Challenge: Redefine Social Definitions.

Unrealistic Definitions;

Abortion- Is a form of punishment for the crime of wishing not to be pregnant. (Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born, 265-69)

I won't speak on Abortion much in my blog. It's hard for me to talk about, because its an issue of morality. And I believe that each person is entitled to their own stance on issues of morality. Some may not seem Abortion as an issue of morality, but this is my blog and while I am open to listening to other opinions and being educated. Education is about being able to make an informative decision and take a stance. I won't talk about my stance of abortion and why I feel the way I do. I will, however, address this definition.

The word choice of punishment and crime is so appropriate. Many consider a woman not wanting to give life to a baby a crime, and the punishment is a procedure in which society often frowns upon and detests. It an abortion, to some persons, is like wearing The Scarlet Letter. A = abortion. And woman are ostracized for wearing this letter of shame.

I should not even have to challenge my readers on how to redefine this definition in their own lives. Even if you believe abortion is wrong or right, the fact of the matter is, that it happens. That it is not your choice. Maybe you do consider it a bad act, but before you look at the bad acts of the woman you plan to plaster with the letter of shame. Look at your own life, what could we punish you for?

Homophobia- The fear of feelings of love for members of one's own sex and therefore the hatred of those feelings in others. (Audre Lorder, Sister Outsider; Essays and Speeches, 45)

Fear is an acceptable emotion. Everyone fears the things that they do not know and that they do not understand. The most recommended way of eliminating our fears is by becoming educated on them. For example, I once had a fear of snakes. After extensive research I learned which snakes I needed to fear and how to tell them apart from the ones that could not harm me.

It is perfectly reasonable for someone to fear a lesbian, a gay man, or a transgendered individual. You fear because you do not understand. Hatred is the product of uneducated fear. After experiencing fear, ask questions. Don't manifest hatred.

Lesbian- A social identification of a woman-identified woman. A concept which causes many people discomfort.

Wow. Who can point on the issues with this definition?

First, the term lesbian is not just a social identification, it is a sexual identity.  Lesbian is an English term used to identify a female homosexual or the sexual and romantic desires of between females. The term woman-identified woman comes from a manifesto that shares the same name that was written in the 1970's by a group of lesbians. While the term at that point relates to lesbians and their relations to and with other woman. This definition, in my opinion, paints all woman who may or may not relate to her female sisters as a lesbian. Those who relate to woman to move forward in their place in society could be slapped with the term above. Those type of woman often cause discomfort in the male normative society (That's a different article LOL)  in which we live.


Orgasm- Feeling of intense sexual pleasure as the vagina goes into rhythmic muscular contractions.... May be repeated indefinitely... a total body experience. - cited in Cheris Kramarae and Paula A. Treichler, A Feminist Dictionary. 

I think this is a beautiful definition of an orgasm. And what should be taught to you woman as they grow. Often orgasm is taught with sex. And sex is often taught wit h love. By readjusting to this definition and teaching it from this point forward. It is encouraging an orgasm as an experience. Not one that has to be shared with another human being, but one that you can give yourself, and one that you can enjoy. That the individual can enjoy it because it is a a 'body experience' and it is your body. Enjoy what your body does and not what someone does to your body.