Why I Love Gender Studies, But Hate Everything Else

Today, one of the CNN reporters I follow posted a story involving a high school student killed by her abusive boyfriend. Of course, this leads her the reporter adding her two cents in, which is fine--it's everyone else's annoying opinions that get in the way. Now I know better than to comment, because this reporter is a feminist herself who will, of course, focus on women as the victims. And thankfully there are the occasional comment about how women can also be abusive.

Then, there was this comment.

"Shifting the discussion to male victims is like trying to make a case for "reverse-racism." Fact is, males are less than 10% of the victims of domestic abuse and they certainly aren't murdered on a daily basis the way that women and girls are. Men commit 90% of the murders in this country, and most are against people they know."

Ummm....I don't even know where to start. To focus on this comment in particular, I have this:

1) Yes, the statistics are true...to a point. To be more specific, males are victims of less than 10% of REPORTED domestic abuse cases involving PHYSICAL VIOLENCE. It is impossible to argue that the statistics out there are accurate when

• Men have zero support when it comes to reporting domestic abuse against a women,
• Men are so stigmatized to report abuse because they are supposed to be the "stronger" sex,
• Abuse is not just physical violence, it is also mental, emotional and verbal abuse as well--which women are far more likely to use over physical hitting,
• And if it is verbal/emotional abuse, what evidence does the man have when it's all so arbitrary?

2) Statistics on murder just made the argument invalid. See how easy it is to make a point all pretty when you disregard all other crimes that are committed? "Men commit 90% of murders! That clearly must mean that they are VIOLENT and women aren't. Hell, men might as well have committed the other 10% as well!" That, and it implies that domestic abuse is the equivalent to murder........I recognize they're both bad, but.....hell, there's enough debate about executions, won't go into that. D:


3) The part that bothers me the most is that the commenter compares male victims to reverse-racism. Which, again with the lists, made me think of a couple disturbing things.

• Suggesting that women should be excused from discussions about domestic abuse because they're reported as the victims more?
• Suggesting men CAN'T be a victim of domestic abuse?
• What about the other 10%? Shouldn't we, as people against domestic violence, make a case for ALL victims and not just the majority of them?

Essentially, it comes down to is it OK to compare victims of domestic violence to reverse-racism? If we define racism as prejudice against a racial minority, then sexism is prejudice against a gender minority...in the case of domestic violence, male victims are clearly the gender minority, and therefore the commenter's post is clearly sexist.

And that's why I want to write a thesis on stereotypes and males in the media. Boom. *bow*

Daytona Speedweeks In Pictures

The Daytona 500 has concluded, and Jamie McMurray is back in action! However, as I was digging around for pictures...too many of them were too amazing, and demanded a little...attention. ;)
Let's start off with my man, Dale Jr. For 35, you're still amazingly hot. Now if only he'd grow his hair out a little longer, say as long as it was way back when....

Oh hell yes, let's go back to that...well, with a little stubble still. Damn, this reminiscing is reviving my celebrity crush. :3

He's not exactly new meat, but he hasn't had quite the hype that he deserves. At least till today's performance. Holy fucking hottness, where have you been hiding for so long?! You've gained a new fan, Mr Scott Speed. >:D You know it's a good thing when the man's name is a drug. Or promises of very fast things.

Tony Stewart, you have the greatest expressions of anyone, I believe.

I can't tell, is this 2010 or 1998?...OH, that's right, in 1998 he was driving the 3 car! And there was more blue on his car. But still, very reminiscent of that year. Strange, I actually didn't freak out after he flipped...I actually kind of giggled, and thought it was pretty cool. So did he apparently, asking his PR guy if the flip was worth the ton of money lost on it. God, what I'd do to be his PR person...Sigh.

Speed in that adorable hat of his. I've never hated shirts as much as I do at this moment.

Ohhh Ryan and Tony, how you make a perfect Caption This moment! "Hey, is he trying to get into my trailer? Let's go bust his ass!"

Dale Jr rocking the new beard. How did he know I'm a sucker for facial hair?! Sigh...also, I probably shouldn't be surprised, but I can still make out his scar from when he was uber burned on his neck. That was 2005 when that happened, I think, that detail should've slipped me by now...mmm still smexy...

Caption This moment: Fear or delight, I can't tell...he might've dropped her on her head too often, and her emotions are too confused now... (God, I don't know why he has to have such a cute kid!)

Finally, the champion with his trophy. Speaks for itself, really! :)

Men Crying Is Now Demanded

This morning, while I was watching the prerace festivities for the Daytona 500, I realized something. I couldn't remember the last time I saw a driver cry after winning a race, or a championship. Now I think this might have came about because I've been reading Date Me Baby One More Time, which touches on the subject of men crying. Also, they had just shown a bunch of Jimmie Johnson pictures and shit, and I think he's becoming overblown. Urg.

But back to the subject at hand. Now crying at the drop of a hat, yes that can be very strange. But for something much more deep, like winning a championship? You'd think men were more prone to crying after something as epic as that.

I did in fact tell my mom before the race that I hope whoever won the race today would cry.

I really did, too. Really, a man should burst out in tears for momentous occasions that they worked their whole lives for. Football guys, they'll cry whether they won the Super Bowl or not. In the Indianapolis 500, it was good enough for Helio Castroneves to cry after his victory--and he had won it multiple times.

However, it seems that when it comes to NASCAR, I couldn't for the life of me remember the last time I saw the victor shed a tear afterwards. And I do fear that Johnson has become desensitized to his championship streak. Side effects including inability to appreciate a championship, much less a win, and high expectations of doing it for a fifth straight time...gag me. And desensitization to championships or important races such as the Daytona 500 can be disastrous. If the driver isn't choking on tears because of something so amazing like this, why should anyone else be? I would much rather have a driver like Helio Castroneves milk it for all it's worth (if he wasn't sincere, but since he is, I appreciate that a ton), than have Jimmie Johnson appreciate the amount of work his team did to get him there. Been there, done that, wearing the damn t-shirt.

