I’m feeling nostalgic. Oh, slut walks of yore… er, a few months ago.
Update (September 30, 2011):
Two new posts from the Rad Fem HUB confirm the dude-centeredness of SlutWalk in a very tangible way. Slutwalk Baltimore is being was organized by 18-year-old Brennan “Molester” Lester. Also, Matt Tuscano is co-sponsoring a SlutWalk at the University of Connecticut. While Lester prefers to read Lolita and ponder what he would do if he had a vagina, Tuscano enjoys posting woman-hating images on Facebook. Oh, such a multifaceted group of men who wish to co-opt feminism!
Against All Evidence 
Radical feminism has taught me that conservatives and liberals have an agenda for women’s sexuality. Slutwalk is a liberal male-centric enterprise, in the same way that purity balls are a conservative male-centric event. Feminism has got to go between these two options and find sexual expression that works for *women*– regardless of what men want. It’s radical feminism’s job to let women know that male-centrism is not the only choice. This is so clear, really, and I think that most funfems will understand it once they think on it. We need them to hear the message over and over– they’ll come around eventually (or at least, some of them will? I’m optimistic this morning, anyway).
Thank you for the reminder, Lishra.
No wonder men are saying, “Finally! A feminist movement I can get behind!”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/fashion/after-class-skimpy-equality-motherlode.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1
AT Duke University last fall, members of the Sigma Nu fraternity e-mailed 300 of their female classmates about an off-campus Halloween party. “Hey Ladies,” the invitation leered, complete with a misspelling, “Whether your dressing up as a slutty nurse, a slutty doctor, a slutty schoolgirl or just a total slut, we invite you…”
The first sign that you are doing feminism wrong? MEN love it.
Those were the first words in my head after I realized the distinction between radical feminists and funfems, and my place on the rad side.
Lishra, I love your graphics. They beat the shit out of the misogynist memes I often come across inadvertently online.
Smash, your words “Radical feminism has taught me that conservatives and liberals have an agenda for women’s sexuality.” ring true for me, too. Before I “awakened” as a rad fem, I tended to the liberal side when it came to sexuality. I knew it was okay to be gay, I knew it was okay to have interracial relationships, but I didn’t question the dominance and submission paradigm that liberals seem to be okay with. I even naively supported BDSM until I realized that the abuse I had suffered at the hands of men and the patriarchy had groomed me into thinking it was okay. Radical feminism gave me the tools I needed to feel like a human being when it came to sexuality. I hope it continues to give other women those tools, including women who currently are liberal feminists.
They are so liberated and empowerfulised.
ROAR.
>.<
omg. hugo! gross!
hey lishra
just as a clarification, slutwalk bmore already happened. it WAS organized by this dood, and they never even bothered to check. he got away with it, until cathy brennan exposed him on FB.
Corrected! Thanks, FCM. You did fabulous work with that post, by the way!
thanks! it was my pleasure. and i had help. 🙂 thanks FB and radfems on FB!
“im in ur feminismz”
LOL
Hugo, front and centre, what a fucking cheek! Given that he has co-erced and used power difference to “bed” (me say rape) lots of college women in his day. My my, how far ‘feminismz’ has come when you can do an anti-rape march with an actual perp!
And the two slogans from the slutwalks that are indelibly burnt into my bwain are:
“sluts say yes”
“I’m a slut, please don’t rape me”
Collectively, and individually, the various slutwalks have not only earnt the title of “Worst Protest of the Year” but also “Worst Protest Eva”.
The “sluts say yes” thing is the most mind boggling thing to come out of these walks, for me at least. I mean… yeah, they… do? And that is different than the dominant message about women who are called “sluts” HOW now? “Sluts say yes [to sex]”. Ok… AND?! It’s totally devoid of anti-rape politics and bizarre to boot, yet it becomes a rallying message. I wonder if some dudes were handing out those signs at the walks. *That* would explain it!
Sadly, I can no longer blame men for every stupid and enabling thing women do.
How could anyone let a male be in charge of the “slutwalk.” Even though I do not agree with slutwalks or like the wording of the thing-males should not be in charge of woman-oriented gatherings at all. And these fun fems?! Where did they come from?! They may be “feminists” but they are definitely pleasing the patriarchy with their politics and their NAME!!! Puke!
I find this whole “slut walk” (um, movement??) to be total and utter horse shit. “Fun fems??” Feminism is not meant to be FUN, it is a very serious and important movement that should be taken seriously. The issues we face as feminists (and radical feminists) are anything but fun. Rape, sexual harassment, femicide, f.g.m., and so, so much more. The fact that a MAN is organizing these ridiculous “walks” just takes the cake. I’m not anti-sex at all, but there has GOT to be a better way to show your sexual liberation than THIS!