The Sound of the Human Voice

tinypinkpearls:

rowancleo:

un-gendered:

thewayigroove:

bigfatfeminist:

inevertravelwithoutmydiary:

khaleesi:

jewbilant:

you see this?

it’s called a razor

if you’re a girl, USE IT

your hairy legs and armpits aren’t cute okay

you’re not helping out for woman’s rights or anything

YOU’RE JUST MAKING YOURSELF LOOK NASTY

Or!

Women have been socialized to believe that they must remove hair for a number of reasons, primarily the following:

1. hair is historically and Biblically associated with power; we as a patriarchal culture are obsessed with keeping hair on men (facial hair, Hair Club for Men, hair plugs, whatever) and keeping it off women. You say hair on women is nasty; why is it only hair on women? Women and men have the same pubic hair. We all grow it out of our follicles for the same reason. Why is it only gross on women?
2. women’s bodies have been considered the property of men since the dawn of time, and therefore we have been held to a standard of beauty and attractiveness that is not determined by us but is instead determined by something called the male gaze, which is erases all sexualities and genders other than cisgender heterosexual men and assumes that women are performing for it.
3. childlike women are considered less “threatening” and more “feminine” because they are naive, quiet, and rely on ~*adult men*~ to take care of them.

AND ALSO:

1. there is a fallacy about pubic hair that it is dirty. It is not dirty. In fact, it’s there to keep your genitals cleaner. Pubic hair and armpit hair are also there to spread your pheromones around and make it easier for you to attract a mate. 
2. all mammals have hair. We’re mammals.

AND FINALLY:

1. No one else’s body is your business. Ever. You want to shave? Go ahead! That’s totally your prerogative and if you’re more comfortable shaving, feel free. But given that pubic hair isn’t innately dirty, there’s no reason for anyone to remove it if they don’t want to.

You’re not sending out some edgy, hardcore message here. You’re just reinforcing what our culture wants you to reinforce. Before you pick up that razor again, think about why you want to shave. Is it just because our culture told you to? Why’d they tell you to? What’s the point?

Do what makes you comfortable and what makes you happy, and let others do the same.

Not to mention that at least in the US, shaving legs and underarms has been a thing for less than a century.

And was popularized by razor and depilatory companies. Who, of course, just wanted to double their sales by targeting women as well as men. Their marketing campaigns started in women’s magazines in 1915.

Here’s the first advertisement they ran trying to sell razors by telling women their underarm hair was “objectionable”. And it worked.

Advertising and commercialism once again enforcing arbitrary restrictions on women’s bodies~

Yes I am reblogging this again. Because of what the above person added. It’s so interesting to learn how customs come about in a culture.

Fuck yes

I’ve reblogged this before… and yep I still hate this blithering twat

felistella:

ughwhocares:

jenjay:

washingtonpoststyle:

jerismithready:

I just fell in love with New Zealand.

After passing a marriage equality bill, the Parliament spontaneously broke into the Maori love song “Pokarekare ana.”

Lawmaking is usually messy at its best and downright grisly at its worst. When it’s beautiful, like this, it should be celebrated.

(Hat tip to @robertflorence, Scottish comedian extraordinaire, for linking the video on Twitter.)

U.S. Congressmen: Please incorporate more singing into the running of the U.S. Government.

Congress would be better if there were more flowers, singing, and ladies wearing fabulous hats while voting.

I cried

Perfect.

im-a-kittycat:

“So my amazing daughter, Emma, turned 5 last month, and I had been searching everywhere for new-creative inspiration for her 5yr pictures. I noticed quite a pattern of so many young girls dressing up as beautiful Disney Princesses, no matter where I looked 95% of the “ideas” were the “How to’s” of  how to dress your little girl like a Disney Princess…We chose 5 women (five amazing and strong women), as it was her 5th birthday but there are thousands of unbelievable women (and girls) who have beat the odds and fought (and still fight) for their equal rights all over the world”

 - Jaime Moore, Not Just a Girl

lipstick-feminists:

cursethecosmos:

stfuconservatives:

sulitati:

I know I made a post about this a while ago, but I’m going to make it again since we’re getting into the hottest time of the year.

If you’re out in the Sonoran Desert in AZ and you see any of these [bottles with insults], please pick them up and throw them away. Vigilante groups are leaving intentionally empty gallon jugs in popular crossing points and that is the last thing that somebody needs to see as they’re trying to cross.

If you can, carry clean and full jugs with you and leave them where you see these. Gatorade or Electrolit are also really good for re-hydration.

