Your Masculinity Must Be Abolished
Some of you may remember Ms Lierre Keith, a former radical vegan activist turned radical advocate of a return to subsistence farming. Ms Keith has long been a vocal champion of vandalism, harassment and “militant action,” and taken at their own words, she and her colleagues would like to see those they deem “associated” with environmental accidents being killed by the state. They also like the idea of “sabotaging infrastructure” and cutting power lines, thereby leaving tens of thousands of people without light and heat, as this would somehow encourage “class consciousness.” Elderly people in remote locations would presumably embrace the finer points of revolutionary eco-socialism as they shivered in the dark and the feeling left their limbs.
In March 2010 Ms Keith was herself targeted for “militant action” by disgruntled vegans even more radical and pious than she, and who disrupted her lecture at an anarchist book fair by pelting Ms Keith with chili-flavoured cream pies. An experience our fearless titan found both bewildering and outrageous. “The whole thing was designed for social humiliation,” Ms Keith told the San Francisco Chronicle. “We’re supposed to be against sadism and cruelty and domination, and these people were willing to do this to me.” Unfortunately, the Chronicle didn’t ask Ms Keith whether this small taste of her own medicine, her own methods, had altered her position on changing the views of others by means of “militant action.”
Having since recovered from this traumatic encounter with slapstick protest, and armed only with an anatomical slideshow of male genitalia, Ms Keith has resumed her attempts to establish her own radical credentials in yet another sphere. And so, in the following video, recorded over the weekend at a public library in Portland, Oregon, Ms Keith – now a “radical feminist and gender abolitionist” – speaks truth to power, fearlessly, radically, and at enormous personal risk. Specifically, she shares the truth that, “Being a man requires a psychology based on entitlement, emotional numbness, and a dichotomy of self-knowledge.” Self-knowledge being a subject on which Ms Keith can speak with unassailable authority.
Naturally, Ms Keith’s latest area of expertise is not limited to maleness and its inherent wickedness; the entire world of manandwomanlyness™ is hers to describe, and of course correct. And so we learn that, “Gender is a political creation because patriarchy has to separate who counts as human and who counts as an appropriate target for violation. That’s what gender is.” Gender, it turns out, is merely a “caste system,” one “disguised as biology.” Therefore there must be “organised political resistance.” Which is to say, “The sex class ‘men’… needs to be abolished if women are ever to be free.” Because, “Liberty and a living planet will only be won when masculinity, its religion, its economics, its psychology and its sex is resisted and finally defeated.” These deep thoughts and more can be savoured more fully in the video below:
And being scarcely less radical, her acolytes applaud.
Right-wing people have taken control of public schools? Wow.
If they really REALLY were sooo worried about women and rights etc why don’t they get the next plane to Mogadishu and set up stall there?
Or any number of other countries.
Maybe campaign against slavery in Congo (the “deomcratic” bit of course).
If memory serves didn’t the good lady also call upon testiculated officers of the law following her assault?
I’m unclear on what happens when the class (or is it caste?) system called “men” is finally defeated.
You’ll notice Ms Keith isn’t big on evidence, consistency or logical argument; she merely asserts and begs questions, and then asserts some more. Masculinity is “emotional numbness,” femininity is “the traumatised psyche,” and gender is “a political creation… to separate who counts as human.” These things just are whatever she says they are, apparently. And so despite Ms Keith’s alleged dislike of religion – “masculinity’s religion” – her own behaviour looks an awful lot like dogmatic sermonising.
Again, self-awareness doesn’t seem to be her bag.
Look, I found proof!
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/24/elliot-rodgers-california-shooting-mental-health-misogyny?commentpage=1
“The truth is that there is no such thing as a lone misogynist – they are created by our culture, and by communities that tells them that their hatred is both commonplace and justified”
So true. Just this evening I was watching the local news when it was interrupted by a local PSA that reminded me that it’s totally cool and ok to hate my wife and hurt her when I feel like it. I’ll make sure to mention this fact it to all my guy friends and locals at the community meeting tomorrow while we enjoy some freshly roasted coffee and my wife’s homemade muffins (for which I brutally beat her because she made them with too few chocolate chippies! Not to worry, I’m sure the group would approve of punishment)
Building community takes effort.
