Andrea Dworkin

[firecat]

From an article by Susie Bright about Andrea Dworkin (but not an obituary as someone characterized it; it was written in 2000). I'm not entirely comfortable with the subject and general tone of the article, but this was really well said and is primarily what I have been thinking about since learning that Dworkin has died.

Dworkin, as veteran observers know, is usually depicted as a shrill fatty. It's painful to read mainstream media coverage of her, because they insist that her entire reputation can be distilled to a lack of fashion sense, a fatal lack of "femininity." I don't think there's a female public figure alive who's been more castigated for their looks. It's frightening to consider that, if she was slim and blonde ( like MacKinnon) she would actually be treated in the diminutive; her views would be considered with at least a modicum of respect. But I don't care how loud or fat she is, in fact those are probably two of my favorite things about her, because they express her defiance.

Comments

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Thought the first: Janet Reno. The degree of cattiness about her physical appearance was beyond belief. Hillary Clinton came in for her share as well, and look at what the liberals choose to attack about Ann Coulter! Which, sadly, all goes to prove the validity of much of what Dworkin was saying.

Thought the second was going to have been Ann Coulter, but she got subsumed into my initial point. :)

[kightp.livejournal.com]

And Margaret Thatcher, Bella Abzug, you name it.

I've heard it said that the worst thing you can call a man is "stupid," but the worst thing you can call a woman is "ugly." Dworkin, in her way, tried to chip away at that.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

Some liberals. I have enough negative things to say about Coulter's stupidity and viciousness that I needn't bother with irrelevancies.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

You're right, of course. But geez louise, I see enough people sniping about her "boniness" and "horse-faced" features that I just cringe. It's one of those "Waitaminnit, I thought we were better than that crap!" things. And if I don't call my fellow liberals on it, what does that make me?

[firecat]

Conservatives hardly have a monopoly on ad hominem (or ad feminam) "debate" tactics.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

I'm a geek who found a home in the sf community. I always asssume that my side will do better arguing facts and reason than arguing appearance. I didn't like Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot.