BBC4: Women Libbers

This is part of the BBC4 Women series to celebrate International Women's Day and feminism. The first show was about women's lib in the late 60s and early 70s. I liked the opening statement 'Feminism is like a religion, I don't know how I would think without it.' I like that ideology; I COULD think without it, but I'd be much less of a person now if I didn't care about feminism and women's issues. I know; because I once was that person who didn't care about it. Yet today as I went up the escalator at King's Cross I divided the posters into 'sexist' and 'not sexist'. The sexist ones were mainly cartoons of blonde women in heels, shopping. These images permeate society. It's no wonder so many women haven't got a clue how to position themselves in society.
Who knew Cilla Black was a feminist icon? Not me! I might not have read The Female Eunuch (although if it's any good, I'll give it a go on audiobook) but I do understand the importance of access to abortion, access to jobs, access to freedom. The lack of those things is what equals oppression to me.
It's so exciting to hear views I believe in expressed eloquently on TV. So rare! Marilyn French was particularly cool; 'no man is going to save you'.
I feel continuously disappointed by my fellow woman; every time one changes her name unthinkingly when she marries, every time they say 'bird', every time they cheer on sports that would never accept them as participants. When you begin to see it, it is everywhere, and you can't stop.
It was quite exciting to see Germaine Greer all young and lippy in the 70s rather than shuffling around the Big Brother house after Jade Goody and her mum.
I kind of agree with her comments on not being a fan of marching (but I'm lazy) but I can understand the community spirit side of it even if it's not really for me.
The stuff about domestic roles was interesting; I have a completely equal relationship, in that there is no task that one or other of us is incapable of. I don't need someone to 'take the bins out' and my boyfriend picks up his own pants. So any mythological bunkum that men 'don't notice' washing up, or women can't hook up a stereo system is just bullshit. We both have brains and hands, we can both do it, and we both do it because we care about each other. I feel genuinely sorry for anyone living differently, and I know millions of women live differently to that, even women my age and younger. We have not progressed. Look at the adverts, look at TV shows. It's depressing.
Violence is another issue close to my heart, and women do live in fear of men, and always will. Men take for granted walking down the street at night; women find it frightening. We ARE prey, I totally agree with that.
Of course ALL men don't rape, but men should blame MEN for the fact they are seen as having this potential. I would be ashamed to be a man almost every day. Prisons are full of men. I watched a To Catch a Predator recently where they did a sting on hundreds of male paedophiles, and did not catch one woman. I'm not saying it never happens, that no women ever does it, because they do. But the number is minuscule in comparison.
The 'all women are lesbians' thing was interesting, that we can't be free unless we all go gay; I am curious about the idea of a society without men, except I don't fancy women, so it's difficult! I an envious of lesbian feminists though; just like I'm jealous of vegetarians. They really DO have the moral high ground!
Interesting stuff. So now it's 2010 and women's magazines are still telling you the 'right' way to have sex, and Loose Women is winning awards for 'factual entertainment'. The battle is far from won. I'll be interested to see the rest of this series.

Am I Normal? Sex (If you've got it... flaunt zzzzzzzz)

I've recently discovered the BBC & ITV iplayer things, which has extended my crappy viewing habits into the bedroom (especially since I've become a Grand Theft Auto widow). So they were moaning about this programme in the Mail so I thought it would be good to watch. And it turned out to be quite interesting and to have some vaguely feminist thinking in it so I'm glad I did.
Dr Tanya Byron went to investigate 'cottaging' something I had a vague idea of but had mostly blocked out (it's sex in public toilets- and yes, it seems like a mainly male activity). She met a bloke who'd slept with 5000 men who basically said men were animals (I'm paraphrasing). Well, that's true. Then she went to meet some cunt from Loaded who talked about 'mens roles in the food chain' and said 'men just want pages of girls with their breasts out'. Luckily, I've never ever met a man who reads that shit, because I don't hang around with 14 year old boys. It was a lie when he said Loaded was to make men feel good about themselves, it's actually to make men and women insecure about their looks.
WHAT?! This Loaded model said she and her mum 'did feminism as a degree at university'. What bullshit. I'm not concerned with the 'message' Loaded sends out because it broadcasts it to thick-as-shit chavs anyway. Might as well give them what they think they want.
Next she investigated 'dogging'! (don't think of Phil Mitchell naked, don't think of Phil Mitchell naked, don't think of Phil Mitchell naked) I can't believe people do it in broad daylight! I'm such a prude!
Then she went to see a female sex shop owner who actually talked a lot of sense about how we're not really sexually liberated in Britain and how we live in an anti-feminist society. Dr Byron seemed to think it was impossible for a woman to sleep with someone without falling in love. Aww.
Not sure what the value was of going to meet children beauty pageant contestants and making her flirt with the camera... slightly dubious! It's all very well to complain about it, but you got her to do it! It's that dodgy tabloidy attitude of being disgusted by something whilst printing all the salacious details.
I was interested in the section about female libido and what is a 'normal' sex drive. I was scared of the peodophile section. I was even more freaked out that he had the same name as me. I was even more freaked out that he wanted to have a legal relationship with a 7 year old child. Gulp! He seemed terrifyingly calm.
Dr Byron just wanted to say all people's sexual behaviour was related to their childhood. Well there might be some truth in that but I don't think it's the whole picture. I think some people are just dirty bastards and some people are just sick fucks. But you know... there is no such thing in life as normal. (I've so quoted that in my blog before! I'm recycling my Moz quotes! It's all downhill from here...)

Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe

I write about enough dross so I might as well write about something to be treasured. Criminally squirrelled away on BBC4 Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe is probably the best thing on telly. I love everything about Charlie Brooker: Nathan Barley, his columns, his scrabulous addiction, and the fact he replied to my message on myspace (OK, I'm not stalking him, honest). Charlie Brooker says almost everything I think except for about 100 times funnier, more intelligent and angry.
In the mildly crappily-named Screenwipe Charlie rants over clips and attempts to tell us something we don't know about the TV industry, so as well as having a laugh, you also learn something. Last week I learnt that American news is FUCKING TERRIFYING. It really had to be seen to be believed. I can't get over what I saw, the newsreader basically saying all Iraqis were terrorists and when his guest tried to disagree he was like 'cut his mike'. Freedom of speech! Not on that channel.
He also seems to watch a LOT of TV that I watch. My Super Sweet 16! A girl crying because her mum had bought her a Lexus but gave it to her before her actual birthday!
Charlie even almost ruined America's Next Top Model for me tonight! I enjoyed his dressing up as Jay at the end, too.
On a completely unrelated note, what is going on with Charlie and Ashleeeeeen? I like their unlikely friendship. I want to form an unlikely friendship with someone. Perhaps an evangelical Christian.
if you don't have BBC4, watch clips on You Tube or read Charlie's columns (see my links). You're lucky I have such good taste and can pass it your way, really.