Feminism and Ghostbusters, AKA Please Stop

I will start this out by saying that I’m going to be one of “those” people…I’m going to talk about a movie without seeing it first. I know that pisses people off to no end, which is why I’m doing it. Just kidding…I’m doing it because I don’t need to see it to say what I’m going to say, and also movies are expensive–I don’t have the time or money to see a movie I have no interest in right now.

I am not a huge movie person. I like movies, but I tend to never take the time to watch many. I have seen the original Ghostbuster movies, but that was when I was child and I barely remember them. I’m sure I liked them at the time, but it’s not like they made some lasting impression on me that I wanted to go back and watch them over and over again. Apparently, they made a lasting impression on every person on my facebook page and social media right now, because for some reason….that’s all I’m seeing some days. It was actually worse when the trailers were being released than it is now after the movie is actually out, but I finally saw another post yesterday that made me want to just explode. This has been a common theme in the posts and articles I have seen, and I am going crazy to keep myself from commenting on them. Because as most logical people know, posting an opposite opinion on facebook is literally asking for a disaster.

The theme is: If you don’t like the new Ghostbusters, you are not a feminist. It actually is more along the lines of, If you don’t like the new Ghostbusters, you are a piece of sexist, misogynistic (probably white) male trash who should never speak again!

As the noted feminist of my whole family (my family and my husband’s family) and pretty much my group of friends (not to say some of my friends aren’t feminists, but they don’t really speak up about much or go on rants like I do, so I’m just the designated feminist of the group), this is one of the dumbest things I have heard lately. I won’t say the dumbest, because…you know, with the political stuff and everything, I have been hearing a lot of dumb stuff. But really? You’re misogynistic for not liking a movie?

And I actually do get the premise for the opinion. People were originally freaking out because they are rebooting another beloved movie (they really need to stop doing that….just make a sequel or an original story) and casting….wait for it…women in the roles of what used to be men! GASP. I honestly don’t think *most* of the outrage was purely because they were women. I really don’t. Because even my husband said something along those lines, and I literally said, “Oh, gasp! Women!! How could they!” And he rolled his eyes, because that wasn’t what he meant. But that’s how it’s coming off…and I am aware that some people literally were pissed because it was literally women being cast. You will always have “those” people, too. What my husband was ultimately mad about was that they were remaking a movie he remembered from his childhood, and they were changing the characters. My husband is not a sexist pig. He’s really not. Trust me…I wouldn’t be with him if he was, and he wouldn’t be able to handle me if he was.

It’s the same idea of all of this change going into comic book characters. The big one I heard about was Thor is becoming a female character. Let me tell you…I freaked out about that one, and not in the way most people would think. I think I really surprised some people with how mad I was. Aside from being a feminist, I am actually a huge fan on mythology. Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic…that was my poison when I was in elementary-high school. I would read actually encyclopedias about it. When we had a small segment in 12th grade on Greek and Roman mythology, I listened eagerly even though I knew it all and then aced the test with my eyes closed. Anyways, the idea that they were taking a figure from mythology that has been around for years and years and years…I was pissed. I was yelling at my husband, Do you know how many female goddesses there are?! They can’t just change his gender! Thor is a guy!! Pick one of the other hundreds of goddesses! He just kind of sat there while I yelled haha. I think he originally thought I would be thrilled to see another female character so he would have to argue why you shouldn’t change long standing characters. Lucky him, I wouldn’t even let him get a word in. Because to me, it wasn’t the fact that, “Yay, a new strong female character!” That’s the reaction they want everyone to have to things like Thor and the new Ghostbusters. I’m looking at it like, “Why are you taking an established character and drastically changing them?” It’s not casting someone with brown hair for a book character that was clearly described with blonde hair.

And in fact, I have heard people complain about things like that!! Like, seriously! They thought no one would complain about gender changes?? People have *actually* complained that a movie character had different hair or eyes than the one described in the book. So think of it in that context. Also, think of it in this context, which is my ultimate way of thinking on this: As a feminist, I want more female characters. I think that’s awesome. But why do they have to be roles that have already been established as a male role? Because now, all that will happen is the new one will be compared to the old one. That happens with EVERY reboot and remake ever. There is a comparison. And more likely than not, people generally say the original was better for whatever reason, may it be nostalgia or something else. So why start out awesome female characters in a deficit? You need to start them out on a flat level so through good acting and good casting and good writing, they can be praised. Not…well, I’m pissed it’s a remake, the original was amazing, but I guess they acted okay…it was an okay movie. I want original new strong female characters…not ones that are trying to one-up a male role that’s largely beloved.

