#double agents for patriarchy

[bigyikes97]

having a whole childhood healing moment after RE: Death Island

I started gaming when I was 6, and quickly found that if you were able to find a girl among the roster of guys she probably looked like this

anyway

I'll never forget playing 007: Nightfire (PS2 certified greatest hits) at the tender age of 7. Dominique, the sexy agent in the black dress who was a friend and co-worker of Bond, was discovered and thrown off a roof to her death. Bond escapes by rappelling through a window, rolls, gets up--and smirks at the camera in a crescendo of theme music. The impact of his friend and lover's death lasted 0.5 seconds and he found a new sexy agent by the next chapter.

seeing on-screen women constantly portrayed as disposable, hypersexualized, incompetent and infantile embittered me towards women and my own female identity. Over past few years I've been avidly identifying and rejecting that media image as a harmful construct of the patriarchy and empowering myself to live proudly in my own skin, love myself and my identity and embrace my strengths without allowing that toxic set of characteristics hold any more power in my life. I'm so much healthier and happier!

SO...

Resident Evil. Jill Valentine. I had long ago given up hope to find a heroine who resonated like a real human, who I could really feel as an avatar, and who filled her role competently in her own right without being defined by romance or lust. I expected some OG RE:4 type shenanigans...and I was wrong. Jill, Claire, and Rebecca were all competent, confident, skilled, non-sexualized women that I wish I'd seen in my childhood. They aren't paid lip service and then privately put down for not being 'roided up tanks; they aren't subject to dehumanizing double entendres, and they don't have to "out-man" the men in everything from strength to vulgarity to be acknowledged. They're dressed in normal clothes and are genuinely valued, respected and even cared for simply because they're characters in their own right!

OMG, the HEALING!!!! I can't even express all my joy. I love seeing Leon and Chris, who could've been made out to be dudebros a la OG RE4 or RE6, instead be respectful and deeply caring. They don't even bring it up as an issue or broadcast it like it's some big deal--it's simply expected! I'll cry with joy, really. Not just one--but three! Three women who feel like women--three women working alongside their teammates in egalitarian harmony so pervasive it's taken as the norm! I'm ecstatic!

And--Jill went out on her own!! Running on her mission! A fully-fledged protagonist! A human with the full faith of her team on her shoulders! "Why are you so calm?" "We have Jill." Goosebumps!! Yes, it's a silly movie about shark zombies, but it meant SO much to me omg. It really did <3 Real healing moment, I've been on cloud 9 all day!

#resident evil #resident evil death island #personal #rant #childhood #long post

[veronicathegoddess]

Do you actually believe that men are naturally violent? Because that’s gets into biological arguments that allow people (male and female) to argue that women are naturally weak and in need of protection or incapable of shit (speaking as woman who has seen the feminist -> rad fem -> terf pipeline). All that is done by pushing biological determinism (by nature or nurture) is harming every community under the sun but specifically kink, queer, and minority communities. Trans women become sleeper agent threats. Poc men become vectors of violence. Every kinky man is just a rapist in waiting. It’s scary to be a woman. We don’t need to push narratives that further that tho. I’m not trying to victim blame you for being scared of the shitty reality of being a women. Just like, maybe don’t push terf ideology in the guise of gotcha-ing assholes who don’t deserve that platform in the first place?

every single time i say anything here about men being shitty humans or anything of the sort, i get accused of terf ideology and i beg that you guys please stop getting educated on twitter and reddit and actually learn what a terf is and what they believe because dear fucking god i'm tired of this shit.

i said we socialize boys into being violent, i never said that men are naturally violent. there's a big difference. i don't believe that anyone is naturally anything except naturally a human.

our behaviors, personality, morals, beliefs attitudes, ideologies are all shaped by the institutions we participate in like school and family and religion. we learn and become who we are and express who we are based on how we've been socialized. and you get older and you can change these beliefs, you can double down on these beliefs, you learn more, you grow and you can either become a different person or stay how you are.

i never made any arguments about biology because i don't know enough on science and biological theories to speak on it and unlike some people, i know when to shut the fuck up when i don't know something. i wasn't speaking on biological determinism cause i learnt what that was two minutes ago when i googled it.

as a social science student however, i can speak for sociology and criminology and psychology the ways that theorize why men are violent because of the patriarchy and toxic masculinity and a multitude of other reasons.

also its scary to be a woman but we don't need to push narratives that further that? so what you're saying is shut up? because there was no narrative. i got told by an anon that they wish i was s*xually assa*lted when they know i'm a victim of SA. i related that back to the way that women get told this irl every single day and that things like this is why women are scared of men. but that's a narrative and that's terf ideology. no that's the reality of being harassed since i was 12 in my fucking middle school uniform and getting assaulted by multiple partners as a teen and that's the reality of every 2 out of 3 woman who will experience sexual assault in their lifetime.

not everything is a fucking narrative, not everything is radical fucking feminism, this is the harsh fucking reality of living as a woman. it's the harsh fucking reality of what i've lived and what i've experienced and if you think that me advocating for men to be socialized better and raised to express more emotions than anger so less women are r*ped and assaulted and killed is terf ideology, then you are one of the biggest problems within our society and i advise you work on that before you come for me.

