altering your vocabulary to exclude harmful terms makes the world a more enjoyable and safe place for you and the people around you and also it is not very hard trust me i did it and i don’t do much
(via creepystaring)
As a trans woman, not many things give me a headache the way the entire concept of passing does. Passing is the idea that if a trans woman (or any person who is presenting as a woman) looks, dresses and acts a certain way, people won’t be able to tell they are anything other than a completely “normal” woman. If you look at online trans communities or forums, you’ll find tons of tips on how to pass better – everything from hair removal tips to workouts to how to walk and sit more femininely.
All of this presupposes that there is only one right way to look like and be a woman. And it’s infuriating. On the one hand, whenever I go out in public or post pictures online, a part of me is deathly afraid that I’ll be insulted or worse. I desperately want to be accepted as the woman I am. On the other hand, I hate that in order to feel safe, I’m expected to fit into the very narrow box that is labeled “woman.” Tips on how to pass always seem to say that you should avoid building muscle mass and avoid wearing clothes and makeup that are too costumey, that you should try to hide your shoulders and soften your features. Trans women are often told that if we want to pass, we have to try our hardest to be petite, soft, have just the right amount of femininity, and not stand out too much. But what if I want to be a different kind of woman? What if I want to look like Grace Jones or Kate Moennig? What if I want to look like Beth Ditto or Dolly Parton? They’re all cis women; don’t they pass?
Meyllen Djneres (via muffinsandcouture)
The moral of “passing” discussions always seems to be:
If you get bashed it will be your fault.
(via charthebutcher)
Do you even know how badly I’ve been needing to hear exactly these words for the past few months now?
(via sixtyforty)
*slow clap——> standing ovation* yes! Yes yes!
(via boyqueen)
omg when i started transitioning Kate Moennig was legit my goal
(via dizzzyrichardpig)
i just need this on my blog again
(via boyqueen)
(via fuckyeahhardfemme)
Masses of people think that feminism is always and only about women seeking to be equal to men. And a huge majority of these folks think feminism is anti-male. Their misunderstanding of feminist politics reflects the reality that most folks learn about feminism from patriarchal mass media.
bell hooks (via ceedling)
(via ethiopienne)
Be of service. You are taking your degree into a society dominated by concentrated poverty and a vulnerable middle class, a society where it is harder to pay for education, harder to find a job, harder to buy a house and harder to hold onto those things even if you manage to get them. You are entering adulthood during a period of mass incarceration and near constant war. There is a lot for you to do. Service is the rent you pay for the space you take up on the earth, and as a relatively privileged American you take up a lot of space. We are the most consuming, polluting, wasteful nation on earth. So your rent is steep. Pay it with service.
Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry’s advice to Class of 2013 (via bitchwhoisyou)
(via ethiopienne)
Oh Beyoncé, Beyoncé ; Oh Shakira, Shakira..
(via beyoncegifs)
Racism is not in your intent. Your intent is immaterial in how racist your actions are. This isn’t about you BEING a racist. It’s about you DOING A THING that is racist. Your intent doesn’t change it. Your ignorance of its meaning doesn’t change it. It’s got nothing to do with you as a person and everything to do with the meaning of your action in the context of sociocultural history.
- moniquill (on red face & cultural appropriation)
I’m just going to reblog this again, since some people apparently need reminding.
(via darkjez)
(via pretty-problematic)
Fun Historical Fact: There used to be more gay and lesbian content in early silent films until religious groups protested resulting in “decency standards.”
THE WAY THE ONE GIRL LOOKS DOWN ALL SHY AND THE OTHER CUPS HER FACE SO SWEETLY TO COMFORT HER- AHHHH
(via creepystaring)
(via creepystaring)
(via creepystaring)
I’ve seen a lot of this on Tumblr lately, so this is for all of you (including me) who want to run around in jean shorts all summer but feel like you can’t because of some intangible socially conscribed idea of what bare legs are ‘supposed’ to look like.
(Of course, some people have their own perfectly good reasons for wanting to cover up, and that’s just as fine).
Rocking shorts and skirts this summer.
Showing off my tattoos and stubble and scars.
Fuck em.
(via fuckyeahhardfemme)
(via thekenobicondition)
(via morningchai)
(via smerkaberrl)
