this video was posted on feministing and it really made me think. you can say what you want about not having the time to talk to strangers on the street, the interviewer being an attractive woman so straight guys want to talk to her, guys just want to be on teevee, etc. but i think that's beside the point.
especially when after having a conversation with my roommate about how maybe the women just didn't want to be on teevee but secretly had opinions, i realized that SHE refuses to ever discuss her political opinions (even with her friends!).
i've definitely got better at expressing myself as i've grown up, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded to speak up. so that's why i'm posting this. as a reminder to myself and maybe you. fight the patriarchy!
I don't usually discuss them for a number of reasons:
1. in my opinion, people tend to get too angry when talking about politics. i don't get angry very often unless someone is taking my spot in scrabble or being calvrett. it makes me uncomfortable when people get angry.
2. sometimes i just don't have an opinion because i haven't previously thought about the issue in question. my brain likes to take its sweet old time when thinking, so i don't like being put on the spot. i think that's why i don't like using the phone but do like using the email.
3. i don't think people tend to change their opinions very often, at least not those who like to argue. why argue your point unless you think it's right? i tend to think my friends are pretty smart and have probably come to their own conclusions after having considered all sides of the argument. therefore i probably won't say anything they didn't already think of and it'd be hard to try to sway them. although if i hear something that i think is particularly surprising or stupid, i'll generally say something.
4. there are so many other people around here that argument-lovers can argue with. what's the difference if i say my opinion or not? unless someone just really wants to hear my opinion for some reason.. i'll still get to hear everyone else's opinions if i'm in the room, and may or may not change my mind with the same probability as if i were actually speaking up. that's why people argue about stuff anyway; to get others to think what they do, right?
ok i think that's it.
but all that being said, i do think speaking up is good if you notice something that's messed up. especially if speaking up might actually accomplish something.
love you, lauren <3<3<3<3<3