This is a DGR posting (DGR-Sam Krop), yet another that I really appreciate because they do not shy away from connecting different expressions of oppression and violence with the violence against the environment. I have personally believed that the culture of misogyny is the culture of environmental destruction; as is the culture of white supremacy.
The article, by Sam Krop, has thoughtful analysis, with references to Andrea Dworkin’s work about the Marquis de Sade’s influence in how normalized sexual violence is today. Typically, I’ve found that it’s acceptable to criticize “the media” for hypnotizing and manipulating people into believing and accepting that which should be questioned. One obvious example is the recent media lynch-mob on the trail of Edward Snowden– here’s a refreshing, albeit small article about what the media is doing to that guy: Snowden-Media-Govt. But when that criticism is about sexuality and violence, the issue of “freedom” becomes the focus. And women consenting to participate in sexually violent portrayals trumps any meaningful critique of the power of pornographic media to normalize violence.
In mass media, things get dumb-down, so we usually end up with crippled conversations in the press about really important things. For instance, discussions about race and racism focus on behavioral things, like whether or not Paula Deen used the “N” word, etc., not about institutionalized white supremacy and how anyone willing to maintain the system’s rules can access power, even people of color (eg., African-American president, attorney general, UN ambassador), although to a lesser extent. In the dialogue about a woman’s right to choose versus pro-life, the discussion rarely addresses gender violence, oppression, misogyny, etc., it stays focused on Christian values.
These are such important issues, and all forms of normalized oppression should be critiqued over and over and over again.