Contact Humane Borders if you meet anyone in need of medical attention.

Signal boosting.

The first insult on that jug is infuriating to me. Feeling the need to parenthesize that curse word like that. Like the spanish language is less than, and no, I’m not looking too much into it. The person(s) who did this knew damn well what they were trying to convey.

As a latino, as an American, this is painful. It’s disgusting. It’s disheartening. It’s heartbreaking. It does not matter which Spanish speaking nation you’re from, or if you’re American born or an immigrant, the latino community must band together to push back the cruelty and racism our “great” nation throws at us. Our Mexican brothers and sisters deserve better than this.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

That poem on the Statue Of Liberty, I guess it never meant anything at all.

Perfect commentary

knowhomo:

LGBTQ* Posts We Love (and Blogs We Love to Follow)

Queer Book Club’s Hogwart’s House Reading List

ALL of the following text is from the posts of QueerBookClub.tumblr.com:

[image description: a red banner reading “queer books for gryffindor” is surrounded by six book covers of the titles listed below]

This is the first of four recommended reading lists of queer and queer-ish books, organized by Hogwarts houses! ENJOY.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
This story of a young woman captured by Nazis during a spy mission in occupied France has repeatedly been called a tour de force and the best novel of last year. Though not explicitly queer, the heart of the story is the deep, loving friendship of two girls.

Diverse Energies edited by Tobias Buckell and Joe Monti.
This collection of dystopian stories starring heroes of color is perfect for the daring, strong-willed wizards of Gryffindor. A handful of the stories also feature queer protagonists or minor characters.

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III.
What’s more exemplary of good-hearted headstrong Gryffindor spirit than taking up the cape and fighting evil? Besides starring a lesbian superhero, this volume also features an introduction by Rachel Maddow - we will just have to ignore the fact that she’s basically the nation’s Ravenclaw prefect.

When She Woke by Hillary Jordon
This re-imagining of The Scarlet Letter tells the story of Hannah, a woman who finds herself marked as a murderer after an abortion. In this future world, criminals’ skin is colored to indicate the class of their crime. Hannah’s red skin means a life of shame and cruelty - unless she can forge a new path.

Huntress by Malinda Lo
Epic quests. Hostile monsters. The fate of the world. If that’s your kind of story, look no further. Tough, down-to-earth Kaede and gentle, visionary Taisin set out to find out what caused their land to fall into endless cold.

She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan
Let’s not get into tropes about transgender people being so brave. I chose this book for this list because Boylan reminds me of Gryffindor in other ways - considerate but honest, amiable but not self-sacrificing, and, you know, popular. Bestselling, even!

[image description: a green banner reading “queer books for slytherin” is surrounded by six book covers of the titles listed below]


A Girl’s Guide to Taking Over the World: Writings from the Girl Zine Revolution edited by Karen Green and Tristan Taromino
While this collection of writings from zines of the early 90s riot grrl era and beyond may not be an actual blueprint for world domination, it is just as brash, smart and unapologetic as any Slytherin.

Teeth by Hannah Moskowitz
This story of an isolated teenager’s relationship with a monstrous fish-boy is supposed to be seriously grim. The darkness factor - and the fact that Pottermore tells us that the Slytherin common room windows gives students a view of the creatures the lake - is what makes it a great Slytherin pick.

The Complete Hothead Paisan: Homicidal Lesbian Terrorist by Diane DiMassa
Before some tumblr misandrists were even born, Hothead Paisan was collecting rapists’ spines. Queer Slytherins in need of some guilt-free revenge fantasy should pick this one up - though I implore you to read up on the author’s transmisogyny first.

Sula by Toni Morrison
While not explicitly queer, this story is held together by love between women. Slytherins will likely relate to Sula, a community pariah whose motivations are as incomprehensible to her friends and family as theirs are to her.

Sister Mischief by Laura Goode
Esme Rockett is probably a Gryffindor at heart (they tend to get the leading roles). But she and her friends - outsiders in their lily-white Christian community - employ all their cunning to wreck havoc for the establishment. Sex, drugs and hip-hop make this YA debut a conservative censor’s worst nightmare - or wet dream, maybe.

When You Are Engulfed In Flames by David Sedaris
This contemporary master of the personal essay always manages to come off as judgmental, selfish, petty, loveable and brilliant. Tapping into our dark spots to charm us, Sedaris is an exemplary Slytherin - and skull-centric cover art doesn’t hurt, either.

