May222013
youneed2read:
Sweden: The (Un)Ideal Nation
I do have to say I find it really amusing how certain politically-active Americans (aka Democrats) swoon over Nordic countries. I can’t blame them; I once felt the same way. That is until I lived there.
In 2010, I lived in Sweden and all I can say is the…
I see you have completely misunderstood the point of the Millennium trilogy. I does deal with paternalistic attitudes, but not precisely of the Welfare state per se, but of any country with psychological tutelage institutions.
I does deal with Swedish society, but not with the welfare state.
April102013
“The War on Terror – in Afghanistan, in particular – was justified in the name of protecting women’s rights. Of course, society in Afghanistan is riddled with institutional sexism – as every country in the world is, North and South, East and West. What is notable is that, in order to gee up support for an intervention, American and British governments had to paint a picture of serenity and equality at home. They had to convince not only their supporters, but a sizeable proportion of the liberal West, that ‘their’ sexism abroad was worse than ‘our’ sexism in the West. That a country which only made rape within marriage illegal in the early 90s is somehow in a privileged moral position. Judging by the politics of groups like FEMEN, they have done well. The fact is, Muslims are being vilified at home and abroad. As ever, a huge share of the burden is placed on women; on their dress and the way they bring up their children. Any decent feminist would recognise Muslim women bear a double burden of racism and sexism, and turn their focus towards supporting their struggle. They might, as a starting point, campaign against the increasing militarisation of East London, making it harder for Muslims to walk the streets without harassment. They might join Muslim women in asserting the right to wear hijab or niqab without fear of attack. Interestingly, activists in the Revolutionary Association of Women in Afghanistan (RAWA) have mentioned that the burqa can sometimes make it easier for them to carry out political activity, as it can disguise political leaflets and hidden cameras. FEMEN could listen to these women, the women they are patronisingly attempting to ‘save’. We could ignore this, fetishise the freedom to show skin, and get our tits out on the bridge with FEMEN. Or we could build a women’s movement that opposes both conservative moralism and state-sanctioned Islamophobia, and show liberal feminists the true meaning of sisterhood. The choice lies with us.”
That’s not what a feminist looks like - Elly Badcock (via samiracortez)(via sinidentidades)
February242013
“We’ll slide down the surface of things…”
Victor Ward, “Glamorama” by Bret Easton Ellis (via postmodnik)
