If Women Are Actually "Empowered," How Come They Freak Out About Shaking A Man's Hand?
Toni Airaksinen writes at RedAlertPolitics about a Barnard student who's upset that she -- horrors! -- has to shake a man's hand at graduation:
Joelle Milman is a senior at Barnard College of Columbia University, a women's college that prides itself on female empowerment -- and she is not happy she has to shake a man's hand during her graduation ceremony.
Let's try that on for size with some other options: She's upset that she has to shake -- a black person's hand. A Jew's hand. A woman's hand.
Oopsy, huh?
This is the sign of a segment of society that's gone sick -- in not only thinking this but going very public with this thinking, with a piece in Columbia's student newspaper, titled "Bold, Beautiful, Bitter."
You're a woman, graduating from a top school in 2017, with access to birth control, clean water, and so many other things we now take for granted. Yet, you must snivel instead of being quietly -- or even loudly -- grateful for all of that and so much more.
We, as women -- women in the United States today -- are luckier and more privileged than women at any other time in history or in any other place.
And check out the reason the female president left -- to take what she surely saw as a greater opportunity; a step up. As Toni writes: "Barnard College's President Debora Spar ... resigned last fall to become the new president of Lincoln Center."
Since President Spar resigned, the position of the school's interim president has been given to Rob Goldberg, formerly the school's Chief Operating Officer.During graduation ceremonies, students traditionally shake hands with the president of the college. This year, unless there are any changes, that president will be Goldberg, and Milman will have to shake that man's hand.
Milman is not happy with that.
"I ask Barnard to uphold the same feminist standards that inspired me to apply here in the first place when it comes time to graduate. I'd like to shake a woman's hand on stage," she wrote.
Milman, who is studying English and creative writing, wrote that while she has "nothing personal" against him, "to state the obvious--he is a white male."
Many students at Barnard have issues with what is perceived to be the "lack of diversity" on campus. Many students, over the past few decades, have advocated for more students, faculty, and administrators of color.
When President Spar announced her resignation, some students even went so far as to demand that her replacement be a transgender woman of color.
So, now feminism is just out there baldfacedly demanding inequality and judging somebody by sex as opposed to by merit -- as the road to equality?
I'm confused.
Somebody please help.
It sounds a lot like she's afraid of patriarchy germs.
The 'coddled children' assessment gets more accurate by the day and they are well on their way to full infantilization.
Currently, they're back to early grade school. Soon they'll be be demanding their blankie, then a bottle, before making a triumphant ascent back into their mother's womb.
Too far? I never know.
Steven Williamson at January 28, 2017 12:53 AM
The college has been training its girls not to be wives or independent women, but to be sex slaves to black lesbians. The inability to work with (white) men means that can keep neither a job nor a husband.
Andrew Swallow at January 28, 2017 1:00 AM
That's a very old retort to this type of objection. And if you were to use it on her, or anyone else who has this type of objection, they wouldn't be the least bit fazed by it.
They've heard this many times and to them, it's no argument. It is perfectly fine, right and proper to hold double standards against men and/or whites.
Because... privilege. Mind you, they don't tell us what this privilege includes. I've asked many times and I never get an answer. I've asked, "What laws or policies exist that oppress you? Show me where they are, and we'll fight them together."
I've also tried asking, "Where on this earth do you think you can go where you would have it better?"
Crickets. I hear crickets.
Patrick at January 28, 2017 2:13 AM
Hey, Missy. It's not about you. Graduation is a celebration for all the other people who helped you, and all the other grads, along the way: parents, grandparents, mentors, friends, significant others (including, Gasp! husbands).
You don't want to do graduation? Then don't. Just have the college mail you your diploma. But, don't be a selfish, self-centered, immature ass for one day in your petty little life and piss on other people's joy. Stay home and wallow in your self-pity, and let everyone one else enjoy their celebrations.
Wfjag at January 28, 2017 4:06 AM
Wow. At my alma mater (in Canada), Bachelor's degree candidates are expected to shake the hand of the President and the Chancellor...who remain seated as the graduates pass by. The President and Chancellor only rise to shake the hands of (to greet as equals) those who are receiving their Doctorate. It is an honor one is receiving (being admitted to a learned society).
The impudence and entitlement of this Barnard student are astonishing to me.
Brad R at January 28, 2017 4:15 AM
Brad R, she would not understand your point. She's always been told she was valued etc. and so she thinks she's the equal of everyone on that stage.