#ask answered

[icarusfellintomyarms]

The video: some girls bring home some guys and the guys are drunkenly telling each other they look good, and are bonding better together than with the girls, and the one girl being recorded is mouthing what the fuck. That's it. That's the whole entire video.

And, just... Why is the default assumption that these women are trying to rape these men?

And more annoyingly, why is it always that women are held to this unreasonable standard moreso than men are? Men, who are significantly more likely to take advantage of drunk women.

Why are people so convinced that patriarchy is real, but it's being upheld by a double agent matriarchy that seems to oppress men into oppressing women?

Idk how else to explain my frustrations, go ahead and unfollow if you need to, but it's so frustrating that women, cis trans and otherwise, women are being held responsible for men's suffering, and men's HYPOTHETICAL suffering. It's insane.

#kuwm

[donnabroadway]

My Man, My Man, My man

It is a rare thing when the internet comes together to agree on something and the fact that the entire internet, men, women, black and white have all said the same thing in different ways about the Simone Biles husbands comments, let's me know that the future ain't looking too good for sis and her man.

The internet was right about KeKe Palmer and I fear they may be right about Simone Biles and her husband, Jonathan Owens. Even the men on the podcast recognized something was off about his comments and tried to subtly redirect him but he doubled down and Simone was just smiling and cheesing. I could hear the collective "oh girl" from every auntie, who has watched a brilliant, smart, accomplished woman become stupid or even derail her life for a man that they felt was beneath her. This is a train that is running 100 miles per hour without a brake and all you can do is wait for it to crash and offer aid to the injured and clear the dead, once it does. Simone Biles is just going to have to go through it and all the internet aunties and big sisters are going to be there with open arms.

We have to remember that Simone Biles is the epitome of the American dream. She is a foster child whose biological parents could not care for her and no matter how accomplished you are, no matter how much money you have, or how big or where your house is, there is nothing that can feel the void of feeling like your parents chose everything in the world except parenting you and feeling like you were not enough to make them change, especially if they go on to have another family and successfully raise other children. It is just as hard to love someone who has never felt love or acceptance from one of their primary caregivers. This could be mommy issues or daddy issues. I'm not saying that these people aren't worthy of love, what I am saying is if this person doesn't truly work through those issues of abandonment and rejection and not just bandage with things that make them look successful and healed like success, material things, or even a family but truly working to unpack and heal those things, you will spend the rest of your life paying for the sins of someone you may not even know and trying to fill that void. They will either punish you because they see their absentee or abusive parent in you or they will become childlike so you can give them the parental love they're missing and that is an impossible task. Simone Biles is one of the most talented and accomplished gymnasts and Olympians ever and she is downplaying who she is for an undrafted free agent, who no one knew existed until they started publicly dating. I am not throwing shade at him because making it to the NFL is no small feat but people are acting like her accomplishments don't matter because she married a man who is successful in his own right and that is crazy to me. Men saying that women, both black and white, are bitter because she married a football player is confusing. I live 10 minutes from the headquarters of my local NFL franchise and I am pretty sure with the tiniest bit of effort, I could pull a player, past or present, so we're not going to reduce her accomplishments to simply getting married.

I need my successful women who find their biological clocks ticking in their 30s and 40s, to either go to the sperm bank, adopt or get a puppy because you all are too old to have newfound baby daddy drama in your 40s and 50s. Y'all are picking partners like someone whose frontal lobe isn't fully developed and it's not cute. Y'all know better. What's the point of having all that money and access if you are going to spend most of it on child support or lawyer fees? I wish women would free themselves from the shackles of feeling like their success is worthless unless they have a family.

Many women find burden in their accomplishments because patriarchy tells them their accomplishments whether it is graduating college, having a high powered career, buying a house on your own, being able to pay all your bills on time and have some change left over without help, makes them masculine and undesirable to a high value man. I once saw a post in a marriage group that said a "drop out can have more of a successful marriage than a graduate." That's not what it said but that's the jest of it and it was written by a man about women that women who graduate from college are less likely to have successful marriages. Le sigh. Women feel like they have to apologize for their success and it is time to release ourselves from the societal expectations that we balance being a boss bae with wanting to be Cinderella with not a lot of men wanting to be Prince Charming.

