#gender-inclusive judaism

[gay-jewish-bucky]

On The JPS Tanakh: Gender-Sensitive Edition (2023):

JPS is excited to announce the publication of THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition. A ground-breaking partnership with Sefaria, the Gender-Sensitive Edition represents the first substantial revision of our landmark translation of the Tanakh.

What is THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition?

The first Jewish gender-sensitive translation of the full Hebrew Bible, THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition (RJPS or Revised JPS edition) renews and revises the iconic Jewish Publication Society Bible translation (NJPS or 1985 New JPS edition) to reflect advances in scholarship and changes in English while maintaining utmost fidelity to the original Hebrew. The Gender-Sensitive Edition offers gender-inclusive renderings where appropriate and gendered ones when called for historically and linguistically, incorporating the best of contemporary research into Israelite history and religion, literary studies, philology, linguistics, and the social sciences to offer a faithful and accurate translation. References to persons are gender-sensitive yet consistent with ancient gender norms, and the translation strives for inclusive language when referring broadly to people, ancestors, and humankind. References to God are typically gender neutral and generally avoid grammatically masculine pronouns and labels, with careful examination of each context yielding the most appropriate rendering. To enable the tetragrammaton (God’s four-letter name) to be encountered as a name and without masculine connotations, the edition typically translates it as “GOD” (in small capitals) rather than “the LORD”. Revising the venerable JPS translation, the Gender-Sensitive Edition empowers readers to experience Scripture with all the power of the original Hebrew. It is sure to become the new Bible translation of choice for readers who embrace biblical scholarship with reverence for tradition, and for communities and individuals who adopt an inclusive, egalitarian perspective in today’s world.

Why publish an updated Bible translation after four decades?

Since the iconic JPS Bible translation appeared in 1985, dramatic changes in the English language, biblical scholarship, and other areas have made a new English edition long overdue. Readers and communities across the globe have called for a translation that remains faithful to the original Hebrew and provides vital access to the Bible’s world and timeless lessons.

What does “gender-sensitive” mean?

Our translation is “gender-sensitive” in the sense of being attentive to how gender and language function in the Hebrew Bible. Going through the Bible word by word, line by line, verse by verse, the translators asked when gender-inclusive renderings are appropriate and when gendered language is called for historically and linguistically—for example, whether a term for a human being should be translated as “person” or as “man,” and whether a reference to God should be translated with gender-neutral language (for instance, simply as “GOD”) or with a male-sounding term (such as “King”).

What’s the result? How does the translation refer to humans and God?

As outlined above, references to persons are gender-sensitive yet consistent with ancient gender norms, and the translation strives for inclusive language when referring broadly to people, ancestors, and humankind. References to God are typically gender neutral and generally avoid masculine pronouns and labels. To enable the tetragrammaton (God’s four-letter name) to be encountered as a name and without masculine connotations, the edition typically translates it as “GOD” (in small capitals) rather than “the LORD.”

Is the translation faithful to the original Hebrew?

Yes! The translation empowers readers to experience Scripture with the power of the original Hebrew, providing access to what the Bible meant in its original historical context.

Does the translation make changes in areas other than gender?

Yes! The translation updates archaic or unclear English language and ritual terminology to provide a more accurate understanding of the Bible’s meaning.

[whatlieswithintheorchard]

Everyone!!! Check out Volume II of this wonderful siddur!!!!

Siddur Or veShalom is the second volume of Siddur Masorti, a new Sefaradi siddur. Siddur Or veShalom contains the liturgy for Shabbat and Festivals and is a part of our first ever community partnership with Congregation Or veShalom in Atlanta, Georgia.

"The Siddur offers a new, fluid, and gender sensitive translation of the text, a transliteration according to Sefaradi pronunciation, and a running commentary. It seems that one could not wish for more, yet there are many more pearls of wisdom and excitement to be found by the traveler in the magical paths of this Siddur."

It celebrates traditional Sefaradi liturgy, inclusive of a diversity of Sephardi/Mizraḥi customs and filled with beautiful piyyutim (songs and poetry) and psalm texts. But accessibility is at its core, with an unprecedented full transliteration, guiding commentary, and adaptations for use by all genders.

[writingwithcolor]

Judaism, Angels, and Monstrosity

@neapolitangirl asked:

I'm writing a story about the angel Muriel traveling through a world inspired by American folklore (Ex. The Bell Witch, Fearsome Critters, etc) while hunting demons. I wanted to draw inspiration from the legend that says Muriel and Abaddon are one and the same because I thought it was interesting. However, I also know that Abaddon is important to Jewish cosmology and wanted to avoid any unfortunate implications. Muriel is very skittish and kind of a coward, but turns into the more violent and vengeful Abaddon in the presence of demons. Appearance-wise both Muriel and Abaddon are tall and skinny, but Muriel is more like an owly-human while Abaddon is a spiky skeletal being. Would this be connecting Judaism to monstrosity? Also, is there anything else I should try to avoid?

