the politics of milk

fuckyeahfeminists: rhrealitycheck: The Right to Choose My...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:34:02 +0200

rhrealitycheck:

The Right to Choose My Daughter Made Me the Confident Woman I Am Today

Newsflash, anti-choicers: being pro-choice doesn’t mean anti-birth.

fuck yeah pro-choice teen moms!

personal anecdote: i am pro-choice now because i didn’t have a choice back then. in my home country germany, abortion is severly restricted to the first 12 weeks, with mandatory counseling and you have to pay for it yourself… and i was 15, scared and confused and didn’t even know i was pregnant until the second trimester. even though it all turned out “for the best” in my case, i wouldn’t wish this horrible, horrible situation on anyone.

being a mom is an amazing blessing, but it’s also hard and scary, and teen moms face additional hardships like social isolation, poverty, slut-shaming, lack of access to education etc etc.

esmegruenwald: trollingchannel: my school’s way of preventing...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:20:09 +0200

esmegruenwald:

trollingchannel:

my school’s way of preventing rape

Content note: coercion, dubious consent

Nice idea, but I’m kinda allergic to “respect yourself”. When is that ever used in a not victim-blaming way? What does it even mean in this context? It’s not about “not respecting yourself” when you are afraid to say no, when you are threatened or have been told by society that you “should” be ready for sex. It’s victim blaming. I don’t see a different interpretation.

what about when you hate yourself so much you punish yourself by giving in to uncomfortable or painful sex; not like bdsm but as a sort of self harm. in that case, you’re not afraid to say no, you just feel like you don’t deserve anything better.

in my humble opinion, “respect yourself” is very important message - respect your own needs and boundaries, don’t feel unimportant, be brave enough to speak out for yourself, because you are worth it.

"Abortion seems to be the only medical procedure that people want to deny you based on how you got in..."

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 10:07:40 +0200

“

Abortion seems to be the only medical procedure that people want to deny you based on how you got in that situation.

Drove drunk, got in an accident and need an organ transplant? No problem.

Messing around with a gun, accidentally shoot yourself in the leg and need surgery? Of course.

Smoke tobacco for most of your life and need treatment for lung cancer? Yep.

Climb a tree, fall out and break your leg? We’ll fix that right up.

Have sex and get pregnant when you don’t want to be? YOU GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS SITUATION AND YOU DESERVE NO MEDICAL HELP OR COMPASSION! THIS IS YOUR FAULT AND YOU WILL DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES!

”

- Worry About Your Own Uterus: (via veruca-assault)

“Worry about your own uterus” wise wise words.

(via triplash)

therewerebirds: triflesandparsnips: This morning my daughter, who is nearly four, saw the stretch...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:31:57 +0200

therewerebirds:

triflesandparsnips:

This morning my daughter, who is nearly four, saw the stretch marks on my hips and stomach. She ran her hands over them and asked what they were.

“I got them when I grew up,” I said, “and a few more when I had you.” I grinned down at her. “They’re my stripes. You’ll get stripes too when you grow up.”

She was overjoyed. “Really?”

I think she’s in her room now, pretending to be a tiger.

This is what we need to teach.

قلب الأم (A Mother's Heart) —Ibrahim B. Mikhail Al-Mundhir

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:47:05 +0100

yourdailynarcissist:

أغرى امرؤٌ يوماً غُلاماً جاهلاً
بنقوده حتى ينال به الوطرْ
One day a man tempted, a foolish boy
With his money to safeguard the boy from harm

ائتني بفؤادِ أمك يا فت :قال
ولك الدراهمُ والجواهر والدررْ
He told him: “Boy, bring me the Heart of your mother,
And to you I’ll give jewels, coins, and pearls.”

فمضى وأغرز خنجراً في صدره
والقلبُ أخرجهُ وعاد على الأثرْ
So he went and sheathed a dagger with his Mother’s chest
And the Heart he took out and went back the way he came,

ىكنه من فرطِ سُرعته هو
فتدحرج القلبُ المُعَفَّرُ إذا عثرْ
But because of his excess haste, he fell
And the Heart, covered with blood, rolled along as he stumbled.

:ناداه قلبُ الأمِ وهو مُعفَّـرٌ
ضررْ من أصابك هل حبيبي ولدي
The Mother’s Heart called him while being covered with dirt
“Son! My beloved! Are you hurt?!”

فكأن هذا الصوتَ رُغْمَ حُنُوِّهِ
غَضَبُ السماء على الوليد قد انهمرْ
And suddenly, even though the voice was very compassionate,
It was as if the wrath of the heaven had fallen on the boy

واستلَّ خنجرهُ ليطعنَ صدرهُ
طعناً سيبقى عبرةً لمن اعتبرْ
And so, he unsheathed his dagger to stab himself,
A stabbing to become an example for those who heed examples.

