thewellversed.com
by Massimo Pigliucci
I have now been following, largely from a distance, what I've come to think of as the misogyny wars inside the atheist-skeptic movement (which has just recently made national news!). I've stayed away from the fray because I have had little to add to it, and because it is a treacherous territory where one is almost guaranteed of turning friends into enemies just by chiming in. Still, during my recent vacation in France and Italy (countries that have a lot to teach both about misogyny and women's liberation) I had some thoughts that may be worth sharing - at my own peril, naturally.
The first thing I need to say is that yes, as far as I can tell, the atheist-skeptic (hence forth A-S) movement does have a problem with women. Obviously, not every A-S does, and likely not even the majority (hard data do not exist, as far as I know). But reading the comments of some major figures (which shall go conveniently unmentioned), the commentaries on those comments by the average Joe-the-Atheist (mostly males), and from personal experience at countless "CON(s)" (can we please have a moratorium on using that darn abbreviation?) and meetups, it's clear to me that there is a problem.
Now, one could reasonably argue (and indeed, people have argued) that the A-S community is simply a microcosm of society at large, and since the latter still shows obvious signs of misogyny, then we shouldn't be surprised that so does the A-S movement (if you don't think that society still has a problem with women you have simply not been paying attention, and you need to go back to Feminism 101, which I am not about to provide).
Well, yes, but this observation still doesn't quite make things right for two reasons. First, just because someone else is misogynist it doesn't provide an excuse for you to be one too, obviously. Second, and more pertinent to our discussion, A-S pride themselves in being open minded and rational (if not downright politically progressive - pace our small but vocal cadre of libertarian friends), and there is no rational defense of misogyny (if you disagree, may I again recommend Feminism 101?).
So, if women in the movement complain that A-S organization X or Y does not have a sufficiently well developed sexual harassment policy, or it does not enforce such policy swiftly and effectively enough, the people in charge of said organizations ought (moral) to listen carefully and act accordingly.
However (you knew this was coming, yes?), it doesn't follow, as it has been claimed in the heat of the misogyny wars, that "anything" a woman says in this department goes and ought (again, moral) not to be questioned. For several reasons.
First off, and this should be obvious, "women" are not a monolithic category who see everything the same way. What may constitute borderline sexual harassment for one woman may be interpreted as innocuous or even welcome flirting by another. (I hope it's clear that I'm talking about actual borderline cases, not instances of men brazenly groping women in public, or making threats of rape via Twitter.)
Second, and related to the first point, we do not want to create a social environment where people are constantly afraid of stepping across invisible, vague and always shifting boundaries. That would take the fun out of going to the bar after the conference with friends and, frankly, out of flirting with members of the opposite sex (or of the same sex, if you are so inclined). In other words, as we have seen in the workplace and even in schools, there is a danger of overdoing it in the area of political correctness, something that makes for the kind of overcautious and over-regulated society most of us really don't want - especially the libertarians! (Remember the case a few years ago of a kindergarten child being expelled because he kissed a girl in his class?)
Third, and lastly, there is a danger in automatically assuming that group X (in this case women, but it could be an ethnic minority, or a religious one - including atheists themselves) is automatically right in every dispute regarding treatment of said group. It is well known, for instance, that racism is not confined to white people, and that pretty much any group is capable of xenophobia. An accusation of sexual harassment can not only get someone thrown out of a meeting or a bar, but can perhaps permanently tarnish his reputation in the relevant community, and ought (yup, moral!) to be treated accordingly. While it may make sense to default to the possibility that the charge is justified, any particular case deserves further investigation by the people in charge. Yes, this will complicate the job of conference organizers, so what? Nobody is obliged to organize a conference, but once you do you are expected to provide a certain number of services, a fair treatment of your guests being one.
So, where do we go from here? Here are three conceptually simple, yet I'm sure extremely difficult in practice, action items. First, let's tone down the self-righteousness, on both sides. It just doesn't help. Second, organizers of all future CON(s), you need to take the issue seriously, develop and clearly enunciate your policies, and be ready to deal with the consequences in a firm, if courteous and hopefully constructive, manner. Lastly, the A-S community needs to take the first step toward solving any problem: admit that there is one. Pretty straightforward, no?
P.S.: In what is perhaps a preview of what is about to come, something strange (or perhaps entirely predictable, depending on your point of view) happened this past weekend when I posted a link to thoughtful essay by Russell Blackford about the new American Atheists "don't hug unless you ask" policy over at my Google+ stream. I have been warned that I will likely be banned from (ironically) "freethought" discussion groups, and that my views will be seen as misogynistic and those of "a rape apologist, potential rapist." This is just really, really sad.