The truth is that there is no such thing as a lone misogynist – they are created by…communities that tells them that their hatred is both commonplace and justified
Except among Muslims.
what?
I mean occasionally you’ll have a fellow chop up a few female relatives, except he’ll be Muslim. That sort of person isn’t the creation of a community that tells him his hatred is commonplace, possibly even legal in his country of origin, and/or justified by the book the community has placed at the center of its life as well as its exegesis in basically every major school of thought on the book ever.
oh, right, obviously *that* kind of person is a lone wolf who doesn’t reflect *at all* on his community, culture, or religion.
Glad we got that sorted.
“Killed by the State”
I notice she has no plans to come and do it herself!
Why is it all these lefty bitches are so anti male, were they not asked out much when younger?
I do sometimes (ok, most times) wish we could just ship these wasters to an island somewhere, berift of anything a mere male had produced or invented, and see how long their ‘right on’ feminist attitudes sustained them. I predict a few weeks of it would have the survivors desperate to return and would indeed make much nicer people of them.
To be honest, the way she just drones on, it sounds as if she doesn’t actually believe anything she’s saying.
BTW, Lierre (crazy name, crazy girl!) have you lost some weight since you were pied? If you grew your hair out, wore some makeup and a nice dress, I might go out with you. Call me.
“Gender is a political creation…” Damn, I never knew that. For the sake of argument (or nothing at all), let’s assume there’s an intelligent ant, that can observe and reason. This ant sees two bipeds, obviously of the same species, yet somehow different. One has protuberances on the upper body, the other doesn’t. One has a protuberance on the lower body, the other doesn’t. They’re the same, only different, thinks the ant. Ms. Keith would probably stomp the crap out of that ant.
I wonder what will come of the elimination of the “sex class” of men. You can imagine the Boy Scouts of America earning the merit badge for castration eventually. “This is a big day for you soon-to-be gender neutrals,” says the scoutmaster. “Today, you become not “men” but neuters.” “Now, this way to the castration clinic.”
“Liberty and a living planet will only be won when masculinity, its religion, its economics, its psychology and its sex is resisted and finally defeated.”
Masculine economics? Is that like patriarchal physics?
So she means womyn waging a war on men? Do I understand correctly?
All I can say is: Bring it Cinderella!
In the US, billions of dollars flow from men to women each year. Women win an overwhelming percentage of divorce settlements and property. Women enjoy roughly 20% more college attendance and women enjoy the lion’s share of public entitlement. Women suffer a tiny fraction of the deaths men do from danger and violence. Women outlive men by years and years.
But other than that!
Hang on, wasn’t it the LGBT mob (T in particular, obviously) who insisted we give behavioural Gender equal but separate significance compared to biological Sex? Now that we have done so, the RadFems claim that the classification of Gender is oppressive?
Either Ms Keith is overdue some re-education or these two factions really need to coordinate their agendas…
Niels.
That’s a lot of crazy for one person.
That’s a lot of crazy for one person.
I suppose if you hang out with people who regard criticism as “traumatic” and who regard being arrested while committing serious crimes as being “attacked” – and if you think these people are righteous and sincere, and not at all absurd – then the world must seem a bewildering place. What with the delusion and reality being somewhat at odds.
They also like the idea of “sabotaging infrastructure” and cutting power lines, thereby leaving tens of thousands of people without light and heat, as this would somehow encourage “class consciousness.” Elderly people in remote locations would presumably embrace the finer points of revolutionary eco-socialism as they shivered in the dark and the feeling left their limbs.
People like this are also known as sociopaths.
