Comments on: "PETA is about as feminist as it gets."

By: Kelly Garbato

Kelly Garbato — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:46:20 +0000

Thanks for the info, A. I think the critiques offered on your FB page are spot on – the ad is both sexist and homophobic; Greenpeace’s response is lackluster at best (e.g., “Greenpeace cares deeply about gender equality”); and the ad blatantly violates its mission statement (“Greenpeace does not permit the use of language or images in its fundraising or marketing materials that in any way promotes racial, gender, sexual, religious or cultural intolerance.”) As a vegan, my expectations of Greenpeace were already low, but still. “Fucking bitch,” seriously?

Here’s a link to the video, if anyone wants to view it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txa-XcrVpvQ

By: A.

A. — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:10:38 +0000

Thanks for an interesting post.

I wonder what would you say to the newest Greenpeace spot:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txa-XcrVpvQ

They are fighting against packing toys in materials from Indonesian rainforests. Ken say to Barbie “oh it’s over, that f***ing b*tch!” in this spot.

Is it really necessary to promote sexism in ecological actions? Seems like it’s a common problem…

www.facebook.com/help.greenpeace.respect.women

By: austin

austin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:21:44 +0000

I love those catholic school girl outfits, pigtails, and that lollipop is just over the top. I wish they had gotten some of those images with the Glee girls…

There is nothing wrong with fantasizing about dominating and corrupting a young girl…men are genetically attracted to the nubile form. Because it’s delicious.

By: Intersectionality ‘Round the Interwebs, No. 25: Vegan nomz & Bowl-a-thons! » V for Vegan: easyVegan.info

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:00:33 +0000

[...] I briefly addressed PETA’s 2011 Super Bowl ad last week (see: “PETA is about as feminist as it gets.”), the links bear repeating. In addition to everything that meave said, over on her FB page, Carol [...]

By: Kelly Garbato

Kelly Garbato — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:19:05 +0000

It just makes my blood boil to see sexism embraced by the general public at large and using it to supposedly solicit attention to speciesism is equally objectionable.

Here, here!

I hope I’m making sense.

You are :)

I loosely followed your conversation re: ARZone & last week’s chat on Twitter with Roger Yates and understand and appreciate both your perspectives, fwiw.

By: Jeffrey Coolwater

Jeffrey Coolwater — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:17:37 +0000

Your effort here on this post was needed and well done.

I don’t mean to suggest those with views I oppose should be marginalized. It just makes my blood boil to see sexism embraced by the general public at large and using it to supposedly solicit attention to speciesism is equally objectionable. Think of my original suggestion as a greater preference for censuring his approach as opposed to censoring he the messenger.

All the incorrect, inappropriate, ineffective, ineffectual and downright harmful things he supports and represents are already out there in abundance for us to criticize. I don’t think sites like ARZone inviting the likes of him to their public air waves is necessary in order to add their own critical analysis.

I hope I’m making sense.

By: Kelly Garbato

Kelly Garbato — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:49:37 +0000

@ Jeffrey – Ah, yes! This conundrum pops up frequently on many of the feminist blogs I frequent. (Or used to frequent; I’ve sworn off most of them due to speciesism. Sigh.) Do you confront a problematic statement/person/campaign head-on and, in so doing, unwittingly provide it a platform, or ignore it and hope it withers and dies when out of the limelight? One thing’s for sure; PETA won’t be negatively impacted by a blackout on this blog. Better to address the sexism (etc.) and hopefully get some fellow activists thinking about the issue. Also: show those in other social justice movements that not all vegans march in lockstep; we’re not all single-minded and willing to marginalize others to achieve our goals. That’s one message that needs to be heard, imho.

By: Jeffrey Coolwater

Jeffrey Coolwater — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:06:30 +0000

Your analysis is right on, Kelly. But I would also question the wisdom of giving the likes of Friedrich yet another platform from which to spew his propaganda in the first place. Some say it sparks critical examination but, as is evident in your analysis, I feel these “chats” / interviews require more correction than examination. Sadly, I feel they serve more so to lead less informed readers further down the wrong path.

By: TMR

TMR — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 07:14:06 +0000

Readers might be interested in this vid: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8INe-3Mu9qk and this blog post: Joint Statement by a Group of Abolitionist Vegan Feminists for International Women’s Week thestartingpointisveganism.blogspot.com/2010/03/joint-statement-by-group-of.html

By: Kelly Garbato

Kelly Garbato — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:21:58 +0000

Also, one cool thing I learned while researching this piece – Spalding makes vegan footballs (not all, but some). There was some tittering when PETA came out with the ads featuring football players holding their “pigskins” – while exhorting people not to wear fur or animals skins – but at least in Willis McGahee’s case, the football might have been vegan. Not so sure about Chad Ochocinco, since his was a Wilson.

By: Kelly Garbato

Kelly Garbato — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:17:22 +0000

Thanks, all!

@ Corvus – I’m sorry! fwiw, I wish I hadn’t seen it either.

By: Corvus

Corvus — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:24:04 +0000

Wow. Somehow I missed that ad. And I am kinda sad to have un-missed it. But, I guess more fuel to the fire.

“Listen, Bruce (et al.): if a cadre of angry women (and assorted male allies) keep telling you that they are offended by PETA’s sexist campaigns, perhaps it’s best to STFU and listen to them?”

Yes.

By: Marla

Marla — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:48:24 +0000

Brilliance! Sheer brilliance!

By: Vegan Burnout

Vegan Burnout — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:50:17 +0000

Sing it, sister!

By: Vegan Flower

Vegan Flower — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 23:37:04 +0000

You rock, Kelly! Super post. Love it!!