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Cassandra Clare has written an important piece called
Rape Myths, Rape Culture and the Damage Done. If you haven't read it already you really should. Be warned: she discusses much which is deeply upsetting.
What I want to briefly comment on here is the notion that to write about rape or war or any other terrible thing is to automatically condone it. Cassie writes:
[T]he most important point to be made here is that to depict something is not to condone it. This is a mistake that is made all the time by people who you would think would know better. Megan Cox Gurdon in the Wall Street Journal,
for instance, excoriated YA books for being too dark, zoning in ...
Posted by Justine at 13:27, May 22nd, 2012 under Bloggery, Feminism, Praising, Ranting, Writing life, Young Adult literature |
In a
recent interview Becky Hammon, who plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars had some very smart things to say about feminism. She's an amazing and very smart ball player, but her response to the following question made me love her even more.
Silver Stars Nation: What would you say to younger girls that play basketball but yet do not support women’s and girls basketball as a whole?
Becky: I think that is one of the saddest things I come across. For a couple reasons.
First of all, lets not forget our history ladies. It wasn’t so long ago that women weren’t allowed to compete in sports. So many unfulfilled ...
Posted by Justine at 20:56, April 2nd, 2010 under Basketball, Feminism, Sport |
I have decided that I love songs about women who don't want to be married. I decided this while listening to lots of Gillian Welch. Twas the song "Look at Miss Ohio" which triggered this decision. Also my annoyance with certain lines in Beyonce's "Single Ladies". "Put a ring on it"? What are we living in the 1950s or something?! Uggh.
Then I realised I couldn't think of any other songs about women who have priorities in life other than getting married. ((This probably reflects more on my dreadful memory than anything else.)) Other than the "I never will marry" song:
I never will marry
I'll be no man's ...
Posted by Justine at 23:17, March 4th, 2010 under Bloggery, Feminism, Listening |
Due to boring circumstances beyond my control, I will not be online much for the next week or so. Fortunately I've been able to line up a number of stellar guests to fill in for me. Most are writers, but I also thought it would be fun to get some publishing types to explain what it is they do, teach you some more about the industry, and answer your questions, as well as one or two bloggers.
Today we have Sarah Rees Brennan, who is quite mad, which is often quite an advantage for the writing of fine fiction, as you will discover if you read any of SRB's books. She was last here for
an interview where she revealed ...
Posted by Justine at 6:04, February 5th, 2010 under Feminism, Guest post, Ranting, Viewing |
Every time I post about sexism, along come some men to make the conversation be about them. They usually start with a question about what they as a man can do, or how it applies to them. Before too long the entire comment thread becomes about them. Or even if the other commenters don't take the bait, the blokes keep coming back with more related questions, all of which has the effect of not adressing the subject at hand, but trying to bring it back to its "proper" place: talking about men.
Often, these blokes are nice people and are asking genuine questions. Sometimes the post has caused an actual epiphany for them and the shutters of privilege are lifting and ...
Posted by Justine at 19:06, January 29th, 2010 under Feminism, State of the World |
I am very proud to be friends with Karen Healey, who
popularised the term "mansplaining," which is
now out and living a
merry life of its own on the intramanets. Bless you, Karen!
Mansplaining according to Karen is
[w]hen a dude tells you, a woman, how to do something you already know how to do, or how you are wrong about something you are actually right about, or miscellaneous and inaccurate "facts" about something you know a hell of a lot more about than he does.
Bonus points if he is explaining how you are wrong about something being sexist!
Many have objected to this formulation as sexist claiming that women do it too. Nuh uh. SKM from Shakesville explains:
[M]en's ...
Posted by Justine at 20:55, January 28th, 2010 under Feminism, State of the World |
Recently, the brilliant Sarah Rees Brennan talked about her
love of romance and reviewed a few in her inimitable style. ((Well, I could not imitate it.)) She mentioned in passing her least favourite kind of heroine:
I truly hate the Blank Page Heroine. She is in a lot of books---I don't mean to pick on romance, because sadly I have seen her in every genre, including my own---and sometimes she seems to be there as a match for the hero who won't bother him with things like 'hobbies' and 'opinions.' Sometimes she is carefully featureless (still missing those pesky hobbies and opinions) so that, apparently, the reader can identify with her and slot their own personalities onto a blank page. ...
