What is a bigger issue to you, rape or the NC bathroom issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? You don't have to rank what you care about most. Both are important issues.

The analysis of it is more complicated than that. Yes, they're both important issues. But there it's undeniable that the media likes to focus on controversial issues rather than than root causes.

When celebrities and corporations are boycotting North Carolina because of the bathroom issue, why aren't they also mentioning the deplorable revocation of worker's rights? We know that the biggest risk factors of harm for transgender people are homelessness and unemployment/underemployment that often results in turning to prostitution for survival, which staggeringly multiplies the risk for harm.

So why the sole focus on the bathroom issue (which again, I'm not saying is unimportant) and not the issues that affect day-to-day survival? Because the bathroom issue is controversial, trendy, and a cheap way to declare your progressiveness (or on the opposite side, conservatism) without actually supporting root change.

Sometimes in political movements, you have to go for the low-hanging fruit. Focusing on the bathroom laws and how ridiculous they are is a way to get people educated on the mistreatment of transgender people generally, and to build support for overturning an absurd law. Once you've got people educated and engaged, it's easier to then direct that momentum toward changes that might be more challenging to convince people on, like employment, where many people still grate against the idea of telling business owners who they have to hire (which I realize isn't really what we're talking about here, but that's how opponents of transgender rights portray it).

But this is not how radical change works. Going for low-hanging fruit placates the masses with symbolic victory once the battle is won. The major/root issues simply will not get as much lip service, attention, or as many headlines. Economic and employment law isn't fun or trendy. There won't be Facebook filters in support of workers' rights or structural fixes for economic inequality.

Same-sex marriage was legalized last year. That was wonderful and just. Love is Love and Love Wins. We can see happy, healthy, affluent gay families on television (although representation still needs to improve, of course). But where are the trending slogans and headlines and t-shirts addressing the fact lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans are more likely to be in poverty than straight Americans? I could make similar points about having a black president, among other things.

Again, I want to reiterate that all of these different aspects are important, and I especially want to point out that I am not suggesting same-sex marriage is "low-hanging fruit." My point is that it is clear that symbolic change is often prioritized to the detriment of structural change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? You don't have to rank what you care about most. Both are important issues.

The analysis of it is more complicated than that. Yes, they're both important issues. But there it's undeniable that the media likes to focus on controversial issues rather than than root causes.

When celebrities and corporations are boycotting North Carolina because of the bathroom issue, why aren't they also mentioning the deplorable revocation of worker's rights? We know that the biggest risk factors of harm for transgender people are homelessness and unemployment/underemployment that often results in turning to prostitution for survival, which staggeringly multiplies the risk for harm.

So why the sole focus on the bathroom issue (which again, I'm not saying is unimportant) and not the issues that affect day-to-day survival? Because the bathroom issue is controversial, trendy, and a cheap way to declare your progressiveness (or on the opposite side, conservatism) without actually supporting root change.

Sometimes in political movements, you have to go for the low-hanging fruit. Focusing on the bathroom laws and how ridiculous they are is a way to get people educated on the mistreatment of transgender people generally, and to build support for overturning an absurd law. Once you've got people educated and engaged, it's easier to then direct that momentum toward changes that might be more challenging to convince people on, like employment, where many people still grate against the idea of telling business owners who they have to hire (which I realize isn't really what we're talking about here, but that's how opponents of transgender rights portray it).

I think low hanging fruit irritates people and turns them off from finding out anything about the issue because it all just seems ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The whole thing is ridiculous, Baylor rapes are much more serious.

Link please. Or they didn't happen.

Nice way top try to cover things, google Ken Starr, Baylor Football, Rapes at Baylor, you will find maybe 5 million hits.

I guess it didn't happen so they will rehire Ken Starr and their football coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? You don't have to rank what you care about most. Both are important issues.

But the NCAA did rank them and chose to do something about one and not the other.

The NCAA foes not condone rape by student-athletes. Neither does it condone invidious discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. Baylor's athletic program was corrupted and broken, as are many others, because it is a cash cow for the University and coaches in terms of alumni donations, merchandising and sponsorships from sports equipment manufacturers. That doesn't mean that the NCAA shouldn't take a stance on issues, particularly if they impact student-athletes. Should the NCAA do nothing if the the State of Alabama attempted to roll back protections for women, Jews or the disabled because a DI basketball program in Kentucky had run amok by hiring prostitutes to entertain recruits and players? It's a false choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guess what? You don't have to rank what you care about most. Both are important issues.

But the NCAA did rank them and chose to do something about one and not the other.

Well I'm pretty sure that all 50 states outlaw rape. But if you find one that does not, let me know and I will get them to boycott them.

[Anonymous]

Rape. Of anyone.