Stop Patriarchy

Discussion…
 
Tuesday, June 26 at Revolution Books in NYC
7-9:30 pm
146 West 26th Street, NYC

hosted by Sunsara Taylor and the project to
End Pornography and Patriarchy: The Enslavement & Degradation of Women

50 Shades of Grey: Bad for Women! Bad for Sex! 

50 Shades of Grey portrays a virginal college grad falling for a stunningly wealthy, controlling, powerful and troubled man who insists on totally owning her and getting off while hurting her with riding whips, chains, paddles and violently degrading sex. Despite her tears, deep isolation and confusion she comes to find this fulfilling and enjoyable.
 
Millions of copies of this book have been sold and everyone has been buzzing about what it means that women are attracted to this fantasy.

In reality, the attraction to this “fantasy” is not shocking. It’s only different by a matter of degree from the common romance novel or fairy tail that women have been indoctrinated with their whole lives: a young, virginal and insecure woman somehow attracts a man who she “doesn’t deserve.” He is powerful, jealous, moody and controlling. She is frightened, but the more she submits the more she sees abuse is just how he shows his love. Finally, she is made “worthy” because he wants to possess her.
 
The only thing new this time is that she has to sign a contract that refers to her as “The Submissive” and he buys her platinum and diamond jewelry to cover her bruises.

This is harmful!

It is bad for women - at a time when, under the guise of “post-feminism” women are once again being pushed to embrace the role of “breeder” or “sex object,” this book reinforces and makes appealing the idea that women should be owned and controlled by men.

It’s bad for sex - at a time when more space needs to be opened up for people to imagine and experience the full richness of what sex can be between mutually respectful and equal partners, this book pushes people to get over their discomfort and wallow in sex as degradation and enslavement.

NOTE: You do not have to have read the book to participate!

An Open Letter on Sexual Subjugation and Intellectual Rationalization

by Sunsara Taylor

Some people say that it is wrong to call for the abolition of pornography, prostitution and the entire global sex industry. They claim that doing so only further stigmatizes the women—and very young girls—who are bought and sold and denies these women—and these very young girls—their “agency.” Instead of abolishing the sex industry, these people insist, we should be “empowering” women and girls to “reclaim sex work” and we should be fighting the sense of shame that is imposed on these women and girls for the “work” that they do.

Outrageously, a great many of those making this argument are concentrated in the “Gender Studies” departments at universities and colleges throughout this country and therefore have disproportionate influence over the thinking of young people who are concerned about the oppressed conditions of women throughout the world.

To those who make this argument, and to all those influenced by it, I pose the following:

During the many long and bitter years of outright chattel slavery in the history of the United States, did Black people suffer not only physical brutality, cruelty and disfigurement on a mass scale, but also tremendous psychological trauma, shame, and humiliation as a major part of that experience?

Undoubtedly!

But, does that mean that those generations of enslaved people needed to be “empowered” to make the most of their situation within the confines of slavery? Did they need to be counseled and told not to feel so ashamed or devalued just because they were enslaved?

Or did they need people, millions and millions of people, to fight and to sacrifice to put an end to the back-breaking, spirit-crushing crime against humanity of slavery and, in that process, to repudiate the ideology and culture of white supremacy and Black inferiority which was not only promoted by the U.S. ruling class but which also inflicted deep scars on the psyches of the oppressed themselves?

For anyone with any sense of history and a conscience, the question answers itself.

Applying the same basic standard today, it is simply immoral to refuse to stand up against and demand the abolition of the global sex industry which dehumanizes, degrades, tortures, exploits, traumatizes and brutalizes millions of women and very young girls each year—and which fosters a culture where all women are demeaned, degraded, devalued and endangered. Beyond that, it is impossible to conceive of putting an end to the stigma and the shame that is heaped on women who are used and degraded in the sex industry while simultaneously rationalizing and defending this very industry as it daily treats these women (and very young girls) as nothing more than human chattel.

End Pornography and Patriarchy: The Enslavement and Degradation of Women!

(Source: revcom.us)

[our discussion on this uptown this past week was super interesting…so we’re doing this again downtown. If you’re in NY-area, come join us]

Come to a discussion inspired by the themes in the new HBO series “Girls”!

Thursday - May 10 - 7-9 pm
at
Revolution Books
146 West 26th Street, NYC
[btw 6th-7th Aves, #1, 6 or R to 28th St.]

* Is there such a thing as “good sex”? If so, what makes it “good”?
* Must abortion be an agonizing decision?
* What makes for a “meaningful life”? A career… friends…sex…or something more?

NOTE: You do not have to have seen the show to participate!

Discussion hosted by Sunsara Taylor and the project to End Pornography and Patriarchy: The Enslavement and Degradation of Women

“It is long past time that this new generation stand up, reject, and RESIST this culture of rape and pornography; this culture that labels women “selfish” if they choose not to become mothers; this culture that reduces women and girls to sexualized objects while denying their full multi-dimensional humanity (including their right-as one essential part of this-to explore their sexuality without shame or stigma); this culture that demonizes and bullies LGBT people….”

“Women are not objects. Women are not things to be used for the sexual pleasure of men NOR are they breeders of children. WOMEN ARE HUMAN BEINGS CAPABLE OF FULL EQUALITY IN EVERY REALM!”

stoppatriarchy@gmail.com

Come to a discussion inspired by the themes in the new HBO series “Girls”!

Thursday - May 3 - 7-9 pm
at
Book Culture Bookstore
536 West 112th Street, NYC
[btw Broadway & Amsterdam, #1 to 110th St.]

*  Is there such a thing as “good sex”? If so, what makes it “good”?
*  Must abortion be an agonizing decision?
*  What makes for a “meaningful life”? A career… friends…sex…or something more?

NOTE: You do not have to have seen the show to participate!

Discussion hosted by Sunsara Taylor and the project to End Pornography and Patriarchy: The Enslavement and Degradation of Women

“It is long past time that this new generation stand up, reject, and RESIST this culture of rape and pornography; this culture that labels women  “selfish” if they choose not to become mothers; this culture that reduces women  and girls to sexualized objects while denying their full multi-dimensional  humanity (including their right-as one essential part of this-to explore their  sexuality without shame or stigma); this culture that demonizes and bullies LGBT  people….”

“Women are not objects. Women are not things to  be used for the sexual pleasure of men NOR are they breeders of children. WOMEN ARE HUMAN BEINGS CAPABLE OF FULL EQUALITY IN EVERY REALM!”

stoppatriarchy@gmail.com

Wed. November 30 – 7:00 pm

A world without rape, sexism and patriarchy is possible.  These things are not a product of some unchanging, unchangeable human nature.  They are a product of the system and how it shapes people.  Come find out “Why & How the Future Revolutionary Society Will End Pornography, Prostitution and Patriarchy!”

Last in a series of talks given by Sunsara Taylor, followed by Q&A, discussion, debate, and mobilization. Sunsara is currently working with others to launch this new effort to End Pornography and Patriarchy; the Enslavement and Degradation of Women.

At:

Revolution Books
146 West 26th Street, NYC
212-691-3345

Btw 6th-7th Aves.
28th St. stop on 1 or R train
Donation requested at the door
www.revolutionbooksnyc.org

Sunsara Taylor writes for Revolution Newspaper, is on the Advisory Board of The World Can’t Wait, and is a co-host on “Equal Time for Freethought” on WBAI in NYC.