these texts are an archive of my life in the San Francisco Bay Area from march 2007 - march 2015. it stands as a record of close to a decade of my life, charting the struggles i faced as an artist, daughter, and lover. messy and chaotic at times, eloquent and poetic at others, these texts are an index i am proud of. it was here in this electric box that i learned how to be honest about my experiences and the person i needed to become. it was here that i first learned the truism that words make the world and how to trust such a beautiful, rife, hard fact.

thank you for meeting me here in such tall grass.


my artist website is here.

Mar 9, 2010

geez.

so..... the internet has been a strange and lively land today. specifically in terms of feminism. there are lots of questions about where feminism is going and if its started to crumble and whether or not its turned into a joke.

i think feminism is very necessary. it has never been, in my eyes, a "girls are better than boys" club and i think feminism as a whole needs to stand up in praise of men who stand with us- men who believe that women's perspective and contribution to the world is valid and meaningful and entirely necessary. men who love women is the true sense of the word: a feeling rooted in respect.

yesterday, i received an email from a friend which supplied a link to a breaking news story about a rapist who decided it would be a wonderful thing to carve the word "MINE" in to his victim.

now, just because that makes me want to puke doesn't mean i will look away. feminism, in all its varieties and modes, contains a set of ethics which states that things like this must not be dismissed or avoided. i choose to not look away from this because it is important to let the victim know "I see you. I am here to listen to you." it also supplies me with a deeper appreciation for the good men in my life.

the person who sent me the link is male and was absolutely disgusted and outraged by this. i am thankful for his emotions. i am grateful for his anger. it is an obvious sign that men and women can be on the same team when it comes to hatred and cruelty and that we can share a set of ethics that is as respectful of our differences as our commonalities.

12 comments:

The Kid said...

Yesterday, the Indian Parliment passed a bill that reserves 30% of the seats for women.

b said...

yes, thank you

Alanna Risse said...

That is really weird. Tom and I were just having a discussion about feminism and having babies. Just weird that yesterday seemed to be an extra special day to talk out these things. Maybe it was national feminist day and we didn't get the memo.

Jimmy Chen said...

wow, this is weird, we both show at hang. i didn't know you were involved in the online lit world. hello!

angela simione said...

the kid- THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS! what exciting information and such a wonderful change for the people of india! and what a great way to celebrate international women's day yesterday!!!! this is amazing and inspiring! yay! :D

angela simione said...

brittany, you are most welcome. :)

angela simione said...

alanna! how's that belly doing? i think it's wonderful you and tom are engaged in such a discussion. again, it makes me so proud to know that feminism is taken serious inside the homes of others.

yesterday was international women's day! but to answer your question- everyday is feminist day! hahaha! i can send you memos about it if you want as long as you post em on the fridge with a big A on them. A+ actually. ;)

angela simione said...

hi jimmy, so nice to meet you! i really like your paintings. and also the post you wrote about "the situation" from the jersey shore and diarreah. ha! we'll have to meet in person at one of the opennings some time!

Elisabeth said...

A great deal of talk down here in Australia on the fortieth anniversary of Germaine Greer's The Female Eunuch.

Your reference here reminds me not so much of feminism as of brutality and violence directed towards vulnerable people at the hands of damaged souls. It's terribly sad for all of us, men and women alike. Possession is not about love or goodness. It's a violent takeover and comes in many forms.

angela simione said...

it is terribly sad for all of us. i was so thankful that a man expressed the same level of disgust... men (at leat the majority of the men i know) don't seem to express it very often and i wanted to be appreciative of that.

i always so appreciate your insight in to these topics. your education and experience and perspective. it gives me so much more to consider. a new view that i am always thankful to have.

Alanna Risse said...

The belly is big and baby is kicking me in the belly button a lot. It's very exciting. I'll take your fridge post-its anytime. I'll add "seal" of approval stickers too.

angela simione said...

yay!!!! so exciting! the little one will be here soon!!!!

i will wait til you guys are settled in your new home before i unleash the memo onslaught.