Making gang-rape SEXY in India (photos)

Wisdom Quarterly; TheGuardian.com/AFP (Agence France-Presse) in Mumbai/Bombay

Controversial portfolio fashion shoot photos taken down after uproar (Raj Shetye/TG)

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Our trip to India by bus as Westerners

Indian photographer Raj Shetye is criticized after posing fashion models in scenes echoing brutal and fatal assault of woman on bus.

He has sparked outrage for a fashion shoot that depicted a woman being assaulted on a bus, echoing a fatal gang-rape that shocked the nation.

Human sex trafficking coming to a town near you

  

India Dishonoured: war on women

The project, called The Wrong Turn, appeared in his online portfolio and was then taken down, but not before coming to the attention of the media.

The photos show a female model dressed in high-end fashion garments being groped on a bus by a group of men, also fashionably dressed, in various poses.

 

5 Countries Not for Women

In one image the woman is on the floor with a man standing over her, while one shows her struggling with two men gripping her arms and another has two men pinning her down on the seats.

 

13 most dangerous U.S. cities

The shoot has drawn a torrent of criticism in India, where the fatal gang-rape of a student on a bus in December 2012 sparked nationwide protests over levels of sexual violence against women.
  

Human teeth found in Christ statue

Nirmala Samant, chairwoman of the National Commission for Women, has written to Mumbai’s chief of police calling for an investigation over the photographs. More

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Is anti-Israel/Jewish hate rising? See it for what it is, a natural reaction to CIA crimes

"The Moth" is a storytelling phenomenon in the USA, but why? (The Guardian)

Modern India is no longer tolerant of sexism, discrimination, and rape (aljazeera.com)

Study: Why do men visit prostitutes?

Ashley Wells, Seth Auberon, Wisdom Quarterly; Julie Bindel (The Guardian); Hillary Duff

Why men use prostitutes: The reasons why many men pay for sex are revealed in the interviews that make up a major new piece of research.
 

"I don't get anything out of sex with prostitutes except for a bad feeling," says Ben. An apparently average, thirtysomething, middle-class man, Ben had taken an extended lunchbreak from his job in advertising to talk about his experiences of buying sex. Shy and slightly nervous, he told me, "I am hoping that talking about it might help me work out why I do it."

Julie Bindel

I, too, was hoping to understand his motives better. Ben was one of 700 men interviewed for a major international research project seeking to uncover the reality about men who buy sex. The project spanned six countries. And of the 103 customers we spoke to in London -- where I was one of the researchers -- most were surprisingly keen to discuss their experiences.

The men didn't fall into obvious stereotypes. They were aged between 18 and 70 years old; they were white, black, Asian, eastern European; most were employed, and many were ­educated beyond [high]school level. In the main they were presentable, polite, with average-to-good social skills. Many were husbands and boyfriends; just over half were either married or in a relationship with a woman.

 

Science: 700 men were interviewed for the research project, which aimed to find out why men solicit and buy sex (Christina Griffiths/Getty Images/Flickr RM).

 

Research published in 2005 found that the numbers of men who pay for sex had doubled in a decade. The ­authors attributed this rise to "a greater acceptability of commercial sexual contact," yet many of our ­interviewees told us that they felt ­intense guilt and shame about paying for sex.

"I'm not satisfied in my mind" was how one described his feelings after paying for sex. Another told me that he felt "disappointed -- what a waste of money," "lonely still," and "guilty about my relationship with my wife." In fact, many of the men were a mass of contradictions. Despite finding their experiences "unfulfilling, empty, terrible," they continued to visit prostitutes.

 

Call to legalize World Cup sex trade

I interviewed 12 of the men, and found it a fascinating experience. One told me about his experience of childhood cruelty and neglect and linked this to his inability to form close ­relationships with anyone, particularly women.

