When Feminism Goes Too Far - Climbing Article

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healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 19, 2017 - 11:43pm PT
I hear what you're saying about rock climbing being a contrived activity serving no real purpose for survival...

I would say it depends on the human. Probably for the majority of climbers it is an adopted and contrived form of entertainment. But there will always be a percentage of climbers who unstoppably climbed anything and everything starting as infants. My parents said I was a 'problem climber' well before walking and they had to constantly keep an eye on me. And that never stopped: trees, buildings - anything - throughout my childhood. From ages five to nine I would climb up and sit in tall pines for hours and had to be rescued more than once when I couldn't figure out how to get down.

And I was free soloing to take pictures of orchids in cliff pockets when some climbers 'found' me and introduced me to the more formal practice of roped climbing, but I was and would have continued climbing regardless.
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Jan 20, 2017 - 03:36am PT
fell off a chossy, mossy boulder move when I was 5ys old. that was good for some stitches.
Bad Climber

Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
Jan 20, 2017 - 07:00am PT
Nice post above, DMT.

From Cat's post:

"You could just as easily conclude that the publishers of epic tales are predominantly male."

Right you are, but do you really think--just as a numbers game--that there are as many female climbers as male doing the hardcore alpine epic style routes? Really? Not even close. More climbers, more epic tales.

I LOVE the fact that climbing is more egalitarian than other sports, and the influx of women has been astonishing. I do think that--at least with rock climbing--the best women will be as good as the best men. As far as hardcore alpinism, we'll see. Kitty Calhoun, Catherine Destivelle, Catherine Freer (RIP) are personal heroes.

And these days, as a middle-aged so-so climber, I EXPECT all the teenage girlz to kick my ass at the crag!

BAd
mouse from merced

Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
Jan 20, 2017 - 07:25am PT
femanism

babe = dude

Should be acceptable, IMO.

--Y. Nerz
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jan 20, 2017 - 07:32am PT






I was chasin' sun on 101
somewhere around Ventura
I lost a universal joint and I had to use my finger
This tall lady stopped and asked
If I had plans for dinner
Said no thanks ma'am, back home
we like the girls that sing soprano

Cause where I come from
It's cornbread and chicken
Where I come from a lotta front porch sittin'
Where I come from tryin' to make a livin'
And workin' hard to get to heaven
Where I come from
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 20, 2017 - 11:11am PT
One of the best aspects of climbing is how 'leveling' it is - there is no high end gear only the rich can afford which makes you a better climber. I like the fact no amount of money can buy your way up a route on lead - it's an ideal equalizer.

And now you can claim 'men' have an advantage over 'women', but any given motivated woman can completely smoke your ass. I personally just don't see or consider 'gender' as a gender or any other class doesn't tie into a rope, a solitary human does and - male or female, young or old - that's all I see, look at, and care about, the rest is irrelevant to me.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, California
Jan 20, 2017 - 11:22am PT
I like the fact no amount of money can buy your way up a route on lead - it's an ideal equalizer.

Yep.
mooch

Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
Jan 20, 2017 - 11:44am PT
Yury

Mountain climber
T.O.
Jan 20, 2017 - 12:06pm PT
healyje:

... any given motivated woman can completely smoke your ass. I personally just don't see or consider 'gender' as a gender or any other class doesn't tie into a rope, a solitary human does and - male or female, young or old - that's all I see, look at, and care about, the rest is irrelevant to me.
Using any qualifyer is very motivational.
However you can't ignore inherited genes and acquired skills (unless you are a motivational speaker).
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 20, 2017 - 01:01pm PT
Climbing in the olympics - couldn't suck more, the journey to the dark side is complete.
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jan 20, 2017 - 02:47pm PT
Plastic pulling? Utterly boring and would not watch it let alone attend.



Make the uniforms for all participating athletes board shorts.
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 20, 2017 - 06:17pm PT
Actually, women's fear of being enslaved is rooted in thousands of years of exactly that reality and that reality remains intact in much of today's world.

'Anti-feminist'? Just another ostrich and enabler.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jan 20, 2017 - 08:19pm PT
really?
Warbler, some of your points are their, I gave you the benefit of the doubt that you didn't actually believe in most of that definition...
...but then again, perhaps I misjudged you.

"The principle of coverture" is part of English common law, which basically extinguishes a woman's legal identity upon marriage.

