same old boring bullshit

[SaltyC]

So I went to a lecture today by a grad student who went to Brazil (where I was born) to study a lesbian rights group. It was a painfully boring speech, belabored and overly detailed on how their meetings are structured. She forgot to even mention how lesbians are discriminated against in Brazil.

So anyway, during the Q&A someone said they didn't see how lesbians would have a hard time in Brazil since attitudes about sex are so laid back there. I bristled at that, and just had to blurt out "No they're not!" I said that abortion is illegal in all of South America, the guy who asked the question thought I said divorce is illegal. I said no, not divorce, abortion. He said Oh well but that has nothing to do with sexuality. I said women's sexuality is marginalized in Brazil, whether lesbian or heterosexual or anything else. I mentioned how women are pressured to be sex objects from a young age, the prevalence of plastic surgery, the prevalence of pornography and prostitution, and how sexuality conforms to a male dominator model.

The speaker totally rejected all of my points, saying none of that meant that female sexuality was marginalized, and she really didn't see what pornography had to do with oppression.

I keep forgetting the level of ignorance about these things in the world outside of my internet buddies. In many ways I'm not prepared to start from square one. At least places like Genderberg help remind me I'm not crazy.

[sunnysmiles]

I wrote up something long, and then something happened to my computer - and the thing I wrote up is gone.

Just wanted you to know - this is very interesting and I'm sure many of us can relate.