Alex admitted sex with ­prostitutes made him feel empty, but he had no idea how to get to know women "through the usual routes." When I asked him about his feelings ­towards the women he buys he said that, on the one hand, he wants ­prostitutes to get to know and like him. On the other hand, he is "not under ­delusions" that the encounters are anything like a real relationship. More

• READ: Research report on men who buy sex (PDF)
• COMMENTS (334)

• Inquiry fails to find single trafficker who forced anybody into prostitution
• Prostitution and trafficking – the anatomy of a moral panic
  
• Sex trafficking: we can learn from victim
  
• Sex trafficking: a futile war of statistics
• No trafficking? Well, there's a hell of a lot of women suffering
• Prostitution for fun and profit
• A bad bill for sex workers
• City bankers "regularly offer prostitutes to clients"
• Prostitution
• Social exclusion
• Women
• Teenager's painting of penis on parents' roof spotted in space 
• Tackling the trafficking myths
• Enough hand-wringing on prostitution
  
• More myths about students going on the game
  
• Belle de Jour, you're nothing like her
• The Girlfriend Experience invites us to rethink attitudes to prostitution
  
• Vile diminishing of Boy George's crime
  
• Tracy Quan: Male prostitution comes to Nevada

Should we tolerate GAYS? No (audio)

Wisdom Quarterly; Sonali Kohlhatkar (uprisingradio.org), S.N. Walters, Tolerance Trap 1

The Tolerance Trap

Texas Governor Rick Perry, speaking in San Francisco last week, likened being gay to being an alcoholic. “Whether or not you feel compelled to follow a particular lifestyle...” he said, “you have the ability to decide not to do that.”

“I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic,” he added, “but I have the desire not to do that. And I look at the homosexual issue the same way.” 

 

His controversial remarks come on the heels of the Texas Republican Party expressing its support for so-called “reparative therapy” for homosexuality -- a discredited counseling treatment to “cure” people of homosexuality.

• AUDIO: Segment with Suzanna Walters (entire show)
• David Feldman asks, "Is Rick Perry gay?" answers, yes
• VIDEO: There IS a cure for homosexuality! (Rated R)

What's Republican Perry doing with that pig in his mouth, cannibalism, swallowing? (DFS)

 

We're here, please tolerate us

The progressive response to the idea that homosexuality is a choice is the assertion that people who are gay are born that way, perhaps with a gene that makes them prefer people of their own sex, or in Judeo-Christian terms, “God made them that way.”

Westboro Baptist vs. US Army

Northeastern University Sociology Professor Suzanna Walters has a problem with this approach. She maintains that using the “born this way” approach to gay liberation reduces the LGBT movement to one that will be happy with “tolerance” or “acceptance” by mainstream American society.

 

Gays are evil! God hates them! (Westboro)

But is tolerance something worth fighting for? In asking to be tolerated, aren’t gay rights advocates simply asking society to tolerate the LGBT community like one tolerates anything that is uncomfortable or undesirable?

What does Buddhism say?

In her ground breaking book The Tolerance Trap: How God, Genes, and Good Intentions Are Sabotaging Gay Equality, Walters demands liberation over acceptance and warns against declaring victory for gay rights too soon.

Analyzing pop culture’s depictions of gay characters, the marriage equality movement, scientific research into homosexuality, and religious approaches, she makes the case that nothing less than full equality and a societal transformation is worth fighting for. More

GUEST: Prof. Walters is Director of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, author of All the Rage: The Story of Gay Visibility in America.

Bob/David explain Overcome, a Christian Center for Reparative Therapy

College: "affirmative sexual consent" (audio)

CC Liu, Seven, Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly; AirTalk (scpr.org, May 30, 2014); Savannah Badalich (Huffington Post), Michael Slate Show (KPFK.org), Sunsara Taylor

Two weeks into my 2nd year at UCLA, I was sexually assaulted by a friend and fellow Bruin during a student government retreat. I was a director within the group... More

Huffington Post? It was sold to a conglomerate (Tom Tomorrow/thismodernworld.org)

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FEMEN says no to patriarchy and sexism

The California Senate passed a bill Thursday, which requires colleges to incorporate an "affirmative consent standard" when investigating sexual assault [from rape to harassment] complaints.

