Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Connie Willis, tit-grabbing, and hijab
The current buzz in the world of science fiction is that well-known writer Harlan Ellison grabbed the breast of also well-known author Connie Willis during the Hugos award ceremony, apparently in anger at her poking fun at one of his short stories.
I agree with Patrick Nielsen Hayden who writes, "Just as with George W. Bush's now-famous uninvited shoulder-rub of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the basic message of Ellison's tit-grab is this: "Remember, you may think you have standing, status, and normal, everyday adult dignity, but we can take it back at any time. If you are female, you'll never be safe. You can be the political leader of the most powerful country in Europe. You can be the most honored female writer in modern science fiction. We can still demean you, if we feel like it, and at random intervals, just to keep you in line, we will."
Unfortunately, a lot of science fiction writers and fans seem to be shrugging the incident off as not a big deal, making a mountain out of a molehill, Harlan will be Harlan (he has a reputation for being absolutely insufferrable), boys will be boys, even a publicity stunt on the part of Willis. (!!?!)
This is precisely the kind of thing that reaffirms my decision to wear hijab. The scarf and long, loose clothing puts up a clear barrier between me and the jerks that would think that tit-grabbing is ok, either as a public humiliation or as a bit of "harmless" fun for a guy. It says in no unclear terms, my body is off limits -- keep your hands, and eyes, off. It is an aggressive, in your face way of saying, you will not do to me what Harlan Ellison did to Connie Willis.
It doesn't solve the problem of women being viewed as biology -- as essentially vessels for ushering babies into the world and fulfilling men's sexual desires -- but it does put men at large on notice that I am not to be included in the equation as a sexual object.
It doesn't solve women being denied basic human and civil rights, and in certain instances even contributes toward eroding those rights, but it does give me a certain amount of control over how the men I interact with here in the West treat me.
It empowers me the same way my karate skills empower me. Pity the guy who tries to grab my breast!
What a sad commentary on the state of some (and one fears, most) men. ¶ 9:05 AM
I agree with Patrick Nielsen Hayden who writes, "Just as with George W. Bush's now-famous uninvited shoulder-rub of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the basic message of Ellison's tit-grab is this: "Remember, you may think you have standing, status, and normal, everyday adult dignity, but we can take it back at any time. If you are female, you'll never be safe. You can be the political leader of the most powerful country in Europe. You can be the most honored female writer in modern science fiction. We can still demean you, if we feel like it, and at random intervals, just to keep you in line, we will."
Unfortunately, a lot of science fiction writers and fans seem to be shrugging the incident off as not a big deal, making a mountain out of a molehill, Harlan will be Harlan (he has a reputation for being absolutely insufferrable), boys will be boys, even a publicity stunt on the part of Willis. (!!?!)
This is precisely the kind of thing that reaffirms my decision to wear hijab. The scarf and long, loose clothing puts up a clear barrier between me and the jerks that would think that tit-grabbing is ok, either as a public humiliation or as a bit of "harmless" fun for a guy. It says in no unclear terms, my body is off limits -- keep your hands, and eyes, off. It is an aggressive, in your face way of saying, you will not do to me what Harlan Ellison did to Connie Willis.
It doesn't solve the problem of women being viewed as biology -- as essentially vessels for ushering babies into the world and fulfilling men's sexual desires -- but it does put men at large on notice that I am not to be included in the equation as a sexual object.
It doesn't solve women being denied basic human and civil rights, and in certain instances even contributes toward eroding those rights, but it does give me a certain amount of control over how the men I interact with here in the West treat me.
It empowers me the same way my karate skills empower me. Pity the guy who tries to grab my breast!
What a sad commentary on the state of some (and one fears, most) men. ¶ 9:05 AM
Comments:
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I think what Ellison did was wrong (I didn't notice it at the time as I was looking through a small camera view finder, but happened to get a photo of it). I suggest that what Ellison did reflects on him alone and not on men in general.
I'm not responsible for Ellison's behaviour, even though we're the same sex. I'm not responsible for Stalin or Mao's actions, even though we have the same hair colour. Similarly, you're not responsible for Velma Margie Barfield's being a mass murderer, even though you're the same sex.
I'm not responsible for Ellison's behaviour, even though we're the same sex. I'm not responsible for Stalin or Mao's actions, even though we have the same hair colour. Similarly, you're not responsible for Velma Margie Barfield's being a mass murderer, even though you're the same sex.
# posted by 
: 11:42 PM
: 11:42 PM
I didn't attend the Hugos, and so I missed this display, but what I've heard and read is quite conflicted. For one thing, Connie is a take-no-prisoners woman, and she's unbelievably quick-witted. I do wonder if it was as big a deal as some make out, because it seems to me she could have dealt with it easily.
But I understand your wish to make your body private, and your own. We're a long way, in every society, from women having real control over their private space. The passivity and vulnerability of past decades doesn't go away in a heartbeat. Karate, yes! And anything else that makes girls and women walk tall, stride strongly, and communicate that "Don't mess with me" message.
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But I understand your wish to make your body private, and your own. We're a long way, in every society, from women having real control over their private space. The passivity and vulnerability of past decades doesn't go away in a heartbeat. Karate, yes! And anything else that makes girls and women walk tall, stride strongly, and communicate that "Don't mess with me" message.
# posted by : 11:10 AM
: 11:10 AM<< Home
