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quite honestly...
subtitle here


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...I have no clue what I'm doing.

But you can call me Flora.

Hi.

"
A woman’s worst nightmare? That’s pretty easy. Novelist Margaret Atwood writes that when she asked a male friend why men feel threatened by women, he answered, “They are afraid women will laugh at them.” When she asked a group of women why they feel threatened by men, they said, “We’re afraid of being killed.

- Mary Dickson, A Woman’s Worst Nightmare  (via thenewwomensmovement)

Mandated paid maternity leave in countries around the world

stfuconservatives:

other-stuff:

Afghanistan 90 days
Algeria 14 weeks
Angola 90 days
Argentina 90 days
Australia None ETA: No longer true - as of 1/1/2011, you get 18 weeks government-funded paid leave. -added by STFUConservatives
Austria 16 weeks
Bahamas, The 8 weeks
Bahrain 45 days
Bangladesh 12 weeks
Barbados 12 weeks
Belarus 126 days
Belgium 15 weeks
Belize 12 weeks
Benin 14 weeks
Bolivia 60 days
Botswana 12 weeks
Brazil 120 days
Bulgaria 120-180 days
Burkina Faso 14 weeks
Burma 12 weeks
Burundi 12 weeks
Cambodia 90 days
Cameroon 14 weeks
Canada 55% up to $413/week for 50 weeks (15 weeks maternity + 35 weeks parental leave shared with father)
Central African Republic 14 weeks
Chad 14 weeks
Chile 18 weeks
China 90 days
Colombia 12 weeks
Comoros 14 weeks
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 14 weeks
Costa Rica 4 months
Cuba 18 weeks
Cyprus 16 weeks
Côte d’Ivoire 14 weeks
Denmark 18 weeks
Djibouti 14 weeks
Dominica 12 weeks
Dominican Republic 12 weeks
Ecuador 12 weeks
Egypt 50 days
El Salvador 12 weeks
Equatorial Guinea 12 weeks
Estonia 455 calendar days (100%)
Ethiopia 90 days
Fiji 84 days
Finland 105 days
France 16 weeks (100%) rising to 26 weeks (100%) for third child
Gabon 14 weeks
Gambia, The 12 weeks
Germany 14 weeks (100%) 6 before birth
Ghana 12 weeks
Greece 16 weeks
Grenada 3 months
Guatemala 12 weeks
Guinea 14 weeks
Guinea-Bissau 60 days
Guyana 13 weeks
Haiti 12 weeks
Honduras 10 weeks
Hungary 24 weeks
Iceland 90 days 80% up to a ceiling of Íkr480,000 (€5,300, $6,700) monthly (minimum monthly payment Íkr 91,200 (€1000, $1,275) + 90 days to be shared between the parents
India 135 days (Central Government) 90 days or 12 weeks in State Governments
Indonesia 3 months
Iran 90 days
Iraq 62 days
Ireland 22 weeks (26 weeks from March 2007)
Israel 12 weeks
Italy 22 weeks (5 months) (80%) 2 before birth
Jamaica 12 weeks
Japan 14 weeks
Jordan 10 weeks
Kenya 2 months
Korea, South 60 days
Kuwait 70 days
Laos 90 days
Lebanon 40 days
Libya 50 days
Liechtenstein 8 weeks
Luxembourg 16 weeks
Madagascar 14 weeks
Malaysia 60 days
Mali 14 weeks
Malta 13 weeks
Mauritania 14 weeks
Mauritius 12 weeks
Mexico 12 weeks
Mongolia 101 days
Morocco 12 weeks
Mozambique 60 days
Namibia 12 weeks
Nepal 52 days
Netherlands 16 weeks
New Zealand 14 weeks
Nicaragua 12 weeks
Niger 14 weeks
Nigeria 12 weeks
Norway 54 weeks (12.5 months) (80%) or 44 weeks (10 months) (100%) - mother must take at least 3 weeks immediately before birth and 6 weeks immediately after birth, father must take at least 6 weeks - the rest can be shared between mother and father.
Pakistan 12 weeks
Panama 14 weeks
Paraguay 12 weeks
Peru 90 days
Philippines 60 days
Poland 16-18 weeks
Portugal 120 days
Qatar 40-60 days
Romania 112 days
Russia 140 days
Rwanda 12 weeks
Saint Lucia 13 weeks
Saudi Arabia 10 weeks
Senegal 14 weeks
Seychelles 14 weeks
Singapore 12 weeks
Solomon Islands 12 weeks
Somalia 14 weeks
South Africa 12 weeks
Spain 16 weeks
Sri Lanka 12 weeks
Sudan 8 weeks
Sweden 480 days (16 months) (80% up to a ceiling the first 390 days, 90 days at flat rate) - shared with father (minimum 60 days)
Switzerland 16 weeks (100%), 8 weeks mandatory
Syria 75 days
Tanzania 12 weeks
Thailand 90 days
Togo 14 weeks
Tunisia 30 days
Turkey 12 weeks
Uganda 4 weeks
Ukraine 126 days
United Arab Emirates 45 days
United Kingdom 6 weeks (90%) 20 weeks at a fixed amount (as of March 2006 = £108.85)
United States None 
Uruguay 12 weeks
Venezuela 18 weeks
Vietnam 4-6 months
Yemen 60 days
Zambia 12 weeks
Zimbabwe 90 days

