‘Hi, We’re Lesbian Feminists and We’re Here to Talk to Your Daughter About Sex’

Posted on | August 10, 2014 | 141 Comments

Carmen Rios (@c_rios) is a “raging lesbian feminist” who is (a) communications coordinator for the Feminist Majority Foundation, and (b) a columnist for the lesbian blog Autostraddle.

On her Twitter account, Rios calls herself the “Tweeter-in-Chief” for the Feminist Majority Foundation’s account @Majority Speaks, which means Rios was responsible for this message:

That message linked a blog post at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s blog, which cites a study that claims: “Children should begin receiving formal education about sexual health as early as age 10” because “sexuality and gender identity begin emerging between the ages of 10 and 14.” It’s important to reach kids while they are “still malleable,” the researchers said:

“If programs, based on the healthy adolescent framework, rooted in human rights and gender equity, are implemented at a time when adolescents are still malleable and relatively free of sexual and reproductive health problems and gender role bias, very young adolescents can be guided safely through this life stage, supported by their parents, families and communities.”

Hmmm. They want to target these programs, based on “gender equity,” at kids who “are still malleable and relatively free of . . . gender role bias.” What do you think those terms “gender equity” and “gender role bias” mean? And why are Carmen Rios and the Feminist Majority Foundation so excited about this? If you were a suspicious type of person, you might wonder about such things.

People sometimes ask me, “Stacy, where do you find this crazy stuff?” In this case, I was looking for some information about university Women’s Studies programs and — thank you, Carmen Rios! — encountered a very interesting Autostraddle article:

Rebel Girls: The Illustrated (And Quite
Condensed) History of Women’s Studies

Among other things, Ms. Rios reported in that article:

Ms. magazine found that over 900 programs in the women’s studies field were functioning in the US in 2009. That meant 10,000 courses teaching over 90,000 students at 700 colleges and universities across the nation were fueling critical thought on gender, class, race and sexuality. That included 31 Master’s programs and 13 Ph.D. programs across the country and the world.

This was the information I was looking for — data on the number of Women’s Studies programs and their enrollment — and it is further helpful to know that (a) Ms. magazine is published by the Feminist Majority Foundation, and (b) this research about Women’s Studies was done “with generous support from the Ford Foundation.” However, Carmen Rios’ article at Autrostraddle did not merely chronicle the history and provide statistical data about Women’s Studies. She included this bit of colorful commentary:

In the early 2000s, academics across the discipline grappled with a title for their field. . . .
Is it Gender Studies? Women’s Studies? Women’s And Gender Studies? Sexuality Studies? Gender and Sexuality Studies? LGBT Studies? Queer Studies? Feminist Studies? . . .
Coursework in a women’s studies class today might cover issues of race, sexuality, gender expression and identity, sexualization and socialization of women, global women’s rights and various international diaspora, history, art or peace. Women’s Studies remains an interdisciplinary field, making its name all the more difficult to decide on. Is it Women’s History and Theory, or is the program really Lesbo Recruitment 101?

She said that, not me, although it is helpful to have — from the communications coordinator of the Feminist Majority Foundation, no less — such a frank admission of the not-so-hidden agenda in Women’s Studies as it is generally taught on American college campuses. And obviously, “the personal is the political” for Carmen Rios:

Women’s Studies Saved My Life, And
I Want It To Change Yours, Too
I think women’s studies saved my life, but I don’t know what that means. Maybe that I’m not good at anything else – that I failed at being normal, that I failed at falling into line, that I failed at being everyone else, that I’ll never talk to God. . . .

(This is another possible definition of “feminist” — a woman who has “failed at being normal.”)

When I was 17, I took my first women’s studies class. I was still in high school, but I had elected to take courses at the local community college. . . .

(Got to reach ’em early, you see.)

The woman at the helm of this experience was named Bonnie. “I try to remain impartial about most things,” she told us, “except for two: Ronald Reagan and Phyllis Schafly.”
That was when everything changed. . . .

(Not that there’s any political agenda involved, you see.)

I was raised a feminist — albeit one who, before this class, knew almost nothing of my foremothers or the movement I would come to call home. . . .
Then one day, I was 17, and Hillary Clinton was running for President, and every day I would eat yogurt with granola at the café in the student center and swing my legs while I read from our textbooks for my course. I started to realize how connected I was to something so much larger than myself, and how important it was for me to recognize that, to own it, to live it. . . . This one course had shifted my core. It had shattered my entire understanding of the world. . . .
For me, the rest is herstory: I graduated high school, became a women’s studies major and a raging lesbian feminist in college, and moved into the non-profit sector. I went into that movement and never came back out — and now, I do my best in my professional life to bring it to everyone else.

