Daily Dose of Misogyny

[subandhu]

Yes, daily. I have to browse the news every morning and misogyny is invariably there to leer at me from articles and comments. I won't link because the materials are in Bulgarian and it would be useless anyway. Today:

1. One of top newspapers has an article about inequality in pay between men and women. Quite a good article, actually. The depressing

Comments

[barbs_d]

if anyone has any words to placate me, use them now

Will abbreviations do? *points to userpic*

[ms_arithmancer]

This post definitely calls for Data. Though he is a trifle restrained for the circumstances...

*hugs*

[subandhu]

Thanks, Z. *hugs back*

[subandhu]

Oh yeah. Thanks, Dags!

[subandhu]

Thanks, Pearl. I really hope this girl finds independence and a better life and people who treat her as a human being in the process. The article naturally says nothing about it, it's preoccupied with what a slut and a bad mother she is.

There is an adoption system, but the Mother is put on a pedestal here because you're either a Mother or a whore and if you're a woman and anything else, you're useless. So it's not the children's well-being this article is concerned with, but with presenting a "juicy" story of a slut who screws around and couldn't care less about her children. It's almost a cautionary tale. It is SO. DISGUSTING.

[ravenstar84]

O_O.....

Are there any women's advocacy institutions in Bulgaria at all? Any feminist blog sites reporting on this elsewhere? I'm not sure if that would help anything now, but at least knowing there's a resource that exists gives some hope, and maybe they can look into helping this girl out as well. I hope someone/something helps this girl out of her situation somehow. :(

[subandhu]

There are enough organizations. There's a LAW against discrimination. There are several blogs which have started an Activist Alliance which works for the rights and situation of people from marginalized groups, including women. BUT. All of this is in a very small minority, an exception. The problem, the huge setback, is the general attitude. It's the same with homophobia and racism. Exactly the same. Nobody cares at best. There was a gay pride parade just a few days ago, officially organized and everything, and what it was met with - COMPLETE silence from authorities and disgusting sensationalist articles in the media filled with homophobic rhetoric. The people who expressed support were mainly foreign ambassadors which showed, very sharply, the wide abyss between us and Western Europe when it comes to level of civilization. It would be a SCANDAL for a Bg politician to express support for a gay event (and it was for the only one (1) who did so), while in the West it's protocol. I just don't know what to say, it's so depressing. So so

[taperoo2k]

Indifference often leads to people turning a blind eye to things like Homophobia, racism and sexism. Some people will actually believe in those things, but they are usually the minority.

That indifference can be overcome, but it requires a lot of brave people putting themselves at risk to get a message across. It has to be a grassroots movement, as Politicans won't take any notice unless it brings them votes (being cynical there). Well maybe not certain Republican politicians in the US.

The UK has come a long way in regards to these issues, but we still have someway to go in terms of making sure Men and Women are paid equally ( i get angry when women are sacked just for having children).
I was very pleased that the BNP was driven back in the last General Election and local Elections. Can't stand those twerps, they belong to the past.

This can get very depressing, but you just have to keep fighting for what are very basic human rights.