Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

Feminism …

03/18/2025 Nativegrl77 4 Comments

Image is from Google internet womens_day_2013GOOGLE

Feminism

by The Thinker-Writer, January 31, 2010

The belief that women are and should be treated as potential intellectual equals and social equals to men. These people can be male or female human beings, although the ideology is commonly (and perhaps falsely) associated mainly with women. The basic idea of Feminism revolves around the principle that just because human bodies are designed to perform certain procreative functions, biological elements need not dictate intellectual and social functions, capabilities, and rights. Feminism also, by its nature, embraces the belief that all people are entitled to freedom and liberty within reason–including equal civil rights–and that discrimination should not be made based on gender, sexual orientation, skin color, ethnicity, religion, culture, or lifestyle. Feminists–and all persons interested in civil equality and intellectuality–are dedicated to fighting the ignorance that says people are controlled by and limited to their biology.

Feminism is the belief that people are entitled to the same civil rights and liberties and can be intellectual equals regardless of gender. However, you should still hold the door for a feminist; this is known as respect or politeness and need have nothing whatever to do with gender discrimination.

By The Thinker-Writer, January 31, 2010

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So, why did I go to the urban dictionary for a definition of Feminism?

I saw the article above and thought, nah, that wasn’t what I was taught as a young child…

Then

I got my Cosmo in the mail and while the fashions are fun, some gaudy, others worthy of a second look or two, but most are out of my price and age range, but when I see hair and beauty products, well now, that is a whole different response entirely. As I was thumbing through one of many magazines, which is another bad habit, an article about feminism popped up and yes folks are questioning Beyoncé among others with headlines such as, “can you be Sexy and a Feminist? ” or as Cosmo asks,

“Can you be a Sexy Feminist? It was a quick read and in all honesty, I don’t spend a lot of my time dissecting labels, but I will say that being a feminist used to be defined as a woman who didn’t appreciate men, some said, they despised them. Honestly, there was a time when Women were advised not to question the gender roles of men & women, and when that barrier fell, women realized it was time to demand equal access to education. While so-called hardcore feminists suggested being a companion, forget about being happily married, lest we acquiesce simply because we are women. I don’t subscribe to hating on men, I like men on several levels, that includes my dad, my kid’s father, my son, a couple of teachers, and a couple of bosses who happened to be male.

As a side note on a political level, current Republican men are the bane of our (women) existence in my opinion.

So, getting back to Feminism, when it comes to being an active participant in what seemingly is the opposite side of equality and justice for everyone. I have to admit, I have danced to fabulous music that had one or more negatives like sexual assault, and misogynistic and chauvinistic words. It’s definitely not something I ever used to think about while dancing, and as an adult, I found it upsetting when what was being said became clear; generally, this kind of talk would get a whole different response if these words were being exchanged through a conversation at work, a bar or one on one. In this 21st Century, we hear more Women with edgy lyrics and to find out that a story or two based on reality inadvertently comes to light … so, the choice to listen and buy is up to you.

However, it does appear that the word feminism or being a feminist in this 21st century society is ever-changing and ever-evolving to bring about a belief in equality and the rights for everyone in all its forms and genders. I see the urban dictionary as a place run not only by a younger group of folks, but who use it, research it, and discuss the “stuff” they post. I admit to not referring to the urban dictionary that much, but I found the post in the process of searching out what younger folks felt about the comments on who is or can be a feminist, it caught my eye. As you read on, Cosmo asked stars like Lady Gaga, Lana Del Rey, and Taylor Swift just to name a few, but when Pharrell was asked he stated, “I don’t think it’s possible for me to be (a feminist). I’m a man, but I do support feminists.”

Anyway, an article worth reading in Cosmo in September 2014

~~ Nativegrl77

What do you think?

Is being a feminist gender-specific?

The answer is yes, in the 1800s, as the root of feminism they used to define women, was fem, being that of the female feminine persuasion, so Pharrell among others probably used the definitions as their guide … though in this 21st Century like and while we are coming out of the nightmare that was the era of trump … The dictionary defines a Feminist as a person who believes in Equal Rights for Women. We need more 21st Century thoughts and people action.

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

women in Congress … American history

03/11/2025 Nativegrl77

Women in Congress

https://twitter.com/i/status/1387604891623825409
How many Congressional members are women and has your state elected any? View the interactive map to see an overview of the entire country, or state-by-state information on the history of women in Congress. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will find so much more to explore …

Resources:

thoughtco.com

time.com

~ my 2cents ...

Marxism? Socialism? What ism are you?