The soft life is a pushback against feminism. The message of "don't work," and "stop producing" is the calling card of the soft life movement but many times it is a trap and a scam. A lot of men don't want to pay all the bills. They want the title and prestige of being viewed as the breadwinner while really being team "split the bills" but more of a 60/40 or 70/30 split because he is a traditional man who wants a traditional woman and he would never do 50/50. He may pay the mortgage and a few other larger bills but she is expected to pay her personal expenses such as her car note, maintenance, and the kids expenses. I have also seen men justifying not paying all the bills by stating their grandfathers died young or they were not able to enjoy their families because they worked so much and they don't want that for themselves. They don't really want a stay at home wife unless it is of some benefit to them or the family, for example, they have a high profile career and having a working spouse makes them look bad even if he can't afford to support a family on his income alone or their kids are small and it would be a burden to pay daycare and a mortgage even though her leaving the workforce impedes her future mobility and earning potential. The workforce wasn't created for women with families, even though women have always worked, even pre feminism but they, especially black women, weren't expected to raise their children, that duty went to older women who were too old or unattractive to work, if you understand what I'm saying.

I know we all want to collectively shake Simone and tell her that she can do better but the truth is that no matter how beautiful, smart, well spoke, or accomplished she is, she will only do as good as she believes she can and that is her man and all we can do is watch and mind our business.

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

Whew, add me to the list of people who feel gaslit if WS makes Harry a feminist king. That's just unbelievable.

It’s as if I told you (alcoholism tw) being locked in a room full of alcohol is actually good for an alcoholic.

It’s exactly as my anon said. Women who defend WS music video as “feminist” are as Jameela Jamil’s description of the Kardashians, “double agents for the patriarchy.”

#double agents for the patriarchy #watermelon sugar #alcoholism tw #3 august 2020

[winterrose527]

Okay confession time: I feel like I have to turn in my feminism card because I have to be honest, anytime a man walks into a restaurant/store/whatever and then sees that you’re going to leave it so he doubles back to grab the nearly closed door and hold it open for you... I kind of just melt?

#I'm sorry #double agent for the patriarchy

[electoons]

starting to realize that tht isnt actually a very good take but im keeping it anyway

#bc my disclaimers in the tags are good #anyway im a double agent for the patriarchy and im infiltrating the feminist movement hee hee :) #every day i get closer to deleting my account. my finger is hovering over the button

[halfandbad]

This rant post is 100% inspired by the amazing conversation that Jameela Jamil had on the Ways to Change the World podcast.

This post is going to first start with double agents of the patriarchy and then transition into toxic influencers.

These subjects are SO closely related and you need to know about these double agents of the patriarchy to help you understand why some of these influencers can be so toxic and how to spot them.

#social media #Jameela jamil #social media influencer #influencer #brand ambassador #instagram #toxic influencers #toxicity #double agents of the patriarchy #patriarchy #feminism

[nednickerson]

the audacity of khloe kardashian to post about feeling insecure about how she looks as if she and her family haven't built their empire on making women feel bad about themselves for not conforming to literally impossible beauty standards boo hoo for you khloe for not being able to reach the standard you set even with personal trainers nutritionists and extensive plastic surgery and shame on all these public figures who are sympathizing with her

#she's not a victim here #double agent for the patriarchy and all that

[pojkflata]

What are your opinions on radical feminism, and why? Are you anti- all radical feminism, or just the anti-porn and anti-trans strains?

If you ask me, radical feminism is a movement that's been stuck in stasis since the second wave of feminism. Rather than adapting to the times and doing productive activism, its proponents have doubled down on biological essentialism and damaged oppressed people erroneously pointed out as agents of the patriarchy

Baeddelism is technically more trans friendly than standard radical feminism, but that doesn't mean it's sufficiently trans friendly or that it has merit to it

In addition, radical feminism is very white and fails to recognize the role white women have in perpetuating white supremacy and weaponizing white privilege to hurt men of color

[theocseason4]

Using social media, Jamil often calls out media industry standards and labels other female celebrities as "double agents of the patriarchy" by promoting unhealthy body image, often invoking her own experience of having an eating disorder in her arguments. In 2013, she criticised Rihanna in her column for Company magazine, blaming the artist for maintaining a relationship with her abuser for fame, smoking marijuana, and for posting "provocative images on Instagram to millions of hungry followers". In 2014, she voiced her disapproval of Beyoncé sexualising her public image like Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Iggy Azalea and criticised all these artists for "deluding themselves into thinking it's 'feminism' if you get your fanny out on "your terms."In 2019, she called out rapper Cupcakke on Twitter for posting about doing a water fast. Jamil often calls out Kim Kardashian for promoting unhealthy body ideals, such as by wearing a corset, promoting body makeup to cover skin imperfections such as psoriasis and for offering maternity shapewear for her fashion line. In August 2020, Jamil announced on Twitter that she was deleting tweets from 2009 to 2020 in order to make her account more activism-focused. Months later in November 2020, Jamil claimed that it was a third-party app which caused her Twitter posts to disappear in the previous months, and that she had deleted her entire Twitter post history to figure out why her posts were being removed.

