Women's Bodies, Disability and Privilege - A Response

[natsuko1978]

I haven't been online much - or posted at all - lately, thanks to another bad spell with my back. When I have been able to sit at the computer, I've been absorbed, upset and derailed by the goings on in GateFail 2009. If you are not yet aware of what's been going on, there are a number of posts about it in

Comments

[sheafrotherdon]

Oh, these are wonderful! What a great response to everything that's been going on - to take back the very words people would use to denigrate us and make them *our* tools.

So, so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing them, sweets.

[natsuko1978]

Thank *you* - for friending me; for bringing GateFail to our attention and doing so much to raise awareness and consciousness about what is going on - and what negative words, attitudes and opinions really *mean*; for the plug in your LJ; for all of this.

And thank you so much for your kind appreciation of these poems. Your words mean a lot.

[ivy_chan]

I'm not in Sci-fi fandoms, but this post and its beautiful poems made me look up Gatefail. And I wish I HADN'T, holy crap. That's more fail in one casting call than I've seen in a long while.

[natsuko1978]

I know - I couldn't believe it when I first read it. Some of the fan comments especially have been hard to read and harder to stomach.

Thank you for reading this, commenting and looking it up. Just as the RaceFail of the Avatar: Last Airbender/Legend of Aang movie casting goes *so far* beyond the Avatar fandom, this is bigger than the Stargate franchise or Sci-Fi as a genre. It speaks to pervasive attitudes towards women, homosexuality, disability, "self" and Dualism; which is why I was so glad when it was picked up by lesbian and disability media and access/rights groups.

The creators have tried to say that this isn't the finished product, so can't be judged - but if the issues hadn't been spotted and highlighted and fought, who knows how far this might have gone. Even the apology was more, "We're sorry that people are offended," than an apology for actually *being* offensive.

And thank you so much for the comment on the poems themselves. :D *hugs*

[shao_fu]

These beautiful poems are the absolute best response to the appalling shambles of Gatefail. Thank you for sharing your talent, your thoughts and giving us a small insight into your life.

[natsuko1978]

Thank *you* for commenting - especially the kind words about the poems themselves.

I think the supportive attitudes and the sheer number of people demonstrating their willingness to fight the pervasive negative attitudes and opinions reflected by GateFail (and its defenders), are the best things to come out of the this.

[beadattitude]

Over here on a rec from sheafrotherdon. These are so gorgeous and piercingly to the point.

"My Body - Is Me," resonated in a particularly strong manner because I'm having a bad pain day.

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[natsuko1978]

Thank *you* for reading and commenting. *hugs*

I'm so sorry to hear you're having a bad pain day - but so relieved that my experience could resonate for you in your pain - I sometimes think that pain (and our responses to it) is one of the hardest things to communicate because it's so very individual.

I hope today is a better day for you.

[beachpsalms]

Bravo.

[natsuko1978]

Thank you. :D