How many times do I have to repeat it? Feminism is a journey to lesbianism. Women’s Studies is a vehicle for that journey, as Carmen Rios is honest enough to admit. It’s interesting to see how prominent she was as a student at American University in 2011:

You’ve definitely heard her name around campus or at least seen her and her hard-to-miss hairdo crossing the quad on a mission. Frankly, if you haven’t, you don’t even go here. Carmen Rios, current director of Women’s Initiative (WI) is a staple on American University’s campus. She’s got wild hair and a feisty attitude to match. . . .
Carmen was a big part of Slut Walk DC back in the summer [of 2011] and even spoke at the event! Because she came to DC, she was able to nail awesome internships like Holla Back DC!, a grassroots organization aimed at ending sexual harassment and assault in DC. As well as the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, which conducts research geared toward the needs of women to promote public dialog, and the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), which promotes women’s equality and empowerment. . . .
Keep an eye out for some study breaks and big events this spring from Women’s Initiative! They’ll be hosting The Vagina Monologues, celebrating Women’s History Month in March, and, of course, Take Back the Night will take place in April again.

You can read the whole thing, but there are two words you won’t find in that feature profile: “gay” or “lesbian.” Why would this campus publication omit these terms from an article about the student director of American University’s Women’s Initiative, when she herself identified as a “raging lesbian”? Never mind. The more relevant point is her involvement with events like Slut Walk DC and “Take Back the Night,” both of which are about rape. Campus activism about rape provides a means of disseminating the core message of feminist ideology, i.e., that men are evil and dangerous and that male sexuality is inherently violent and oppressive to women. She won an award for this:

Carmen Rios, current Director of Women’s Initiative, was the co-recipient of the Feminist Research Award for her efforts to end sexual violence on college campuses. Rios says, “the topic of sexual violence is consistently relevant to college-aged women, since one out of every four undergraduate women will experience sexual assault.”

This “one out of every four” claim is a phony statistic lacking empirical support. But who needs facts when you’ve got an ideology?

As anti-rape strategies go, becoming a “raging lesbian feminist in college” could arguably be effective, which may be why lesbian feminists so frequently lament that their numbers are so few. According to a Huffington Post survey last year, only 18 percent of women identify themselves as feminists, and only 5 percent call themselves “strong” feminists. By a 32-29 margin, a larger percentage of women consider “feminist” a negative term than a positive term. And despite decades of gay activism, about 98 percent of women are heterosexual, according to government research.

Fanatical ideologues are not easily deterred, however. If decades of campus activism aimed at turning college girls into man-haters — Women’s Studies as “Lesbo Recruitment 101,” as Ms. Rios calls it — have so far failed to have the intended effect, then obviously they need to reach girls at an earlier age. There might be some parental resistance, of course, if these radicals were honest, showing up at your local elementary school and declaring: “Hi, we’re lesbian feminists and we’re here to talk to your daughter about sex.”

Instead, the American Association of University Women has started advocating to implement “gender studies” programs in public high schools, and the Feminist Majority Foundation is enthusiastic about the prospect of teaching 10-year-olds about “sexuality and gender identity” with a focus on “gender equity” while girls “are still malleable and relatively free of . . . gender role bias.” Now, if only they can do something to stop all those heteronormative Disney cartoons . . .

THE ‘SEX TROUBLE’ SERIES:

Category: Education, Feminism, Gays, Sex Trouble

Comments

141 Responses to “‘Hi, We’re Lesbian Feminists and We’re Here to Talk to Your Daughter About Sex’”

Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:25 pm

We don’t have to approve your mental illness.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:26 pm

That is because homosexuality is a mental illness. Suicide is common among the mentally ill. They run away from home for the same reason, and because other crazy people endorse their mental illness and claim that they are not mentally ill.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:27 pm

Wrong, the the crazy lesbian herself said she was recruited and is acting to recruit. Stupid is a stupid does.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:27 pm

Wrong, the the crazy lesbian herself said she was recruited and is acting to recruit. Stupid is a stupid does.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:29 pm

Are you denying you are a communist? I am an expert because I read crazy mentally ill writers like you.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:29 pm

Are you denying you are a communist? I am an expert because I read crazy mentally ill writers like you.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:29 pm

Fascists at least love their country, crazy homosexual communists don’t.
Federale
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:29 pm

Fascists at least love their country, crazy homosexual communists don’t.
Mike G.
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:34 pm

A hair do with a lot of upkeep.