[image description: a blue banner reading “queer books for ravenclaw” is surrounded by six book covers of the titles listed below]


Nobody Passes: Rejecting the Rules of Gender and Conformity edited by Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore
This collection of short works on identity, community and authenticity covers a lot of territory - “passing” as related to gender, race, disability, work, nationality, sexuality, and more. Pick it up if you’re itching for more complex perspectives on social justice.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
Besides being an absolute masterpiece of the comics format, Bechdel’s memoir about her cold and inscrutable father earns major Ravenclaw appeal with its highbrow literary allusions. If psychology is more your thing, try her other memoir, Are You My Mother?

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This book tells the story of two Mexican-American teens - Ari, an angry loner, and Dante, a quirky intellectual - who form a transformative bond and ponder over poetry, philosophy and life’s many mysteries. I haven’t gotten my hands on this one yet, but I’ve been told it’s one of those rare transcendent young adult books, emotionally resonant and masterfully crafted.

Israel/Palestine and the Queer International by Sarah Schulman
This latest work from the prolific author and longtime activist chronicles her travels through Tel Aviv and the West Bank and her growing consciousness of the occupation of Palestine. Read it for a knowledgeable queer perspective on a divisive topic.

Adaptation by Malinda Lo
There’s not much on this list for science aficionados, but hopefully some science fiction will suit you. Did you know Malinda Lo did graduate work on The X-Files? This novel, the first in a forthcoming series, has flavors of the 90s TV show and should delight fans of Mulder and Scully, creepy conspiracies, and queer representation in sci-fi lit.

Transgender History by Susan Stryker
For the history buffs - this concise text on transgender people in America between the mid twentieth century and early twenty-first puts trans communities and movements in historical context and offers a compact but comprehensive chronicle of our stories.

[image description: a yellow banner reading “queer books for hufflepuff” is surrounded by six book covers of the titles listed below]

A Queer and Pleasant Danger: The True Story of a Nice Jewish Boy Who Joins the Church of Scientology and Leaves Twelve Years Later to Become the Lovely Lady She is Today by Kate Bornstein
This newest memoir is actually one of the few of Auntie Kate’s books that I haven’t read, but I couldn’t resist the Hufflepuff-yellow cover. Open, honest and compassionate, Bornstein’s books always feel like a big hug and kiss to outcasts everywhere. 

Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Green might be the most famous living Puff since he proclaimed it on The Late Late Show. I’m not sure what Levithan’s sorting is, but this book - about two boys with one name, how people come together and how they drift apart - is definitely a good one for us sensitive badgers.

Ask the Passengers by A.S. King
I was tempted at first to prescribe this YA book to Ravenclaws, as its heroine, Astrid, is a philosophy nerd who regularly meets with her invisible friend Socrates. She does, however, nickname him Frank and compare him to a cute dog. Moreover, her questions are more of the heart than the head: How can I be seen for who I am? Why isn’t equality easy? Where can my love be safe?

10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert and Rex Ray
Need a bright dose of hope? Pick up this beautiful children’s book about a young trans girl who finds someone who believes in her dreams and appreciates her for just who she is.

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B. Rosenberg
A great resource for shy or insecure Hufflepuffs who have trouble communicating, or badger activists who want to get their words across without invalidating anyone’s feelings and experiences. If you get too overwhelmed by conversation, I also recommend The Highly Sensitive Person.

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
While I strongly prefer the Dangerous Angel books that focus on Witch Baby, Weetzie’s sunny but sensitive disposition is probably more Hufflepuff appropriate. Her naïveté fits perfectly with mainstream perceptions of Puffs, while her big deep loud love for her chosen family is reminiscent of Hufflepuff as I know it.

laurenzuni:

class-struggle-anarchism:

kmanovaere:

onefitmodel:

pretty much my favourite commercial ever ft. strong ladies taking nobody’s bullshit (x)

WHY DOESN’T THIS HAVE MORE NOTES

Breaking the patriarchy imposed mould - brilliant !!

http://kmanovaere.tumblr.com/

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? FUCK OFF NIKE

CATTLE PRODS USED ON PROTESTING FEMALE WORKERS AT NIKE FACTORY

FEMALE WORKERS ABUSED, OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID AT INDONESIAN NIKE FACTORIES

WOMEN ATTACKED, TORTURED, MOLESTED BY BOSSES AT NIKE FACTORY IN VIETNAM

WOMEN SEXUALLY HARRASSED, OVER WORKED, UNDERPAID, FIRED FOR BEING PREGNANT IN BANGLADESH

Nike - exploiting women, commodifying feminism

^ This.

(Source: youngned)

As a person who is diagnosed with OCD, I appreciate the crap out of this.