So…angelology, the whole idea of angels with names and personalities and individual jobs, is just…not something the average Jewish person thinks or cares about, even the ones who know a little about it. Not that it’s bad, it’s just not something that is prominent enough that it would have tropes attached that we might be able to warn you against.

That said, we’re posting on the Niche Scholarship and Special Interest website, so if there’s a reader who happens to have a lot of knowledge and feelings about Jewish angelology we would welcome the contribution and specialized expertise.

As it stands, my instinct is to give these more general considerations:

Balancing Jewish and Christian Elements

To what degree are you trying to tell a Jewish story, a Christian story that does not harm Jewish readers, or a story strongly influenced by Christian ideas about the heavens in a way that does not harm Jewish readers? How does deciding where you fall among those distinctions affect how you construct your story, and how you portray your angels?

Jewish Concept of God and Angelic Appearances

To Jews, God Godself does not have a physical body or visible appearance. If you’re describing the appearance of God as you’re navigating your angel-centering narrative, you’re squarely outside the territory of inclusivity toward Jewish readers. That’s okay, if you’re clear with readers that you’re not telling a Jewish story. It’s not okay if you’re trying to conflate Jewish and Christian ideas into a single narrative when they are often incompatible.

Angelic Appearances and Jewish Scripture

Angels might have appearances, and some descriptions of some types of angels in some Jewish scriptures have body parts of various animals. I haven’t the foggiest clue if it matters to anyone what appearances belong to which angels, so if it matters to someone reading this I hope they will speak up.

Are angels Jewish? This is a subject that could make for a fun discussion among Jewish people as a way of exploring the nature of Jewishness, but in your narrative you will have to think this through in your own way. If your angels engage in Jewish practices, then what does that look like and why, and if they don’t, why don’t they? The answer to that may of course be “Because I’m not actually telling a Jewish story.”

Christian Themes and Sensitivity to Jewish Culture

It’s okay to not be telling a Jewish story. But in that case keep in mind what demonstrations of Jewishness you include in a Christian story.

Especially, if you’re depicting a divine Jesus, or a Jesus character with any type of more-than-human powers or ancestry, or you are including any reference to the idea that Christianity might be in any way objectively correct, then you must tread EXTREMELY CAREFULLY with including any depiction of Jewish practice in your work, as the line where depiction turns to appropriation is in that case extremely near.

In all things, try and avoid depicting Jewish humans and any character who might be Jewish or be seen as Jewish in ways that are otherwise harmful: we’ve often talked about tropes around greed, sneakiness, power-grabbing, gender and sexual dynamics, and other tropes that apply to portrayals of Jewish characters. If your angels are Jewish, or Jew-ish in flavor, that goes for them as well.

Again, I know absolutely zero about Muriel and Abbadon and am not very interested in learning more as their lore has zero bearing on my Jewish practice in any way, and that’s a somewhat important point to me to be making because…2J3O. Two Jews, three opinions. So again, if a reader does in fact have knowledge and opinions about the specific angels themselves, please speak up.

–Meir

[unbidden-yidden]

Huh. Okay so going by your recent post idealizing Judaism to an unhealthy degree is such a common problem there’s a name for it. How does someone unpack whether that’s what they’re doing?

Hi there,

That's a great question! I think it can be a little tricky, because there's some nuances that may tip behavior from "okay" to "not okay" or vice versa that are not immediately obvious to an outsider. There are also plenty of gray areas, where some Jews are delighted by the person's expression of interest, and others have concerns.

I think for me, the thing I see most from genuinely well-meaning gentiles who are otherwise good allies is a fixation on certain parts of Judaism or Jewish identity that neatly fit into existing leftist ideals, but that either aren't as universal as they are claiming or are very niche in the scheme of Judaism as a religion. Oftentimes, what will happen is that lefty Jews (i.e., most American Jews, and certainly a large majority of jumblr) will be talking about this exceptionally progressive stance from ancient Jewish texts, or some niche thing that is meaningful to us, which will then get picked up and distorted rapidly to: This Is What The Jews Think About ____. Efforts to add nuance or complications after the fact are then treated like conservative talking points or party poopers who don't want the Good Jews to Have Nice Things. Eventually, even the "Good Jews" will typically get sick of the lack of nuance, but by that point it's way too late and people are no longer listening. It's much less likely to blow up than the original post, and so you end up with misinformation and discourse being passed around *about* us that no longer *includes* us and our petty insistence on nuance or countering facts.

People also struggle to shut down some of these misconceptions because hey - at least they like us right now and we're being considered (finally) to be Appropriately Leftist. (Something that is often difficult for Jews to find inclusion in, despite being overwhelmingly left-leaning.)

I've seen this happen around so many things: abortion, women's sexuality, queerness, transness, the so-called "6 Talmudic genders," Jewish atheism, Jews wrestling with G-d, Hell, Yiddish language, etc.