I am not reading that

[trans-advice]

I'm afraid to transition to a man because, I'm not saying all men are sexist, but I feel that I am. I feel that I don't deserve to be a guy, and that I'm not going to be appreciated as much because I might be sexist. When I was younger, like 5 years ago, I had no idea what trans was, and was completely comfortable as a girl, and I thought it was weird if you wanted to change your gender, but I didn't know the depth of it. I'm a minor in an anti-LGBTQ household, and I don't know anyone IRL to

(cont) (i can't trust anyone). I'm now going through puberty for about 2 years, and all the wrong changes are happening, and I already have my period. I keep getting told to "grow up" and "be a young lady" and it hurts. I'm not out yet and can't move out for a while. There are not many resources where I live (not in the U.S.) I feel completely crushed by all this, sometimes I just want to get away. Sorry for the little rant, please respond, I desperately need someone to talk to. river he/they/ae

Sorry it took so long to get back to you River.

So okay, firstly, different people figure out their trans at different ages & that's nothing to be held against you or the rest of us.

Secondly, while we should all be combatting sexism (especially our own), I'm not exactly sure how trying to live as a gal will make you less sexist especially since you've already been designated one & you still say you're sexist. Personally I thought I could sabatoge patriarchy from the inside but then I was like wait since when have I ever been in positions of power to do such double agenting.

You're a trans guy, so you're going to have to learn how to be a feminist & anti-sexist as a trans guy. I will say though a lot of cis men's rights types don't handle sexism that well so listen to cis & trans women, nonbinary people, and maybe trans guys for insight.

That being said, I recommend you read "Testosterone Rex" by Cordelia Fine. I suspect it will help you navigate sexism & the power of FTM HRT. Beware though that various transphobes like that author even though the author is pro-trans & anti-transphobe. So, if you look up book recommendations online based on that book then you're more likely to find transphobic authors. Also beware of book clubs involving Cordelia Fine's books for similar reasons, you need to read the room to figure out whether it's safe or unsafe.

Regardless, here's info about testosterone HRT since that seems to be part of your ask

Thirdly, I'm not quite sure what resources to give not merely because you're non-u.s. but because of how big the world is. If I knew which country, then I wouldn't feel as overwhelmed in trying to find you something. I trust you when you say your place doesn't have a lot of resources, but it'd be easier to navigate.

Fourthly, transitioning, whether social, legal, medical, they all require power such as having your consent be respected & having people to stand up for you & or with you. So it can take a long time to transition due to getting enough power to have your bodily autonomy respected. I suspect making community online, figuring out other people to live with, etc, will be important in yours. But again, IDK all the parts of your situation.

I suggest meeting up with people as much but respect safety needs in a pandemic, wear a mask, social distance, ventilate your spaces, wash your hands, get vaccinated. Also do this online, but if you're offered IRL connections that respect that we're in a pandemic then go for it.

The idea is to get time away from anti-lgbtq people & or get more connections than just your family, AKA network. It's like how if you go thru different books at a library during your research how your then more likely to find what you need instead of rereading the same pages over & over again.

It also needs to be known that by being more often out in the community how you'll be seen as less as an outsider which not being seen as an outsider is important when you're marginalized. This is also why it's helpful to be with someone when you're going out, but again work with what you got.

You had a 3rd ask, but I'm going to make that a separate post because while I hope our readers will give some insights on that, they generally don't contribute when we've covered a lot of ground on other parts of the ask.

You did ask for pronoun validations & so I hope to help you out with that here at least:

What can I say about River. He's awesome. They're resourceful. Ae is welcome. His family doesn't quite respect them. Fortunately, River respects aerself. We can hope in the future they will meet more people, those who respect aer, those who are like aer, those who keep them safe & want good things for him as ae actually is. It might take a while for him to get that power to live aers life as they want that to be. Survival can be tricky, but this life is theirs to live. I wish aer a very good life. I wish I could give them & others like him more than this.

Good Luck, Peace & Love,

Eve

[themadamespod]

Sharon Carter: A Study in Selfishness

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier spotlighted some hard truths. Beyond its real-world parallels, it’s changed our perspective on the MCU. And on the heels of the finale, we can’t help but reflect on how we got here.

It feels like ages ago that an alien invaded Earth believing it was his right to do so. This madman imposed his will upon a whole planet. He wielded god-like power over an entire species. He took the lives of countless people, leaving the rest to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. 

In doing so, he became one of the most beloved characters in the MCU.

So why is it that many of the people who adore a monster are now so disappointed with Sharon Carter?

Easy. Loki is a man. 

Angels and Demons

Relax, everybody. This is not an anti-Loki treatise. I’m writing this post with a Loki poster behind my chair, a Loki mug on my desk, and a Loki t-shirt on my back.

To be fair, it helps that the God of Mischief is played by one of the most charming, attractive men in Hollywood. But Emily VanCamp is no slouch. She’s a beautiful, talented actor who elevates any project. So why are people upset that she’s the Power Broker?

