Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Feminism: You Can't Escape It

You can run, but you can't hide.
Vickie Toro Created by  Vickie Toro  
Last week, Yahoo's newest CEO -- a mom-to-be -- made it clear that, although she fully supports gender equality, "[she is] definitely NOT a feminist."

Say whaaaaaaaaa?

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

The saddest part is this isn't an isolated incident: long ago, some anti-suffragist douche whose dance card was probably never occupied managed to turn "feminism" into a bad word. Every day, pro-women-in-power peeps distance themselves from anything to do with the ones called Feminists.

But here's the rub: given the majority of the lady naysayers' college educations, careers, and right to vote [to name just a few], there's a frak-ton of confusion going on.

So, for your consideration, Sneaky Side Effects of Feminism:

1. Alternatives to the MRS Degree

graduate7242012

Don't get me wrong: I have nothing against housewives. If you really are happiest at home, then, by all means, go for it. But for those of us going down career paths, we owe that billion-dollar degree to our foremothers. You know, the ones who stood up and told the menfolk, "Hey, we deserve the right to have insurmountable college debt, too."

2. Voting

voting7242012

Pretty self-explanatory, eh? But apparently there are still some folks out there who forget that NOT EVEN A CENTURY AGO, the so-called "fairer sex" had zero voice in government. If you're feeling low, just Google "American suffragettes" and pump your fists to the infinite photos of women in flowery hats and dresses being dragged off by police.

3. Bromance

bromance7242012

I know what you're thinking: those movies that're complete sausage-fests and depict the lady-characters as uptight douches? Da fuq? But think about it: prior to the Apatow-volution, men weren't really all that okay with talking about their feelings, and hugging, and crying, and doing so without saying "no homo." The birth of bromance flicks made all that relationship stuff a-okay, and now you can't turn a corner without hearing a couple of bros tell one another, "I love you."

Also, every action has a reaction. The reaction here being funny women out of work banding together to make gems like Bridesmaids.

4. Boy Bands

nsync7242012

A lot of people don't know this, but here's a feminist secret: we feminists are in it for the men, too. People of alllllll genders and sexes, really. That two-columned crap-fest, where words like "strong, independent, and intelligent" are under "Men," and "docile, emotional, and weak" are under "Women"? Boy bands helped kick off a whole movement of "man-tenance."

The latest beneficiary being Justin Bieber.

The 90s brought about an explosion of bleached and/or long hair, man-jewelry, and dancing n' sync. And the culprits were seen as completely sexy.

5. Magic Mike

magicmike7242012

Though Magic Mike wasn't the raunch comedy I originally expected, it did propose a different kind of LOLfactor: the millions of other women who also thought it'd be about Channing Tatum and other mancandies strutting their junk for two hours. But these women (and men!) had good reason for all their zeal: they can probably count on their fingers the number of opportunities they've had to ogle celeb goodies in the presence of others, without shame. In its own way, the excitement over Magic Mike was all about women finally owning up to their own horniness and deep-rooted fantasies. Which all too often lose favor when Megan Fox saunters across a screen.

6. Condoms

condoms7242012

Not ready for a baby just yet, because of school/your budding career? Family planning is all thanks to those women of yore who wished there were more job options for their sisters/daughters/etc. AKA We aren't baby factories.

7. That Whole G-Spot Mystery

gspot7242012

Would anyone REALLY care about the G-Spot if they didn't also wonder about lady pleasure as much as man pleasure? You can throw the clit in there, too. Let's not ignore those things.

8. Oprah

oprah7242012

If Oprah hadn't come along, where the heck would the rest of us be? The lady who beat out the Beatles in Time's 100 Best Pop Icons list has done a crap-ton for a crap-ton of people, and if she hadn't found a way to be on TV, we'd be lost. True fact.

Now, bear in mind the brevity of this list. There're probably hundreds of other benefits the women/people in general of today are still reaping, and still so many more people of color, queer women, etc., are waiting to see. But the point is: you just can't escape it.

Around the Interwebs

Share:

Leave a comment

Be relevant, be respectful, don't spam us, and remember, it's comedy!

Vickie Toro

Hi, friend! I'm Vickie Toro, and I'm Comediva's Social Media Manager, connecting your comedy-loving hearts with ours through all of your favorite social media addictions. I'm the lesbian in Lesbros, the creator and one of the writers of BAMF Girls Club, and the Frumpy Girl who commiserates with your Style Ineptness. I'm a Potterhead, water-dancer, and overall TV junky. Also sports movies make me cry.

Comediva. Where the funny girls are.

   
  • GOPuhleez [Meme]: Paycheck Fairness Act +

    Among those who voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would've improved many lives, were women. And all we can More ≫
  • Yankee Candles' Man Candles Are Just the Beginning +

    Yankee Candles now has a special line just for men! But what about a few other key demographics? More ≫
  • Mad Girls: Where Mad Men and Girls Meet +

    The girls of Girls are hilarious, and their problems relatable. But let's not forget the troubles their foremothers, of Mad More ≫
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Betty White's Valentine's Day Cards +

    Need a special Valentine's message to your favorite homegirl? Why not send a Betty-gram?! More ≫
  • Fashion Tips for Shy People +

    Get your shtyle on! More ≫
  • Tina Fey Oscars Photobomb Rampage +

    At this year's Golden Globes, Tina Fey became the heroine of expert photobombers everywhere.  Today, we take her talents to More ≫
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4


PeerPressureBanner2
May is here!
Your face.

Log In

x We want to put our giggles in your inbox. Would you be into that?  Sign up for the GiggleBomb!
You are now being logged in using your Facebook credentials