Archive for the interviews Category
Personal introduction;
Posted in interviews on July 29, 2007 by clover56It’s been incredible to produce this zine. This project has created the space in my life to focus on gender liberation and collaborate with amazing people in the process. Thanks to all my friends who’ve supported this project, and to all the honest criticism I’ve gotten from them as well. This zine would not exist if it weren’t for the love and support of my comrades. FireUP!
While there are so many differences amongst men, we will find we have a common enemy, the masculinity that serves a conquest culture of domination and genocide. Confronting and dealing with sexism is a crucial in developing a revolutionary identity.
Race, class, and gender, are all manipulated into hierarchy. Oppression is all interconnected. I don’t want to lose sight of these connections. However, I know at times my analysis will be lacking. I’m no expert and I certainly don’t claim to know everything. Writing this zine is a process for me to better understand these issues. Because I write from my experience as a white man, my perception of gender is shaped by white privilege, and vice versa.
These issues are relevant to all men who’ve grown up in this patriarchal society. While some of the issues in this zine may speak directly to guys with white privilege, I hope that all men can find this zine useful.
A message to “Anarchist” MEN, and then some.
Posted in interviews with tags anarcha feminist, anarchist, feminist, infoshop, molly tov, punk, zines on July 27, 2007 by clover56By Molly Tov
So they say a womyn’s work is never done, and here I am writing an article that a man should be writing, and I’m starting to believe it.
Wimmin have been looked over, talked over, pushed back, laughed at, been shut up, used, abused, and raped all by our “brothers” self titled anarchist men and proclaimed revolutionaries. All the anti-sexist men quick to jump on someone else’s sexist remark when around an anarchist crowd, but will let it slide when around his not so “P.C.” friends. The men who vocalize their aggression against rapists, but when THEIR lovers say no, coercion is simplke, and its not rape, because he’s ANTI-SEXIST. There are men who use anti-sexist talk to pick up wimmin. The men who challenge others to call them on their shit and when someone does, on goes the defense mode and he’s appalled that someone could say HE was fucking up, instead of actually thinking about the situation and to start working on it.
We already know all men are sexist, just as all white people are racist because of our society, white people still having privilege over people of colour and men still have privilege over wimmin, and once born into this process its incredibly hard to break it, especially when you forget to look at yourself. Once men slap “REVOLUTIONARY” on themselves, they think once they know a problem exists, that they are no longer a part of that problem, which they are.
As always before and now, sexism is a second hand term. It seems everything is being laid out in order of importance, made by who? Its like “first we’ll fight racism, cos’ we already know how to beat up nazis, then maybe we’ll think about sexism, capitalism, or homophobia, whichever least affects our privilege. After that if there’s time, and no more beer, we can read about speciesism, ageism, or ableism. if we’re really cool we’ll learn a little about it all to improve our social skills for the next gathering.”
Whatever happened to fucking equality? How did some isms become more important than others you ask? Its called “How to be cool in the political scene, and keep as much privilege as possible” (look for it at your local corporate bookstore).
It’s sad when it comes to the point where we don’t want to think of anyone but ourselves or the P.C. status quo. Which brings me back to the conclusion of all these “feminist” men, who care so dearly about wimmin (or at least fucking them), until it affects their privilege, they care. Which I challenge SELF-PROCLAIMED anti-sexist men to really think about, how far the words they speak so well, go maybe try asking your best friend or lover just how anti-sexist you are.
Has this article offended you yet? Do you use your knowledge of others oppression to make a change or to just make a good impression. Do you feel challenged when a womyn speaks? Ever assumed its ok to touch someone? Ever feel bothered when a womyn asks you to confront sexist bullshit? well fuck you, you choose the term revolutionary not me.
Unless we can start seeing ourselves as the problem, and until we can actually start talking and listening to each other about our problems and work on them, revolutionary change will always remain a distant dream.
So the last question being, how many articles does it take until men start working on their shit? Aren’t you tired of hearing and reading about it (if they even took the time)?
Maybe Smith and Wesson do a better job??
At least stop considering yourselves revolutionaries, YOU’RE NOT MY COMRADE.
Patriarchy’s pervasiveness in the punk scene
Posted in interviews with tags anarchism, anti-sexist, black fire, patriarchy, punk, social justice on July 22, 2007 by clover56
from wemoons army
K l e e B e n a l l y o f B L A C K F I R E :
It’s not fair to subject our sisters to degredation, humiliation, and defamation, ever, even “jokingly.”