There are a ton of comic book characters, most of them completely original (things like Thor and Lucifer are obviously not original, but they get original backstories and adventures at least). Why not make completely new characters with awesome backgrounds? Why is that not a thing? Making Thor a girl, or some character black or Asian or Native American…you’re just making fans of the original mad. If they remade Gone with the Wind but Scarlet was now a man…people would be pissed! Why would they even do that! It doesn’t make sense! That would be the outcries…and that’s what they are now.

Just do original stories. Stop trying to make people mad—in fact, do something you know will make a lot of people mad, and then be like, well, if you don’t like this, you must be a sexist! No! That’s not necessarily the case.

So to the people posting, if you don’t like the new Ghostbusters you are a piece of garbage who hates women…I can strongly attest that that is not true. If I go and watch it and think it’s not even remotely funny….it’s because the acting was bad. It’s because I don’t think the characters had chemistry. It’s because I’m thinking, wasn’t the original a bit funnier? More action?

We need to stop being soooooo offended by everything. If someone doesn’t like a female character, I’m not immediately offended. If they go into something really horrible, like, women couldn’t do that, they have no arm strength! Or, how could she save the world when she has to eat chocolate every month on her period?? Something obviously misogynistic…then yes, I’m either going to verbally or physically sharpen my claws on him/her. But we need to stop being so quick to judge people who we think are being quick to judge. Ask them to further explain why they didn’t like that movie/character. You might be able to open their eyes to something, or they might make a point that will make you go, Oooh, yeah, didn’t even think of it that way.

So just stop. Stop talking about that dumb movie and let’s bring back more important topics, like equal pay and workplace harassment and I don’t know, things like why rapists aren’t getting serious judgements against them.

-AV

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Why Backing Free-Bleeding Does Not Have to Be a Thing for Feminists and Forward-Thinkers

Yes, I consider myself a feminist. If I said I wasn’t, all of my close friends and close family members would yell “Liar!” at me. I say “close” because I don’t typically go around shouting feminist things at people I’m not that close to…but if they choose to ask or a topic is brought up, it would stop being a secret after about two seconds into my thoughts and opinions.

As with probably many of people, I started hearing about and reading about the idea of “free bleeding” when Kiran Gandhi ran her marathon on her period without anything–no tampons, no pads, no menstrual cup, and none of those new underwear inventions that’s supposed to catch all of your period blood. Just free bleeding, as the name says.

Since then, I have heard both opinions loud and clear (it’s gross and disgusting–it’s amazing and liberating), and I have also become aware of the fact that it started as a hoax on 4chan. I have read several articles ridiculing people for “falling” for this hoax, but the thing is, if enough people “fall” for it and then carry it on, and then more people start following it, especially in action, it eventually becomes less of a hoax and more of a start-up fad. No, there are not even thousands, let alone millions, of women following this. However, it seems enough people are getting on board that I would say–it started out as a hoax, but people kind of changed it to their own thing.

I’m going to post three article links at the end of this blog, and one talks about the history of the idea of free bleeding. It started before this internet hoax, as I’m sure many of you could imagine. And just as a side note, I’m referring to people in first world countries who have complete access to and the means to provide for themselves “feminine products” but are choosing to say women shouldn’t use them or that they are not going to use them. I am obviously not referring to poorer areas/countries and people who have no choice because they can’t afford such things or have no access to them. I imagine it takes several different paths when you have no choice in the matter, and that is a discussion for another day.

My stance on the idea: I believe people should be free to do whatever they want to do with their bodies, so long as it doesn’t harm other people; however, for this particular idea, there is no way and no how I would ever do it myself or recommend it to anyone else. And it’s not due to anti-feminist thoughts or the idea that “menstrual blood is gross.”