I guess what I'd say to avoid it is this: before you hop on a new idea to you from a post that goes something like "holy Frick did you know that Jews believe in [idk, e.g.] women's right to orgasms!" Maybe look up sources first before reblogging and spreading that information as legitimate. It's probably more complicated than that, and the misinformation can cause real harm. See: the harm caused to intersex Jews re: the 6 Talmudic genders.

Here is an article about other issues with philosemitism by someone who I know and respect:

Here is another article to add nuance to this discussion as well:

[hero-israel]

What do you think of Reform Jews? I don’t have a problem with it necessarily, but I have noticed it has been the movement of choice for many anti-Zionists to convert into and it’s been making me feel iffy about reform Jews I meet lately bc I don’t know if they’re just a Jew who have been burned by Orthodoxy for their sexuality for example and just want a safe(r) space for them to be both Jewish and Gay, or if they’re a Jew who just converted to legitimize their antiZionism and antisemitism shdjdk which I know is my problem bc I shouldn’t make assumptions about ppl just bc they’re reform

You shouldn't make assumptions about Reform Jews. Or about converts either.

Converts are Jews - full stop - and must always be welcomed, as their souls were welcomed at Sinai. I find it next to impossible to believe that there is any significant trend of people converting to Judaism in order to be anti-Zionist troublemakers. Given how long and involved conversion is (and Reform conversions are just as valid), "haters coming in to attack us" probably happens about as much as razorblades in Halloween candy.

When it comes to anti-Zionist Jews, the call is coming from inside the house. To an overwhelming extent they were born Jewish along one of two paths:

Ultra-Orthodox haredi Judaism (Neturei Karta, Satmar, "True Torah Judaism," etc), who hate Israel both because it was formed by mortal men with smelly armpits instead of by Moshiach with a red heifer, and because Israel is much too tolerant and liberal with too many rights for minorities instead of being a theocratic kingdom where all non-Jewish faiths have been totally eliminated. They "support Palestine" only because it isn't time to wipe out the Palestinians yet, and are every bit as cynical and apocalyptic as the Christian Zionists who want Israel to persist until it is destroyed in the Rapture.

Raised lapsed and unobservant, with Jewish identity totally irrelevant to their lives, to the point that even antisemitism meant nothing to them, so from either the "push" or the "pull" aspects a Jewish state was senseless to them. Judith Butler, Noam Chomsky, Eli Valley, Norman Finkelstein, Alan Rickman, Jackie Walker, Arthur Hays Sulzberger.

It is very hard to convert to Judaism, and we should want more people to persevere through that. It is very easy to throw away a culture and history that seems totally irrelevant to oneself, and we should want those conditions to stop entirely. The latter is a much more real cause of anti-Zionism. It is totally backwards to presume converts must be bringing weakness and subversion with them. I always expect they have joined us out of love and I have never met a case otherwise. The way we slow down the growth of anti-Zionism within the Jewish community is by helping to build dialogue and warmth among people who were born Jewish but for whatever reason feel disconnected and apathetic about Judaism. Show them the community they can still have with us; when we don't, they enter college with a gnawing void of meaning inside them and are easy prey for "Jews for Jesus in Palestine" groups (i.e. If Not Now, formed and led by evangelical Christians).

And since I am Reform, my family is Reform, my children are Reform, "what I think of Reform Jews" is that we're just fine, thanks. The basic "point" of Reform Judaism is to attempt to realize equal treatment for women, LGBT Jews (with gender-neutral ceremonies if requested), and children of interfaith parents, with clergy roles available for all of the above (rabbis, cantors, mohels, etc.), and girls reading from the Torah at their bat mitzvahs; this used to be really distinctive but with overall social trends it no longer is. In terms of social politics, inclusion, and Hebrew-to-English ratio during services, a Conservative shul in 2023 is pretty much a Reform shul in 1993. Where Reform congregations do still stand out is in their full embrace of patrilineal Jews, and in my opinion other congregations should follow that lead as well. I expect they will.

I deliberately left out Jews of color from that list as I think all denominations have been poor at welcoming them. Anyone who wants to give it a go first, please feel free.

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

Hello all, I'm back with another prompt for Werewolf Inclusivity Lore: Round 3

(Previous rounds were about gender and werewolves, and disability and werewolves, in case you're staring at this going 'What the fuck')

Anyway both previous discussions were equal parts fascinating and also super helpful to me personally, so I'm back with another! As ever, if you feel you want to chime in, please feel free to contact me however you wish, including privately and/or anonymously. Also, my standard disclaimer applies: this is for a series of very silly werewolf erotica novels set in Wales, and these discussions are to help me with casual representation - none of these books will be ABOUT these topics, they'll just feature them. Please do not expect a gripping and resonant treatise about what it means to be a trans werewolf. Please just expect some of the sexy werewolves to be trans.

