the pictures at the top. How can the police get away with this? Aren’t we allowed to protest?
