It really is NOT just the statue. It is, totally, the culture which has spawned the statue.

I am, I suppose, naturally somewhat closer to the comic book stereotype than most women. I have a normal size 12 waist, and a size 16 rear end and FF cup breasts.

Do you know what? The last time I went to a pub wearing a slightly low-cut top a man actually SHOVED HIS HAND INTO MY CLEAVAGE to have a rummage about in there!

We have gone full circle. Women are expected to be unrealistically beautiful, to be sexy and slutty and, in addition, to be pleased with any advance men make, to have careers and do all the housework at the same time and to not act like a “bitch” by complaining about it. That statue embodies all of this.

Not only does MJ look trashy with her thong hanging out and her jeans so loose they could be pulled of without undoing the belt, not only does she look meek and needy and not only is she doing laundry, but its clear from the entire pose that, where Spiderman to grab her arse and grunt she would probably either giggle and be pleased with the attention, or at most look shy and ashamed at the contact in a non-aggressive manner.

Gah…

Okay that’s enough ranting for me. I’m gonna go do what all the fanboys keep telling us to do and draw me some comics with real women in.

“Ok, here’s the part I don’t get, feminists seem to be ragin’ at nerds here. I’m pretty sure that nerds, or at least the socially funcional nerds, are in general less misoginistic than most other groups.”

1) “nerds” and “feminists” (including those on this site) are not mutually exclusive terms

2) You are so very wrong I don’t even know where to begin. Yes, there are all kinds of great guys who happen to be nerds. But male nerds tend to be into all kinds of things that many people consider to be “guy” things: comics, electronics, etc and can become insanely abusive and annoying when defending what they consider to be their turf.

“When was the last time you were in an engineering, math, physics, chemistry, atronomy, or other science based class?”

Um, lemme think, when did I graduate from college…?

“”The SHEER AMOUNT of fanboy entitlement is staggering.”

all fanboys feel the same way apparently.”

Dear person who so excels at logical thought, a short quiz for you:

A teacher proclaims that that “the sheer amount of reading aptitude in my class is amazing!”

Assuming the teacher is correct, are all the students in the class good at reading? Can one even tell that from this statement? What does the teacher likely mean by such a statement?

“It IS shocking to see a girl into nerdy things like that.”

(Well, that depends on if you’re the nerdy “girl” or not.)

It’s also shocking to see a guy walk into a scrapbooking store, and while I don’t doubt that many employees of said store would make possibly false assumptions about the nature of his business and aptitude, I can pretty much promise you that he will never be given some of the ruder looks I’ve gotten in similar circumstances.

(quote marks added to blockquotes just in case – bc blockquote doesn’t show up in preview)

1. Women who smile too much (or men for that matter) come off as a bit airheaded.
2. Women who swear are hot.
3. Women on Jeopardy?
4. Fairly good advice for everyone? I fail to see what you’re implying I guess.
5. And carry a big stick?

I guess we must work in different industries. These things don’t work for female lawyers. I am often criticized by the men I work for because I do these very things. At times it has harmed my career.

I guess the bottom line is that you’re only limited by the rules you accept?

What a trite thing to say. Yes, I may do what ever the f*ck I want. But all activities have consequences. If I refuse to wear a pants suit to a board meeting, that is my choice. If my supervising partner chooses not to allow me to go to any additional client meetings as a result, that’s her decision. There was a rule. I didn’t let it limit me, but I have to live with the consequences of someone else’s bias. Your answer is oh well? That’s unsatisfactory.

1. Women who smile too much (or men for that matter) come off as a bit airheaded.
2. Women who swear are hot.
3. Women on Jeopardy?
4. Fairly good advice for everyone? I fail to see what you’re implying I guess.
5. And carry a big stick?

Man, I really want to know where these rules are written down, and what punishment awaits all the women I see breaking them every day.

I guess the bottom line is that you’re only limited by the rules you accept?

I wish I could say what I wanted in a shorter space, but I can’t. Sorry.

Kristen: Like I said in a previous post that was evidently overlooked; I think it is a woman’s resposibility and a man’s for that matter to learn to defend themselves somehow. It’s an ugly world out there, for men and women. I am glad you are learning jujitsu. But like I said in the aforementioned post, my son can get shot or stabbed every time he leaves the house. He is obviously male. I just attribute this more to the dangerous environmental factors in the world rather than sexism.

Rape is just an unfortuneate from of violence that women have to deal with and I understand the way you feel about it. My point is that it really has nothing to do with our culture or this statue. Rape happens in nature without any statues, comic books or even porn. There are too many good female role models in comics, and yes they dress sexy and have nice bodies but that isn’t the point, they can kick ass. I think what many of you have taken offense to in comics, you may have had good reason to. i.e. the green lantern who found his woman in the fridge.

But do I think the writer of this particular green lantern issue had any bad sexist intentions against women? No. I think he just simply was trying to address or bring awareness to the issue of violence against women and it may have turned out as being somewhat unintentionally insensitive. I do not think that the artist really wanted people to treat women this way, and I think you know this. I think the good intentions were there, it just somehow turned out wrong. I think maybe from your perspective you are taking it the wrong way.

As far as people looking down on your status because you are woman, I understand. I have a female friend who is a musician and people think that it is stranget thing that this girl carries a guitar around and plays music with the boys. Perhaps it truly is somewhat of a novelty to people? There aren’t many women rockers out there that aren’t poppy. Why? Who knows you can’t blame people for being intrigued by somthing out of the ordinary

I never looked much into status, and especially what other people thought of me. It is your duty to believe in yourself and you don’t need confirmation from anyone else. Obviously you made it on your own, who cares what some dimwits may think about your status? What do they know? All that matters is what you think about yourself.

I’m glad we are having discussion now and at least listening to each other.

Have you ever had a conversation with a woman about her life? Seriously. I’m not being snide. I’m curious as to whether you’ve actually spoken, with no preconceived notions, with a stranger about how her life has evolved.

It’s hard for me to believe that you don’t understand. I don’t give a damn if some guy looks at my breasts. In my single days I probably checked out his tush. We’re all sexual beings and we see each other as sexual beings. Fine.

The issues is when someone I’m talking to can’t see beyond my breasts.

When I am dismissed and ignored because I have breasts.
1. People assuming I’m the secretary, not the boss
2. Not being able to lease a condo because the owner didn’t think a “little lady” could make that much money

When my wishes are dismissed and ignored because I have breasts.
1. Nearly being raped by a guy I dated who insists (to this day) that I should have just sat back and learned to “relax” (thank you to the guy who taught me jujitsu)
2. The numerous times, I’ve been groped at concerts or in clubs by men who failed to even introduce themselves.
3. Not being able to get my tubes tied without my husband’s permission

These are just the big things. The ones that stand out in my mind as particularly hurtful. Not the daily grind of “why won’t you be the woman who….[insert servile role here]” that gets pumped into every woman’s subconscious.

What’s so bad about happy?