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Diane Porter's avatar

You are hereby invited to every one of my parties.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

I accept!

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Susan Forste's avatar

Those are both outstanding photos, Terry. Dressed for the male gaze and completely hiding from it of necessity (with a man at the center). I'd like to see you make a book/exhibition of photos on this subject. Then another showing women and girls unburdened by male expectations. The recent news story about the guy in France (Dominque Pelicot), who for more than a decade drugged his wife of 50 years and invited men over to rape her, has exposed the deep, hateful sickness of misogyny, so common that more than 70 local men participated, young and old. None of the men who knew about it (a larger number) reported it to the police. There are so many appalling stories in the news, but that one immediately sucked the wind right out of me.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Yes, I read that story about the French guy. Just irredeemably horrid. I was trying to think how to describe the woman in the yellow feathers and "for the male gaze" is good. But she does look wonderful to my gaze, too, and so clearly having fun. It's all quite complex. Altho I fail to see much good about burkas, except to protect women from that self-same male gaze and the supposition that it is the woman's fault if men have lascivious thoughts ...and actions. That unconscious French woman was just asking for it. Right!!

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Susan Forste's avatar

But she does look wonderful to my gaze, too, and so clearly having fun.

Yes, I agree.

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Susan Forste's avatar

Also, the guy in second photo appears to be a passerby wondering what the heck. Likely not a complicit male.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

I suspect he finds the women unremarkable since many in Iraq wear full hijab--despite the heai.

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Jonathan Allen's avatar

You have always had the guts to stand up for what's right.

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Well, thank you, unfortunately accompanied by a talent for being uncharming.

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Jonathan Allen's avatar

Yeah, we know about that one, too.

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Edie Shedd's avatar

You can come to my party anytime!

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Thanks. I'll bring the beer.

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Nancy Disenhaus's avatar

I would invite you back, Terry!

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Terry J. Allen's avatar

Thanks.

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