"That seemed to be the latest theme around town. Everyone was looking for something new. Not that the old thing wasn't working out, but just for the sake of change. It all had to do with the weather. First it was cold, freezing cold for months and very private with never enough heat. Then, one day, quite unexpectedly, spring came. People's minds ( Read more... )

I am always trying to explain to people what I mean when I say I'm attracted to "butch" women. That's the best word I have to describe it - that particular characteristic I fall for, the strength, self-assurance, aggressiveness that comes with restraint - it's not just short hair or body type or self-confidence.

This article at After Ellen, about ( Read more... )

Just finished re-reading Watchmen a few days ago (still haven't gone to see the movie), and just like the first time through, I am struck and in love with this quote ( Read more... )

I love the quote on my Yogi tea this morning:

Travel light,
live light
spread the light,
be the light.

While doing work research, found this excellent Joss Whedon quote here.
"There are two ways to fight a battle like ours. One is to whisper in the ear of the masses, try subtlely and gradually to change the gender expectations and mythic structures of our culture... The other is to step up and confront the thousands of atrocities that are taking ( Read more... )

One of my coworkers (who, I confess, I couldn't pick out of a line up) left yesterday, and on her way out she left notes on everyone's chairs - even mine.

I found it this morning. The note was very sweet, especially since we'd barely met, and included this wonderful quote:

But you, children of space, you restless in rest, you shall not be trapped ( Read more... )

Still working on Halberstam's Female Masculinity, and I had to share this fantastic excerpt from her chapter on drag kings:

While the drag king contest makes a perfect arena for the denaturalization of masculinity, assaults on natural gender and on the redundancy of the nature-nurture binary are appearing regularly in popular culture. For example ( Read more... )

From Mary Crawford's Talking Difference: On Gender and Language, 1995:

Feminist theories of personality development (for example, Miller 1976/86) stress that 'feminine' characteristics such as passivity, excessive concern with pleasing others, lack of initiative, and dependency are psychological consequences of subordination. Members of ( Read more... )

Maybe, instead of idealizing or stereotyping women, we're getting a bit better at telling the truth about what it's like to be a woman, how it's complicated and absurd and grandiose and funny and petty and grand.
- Annette Bening, in an article in Newsweek

I adore this quote. I think it captures what I hate so much about stereotypes - they're so ( Read more... )

"Follow your passion. Don't wait until you are 50 to find meaning and purpose in your life. Focus on building your life and the resume will follow. Choose faith, not fear, as your prime motivator. Trust people, trust the process. Strive for a life of love and responsibility. Make a difference in our world."

- Nancy Barry