First off, I think a large percentage of people over the age of 18 (and I’m aiming high for the boys’ sake) know that women have menstrual cycles and what that means. In fact, more than the actual science behind it, I would argue most people know that “menstruating” means that women bleed more than anything else about it. It’s not a surprise. Are some rules in school and workplaces outdated surrounding that? I’m sure. They probably wouldn’t appreciate women opening tampons or pads and passing them around the class/workplace, just like you’re not supposed to show bras or even bra-straps at most schools and workplaces. Obviously most people there are aware of the fact that most women wear bras. It is, in fact, usually more obvious when women are not wearing bras (not saying it’s bad, just saying you can usually tell). But there are rules stating we pretend they are not there. Why? Because most things written into rules and codes are usually outdated and speak of a long ago time…for example, there has been a lot of talk in the last decade or so about how laws are not updated enough to deal with internet and text/phone crimes. Does that mean everyone thinks these rules are up-to-date and fair? No…it just means either it’s too much of a hassle to fix them or amend them, or no one has decided to be less lazy and do something about it. Or the people up on top really do think these rules need to be there, because there are some people who are outdated and really old fashion in their thinking.

I’m not denying old fashion thinking doesn’t exist. I’m arguing it might not be as prevalent as a lot of people think it is. It’s just that the people in charge or in power tend to be older people, and they tend to be the majority of the people who are old fashion thinkers.

My second point, is that I don’t know of too many *men* who think menstruating is gross. None of my male friends, or my dad or husband, would ever respond “Ewwwwww, gross!!!” if I said I’m having cramps or I’m on my period or it’s “that time of the month.” Would my male boss/head of the department get a funny look on his face if I just said, oh, yeah, totally having cramps today because blood is coming out of my vagina for the next five days? YES. Why? Because I don’t have any familiarity with him, I don’t have that kind of rapport with him, and it’s unprofessional. Being unprofessional does not make it anti-feminist. Would I get a funny look on my face if he said to me, I really have to go and poop? YES. There are some things you don’t say in certain places, situations, and to people. It’s natural to have to do that…but why tell me? I don’t know you, and that’s a little too much information in the work place when you’re not a friend. Would some people be cool with either scenario no matter the relationship? Yes. Some people just are naturally okay with anything and some people try really hard to prove they are okay with everything. That doesn’t make it wrong for others to not be okay with it.

Do *boys* and immature males think menstruating is gross? Yes. However, men do not, so do not offend the men in your life by holding them accountable for what other people not in their category say and do. Boys think everything is gross. If I said to my husband or a close male friend, “I am in so much pain. This period is so bad, I’m literally bleeding through a pad every hour,” they would be concerned. Ask if they could do something. Or, at the very least, be sympathetic–that sucks…glad I don’t have to go through that. Which seems flippant, but it is sympathetic in theory.

Finally, I am posting below an article about how period blood is not unsanitary and how that should not be an argument about why women shouldn’t free bleed. The same sentiment was also echoed in another one of the articles, I believe. I am not a doctor or a scientist, and neither are these writers, so I can’t argue for sure one way or the other. My instant reaction is that it’s not sanitary to get your blood on things that other people might touch. If I cut my finger, are people concerned? If it’s bad enough, yes. However, do people run over and start rubbing my blood all over themselves? No. Medical professionals would put on gloves before dealing with all of the blood draining from my finger. The only time people would not worry about it would be if the wound was so bad that there was instant panic and a loved one was trying to help. They obviously wouldn’t worry about blood contact. I’m fairy confident in saying there are blood transmitted diseases. Maybe that doesn’t happen with menstrual blood. Maybe it does. If anyone reading this knows for sure one way or the other, please let me know. But, unlike the article that ranks bodily fluids in terms of how “gross” and “unsanitary” people think they are, I strongly argue against period blood being the worse. I think if I saw a lady walking into work with blood on her pants, I would not be even disgusted. But if I saw a lady walking into work and it was clear she had feces in her pants and seeping out, I would be disgusted. Sorry, but I would be. Same with urine. Would you be okay with men walking around just peeing in their pants and leaving it all day? I wouldn’t be. No way. I would say, that’s unsanitary…clean yourself up. It’s not anti feminist. It’s a concern for hygiene. As a society, we are concerned with hygiene. Even if you can’t get diseases from menstrual blood unlike regular blood, not everyone knows that (obviously…I don’t). So they would just automatically think that might be a problem.

Also, you would ruin other people’s stuff if it were acceptable in public. Work chairs, bus seats, friends’ vehicles…everything would have old blood stains and new blood stains on it. That would not be okay with me.

