"The women of Bikini Kill let guitarist Billy Karren be in their feminist punk band, but only if he's willing to just "do some shit." Being a feminist dude is like that. We may ask you to "do some shit" for the band, but you don't get to be Kathleen Hannah."--@heatherurehere


Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Grandpa Works for the Patriarchy

The title is slightly tongue in cheek. And yet, what better way to reinforce the patriarchy than to make fun of a boy for listening to 'girl music'? You get to reinforce gender stereotypes all around, and also get to take a little boy who already wants to be the meanest person around and make him feel ashamed! (Click to enlarge.)


Once again, this is in some ways a silly little thing--just a comic in the paper. But this is a perfect example of the sort of actions that men do to other men (and that fathers, uncles and grandfathers) to reinforce sexist attitudes.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Boondocks is such an interesting case when looked at from race, class, and gender levels - on how poignant it can be with some issues, but how wrongheaded it can be on others.

Though I must admit I'm much more familiar with the television show than the strip, either would make a great extended case study.

Unknown said...

I only saw the first few episodes of the TV show--it didn't have the bite that the strip had, for me. And I think Grandpa comes off more sad and lonely in the show. But yeah, he's taking on a lot of issues in that strip, and it gets complex.

One episode I did see had grandpa falling in love with a woman who was a prostitute, though grandpa didn't pick up on that; and it was poignant as well, right up to the point where the 'pimp' comes looking for her and is played for laughs. It was...weird. Here's this woman being forced to do this by her pimp, and he was obviously supposed to be a laugh-inducing character. Ack.

Anonymous said...

This is why I don't tell male friends that I listen to Britney Spears and Kelly Clarkson.