Our sisters, mothers, and daughters live under constant threat of their safety in this “predatory society,” where their curfew has become dark, where 1 in every 3 women is sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and 1 in every 4 raped.
The Nazi invasion of Poland was paved by “Joke” propaganda, dehumanizing the Polish and Jewish people. Stereotypes that became “socialized norms” had people who lived miles away from concentration camps deny their existence.
It is no joke to dehumanize any being.
Our sisters live under constant threat; why should we threaten their security while they are trying to do the things they love? like playing music, like living?
What kind of music scene do we want to build? What kind of community? If we continue to joke or demean our sis’s by not supporting them, being impatient, not encouraging them, then we continue to perpetuate the patriarchal, hierarchal cycle that has and continues to exploit, destroy and control life.
Like it or not, our actions (the music we play, etc…) affect the climate of our community. We become teachers through our actions, if not to our peers, then to the younger aspiring musicians and community members.
I am not by any means saying that I’m perfect, but if we don’t start working together now, what kind of future will we have?
“Why do women want to be equal to men who are not free?”-???(i thought this quote was from Emma, but i guess not).
We must communicate, build understanding, and then try to work together.
We must fight for all our liberty. When 1 sister or brother is oppressed, we all are.
We must start today.
Confront our “socialized norms,” confront all people who perpetuate, confront oppression in all its forms.
We can work together to build and nurture a beautiful commUnity.
Respect builds unity!
What Men (and wimmin) can do:
Posted in interviews on July 22, 2007 by clover56from Wemoons Army
W h a t M e n ( a n d W i m m i n ) C a n D o :
o– stop thinking of women as sluts or prudes/teases, catch yourself when looking for “sluts” and then demonizing them later. likewise, stop thinking of men as having to be tough, or to “get some,” in order to be a “real man” – whatever that means.
o– study women’s studies. look at the way a rape-less society worked (Iroquois, etc.).
o– try to find a movie that you like that doesn’t have men as all the main characters, or a token woman in a boys’ club, or where a woman doesn’t have to undress or be the love/sex interest, or isn’t crazy or weak. Imagine what TV shows or movies would be like if all the men were women and all the women, men.
o– don’t let things slide with your friends or co-workers when they make sexist comments or think of women solely in terms of their bodies or how much they will “put out.”
o– don’t interrupt women when they speak. you may miss something important.
o– don’t think of women politicians in terms of how they look or how much sex they get or don’t get.
o– don’t assume that feminists hate men. don’t be so damned defensive when a woman tries to open a discussion about “women’s issues.” Issues concerning sexism are not something that can be relegated to a month or a holiday or an issue of a newspaper.
o– boycott corporations that use sexist advertising (there are a lot!)or at least become aware of sexism in commercials.
o– try to stop objectifying/sexualizing women’s bodies and all of their parts. (this is hard because it’s so ingrained in all of us).
o– join/start a group that is fighting to end sexism. choose this group wisely.
o– don’t be afraid to call yourself a feminist. we are all still sexist (and racist and homophobic) – even if we are the oppressed. society gets internalized. just work on it! If you think your friends will ridicule you for saying that you are a feminist, then maybe you should think about getting new friends (or educating them, at least).
o– don’t fucking listen to sexist music anymore. it’s just not cool. If you’re not sure if the music is sexist or think that maybe it is “just a joke,” try imagining that all the references to gender are references to race, and see if the song would be racist, or try imagining the gender roles reversed in the lyrics.
o– realize that if you are a man, a while person, a rich person or a heterosexual, you have privilege in this society. realize that all of your opinions are based on the life you have lived with this privilege.
o– say you’re sorry when you realize that you’ve been acting sexist. be sensitive to a woman when she tells you that she is afraid or hurt or fucking enraged because of all the sexism in the world. please don’t tell her that she’s just looking for it, that she’s acting like the victim. A woman knows when she is the object of hate or ridicule because of her sex/gender. She’s not stupid. Try to assume the best of her.
o– a lot of times we look for any way to probe that there is nothing wrong with our own actions/words/thoughts or the actions/words of those around us. It’s easier than thinking that the people we love may be against us. There comes a point when you may realize that many well-meaning people are sexist and ignorant of the pain they inflict. There comes a point when you can’t just ignore it or rationalize it away. At those times, do whatever you can do, but try to stay sane. The revolution is now, if you want it.
o– Love much. Fear Not.