يداً ولا كُفَّ: قلبُ الأمِّ ناداه
تذبح فؤادي مــرتــيــن ِ عـــلـــى الأثـرْ
But, just as the blade was about to pierce his own heart
The Heart of the mother called him saying “Stop your hand!
Do not kill my Heart twice in the same place!”

"If somebody is investing time, resources, and energy into convincing you of your own worthlessness,..."

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:56:40 +0100

“If somebody is investing time, resources, and energy into convincing you of your own worthlessness, that same somebody has revealed to you that they have a lot to lose if you don’t believe them. They’re protecting their own loss of power. Which means they perceive you as somebody who can take that power away. If somebody is putting in the work to knock you down, it’s because they’ve got something to fear about you if you’re standing up.”

- Harriet Jay (via esmegruenwald)

I so needed to hear that today!

Photo

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 19:16:43 +0100

thefemme-menace: whimsicalpinkcastle: chubby-bunnies: farewell...

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:48:52 +0100

thefemme-menace:

whimsicalpinkcastle:

chubby-bunnies:

farewell-goodnight:

fuckyeahsexyatheists:

thepoliticalfreakshow:

twinfools:

ftmark:

marxisforbros:

linesinbetween:

So Brad totally talked about this in an interview, saying that Shiloh prefers to be addressed by all the family as John (and if anyone calls ze—I guess, I’m not sure if there are chosen gender pronouns yet, so I’m just going to use ze/zir—Shiloh, ze’ll be all “it’s JOHN OKAY?”) and prefers traditionally “masculine” things like swords and boy clothes etc., and he and Angelina don’t care because they a) recognize that not all children are the same/follow traditional gender binaries and b) they love John no matter what so it doesn’t matter to them what gender ze is. Which I thought was awesome/adorable.

Love them so much.

so

awesome

omg

I’m not nessesarily a big fan of Jolie, however I will say this: If my mother had done for me what she is doing for Shiloh/John it would have saved me a a childhood full of frustration, numbness and confusion. I would not now look back on 19 years worth of life and wish I had been able to LIVE IT. Instead, I spent 19 years pretending to be someone else. I can’t help but feel robbed. Why do we tell children who they are? HOW can we tell children who they are?

Parents, please, LISTEN to your kids. Embrace difference and know that you are raising your children right by allowing them to be themselves and loving them unconditionally.

AMEN!!

Everyone who’s liked or reblogged this seriously needs to become a parent. Please, for the good of humanity — reproduce, smart people.s

I praise them for this. So many parents prevent their children from being happy and being who they are based on either a) what the parents want or b) what society tells them to do. If you’re child is gay, straight, transexual or whatever else, embrace it and love your child. They’ll always need you.

My 4 yr old came up to me 2 days ago and said “Mummy, sometimes I really just wish I could be a girl like you. In some dreams, I am a girl and I have long beautiful hair and I’m wearing a pretty top, too”.

I asked if it made him happy? And he said he likes being a boy, but he would like to be a girl sometimes too.

I said that he can be a boy, a girl, both or neither. Whatever will make him happy. And with that he said he loved me and gave me a kiss and cuddle.

I’ve said this many time before, but parents don’t OWN their kids. We are here to protect, nurture, support and love.

My child can be whoever they want to be, and my love for them will never change.

^ You’re a great parent.

^Def doing it right

I don't have sex.

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:22:39 +0100

I don't have sex.
Patriarchy: Prude.
I have sex.
Patriarchy: Slut.
I have safe sex.
Patriarchy: Prude and slut at the same time.
I got pregnant from having unprotected sex.
Patriarchy: Dumbass slut.
I got an abortion.
Patriarchy: Baby killer.
I had the kid.
Patriarchy: Welfare queen.
I got married, then had sex, then had a kid.
Patriarchy: K, but we'll pay you less and blame your being a mother.
I got married, then had sex, and became a full time mother.
Patriarchy: You're a welfare queen too.
I got married, then had sex, then worked at the same time.
Patriarchy: You're a terrible mother, and don't ask us for help with daycare. Get back in the kitchen.
I don't care what you think.
Patriarchy: What a bitch.
What the fuck can I do to make you happy, patriarchy?
Patriarchy: lol what a doormat.

The Arab woman vs. the Western woman

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:47:18 +0100

The Arab woman vs. the Western woman

thediscreetcharmoftheproletariat: There is a damn fine line between infanitilizing a woman and...

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:30:52 +0100

thediscreetcharmoftheproletariat:

There is a damn fine line between infanitilizing a woman and protecting her.

livelaughawesome: fucking perfect

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:38:22 +0100

livelaughawesome:

fucking perfect

my son dressed up as his teacher for carnival.