This woman knows too much. We (The Patriarchy, obviously) must stop her. Release the winged (male) monkeys!
People like this are also known as sociopaths.
Well, when it comes to self-styled Marxoid “radicals” and people with worryingly sadistic and sociopathic tendencies, there does seem to be a large overlap. More, I think, than could be waved aside as merely coincidental.
‘Ms Keith isn’t big on evidence, consistency or logical argument; she merely asserts and begs questions, and then asserts some more…And so despite Ms Keith’s alleged dislike of religion – “masculinity’s religion” – her own behaviour looks an awful lot like dogmatic sermonising.’
Indeed. She sees herself as a prophet(ess). Her intention is to strengthen and increase the faithful. Evidence or consistency or logical argument are irrelevant. She is an elite mediator of the truth. She points at the truth, defines it ostensively, and, by virtue of her elite mediation, the scales fall from the eyes of the Elect.
“We’re supposed to be against sadism and cruelty and domination, and these people were willing to do this to me.”
Using violence and sabotage to bring about the absolute collapse of civilization is perfectly acceptible, providing nobody throws any pies…
Yep, that’s logically consistent.
Being pied by vegans isn’t Ms Keith’s only run-in with the Thought Police. Recently, she’s also the victim of a ‘shocking’ cancellation of a lecture she was scheduled to deliver at Laurence University:
http://privilegedenyingtranny.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/lawrence-university-invokes-shocking-last-minute-ban-on-earth-day-keynote-speaker-lierre-keith-due-to-her-feminist-views-on-gender/
The article in question is a leftist declaring that banning thoughtcriminals from campus is not only ‘shocking’, but being able to do so is proof of your privelege. Two statements that suggest that self awareness is not a strong suit with leftists.
Also, the left in general has been perfectly fine with Ms Keith openly advocating the extermination of an entire race of people, the extinction of an entire gender, the forced collapse of technological civilization which would kill the great bulk of humanity and the execution of eco-criminals. But they absolutely will not tolerate her referring to men in dresses as men. Which suggests that priorities aren’t a strong suit with leftists either.
They’re funny and ridiculous until they have actual power. Then they’re terrifying.
providing nobody throws any pies
Yes, this is someone who thrills to the idea of “radical” vandalism and “sabotaging infrastructure,” thereby endangering other people’s lives, and who then splutters with scandalised indignation when faced with even the smallest repayment of that same attitude. A moral giant, clearly.
Gravity is a caste system disguised as physics, created by the evil fascist Isaac Newton to prevent wimmin from exercising their natural ability to fly. To the roof, sisters!
“Disguised as biology”? How sneaky!
Another loon. Big deal.
Setting aside the wickedness of people like Keith, exactly how does she imagine her campaign of viricide is to be brought about? Is the stronger, more aggressive and more heavily-armed half of the human race somehow meant to have its consciousness raised to the point where it will acquiesce in its extinction? And you presumably have to convince the non-Keith women of this world that it’s OK for them to watch their husbands, sons, fathers and brothers led off for re-education or termination.
Of course it’s a pose, and a not particularly artful one at that. It is only possible, paradoxically, for her to rail against these supposed power imbalances from within a society where they are almost absent. What’s more, the societies where they do exist are not much cop for the overwhelming majority of men, either. Sure, maybe the people doing the oppressing are mainly men, but the average man is more likely to be oppressed than an oppressor. It’s only in near-equal societies where the sex imbalances become salient. Were Keith to start railing against the phallocracy in Tehran or Quetta, a pie in the face would be the least of her worries.
If you follow the Twitter feed for Deep Green Resistance, the organisation to which Ms Keith belongs, you’ll find people who envision the end of agriculture, the end of capitalism and “complete economic collapse” as the only way to save the planet, if not the people on it.
providing nobody throws any pies
Well, they were chili-flavored cream pies. That seems unfair.
Of course it’s a pose, and a not particularly artful one at that. It is only possible, paradoxically, for her to rail against these supposed power imbalances from within a society where they are almost absent.
