Women of Lit: A Safe Place To Share

[forgotmyantidepressants]

Sadly you might be on to something...I have a Canadian friend I check in with often and she is concerned about a potential right wing shift in their politics also.

I'd love to understand why this is happening. Of course many have raised this question and here in the states the answer often is given as economic reasons. If the numbers are compared here in the states we are doing better with Biden Harris admin.
But the prolific right wing mis-information that gets passed as news, Fox news and others, maintains things were better under the previous orange dictator admin.
This doesn't account for other countries authoritarian shifts tho.

(I'm talking out of my butt here)

People in the US are scared, so they're looking to the past for comfort and security. Men (especially white ones) seen to want to go back to the 50s, when being a middle class white guy carried respect, power, authority, etc. They completely ignore the fact that many housewives were addicted to pills (my grandmother apparently preferred ritalin) and Black people were basically second class citizens, especially in certain parts of the south.

 

[JennyCapricorn]

. No, internet man, you are not going to change my mind by shaming me through critiques of the quality of my orgasms.

There fucking people.

I give all my orgasm to me and I am damned good at it. You're not helping here.

You go, girl!

 

[JennyCapricorn]

(I'm talking out of my butt here)

People in the US are scared, so they're looking to the past for comfort and security. Men (especially white ones) seen to want to go back to the 50s, when being a middle class white guy carried respect, power, authority, etc. They completely ignore the fact that many housewives were addicted to pills (my grandmother apparently preferred ritalin) and Black people were basically second class citizens, especially in certain parts of the south.

That’s part of it, but there was also a 34 percent rightward shift in voting patterns for men between 18 and 29 since 2018.

That’s not fear or nostalgia - that’s propaganda aimed directly at teenage boys who as they age into being voters effects their voting patterns.

Gamergate was in 2014 and Steve Bannon, if memory serves, has outright admitted that he saw the social networks of online game spaces as fertile ground for propaganda back then. Gamergate was a test run of weaponized conservative misogyny. And we’re the targets of it

 

[genzsub]

This is completely anecdotal, but my mom is a middle school teacher and she has talked about seeing an uptick in misogyny and references to people like Andrew Tate. All in the last ten years or so.

 

[stickygirl]

I've witnessed the shift in the opinions of young men on the UK towards the right, even with those with college degrees. I've been caught out in discussions when, in turning to a young guy and expecting his support, he instead runs out some misogynistic BS. Historically people under 25 were left-leaning, but not any more.

 

[Zrosey]

Historically people under 25 were left-leaning, but not any more.

This brings to mind a comment I read since the election on November 5.
It was that, we are quick to blame the so called boomer generation for this, when in fact a percentage of the blame goes to the younger folks, the ones voting for the first time.

This observation makes me think of pictures I saw in the news of trump rallies and many of the people were young, often young women.I know than I just couldn't get my mind on the idea of a young woman attending a rally for this fascist.

 

[stickygirl]

This brings to mind a comment I read since the election on November 5.
It was that, we are quick to blame the so called boomer generation for this, when in fact a percentage of the blame goes to the younger folks, the ones voting for the first time.

The Children Of Boomer...
more privileged, more opinionated, even more selfish...
Millenials Nope... GenZ I've never kept up with those defs
... look on us and Despair!

 

[Strixaluco]

In Finland the opinions of boys and girls haven't been this far apart for a very long time, if ever. Girls continuing to be ever more liberal, boys becoming conservative. It's a very sad change.

 

[KatieDoes]

I’ve got nothing, ladies.

I’m coming at this from an American perspective, and not trying to get this thread bumped over to that godforsaken dumpster fire that is the politics board…

But I’m just…. Fuck.

I think I knew how many men hated us. So that didn’t surprise me. But I did manage to be shocked and heartbroken by how many American women hate women.

We would apparently prefer to demolish democracy, and prop up the absolute worst man, rather than trust a competent woman to lead.

I can’t even bring myself to post more than that, because I know how many lit magats get off on our pain, and jerk off to our heartbreak. I’ve been sporadic here at best. Somehow, this place doesn’t manage to help restore my faith in humanity very well.

Circle your wagons. Tighten your circle. Figure out now who you can really trust. Protect the most vulnerable. We’re in for some rough times.

 

[Desiree_Radcliffe]

The Children Of Boomer...
more privileged, more opinionated, even more selfish...
Millenials
... look on us and Despair!

Young 20ish year olds are not Millennials. Millennials are pushing forty here. Most of us did not vote that way. The people who did, though, were Gen Z twenty-somethings. I say this as a person who is a Millennial by definition.

 

[Desiree_Radcliffe]

I’ve got nothing, ladies.

I’m coming at this from an American perspective, and not trying to get this thread bumped over to that godforsaken dumpster fire that is the politics board…

But I’m just…. Fuck.

I think I knew how many men hated us. So that didn’t surprise me. But I did manage to be shocked and heartbroken by how many American women hate women.

We would apparently prefer to demolish democracy, and prop up the absolute worst man, rather than trust a competent woman to lead.

I can’t even bring myself to post more than that, because I know how many lit magats get off on our pain, and jerk off to our heartbreak. I’ve been sporadic here at best. Somehow, this place doesn’t manage to help restore my faith in humanity very well.

Circle your wagons. Tighten your circle. Figure out now who you can really trust. Protect the most vulnerable. We’re in for some rough times.

You are conveying a sentiment I share and have for a while. Who is safe?

This is not just politics. If it were only politics, it would have been easier to call out. This is a socio-cultural issue. It's a human rights issue. It's our every day.

Flashback nearly 20 years ago.

In a political science class at my women's liberal arts college, the (white male) professor suggested to us, "Why is it that I can go out for a walk at 2 AM in the morning and not worry about being assaulted, but all of you wouldn't even dare?"

Over and over again this came back to my mind.

I told a work colleague the other day, who walked with me from work into the downtown of my city, because it's darker now. I told him this, and then I explained the female daily reality.

When we are in college, we have trusted friends hold and watch our drinks.

When we go out into the world, we carry some type of weapon or something that can be repurposed into one. Pepper spray, keys, nail files, whatever we can use. Some of us crazy Americans put a gun in our purses (I don't, but you get the idea).

We watch our surroundings and are constantly vibe checking things. Our gut instincts are accurate, but we worry about being nice or polite.

We smile uncomfortably in a way we have all seen and done ourselves: when we are touched in an uncomfortable way, when we are touched inappropriately in photographs, when our pregnant bellies become the public property of everyone.

We tell each other stories. We share stories about people who are safe, and more importantly people who are not. We have to whisper about how our bosses, the nice philanthropist everyone loves, and other people in power are really very bad people. We do not speak out when they touch us, when they assault us. Because we know we will be punished.

But we all have stories like this. It's fairly universal. I remember reading about women in a country in Africa being outfitted with a device you can insert with spikes, so that when someone does assault you, they can receive a punishment.

Think about it.

It's not just daughters, sisters, wives, mothers. It's all of us. Every one of us has a story from our personal experience where we did not feel comfortable. Sexist jokes, weird come-ons, situations where we panicked, because we know. We know.

It's not just politics. If it were, wouldn't we have made it better centuries ago?

 

[stickygirl]

You are conveying a sentiment I share and have for a while. Who is safe?

This is not just politics. If it were only politics, it would have been easier to call out. This is a socio-cultural issue. It's a human rights issue. It's our every day.

Flashback nearly 20 years ago.

In a political science class at my women's liberal arts college, the (white male) professor suggested to us, "Why is it that I can go out for a walk at 2 AM in the morning and not worry about being assaulted, but all of you wouldn't even dare?"

Over and over again this came back to my mind.

I told a work colleague the other day, who walked with me from work into the downtown of my city, because it's darker now. I told him this, and then I explained the female daily reality.

When we are in college, we have trusted friends hold and watch our drinks.

When we go out into the world, we carry some type of weapon or something that can be repurposed into one. Pepper spray, keys, nail files, whatever we can use. Some of us crazy Americans put a gun in our purses (I don't, but you get the idea).

We watch our surroundings and are constantly vibe checking things. Our gut instincts are accurate, but we worry about being nice or polite.

We smile uncomfortably in a way we have all seen and done ourselves: when we are touched in an uncomfortable way, when we are touched inappropriately in photographs, when our pregnant bellies become the public property of everyone.

We tell each other stories. We share stories about people who are safe, and more importantly people who are not. We have to whisper about how our bosses, the nice philanthropist everyone loves, and other people in power are really very bad people. We do not speak out when they touch us, when they assault us. Because we know we will be punished.

But we all have stories like this. It's fairly universal. I remember reading about women in a country in Africa being outfitted with a device you can insert with spikes, so that when someone does assault you, they can receive a punishment.

Think about it.

It's not just daughters, sisters, wives, mothers. It's all of us. Every one of us has a story from our personal experience where we did not feel comfortable. Sexist jokes, weird come-ons, situations where we panicked, because we know. We know.

It's not just politics. If it were, wouldn't we have made it better centuries ago?

^^ 100%
Political alignment is the symptom of whatever this illness is.

I think some of it has come from the visible push for equality and men's spiteful reaction in thinking they are losing out. I can see the negative feedback in schools, when girls started out-performing boys academically and leaving the boys behind. I don't think schools have done enough to stop boys falling through the gaps... I'm not a teacher so I'd happily be corrected in that idea. I really do believe men's ego are fragile, but their reaction is an aggressive one. Influencers like Andrew Tate and Tom Robinson are adept at fanning those flames.... and here we are.