Participation trophy ethics at work.
Bob in Texas at January 28, 2017 5:35 AM
So, how about he just wears a wig and some sz 13 heels and identifies as a woman that day? Problem solved!
I blame single mom's for this shit. Generations have been raised with no relationship with any man at all. They've fuck ed us.
Momof4 at January 28, 2017 5:58 AM
My fantasy is that all corporations in America keep a roster of the names of all students who engage in the craziness that is happening on campus these days. Faux rape, diversity outrage (Mizzou ), refusal to shake a white man's hand, etc. Then when job applicants come around, the corporations will know which one to hire or not.
Nick at January 28, 2017 6:24 AM
My fantasy is that all corporations in America keep a roster of the names of all students who engage in the craziness that is happening on campus these days.
They do. It's called "Google."
Brad R at January 28, 2017 6:26 AM
You know LW, it's all OK. Acting President Goldberg probably doesn't want to shake your hand either.
bkmale at January 28, 2017 7:23 AM
Wow, if she finds this demeaning, wait until she has to ask white men how they like their coffee all day long bc that is the only job a SWJ can get with a $150,000 degree from Barnard. That's really going to hurt.
Sheep Mom at January 28, 2017 7:56 AM
Sorry! It should say "SJW".
Sheep Mom at January 28, 2017 7:58 AM
And how many transgender women of color out there are qualified to run a university? Or do actual qualifications not matter anymore?
Wanting a woman instead of a qualified individual is how we ended up with an Attorney General who cooked people alive in Waco, and a Secretary of State who left an ambassador to die in Libya while letting the Russians listen in on her e-mail conversations.
When are we going to realize that overcoming the roadblocks thrown up by life are part of what tempers a person, giving them the temperament for the next level job? And if some of those roadblocks are a glass ceiling put there by people who insist that your kind cannot do the job, then overcome it.
When George Washington Carver showed up at Highland College in Kansas, after having been accepted by mail, the administrators saw a black youth and immediately dismissed him. His kind could not study there, they lack the temperament and scholastic skills, ya know.
He later went to what is now Iowa State University, where they were skittish about admitting a black youth, but took a chance. Four years later they were asking him to stay and pursue a Master's degree and after that, begging him to stay and teach.
He went on to become a world-renowned scientist, dining with presidents, kings, and queens. Even a die-hard anti-Semite like Henry Ford was proud to call him a friend, visiting him often and even paying for an elevator to be installed in his residence so the aged Carver wouldn't have to take the stairs.
And when Carver graduated (both times), he shook the hand of the white man who was handing out the diplomas. He didn't demand a black man, he shook the hand of the person who ran the university that was giving him an education.
Conan the Grammarian at January 28, 2017 8:11 AM
Conan:
On the other hand, not ruling out women automatically gave us Sandra Day O'Connor. Much to the consternation of dour-faced idiots like George Will.
Patrick at January 28, 2017 9:01 AM
Let's hope she ventures outside the bubble she's been raised in. At first it will seem topsy-turvy. But she's smart. Even if she lives in denial at what her lyin' eyes reveal to her, she can adjust.
Though in this case I would recommend a 10 year prohibition on any sort of work in governance.
Canvasback at January 28, 2017 9:18 AM
Milman, who is studying English and creative writing, wrote that while she has "nothing personal" against him, "to state the obvious--he is a white male."
Wonderful -- she's absorbed bigotry so thoroughly that it's no longer even a personal matter to her. Is Barnard College (which charges north of $48K for annual tuition, according to the school web site), actually proud of that?
Old RPM Daddy (OldRPMDaddy at GMail dot com) at January 28, 2017 9:25 AM
And how many transgender women of color out there are qualified to run a university?
Depends. Will they accept someone who is trans-color as well as trans-gender?
Let's hope she ventures outside the bubble she's been raised in.
Oh, come one, you know that's not going to happen. She's going to stay in NYC (or similar urban area) hang out with like-minded people, call themselves "urbane sophisticates" and look down their noses at all the "little people", and sip their wine with pinkies extended in the proper direction.
I R A Darth Aggie at January 28, 2017 9:26 AM
And, this is why I hesitate to call myself a feminist.
Daghain at January 28, 2017 9:40 AM
The problem is not that people today automatically rule out women, it's that they automatically rule them in. Being a woman is an actual qualification these days, a valid reason to overlook a lack of qualifications.
