Jules

One thing the recent sexism discussion made clear to me: many people, when asked whether they witnessed sexism, talk about isolated sexist *remarks* they witnessed or didn't witness: catcalling, fuckability scoring, demeaning commentary about body weight.

But sexism is *structural*, and witnessing sexism also means witnessing mansplaining, almost exclusively male engineering classes or upper management ranks, gendered clothing and toys for toddlers, parenting advice for "moms", and much more.

This* article by @adapalmer@wandering.shop is really neat and illustrates something I've thought for a while: the reading protocols for SFF and history are quite similar!

My favorite quote: "A struggling space colony may be saved by rugged space marines, dutiful hereditary lords, the teamwork of the crew, or one special little boy; each option makes a claim about where human power lies, while having the space colony perish despite all efforts makes a claim about human powerlessness."

*https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/non-fiction/why-all-science-fiction-and-fantasy-writers-are-historians/

I wrenched my knee somehow and it still hurts. Given that my average daily walking distance is at least something like 10 km, that is not good 😑

Today's hopeful thing:

- "The Bookstore Hope" by @WeirdWriter@caneandable.social: https://sightlessscribbles.com/posts/the-bookstore-hope/

The fight is tiring, but worth it; and if we need to rest, others will take over.

(The community and love is great, but I have to admit I also am SO here for an epic nerdy takedown 😍)

#HopefulThings

I finally watched this* clip which has been going around, a beautiful duet with a past self. It's lovely.

But man does it give me complicated gender expression feelings. I can't really express them yet but they're definitely there.

#AgenderFeels

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojSmc7s1rgU

Today's hopeful thing:

- strangers being helpful in little ways, just making each other's lives easier: making a grumpy baby laugh, pointing out the correct bus stop, putting on a respirator.

#HopefulThings

When people started to celebrate Christmas in December, that was a quiet time.

Most people worked in agriculture, and the agricultural year was over by then: all crops brought in, all fields prepared, trees cut, livestock that couldn't be brought through the winter slaughtered.

People relied on daylight for many crafts, and the days were short, which meant a time of rest for them too. No construction work, no military campaigns, very little travel.

(1/n)