Posted by Justine at 20:19, November 17th, 2009 under Feminism, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 0:13, May 19th, 2009 under Fans & readers, Feminism, Research, State of the World |
Posted by Justine at 3:43, August 31st, 2008 under Feminism, New York City/USA, State of the World |
I am cranky. Two main things are contributing to this state.
1. As some of you may have noticed my site has been down on and off today. Grrr. Also for the last two days my email has been mostly down. Double Grr.
2. Maureen Dowd.
To try and uncranky myself I sat down to read today's New York Times. I carefully skipped the newsy parts cause they often cause crankiness to multiply. Unfortunately, the first thing I read was Maureen Dowd's
breathtakingly stupid column about chicklit.
Bloody hell! What a morass of ignorance and misinformation. On the one hand, she's trying to say that all chick lit sucks. On the other, she talks about books like Sylvia Plath's The ...
Posted by Justine at 14:45, February 10th, 2007 under Feminism, New York City/USA, Ranting |
As me,
Nalo Hopkinson,
Scott and
Ellen Klages walked from our hotel to the Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium the heavens opened up. Best. Storm. Ever.
Well, except for the little detail that we were on our way to give a panel and wound up soaked through and knowing that our audience had been at least halved. Thank you so much to the eighty or so brave, brave souls who made it.
I think it went well, but I was wet, jet-lagged and concentrating hard on moderating so I can't be sure. Go read
Sarah Monette's excellent account.
I can say that I was dead pleased that we didn't just pat ourselves on the back and talk about how fabulous ...
Posted by Justine at 10:18, May 25th, 2006 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism, New York City/USA, Travelling |
Tomorrow night I'll be moderating the following event in Madison, Wisconsin.
If you're a Madisonian or you're in town early for WisCon, we'd love to see you! It should be loads of fun.
Posted by Justine at 4:02, May 23rd, 2006 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism, New York City/USA |
In less than two weeks (gulp) me and Scott will be attending
WisCon the feminist science fiction convention in Madison, Wisconsin. I've been attending since 1996, I've read there, been on panels, been a part of the auction (mostly as a spender of money, but once as one of Ellen Klages' lovely assistants) and have worked as part of the organising committee--- I'm biased.
And yet strangely I've come to take it for granted. So much so that my not being able to attend next year (prior engagement to be part of something awesome in Australia) didn't really phase me. Then I read Sheree Thomas's
eloquent explanation of why she loves WisCon and all of a sudden I'm miserable ...
Posted by Justine at 11:37, May 13th, 2006 under Bloggery, Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism, New York City/USA |
Here is where you'll find me at WisCon (and just before):
"A Feminist Utopia in Madison? Global Communities, Science Fiction and Women"
Wednesday 24 May, 2006, 7:30 pm
Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium, 816 State Street.
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Open to the public, free of charge
Panelists:
Elizabeth Bear,
Karen Joy Fowler,
Nalo Hopkinson, Justine Larbalestier (moderator),
Meghan McCarron
Food in SF&F (Reading SF&F)
Saturday, 1:00-2:15 p.m. Saturday, 1:00-2:15 p.m.
Melissa Scott, Justine Larbalestier, Janet Lafler, Mary Kay Kare, Nora Jemison
Literary History of Women in Science Fiction. (Feminism, Sex, and Gender)
Saturday, 2:30-3:45 p.m. Saturday, 2:30-3:45 p.m.
Pamela Sargent, Justine Larbalestier, Andrea D. Hairston, Janice Marie Bogstad, Brian Attebery
Banned & Challenged Books (Reading SF&F)
Saturday, 9:00-10:15 p.m. Saturday, 9:00-10:15 p.m.
Deborah Stone, Veronica L. Schanoes, Anne Marie Redalen ...
Posted by Justine at 17:26, April 19th, 2006 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Daughters of Earth, Feminism, Food |
How's about that for a post title to put everyone off?