In 1839 individual states started to enact laws which gave women back some of their legal identity,
see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Married_Women%27s_Property_Acts_in_the_United_States

This continued through the end of the 19th century, the last states to give married women legal status were Delaware, South Carolina and Virginia.

California was different, of course, and its 1849 constitution recognized the legal rights of married women.


hard to imagine, perhaps... it is a Schlaflyisc perversion to claim that women are happier when men are responsible for them, as the "definition" above seems to imply. The same arguments that Saudis make for their repressive laws regarding women.

The 14th Amendment gives all men the right to vote,
Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State.


and the Supremes in the 1872 case Minor v. Happersett found, unanimously, against expanding the interpretation of the 14th Amendment to include women.

It wasn't until 1920, the 19th Amendment, gave women the right to vote. That's not quite 100 years yet.




It should be noted that white men had "written the rules" and with no legal standing there wasn't much a woman could do.



drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 20, 2017 - 09:31pm PT
Here's one woman's response to the article in the OP.

http://heroes.climbfind.com/post/156131446237/one-climbers-opinion
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jan 21, 2017 - 03:09am PT
Hardcore Feminists want to impose their perspectives and standards on their fellow men and women,

Fixed it for you.

drljefe

climber
El Presidio San Augustin del Tucson
Jan 21, 2017 - 05:34am PT
Check the link I posted Warbs-
It's pretty interesting, about how "words matter".
healyje

Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 21, 2017 - 07:16am PT
Man, just digging that hole deeper and deeper.
Bullwinkle

Boulder climber
Jan 21, 2017 - 07:51am PT

Better Sex: Jade Eggs for Your Yoni

From Kegels and the Elvie to vaginal steaming and even laser treatments, we’re not shy here at goop about our interest in keeping our sexual/reproductive systems in optimal health. So when beauty guru/healer/inspiration/friend Shiva Rose started talking about jade eggs, we wanted to hear more.


SHIVA ROSE ROSE QUARTZ & JADE EGGS
goop, $55-66
The strictly guarded secret of Chinese royalty in antiquity—queens and concubines used them to stay in shape for emperors—jade eggs harness the power of energy work, crystal healing, and a Kegel-like physical practice. Fans say regular use increases chi, orgasms, vaginal muscle tone, hormonal balance, and feminine energy in general. Shiva Rose has been practicing with them for about seven years, and raves about the results; we tried them, too, and were so convinced we put them into the goop shop.

Jade eggs’ power to cleanse and clear make them ideal for detox; here, Shiva Rose answers all our questions and shares her jade egg tips for improving your sex life, your cycle, and your overall well-being.

A Q&A with Shiva Rose
Q

How did you learn first about jade eggs?

A

I learned about the jade egg through the yoga community that I was in, and I sort of went down the rabbit hole of researching the practice—there was not as much information about it then as there is now. But it made intuitive sense to me: The word for our womb, yoni, translates as “sacred place”, and it is a sacred place—it’s where many women access their intuition, their power, and their wisdom. It’s this inner sanctum that we can access when it’s not in use creating life. Sadly most people use it as a psychic trash bin, storing old or negative energy. I see it as a place to celebrate ourselves as sexual, powerful beings, or as mothers, not a place to carry negative or un-dealt-with emotions. I’ve always been into crystals, so learning about jade eggs (which are gems) has been a natural progression for me—this particular jade, nephrite jade, has incredible clearing, cleansing powers. It’s a dark, deep green and very heavy—it’s a great stone for taking away negativity.

Q

What are the benefits?

A

Jade eggs can help cultivate sexual energy, increase orgasm, balance the cycle, stimulate key reflexology around vaginal walls, tighten and tone, prevent uterine prolapse, increase control of the whole perineum and bladder, develop and clear chi pathways in the body, intensify feminine energy, and invigorate our life force. To name a few!

The jade creates kidney strength—it’s known as jing in Chinese energy, and it’s all about sexual potency, and even beauty—if your hormones are balanced, your skin will look better. It’s a holistic combination of things, where one benefit builds to another. Jade also takes away negativity and cleanses—it’s a very heavy material, very powerful.

Q

What about the tradition, history, and story of it resonated with you?

