lightcastle

Michael Kaufman, one of the founders of the White Ribbon campaign writes on the 20th anniversary of this movement for awareness of violence against women.

I consider myself fairly informed about this, but I didn't know that today - Nov 25 - is the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. I didn't even know that the campaign goes from today to Dec 6, Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. (I always thought it was only that day.)

I also had no idea it had reached such important status in Australia and New Zealand.

And I had never heard this oath: I swear never to commit, excuse or remain silent about violence against women. This is my oath.

And yes, I do so swear.

I don't think I ever linked to this post about the "Terrible Bargain" many women feel they strike with the men in their lives.

Well worth a read.

And as long as we're on the subject, here is a manifesto for radical masculinity by Sinclair Sexsmith.

Well, it isn't really a manifesto. It is, however, a comment on the prescriptive nature of the standard gender roles and how that screws up men. It's also about the never-ending quest to find out what butch means and what masculinity can be without the misogyny.

So I have studied butch. I was not born with swagger: I learned it.I have studied butch. I was not born with swagger: I learned it. I earned it. I was not born knowing how to use a cock or tie a tie or match my belt to my shoes or court a girl or refrain from chivalry when it's not welcome or to contain something big and chaotic.I earned it. I was not born knowing how to use a cock or tie a tie or match my belt to my shoes or court a girl or refrain from chivalry when it's not welcome or to contain something big and chaotic.

Part 2 is here.