Yeah, it could be considered a feminist issue, but not necessarily a women's issue; there are more gay men than lesbians, and there are more men than women in the military. Maybe there are more gay women as a proportion of all military women than gay men as a proportion of all military men? I don't know.

I'm confused by what you meant about DADT disproportionately affecting women...

@onthelevel: Hearted.

I agree with you, but I think this comes up because there are so few movies with female protagonists that it is simply inevitable that one movie ends up speaking for women as a whole. Until there is more even representation of genders in cinema, unfortunately films carried by women will be held to a higher standard of…

I'm in your boat; I hate conforming to such a patriarchal institution (mostly it's the fact that it still is that frightens me), and the idea of being called "wife" horrifies me to no end and literally makes me cringe ("partner", or even "girlfriend", is much better, though). However, there are too many benefits to be…

It also refers to a philosophical concept originating with John Locke.

Right on.

How do they know the crowds following the Jerseyites weren't Americans (or mostly)? Florence is chock-full of them...

Um... yes. Thank you for clarifying. I basically agree with you, alicerapid99, but I don't think that one type of (heterosexual) acceptance entails a larger acceptance of lesbians in general. In fact, it might be worse than pure invisibility.

Women who have lesbian sex under the male gaze are idolized. Lesbians who are just attracted to women are not. See: the "angry lesbian" stereotype, the "lesbian feminazi," the "ugly lesbian," etc. That is, if they are even lucky enough to be visible at all. Generally the only form lesbianism takes in pop culture is…

I feel the same way. It makes me feel very uncomfortable to listen to his podcasts. Overall I agree with him, and he does good work, but when he talks about how many young women feel uncomfortable with guys between their legs, or feel bad or embarrassed about their genitalia, or can't orgasm, or never have sex just…

I feel exactly the same way...

She's still getting steady work, and she's still the lead actress in relatively big, well-advertised Hollywood projects. As someone else mentioned, they don't cost nearly as much to make, so even if they aren't huge successes, they still probably make enough money to turn a profit, which is all that matters and all…

The same is true for terrible action films. But I suppose those do much better at the box office, so they're considered hits even though they're bad.

Sorry, but I don't get how a person's weight relates to their credibility, even if they are a conservative hypocrite.

Most men I know are more concerned with, like me, general hygiene than anything regarding beauty. And this is considered perfectly acceptable. Shaving seems to be the only thing that men are expected to do that is not directly related to hygiene. And the fact that if women don't shave, they are considered to be…

Maybe the writer should contemplate why she expects women to go through a "ritual" in order to be acknowledged while not expecting the same from men.

I don't see why having a template or example is the default. My parents are still together, but I have modeled my current relationship and past partners on what, about their relationship and my father as a partner, I would like to *avoid.* I have seen a lot about modern relationships that isn't worth emulating, and…

The point is that being born with a vagina is an entirely consequential, arbitrary fact, something people have absolutely no control over, like being born with skin of a different color. The "supportive logic", as you put it, is implied.

What if it doesn't bother you as much as it bothers her? People are different and are upset by different things, to varying degrees. Obviously it's a problem, at least to a certain extent, or she wouldn't have asked for advice; so it seems like ignoring it will just lead to bigger problems later.