Okay, with that out of the way, Topic Three:

Religion and Werewolves

(Read More to save your dashboards)

Right, now, for the most part this one is straight forward, because they have their own religion, right? They worship a Moon Goddess. The details of that are for me to invent and hash out (the genre I'm writing in has certainly never done so); I am more than happy for there to be regional variants of this religion though. As it's set in Wales I've given her a Welsh name, but I do think outside of Wales she'll have others (I'm also strongly leaning towards her having a cyclical gender presentation these days - most feminine at full moon, most masculine at new moon). All packs do worship her, though, because they're biologically attuned to the moon in a pretty unignorable way, and they believe the bonds between soulmates come from her (v important in an erotica book), and also when all is said and done I really do not intend to overcomplicate this. So far, so simple.

Now, I am trying to make a tidy percentage of characters POC, as I don't want to write a whitewash. But, given that religions can often have heavy interplay between culture and even ethnicity, I would like anyone who is not a mayonnaise-on-white-bread atheist like myself to chime in on what they would feel comfortable seeing integrated (as ever, I fully recognise that milage will differ.) So, for example:

If you wear religious (or religion-influenced) clothing, accessories or makeup, such as a hijab, would you want to see a werewolf character wearing it? I realise some items will be much more likely than others (and some are out of the question anyway - a crucifix is not going to work). If yes, would you be happy with a fake religious in-text reason for it?

If you're part of an ethno-religion like Judaism, how might an explicitly Jewish werewolf work (assuming you're happy to see one)? For context, this is not a genre that has a concept of humans being transformed by bite (although I could if necessary come up with something), but there is very much a concept of werewolves sometimes having human soulmates. So, it is feasible for a Jewish woman to have been mated with a werewolf and had kids, if that helps. However, would you want to see such a character be religiously Jewish? Or some fun new amalgamation? (Alternatively is there anything in Jewish history where you could go "Well, a bunch of groups broke apart from each other at that point and migrated away, so maybe one group became werewolves and that's why they left"? Can you spot them because they use Moon of David iconography instead of the Star? Idk help me pls)

Is there anything you can think of that I haven't even touched on here?

Do you think any or all of this is a terrible idea that should be destroyed with fire and I must be stopped now? I would much rather be told 'no' now, so I don't do it. Please don't feel nervous about telling me this is a bad plan.

I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THAT ALL OF THIS IS BACKGROUND LORE. I will not be writing a book ABOUT this stuff. Just potentially featuring it.

As a final bonus, if your culture has a fun tradition of were-creatures other than wolves that you think would be good to integrate, HMU. Like bears in Scandinavia, for example. The world is full of were-creatures but werewolves specifically are primarily European. Like I know India has a tradition of were-tigers! Which carries with it the fear of accidentally writing racist trash like The Tiger's Curse, but I also wouldn't want to deprive us the glory of a were-tiger character if people would actually want to see one, you know? (If it helps I am happy to write a super objectified and stereotypical Scandinavian were-bear called Björn Vikingson into the same book who only eats fermented herring and blueberries and lives in an IKEA, so that any tiger character is super nuanced by comparison.)

Anyway, all answers appreciated, feel no pressure to chime in unless you want to. Thanks all!

[nicejewishcharactershowdown]

Nice Jewish Character Showdown 2023 -- Round One Eliminations

Well folks, the first round of the 2023 event has concluded, and 16 hopefuls have been taken out of the running for this year's crown. While we wait for the polls to go live for round two, let's take a second to debrief with those contenders, and break down what makes them such Nice Jewish Characters.

Match One Elimination: James Wilson, House MD Apologies to the House MD fans who kept trying to push the vote in your guy's favor, I honestly did not expect 9 to have such a high turnout (I'll elaborate on his inclusion another time). I'm going to make my way around to watching this show eventually I promise, in the meantime all I can reference to validate his Judaism is the textual reference to his Judaism in dialogue, the enthusiasm from my Jewish mutuals, and his entry on Jew or Not Jew (which, although considerably dated, was a popular site for me and my Hebrew School peers to browse between classes).

Match Two Elimination: Susan Ivanova, Babylon 5 While I haven't watched Babylon 5, I was pleasantly surprised to discover just how Jewish this Trek-adjacent show is, at least, in terms of canonicity. The second in command of the titular ship, Ivanova is textually Ashkenazi, Russian specifically. I can't speak on specifics since I, again, haven't watched the show, but it sounds like her relationship with her ancestry is tied significantly into her personal plot arc, as she reconnects with it over the seasons.

Match Three Elimination: Avigdor, Yentl Oh, Mandy Patinkin, the communal zeyde of the Jewish internet. While Avigdor may not be the Nicest of Jewish Characters, we gotta remember dramatic context! And yes, the absolute Gender of Yentl is no small factor in his popularity. I don't regret the picture I used, but I'm sure he would have had a bit of a swing vote if I used the picture of him wet and shirtless. Ah, well. Not like this is the first time Yentl's been snubbed for awards season.

Match Four Elimination: Samwise Gamgee, Lord of the Rings Yes, the books have the unfortunate way they've reflected on antisemitic stereotypes with the portrayal of the dwarves. But when you look at the hobbits, don't they feel like citizens of a shtetl? Aren't you filled with the warmth of shabbos when you think about a hobbit hole? And when thinking about Samwise's unending hope for good, even in the darkest parts of the journey, are you not reminded of something?