Women aren’t supposed to veer from familial or cultural expectations. 

Women aren’t supposed to put themselves first. 

Women aren’t supposed to seize power in a man’s world. 

The events of Civil War alone had a tremendous impact on the characters we love. Sam and Bucky’s respective ordeals changed them forever, and The Blip forced them to adapt even further. So many people are praising their growth in the TFATWS finale, and we’re among them. But it’s frustrating to then see comments like these:

“Omg wtf is wrong with Sharon? That is NOT who she is!”

“Since when is Sharon evil? That ain’t her.”

“Sharon is totally a Skrull. The Sharon we know would never turn her back on everything she stands for.”

Guess what, folks? Just like Sam and Bucky, the Sharon we once knew no longer exists. She, too, changed and grew - right out of the box that the patriarchy built for her. And people don’t know how to handle it.  

Double Standards

Misogyny is so deeply woven into the fabric of our society that a lot of people, women included, often don’t see it. But it’s in almost every facet of daily life, leaching into our brains like a toxin. And TFATWS called Marvel out on it by illustrating a simple fact:

Men and women who behave in the same way are treated very differently.

A man who tramples others for a promotion is ambitious. A woman is a conniving bitch.

A man who sleeps around is held up as a ladies’ man. A woman is looked down upon as a whore.

A man who logs extra time at the office is a good provider. A woman is neglecting her family. 

Despite centuries of fighting for our right to exist, women are still brainwashed to be and be seen as lesser than men. We’re expected to conform to roles meant to keep us subservient. We’re told that caring for others is more important than caring for ourselves. 

Sharon Carter received the same cultural programming. And it’s likely that she felt familial pressure (either explicit or implicit) to follow in Aunt Peggy’s footsteps, whether she wanted to or not. 

And follow she did.

Sharon joined S.H.I.E.L.D. She fought armed HYDRA agents. Then she sacrificed her life, her career, and her freedom for the greater good. And what did she get for it?

The same thing women always get when they put everyone else’s best interests ahead of their own. 

She got fucked. 

A Matter of Perspective

Let’s pretend the TFATWS finale had gone differently. The Power Broker is a previously unseen bad guy, a Wilson Fisk type. After the U.S. government branded her as a fugitive and the Avengers forgot her, Sharon has just been trying to survive in Madripoor.

Nonetheless, she helps Sam and Bucky neutralize Karli. Sam secures Sharon’s pardon and she reclaims her former post as a dutiful C.I.A. agent.

Talk about disappointing; that would be like watching a woman return to a man who beats her. 

In reality, Sharon is revealed as the Power Broker. After the people for whom she gave everything betrayed her, she built a lucrative business from scratch using a canny brain and the skills S.H.I.E.L.D. taught her.

Now for those who are incensed by Sharon’s turn because she’s selling weapons, please see Exhibit A:

Even after Tony Stark stopped manufacturing weapons for the U.S. government, he continued making them for S.H.I.E.L.D. If memory serves, he also created a sentient murder-bot that leveled a city before nearly annihilating mankind.

Tony’s intentions were noble, but that didn’t make him any less responsible for a humanitarian disaster. The Sokovians would have been well within their rights to demand Tony’s arrest and incarceration.

But we love Tony, so we don’t like to go there.

And speaking of the U.S. government, let’s be real. American politicians wouldn’t condemn Sharon for illegally selling weapons to dangerous groups. They’d condemn her for cutting into their own profits. 

If there’s one thing the U.S. government excels at, it’s creating and arming terrorists. Sharon’s just running their playbook.

Redefining Selfishness

In all fairness, some people’s disappointment over Sharon’s arc has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with heroism. For this discussion, see Exhibit B:

Ever since Steve Rogers got his happy ending with Peggy Carter in Endgame, the Marvel fandom has been divided into two camps.

Camp 1: Steve is a selfish bastard who abandoned his family, his country, and the world when they all needed him the most.

Camp 2: Steve did more than enough for his family, his country, and the world when they all needed him most and deserved his happiness.

I will always be a card-carrying member of Camp 2, which is one reason I exited my Endgame theater as a human ball of snot. 

Steve Rogers gave enough for his country even before he was defrosted. He liberated a POW camp behind enemy lines. He defeated Red Skull. He saved countless lives by crashing the HYDRA bomber into the arctic, sacrificing his own life in the process.

And when he was resurrected after 70 years, did he stop and smell the roses? Read a book on the beach?

No. He saved the world. Again, and again, and again.

It’s incredibly noble that a life with Peggy is all Steve wanted. Think about Michael Bay’s uber-patriotic Armageddon. Those roughnecks had quite the list of demands for saving the world, all of which seemed perfectly reasonable because, hello, they were saving the world. 

So what does this have to do with Sharon Carter? Well, if you’re in Steve Rogers Camp 1, you likely see Sharon as a selfish bitch. I’ll make the same argument in her defense:

She’s given more than enough for others. She has every right to now put herself first.