 

It's an outrage! Not in my India! (AJ)

State lawmakers say college campuses need a cultural change to prevent sexual assaults. Senators Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) and Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) -- co-authors of SB 967 -- say sexual relations between students should not leave room for ambiguity.

 

Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-LA (AP)

We know that "No means no [and only yes means yes]," but is there more than one way to give consent to sex? Is this bill primarily about spurring a new attitude toward sex for college students? How would complainants prove they never said yes, and vice versa? LISTEN (17:09)

Guests: Kevin de Leόn, (D-Los Angeles) California Senator who co-authored SB 967 and Mark Hathaway, private defense attorney in LA, whose practice includes students and others accused of sexual misconduct.

• India: three brothers confess to gang-rape, murder of teens
• India's Fuedal Rapists [and the Shakya caste] (NY Times)
• Amana Fontanella-Khan “Pink Sari Revolution”
• Tell me how you drink your coffee, so I can tell you who you are (Food for Thoughts)
   

From burning bras to hot... (Int'l Women's Day)

Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; SCPR.org; KPFK.org

Feminists marching braless in bullet proof vests (Wisdom Quarterly/femen.org/en)

If I burn it, it's not that I'm nostalgic (#NotYourMothersFemisim); I just overdid the surgery.

From Burning Bras to Hot Debate: Is feminism doing right by women today?

Women Under [Early] Buddhism (GR)

(KPCC) Who qualifies as "feminist" nowadays? The days of bra burning may be gone, but there’s still plenty of fire around feminism now. 

 

Take the unretouched Lena Dunham and body-less Mindy Kaling fashion mag covers: Were they beautiful or boo-worthy? Or Beyoncé, a pop star so beloved by men and women alike that she's called "Queen Be": Is she all about Woman Power or just a powerful brand?

 

Even First Ladies can’t escape the heat, applied equally to matters grand and, very often, small: Are Michelle Obama’s arms and Hillary Clinton’s sags and Twitter tag praiseworthy, problematic, or something else altogether?

 

Not in my police state you don't, missy!

Heated debate over these questions plays out all over media. This isn't necessarily bad if it's leading to more conversations and awareness. But the flip side is that too many different voices make solidarity impossible and could hurt (or even doom) “the movement.”  In 2014, is there even a movement anymore? 

 

If yes, what is it now? If there’s no single, unified feminism, should there be one? Who qualifies to be feminist at all?

 

Do we take feminism for granted?

On Thursday, March 27, 2014, join Wisdom Quarterly at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum for some lively talk about pop culture, politics, and doing/being women “right.” There will be an audio-visual show of items with the most recent media buzz. Panelists will give their insights, and audience Q&A is invited to dive into what’s going on with American feminism today. Moreover, how is it likely to play out in the future?

Men are a vital part

You're invited, Peter. Put away the toy.

Male allies, non-sexist men, enlightened guys, and precious children with a chance of being raised beyond patriarchy are vital to the world movement for gender equality. If women hate men, stay home; it only harms the cause. We are ALL upset with patriarchs, sexists, rapists, and brutes. Nowadays, most males can at least behave in a fair way. Let's make it the norm, the natural way of thinking, of feeling, of working together as one humanity. Come stand up for freedom, for sexual equality, and for fairness.

  

March 8th International Women's Day, Los Angeles: Rock, Rap, & Speakout versus Poverty, Prisons, & War -- 2:00 pm, MacArthur Park, Wilshire Bl. between Alvarado and Park View, LA 90057, Metro exit: Westlake/MacArthur Park (globalwomenstrike.net).

• To help plan March 8th events or to stay informed: (323) 276-9833 or la@allwomencount.net 

The new women of International Women's Day? (Wisdom Quarterly/dailyfiasco.com)

 

Is there a problem with feminism today?

