“I think I am a feminist in a way. It’s not something I consciously decided I was going to be; perhaps it’s because I grew up in a singing group with other women, and that was so helpful to me. It kept me out of so much trouble and out of bad relationships. My friendships with my girls are just so much a part of me that there are things I am never going to do that would upset that bond. I never want to betray that friendship because I love being a woman and I love being a friend to other women… I think we learn a lot from our female friends – female friendship is very, very important.”

- Beyonce

From Daily Mail.

Also, if you haven’t seen the Why Don’t You Love Me video, I recommend you check it out.  Discussion is welcome.

“The American Psychological Association is gratified that the court agreed that there is no justification for denying marriage equality to same-sex couples. The  research shows that same-sex couples are similar to heterosexual couples in essential ways and that they are as likely as opposite-sex couples to raise mentally healthy, well-adjusted children. Thus, there is no scientific justification for denying marriage equality, when research indicates that marriage provides many important benefits.”

- American Psychological Association
President Carol D. Goodheart, EdD

I am proud to be going into a profession that acknowledges and supports the rights of all people, and uses its resources to make sure that those rights aren’t taken away.

Remember that IAT test we talked about last week?  You know, researchers found that people still associate the word “feminist” with negative descriptors faster than they can associate the word “feminist” with positive attributes when asked to?  And the author thought this was just some more evidence of what a bunch of a-holes feminists are since the “obnoxious” ones are so much more prominent than the “normal” ones or something like that?

I have yet to meet a bra-burning, hairy monster in the feminist movement. In fact, I know many feminists who defy the stereotype, including people who are religiously observant, sorority girls, and male feminists to name a few. However, the media and entertainment industry continue to show feminists as mean girls/women who will never provide a rational voice in society. Through this negative portrayal of feminism, audiences become accustomed to feminism as something they could never relate to.

From the mouths (fingertips?) of young feminist babes.  Word. [keep rockin', FBomb]

“I feel like I have a responsibility to my community and other young girls to help redefine what it looks like to be a woman. I don’t believe in men’s wear or women’s wear, I just like what I like. And I think we should just be respected for being an individual…. I’ve been in Vogue, now, and different publications, which is cool, because I think that it just shows a different perspective of how women can dress.”

- Janelle Monae

If you haven’t checked Janelle Monae out yet, I recommend that you start here.  Quote from i09.

“Children should be allowed to express themselves in whatever way they wish without anybody judging them because it is an important part of their growth… Society always has something to learn when it comes to the way we judge each other, label each other. We have far to go…  I think she [her daughter Shiloh] is fascinating, the choices she is making. And I would never be the kind of parent to force somebody to be something they are not. I think that is just bad parenting.”

- Angelina Jolie

From ET via Jezebel.

Short but sweet:

“Yes, I’m a feminist. I think everybody should be, because feminism is about equality of the sexes, which we all believe in, don’t we?”

- Kate Nash

From BBC via Jezebel.

A few months ago I posted on why I blog.  Shelby Knox has expressed a similar sentiment in one of her guest-posts over at Feministe, and I wanted to pass it along:

“For many in my generation, the internet feminist community serves the same purpose as consciousness raising groups of the 1970’s. Feminist (and womanist, gender justice, mujerista and women’s liberationist and the many subsets of these) blogs are where we get angry over shared grievances, organize against said inequalities, and build and strengthen our feminist community. Disagreements that break out in the comment threads over everything from what’s offensive and what can be reclaimed to the very meaning of the term ‘feminism’ serve the same purpose as heated debates in women’s studies classes: to sharpen our critique and analysis and build on the shared knowledge and ideology of varying expressions of varying feminisms. The difference is that, while the playing field is nowhere near as equal as it should and must be, the participants in the conversation don’t have to pony up $30,000 a year or even leave their apartments to join in.”

Rock on, feminist bloggers.

“Keeping young women engaged is harder when progress is seemingly so good. But it’s the same problem we have with backsliding on reproductive rights – when we take it for granted is when we see them eroded.”

- Al Franken on the challenges feminism faces today

Yet another fantastic snippet from the Feministing Five weekly feature over at feministing.com.

When asked if he would like to see gay marriage approved in his home state of Michigan:

“I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want.”

- Eminem

Alright, maybe not the most positive endorsement of gay marriage, but a significantly different message than anyone that is familiar with Eminem’s music would expect.  Maybe Elton John’s theory really has something to it.  From advocate via feministing.

A lot of quotes this week, folks.  People seem to be saying some cool things, and I have taken it upon myself to highlight them for you.

Rush Limbaugh was recently married (for the fourth time after three divorces – this is the sacred tradition of marriage between a man and a woman that he believes he is protecting from the gays, remember?) and he invited the very out and proud Sir Elton John to perform at the wedding.  Perplexing, no?  Apparently the gays make for great entertainment, even if they don’t deserve equal rights.  Classy.  Here’s what Elton had to say about it:

“Life is about building bridges, not walls. [It was a chance] to go where people wouldn’t expect me to go. And maybe if I can make a great impression, people might change their perspectives on life.”

- Sir Elton John

Now that actually is classy.  From Daily Express via Jezebel.