Of Course On the Other Hand
Following up on my previous post on men and feminism I don't mean to imply that all you need are good intentions or a progressive outlook. For instance it's pretty progressive to have a bumper sticker, and accompanying sentiment, that says "Keep Your Laws Off My Wife's Body" ...but it's not whatcha call exactly feminist.
On the other hand, though, kicking yourself every time you forget that feminism for men isn't just helping to hold that pedestal steady for the women in your life? And remembering every time you go *there* you're not just setting life back for them you're setting yourself back as well? That? That helps.
The thing is that there's just not that much difference between holding someone up on high and holding them down instead. Either way they can't go anywhere because either way *you're holding them there.* And either way *you're there too,* wasting... maybe ruining their lives while wasting yours as well when everyone could be going around just... *living.* On ground uncluttered by pits and pedestals.
The best feminist bumper sticker I've seen lately is one down the road from us a bit...
"Eve was framed."
Given the fact we're in the Bible Belt, I was surprised.
[Hey DN! One of the nice things about the South, though, is that progressive people might be rare but the ones who are there are *scrappy!* Cool bumper sticker. Thanks! --fl]
Word alone cannot express how much I dislike pedestals. They have no place in my life now. I don't even waste time on crushes, anymore...
[Agreed. Actually crushes are kind of tricky because... well they don't have to involve pedestals but they sure involve a lot of unrealistic suspension of disbelief. :-) Thanks, Nekobawt. --fl]