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.