Match Five Elimination: George Costanza, Seinfeld Yeah I knew this one was going to infuriate some people. George Costanza, you textually Jewish in every way but literal prince, you are the perfect example of the transitive property of Jewish media (Jason Alexander has been quoted as saying that Costanza is Jewish because he's being played by a Jewish actor). Doing readings on invisible Jewish representation through the lens of Seinfeld (and the associated eras of television) is FASCINATING, btw.

Match Six Elimination: Schmidt, New Girl A very Jewish cast and crew brought this 2010's icon to our screens, and while the humor might not have always been the kindest to his Jewish identity, it's no surprise that he has such a continuing popularity within the former viewing audience. Someone get him a cookie, please?

Match Seven Elimination: Cher Horowitz, Clueless Written by a Jew, directed by a Jew, played by a Jew, Cher Horowitz is a great example of the transitive property of Jewish media. Plus, with a last name like Horowitz and a lawyer father, there are plenty of reasons to interpret the 90's darling as such. This Kveller article is full of fun facts about the Jewish background of the production!

Match Eight Elimination: Barbara Millicent Roberts, Barbie Watch Tiny Shoulders if you don't think Barbie belonged in this showdown. Barbara Millicent Roberts, you've been so popularized and Americanized that we've forgotten your roots, my darling! Ruth Handler, Barbie's creator, comes from a distinctly Jewish background, and her family's Ellis Island history is a good way of looking at the way Barbie's been assimilated. Sure she's got her Christmas-y ties, but most Christmas media comes from us anyways, so I think she can get a pass.

Match Nine Elimination: The Baudelaires, A Series of Unfortunate Events Okay, I'll admit it, I never read ASOUE. It freaked me out too much as a kid, and I've never circled back to it. But it's been on the back of my mind for a while, and now that I'm aware of just how Jewish the source material is, I'm this close to looking up the audiobooks on Libby. This is a step above the transitive property of Jewish media, this is textual. I guess it's characteristic for the Baudelaires to lose, but they can be comforted in how close the vote was.

Match Ten Elimination: Tommy Pickles, Rugrats So I grew up with public access television, and when I finally got cable it felt a bit like I'd missed the boat on Rugrats, age-group wise. But seeing the VHS cases on the library shelves of my synagogue, I always knew that show was a good case of Jewish representation. The Rugrats was revolutionary in their central Judaism in children's media: not just giving it to a side character for special episodes, but giving it to the main character and spending ample time discussing it. Consider putting the Passover or Hannukah specials into your holiday circulation.

Match Eleven Elimination: The Strilondes, Homestuck Somewhat surprising to me, but not really since they lost round one last time, the Strilondes have been taken out of the running. What makes Dave Strider and Rose Lalonde Jewish? Siblings through manipulation of genetic cloning, we witness a Very Jewish Wedding in the Snapchat Credits Sequence to Homestuck, where Rose and her wife, Kanaya, are in the center of a horah dance, lifted above the crowd in chairs (here's the timestamp). Besides that, Homestuck can be interpreted through a very Jewish lens (at least to me, someone who has a John Egbert statuette on their bookshelf). Plus, Homestuck has an answer to the Great Frog Debate (their answer is the biggest frog possible).

Match Twelve Elimination: Frankenstein('s Monster), Frankenstein Sorry Adam, I know losing twice in a row is hard, but to be fair you DID go up against werewolves last time. Why is Adam Frankenstein('s Monster) Jewish? He has a complicated relationship with the concept of a higher power (and in his case, a complicated familial relationship with his own creator). Plus, when I look at him, I see the most famous golem in pop culture. Jewish Frankenstein supremacy <3 (Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, a general plug for the book version of Monster High, published in 2010, which has a VERY Jew-coded interpretation of the titular monsters, imo.)

Match Thirteen Elimination: The Baker, Into The Woods Musical theater is inherently Jewish, so is it any surprise that a Sondheim character made it to the showdown? Into the Woods is a masterpiece, and when you look at it through a Jewish lens it gets even more so -- especially in the second act. The Baker is one of several characters in the show that really become aware of the constraints of their fairy tale lives, and choose to circumvent them. I'm going to restrain myself from discussing it more since the entire original cast recording is available to watch here, and it's one of my favorite musicals ever so I'd just get incoherent in further analysis if you haven't seen the source material.

Match Fourteen Elimination: Will Byers, Stranger Things I knew this was going to happen on the #CecilSweep website, but it still hurts a little bit to see Will Byers lose with such a sweep. Maybe it's the fact the Byers house has readily available Christmas lights. Why was he a contestant? Well, observing the transitive property of Jewish media (as discussed earlier), Noah Schnapp AND Winona Ryder's Judaism is more than enough to validate a Jewish reading of the Byers family -- in my mind, they're a mixed household, and kept celebrating Xmas after Lonnie left because the kids grew up with it (plus, they're in Indiana in the 80's, so...)