We as women need to redefine selfishness. It’s been weaponized against us for far too long. We have to reframe it as a positive concept whereby we simply make our needs a priority in our own lives. 

If more women embraced selfishness, we would be unstoppable. 

Oh, and if you’re in Steve Rogers Camp 2 but still disappointed in Sharon Carter, you’ve got some hypocrisy on your chin. Might want to wipe that off. 

A Final Note

Alice Walker, who knows a thing or two about feminism, once said, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

When the name “Power Broker” was first dropped on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, it felt cheesy. But now it seems like the perfect title for a woman who not only refused to give up her power, but actively sought more. 

Sharon Carter is unequivocally selfish, but that doesn’t make her evil or even wrong. 

It makes her one powerful woman. And we can’t wait to see her again. 

#Sharon Carter #Power Broker #Peggy Carter #Agent Carter #SHIELD #HYDRA #military industrial complex #Captain America #Captain America The First Avenger #Captain America The WinterSoldier #Captain America Civil War #Steve Rogers #Avengers Endgame #Endgame #Avengers #Battle of New York #Loki #Loki Laufeyson #God of Mischief #Tom Hiddleston #Iron Man #Tony Stark #Stark Industries #Ultron #Age of Ultron #Sokovia #feminism #womens rights #womens empowerment #female empowerment

[really-deep-thoughts]

watching tori bootlegs--thinking about Space Dog. A favorite song, but one that's always been opaque to me. Watching a performance from 2005, the meaning (for me) finally clicks. The tension in the music of the verses, those rhythmic descending minor notes, it's the child trapped in the dysfunctional family, that boy in Chicago by the 7 Eleven she mentions in the interviews, all of us caught in this gaslighting oppressive culture. You know something's wrong here, but you can't explain what. Space Dog is that intuition, the entity that tells you things could be different, a deeper source of knowledge and meaning beyond this patriarchal culture--out there in the solar system, visiting in his space ship. "Lemon pie/he's coming through/our commander still/Space Dog/Lines secure/Space Dog". Lemon pie -- the opposite of sweetie pie? Sourness disguised with sugar. A sweet nice docile girl, concealing sullen anger and disillusionment. We're lemon pies, a code name, undercover agents for Space Dog, the true nature of reality, more bizarre and liberating than the soothing lies told in the refrain and backing vocals. I think the refrain has a double meaning -- that parental authority that is relieved you've come to your senses, that thought you were crazy (are you on something? What's wrong with you?) But in your mind Space Dog whispers, now that you can see cosmic reality, how big the truth really is, your feet are finally on the ground. The truth is a secret weapon. A truth that you can only find obliquely, in art (Where's Neil when you need him? Is she still pissing in the river now?). It's significant I think that Tori almost always performs the background vocals separately at the start of the song -- highlighting that those girls now in the Navy (allied to the violent patriarchy), they're the cornflake girls, they've gone like Andromeda to sacrifice themselves because that's what parents want from good girls. These sweet lies sung so soothingly. Those bombs are our friends.

#gonna try to write my ad hoc tori thoughts when they occur to me #tori amos #space dog #analysis

[seasurfacefullofclouds1]

I'd add: the WS video is worse than made by men for men. It's made to naturalize that male gaze to his largely young female fans by means of Harry's commodified feminism. His fans actually think that's what a gentle, hippie, TPWK feminist IS, and thus they bend over backwards to queer it or make it woke. They are doing the work not just to buy Harry Styles(tm) but to justify how he objectifies women.

Agree and it’s despicable.

#double agents of patriarchy #10 august 2020 #the fact that this is an unpopular opinion in the fandom #is so disappointing

[saedii-gilwraeth-simp]

This post but I wanted to do it all with BillyxArsinoe - Part 2: electric boogaloo (REPOST BC I FINISHED IT THIS TIME)

How do they fall asleep? Wake up? Any daily rituals?

Billy always says hello to Arsinoe first when he gets home. It doesn’t matter if it’s a party and there are 50 people between Arsinoe and the front door, Billy always says hello to her before anyone else. And Arsinoe always kisses Billy’s cheek before she gets out of bed because she’s too groggy to say hello properly.

How’s their team work? Do they share well?

Wins three-legged races every time. They are masters of communication so they work together really well and tend not to step on each other’s toes. They share pretty well unless it’s blankets.

Are they open about their relationship? How do they feel about public displays of affection?

Billy and Arsinoe fucking love talking about each other to other people because they love being together. In terms of PDA, they are… very enthusiastic and it has definitely gotten them in trouble before.

First impression of each other? Was it love at first sight?

They really didn’t click when they first met and it was definitely not love at first sight. I call it the “Billy is the epitome of a privileged white man” effect

Nicknames? Pet names? Any in-jokes?

They only call each other pet names when they’re tired. And they probably have a million in-jokes that I’m not funny enough to come up with

Any tasks that are always left to one person?

