01.30.08
More playing and pride
Yesterday I wrote about the reflex I bought before Xmas. Well, I went to the market and on my way out this young woman stops me, asks where one can buy these reflexes. I told her that Tulva sells them, and she continued to tell how she had had to glance twice before she was certain of what the shape really was. “Is it.. maybe not, who would.. no, it is, isn’t it…” Right. I must say that half of the time I want to be polite and not cause disturbance or attract attention that someone other deserves but the other half of the time I think a small amount of silent protest is in place. If nobody protested (and not so silently) around hundred years a go, women wouldn’t have the right to vote now – just as an example.
Pride or at least good self esteem in things concerning one’s body, appearance, and gender/sex is important, so some women think making the invisible visible and making things that have been considered negative positive. One such symbol is the “kirkkovene”(Finnish slang for simplified drawing of the female genitals or, originally a long, narrow rowing boat with many pairs of oars). It has been considered demeaning. Now we have decided to wear the symbol with pride.
The woman in the market asked whether there were reflexes like that in the shape of the male organ, so her boyfriend also could wear one. Draw whatever conclusions you like from this.
I didn’t find that kind of reflex, but I did find a male-realted craft project that does indeed play with sex related things and I guess especially with the general notion of fear for losing one’s potency. Please welcome the Viagra cuff link:
The Viagra cuff link definitely will be worn by a man equipped with good self-esteem and no worries about people thinking he might be on Viagra / being impotent. The Viagra joke celebrates pride of being what you are, with the abilities / qualities of what you have, the right to be yourself irrespective of medication, ability etc.
I usually say I need to powder my nose, but many people, especially men, regard “going to the bathroom” or even “taking a leak” (or even worse) totally normal and challenge the pressure for politeness. They think one must be allowed to tell things straight out. Great. I have a female body that works like one, at least once a month. Next time I will pull out my T-pax while still at the table, toss it in the air while walking to the restroom and tell all about it when I come back. Oh yes, and I and all my female friends will be wearing these:
If you want to make a pair of your own, here are the instructions. If there is Gay Pride, why not celebrate menstrual pride, too. Or do you feel comfortable telling / hearing about menstruation or menstrual pain in the work office or during a night out? It is just as natural as beer wanting out.
No, I don’t want to promote grossness. I just want to challenge the notion of double standard in this respect, too. Why are men allowed to use gross language, spoil fellow diners’ appetite, and we need to hush-hush even menstrual stomach ache during a weekly meeting at the office where no strangers are present? If I take my T-pax to the restroom in a restaurant in a small tote, do not discuss it, culd men, too, be a little more descreet? And if I feel sick, I want to be able to tell it. I can, after all, choose my words politely, too. Do you?
, there is more. Many still understand the wonderfullness of the vagina, but menstruation or tampons? Ever felt embarrassed in the supermarket when somebody (not me, heaven forbid!) lifts a package of tampons on the conter? Why? Do you get embarrassed for seeing / buying toilet paper the same way? See!? Tampons are clean cotton and paper, just like toilet paper is clean paper, and I must say, I like blood a lot more than, um, you know.