Match Fifteen Elimination: The Lorax, The Lorax Did you go to Hebrew School in the United States if you didn't watch or read The Lorax for Tu B'ishvat? I mentioned the VHS library at my synagogue earlier, and this tape was a standard on the wheelie box tv set-up, often used to distract the younger kids who would get bored at the High Holy Days services. He's just a lil' man who loves the trees, that's a mensch to me.

Match Sixteen Elimination: Worf, Star Trek: The Next Generation I feel like I have to apologize for putting the two Trek characters against each other up front. It's another place where my textual knowledge slips a bit, so when I found out just how Jewish Worf is I was pleasantly surprised. Trek has a very odd relationship with just how Jewish it has been since conception (thank you, Nimoy!) , so for Worf's parents to be all but declared to be Jewish is like. You could have just made them Jewish. Why didn't you make them Jewish (we know why).

[i-aint-even-bovvered]

Story time!

I work at a synagogue that has a summer camp for nursery school and preschool aged kids. It's a really nice program because we have this sort of outdoor adventure space with a garden and what they call a "mud kitchen" which just seems like the most fun a toddler could possibly have during the summer, and I kinda wish I had that growing up, I'm not gonna lie.

Anyway, someone calls in and asks about our summer program. She wants to know the ages it's for and how long the sessions are. Crucially, the ages are toddler and preschool, and we only have one eight week summer session (we don't have four or two week sessions). She says she has a kid going into kindergarten, but maybe she'll sign him up next year.

Before I can explain that, no, unfortunately her son will be too old for our program next year, she says the following:

"I was going to sign him up for this other camp, but the woman creeped me out because they read books about gender identity there."

There is no way this woman would have known that she was on the phone with my nonbinary ass, but she obviously doesn't know anything about our shul, or else she would have read our statement on inclusivity, along with the fact that one of our head Rabbis (they're both women) is gay. My boss literally had me buy a new pride flag for outside since the one we have is fading. I am also not the only nonbinary member of staff.

I put on my best customer service voice and say, "Well, I want to let you know that we are a very inclusive community, and while I can't speak to the kinds of books the children read at camp, I can say we do everything we can to make everyone feel welcome, no matter who they are."

The woman then replies, "I don't think I'm interested anymore," and hangs up.

I hope that kid has an easy time growing up, because damn.

TL;DR: Progressive Judaism is not the place for your transphobia.

[mariacallous]

One of the Knesset’s most far-right politicians, who holds non-pluralist Jewish views and anti-LGBT, sexist, and anti-Arab positions, will be the next government’s head of “Jewish identity,” following an agreement signed Sunday with presumed prime minister-to-be Benjamin Netanyahu.

Avi Maoz, the single lawmaker of the fringe Noam party, will be appointed deputy minister and head a to-be-created authority for Jewish identity, which will be housed under the Prime Minister’s Office.

Maoz’s inclusion in the nascent coalition is not vital to Netanyahu’s majority — the Likud leader and his allies won 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset in this month’s elections. But Netanyahu helped pave Maoz’s path into parliament, in both this year’s and last year‘s elections, by brokering alliances on the political far-right, and was not deterred from empowering so radical a politician with so resonant a role as head of a government authority on Jewish identity, albeit one with as-yet unspecified responsibilities.

While Netanyahu’s Likud only shared partial details of the agreement on Sunday evening, the party said that among the organizations to be transferred to Maoz’s authority is Nativ, which is responsible for processing Jewish immigration to Israel from the former Soviet Union.

Among Maoz’s radical positions, he has said that he wants to constrain eligibility for Jewish immigration to Israel by removing the ability for grandchildren of Jews who are not Jews themselves to qualify under Israel’s Law of Return. Many immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union obtain their citizenship under the so-called grandfather clause, and transferring the office that handles their applications to Maoz’s purview may affect their processing.

The coalition agreement with Noam, with the resonant responsibilities and deputy minister’s post for Maoz was announced just days after Likud agreed to make far-right provocateur Itamar Ben Gvir police minister with expanded authorities. It brings Netanyahu one step closer to forming Israel’s most hardline government ever, comprising only right-wing, far-right, religious, and ultra-Orthodox parties.

Shortly after retaining his Knesset seat on November 1, as part of his Noam party’s alliance with Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionism party (a technical alliance engineered by Netanyahu for political expedience and disbanded last week), Maoz said that the Law of Return that establishes Jewish eligibility for Israeli citizenship was being abused to “bring gentiles” into Israel.

“It has been proven once again that the Law of Return, whose purpose is to perpetuate the responsibility that the State of Israel has toward the Jews of the world, is absurdly used to bring gentiles into the State of Israel, and to systematically lower the percentage of Jews in the State of Israel,” Maoz said, as quoted by the Ynet news site. “It’s time to fix this thing, and that’s what we’ll do,” he promised.

In addition to circumscribing the grandfather clause, Maoz and religious political allies are pushing to carve out non-Orthodox conversion to Judaism from acceptable proofs of Jewishness for immigration.