- Dakota M. Walker
Different Kind of Dude Fest – about -
Posted in interviews on July 7, 2007 by clover56What is Different Kind of Dude Fest?- “Different Kind of Dude Fest is about possibilities. As guys, we have a lot of limits on how we behave, what we feel, and who we connect with. These are limits that keep us from emotional intimacy, knowing our full selves, being able to not know the right answer and from healthy vulnerability.
This comes with a pain that is oftentimes taken out against those closest to us–women, children and other guys that don’t pay enough attention to their limits.
What if we came together to talk honestly about these gender expectations and punk? What if we had space to explore the many possibilities of being, acting and feeling that already surround us? That’s what Different Kind of Dude Fest is all about.”
-”To me, Different Kind of Dude Fest is about creating a safe, inclusive space where people feel like they can learn, grow, discuss, and have a positive experience. Different Kind of Dude Fest is a place to learn about yourself and how to deal with the issues that go along with living in a misogynist, patriarchal society. We have all internalized this self-defeating culture, and Different Kind of Dude Fest can be a place where we can explore how to change and heal within ourselves.”
Why is Different Kind of Dude Fest necessary?
- Because there are things guys don’t talk about:
* Why does domestic and sexual violence touch so many lives and come from hands like ours?
* Why does sex often feel more like an addiction, and intimacy like an assault?
* Why do so few of us have guy friends that we can share our greatest joys and deepest sorrows with?
* Why are guys more likely to die young, commit suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol?
* Why do we still hear words like “gay”, “fag” and “pussy” to keep us boxed in?
* Why do so many of us keep hidden the parts of ourselves that cry, love and want desperately to grow?
Different Kind of Dude Fest is necessary because in a world so dominated by war, fear, alienation and lost hope we need each other for support and inspiration. Together we can shift the spotlight to focus on the parts of ourselves that don’t get airtime or neatly fit into boxes; to recognize similarity in our differences. Different Kind of Dude Fest is necessary because we all have the potential to struggle for change and be good anti-sexist allies. In fact, so many of us already are, and this is a chance for us to talk, learn and connect.
How do we make Different Kind of Dude Fest inspirational?
- By coming with open minds. We make it inspirational by building relationships instead of pointing fingers. We all have shit to deal with and this a chance to deal with it together, to look up from guilt and blame and find a hope we can fight for. Different Kind of Dude Fest might be challenging, but it’s gonna be a damn good time too.
- It inspires me:
* That people and the bands they care about can come together on these issues.
* To support bands that want to join in these dialogues with us.
* That Different Kind of Dude Fest is a part of the process of repairing and healing in a culture that doesn’t acknowledge people’s need to do that.
* That Different Kind of Dude Fest can be one more step towards creating a less violent, more hopeful world for everyone.
What Men can Do
Posted in interviews on June 28, 2007 by clover56from Wemoons Army
o– stop thinking of women as sluts or prudes/teases, catch yourself when looking for “sluts” and then demonizing them later. likewise, stop thinking of men as having to be tough, or to “get some,” in order to be a “real man” – whatever that means.
o– study women’s studies. look at the way a rape-less society worked (Iroquois, etc.).
o– try to find a movie that you like that doesn’t have men as all the main characters, or a token woman in a boys’ club, or where a woman doesn’t have to undress or be the love/sex interest, or isn’t crazy or weak. Imagine what TV shows or movies would be like if all the men were women and all the women, men.
o– don’t let things slide with your friends or co-workers when they make sexist comments or think of women solely in terms of their bodies or how much they will “put out.”
o– don’t interrupt women when they speak. you may miss something important.
o– don’t think of women politicians in terms of how they look or how much sex they get or don’t get.
o– don’t assume that feminists hate men. don’t be so damned defensive when a woman tries to open a discussion about “women’s issues.” Issues concerning sexism are not something that can be relegated to a month or a holiday or an issue of a newspaper.
o– boycott corporations that use sexist advertising (there are a lot!)or at least become aware of sexism in commercials.
o– try to stop objectifying/sexualizing women’s bodies and all of their parts. (this is hard because it’s so ingrained in all of us).
o– join/start a group that is fighting to end sexism. choose this group wisely.