A

My imagination goes a little nuts, imagining these concubines in ancient Chinese temples, secretly running the country through the jade eggs! It’s funny, that the eggs started as a way to please the emperors and they turned out to be so empowering for any woman who used them—kept them feeling and looking youthful, connected them to their inner power. They didn’t have things like bioidentical hormones in those days—this was an incredible, secret practice that benefited everybody. I was curious about how the royal families kept it secret for so many eons. I also love the Taoist practice that involves taking in the energy from the egg, imagining energy filtering up through the yoni, up through the spine, out through the top of your head, and a practice of trying to keep that energy above your belly button, like a star of energy for yourself.

Contemporary rituals are great, too: I went to a beautiful women’s forest gathering in Northern California—we did a jade egg ceremony out under the redwoods—it was amazing.

Q

What were your expectations when you tried it? Did you have hopes for it, skepticism, or just an open mind?

A

I found myself frustrated in the beginning when I didn’t feel things happen right away—it takes around a month of daily use to really start perceiving the results. Now, of course, I miss it if I don’t do it; I’ve become much more sensitive.

I got divorced 8 years ago, then had a break-up after that, so the idea of clearing my energy made a lot of sense to me. I loved the idea that since we use our brain, why not use this area of our body, one that’s about giving life, where we hold so much of our intuition and wisdom?

I didn’t expect it to help with my hormones to the extent that it did: I became much more regular, much more balanced.

Q

Is there an age or type of woman that benefits most?

A

Once sexually active, women of any age respond to the egg—who doesn’t want their muscles more toned, their libido and lubrication increased, and their hormones balanced? People definitely use them differently—for instance, some women sleep with the egg in, but some women feel too much energy from the egg for that long a stretch. Either way, for any age, the key is regular, daily practice.

Q

What results have you seen? How quickly did they come? Have other results unfolded over time?

A

After about a month, I really saw a difference in my cycle. I’d had hormone imbalances, and the jade egg made my whole cycle much, much more regular.

One friend said her lover really noticed a (positive) change, and you definitely do discover a lot of positives in that vein! Really, you get better connected to the power within you: We are so powerful as women, and we forget that, and this is a gateway to really get in touch with it. We have this whole space we can access to shift our energy and transform ourselves.

And, this is a weird one, but I sometimes feel people are more attracted to you when you’re carrying a jade egg—my 20-year-old daughter was joking about it one day, we were walking down the street and she was like, “Mom, are you wearing a jade egg?!”

Q

How is it different from say, a regular Kegel practice?

A

There are similarities; one of the things I learned through this practice, though, is that a lot of women (including me, originally) are doing kegels wrong: It turns out you can overdo it and the Kegels can end up working in reverse! So the idea with the jade egg and Kegels is you need a rest period. You tighten your muscles, of course, but the key is, you then have to relax, fully. In the West, we often have that more-is-more attitude, and we end up not taking the breath we need between the Kegels.

You learn in this practice that the yoni is divided into three floors, the entrance, the middle zone, and the cervix. As you work with the egg, you start to perceive and understand the different zones. You use your finger, and you’ll be able to feel the different floors and the impact the egg practice has on them.

Q

How do we start?

A

When you first get your egg, boil it for a few minutes to make sure it’s clean. It’s your sacred space, so it’s like making sure your feet are clean when you enter a temple. For me, it’s not just about physical cleansing—you can put it out under the light of a full moon to cleanse or recharge it like a crystal, or you could burn sage—the egg does absorb energy, so really clearing it when you first get it is a great thing to do.

Before I insert an egg, I’ll do a ritual: I place it on a beautiful piece of fabric, light a candle, maybe even burn some sage. For my ritual, I imagine pure light flowing between me and the egg.

Then I think it’s important to set an intention, as you would in meditation, before putting the egg in. It’s first and foremost about clearing energy and cleansing, so your intention could be about releasing past relationships, or medical issues, childbirth—anything.

Specific instructions come with each egg, explaining exactly how to insert it: Use your finger, and don’t get discouraged—remember, it’s a practice. If you stand up and the egg falls out, don’t worry—it’s totally normal. It’s recommended that you start with a medium-size egg, which is heavier. I can only use the medium lying down; I can sleep with it, or I just do the practice lying down. The smaller size is for standing up, but most experts say it’s important to start with the harder one, which is the medium.

Always wrap the egg in silk, keep it clean, and store it on an altar—it should take a sacred place in your life.

Q

Can the egg get stuck or lost?

A

This is the most common question I get—no, it can’t get lost, but these ones have a hole drilled in them, which you can then thread with unwaxed floss, to make it easier to take out, and to generally ease any anxiety about it—which, I’ll tell you, a lot of people have!

