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In response
Apr. 21st, 2005 06:15 pmThis pathetic article
got my hackles up.
Here is my reply:
Dear Editors-
Alec Mouhibian's article is pointless drivel. I am surprised that editors, even undergraduate ones, would let such poor writing, inflamatory opinion (sans facts), and generally mean and stereotypical ideas of feminism get published. While feminism and women's centers do indeed need to be held accountable and be open to criticism as part of intelligent discourse, they do not need to be written off so disrespectively as Mouhibian has done. Mouhibian is right to question Steinem's rape figures, but he does so without referencing the study or providing information so that we might double check the facts for ourselves. He belittles the all too scary reality of rape and sexual violence by (poorly) attempting humor - does the word "rape' really turn him on, or is he just trying to provoke angry letters to prove his "point" that women can't take a joke? He implies as much when he says that flirtation and sense of humor are blamed for "rape culture." Any woman who has ever been on the awkward end of a sexual joke at work or in the hallway, especially when told by a male in power (like a boss or a professor) knows that humor and flirtation are often convenient means of avoiding responsibility for sexist behavior. Mouhibian paints feminists with an outdated brush. He has not done his research, which is clear from his stereotypes of feminism from thirty years ago. Is he even aware that third wave feminism is the most vocal kind of feminism in America today? These women are not of the man-hating and smelly variety that Mouhibian wants to avoid by "ten feet."
You would do well to encourage your columnists to cultivate some research skills, as well as some compassion and perspective.
ADDENDUM, alas, to LJ only.
This article also denigrates men. It assumes that most men are biologically wired to have violent sexual responses to women. It also claims that any man who supports a feminist agenda is only doing so superficially in order to get laid. This insults most of the men I know. I should have included this in my letter. Ah well.
got my hackles up.
Here is my reply:
Dear Editors-
Alec Mouhibian's article is pointless drivel. I am surprised that editors, even undergraduate ones, would let such poor writing, inflamatory opinion (sans facts), and generally mean and stereotypical ideas of feminism get published. While feminism and women's centers do indeed need to be held accountable and be open to criticism as part of intelligent discourse, they do not need to be written off so disrespectively as Mouhibian has done. Mouhibian is right to question Steinem's rape figures, but he does so without referencing the study or providing information so that we might double check the facts for ourselves. He belittles the all too scary reality of rape and sexual violence by (poorly) attempting humor - does the word "rape' really turn him on, or is he just trying to provoke angry letters to prove his "point" that women can't take a joke? He implies as much when he says that flirtation and sense of humor are blamed for "rape culture." Any woman who has ever been on the awkward end of a sexual joke at work or in the hallway, especially when told by a male in power (like a boss or a professor) knows that humor and flirtation are often convenient means of avoiding responsibility for sexist behavior. Mouhibian paints feminists with an outdated brush. He has not done his research, which is clear from his stereotypes of feminism from thirty years ago. Is he even aware that third wave feminism is the most vocal kind of feminism in America today? These women are not of the man-hating and smelly variety that Mouhibian wants to avoid by "ten feet."
You would do well to encourage your columnists to cultivate some research skills, as well as some compassion and perspective.
ADDENDUM, alas, to LJ only.
This article also denigrates men. It assumes that most men are biologically wired to have violent sexual responses to women. It also claims that any man who supports a feminist agenda is only doing so superficially in order to get laid. This insults most of the men I know. I should have included this in my letter. Ah well.