On March 27, KPCC's Crawford Family Forum hosts a conversation on the precarious state of feminism today. Shape that event by sharing insights on the role feminism plays -- or fails to play -- in your life. Learn more about the event, RSVP free, or follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #notyourmothersfeminism. Everything you share will be read by journalists only [and their clandestine NSA minders], and responses are confidential unless journalists are told that they may publish them.

 

MODERATOR: Joanne Griffith: writer, journalist, host of weekly show "The Archives" on BBC Radio 5 Live - @globaljourno 

 

PANEL

USA (femen.ks@gmail.com)

Roxane Gay: writer, professor, contributor to Salon, Buzzfeed, New York Times Book Review; author of forthcoming Untamed State and Bad Feminist. - @rgay
Kristina Wong: internationally presented solo performer, writer, cultural commentator; shows include "Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "Going Green the Wong Way," "Wong Street Journal" (premiering in 2015). - @mskristinawong
Mona Ebrahim: multimedia professional, designer, writer; author of 101 Reasons Why I’m Glad I Wear Hijab

RISE until March 21, 2014

Lindsey Horvath: Vice President of Communication, NationBuilder; Former West Hollywood City Councilmember (2009-2011); women’s empowerment and anti-violence advocate - @LindseyPHorvath
Wendy Carrillo: journalist, POWER 106 FM "Knowledge is Power" host, politics and culture commentator - @wendycarrillo

• The Crawford Family Forum
• 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105
• Admission FREE, RSVP required
• Thursday night, March 27, 2014
• 6:30 pm door, 7:00 pm program

• Sexually aggressive in bars? It's not because he's drunk
• The position of women in Buddhism (BuddhaNet)
• Beyoncé album reignites feminism debate
• Event: Wonder Women! Untold Story of American Superheroines
• Is it brave or even beneficial for Lena Dunham to be nude on HBO's "Girls?"
• A lesson on what it means to be a feminist, from someone born after 1990 
• NEXT: Water crisis — Survival of the wettest (March 19) 
• Latino police awarded $3.5 mil in OC discrimination case
• When Hollywood Advocates ­- Should People Listen?

Int'l Women's Day L.A., downtown MacArthur Park (KPFK.org)

How to find love on OkCupid, Match (audio)

Ashley Wells, Amber Larson, Seth Auberon, CC Liu, Wisdom Quarterly; Caitlin Roper (Senior Ed., wired.com); "AirTalk" (SCPR.org, Can a few words turn us into successful online daters?)

What? We met online! It's like we've known each other for years. Miley is our role model!

   

Annoying Ugly Duckling transformed. Who?

Trying to look attractive on online dating profiles? Take up yoga or surfing.
 
According to WIRED’s analysis of “massive amounts of data” from popular dating sites OkCupid and Match.com, what people say in their profiles may play a role in how attractive other users find them to be. (Continued with audio below this simple How To).
 
How To Score Dates on Match.com
Agatha Thornbush, Guest Contributor

10. Tell them right up front: "NO DRAMA!!!"

First, set your standards high. Way high. It's like my firstborn's father used to say, "Aim for the stars to hit the moon." Second, be firm. Stand your ground. Don't let anybody cross your boundaries. Three, set boundaries. You've got to tell him/her right on the first date. I didn't pay Match.com good money to date a scrub. Fourth, go light on the pictures. God knows, if they're really interested, they'll wait. Whose going to want to buy Coca-Cola in cans when he/she can get Pepsi in plastic? Think. D'uh. Fifth, don't wear your heart on your shoulder. But a chip is OK. Six, make sure there grammer is impecable. 

Think his dialing finger broke?