Step one…stick wet finger in light socket.

Step two…repeat step one.

Step three…stick head into microwave and heat on high for 20 seconds, turn head on other side, then heat on high for another 20 seconds.

Step four…Put on recording of high voltage punk rock and furiously shake head up and down until head aches.
sarah wells
August 10th, 2014 @ 3:37 pm

I’m not so sure grooming is part of their agenda.

http://www.yourmonkeymind.com/Images/famous/tv/debbie.jpg
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 10th, 2014 @ 4:04 pm

Maybe it is DeBlasio’s son! Separated by Birth! http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/dante-525×350.jpg
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 4:06 pm

Pure garbage Homosexuals have become a protected group who are given free reign to bully and harass with impunity.
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 4:15 pm

Actually homosexual youth are NOT killing themselves in higher numbers just another LIE the homo-fascists repeat.

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles/LabarberaSuicideMyth.php

high risk of psychological disorders and suicide in LGBT persons regardless of social stigma or lack thereof

http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx…
NeoWayland
August 10th, 2014 @ 4:49 pm

“…most parents do not want their kids indoctrinated with strangers BS…”

Then why send them to public schools?

And yes, I think society would be better with no public schools. There are too many people trying to control what is taught.
Daniel O'Brien
August 10th, 2014 @ 4:55 pm

You could get a PhD in Women’s Studies, McCain!
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 5:19 pm

Hater
concern00
August 10th, 2014 @ 5:24 pm

So, by their own admission, lesbians are clearly not ‘born that way.’ Their male counterparts would do well to get with the program and to at least come out honestly in regards to their recruitment program.
robertstacymccain
August 10th, 2014 @ 5:24 pm

By the time I graduated college, I was already a renowned expert in studying women.
TroubleAtTheMine
August 10th, 2014 @ 5:26 pm

Well, not really. The Nazis never accused Jews of trying to turn other people Jewish. That wouldn’t have made any sense. But good Godwin, I guess.

In fact lesbian feminists are quite blatant about recruiting, they have been for 30 years, since I was in college. My lesbian separatist TA wasn’t secretive about it. They feel entirely morally justified, so why should they be secretive?
maniakmedic
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:37 pm

Hey, you can’t take their own words and use them to prove your point! That’s bigoted or racist or something. You and Stacy both need to report immediately to the re-education camp commandant immediately and denounce yourselves! Self flagellation is not required but highly encouraged.
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:38 pm

Being for homosexual rights does not make me a communist, and you’re projecting about mental illness. You’re one of the most mentally ill people I’ve come across online.
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:40 pm

No, I’m neither. I’m a libertarian. you are a fascist dog, and tyrannical scumbag.
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:41 pm

Youre a fascist animal, and have no love of country or humanity. I’m a patriot, shitball.
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:45 pm

anything out of your mouth is immediately invalidated. Your prejudice has driven you to full blown mental illness. You catch shit from gay people because you’re an intolerant psycho shitbag.
Käthe
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:54 pm

When you change the definition of “bullying” to mean “being picked on for being gay” then yeah of course they are “bullied” more. Given that the “anti-bullying” programs are all hyperfocused on sexuality, that seems to be exactly the sleight of hand at play, here.
Guest
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:56 pm

This may only be semi-on topic but I thought ya’ll might appreciate it. 🙂
rustypaladin
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:57 pm

This may only be semi on topic but I though ya’ll might appreciate it 🙂
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 6:58 pm

Nazis persecuted, jailed , and murdered homosexuals. The analogy is that they accused Jews of infecting society, and helping to bring it down, much the way you’re accusing homosexuals. Look, bottom line is conservatives are always wrong.
SoItGoes
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:00 pm

No, it’s just a tragedy that people waste their energy hating people for not being like them, idiot. Get a life.
Mike G.
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:04 pm

I sure hope you don’t kiss your Momma with that mouth.
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:17 pm

LOL That is some pretty impressive projecting you have going on. You have just proven my point; the only thing we see here is how enraged you degenerates get when confronted with someone brave enough to tell the truth #fail
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:33 pm