o– don’t be afraid to call yourself a feminist. we are all still sexist (and racist and homophobic) – even if we are the oppressed. society gets internalized. just work on it! If you think your friends will ridicule you for saying that you are a feminist, then maybe you should think about getting new friends (or educating them, at least).
o– don’t fucking listen to sexist music anymore. it’s just not cool. If you’re not sure if the music is sexist or think that maybe it is “just a joke,” try imagining that all the references to gender are references to race, and see if the song would be racist, or try imagining the gender roles reversed in the lyrics.
o– realize that if you are a man, a while person, a rich person or a heterosexual, you have privilege in this society. realize that all of your opinions are based on the life you have lived with this privilege.
o– say you’re sorry when you realize that you’ve been acting sexist. be sensitive to a woman when she tells you that she is afraid or hurt or fucking enraged because of all the sexism in the world. please don’t tell her that she’s just looking for it, that she’s acting like the victim. A woman knows when she is the object of hate or ridicule because of her sex/gender. She’s not stupid. Try to assume the best of her.
o– a lot of times we look for any way to probe that there is nothing wrong with our own actions/words/thoughts or the actions/words of those around us. It’s easier than thinking that the people we love may be against us. There comes a point when you may realize that many well-meaning people are sexist and ignorant of the pain they inflict. There comes a point when you can’t just ignore it or rationalize it away. At those times, do whatever you can do, but try to stay sane. The revolution is now, if you want it.
o– Love much. Fear Not.
- Dakota M. Walker
An Open Letter to the Penis Possessin’ Punks of Seattle….
Posted in interviews with tags anarcha-feminism, anarchism, anti-sexism, punk, wemoons army on June 28, 2007 by clover56from Wemoons Army
Since I moved to seattle I have met some wonderful punk rock guys. These men have helped me grow by sharing their views on issues of sexuality, sex work, revolution and action. I want to thank you guys for being so kick ass.
But I have also been exposed to a lot of sexism in this community. Most of the sexism I have experienced has been men making comments to me such as “wanna see my nipples,” “wanna watch a dirty movie,” and some comments about my ability to piss outside while standing up. I know you were not trying to attack me while saying these comments. You were trying to make me uncomfortable and, in my discomfort, you could relish in your ostensible dominance. At a game of punk rock soccer, one guy started to call another guy a “pussy” for not being stronger. Even with all these tough womyn around, I was the only one who said “what’s wrong with being a pussy?” This just showed me how complacent our community is. Later, at a party, an all male punk band began to play a song called “I wanna rape judge judy.” Had it been judge john, rape would have not been the tool used to destroy him. A racist parallel to this sexist song would have been something like “I wanna burn a cross in front of Montel’s house.” You would have never sang a song like this because you would not want to be implicated with white supremacists or nazis… but you have no problem declaring yourself a rapist. One guy on the street said “hey, baby, how you doing?” and when I didn’t respond, he followed me down the street shouting “what? Am I not punk enough for you?” Quite frankly, NO YOU AREN’T! You expect me to respond to you, to service you. I serve no masters, asshole.
Punk is the rejection of mainstream society. Your comments and attitude is no different than what I get everyday from rich white boys driving by in their SUV’s, from cops who sexually harass me, my boss, my male co-workers, my father, from men on the street who make comments to me as I walk by. You aren’t doing anything out of the ordinary, quite frankly. And I expect more from “anarchists” than to act like the fascists they claim to hate. Are you really anti-authoritarian? Then why are you trying to establish some sort of dominance over me? Why do you keep this spirit of oppression alive?
If you think punk is merely about being rude to people with no consideration for the motives behind your actions, than what you really are is a frat boy hiding in studded leather and a mohawk. But if you really are against authority and programming, then you need to first recognize yourself as privileged and you need to reject that privilege. In order to reject your privilege, you need to be self-reflective. You need to identify the fucked up concepts of masculinity that have been planted (and are flourishing) inside you. You need to kill them.
Should you decide to continue on as you are, you need to know that your attitude and comments are a threat to me and to the womyn of our community, and to the revolution. You need to know that we will defend ourselves. This cannot and will not be tolerated. And the next time you disrespect a womyn because of her sex, remember that you are the star-bellied boy bikini kill sang about:
YOU’RE NO FUCKEN DIFFERENT FROM THE REST!!!
(and you shall fall with them)
