Userpics

[kmd]

Not to be too inward-focused and navel-gazy here, but will someone who posts to feminist and uses an icon that depicts violence against women or girls please tell me why? I believe that you (all) have reason(s), and I am genuinely interested to hear it/them.

Comments

[dimension_view]

I don't understand. I scrolled through the posts and can't seem to find icons which depict violence against women.

?

[idealistagain]

I think its only fair, that if insinuations like this are going to be made, that you cite your source; ie, the specific post or icon that you think does this. I can't seem to find any such icons either; maybe I'm just missing them?

[betsytron5000]

maybe she's talking about the icon of the first commenter of this post??? i really don't know, either!

[mimicucumber]

I wondered too, and thought about replying, but decided to wait in case something a little more obvious came up.

I don't think I'm the person the OP is talking about, but FWIW, this is practically the only good image of the adorable Verruca Salt there is on a casual google image search. It's a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory where Verruca (the best character, IMO) is being utterly unbearable as usual and is, in the picture, being called out on some kind of asshattery.

[michaelsullivan]

I know it's just fiction, but that's actually child abuse being depicted. Veruca Salt isn't being "called out", she's being assaulted. Isn't this a big feminist issue? The way in which our culture casually condones child abuse that stops short of a beating in the name of discipline? And often to enforce gendered norms of behavior

[bleedingcherub]

Sometimes I have sort of power-play related ones that can come off like that, but I don't use them in this community so you're not talking to me.

[kmd]

but I don't use them in this community

!ping

Why not? What makes you choose not to? Are there circumstances in which you would?

[bleedingcherub]

I don't use them in this community because there's no context. Someone who doesn't know me and know what I'm into and why will just see glamorized violence against women. I use icons like that in my personal journal.

[daddysambiguity]

What is power-play? Just curious! I feel outta the loop!

[nosmokegirl]

well, i don't have any icons like that, but i can hazard some guesses:

1. maybe the picture is used to represent a feeling. if it's of violence or anger towards a female image, maybe the user is female and feels like the world is violent/angry towards them, or feels angry/violent towards the world.

2. maybe they are into bondage or roleplay, and they feel the userpic depicts a fantasy or scene they find appealing.

3. maybe the picture is from a movie they like

4. maybe they are using it in a satirical type way, talking about violence while using a violent picture

5. maybe they just like the picture, for whatever reason, and don't happened to be offended by the image

just some reasons that some may use. anyone want to add ro my list?

[kmd]

Have you chosen an icon that depicts violence against women, in feminist, for one or more of those reasons?

[nosmokegirl]

like i said: --->well, i don't have any icons like that, but i can hazard some guesses

i was just sharing my thoughts on the matter.

[penguin_chaos]

I used to use this icon a lot on here but was called on it several times (enough to make me stop use it) because it uses the word "bitch", which is verbal violence against women. It's a John Stewart quote which I found funny, though- not me agreeing with the greater usage of the word.

[ladyvorkosigan]

I like that quote too, and I kind of see that usage as parodying the general macho oil/war complex rather than as an attack in and of itself.