Ah yet the “HATE FACT” that homosexuality is a mental disorder
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:38 pm

Once again the lie; Nazism is the child of butch homosexuals. It was the girly men that were jailed. An quite frankly they NEVER suffered like the Jews
And we all know that progressives have no problem eating own their own if it suits their purposes.
trangbang68
August 10th, 2014 @ 7:57 pm

What’s the picture in the dictionary next to “autostraddle”
trangbang68
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:00 pm

Quit trying to turn confused youth into little phags and maybe they won’t be tormented
trangbang68
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:01 pm

anal fixation there Pervo?
trangbang68
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:02 pm

Ooh a lavender commie!
Julie Pascal
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:05 pm

Most people aren’t “normal” and don’t “fit in”… all of us square pegs and round holes…

The difference is that not fitting in doesn’t matter if you’re not a compulsive conformist. If you’re a compulsive conformist you must have something to conform TO or what will you do?

When I was small my mom had the verse “Conform not unto the world but be transformed…. etc.” up above the kitchen table. In addition to a warning that as a Christian one wasn’t supposed to try too hard to fit in, it presented not fitting in as a normal condition in general.

That takes a lot of pressure off.

I’ve often thought that so much of this current… fad/trend/situation… is all about building more boxes, more exact and refined, so that everyone is supposed to find the one that defines them and then get inside. What happened to doing away with boxes? I can see that I don’t fit “feminine” in some ways, that I’m me and not quite like anyone else, and it’s never so much as occurred to me that this is a problem.

When I read about someone being so very happy to finally find a perfectly fitted straight-jacket, it just makes me sad.
trangbang68
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:07 pm

Ernst Roehm was a homosexual and Hitler was a sexual degenerate also.
maniakmedic
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:10 pm

Then I guess your life is one big tragedy. Bummer for you!
maniakmedic
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:13 pm

I’m so glad solty here seems to be able to read my mind and tell me I hate people. And here I thought I was just disagreeing with them. Who knew disagreement=hate?
Julie Pascal
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:19 pm

Speaking of the current tolerant environment… why doesn’t that work better do you think? Gay youth lived in fear… or at least in the closet. Now they’re told that public acceptance solves all problems, so they’re publicly accepted and *still* completely messed up. Why?

I’d like to suggest this…

It’s normal for young people to be confused and upset by the changes associated with puberty and new thoughts, often very inappropriate thoughts, about sex. They don’t know how their bodies work. They don’t know what they like. They don’t know what *isn’t* at all important and what is.

And a bunch of do-gooders patting themselves on the back for their stratospheric tolerance and understanding show up and demand that they actually do know what they feel and why and if they have a same-gender-sex-thought at the age of 12, or “get off” on same-sex visuals that “you’re gay or you’re not – period”… because they are a raging ball of freaked out hormones…

Now they’re gay. Because you *are* or you are *not*.

Every feeling, every thought, is DEATHLY important. Also, they are not encouraged to suppress any sexual thoughts, because suppression is oppression and that is BAAAAAAD… so they don’t even get a few years to figure it out.

And somehow… even with support systems and school services and publicity and a whole bunch of people encouraging them… they’re still dreadfully unhappy, depressed, and at risk of violence and suicide.

Ever stop to think just ONCE that maybe you’re not helping?
K-Bob
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:31 pm

Stacy, I hope you take a canary with you whenever you descend into the mine.
K-Bob
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:34 pm

Yes, you are definitely a patriot shitball.

I hope all your fellow patriots in shitball-istan appreciate your shitballish representation here today.
K-Bob
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:36 pm

Looks like that schmellfardt guy is back again.
maniakmedic
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:45 pm

Oh look everyone, it’s a member of the Batshit Insane Ron Paul Brigade. It’s always nice to be reminded by intolerant libertarians why I left libertarianism behind. Talk about your shitty treehouse clubs. Even liberals are more forgiving of dissent.
Jeanette Victoria
August 10th, 2014 @ 8:59 pm

Hitler Youth was a supermarket for degenerates; which apparently SoItGoes is fine with.
concern00
August 10th, 2014 @ 9:06 pm

I thought the homosexuals were the ones catching shit.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 10th, 2014 @ 9:17 pm

Do you actually believe that crap?
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 10th, 2014 @ 9:19 pm

Most of that can be explained by being leftists (the suicide, runway stuff at least).