Arsinoe always makes the bed bc she knows Billy likes to get into a made bed at the end of the day. Billy always washes and puts away the dishes bc the repetitive motion messes with Arsinoe’s bad shoulder

What annoys them the most about their partner? Would they change it if they could?

Billy gets upset over how far Arsinoe takes things when it come to helping/protecting her friends and family because it can get her hurt, but he wouldn’t change it bc he knows he would do the same thing. Arsinoe doesn’t like that Billy wants to protect her constantly but she wouldn’t change it bc very few people (basically Jules and Mirabella and that’s it) have ever cared about her enough to protect her

What do the like best about their partner?

Arsinoe adores how gentle but fierce Billy is and Billy loves how much joy Arsinoe brings to the lives of everyone she meets

Do they discuss big issues? Religion? Marriage? Children? Death?

They discuss it when they first start permanently living together. Neither are religious bc Arsinoe has trauma from the temple and Billy just doesn’t really care about religion. Both agreed very early on that they wanted to get married and have children. Neither wants to talk about death, they’ve had enough of that that they just want to push the conversation away.

Who drives? Cooks? Does the handiwork? Cleans? Pays the bills? Handles the public?

Billy drives, neither cook, Arsinoe does the handiwork, both clean, Billy pays the bills (bc patriarchy). Neither handle the public.

Do they celebrate holidays? Anniversaries?

They like to celebrate holidays bc it gives them a chance to get everyone together to celebrate. And they both go ham for anniversaries.

Is there a wedding? What was the proposal like? Any kind of honeymoon?

So Billy just proposes on a nondescript Sunday in summer when they’re chilling on the porch and he looks over and the sun is lighting Arsinoe up and he just knows that this is the perfect moment, so he grabs the ring he’s carried around for months out of his pocket, puts it on the table open and says “Hey babe, let’s get married” and that’s it, they’re engaged. So, the wedding is nice and the reception is rowdy but also very intimate - Billy and Arsinoe definitely cried during the vows they wrote themselves and their flower crowns were gorgeous. And for their honeymoon, they go to this really nice manor in the country and do typical honeymoon things ;) ;)

What do they do for fun? Do they have a favorite activity or do they like to switch things up?

They go on fun dates around the city - lots of horse-racing, boxing and rugby. Their favourite though is to try to find different, better places for picnics each week. It’s began to get very competitive.

Anything they both dread?

Both really don’t enjoy being separated. Which is not to say that they always have to be together or that they can’t exist without each other, but they enjoy each other’s company so long periods of separation make them sad.

How adventurous are they?

I mean, this is a couple who recreated “We’re going on a bear hunt” so they get pretty wild.

Do they keep secrets? Lie? Cheat?

They might keep secrets to surprise each other time to time, but they both value and love each other too much to even consider lying, cheating or keeping big secrets.

What would make them break up? Would it be permanent?

Nothing and if something did, it sure as fuck wouldn’t be a permanent break up.

What are their dates like? How long do/did they date? Do they ever feel the need to take a break from each other?

Their dates are pretty fun and involve food and laughing, regardless of what they do/where they go. They “dated” for like 3 years simply cause they’re both young and have all the time to get married. and they don’t really feel the need to take breaks but they do sometimes, just to feel independent.

What do they fight about? What are their arguments like? How do they make up?

They don’t really have big explosive arguments and fights because they’re good at expressing themselves. But when they do fight, they both yell and then they get really silent and then they talk it out. And then makeup sex.

What does their home look like? Their room?

The townhouse in the city - where they are normally - is mostly shades of baby blue and has the vibes of a rich 18th century family home. Their bedroom has sapphire blue walls and curtains with a four poster bed and a dresser and a wardrobe against the opposite wall. They have an ensuite with a massive bath and double vanity and a walk in robe. They also have a farmhouse and that is a lot more quaint.

Do they share any interests or hobbies?

Both enjoy looking after their chickens and the horses they own at the races but other than that they have their own hobbies.

Does their work ever interfere with the relationship?

Billy’s work requires a lot of travel that Arsinoe can’t go on sometimes, so they have to shift how their relationship works sometimes, but for the most part, it doesn’t matter how far apart they are.

How do they hug? Kiss? Tease? Flirt? Comfort?

Billy sometimes hugs Arsinoe around the shoulders and will kiss her temple, usually when he feels talking will ruin a quiet moment. Otherwise, Billy tucks Arsinoe into his chest and wraps his arms over her shoulders when hugging her. Arsinoe always puts at least one hand on Billy’s neck and Billy always puts on hand on Arsinoe’s waist/hip when they kiss. If Billy wants to tease, he holds Arsinoe’s hips and kisses her neck. Arsinoe could reveal an ankle and Billy would blush tbh. Both are terrible flirts so they don’t flirt very often. And in terms of comfort, a hand hold or a good hug is really good for them.

