Katie Ledecky Ladies And Gentlemen

a comic about critique based on a tweet

Every time.

this is literally how i dance

ADS THAT SUDDENLY TAKE UP THE WHOLE PAGE

a magician asks you to pick a card - any card, in fact. you do. they ask you to put the card back in the pack - anywhere in the pack, in fact. you do. they walk away. ten years later, your wife gives birth to the six of clubs. “is this your card?” the midwife asks, in a familiar voice.

What’re some strategies you’ve used to shut down sexism when you encounter it? Like I never know what to say when it happens. Do you have some sentence frames or something thatve been effective?

It’s not complicated and dramatic for me like it was when I was 20. I’ve said stuff as simple as:

“Dude, you can’t say shit like that about her. It’s so disrespectful.”

“You’re taking your anger toward one woman and using it to judge all women. What if someone you were into did that to you?”

“You have to understand that women have to be more on the defensive about guys and respect that boundary no matter what your intentions are.”

“If you don’t like her profile then just don’t message her. Sending her mean shit is just bullying and you’re honestly too old for that.”

These are all paraphrases I can remember telling guy friends. I used to think I had to have a sit down conversation and quote bell hooks and shit, but it’s literally as simple as vocally and explicitly letting them know the behavior isn’t appropriate.

Do they instantly become feminists overnight? No. But do they respond to consistent correction done with care by someone who they’re cool with, someone who’s still there to grow with them the next day? Yeah, they do.

The Fandom That Lived 

person: [about to shoot me]

me: wait wait hold on a sec

person: NO I'M GONNA KILL YOU

me: I KNOW BRUH ok just hold on [grabs phone] just gimme one sec okay okay okay [looks through music, presses play]

person: is this.... mmm whatcha say?

me: shoot me now. i'm ready. i'm at peace.