Maoz has also said that he wants to increase Jewish education in Israeli public schools and wants to scrap unspecified “progressive study programs,” including undefined “gender studies.”

His Noam party also ran campaign ads in advance of the November 1 election that said that Arab teachers in Jewish schools contributed to the erasure of Jewish identity, a position condemned as racist by some Jewish lawmakers.

In terms of women, Maoz has pushed to “immediately” close the Israel Defense Forces’ gender affairs unit that promotes women’s place in the military.

He is against women in combat positions, has called to shut down egalitarian prayer at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, and supports a religious party-backed proposal to legalize gender segregation at public events.

Maoz campaigned on “strengthening the Jewish character of the State of Israel” by having stricter national observance of Shabbat, strengthening the Orthodox Rabbinate’s monopoly over religious life, injecting religious law into broader society and promoting “family values.” He and his Noam party hold a number of homophobic positions.

Noam first burst onto the political scene in 2019 with a series of provocative highway billboards and video ads with the slogan “Israel chooses to be normal.” The party claims that the LGBT community has “forced its agenda” on the rest of Israeli society, which believes in a “normal” (heteronormative) family structure.

It has also likened LGBT and Reform Jews to the Nazis. A 2019 campaign video compares Reform Jews, left-wing activists, and gay rights advocates to Nazis and Palestinian suicide bombers, saying all of them “want to destroy us.”

Maoz himself has recently advocated shutting down Pride parades, reinstating “mother” and “father” on government forms in lieu of the newly-adopted “parent,” and enabling now-banned and largely debunked gay conversion therapy.

Noam’s spiritual leader, the prominent national-Haredi rabbi Zvi Tau, has been a leading voice in the national religious community against LGBT acceptance. In 2017, he wrote that homosexuality is the “ugliest deviation, which breaks down family life… and contradicts the first basis of human existence.”

Tau has recently been accused of a spate of sexual assaults, allegedly reaching back decades.

Lawmakers from the outgoing coalition denounced the agreement inked Sunday between Noam and Likud.

“From now on, according to Netanyahu and Avi Maoz, there are Class A Jews and Class B Jews,” Yesh Atid said in a statement, while Labor MK Gilad Kariv, a Reform rabbi, called the appointment a “slap in the face” to secular people, traditionalist Jews, women, and gays.

“MK Maoz will find that the majority of the public will stand up to his party’s attempts to proselytize and sow hatred,” Kariv tweeted.

The Reform movement in Israel also came out strongly against the coalition agreement.

“We remind the presumed head of the [Jewish identity] authority that there is more than one way to be a Jew or Jewess. Avi Maoz, who got a job with excessive funding from the [presumed] prime minister-elect will not decide for millions of Jews and Jewesses in Israel and the Diaspora what those ways are,” the movement said in a statement.

Likud’s agreement with Noam is the second inked during the ongoing coalition negotiations, following a partial agreement with Otzma Yehudit to appoint Ben Gvir as national security minister, as well as assign the party two additional ministers, a deputy minister, and two committee heads.

Religious Zionism, United Torah Judaism, and Shas have yet to sign a deal with Likud.

[female-malice]

Dave Zirin's article slandering Title IX lawyer Nancy Hogshead Makar:

Rightists have a genocidal perspective on trans kids. Now they want the federal government to use Title IX to further push trans young people from public life.

One Olympic gold medalist who supports a trans bans and has written upon it extensively has been the swimmer Nancy Hogshead-Makar and her organization Champion Women. As Dr. Johanna Mellis, cohost of the End of Sports Pod tweeted to me (and I reprint with permission): “Enraging how several cishet [cisgender, heterosexual] white women like NHM [Nancy Hogshead–Makar] who ostensibly vote Dem and believe in abortion rights are trans panic-ers and boosting their platform off such bigotry.”

I guarantee that these very forces will at some point call for Title IX to be thrown out. No one connected to women’s athletics should give them one droplet of credibility. They should be aghast to see Title IX, some of the most important legislation for gender equality ever produced by this country, used as a cudgel to keep trans kids off the playing field. They should call that what it is: an obscenity. Either Title IX is a shining example of inclusion or it is not. For it to be used months after its 50th anniversary as a tool for bigots is the true perversion in this story.

The anti-trans feminists of the sports world say that their support is only for this bill and that they aren’t part of the larger movement of exclusion backed by street violence being whipped up against trans people. This is a cheesecloth-thin cover for the reality of what this legislation represents. HR 734 is a not-subtle way of saying that trans people have no place in public life. Not surprisingly, the same GOP rallying in lockstep behind this bill is also pushing Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) “Protect Children’s Innocence Act,” which would make it a felony for doctors to provide gender-affirming health care to transgender minors. That is also going to be taken up this week. The GOP establishment is all in. The bills are strongly supported by the Conservative Political Action Conference and its leader, Matt Schlapp, who is accused of sexually assaulting a male staffer. At CPAC over the weekend, Michael Knowles, a GOP yipping head, called for the “eradication of transgenderism,” only to threaten lawsuits against people who accurately described his speech as violent and even genocidal. As a Jew, if someone at CPAC—perhaps next year—called for the “eradication of Judaism” and then explained it by saying, “We just meant Judaism, not Jews,” my mind would not be put at ease. And not surprisingly, there has been no condemnation of these statements either by CPAC or anyone who claims to be pro-trans in every area except for sports.