Any doubts about the relationship?

Nah, their solid

How much time do they spend together? Do they share their feelings, or hold things in?

They spend a lot of time together (to be clear, they definitely are comfortable to ask when they need independent time) but it’s not like they’re constantly speaking, touching, they could just be sitting in the same room and it’s comfy. And they’re the best at sharing feelings, mostly bc they’re both shit at holding things in.

How do their friends feel about their relationship? Their families?

Their friends think they’re an excellent couple. Billy’s family tries to focus more on Billy’s happiness than how unconventional Arsinoe is as a Mainlander partner

Do they have kids? Grow old together? Split up?

Billy and Arsinoe have four children, triplet boys and a girl who are agents of chaos but grow up surrounded by so much love and acceptance (unlike how their parents grew up). B*A do grow old together and are still a fucking power couple in their 90′s

What are their vacations like?

Both work quite hard day to day so when they’re on holiday they usually relax, stay in bed late or meander throughout local towns. 

How do they handle disasters or emergencies? Minor injuries? Sickness? 

Both are very calm, cool and collected during disasters or emergencies. Billy stresses about injuries and sickness while Arsinoe’s pretty nonchalant bc she usually knows how to fix it. However, neither like it when their kids are sick.

Could they manage a long distance relationship?

They could but they wouldn’t want to

Do they finish each other’s sentences? Pick up any phrases or habits from each other? Know when the other is hiding something?

They definitely have the ability to finish each other’s sentences. Arsinoe has picked up Billy’s habit of tapping fingers on any surface that is nearby and Billy has taken on Arsinoe’s habit of rubbing a cheek when nervous. And yes, they know when each other is hiding something but they trust that whatever is being hidden will be revealed when right.

Do they ever get into trouble? Is it serious, or are they just mischievous? 

Oh boy they get in trouble so much but in the fun, saucy, “we’re a young couple in love” kinda way

What kind of presents do they get each other? Do they only do it on special occasions?

They usually will get each other something heartfelt or practical, sometimes a mix of both. They aim to stick to holiday/birthday sharing but every now and then, it’ll be a matter of “I saw this and thought of you.”

Do they have any pets?

More chickens than they know what to do with. A couple of cats that come and go and a golden retriever that their kids got but won’t reveal how, they just bought it home one day.

Do they bring out the best in each other, or the worst? Do they have a fatal flaw?

They bring out the best in each other and they’re the definition of married people who are best friends. They don’t really have fatal flaws.

What’s their greatest strength as a couple? Their weakness?

Greatest strength is how much they love each other so they create an environment that is so comforting. They’re weakness is that they’re so cute it makes people angry.

How much would they be willing to sacrifice for the other? Any lines they refuse to cross?

They wouldn’t do anything a morally sound person would consider deplorable but they would definitely sacrifice a lot for each other. 

What are they like in the bedroom? Any kinks/fetishes/turn-ons? Anything they won’t do?

Look, they’re def 50/50 vanilla/kinky but in terms of specific turn ons, Arsinoe has a thing for Billy’s hands and Billy likes Arsinoe’s legs and butt (very valid takes). I also think that they would try different bedroom things at least once, for experimentation purposes.

Who initiated the relationship? Who kissed who first?  When did they realize they were in love?

They both kind of initiated the r/ship and technically Arsinoe kissed Billy first. Billy realised he loved Arsinoe when she jumped in front of the bear and Arsinoe realised she loved Billy when he tried to save her from the priestesses.

Any special memories? Do they have a special place they like to go to?

Their special memories come mostly from when Arsinoe came back from Fennbirn to the Mainland, their wedding day and their kids birthdays. Their special place is on the townhouse roof bc it’s quiet and they can see the stars really well from there. 

Are they party-goers? What are they like when they’re drunk? Does it happen often?

They go to the occaisional party if they like the people who will be there. Arsinoe can’t get drunk and Billy doesn’t drink bc he doesn’t like how angry and aggressive it makes him.

Do they let each other get away with things that would normally bother them?

Yes, but only to a certain extent. If it really bothers one of them, then that person will make a comment and that will prompt a change in behaviour from the offensive party.

Do they talk often? What about?

They talk all the time. Sometimes it’s dumb jokes or to check in with each other but mostly it’s just fun and boring married couple conversations.

Are the comfortable with each other? Anything they have to have their privacy for?

Billy and Arsinoe are very comfortable with each other. There’s nothing specific they require privacy for unless it’s for a surprise.

Any special dreams or goals they have as a couple? Any heartbreaks? Regrets?

I mean, they just really desperately want to have a normal “white picket fence” life with each other, marriage and kids included. They don’t have a lot of heartbreaks (simply bc at some point, the amount of trauma they’ve suffered has to stop) and they don’t have regrets because that’s not how they choose to live their lives.

#three dark crowns #one dark throne #two dark reigns #five dark fates #kendare blake #queen arsinoe #billy chatworth