03/11/2025 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

beaseedforchangestickersGREEN just another rant …

So, is anyone else finding it almost amusing to see how easy folks seem to throw out labels to describe the actions, comments, and stances of candidates of the Democratic Party in a time when this government is seemingly in a kleptocracy moment while living within a kakistocracy with a wannabe autocratic tendencies…

trump, is NOT popular and lost that vote by approximately 3Million. The plan to change America was set a while back, and it appears or seems Mcconnell and the other republicans like paul ryan were waiting for their chance …. and if you remember ryan’s comments, he said something about how he has been waiting for a “Unified republican government”. Thing is, no one really wanted that acting gig until the birther grabbed us by the …bleep and while setting all our government agencies on fire, the rule of law, regular order, and norms being replaced with dic-tator wannabe behavior. NOW, we need to trust the Democratic Party because our morality seems at risk each day in the hands of republicans! This makes you think back to at least POTUS41 … Not too long because you’ll get sick, but then reality steps in as POC continue to be targeted, police seem triggered more than ever and the problem of a certain group of males continues to gain access to guns hurting others and in most cases, themselves and that is a shame. We have more kids, babies, Seniors, POC massacred at malls, kids in school lockdown,but nowhere to hide, and never ever forget all the babies who have died. There are lockdown drills, some states have given teachers guns yet, and another mass shooting occurs, but nothing changes. There was a case of a teacher threatening to shoot her students after having just had training… It makes you wonder what could go wrong and sadly more unarmed black men and women are dying or are dead!

We have had so much Chaos and btw; the whole thoughts and prayers, thing, is NOT enough anymore.

The idea that an activist is actually run over, and some states decide to pass red flag laws but can’t improve background checks, is amazingly offensive. We should all know that even folks belonging to the NRA think better background checks are reasonable, but the gun industry is very strong and so when its fav pr organization says to jump many rs and most do jump … though in this era of trump many instances of violence have erupted, it also will be a timeline few will want to remember in the new year of 2021

We have to remember the bush timeline, aside from the obvious, is sad; the guy acted impetuously then drove our economy into a ditch literally while Wall Street’s “creative accounting procedures” finally came to an ugly head. There was once an epic documentary called House of cards by David Faber on CNBC. It was a cruel reminder and or an awakening at how greed affects the mind; it was a truthful documentation of the nasty journey our economy took … for whom, by whom, and how it (they) brought all of us down with them knowing the Government would pay for it all along …

Unfortunately, the current trump unreality show doesn’t look at all like the one we watched shortly after our financial system collapsed because this is a moment in time when the question below isn’t so far-fetched… or worse a dystopian society?

Are You having an existential crisis?

The existential crisis is something many people may face at one point or another in their lives when the world seems to become less meaningful and purposeful. People may question the inner logic of social systems, of their religion, of everything they have once held true, and they do so while becoming much more conscious of the brevity of life.

What is an existential issue?

Quite simply, these are issues that have to do with the plight of human existence, with the meaning of life, and what meaning, if any, our lives have.

trump has definitely set off a cause and effect with certain behaviors of human nature

… is anyone else questioning their inner selves? Hoping trump supporters are; of what it means to affirm one’s own individual personal choices and the consequences for such choices …and yes in this current hostile environment living an authentic life is important but at risk

If we have to subscribe to labels … idk call me a Marxist who believes in Socialism at this time. lol

I also believe in capitalism, but only with a lowercase c … We need someone who cares, who is socially responsible, and who believes the gap between the haves and none needs to shrink; school me …what can be wrong with caring for all the people of the US … not just the one percent… especially since that one percent has been wheeling and dealing; and that attitude about prosperity trickling down to Main street is still bs .

Obama was not a socialist or a Marxist … he was a centrist, a person whose political opinions may not be extreme: a person whose beliefs fall between those of liberals and conservatives … The question is, what do trump supporters call him now?

Nativegrl77

~ Culture & History, ~ my 2cents ...

Voting is a Right, NOT a Privilege ~~ The Struggle continues

03/10/2025 Nativegrl77 50 Comments

Time to pass the Voting Rights Act, change redistricting rules, and make it easier for ALL Americans to VOTE

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana (16 December 1863 in Madrid, Spain – 26 September 1952 in Rome, Italy) was a philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist.

On March 7, 1965, hundreds of brave unarmed nonviolent women and men dared to March for African Americans’ right to vote.

The fact is, that less than 1% of eligible Blacks could vote or register to vote.

A group of people organized a Peaceful Protest: The March would start in Selma, then move on to the state capitol in Montgomery.

However, as these peaceful protesters tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Montgomery the police, seemingly already assuming a defensive posture; some on horses had, looking back, a predetermined tactical intervention plan against protesters. The protesters, mostly young African Americans also walked quietly with a mixture of older individuals and white Students as well: and as they did so; police proceeded to try and control the protesters which quickly resulted in the “excessive use of force.”

