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Because I don't have time to write anything long.
If someone points out that there is a flaw in a movement or community, that absolutely does not mean the movement or community is not worthwhile. For example, pointing out that there are some people in the atheist community who are Grade-A sexist and/or racist assholes doesn't mean that the entire atheist community is full of them or that atheists shouldn't have a community.
It means that the people within the community need to stand up and say, Hey, Prominent Atheist Figure Who Is Also a Raging Asshat, you need to knock that shit off because it isn't cool. It means that the people who are the raging asshats need to stop being raging asshats.
(This is an Actual Issue in the atheist community right now. Men (mainly men, yes) wonder where the women are at atheist meetings. Women and minorities are like, dude, we don't feel welcome because of Raging Asshats and your tacit (and vocal) acceptance of them. Change that, and we'll feel more welcome.)
Pointing out that there are feminist critiques (very good ones, IMO) of the back-to-the-farm movement doesn't mean that getting people to eat more whole foods isn't a valuable goal. It means that there are aspects of the movement that have not-very-subtle implications on women, and that these things need to be discussed and addressed. Because shaming women who are unable (or just plain unwilling, ffs) to make cooking food a full-time job isn't a feminist thing to do. Because blaming feminism for encouraging women to work outside the home and use convenience foods* rather than cook three meals a day from scratch (and preferably from food grown in their own garden) is really fucking uncool.
It is an issue that merits discussion. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.
I haven't even started with the assumption of a high socioeconomic status that's required to have someone who can make cooking everything from scratch a full-time job.
*because "processed food" is meaningless; all food is processed in some way (flour, sugar, chocolate, coffee, tea, bacon, sausage, pork chops, everything except fresh produce). Some foods are more highly processed than others.
... Apparently my version of "quick" isn't very. Time for me to go eat my dinner of store-bought dried pasta, store-bought organic pasta sauce in a jar, store-bought ricotta cheese, and store-bought mozzarella cheese (which I grated myself).
If someone points out that there is a flaw in a movement or community, that absolutely does not mean the movement or community is not worthwhile. For example, pointing out that there are some people in the atheist community who are Grade-A sexist and/or racist assholes doesn't mean that the entire atheist community is full of them or that atheists shouldn't have a community.
It means that the people within the community need to stand up and say, Hey, Prominent Atheist Figure Who Is Also a Raging Asshat, you need to knock that shit off because it isn't cool. It means that the people who are the raging asshats need to stop being raging asshats.
(This is an Actual Issue in the atheist community right now. Men (mainly men, yes) wonder where the women are at atheist meetings. Women and minorities are like, dude, we don't feel welcome because of Raging Asshats and your tacit (and vocal) acceptance of them. Change that, and we'll feel more welcome.)
Pointing out that there are feminist critiques (very good ones, IMO) of the back-to-the-farm movement doesn't mean that getting people to eat more whole foods isn't a valuable goal. It means that there are aspects of the movement that have not-very-subtle implications on women, and that these things need to be discussed and addressed. Because shaming women who are unable (or just plain unwilling, ffs) to make cooking food a full-time job isn't a feminist thing to do. Because blaming feminism for encouraging women to work outside the home and use convenience foods* rather than cook three meals a day from scratch (and preferably from food grown in their own garden) is really fucking uncool.
It is an issue that merits discussion. It is an issue that needs to be addressed.
I haven't even started with the assumption of a high socioeconomic status that's required to have someone who can make cooking everything from scratch a full-time job.
*because "processed food" is meaningless; all food is processed in some way (flour, sugar, chocolate, coffee, tea, bacon, sausage, pork chops, everything except fresh produce). Some foods are more highly processed than others.
... Apparently my version of "quick" isn't very. Time for me to go eat my dinner of store-bought dried pasta, store-bought organic pasta sauce in a jar, store-bought ricotta cheese, and store-bought mozzarella cheese (which I grated myself).
no subject
Date: 2012-05-23 03:16 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-05-23 04:16 pm (UTC)From:The Rebecca Watson Incident is a good example of why the atheist community needs to change, like, last year. It's also an example of a place where privileged individuals (men) can speak up and make a difference by not tolerating that sort of behavior, if all those "so what do you want me to DO about my privilege?" questions are honest.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-23 06:41 pm (UTC)From: