Neil deGrasse Tyson on Oppression

Harvard University President Lawrence Summers asks a panel of scientists what genetic differences could explain why there are fewer women in science.

Neil deGrasse Tyson responds with his experiences as a black man growing up with the many societal roadblocks to becoming a scientist: i.e. "Don't you want to become an athlete?"

Tyson says: "Before we start talking about genetic differences, you have to come up with a system where there is equal opportunity. Then we can have that conversation."

I love that he does this gracefully without tearing down or resorting to attacking President Lawrence Summers. He gives his own perspective based on his experiences rather than focusing on attacking someone else's perceptions.

http://www.upworthy.com/neil-degrasse-tyson-reveals-that-hes-been-black-his-whole-life-hilarity-and-wisdom-follow?g=2&c=hpstream

women as fetish

I do not for one second judge women who decide to do as they please with their bodies. I do, however, question how society has fetishized the female body so that women are expected to use whatever means, whether surgery, drugs, diet, exercise, cosmetics, or restrictive clothing, to find acceptance in a society that will never be able to accept them as they are. It is not vain to be a woman; under patriarchy women are a fetishized commodity. In order to find acceptance from their anti-female society that can't accept their natural bodies, they are expected to commodify their bodies into the form of a "true woman": heeled, high class, skinny, blonde, pretty, white, straight.

women

My soul and heart is with women. If I can't love them in all the ways men have been allowed throughout our history without question, I can't grow as a person because I am a lesbian, through and through: sexually, spiritually, and in platonic friendship. Why I constantly have to stand up for my lesbianism is lost to me. Am I not equal to you?

gendering women

It is critical for women to learn skills in order to gain independence. Women in our society, however, are often restricted to assuming the role of the “traditional” woman, whether it’s through social pressure or the fact that it is one of the only legitimate roles for women in our society. I think women do the best they can with what they’ve been given. Everyone is trying their best to survive and to be happy, and assuming the role of a traditional housewife or mother is one way. And I believe it to be worthy and commendable. I think people do the best they can with the gender roles they’ve been assigned. Some resist it, some accept it, and I think it’s okay either way. However, I think it’s important for us to learn that our roles as women and men are assigned. They are socially constructed. Women weren’t born wearing heals and makeup. Men weren’t born knowing how to play football. Women weren't born to be submissive and men dominant. We learn to be gendered.