I guess that’s the issue. Is Ms Keith actually delusional or merely chronically pretentious? And if a person can’t stop pretending and has to carry on for years with ever more outlandish claims, is there much of a practical difference?
Shakespeare would have called these people “the cankers of a calm land in a long peace.”
As for her taking her show on the road to Kandahar or Peshawar or Teheran or some such, I’m sure she’s bravely signed an online petition or some such, to cover those bases.
Cognitive dissonance is no doubt an unfortunate and often unavoidable condition of being human. But then again, so are congenital defects like glaucoma but no one has yet concluded that we should therefore stop striving to correct such ocular defects even in the full knowledge that we’ll fail many times before achieving a success (that may never even come)
On the other hand, there are those like Keith and her comrades in arms for whom cognitive dissonance must surely be a necessary condition of membership to Deep Green Resistance, if not an actual way of life. For example:
Deep Green Resistance’s Statement of Principle (No. 4) from their website:
When civilization ends, the living world will rejoice. We must be biophilic people in order to survive. Those of us who have forgotten how must learn again to live with the land and air and water and creatures around us in communities built on respect and thanksgiving. We welcome this future.
And from the website’s Indigenous Solidarity Guidelines (No. 1):
First and foremost we must recognize that non-indigenous people are occupying stolen land in an ongoing genocide that has lasted for centuries. We must affirm our responsibility to stand with indigenous communities who want support and give everything we can to protect their land and culture from further devastation; they have been on the frontlines of biocide and genocide for centuries, and as allies, we need to step up and join them.
Now consider those two statements in light of something like this news story:
‘With Powerboat and Forklift, a Sacred Whale Hunt Endures’, New York Times October 16 2011.
I’m trying – and so far failing – to work out how in such a case they’d set about being both ‘biophilic’ enough to prevent the hunting and killing of whales while also simultaneously managing to uphold White Ally Guideline point 10:
Do not speak as an authority on subjects that people of color directly experience and you do not. If you are to speak at all on such subjects, it should only be after people of color or if people of color ask you to do so.
How long before the chili-flavoured pastry missiles start flying?
“Ms Keith has long been a vocal champion of vandalism, harassment and ‘militant action’…In March 2010 Ms Keith was herself targeted for ‘militant action’ by disgruntled vegans even more radical than she…”
It’s always amusing when Red Guards/Brown Shirts/whatever are themselves targeted for violence by more militant or opportunistic leftists. Their bewilderment is not only richly deserved but endlessly entertaining.
If you click back through the link to the original SFGate story you get the a near perfect headline: “Pies-in-face attack roils anarchist-vegan world”
“The whole thing was designed for social humiliation,” said Keith, speaking Tuesday from her sister’s home in Kansas. “We’re supposed to be against sadism and cruelty and domination, and these people were willing to do this to me.”
To paraphrase what i said in another thread Lierre, whether you are Trotsky and Bukharin of Stalin and Beria depends entirely on how much cruelty you are willing to dispense. When the revolution comes you will either be one of four types of people: a victim, a useful idiot, a leader, or a leader willing to do whatever it takes to stay on top. Only the last type survive for long and if they’re very lucky they might die a natural death.
Their bewilderment is not only richly deserved but endlessly entertaining.
What was funny about the pie attack was the stated grievance of the pie-flingers (or “anonymous masked peoples,” as their cheerleaders put it). The indignant anarcho-vegans claimed to have been “traumatised” by Ms Keith’s criticism, especially her description of them as “ignorant and child-like.” And her mere presence at an anarchist book fair had apparently rendered the place unsafe for vegetarians. And so, not being at all ignorant or child-like, they threw cream pies at her. Laced with chili, to add a risk of injury. Because they’re better than us and they care so very much.
David Gillies.