The US and Australia with the outstanding 0 days or weeks of mandated paid maternity leave.

America and Australia are the only countries on the list without mandated paid maternity leave.* (I notice North Korea isn’t on there — we probably don’t have access to that information given that it’s North Korea and everything. Anyone know?)

In America, we have the PDL and the FMLA.


PDL. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) which entitles you up to four months of unpaid, job-protected leave when disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.

FMLA.  Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) if you have been employed with the Company for at least one year, provides up to 12 weeks job protected leave.

So you get a few unpaid months off if you gave birth, and they can’t legally hire someone to replace you. But that’s about it. Shameful, America.

-Jess

ETA: Australia has a new legal policy where you get 18 paid weeks’ leave. So America is alone on this one.

loveandotherhumanrights: manymoodsofmichael: These “Dudetips” have been posted around the UCLA campus for the past few weeks.  If you can, please tear them down. I can’t believe this is found acceptable here on my own campus. This is sexist.  Just because I’m a dude, doesn’t mean I’m gonna go out raping everything in sight.  This is pretty much equivalent to saying “Muslim Tip #3:  If you’re going to take a plane to New York, remember not to crash it into some skyscrapers”  And if you think I’m just getting worked up over a single poster, check the click-through link to their facebook page.  There’s a lot more “dudetips” and they’re all along the lines of “remember not to break into a girl’s house and rape her”  A whole album full, online and around campus.  It’s part of their “anti-rape” campaign.  Because I’m sure these posters are super good at stopping rape. It assumes that just because I’m part of a group that I am a guilty party.  Just like how Feminists try to change society’s tendency to prejudice women, I would like to point out that this is prejudice against men.  ”Girltip #3:  If you have a nice car, or a nice job, or a nice home, don’t forget to thank the man that gave it to you”  See?  Signs like this are simply prejudiced and go against everything Feminism should stand for.  This group is full of bullshit. I’ll be honest—your logic is flawed for a few reasons, but for one major reason in particular: 99%—get that? 99%!!—of rapes are committed BY MEN. That doesn’t mean all men are rapists—it means most rapists are men. Many organizations attempting to make a change target groups that comprise a smaller percentage of the perpetrators. But with this, we have that awful statistic—that statistic that tells us that we’ve really got to make a change in the way our society thinks of rape and men. It’s not saying, “All men are going to feel inclined to commit rape.” It’s saying, “Hey, out of all of the rapists, 99% of you are men—so stop it!” Or more simply, “Don’t rape.” Guess what?  I’m going to tell you—everyone—the same thing!  DON’T RAPE. I don’t care if you planned on it. I don’t care if you never dreamt of it.  DON’T. RAPE. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Rape Culture, but it’s basically a culture going strong in our society that has normalized and excused rape—even gone as far as to turn the victim into the one at fault.  That message—DON’T RAPE—is intended to create a new culture: a culture that does not accept rape. It’s not all-inclusive (some women do commit rape), but it’s catchy and it draws attention to the gendered nature of rape. All I can say is that maybe you might want to consider conversely how victims of sexual abuse feel (and also note that 99% of them are women—girls, even). The fear, pain, shame, and social rejection these women and girls go through is beyond awful, and I’d like to see you prioritize victims of such horrendous crimes over making the arbitrary claim that this poster is sexist for recognizing the gendered nature of sex crimes.