As protesters continued, it became clear that the excessive force was now an active use of police brutality and acts of murder; the grotesque beating of a young black leader of nonviolent protesting #RepJohnLewis had his skull cracked open among other injuries to his body. These Montgomery officers were out to do harm as they surrounded and knocked out young protesters using their nightsticks, and sprayed water cannons at close range, while others used tear gas.

These kids had no weapons; they did NOT fight back because they were not there to fight, but showed much courage and strength in the face of absolute brutal violence by an adversarial organization minorities are expected to respect. The men in police uniforms, hired to protect and serve citizens, were actually a force activated by the state to show physical power, discrimination, and racism in all its worse forms.

We must never forget that some of our fellow Americans died for our right to vote! This was an attempt to March in peaceful disobedience quickly became an adverse harmful environment to young black and white women and men, students from all backgrounds, and folks who believed voting is a right had to quickly retreat while journalists and photographers became witnesses to the suffering, violence, and death.

The brutal reaction by the police was not only caught on tape, but it also forced then-President Johnson, once against civil rights programs as a Senator, to call on Congress for equal voting rights for all on March 15.

The Voting Act of 1965 became a law on August 6; and is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S.

A day that started out peacefully quickly descended into an awful, johnlewisbeatwithknightstick ugly March of death for the right to vote called, “Bloody Sunday”.

Now, some 50 years later, a new “Jim Crow” era has emerged with a major step backward in the fight for civil and voting rights. Conservative states are targeting not only African Americans but Senior citizens, first-time voters, early voting, Students, low-income, immigrants, and the undocumented though Republicans call them (illegals), those who lean left call them Dreamers; some born or brought to the US as youngsters all victims of circumstance are now, voting age. Also, Governors from Republican controlled States allowed election officials to purge voters, people without birth certificates were given limited or completely denied access to the voting booth failing to meet new voter ID regulations, and some were treated like possible (illegals). This is the 21st Century; we should be on a progressive path toward equality for all, not one that will re-engage folks in the act of racism or exclusion leading to suppressing participation in the election process. In 2017, Republicans tried to pass and or enforce new, even stricter voter ID legislation or influence their districts with strange redistricting rules and regulations. While some judges … have struck down some of these restrictive laws that ultimately suppress the vote, it is clear the effort to shut people of colour out of the election process sadly continues.

We need to push back on all attempts to suppress the Right to Vote.

With so much at stake, it is time to stop sitting on the sidelines. If we are going to succeed, Conservative lawmakers NEED to hear our Voices.

We cannot turn back the clock on Voting Rights For the sake of the Next Generation

Thank You for Taking Action

~ Nativegrl77

~ my 2cents ..., ~ pop culture

a sport not many focus on … Golf & Women of Colour – reminder – Black History

02/17/2025 Nativegrl77

So, I’m flipping through my newest 2015 Essence from back to front because of the horoscope section and as I’m looking I see a section called “trending topics” reporting that the USTA just appointed former tennis player Katrina Adams, President, CEO and chairman of the board and the first African American to fill the role. So, more things have changed in the World of Sports in which women of colour historically have not dominated. While flipping through my 2014 issue of Essence with various fashions it was became obvious that this is not just about fashion, though the title gave me that impression and had to share given the history. In fact, it is about a Woman named Renee Powell and some young Women who were introduced to her and who have chosen her as their mentor. Now, the surprise to most would be that these brightly fashionable women are people of colour and that the article is about golf or as they say, “One of America’s favourite pastimes.” In fact my family lived just a few blocks away from a golf course and while golf wasn’t my choice the history of golf was well known in our house, including a couple of good along with the bad and the really ugly stories of racism. It is a sad day to know that the practice is still alive and well, though tiger woods did shatter the glass ceiling some. The art of discrimination is subtle these days, while the stories of’ the good ‘olé boys club were worse, golf is a work in progress. The article tells us about the ups and downs of Powell’s life and daily experiences as a young girl to becoming one of four African-American women qualifying for golf’s top pro-circuit … The LPGA Tour that included Althea Gibson, LaRee Pearl Sugg, Shasta Avery Hardt and Renee Powell. Their legacy on the links is gone into in depth. They list the youngest pro at 17, four others including the niece of tiger woods who also has a great story, but what is even more exciting is that after Powell retired she now owns her own golf club, is the golf pro. She also teaches and mentors a new generation of girls/women of colour who love the game and are willing to take it as far as they can. Golfing is not cheap, so, if you have an opportunity to donate to your area’s youth sports club or make time to teach train and expose kids of colour to golf … do it!

Oh and the article on Golf is in Essence and was written by Connie Aitcheson

and … it’s in “Trending Topics” the February issue of Essence