“Setting aside the wickedness of people like Keith, exactly how does she imagine her campaign of viricide is to be brought about? Is the stronger, more aggressive and more heavily-armed half of the human race somehow meant to have its consciousness raised to the point where it will acquiesce in its extinction?”
Seems to be working so far.
Can you be a feminist after gender is abolished?
First and foremost we must recognize that non-indigenous people are occupying stolen land in an ongoing genocide that has lasted for centuries. We must affirm our responsibility to stand with indigenous communities who want support and give everything we can to protect their land and culture from further devastation; they have been on the frontlines of biocide and genocide for centuries, and as allies, we need to step up and join them.
Bet that somehow doesn’t apply for inadequately-melanined indigenous peoples. Because privilege. Or something.
If you click back through the link to the original SFGate story you get the a near perfect headline: “Pies-in-face attack roils anarchist-vegan world”
From the article: While they fled, some in the audience cheered or handed out leaflets.
. . leaflets for pie recipes come to mind . . .
More from the same radical feminist conference: “A world without patriarchy… Can you see the frogs, the squirrels, the otters?”
Well these are the extreme lunatics with their silly Judith Butler-impression haircuts and wooden anti-male diatribes.
Is there a more moderate feminism, completely disconnected from all this? I didn’t particularly go looking for this (I avoid feminist blogs & forums 99.9% of the time) but this is what I find:
We have Twitter, where rational argument is impossible in 140 characters, so all you get is propaganda. Every day there seems to be a new hashtag like #weneedfeminismbecause – inviting people to come up with their “reasons”
There’s Google, where we get a Google Doodle celebrating a new woman every other day (apparently too many male achievers have been celebrated so we needed “balance”). There’s the mad arguments and feminism-supporting posts from staff on tumblr, the editorial bias on Wikipedia, and our favourite newspaper and state broadcaster. Even the Times is constantly churning out new pieces of gender political rubbish now.
And there’s the “Everyday Sexism” project – very much in vogue with the London-lefty crowd, and entirely based on the assumption that any complaint by a woman about a man is true, and the man couldn’t have a valid alternative version of events. Everyday sexism is right, just not how they intended it.
“A world without patriarchy… Can you see the frogs, the squirrels, the otters?”
These people need a rad-fem reservation. They wouldn’t fare well in the real world.
And from the website’s Indigenous Solidarity Guidelines (No. 1):
First and foremost we must recognize that non-indigenous people are occupying stolen land in an ongoing genocide that has lasted for centuries.
So she’s saying “Pakis go home”? Or did I misunderstand?
In addition to infrastructure and men, Lierre Keith also wants to abolish agriculture. This came about when after many years of saving the planet by being a vegan, she changed her mind and decided that vegans were actually helping to destroy the planet and everyone should save the planet by adopting the paleo diet instead.
Talking about her book “The Vegetarian Myth”:
“We’re at the cliff. The human race is at the cliff. And that’s probably the main reason that I wrote that book, because the people who care the most are the environmentalists. And even of them, I would say that the most impassioned people are probably the vegans. And the values are not the problem – so justice, sustainability, compassion. We have the right values, and we’ve got the passion to institute them. But this vegetarian, vegan diet is – we’ve been pointing in the wrong direction for 30 years. And I want people to understand the real damage that’s been done to this planet, and what it’s going to take to really repair it. Because we are going to have to give up agriculture if this planet has any hope.”
Agriculture was probably invented by men, too. The bastards.
A while ago, the primal wisdom of Lierre Keith was discussed here:
http://www.climate-resistance.org/2012/01/the-the-end-is-nigh-genre.html
Here’s a couple of opportunities for Ms Keith to do some REAL good.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2640632/Stoned-death-marrying-man-loved-Woman-attacked-sticks-bricks-20-members-OWN-family-broad-daylight-Pakistan.html#ixzz32wPX3blY
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2640367/Sudanese-doctor-facing-execution-marrying-U-S-Christian-gives-birth-baby-girl-squalid-jail.html#ixzz32wRU0MpH
Or are these phenomena somehow different?
