Your Own Personal Mandate.
Okay so we're giddy with empowerment over a landslide in favor of the peace, justice and equality. And maybe we're a little turned on about how HOT the first couple are (okay maybe that is just me)- so what do we do next? I think it's important to keep the momentum and inspiration going, because there's a LOT of work to do and for the first time since the Nineties I feel like I can make the proverbial difference.:
1.Race: It just KILLS me to hear people saying that this election means “race is no longer an issue” when the education system is still so segregated and African-American kids are still so ABUSIVELY underserved. I see brilliant, creative, shining children underestimated every single day. I have a student I can't even work with because his family has taught him that white people will do nothing but hurt him. I live in a black neighborhood and yep, I've got family and friends who are openly afraid to visit my home. (And, obviously, others who are not so bigoted.)
So my question is, what are YOU doing to desegregate yourself?
2.Gay Rights: I was so grateful to hear President Elect Obama (that is fun to type!)include “gay or straight” in his acceptance speech call-to-unity. It reminded me that I've been kind of lax in the advocating-for-my-people department. It just knocks me out that even as people were voting for hope and progress, they were voting against the rights of gay (And! Any other kind of unmarried!) families.
Anyone who thinks the Culture Wars are over/frivolous probably has access to a marriage license and the right to start a family. This is not the time for complacency.
How are you STANDING UP for your bi/gay/transgender self, family, and friends?
Radical bonus question: even if you consider yourself gay-helpful, in what ways do you actively embody or enforce heteronormative dogmas such as gender roles, sex-negativity, and forced monogamy?
3.Gender Equality: It is SO COOL that Seventies-style issues like the wage gap and women's health (no air quotes) are once again part of the mainstream dialogue. Unfortunately, so are rape jokes.(Thanks, Seth MacFarlaine.)
So, ladies, how can we further de-doormat ourselves? How do we de-identify ourselves with victimhood after 20 years of Lifetime?
And gentlemen, in what ways are you STILL acting like you are more entitled than your mom, sister, wife or girlfriend? (Yes you are.)
How do we continue to de-callous and ce-cynicize ourselves?
Yours truly,
The Housewife of the Revolution
1.Race: It just KILLS me to hear people saying that this election means “race is no longer an issue” when the education system is still so segregated and African-American kids are still so ABUSIVELY underserved. I see brilliant, creative, shining children underestimated every single day. I have a student I can't even work with because his family has taught him that white people will do nothing but hurt him. I live in a black neighborhood and yep, I've got family and friends who are openly afraid to visit my home. (And, obviously, others who are not so bigoted.)
So my question is, what are YOU doing to desegregate yourself?
2.Gay Rights: I was so grateful to hear President Elect Obama (that is fun to type!)include “gay or straight” in his acceptance speech call-to-unity. It reminded me that I've been kind of lax in the advocating-for-my-people department. It just knocks me out that even as people were voting for hope and progress, they were voting against the rights of gay (And! Any other kind of unmarried!) families.
Anyone who thinks the Culture Wars are over/frivolous probably has access to a marriage license and the right to start a family. This is not the time for complacency.
How are you STANDING UP for your bi/gay/transgender self, family, and friends?
Radical bonus question: even if you consider yourself gay-helpful, in what ways do you actively embody or enforce heteronormative dogmas such as gender roles, sex-negativity, and forced monogamy?
3.Gender Equality: It is SO COOL that Seventies-style issues like the wage gap and women's health (no air quotes) are once again part of the mainstream dialogue. Unfortunately, so are rape jokes.(Thanks, Seth MacFarlaine.)
So, ladies, how can we further de-doormat ourselves? How do we de-identify ourselves with victimhood after 20 years of Lifetime?
And gentlemen, in what ways are you STILL acting like you are more entitled than your mom, sister, wife or girlfriend? (Yes you are.)
How do we continue to de-callous and ce-cynicize ourselves?
Yours truly,
The Housewife of the Revolution