To those men who ask that I submit*:

[rubykatewriting]

When novels like Speak and Living Dead Girl aren't so immediately devastating because there are too many baby girls who have had the agency over what happens to their bodies taken away violently, then I will submit to you.

When books like The Natashas or videos like A Teenage Girls Guide to Surviving Sex Slavery no longer apply to the daily realities of girls and women around the world, then I will submit to you.

When a court in the UNITED STATES doesn't decide that once sex has started, I lose the right to say no, when such laughably offensive language as "re-flowered" isn't actually used in the LEGAL OPINION, then I will submit to you.

When my daughters and granddaughters are not taught from birth that what lays between their legs is something that others will try to take by force if they aren't careful; when I'm not linked to cereta's post and find myself nodding my head, or getting a knot in my stomach when inlovewithnight says by way of linking: "The idea of all the things I haven't done, the experiences I passed on, because nobody wanted to go with me and it just wasn't the smart/good/safe thing to do by myself," * because I KNOW that feeling, then I will submit to you.

When my reproductive rights are no longer a topic of debate in the political discourse; when doctors are not gunned down for giving me the opportunity to exercise my right; when you can read personal testimonials like Gretchen Voss' or Lynda Waddington's and understand that abortion is never an easy choice but it MUST remain A CHOICE at every stage of pregnancy, then I will submit to you.

Are you seeing a theme here? So until then feel free to be offended every time I openly laugh in your face when you grumble about us "independent women" and our inability to "submit to our men as the bible says" because let's not get it twisted: I totally mean to offend the fuck outta you.

*This is actually directed at one man in particular, but I thought I'd just make it an open letter to all of the mens.

Comments

[inlovewithnight.livejournal.com]

Well-said.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

I appreciate this entire post, I couldn't say this better myself, and I applaud your decision to make this a open letter. (I just haad to get that out there.)

Thank you.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I just needed to get it out there and having just finished Living Dead Girl last night really sealed the deal. It left me broken for a good hour afterward.

[briary-flower.livejournal.com]

You might find this book interesting.
Abortion Rights, the ERA, and the Rebirth of a Feminist Movement It's sort of a classic, and might help you to have a way to form arguments when you're angry and feel the need to confront an asshole. I also like to say that either reproductive laws apply to everybody, or we don't have reproductive laws. Just be totally hard line with the hard liners, to wit, NO WANKING - THOSE R BABIES UR THROWING AWAY IN BALLED UP KLEENEXES OMG!!!

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of that scene in Legally Blonde: For that matter, any masturbatory emissions, where the sperm is clearly not seeking an egg, could be termed reckless abandonment.

But I'm personally of the opinion (I'm sure we've talked about this before) that men should excuse themselves from the conversation entirely. It's really immaterial to me that their sperm is a necessary component for pregnancy to occur, and until they’ve come up with a way for men to carry fetuses to term, I will continue to think they should STFD and STFU; the women are talking.

[rubykatewriting.livejournal.com]

Also: I love that it basically means only us women can masturbate because when we masturbate, we DON'T KILL THE PRESHUSH BABIEZ. Just tell that to a man, and he'll shut the fuck up so fast. God, I cannot wait to try that shit out!