Are these examples of perhaps “good” violence?
I get easily confused.
So she’s saying “Pakis go home”? Or did I misunderstand?
Oh, no no no. Normans go home. And take those miserable Saxons with ’em. As everyone knows and agrees, only the Picts are allowed West of the channel . . . .
Steve’s random thoughts:
* Why does a masculine woman want to abolish masculinity? That’s like me saying we should abolish handsomeness. No way, Jose.
* The years have not been kind to Tasha Yar.
* Was the diagram of the penis for the benefit of audience members who are unfamiliar with One Eyed Willy? I didn’t actually listen to her presentation, because she’s a woman.
* Also, that diagram is wrong. It doesn’t include the specially reinforced wheelbarrow I carry mine about in. Speed bumps are a constant hazard.
* What’s going on with Portland, Oregon anyway? Was it the real life inspiration for Romero’s “The Crazies”?
* I’m guessing no dudes were allowed at that She-Ra Man-Haters Club meeting. But if they had invited some wispy-bearded, manbag-toting, wool-hat-sporting hipster male feminists, those chaps could’ve given practical tips on how to abolish masculinity. Then they could all have enjoyed a good cry together about their feelings.
* “Being a man requires a psychology based on entitlement, emotional numbness, and a dichotomy of self-knowledge.”
Yes, yes. But she’s forgetting all the other things that make a man, such as knuckle hair, eating pork scratchings, and missing the toilet bowl when you pee.
Also driving skills, spider killing skills, and owning a tin of WD-40 should be on that list. Abolish masculinity and all the water displacing lubricant will run out. And then where will the newly liberated unmasculine folk be? Trapped in their own spider-ravaged houses – crying – when the locks seize up, that’s where. Is that what she wants?
* I don’t know what a “dichotomy of self-knowledge” is, but I assume it has something to do with me knowing I’m great, while also knowing I’m the coolest Dad ever.
* Abolishing masculinity, capitalism, and the white race is passé these days. What is this, the 90’s? No wonder her presentation was so listless, as if memorised by rote. She probably still thinks nose rings and Rage Against The Machine and The Matrix are cool. Radfems need new schtick or they’ll go extinct like the goths. No wonder the intersectional pangendered tomorrow people are beating them at being radical. It’s not enough any more just to hate white men. That’s old hat.
* If we abolish whiteness, does that mean half of Obama will disappear, like that scene in Breaking Bad where the old Mexican geezer goes “ding ding ding… KABOOM!” and then half of Gustavo Fring’s face is missing? If so, that seems a bit racist.
* That woman has a father?!? I assumed parthenogenesis or some kind of she-golem made out of used tampons and the sleeve notes from Indigo Girls CD’s.
* Think of what the feminist movement could accomplish if it was run by men. Ladies, if you ever get tired of all the catty bickering, pussyfooting around each others’ feelings instead of getting things done, and irrational outbursts making you look bad, I’m your man. I’ll even throw in some spider killing, no extra charge.
Steve,
What’s going on with Portland, Oregon anyway?
I’ve asked myself the same question here on our side of the pond. I don’t have an answer, but I do have a sufficiently masculine compound in the Ozarks, complete with fishnet hose and garter belts for my lovely, if somewhat oppressed, wife (non-trangengered woman–we’re old-fashioned that way), thank you very much. I also keep a buried Liberty Ship filled with charcoal for the grill, because I simply love making Mother Gaia’s eyes water.
Steve, please tell me you have a blog. ‘LOL’ is a bit shopworn these days, usually denoting nothing more than a wry half-smile but in this case it was literal.
“The years have not been kind to Tasha Yar”
I don’t understand the reference.
“The years have not been kind to Tasha Yar”
Welll, lessee, her last close encounter was a malevolent oil slick . . . . .
I don’t understand the reference.
Star Trek teleported in again. Remember, Googlemancy is your friend . . . . . .