The Burning Times: fascinating docu on women's power before Christianity

[sakura]

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ANd why women are feared to the extent that they are accused of witchcraft and killed for it

'twas me. I did.

LRD,

"So basically, Tyr, you quoted her points about husbandry and women as livestock, took the piss, but on reflection admit she's correct and you look like a prat? Good good."

Why don't you read what I actually said.

Is that Orthodox Judaism Brian? Or just, erm, him being a weirdo?

I did genuinely know a man who admitted he felt 'squeamish' about knowing a woman was on her period. That man is my dad.

SAF - yes, I think you're right it's a backlash to seeing that, shock, there are single mums and lesbian mums and all sorts, and the world hasn't ended like we were promised, so the solution is to punish them anyway.

Btw, while we are having our emotional womanly rants, can I share that I am really depressed that no fewer than three of my mates got married over the weekend and all have changed their names. Bringing the grand total of my married friends who've kept their names to ... two. And they're married to each other.

Grrr!

Tyr, what exactly was the reason you took the piss out of the post Dittany made, which you now accept was correct, then?

LRD,

If you hadn't insulted me, I'd almost sympathise. Your friends reduced to mere "livestock." And willingly too.
That has to sting a bit.

What are sweatlodges?

Pub sounds the better bet, whatever - you were students!

What is this weirdness?! Yet another thing I had no idea there was weirdness around. Who are they and where can I go to shake their hands, as I'm bleeding at the moment so would like to use if for good

Tyr, you know what? Fuck off, fuck off when you get there, and then fuck off some more.

Is that the level of debate that suits you best, or should I try to lower my tone a little?

As for saying it must 'sting a bit' to know about women being sold and abused - you arrogant bastard. I hope you don't have a mother, wife or a daughter. How would you feel if it were them? Would it still 'sting a bit'?

Alice, shall we go together? I'm bleeding too, but induced by a nice man-made blend of chemicals, so perhaps it doesn't count?

for a divide and rule strategy, it's not working too well, is it?

Oo yes. We could be like a bleeding flashmob.

The thing that's baffling me slightly, is how would her ever know? At least I know now the answer if a man ever asks as I go to shake his hand

LRD I feel your pain. I embarrassed myself a few weeks ago at a hen do when my friend the bridge mentioned that she was changing her name (only in a personal capacity, not at work, but still). I expressed shock drunkenly in a principled way, only to realise that almost all the other people round the table were also married women who had changed their names. Oops. It is occasions like these that make me fantasise about living in a feminist commune.

I know how that feels mooncup - I ended up having to justify why I wasn't changing my name at my wedding reception, as my cousins' wives and my aunties stood there telling me they're have to re-write all the cheques they'd given us ... it's quite hard to find a way to explain that doesn't sound rude, isn't it? Not that I'm usually too worried about coming across as rude on this issue, but there are times and places aren't there?

I believe its religion based, Judaism I think but have not had this confirmed.

I assume he never shakes any woman's hand exactly because he can never know whether they are 'unclean' or not. Eurgh. Just adds to the feeling I had as a teenager that periods were 'dirty' and 'embarrasing', really annoys me

I'm sure my Catholic friend's mother used to spend a week a month in a different bedroom to the father too as she was deemed unclean when having her period.

Off to bed but will catch up in the morning, very interesting thread

Oops, missed your post SGM - thanks for the explanation.

I guess this is one of those things where you have to decide where you stand between respecting someone else's religious beliefs (even if you find them offensive), and not patronizing another culture by assuming people from it can't be expected to 'get' feminism ... I don't know where I'd stand with this specific issue though, because to be fair menstrual blood is messy, no question about it.