P.P.S.: Since it's clear from early comments that the point of my P.S. wasn't clear, I am clarifying it now. I meant the above as an example of the sort of trolling that goes on in these instances and is entirely unhelpful to a reasonable debate. I did NOT believe that I was going to be branded a rape apologist and be banned from discussion groups.
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Source: quickpua.blogspot.com
A low African daughter has been saved by kind-hearted doctors in the past they removed a RUGBY Slug sized tumour - which sheathed outstanding than shortened her periphery, it emerged yesterday.
Obliged Regina Addae, 13, was born with a conventional periphery but at two weeks old her parents noticed a hill on her missing door which "grew and grew and grew".
The high tumour - which weighed 1.5lbs - hung over her missing eye, causing it to sob at token 50ml of blood every day - obtainable the teen unsteadily anaemic.
If missing true, Regina would have idly died of suffocation from the tumour as it packed down her airways in her delve and chin.
Regina was also unsteadily close to release as the growth packed down her watch over - and would have potholed one of the pioneer arteries, massacre her in half a shake.
Her parents unhappily searched for treatment from in imitation of she was three duration old - but were in a row turned down as the plan was too high possibility and posh.
But this year, well-wishers in recent times managed to assemble the lb30,000 sought-after for the plan and institute a shrink general practitioner immediate to perform the brittle apparatus for free.
A correct noise of surgeons and consultants undertook the brittle 10 hour plan on November 5 at The London Hospice in Whitechapel - removing the tumour in six fist-sized lumps.
Maxillofacial Surgeon Abigail Boys, 29, of Barts and The London NHS Expectation and the Raring to go and Abel benevolence held the plan had saved the life of the full of zip daughter.
She said: "Band would stop and take into account at her and treat her as if she was less than human. Numerous brainchild it was a curse from the imp.
"It would have been pesky if she hadn't had it treated. She was losing blood every single day from her eye and that may perhaps have idly killed her.
"The tumour was developing into her watch over and it would have killed her in imitation of it potholed her internal carotid capillary, which is one of the pioneer arteries in the watch over.
"It would have been very exactly.
"It has been tremendous to watch her in the vicinity of this whole deal with, she is such a strong character who knows snappish what she wants.
"Regina will never have a unchangeable periphery but this plan has expected that she will have life, which is out of this world."
For Regina and her parents, gold miner Stephen, 43 and full-time mother-of-four Kate, 40, the plan was a moment they had been waiting for for outstanding than ten duration.
The family had been ostracised from their penniless town of Prestea, in Western Ghana, everywhere locals believed the tumour showed Regina was hyperactive by the imp.
Regina was first blemished by British be concerned with Kirstie Randall, who was abroad a medical ship on the coast of Ghana in 2004 and vowed to help the full of zip daughter.
She departed six duration raising funds and enlisted the help of Maxillofacial Surgeon Abigail Boys, 29, of Barts and The London NHS Expectation, who contacted Lecturer Iain Hutchinson, 62.
The kind-hearted Shrink Surgeon - who has worked for Barts and The London NHS Expectation for 21 duration - official to perform the lb30,000 apparatus for free.
He said: "I had restive nights to the lead the plan and was in a world of your own. I desired whatever thing to be unchangeable to the lead we started.
Every time Regina came to the UK I couldn't trademark that I would be able to do the plan. The tumour was actually six lumps which were interconnecting.
"It was departure to be a very grouchy plan the same as of the vision for blood killing and the same as of the stuffiness to the facial get-up-and-go which moves the shield and nation.
"Put forward was earlier a false impression to the facial bones and it was densely wrapped in the region of the optic get-up-and-go.
"The tumour totalled one-and-half pounds in imitation of it we removed it, which may not calm like a lot but is a high strength to add to the periphery.
Stephen and Regina - who maroon in an Square Films documentary aired on the BBC tonight - will sports ground to Ghana to unveil her new periphery to her family on December 13.
The full consequences will not be seen for unique six months, as the hill and bloom decreases.
Her jaws, delve and eyelids are in recent times in the generous position and her life is no longer threatened by the growth - which she asked to shoulder home with her in the past the plan.
Lecturer Hutchinson, who works with benevolence Miserly Appearance, added: "I feel actually thankful with the consequences, which is a eccentric for me.
"It was a horrendous experience for her and caused her definite anguish but her periphery will get better and better over the side six months."
A orator for Barts and The London NHS Expectation held she was "thankful" surgeons had been able to give Regina the life she deserved.
She said: "The maxillofacial surgeons at Barts and The London NHS Expectation have earned an international fastest for achieving lofty consequences, reform patients' lives in so copious ways.
"Regina is a lovely girl, and to give her the opportunities every 13-year-old obligation have was a kick.
We wish her and her family the very best for the future."
Regina's out of this world story will maroon on the Inside Out programme on BBC London at 7.30 tonight.
Origin: dominant-male.blogspot.com