(Source: spicecat)

rikaorlanda:

TODAY IN TURKEY

National Protest: Istanbul: 01-02JUNE2013

(Source: carlboygenius)

plannedparenthood:

Reblog if you agree.

dudesforchoice:

forthechoice:

jessiben:

When a Muslim fraternity from the University of Texas at Dallas took to the streets to protest against domestic violence, these striking pictures made waves around the world. Muslim America rocks — we just don’t hear about it often.

Yes, it’s true. Not all muslims are extremists. 

Muslim dudes against domestic violence.

chemicalbride:

toke-s:

this is crazzzy

this is it this is the gif i’ve been waiting my whole life to see i can die happy now

There’s a full video (and channel): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_7Qi3mprKQ

werefollowingthebutterflies:

redvelvetcupcakemurder:

universe-juice:

chocobo-strider:

the-disney-words:

SHARE TO SAVE TUMBLR!

- Let’s try and get 100k notes

True shit

A review by one of the folks sums it up perfectly:

“What worries me about Yahoo! buying Tumblr is how it would choose to incorporate the website into its email and homepage features.  One of the reasons why Tumblr is so unique is because it’s a niche market.  By adding more users who don’t fit into this niche, it would make it more difficult for communities to develop within Tumblr, and Tumblr would have to change to accommodate these new users.  Tumblr as a website is not the kind that you can sign up for in a day and be on your way.  It is a website crafted so that you can immediately post but must spend several weeks, sometimes even months, to build a community.  With new users who would not be willing to spend time growing a community, Tumblr would have to be changed, which would alienate its current users.  Those users have spent time and effort to make Tumblr what it is today, and they are the ones who spend time on the website daily.  A user who is checking onto Tumblr because it’s attached to their homepage is not going to be as strong of a user nor as dedicated.  By changing the website to suit this new user, you would lose the strong users while building an undedicated usership.  

To any website that would think of buying Tumblr, they must understand that it is a website that cannot be changed to make it more user friendly to a casual blogger.  I think that many Tumblr users would be less worried about a buy-out if they were promised that their communities and ways of using Tumblr would not be changed.  No one is going to mind Yahoo! buying the website and gaining a few extra million dollars per year from the minimal advertising; what we will be upset with is if a company like Yahoo! then changes the website to increase casual users and decrease dedicated users.  Yahoo! would gain nothing by losing this “cool” group of bloggers in an age group they so desperately want to reach, so they must cater to these individuals by leaving the website exactly as is.” - houseoftombombadil

As much as is does sound like a load of bullshit for someone to buy Tumblr, it’s a possibility.  I Personally think it should stay independent and I hope David Karp keeps a hold of it like his own child. Or we make enough noise to where such major changes (if bought) will not happen. I would hate to see Tumblr turned into an advertising dump.

We’re not a ‘hip fad group’ to be marketed to. I hate the fact that’s all we look like to businesses in the end.

reblogging again for this ^

Yahoo will do to Tumblr what Six Apart did to Livejournal

I totally agree with how advertising could be bad for Tumblr’s current users. Yahoo’s obviously expecting returns if they’re willing to pay the rumored price of over a million dollars, and unless they increase ads and tie ins with their own services such as their mail and “news” they’re going to lose money. So it seems pretty obvious that there are going to be some changes if Yahoo, or even Facebook which is also rumored to be interested in buying it out at the last minute actually does. Those could be having to log in with a Yahoo or Facebook account, or a larger amount of ads and sponsored posts. But whatever it will be, it seems like they’ll care more about profits and larger numbers of users than the already exiting users.

So that leaves us with the question of what we can do about it  - here are a couple of my ideas, but feel free to add on!

• Contact them - This may seem obvious, but it’s a good place to start. I’d suggest commenting on their facebook page. Since its public they’ll probably watch it more closely than some email account, and it will get more attention.
• Get AdBlock Plus - This blocks ads and prevents the site owner from collecting revenue from ad views. More importantly, post publicly and maybe even contact Yahoo saying you’re doing it in protest of their attempt to capitalize off of Tumblr.
• Content advertisers will hate - Nobody wants to advertise on a site that publicly denounces ads, or consumerism. Or even easier than ranting on these subjects, just post a lot of porn ;) I am actually being serious, most companies won’t want to be associated with it. Tagging it with #yahoo could also make a point..

It’s such a big decision to buy out a company that I really believe if we make a big enough protest against it they might reconsider. So if you want Tumblr to stay how it is, go let them know!

(Source: my--teen--quote)