Comments on: I Want You To Stop Asking That Question.

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:46:31 +0000

@TMae: Completely agree. Well put.

@rainy_day: I never thought of that, but should have. XX does seem totally short-sighted given the broad spectrum of womanity.

By: rainy_day

rainy_day — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:51:14 +0000

Also, though, what is with all the ‘XX’ crap of late? I guess I am saying this from my own privileged and my nice bubble of like-minded friends, but I thought as a feminist community we were working on not excluding transgendered people.

Take note Slate & Shriver: It is not hip, it is insulting!

By: rainy_day

rainy_day — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:47:35 +0000

While I think this question is very problematic, for all the reasons outlined here, I think the individual answers to this question are very interesting and intelligent. And I am pleased that it is a discussion about the needs/wants of women that is not framed around buying things! and nice smelling laundry soap!

By: TMae

TMae — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:42:36 +0000

I’d like to see a show that asked, “What do disabled people want?” or, “What do transgender people want?” I feel like the question, “What do women want?” is a set up. It creates a situation where every single answer is going to differ, thereby creating the illusion of discord which allows the status quo to remain because, “if women can’t agree on what they want/need how are we supposed to give it to them?”

And the website certainly does appear to be asking the question, as other commenters mentioned, “What do privileged women want?” Which doesn’t really seem to answer the question real thoroughly.

By: Pilgrim Soul

Pilgrim Soul — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:49:24 +0000

I’d just like to say that I agree with you all and also that I am considering a human rights campaign for the End of Morning Television Shows That Discuss Important Issues With Such Surface Flippancy I Have Thrown My Shoes At the Goddamn Smug Anchors’ Faces More Times Than I Can Count and I Am Lucky That TV still works.

By: Mackey

Mackey — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:48:10 +0000

Sitting here at the computer I’ve been thinking about this.
* at first, I don’t have a problem with this question being asked (there are some issues that are women [not a definitional meaning of the word!] specific)
* then that became, but is this being used as a way to disempower women from broadly engaging further in society?
* then that became, why is it usually women that are required to speak on *their* issues?
* and this became, but what happens when a a non-woman starts speaking about an issue that affects me, and is making outlandish statements about what should happen.

So I think, in a very broad way, I would like things that impact on people (whether directly or indirectly) in a society to be taken seriously.
There is a recognition of the plurality of views within and without various populations of a society when engaging in a democratic process.
When discussing these issues, even when having a strong opinion about an issue or issues, that people are open to different ideas, and are able to change their opinions.

By: ShinyObjects

ShinyObjects — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:25:03 +0000

Just want to say that the actual A Woman’s Nation report (not the xx factor site) has actual information, rather than just bland non-questions. There’s some really good data and essays (though I haven’t read it all yet).

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:14:47 +0000

Right, because high-earning, self-sufficient women are either radical, and deserving of news coverage, or oddball, and therefore the butt of the joke. FAIL.

By: SarahMC

SarahMC — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:05:48 +0000

They’ve been covering this crap on the Today Show and the other morning they (Matt, Ann, Al, etc.) were all asking each other “who wears the pants” in their relationships, har har har!
Even when they’re discussing the advancement of women, it’s framed in sexist terms.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:38:04 +0000

@Becky
Yeah I saw a segment of that part where they were talking to men about how they feel when their wives out earn them. All I could think was: you know what I want- to have someone ask me what I want/need without then turning around and asking a man if that’s okay with him.