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:51:00 +0100

my son dressed up as his teacher for carnival.

Social Justice Problems

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:45:26 +0100

on tumblr: guys we need to have a serious discussion about the erasure of nonbinary trans* people
in real life: ok, I guess I have to explain to my entire class how "feminist" is not an insult

"Tragically we are witnessing a resurgence of harmful misogynist assumptions that mothers cannot..."

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:45:13 +0100

“Tragically we are witnessing a resurgence of harmful misogynist assumptions that mothers cannot raise healthy sons, that boys ‘benefit’ from patriarchal militaristic notions of masculinity which emphasize discipline and obedience to authority. Boys need healthy self esteem. They need love. And a wise and loving feminist politics can provide the only foundation to save the lives of male children. Patriarchy will not heal them. If that were so they would all be well.”

- bell hooks, Feminism is for Everybody (via yakotta)

Birthing While Black

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:38:42 +0100

Birthing While Black:

reverieofb:

sweetblackgrannies:

Despite an incredible birthing experience facilitated by my personal angel/ob-gyn, from almost the moment my baby took her first breath, her mother was treated like a 14-year-old drug-addicted welfare queen, there to push out yet another daddy-less baby. Seriously.

They tested my newborn for drugs (though I’ve never taken an illicit substance in my entire life) without my consent—something I later found out hospitals do at disproportionately higher rates with black babies than white ones.

Despite that I paid for the private room and meals, I was immediately put in a massive post-birth room with three other women and their newborns. I was moved only after I asked why I wasn’t in a private room—a question that elicited scowls and foot-dragging from the nurse until she bothered to check my paperwork to see that, indeed, I’d paid for a private room. It took three hours for my room to be changed.

Once in the private room, the nurses disappeared for nine hours! Seriously.Nine.I had no diapers. No idea how to breastfeed properly (and no bottle or milk to feed my baby if I chose to formula feed). No instructions on what to do to care for my post-birth body (was it okay to walk? Pee? Wash?). Nothing. I seriously thought I was being punished for asking (nicely) for what I’d paid for. When a nurse finally did show up, she came with a “gift bag” full of Similac and coupons for… Similac.

The private “suite” was disgusting. The bathroom smelled like cheap, potent cleaning chemicals. The shower tiles were grimy and the shower curtain was full of mold. There wasn’t so much as a picture on the bland walls. (I begged my back-up ob-gyn to let me go home after one night; thank God, she signed off on it.)

The nursing staff was genuinely surprised (!) that the guy by my side, Nick, was my husband—and actually said that stupid ish out loud.

Our special meal arrived only after we pointed out to the nurses that the fees we paid included it, and by the time it got to us, our dinner was cold and our champagne (a tiny hand-held bottle we could have finished with one big sip from the straw) was warm.

I couldn’t get out of that place fast enough. And when it came time for me to have my second child, I stayed far, far away from that hospital—even changed my ob-gyn, which really broke my heart to do—to avoid it like the damn plague.

I wondered then what I know to be true now: It didn’t matter how much money I had in my bank account or how good my insurance was, or that I had a ring on my finger, or that I was smart and accomplished, or that I tried to pay my way out of substandard service. At the end of the day, to almost everyone in that hospital, I was just another black girl pushing out another black baby and neither of us deserved to be treated with dignity or respect, much less special. That human beings charged with caring for new life and the people who ushered in that miracle could traffic in this kind of reprehensible treatment of anyone, much less a new mother—no matter her race, financial or marital status, or background—is beyond my level of comprehension.

But it happens. A lot. And there are studies that show that my birthing experience is a lot like that of other African American women who’ve had babies in hospitals.

[…]

God…damnit

howiviewafrica: Mothers ♥.

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:32:45 +0100

howiviewafrica:

Mothers ♥.

Photo

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:53:11 +0100

"I think the problem is that many people in America think that racism is an attitude. And this is..."

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:31:37 +0100

“

I think the problem is that many people in America think that racism is an attitude. And this is encouraged by the capitalist system. So they think that what people think is what makes them a racist. Racism is not an attitude.

If a white man wants to lynch me, that’s his problem. If he’s got the power to lynch me, that’s my problem. Racism is not a question of attitude; it’s a question of power.

Racism gets its power from capitalism. Thus, if you’re anti-racist, whether you know it or not, you must be anti-capitalist. The power for racism, the power for sexism, comes from capitalism, not an attitude.

You cannot be a racist without power. You cannot be a sexist without power. Even men who beat their wives get this power from the society which allows it, condones it, encourages it. One cannot be against racism, one cannot be against sexism, unless one is against capitalism.

”

- Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) answering a question about racism, sexism, and capitalism.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tug8RJyLoz0

(via disciplesofmalcolm)

Photo

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 11:08:35 +0100