Q

Are there people who shouldn’t use jade eggs?

A

If you’re on your cycle, don’t use it. If you’re pregnant or use an IUD, it’s super-important to check with your doctor before you use one. Some people say it can be useful in preparing for childbirth, but again, definitely consult a doctor in that situation.

Q

There are specifications about where the egg needs to be from, how it’s been treated—can you explain a bit about that?

A

The most important thing, just like when you’re buying a crystal, is to be careful where you get it from. Nephrite is a specific type of jade—it’s the most powerful, the most clearing, the traditional one used by women in ancient China, and the best to start with. It comes from Canada or sometimes Australia, and it’s a darker jade, deep green, almost black. The egg will get lighter in color, with use; if you feel like it’s been drained of energy, recharge it in the full moon just the way you would a crystal.

Nephrite jade is associated with cleansing, health, abundance, beauty, longevity, and healing for the heart. Really insist on nephrite jade—there are a lot of imposters and weird stuff on the internet that isn’t even actually jade.

The other egg people will use is rose quartz, which is more gentle, and brings in more love energy. But the jade is the most powerfully cleansing; go with the jade first, always. Then when you’re more practiced, you can use rose quartz to bring in love and heal wounds, in a gentler way.

In the interest of equality Warbler has been sticking his head up his ass for most of his life.
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jan 21, 2017 - 10:35am PT
^^^Bravo! sycorax



as you know Warbler, I have a reputation as a literalist... so when I read something I am also looking at the intent of the author, who chose those particular words to convey an idea. It is an act of intellectual cowardice to post something, as you did, and then say "well, you can't take it literally, I wouldn't say something stupid, so you can't accuse me of being stupid with I post something that is"

words matter because they are meant to convey ideas, so be careful of what you post (or re-post) if you don't want to be called out on it.


after your denial of what was re-posted, you offered the defense:
"There is some truth to it though.

There are undeniable differences btw men and women after equal rights and equal pay. Women have lots of advantages that men don't in our society. Some women more than others, just like some men have more of the classic male advantages."


The words "truth," "undeniable," "equal," "advantage," are all judgements, how they are applied in the sentences you wrote are based on the subjective evaluation of the persons making them. It is easy to claim objectivity, and then make sweeping claims based on the presumption of objectivity, while all the time being very subjective, and applying all the bias that can come along.

For instance, take musicians, one would say that a musician is selected to play, say, in an orchestra based on their performance skill on their specific instrument. A musical director, in charge of hiring the best musicians available for a position in his orchestra, holds auditions of those musicians to assess their ability.

The fraction of women orchestra musicians was about 20% through the 1970s. Directors asked about the small fraction of women provided the reasons:

 female musicians are not the equal of male musicians,
 “women have smaller techniques than men,”
 “are more temperamental and more likely to demand special attention or treatment,”
 “the more women [in an orchestra], the poorer the sound.”

Zubin Mehta is quoted: “I just don’t think women should be in an orchestra.”

But this began to change in the 1980's and 1990's, and the reason is interesting: orchestras started to hold "blind auditions," where the musician could be heard, but not seen. Here, arguably, the performance of the musician could be judged without knowing who the musician was.

The diversity of the orchestras increased, and women, who had previously been 10% of the new hires increased to 35%.

This increase is not due to an improvement or an increase of women musicians during that period, it has to do with the reduction in the bias of the music directors brought on by the fact that they judged the musician by the music, and not by gender (or race).

No music director would have claimed that they had been doing otherwise previous to the adoption of blind auditions. We can conclude that they were unaware of their bias. That is not surprising.

http://affectfinance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Goldin-Rouse-AER-2000.pdf



So when you claim, as you do, that "women are different from men" which they are, it is not at all clear that you do so in an unbiased manner, free from the historic, cultural biases which you learned. When you set up a metric of performance, and define what a "good performance" is, and then measure the performers, you do so with the knowledge of who the performers are...

and you can claim that your assessment is unbiased, after all, you are a master climber. But you should not be surprised to find that perhaps you have a biased view, and that all those words that you use, "truth," "undeniable," "equal," "advantage," are affected by that bias.

If feminism is anything, it is the work of untangling these biases, recognizing the merits of everyone in an unbiased way, and providing equal opportunities to all.
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
Jan 21, 2017 - 11:13am PT
Rising out of the biased, blind masses came the one eyed person.
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