So we enjoyed the race, in company with an adorable Dale Jr cake that the rental neighbors gave us! I swear, they can NOT move, period. We love them too much, and their delicious cookies and treats... :D

And in the end...the victor gave me my wish.

I absolutely loved Jamie McMurray's victory, because he was more sincere about his win than anyone else has been in so long...a race this big deserved a celebration just as huge, and Jamie delivered. My faith in him has certainly restored! Finally, a driver who has the balls to cry after winning a race... :)

And even though Dale Jr finished second, I'm glad he finished second to Jamie. He really deserved the win. And Dale, we're thrilled that you finished second. You earned this positive step in the right direction! (Plus, we know you would've cried too if you had won the race)

I <3 Music

I think I'm temporarily deaf tonight, but it's all right, because tonight was AWESOME!

To start, I had a test today in Survey of Business. I don't know how I did on that, 'cause I'm sort of on the fence of how much information I actually retained, but I really need to remember that apparently there are review notes online...well that would've been nice to know beforehand. But whatevs.

Then tonight, there was a concert with about 4 different bands at the Eagle's Club. Kacee, Jenn, Rachel, Erin and I went to it at about 6, so we left to go get some food down at R-Pizza. Man, that pizza was good! But to start, when we got to the club, it was entertaining to watch the guy at the table put on our wristbands. A member of Avian Sunrise came over and said "Nah, that's not how you do it, let me show you," and uses me as an example. He's wrapping it around my wrist talking about the glue and how it's funny to try and put it on a guy's hairy arm 'cause of when you have to pull it off and it kinda hurts, but then he says "Wow, you've got the smallest wrists I've ever seen!"

It made me happy, and I don't really know why....maybe the same way being called a hot nerd made me happy too, I don't know!

First band we saw was Sour Soul, and really, all I can say is WOW. Not only are their band members SUPER nice and really pretty hot, but they were absolutely awesome music-wise too! I so wanted to get a shirt, but I had to borrow money just for an album...but I got it! Plus I got to talk to the lead singer (who talked me into the album in the first place), and their super-hot banjo player! He said he got interested in the banjo because of the Irish music influence he grew up with as a kid, then he also mentioned that they prefer to write songs in English because of the differences in translation kind of thing--they have one Spanish song, but he said that it wasn't even their favorite. Go figure! Also, the Spanish accents were....wow.... :D

Then there was this rap group. No comment.

Windsor Drive was next, and while I didn't get their albums (yes they have more than one!!), they were still awesome! So I might download theirs later.

Finally was Avian Sunrise, which was so freaking epic! Just awesome. I got their EP also, and a shirt, so that's where most of my money went tonight lol. But it was worth it!

But now, I shall go to sleep, and try to regain some of my hearing. :P

He Couldn't Hide For Long.

Well, I don't really have anything to report today other than that I located where Majorly Effing Hot Man hides during the day. Mariah and I went up to the second floor of the library, and what do you know, there he is chilling by the windows with a coffee cup, studying. And yeah, he still had those earbuds in. But today he was wearing a white shirt. :P

Also, I am in love with Sunday's Argus paper. That picture is AMAZING! :D

And the story was amazing too, not gonna lie. Sheri is so awesome at what she does!

Fucking Hot Men, and RIP Tanner...

I'm sad to say, this is my 70th post. Post #69, I shall miss you dearly. Such a pretty post count, you are.... ;)

Yesterday I ran into this guy at the MUC twice. And this wasn't just any guy, this was a jaw-dropping-fucking-HOT guy. Black hair of medium length, waved back in a way hair really shouldn't wave back normally....Damn, he had amazing arms, like he could easily be a football player but he seemed shy enough that me might not be. He was wearing earbuds both times I saw him, and the second time when we walked past each other he did that shy look-the-other-direction-casually glance, so I believe he's got a shy side to him. He's got a black backpack, was wearing a red shirt....well clothes can change, I just hope he doesn't change his hair, his face as a whole was so...shocking to me. Like, a beacon. God, I'm doomed to forever wander around hoping to run into him, and no one else will be able to compare!

The sad thing was that I was dressed in the most casual clothing I could get: jeans, a tank top undershirt, and my plaid longsleeve shirt (unbottoned, I might add). Fuck my life..

But anyways. Voting was today for 24 hour visitation. I know I should tell Keather to vote, but it's not like she even cares. All she seems to want is to find a guy to latch onto and stay there. I want friends and a life first before I go out and find a guy...even though I just found one yesterday....gahhh.

Plus, Keather never told me why she never came back to the room the other night. In fact, for part of the day, she didn't even really speak to me. Sooo, I'm sticking to my assumption that she spent the night with a guy, most likely Jeremy. And thank you, Logan, for seeing that her bubbly personality is in fact flirty, and thank you doubly so for admitting that it can get in the way of getting to know who she really is. Your intuitiveness is an awesome trait to have, and it's very much appreciated!

On a sad note, Tanner passed away last night. I'm sad, but at the same time I'm happy, because these past few years have been awfully rough for him. His back problems were horrible, which was why we nearly lost him the first time, but he somehow came back from that...but I can't imagine that road being painless, so I'm happy he's someplace where he'll never deal with pain again. I'll miss you, big guy. <3

I think this is one of the last photos I've got of Tanner (at least on my computer), from early July. Thanks for not looking at the camera Tanner, ha. :P