BlogHer - rape - Comments

Nothing That Can Be Seen In Your Area

Megan Smith — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:15:00 -0500

But give me time. :)

Megan

BlogHer CE, TV/Online Video

Thanks for your comment!

Bianca Reagan — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:27:16 -0500

I agree that the scene was not done in a way that was exploitative. I think the producers shot it with respect for Joan's character.

Have you created any movies or TV shows or videos that I can watch?

You Make Some Excellent Points

Megan Smith — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:41:49 -0500

Hi Bianca,

You make some excellent points about the depiction of violence against women. And I love that you found that quote from "Designing Women."

As far as that particular "Mad Men" episode, I disagree with you somewhat. While I found it very disturbing, I don't think the scene was done in a way that was exploitive.
It made the point about the sexual constraints women had to deal with at that time. And yes, men did and still do to some extent, punish women for their sexuality. In the development of the show, I think that sets the ground work for how Joan's character will move forward.

Having said that though, the reason there are so many scenes of violence against women in the movies and television is because there aren't enough women like you and me in charge of movies and television. When it's gratuitous and totally for titillation, there's no excuse for it.

Megan

BlogHer CE, TV/Online Video

My Personal Blog: Megan's Minute

Richa

snigdhasen — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:11:35 -0500

Your work is intense. Pinki Virani lives in Bombay. I will try reach her and see if i can get her email for you. Can you please forward your email address? She may want the email address sent directly to you.

Thanks for stopping by, Richa.

Update on Aruna--thanks!

richabansal79 — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:41:52 -0500

Dear Snigdha,

Thanks so much for the update on Aruna. I have been wanting to read about what's her current status for a long time. I had done a project on rape victims as a media student in 2002--that's when I had read the book--following which and spurred by the Mumbai local train rape of a minor watched mutely by five onlookers, another girl and I had done a project, where we had written case studies on four real life rape victims. This was followed by an open house discussion on the subject, where we raised money for one of the victims, who was unable to afford her operation. I do not know what happened to her either--that was a very chilling case too. I also wish to meet Pinki Virani at some point. Right now, am at Cambridge to pursue higher studies but if you could guide me reagrding how I could meet Pinki Virani, i'd be ever so grateful.

Richa.

Deference Another Term for Stonewalling

rebellious thinker — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:44:34 -0500

The whole "straight talk express" is a farce. Palin can't be asked questions unless showing deference to her. What does that even mean? How would that go? Bend on your knees and bow to her before you ask, apologetically and fawningly, for her to tell you again how she's a Russian expert, because it's a fascinating story. Oh, and tell me again how you don't like pork but Alaska out-porks every other state. And her husband, who is a private citizen and works for no government--either of the US of Alaska or the US of America, who won't abide by the subpoena issued to him about Troopergate. Maybe someone should speak to McCain and ask him, how, precisely the Market Crash Commission would improve the economy. The rape kit, it's a dirty, dirty sign of how incomprehensible and dark things have become.

Laura, www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com

Flabbergasted

House of Clams — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:38:45 -0500

I'm more appalled that the McCain/Palin campaign spokesman told reporters Palin wouldn't be available for interviews until reporters could show her some "deference." Excuse me? The national media -- constitutionally recognized as the eyes and ears of the American people -- are not permitted to grill a vice presidential candidate on her issues, beliefs, and character, indeed must DEFER to her?

The sheer arrogance and blazing hypocrisy is FLABBERGASTING.

(Me, I'm waiting for the debates, the whole of which I'll spend looking for her battery pack and the earpiece carefully concealed behind a just-so-styled lock of hair, hoping to god someone's sneaked in a wireless transmitter jammer, and wondering at how the Bush Administration has turned me into a completely plausible paranoid.)

Tracy

www.houseofclams.com

I feel the same way --

House of Clams — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:42:42 -0500

I feel the same way -- apparently this was circulating in the blogosphere (Huffingtonpost, etc.) for a WEEK before US News buried it in an op-ed and I came across it. My Mom also lives here in extremely progressive Seattle, and only found out about it through ME.. It's such a no-brainer -- why isn't the media crawling all over this?

Tracy

www.houseofclams.com

And She's Energizing Women

rebellious thinker — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:43:40 -0500

I saw a piece on the news yesterday that women in some parts of the country are so excited by her that they are volunteering at the phone banks. I honestly don't get it. How can people be so self-centered to not care about others--and not to think that at some point they and their loved ones could be one of those others. You would think that there would be some norms in society that we could all agree on, apparently that's just not so.

Obama!

Laura, www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com

Not a Friend to Women

JC — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:29:53 -0500

This one really upset me. I saw the article in the L.A. Times (buried on the back page) and was moved to write a post. Really incredible that she's got any support from women voters at all. I'm still shaking my head about it. I was talking to a friend today that hadn't heard about it (she's been out of the news loop or living in a cave) and she was pretty appalled. Hard to believe.

No Feminist

rebellious thinker — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:43:04 -0500

Excellent point in comparing the practice in Wasilla to those of supposedly lesser-enlightened countries. It's truly appalling that there are people who don't get it: that rape is a violent crime that no one is asking for or inviting, because that's what the pay-to-check kit seemed to indicate. This woman is truly a throwback of the Good Ole Boy network who happens to be a girl.

Laura, www.rebelliousthoughtsofawoman.com

A lot of things seem to trump common sense these days

Kim Pearson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:17:37 -0500

Let's hope we can get back to a consensus about a few basics. Your list is a pretty good start.

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor|Professor Kim|

Celebrity Status Trumps Common Sense

chronicchick — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:28:16 -0500

I blogged on a website after Naomi Campbell's acquittal for her "anger management issues" about where we are as a society when we could stand idly by as 'celebrity' begins to influence the justice system. Was R. Kelly or Wesley Snipes innocent? Did O.J.'s glove truly not fit? What does this say when we are willing to overlook lies, cheating, stealing and murder against our fellow man simply because one can walk a runway, sing a tune, throw a ball faster than someone else or looks pretty good on the big screen? When I made the comment on the blog that I didn't intend to overlook their actions, I was bombarded with people saying I was "too full" of myself, "not willing to forgive others", "live in a glass house"- and those were the nicer comments. Last time I checked I had not tried to deck a policeman, stiffed the IRS for millions, molested a child, or killed my former spouse so my glass house is fairly intact. What are we thinking people?

Baffling, indeed!

An alien earthling — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:44:01 -0500

I did read the interview. What happened to Aruna after the murderous sexual assault is terrible. It's heartening to know that Pinki and her husband and other well-wishers are taking care of Aruna.

I had a few problems logging in after I forgot my blogher password, but now everything works fine.

Raj

Thanks for the update on Aruna

Nitajk — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:22:35 -0500

This time when I signed in I got back to this post!

Snigdha, this case is too disturbing for me to read. I have read about it earlier when it was reported in the newspapers.

It was good to get an update on Aruna and good to hear about her well wishers

Nita