loveandotherhumanrights:

manymoodsofmichael:

These “Dudetips” have been posted around the UCLA campus for the past few weeks.  If you can, please tear them down. I can’t believe this is found acceptable here on my own campus.

This is sexist.  Just because I’m a dude, doesn’t mean I’m gonna go out raping everything in sight.  This is pretty much equivalent to saying “Muslim Tip #3:  If you’re going to take a plane to New York, remember not to crash it into some skyscrapers”  And if you think I’m just getting worked up over a single poster, check the click-through link to their facebook page.  There’s a lot more “dudetips” and they’re all along the lines of “remember not to break into a girl’s house and rape her”  A whole album full, online and around campus.  It’s part of their “anti-rape” campaign.  Because I’m sure these posters are super good at stopping rape.

It assumes that just because I’m part of a group that I am a guilty party.  Just like how Feminists try to change society’s tendency to prejudice women, I would like to point out that this is prejudice against men.  ”Girltip #3:  If you have a nice car, or a nice job, or a nice home, don’t forget to thank the man that gave it to you”  See?  Signs like this are simply prejudiced and go against everything Feminism should stand for.  This group is full of bullshit.

I’ll be honest—your logic is flawed for a few reasons, but for one major reason in particular: 99%—get that? 99%!!—of rapes are committed BY MEN. That doesn’t mean all men are rapists—it means most rapists are men. Many organizations attempting to make a change target groups that comprise a smaller percentage of the perpetrators. But with this, we have that awful statistic—that statistic that tells us that we’ve really got to make a change in the way our society thinks of rape and men.

It’s not saying, “All men are going to feel inclined to commit rape.” It’s saying, “Hey, out of all of the rapists, 99% of you are men—so stop it!” Or more simply, “Don’t rape.”

Guess what? 

I’m going to tell you—everyone—the same thing! 

DON’T RAPE.

I don’t care if you planned on it. I don’t care if you never dreamt of it. 

DON’T. RAPE.

I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Rape Culture, but it’s basically a culture going strong in our society that has normalized and excused rape—even gone as far as to turn the victim into the one at fault. 

That message—DON’T RAPE—is intended to create a new culture: a culture that does not accept rape.

It’s not all-inclusive (some women do commit rape), but it’s catchy and it draws attention to the gendered nature of rape.

All I can say is that maybe you might want to consider conversely how victims of sexual abuse feel (and also note that 99% of them are women—girls, even). The fear, pain, shame, and social rejection these women and girls go through is beyond awful, and I’d like to see you prioritize victims of such horrendous crimes over making the arbitrary claim that this poster is sexist for recognizing the gendered nature of sex crimes.

"
If your husband is cheating on you, it doesn’t mean that you need to get prettier — it means he’s a scumbag.

-

Jessica Valenti, Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters (via factualfeminist)

YEP!

(via loveandotherhumanrights)


I’ve been really, really lucky because whole, honest roles for young women don’t often exist. But now people are like, ‘Whoa, you’re such a feminist! You play such young, strong women.’ It’s like, if I were a guy, you wouldn’t be saying that to me. If I was a guy you wouldn’t be saying, ‘Wow, you play such strong young male roles.’ The question wouldn’t exist.

I’ve been really, really lucky because whole, honest roles for young women don’t often exist. But now people are like, ‘Whoa, you’re such a feminist! You play such young, strong women.’ It’s like, if I were a guy, you wouldn’t be saying that to me. If I was a guy you wouldn’t be saying, ‘Wow, you play such strong young male roles.’ The question wouldn’t exist.

feministharrystyles:

By request, a rebloggable version:

"
Fuck these patriarchal beauty standards”. I hear you loud and clear, but women wearing pink and glitter and heels are not the enemy. And believe it or not, a whole bunch of women LIKE wearing that shit. We are not dumb, less feminist or watered down because of it. A long time ago when I was in undergrad I walked up to my feminist friends sitting in the grass and they started talking about my pink backless shirt and how their own clothes weren’t so “cutesy,” then it got awkward so I left and one of them said “see you later Blossom”. Do you remember that show? I loved it. But that’s not the point. The point is that my “friend” snuck a little snide comment in front of our all of our other friends simply because I like dressing up. And that was at least 8 years ago and I still remember everything about that day. Feminism is not about laughing at other girls and making them feel insecure. Especially over something as trivial as clothes. Remember you are pro-choice. Respect my choice to wear booty shorts.

- Lamesha, Grrrl Perspective  (via lilac-hour)

princezuko:

netrikon:

ok im really super mad about hp and i have to finish a calc bc problem set and shower and get dressed in the next 20 minutes i cant do all of those things so lemme just get this out there

  • jkr is not a feminist writer
  • jkr is not a feminist writer
  • jkr is not a feminist writer
  • jkr slut-shames and shames girls for being interested in “girly” things (lavender)
  • jkr presents a dichotomy between “good women” and “bad women” (hermione’s bookishness and respectable prudery vs. lavender’s girly-girl sexuality, mrs weasley’s motherliness vs. bellatrix’s lack of offspring and sexual attraction to voldemort) 
  • which is an INHERENTLY ANTIFEMINIST ACT
  • ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU FRAME IT IN TERMS OF FEMALE SEXUALITY? WOW
  • jkr blames girls for their eating disorders (this was on her website at one point so it’s not textual but i feel we should note it)
  • jkr then says that she is fat-positive while every overweight character in her books is mean, nasty, and shrewish (with the exception of mrs. weasley who is described as “plump and motherly”)
  • jkr writes outing narratives (remus lupin - bookish shy teacher with a secret that’s revealed to the school and then causes him to lose his job) but maintains the textual straightness of even her only queer character - dumbledore’s queerness is not stated in-text and is thus not actually canonical)
  • jkr has one textually disabled girl character and her entire purpose is to get abused and raped and be written as “dangerous and out of control” b/c of her brain problems to motivate dumbledore… (thanks for this one cat!)
  • also i feel like i should address jkr’s positioning of luna as “crazy” and “that weird girl” when luna has suffered abuse from her housemates for her entire school career and showed up at school traumatized and proceeded to be ostracised wow how is that an ok thing to do
  • jkr has never acknowledged the possibility of queer female characters
  • EDIT: jkr “punished” umbridge for her actions in book five by sending her off to be gang-raped by centaurs
  • jkr is the fucking worst
  • seriously
  • if you idolize hp i do not want to know you

Also can I add to this that the two “superior” houses in Hogwarts were founded by men and that the two “inferior” houses were founded by women.

"
What do you think street harassment is about? Sex? Benign flattery? Attraction? Women who can’t just suck it up and deal?

It’s power. Catcalls, sexist comments, public masturbation, groping, stalking and assault: gender-based street harassment makes public places unfriendly, frightening and dangerous for many girls, women, and LGBQT people.

It’s power to control public spaces. Power to alter paths. Power to shame, scare and intimidate. Power to define what is safe and what is not. It’s the power to say: “I’m entitled to touch you, comment on your body, coerce you to smile, control your movement.” Even when women perceive catcalls as flattering, they are nonetheless aware that it’s an unpredictable degree away from possible harm.

- International Anti-Street Harassment Week: 10 Things You Can Do To Stop Street Harassment (via aimmyarrowshigh)