Coming February 6, 2024 . . .
MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE
by Michael Wolraich
Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop
Coming February 6, 2024 . . . MURDER, POLITICS, AND THE END OF THE JAZZ AGE by Michael Wolraich Pre-order at Barnes & Noble / Amazon / Books-A-Million / Bookshop |
the backlash to #MeToo has shown us anything, it’s that people don’t much like it when women refuse to settle for the bare minimum. The current criticism of the movement – sparked in earnest by accusations against Aziz Ansari – really comes down to outrage that women would dare ask for more. But #MeToo is not about what’s legal, it’s about what’s right. It’s true that women are fed up with sexual violence and harassment; but it’s also true that what this culture considers “normal” sexual behavior is often harmful to women, and that we want that to stop, too.
Comments
I posted this article not because I agree with it. I vehemently disagree with it. But it is a good summery of a certain position on the metoo movement. I disagree with the idea that, "#MeToo is not about what’s legal, it’s about what’s right." Metoo should be about assault, coercion and harassment. I mostly agree with the idea that the social compact between men and women over dating and consensual sex should be renegotiated. But that's a separate conversation. Attempts to integrate a conversation about the cultural and social changes needed around dating and consensual sex with the metoo movement will damage the movement and not produce the cultural changes desired.
by ocean-kat on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 2:15pm
I have a problem with hashtag “movements” in general. While I heartily acknowledge the advantages of spreading worthwhile causes among a huge swath of humanity in the blink of an eye, the flip-side is that damage can be done just as quickly. It’s the 21st century version of populist justice and is just as fraught with danger as any method that has come before – including the issues associated with separating legal frameworks from societal ones.
by barefooted on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 3:57pm
Exactly, "going viral" is the danger of our age. The psychology of the mob was recognized and published before before the 20th century started, and demagogues took advantage, led to the most horrific events. On the other hand, they always did this by controlling the mob after they got power. So the whole internet age is still a great new experiment to see if the mob can eventually reign in itself.
I see people who participate on small sites like this one as wanting to avoid the tyranny of the mob. Where you could look at and talk about what the mob is doing with a few others of varying persuasions. Wolraich deserves kudos for keeping it up, we need more.
by artappraiser on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 4:35pm
(disclaimer - didn't read the piece, but have expressed my opinion on the Aziz hitjob elsewhere)
I think #MeToo needs go beyond simply "legal", as the difficulty of preventing or prosecuting sexual assault and sexual harassment through the courts is well-documented. But it loses its justice if it gets too whack on every comment, touch, whatever. Serious women's (and men's) complaints deserve to be taken seriously, with a serious attempt at resolving the issues. Unserious problems? how about we wait for #MeToo2.0 at least, if we ever get there.
by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 7:40am