Six, don't ask about money or a job. But keep an eye on their shoes and where they take you. That'll tell you ALL you need to know. I'm out to protect myself. Seven, make your expectations known right up front. Speak your mind; don't edit. Do you have time to waste? Because I don't have time to waste! If you don't want commitment, marriage, a house, kids, and all of it on my internal-clock's schedule, why are you wasting my time? Eighth, read The Secret and Law of Attraction, and Cosmo, and let the man chase. There are plenty of fish in the sea. What makes you think you're so special? The same probably holds true for thespians. Ninth, find me on Match, J Date, Christian Singles, Buddhist Singles, Agnostic Singles, or Catpeople for Catpeople, and let me know how it goes. Remember, "My package, my rules!" It's a lot of steps, but here they are all summarized in this short instructional video:

WARNING: Corporate situations, sexual references, language, Riff Raff!

 

In the good old days, no one had sex. Wink

A hard look at the 1,000 most popular words on the site and how attractive the people who use them are rated shows that the “hottest” men talk about oceans, breakfast, and live music.
 
The women mention fitness, Radiohead, and fashion. Attractive people of both genders overwhelmingly mention yoga, surfing, and London [associated with well heeled travel or the London Olympics?]
 
Another common theme for the most attractive online daters is some breaking of gender norms: Women interested in technology and men who mention crafting are rated very attractive.
 

That's? No way! Yes way. (DailyMail.co.uk)

Are we a culture of "Karma Police" listening, yoga enjoying, Anglophiles?
 
Is the dating pool on sites like OkCupid and Match self-selecting? Does online attractiveness translate to in-person chemistry?

• LISTEN NOW: AUDIO (19:29)

• "Peaceful" publication scandalizes celebrity by calling her a f*gl* llama-faced @$$&!#
• Ready or not, Winter Olympics competitions kick off in Sochi, Russia
• Resurgence of long-form journalism - quantity vs quality

Maybe whom we meet is due to our "Karma Police" - Ashley
 

The Agatha System worked!! Wait, these are just pics of pen*ses. WT*? (F.J. Brown)

Iceland: 100% increase in police killings (video)

Amber Larson and Seven, Wisdom Quarterly; TheWorld (BBC+PRI); Euronews

WARNING: Girl fight with senseless violence as Bjork attacks female reporter in Thailand!

I'll kill you, fart-chicken!

The world's most famous Icelander, the angelic singer Bjork, goes ape sh-t in once peaceful Buddhist Thailand -- violently attacking a reporter at Bangkok Airport. Why? Iceland is deep, a green Scandinavian wonderland, but wild. (Unlike Greenland, which is full of ice). Bjork sings, "I am a fountain of blood in the shape of a girl." That, or she was on something. It's like her song in the movie "Sucker Punch" -- full of girls fighting to Bjork's "Army of Me." She wasn't kidding.

"Babydoll" fights everyone in her way to Bjork's "Army of Me"

Police killing is first in country's history

(EuroNews) A gunman has [been killed] after a shootout with police in the Icelandic suburb of Reykjavík on Monday morning, reportedly becoming the first person in Iceland to be killed by a bullet shot by a police officer, who do not carry guns.... Police returned fire. According to eyewitnesses, some sort of smoke bomb was thrown into the apartment... Armed police entered the man's apartment at around 06:00 am and [shot] him. More

• Iceland's FIRST fatal police shooting (TIME.com)
• Why is violent crime so rare in Iceland? 
• Iceland bans striptease shows Iceland is struggling with a severe economic crisis, but it has another pressing matter to deal with: striptease!
• N/S European divide: Iceland top for gender equality
• WikiLeaks claims Iceland court victory over donations
• NATO condemns Ukraine crackdown
• Caught in a Bad Romance: RU vs. EU for Ukraine 
• So, how long have you been harassing women?
• 1984: Do English accept government surveillance?
• Mexico: Catholic bishop takes on K.T. drug cartel 
• 100s of millions of Chinese resist speaking same language
• End of Latin American COFFEE unless banker, shops... 
• New Ms. Marvel — a female, Muslim, Pakistani superhero
• VIDEO: Google makes people cry across India, Pakistan
• Irish police colluded in IRA murders!
• VIDEO: Man survives three days trapped under sea

The One True Yoga

If you're looking for the one true yoga, you're out of luck (TheWorld.org).