I've been hearing some complaints about writers who are too self promotery, who go on panels at cons waving their book around, saying,"Look at me! Look at me! I'm a published writer! Buy my book!" There are also complaints about certain writers' blogs which only talk about their books and their latest publishing news with links that only lead to places that sell their books. As well as whinges about the folks who relentlessly campaign for awards.
Accusations of being too self promotery make me a bit jittery. Promoting your books is part of a writer's job. If no one knows the book exists how is it going to sell? A ...
Posted by Justine at 1:53, March 1st, 2006 under Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction, Bloggery, Excuses, Feminism, Magic or Madness trilogy, Publishing business, Ranting, Writing life |
A few weeks back I was asking about who the feminist sf writers are now. I had an ulterior motive: I'd just been asked to put together
a panel for Madison's
Centre for the Humanities "Rooted Cosmopolitans" lecture series (if like me, you are Australian, you will find that title rather amusing). That panel is now a go:
"A Feminist Utopia in Madison? Global Communities, Science Fiction and Women"
24 May, 2006, 7:30 pm
Wisconsin Historical Society Auditorium, 816 State Street.
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Open to the public, free of charge
Panelists:
Elizabeth Bear,
Karen Joy Fowler,
Nalo Hopkinson, Justine Larbalestier (moderator),
Meghan McCarron
I hope some of you can come to cheer us on (or heckle, whatever ...
Posted by Justine at 8:50, February 8th, 2006 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism |
I have a question for sf/fantasy/horror etc readers. Who are the new feminist voices you're most excited about? I'm hearing great things about Sarah Monette. And I know all about
Lauren McLaughlin and
Meghan McCarron. But who am I missing out on? Who now is writing books and stories that look at questions of identity, gender, sex, race, class in cool and interesting ways? Who talks about these issues in exciting ways on their blogs? Tell me!
I just heard that,
Daughters of Earth, my feminist sf anthology will be out 1 May. Just in time for
WisCon! Most excellent!
I've been working on a post for awhile now about all the fabby blogs about the publishing industry ...
Posted by Justine at 7:38, January 27th, 2006 under Bloggery, Daughters of Earth, Feminism, Reading |
Posted by Justine at 6:48, November 16th, 2005 under Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction, Feminism, Ranting, Whingeing, Young Adult literature |
Only two panels, so there'll be heaps of time to hang out in the bar. Woo hoo!
Thursday 2:00-3:00PM
Gender-Bending Fantasy (Capitol A)
Inhabitants of fantastic worlds typically disregard the laws of physics, and frequently re-cast societal norms to fit an un-earthly reality. This panel will discuss recent fantasy fiction that challenges assumptions of sex and gender.
Terry A. Garey, Ellen Klages, Justine Larbalestier(M), Diane Martin, Jill Roberts
Friday 12:00-1:00PM
Images of Women in Fantasy Literature (Capitol A)
The home of WisCon, Madison is the center for feminism in fantasy and science fiction. We will discuss the roles women have had in fantasy since Tolkien. Fantasy has become populated with women, finally, but are they realistic women who provide good role models? Can modern feminist ideals be ...
Posted by Justine at 10:26, October 30th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism |
Yes, like everyone else in the entire sf world, I will be jetting over to Glasgow to partake of science fictiony thingies for several days at the
World Science Fiction Convention. I'll hang out with me mates, meet new people, and spend a lot of time in the bar watching England being destroyed by Australia in the second test at Edgbaston. Can't wait. (I'm just sad that it won't be in an English bar. Fortunately there'll be enough English sf fans around that my gloating enjoyment of their team's destruction will have an audience. In fact I'm going to greet every new person by asking if they're English or not. And if they are, I'll say, "Cricket. Ashes. Ha ...
Posted by Justine at 12:59, July 28th, 2005 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Cricket, Feminism, Liquids, Magic or Madness trilogy, Sport |
an account of watching a conversation between two of the most inspiring women in the universe
Posted by Justine at 22:54, May 25th, 2003 under Cons & Other Gatherings, Feminism, Musings, New York City/USA, Praising |
