Comments on: Why I don't read anti-sex/porn books: a page from the "awesome-ist" manifesto http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/ I'm an atheist who has been a full time pornographer and sex worker for almost 10 years. I'm also a former "sex-positive feminist" who tired of trying to shoehorn my life into a useless ideology like a pair of ill-fitting high heels. I oppose the feminist doctrine that women are inherently feeble victims, brainwashed by "the patriarchy," and in need of someone to protect and guide us. I operate SWAAY.org, the only American sex workers' rights project aimed solely at public outreach and education. My politics are extremely socially permissive, but mixed on fiscal matters, and I don't identify with any one political party or label. My philosophy is informed primarily by Patrick Swayze in Roadhouse: "I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice." Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:42:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Furry Girl http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-15996 Furry Girl Fri, 20 May 2011 02:29:23 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-15996 Thanks for the comments! Nice one on Shalit, Pat. Thanks for the comments!

Nice one on Shalit, Pat.

]]> By: Pat http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-15448 Pat Thu, 12 May 2011 16:21:37 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-15448 I can't find it now, but I distinctly remember an Amazon review of Wendy Shalit's "A Return to Modesty" that said, "Wendy Shalit went to my college. Unfortunately, she didn't learn anything there." (Actually, she did, and that's kind of the problem—her entire career was launched when she got to our college and freaked out to discover the bathrooms were usually coed.) I can't find it now, but I distinctly remember an Amazon review of Wendy Shalit's "A Return to Modesty" that said, "Wendy Shalit went to my college. Unfortunately, she didn't learn anything there."

(Actually, she did, and that's kind of the problem—her entire career was launched when she got to our college and freaked out to discover the bathrooms were usually coed.)

]]> By: Elize Donster http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-4017 Elize Donster Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:28:31 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-4017 I like your style and i feel the same way. I like your style and i feel the same way.

]]> By: Shannon Williams http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-1238 Shannon Williams Thu, 06 May 2010 20:16:14 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-1238 I love you. I love you.

]]> By: Sequoia http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-601 Sequoia Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:05:28 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-601 "A cornerstone of my overall ethic is my deep loathing of people who prefer to whine about what other people are doing rather than get off their asses and actively create change" Oh. Fuck. Yes. "A cornerstone of my overall ethic is my deep loathing of people who prefer to whine about what other people are doing rather than get off their asses and actively create change"

Oh. Fuck. Yes.

]]> By: TsaphanBabe http://www.feminisnt.com/2010/why-i-dont-read-anti-sexporn-books-a-page-from-the-awesome-ist-manifesto/#comment-600 TsaphanBabe Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:55:25 +0000 http://www.feminisnt.com/?p=945#comment-600 Hm. You said you were blogging in response to a tweet. Was that from me? If it was, you certainly misunderstood my question about whether or not you'd read the Wolf book. I just happen to be reading it now and found it relevant to your comment. You said "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Same goes for feeling insecure." And, I agree. I also agree, though, that simply existing in this society makes it very, very, very difficult to avoid the pressures. It's not impossible. However, I would suggest your passionate response is related to the pressure most women feel to participate (or feel guilty when we don't). Of course, I have no idea what goes on in your head beyond what you've shown here. In any case, I certainly wasn't implying you ought to read it or need to read it. Not even close. One of the most interesting things about this blog post is that you and I have so much more in common than I think you assumed... That is, the point I was going to make (if you'd told me if you'd read the book or not) was that I figured out why the body-image crap pisses me off so much. I happen to be *obsessed* with the fact that almost all the vulvas out there are bald—they were *not* that way when I was last single. The reason it angers me so much is because I don't play into it like I "should." And the point I would have made to you about my feelings about porn if you had continued the tweeting discussion had nothing to do with you, what you should read or shouldn't read, or anything even remotely connected with you beyond the fact that I think we have things in common. So, it's an interesting blog post. And I'm sorry you get bothered by people who think you should do or read x or y or z whatever. I happen to be the same way about mass media events. I've never seen Lady Gaga, for example. I didn't see one single image from Haiti when the earthquake first hit. We all have to make choices about what we do with our time. Judging each other harshly when we make different choices is a total waste of time in my book. Anyway, keep on with the good work. Not all feminists are assholes, by the way. :-) Warmly, TsaphanBabe the sexually submissive feminist Hm. You said you were blogging in response to a tweet. Was that from me? If it was, you certainly misunderstood my question about whether or not you'd read the Wolf book. I just happen to be reading it now and found it relevant to your comment. You said "no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Same goes for feeling insecure." And, I agree. I also agree, though, that simply existing in this society makes it very, very, very difficult to avoid the pressures. It's not impossible. However, I would suggest your passionate response is related to the pressure most women feel to participate (or feel guilty when we don't). Of course, I have no idea what goes on in your head beyond what you've shown here.

In any case, I certainly wasn't implying you ought to read it or need to read it. Not even close.

One of the most interesting things about this blog post is that you and I have so much more in common than I think you assumed... That is, the point I was going to make (if you'd told me if you'd read the book or not) was that I figured out why the body-image crap pisses me off so much. I happen to be *obsessed* with the fact that almost all the vulvas out there are bald—they were *not* that way when I was last single. The reason it angers me so much is because I don't play into it like I "should." And the point I would have made to you about my feelings about porn if you had continued the tweeting discussion had nothing to do with you, what you should read or shouldn't read, or anything even remotely connected with you beyond the fact that I think we have things in common.

So, it's an interesting blog post. And I'm sorry you get bothered by people who think you should do or read x or y or z whatever. I happen to be the same way about mass media events. I've never seen Lady Gaga, for example. I didn't see one single image from Haiti when the earthquake first hit. We all have to make choices about what we do with our time. Judging each other harshly when we make different choices is a total waste of time in my book.

Anyway, keep on with the good work. Not all feminists are assholes, by the way. :-)

Warmly,
TsaphanBabe
the sexually submissive feminist

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