That, to me, explains the way men voted but why the women??

 

[KatieDoes]

^^ 100%
Political alignment is the symptom of whatever this illness is.

I think some of it has come from the visible push for equality and men's spiteful reaction in thinking they are losing out. I can see the negative feedback in schools, when girls started out-performing boys academically and leaving the boys behind. I don't think schools have done enough to stop boys falling through the gaps... I'm not a teacher so I'd happily be corrected in that idea. I really do believe men's ego are fragile, but their reaction is an aggressive one. Influencers like Andrew Tate and Tom Robinson are adept at fanning those flames.... and here we are.

That, to me, explains the way men voted but why the women??

Not women. White women. Black women voted 90%+ for Kamala. Other non white women came close to that.


As with almost anything in America that happens and doesn’t make sense on the surface… the underlying cause is white supremacy.

 

[Strixaluco]

I am a man but I am a black man. I wanted to scope this this thread out and this right here is the answer. We black men and especially black women supported democracy. White supremacy is always the problem not just in American but across the globe.
View attachment 2428671

Thank you for the statistics. This is, however, a women only thread.

 

[JennyCapricorn]

Did all my USA sisters survive the Thanksgiving holiday politics?

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Thankfully my Friendsgiving is filled with like-minded people

 

[Strixaluco]

I have to say that the political environment in my close proximity became a lot easier and more comfortable when I became a widow and moved back in the city. And finding a new partner did not complicate it.

(not regarding Thanksgiving, as it is not celebrates here. And at xmas we don't talk politics over dinner table...)

 

[Zrosey]

My get together was a potluck with like minded friends, so while there was a little politics in the conversations it was as allies.
The fun in these potlucks is seeing, and eating, the occasional surprises someone brings! And of course it went until quite late, I do wonder why I'm not still sleeping....

 

[Barbelle]

Love hearing all of this! And with Xmas around the corner, I want to emphasize to anyone who needs it, you get to gather with those you appreciate and want to break bread with.

You have agency over the holiday YOU want to have. You do not owe anyone your planning, labor, stress and generosity, especially if they willfully voted to oppress your rights and those of people you care about. What’s that? “But we’ve always done it this way!” ? Well, we’re going to do something different this time.

 

[stickygirl]

Love hearing all of this! And with Xmas around the corner, I want to emphasize to anyone who needs it, you get to gather with those you appreciate and want to break bread with.

You have agency over the holiday YOU want to have. You do not owe anyone your planning, labor, stress and generosity, especially if they willfully voted to oppress your rights and those of people you care about. What’s that? “But we’ve always done it this way!” ? Well, we’re going to do something different this time.

 

[JennyCapricorn]

John Koenig, _Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows_

 

[FrenchLopBunny]

John Koenig, _Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows_
View attachment 2435533

Thank you for sharing this. It is a small bit of comfort to have a word to express how I felt today. My family gathered for Thanksgiving this afternoon and we had a couple of boyfriends added, one with his children, and I thought of those who were missing. Things change and we move on because we have no other choice.

 

[Strixaluco]

Here it's the Yule dinner that has the same function. And there's a widespread tradition of taking candles to the graves of deceased ones at Yule. Our family graves are far, so I leave one big candle at the memorial of those buried elsewhere. Yes, a place like that is a thing, too, and in a big city there's of course a sea of candles at Yule night - and if there's snow, the whole graveyard is a magically pretty place with all the candles and snowy trees.

 

[stickygirl]

Here it's the Yule dinner that has the same function. And there's a widespread tradition of taking candles to the graves of deceased ones at Yule. Our family graves are far, so I leave one big candle at the memorial of those buried elsewhere. Yes, a place like that is a thing, too, and in a big city there's of course a sea of candles at Yule night - and if there's snow, the whole graveyard is a magically pretty place with all the candles and snowy trees.

That's a lovely tradition. It would be nice to have that over here, to remember relatives who've passed on. In the UK I get the feeling that brushing the leaves from graves is all rather maudlin and embarrassing. Besides, most people here are cremated - my Dad was, so all we get is a crappy kerbstone at the civic garden of underwhelminess.

 

[Strixaluco]

That's a lovely tradition. It would be nice to have that over here, to remember relatives who've passed on. In the UK I get the feeling that brushing the leaves from graves is all rather maudlin and embarrassing. Besides, most people here are cremated - my Dad was, so all we get is a crappy kerbstone at the civic garden of underwhelminess.

My late husband was cremated, and still I carried his ashes to their family grave. He wanted too be cremated so I that his mother will fit in the same grave (it will not take 1o years before she'll pass.)

But I'm not lighting a candle for him anymore... (That's what you get for cheating.)