And as a final point, there is another point to address that one of the articles brought up. It was something along the lines of, if someone cuts their finger, people are concerned. If someone is bleeding in their pants, everyone is disgusted. I already said why not everyone is disgusted. Some people would be, others would not. There’s also the point that some people either faint or get faint at the sight of blood. Two branches here. First, if someone cuts their finger, they injured themselves. Your period is not an injury. It can cause some women a lot of pain, but it’s not a sudden injury to yourself. So why would someone be concerned if you had your period? And that’s why someone is concerned about another one cutting his finger. No one would probably be disgusted that you cut your finger, because, again, it’s a sudden, unintentional injury. You didn’t mean to do it, and you might need help (if it’s a bad cut). Second branch–If it wasn’t immediately obvious that it was menstrual blood, or if I reacted without thinking because free bleeding is not a norm, I would in fact be concerned if I saw someone with blood in their pants or running down their leg. There is more than one reason why someone would be bleeding in that general area (and you wouldn’t know which one, back or front, if there are pants on and it’s staining everywhere). If you have really bad ulcers in your colon or some forms of medical colon issues, you can bleed from your anus, and it’s a medical emergency. So there’s one reason for alarm. Two, miscarriages. Let me tell you about the time I started bleeding from my vagina and was not wearing a pad, so luckily it wasn’t that heavy at first. I was having a miscarriage. That is also a medical emergency in some cases. If the woman is far enough along, she needs to go to a hospital pretty quickly to make sure she stops bleeding, etc. So, yes, I would be concerned. When I have my period, there are times and days I’m pretty pale and look sick from either pain or going slightly anemic. So if you saw a lady with blood in her pants, pale, and looking like she was in pain, would you go, “OMG, gross, is that PERIOD BLOOD?” Or would you say, “Um, excuse me, are you okay??? Do you want me to get/call someone?” I think for most adults, it would be the second one (assuming someone around them was aware and concerned enough to even try to help).

All in all, whether this semi-hoax beginning will soon come to an end, or whether it will pick up some speed and more support from the general population, I don’t think it’s anti-feminist or misogynistic to not be behind free bleeding, whether you’re a guy or a girl. General concern about having blood everywhere is, I think, a general concern. It’s “disgusting” in that most people think you can transfer diseases through menstrual blood like regular blood (again, I’m holding off on whether that’s true or not), in that it stains everything and is generally hard to get out, and in that it does have a strong, not pleasant odor when there’s a lot and especially when it’s old. That does not make having a period disgusting. I think there are a lot of things out there that most people find cumbersome, uncomfortable, and just not fair that they have to do (wearing bras, wearing pants, public restrooms, etc)…but they do them anyways because we live with other people, familiar and strangers. If you’re in private, do what you will. If you’re out and about, you do have to consider other people to a point. This is just another one of those times.

Articles:

It’s not “unsanitary.” Period.

http://www.thedebrief.co.uk/news/real-life/free-bleeding-20150951976

http://www.bustle.com/articles/109552-what-is-free-bleeding-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-controversial-menstruation-movement

I’m out.

AV

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Internet magazine you should check out

Just a quick shout out to the internet periodical “The Feminist Observer” or TFO…it was started just four months ago (I believe) by a good friend of mine, and since then she has done wonders with it. It is quickly growing and expanding, and I am so excited for her! Recently she posted on facebook that she was looking for more contributors, and I decided to go ahead and offer…not as a monthly contributor, per se, but an every-one-and-a-while one. I still feel like my time is strange and limited being on a schedule that is essentially upside down from everyone else’s.
But here’s a link to the website:
http://thefeministobserver.biglaunch.net/

You can check out their past and most current issues here. They also do little “kickstarters” now and again to help with production costs, so if you read and like it, feel free to let them know you want to subscribe (free and sent to your email directly) and, if you can, donate.

Here’s their latest kickstarter…it’s only for nine days, so if you try to click on this link after nine days is up, it might not exist anymore.

(edited to add: after publishing this, I realized the kickstarter link turned into the video they have on the website…once you hit play, you will see the start and stop bar at the bottom…beside that on the right, there is a little circle thing with a “K” inside of it. If you click on the “K,” it will take you to the actual kickstarter site.)
–AV

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