Misogyny Update

[Content Note: misogynist language, actions, & apologia]

Who could forget yesterday's news about the silencing of women by men because the women dared to question, to disagree very publicly, with them? Well, we have a couple updates.

1. In Michigan, the republicans are saying no, no it's not because of vagina Rep. Brown was silenced, it's because she used the phrase "no means no". AS IF THAT MAKES IT ANY BETTER (hint: it does not).

Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, R-Midland, made the decision to prevent Brown and Byrum from speaking on any of the slew of bills the House was racing to pass before adjourning for the summer.

[...]

"My concern was the decorum of the House, not of anything she said," Stamas told The Detroit News.

"I ask all members to maintain a decorum of the House, and I felt it went too far yesterday," he said.

Speaker Pro Tem John Walsh, R-Livonia, gaveled Brown out of order for saying "no means no" — because it suggested Brown was comparing the abortion legislation to rape, House GOP spokesman Ari Adler said.

"It has nothing to do with the word vagina," Adler said.

Rep. Brown, in her remarks, first introduced the fact that in the Jewish faith, Jewish law that places the life of the mother over that of a fetus. No matter how where in gestation the pregnancy is. Then went onto say:

”I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours? And finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but no means no.”

To which she was censored and her colleagues, such as Rep. Mike Callton (R-Nashville), had this sort of response:

"What she said was offensive. It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.".

2. Arizona's Republican Party Communications Director Shane Wikfors definitely does not have anything to fear about his job, no matter what he says about two women engaging in a discussion over dissatisfaction with the republican party. His boss thinks he's awesome:

PHOENIX -- The chairman of the Arizona Republican Party said he's "very happy" with his top spokesman who bashed a pair of female critics this week for having a, "bitch session."

Tom Morrissey said he'd never use the phrase personally, but backed his spokesman, Shane Wikfors, who used it to criticize a columnist for the Arizona Republic and another woman.

"He didn't call anyone a bitch," Morrissey said this afternoon in a telephone interview. "He used the term bitch session."

Morrissey, who took over the party last year, says his spokesman didn't intend to demean women and that, “sometimes people make mistakes."

That's right. They make "mistakes" and then, naturally, take to twitter to tweet things like:

"Keep the hate coming lefties (who don't bother to read)"
The very model of professional & charming all-around, that one.


So, to recap:

"Vagina", "No Means No" = "inappropriate", "offensive", "against decorum"

"Bitch session" = Totally ok and not remotely unprofessional