Fear of honestly evaluating a woman or person of color also gave us Elena Kagan and Sondra Sotamayor; and nominations like Harriet Miers.
Remember the "wise Latina woman?" Being a "Latina woman," no matter how wise, was a qualification, in her mind and in the minds of the Senators that voted to confirm her, for her to have a seat on the United States Supreme Court.
Remember Hillary? According to Obama, there was "nobody more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America." Why? What had she ever run before? Nothing. Her experience as Secretary of State was presented as a qualification, not anything she had accomplished while in the office. And, she was a woman, to be the first woman president was her qualification to hold the job.
Conan the Grammarian at January 28, 2017 10:13 AM
Bigotry is a constant. Only the justifications change.
Killer Marmot at January 28, 2017 10:45 AM
"to state the obvious--he is a white male."
The last demographic for which discrimination is allowed, nay, encouraged.
Steven Daniels at January 28, 2017 10:50 AM
More with the identity politics:
This author makes the argument that Bradley/Chelsea Manning was pardoned/commuted and Bowe Bergdahl was not because the transgendered Manning ticks an identity politics box whereas Bergdahl does not.
Commuting the sentence of the transgendered Manning burnishes Obama's lefty credentials, whereas commuting the sentence of Bergdahl does not.
Conan the Grammarian at January 28, 2017 11:08 AM
Her last bit of power before she embarks on her career as a batista and student loan debt slave.
David H at January 28, 2017 11:29 AM
My fantasy is that all corporations in America keep a roster of the names of all students who engage in the craziness that is happening on campus these days.
Those students wouldn't take a corporate job for ten million $ per annum.
dee nile at January 28, 2017 11:55 AM
Barista not batista
David HD at January 28, 2017 5:08 PM
If ever there was a woman who should simply marry a strong man and stay in the kitchen, it's this snowflake. If she cannot shake a man's hand at her own graduation, I have doubts that she will succeed anywhere else.
mpetrie98 at January 28, 2017 5:21 PM
"Bigotry is a constant. Only the justifications change."
Well-put.
PS I did get a little laugh out of barista/Batista. There is a rather big difference.
Amy Alkon at January 28, 2017 5:40 PM
Y'know—— Tenured, pillow-fluffed academics will always describe themselves and their budgets as the thundering heartbeat of civilization itself.
Whatever the lunatic delusions of this coddled little coed/fuckbot, her nose isn't lying to her when it tells her not to grasp that weaselman's fetid flipper.
Somewhere in her fevered soul she must recognize that her background has not provided her with —nor has she given herself— a vigorous, challenging investigation of the world, one demonstrating the enriching power of real struggle. (Or of masculinity.)
He didn't give her one, either. But he gets to keep the money.
Crid at January 28, 2017 6:15 PM
The girl is mentally ill, of course, but lots of women are freaked out when they shake my hand. They grab it tight and wildly pump it up and down, frightened that the experience might be too much like "holding hands" or something. I've been experiencing this for a long time.
Alan at January 28, 2017 6:25 PM
Her last bit of power before she embarks on her career as a batista and student loan debt slave. -David HD
Barista not batista -David HD
PS I did get a little laugh out of barista/Batista. There is a rather big difference. -Amy Alkon
It may have been a slip of the tounge (or rather keyboard), but lets be honest, all leftists want to be Batista
lujlp at January 28, 2017 7:36 PM
"This author makes the argument that Bradley/Chelsea Manning was pardoned/commuted and Bowe Bergdahl was not because the transgendered Manning ticks an identity politics box whereas Bergdahl does not."
Bergdal committed the cardinal sin of making Obama look stupid and uninformed.
He's been thrown to the wolves. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Isab at January 28, 2017 8:47 PM
"Milman, who is studying English and creative writing, wrote that while she has "nothing personal" against him, "to state the obvious--he is a white male.""
To state the blindingly obvious, snowflake, English is not only the undisputed cultural property of the white male, it was forced on the rest of the world by that white culture's relentless aggression. Start weeping. You've been bullied and didn't have the wit to notice.
Radwaste at January 29, 2017 2:31 AM
This level of fear of cooties is cause for hospitalization.
Just for observation, of course.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at January 29, 2017 3:44 PM
To riff on what Gog said, cootieism is apparently now a philosophy, and is what feminism is reduced to. "Outgroup! Ew, yuk! Creepy! All reasonable people agree with me, right?"
Cousin Dave at January 30, 2017 7:36 AM
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