–

Nancy Hogshead-Makar's response to Dave Zirin's sorry excuse for journalism:

I. am. pissed. I know Dave Zirin. I've been on his podcast and he has my contact info, including being connected here on Twitter. Yet he uses me to make this ridiculous argument that pro-female bills that put up appropriate boundaries around our sport categories are "anti-trans" ... and that I'm part of an effort to eliminate Title IX. You have lost your mind.

Tell me Dave, how many times must I repeat that I want transgender people to have great lives, in employment, in classrooms, in living their best lives... but that there are a few places where biology matters. I've said it on CBS Sunday Morning, Dr. Phil, USA TODAY, Washington Post, Daily Mail ... just to name a few. So I missed Michael Knowles ... I am a liberal democrat and do not pay attention to CPAC. That's some shitty evidence of being "anti-trans". I've repeatedly said I am supportive of the Bostock Supreme Court decision, (businesses cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity or gender non-conformity) of the Obama regulations that required schools to not discriminate against trans students, but did not allow males in female sports.

Tell me Dave, you know my story of being way out front addressing sexual abuse in Olympic sport, and what it cost me. Was I doing it to "boost my platform" then?

Tell me Dave, as survivor of a violent rape followed by horrific PTSD, should I have to get changed in front of a male, however they identify? If you think I should "be kind" – fuck you.

Should I teach my 17 year old daughters that they should suppress their inner-voice of danger when they see males in our changing rooms?

If so, you're a misogynist, a woman-hater... someone who isn't allowing women to have their own boundaries, to be safe, to have our own spaces, our own sports, our own ability to shine and be recognized for what we do. We say "NO."

Biology matters in very few places, and where it matters it is absolute. There is no other way to chop up a person to give females half the opportunities to win. Males do not have the right to compete in OUR sport categories.

And I'm beyond offended that you wouldn't contact me about it.

[vaspider]

Hi _ I've been following you for a few weeks now, and my mind has already been blown by the amount of totally awesome shit you've explored! I'm agender and my gender presentation leans masc, so while I wouldn't call myself transmasc, your posts on transmasc experiences are incredibly meaningful and filled with useful information. As an aspec, it's also really amazing the way you explicitly include aspecs in your queer posts, since most allo queer people forget that we're here. I'm also Jewish, and I love the way you approach and discuss Judaism, its history, and its relationship with mainstream culture (especially Christianity) in America.

I never know what I'm gonna get when I see one of your posts, but I'm sure it'll always be interesting and expand my perspectives.

On a completely different note - I've been checking out NerdyKeppie, and I like a lot of the designs there. I work for a small independent bookstore, and we carry some amount of merch, including stickers, magnets, and pins, and we are working to make our store more explicitly queer/carry more queer shit. We buy wholesale from a variety of vendors, mostly through Faire. Do you sell wholesale to businesses? If not, that's totally understandable - I may just have to get some of your merch for personal purposes.

If I should direct my question elsewhere, just let me know the best way to get in touch!

Thanks again.

Hi!

Thank you for your kind words. I try to be thoughtful whatever I'm talking about, so hopefully I succeed. And like... I do try to be inclusive in general, but my wife is aspec (grey ace/demi), so absolutely I include ace/aro people!

As far as wholesale - yes, we have done and will do wholesale on some of our products, and we've worked with bookstores in the past! The appropriate place for that inquiry is help @ nerdykeppie dot com - that'll put you in our service queue, and then Emet and I can talk bulk purchases with you. :)

[merrybrides]

8 Do’s and Don’ts of Same-Sex Wedding Planning

In some ways, same-sex wedding planning isn’t very different than planning a wedding between a man and woman. Generally, there’s a ceremony with vows, followed by a party with toasts. Many of the finer details, however, can be quite different for LGBTQ couples than for straight counterparts.

Here are the do’s and don’ts for same-sex wedding planning.

Do throw tradition to the wind and have the proposal of your dreams. If you or your partner feel passionately about a traditional proposal, with one of you surprising the other and brandishing an engagement ring, then go for it! For other couples, each may want a turn to ask for a hand in marriage, so one may propose one day and their partner proposes to them at another time. Still, some couples may opt out of the proposal ritual altogether and choose to simply decide to get married, then begin to plan a wedding.

Don’t assume that only one of you is “allowed” to wear an engagement ring. 

More and more same-sex couples elect to purchase engagement rings for each other these days, rather than the tradition of only one member of the couple wearing an engagement ring. Whether you and your partner go this route, or choose to have only one partner wear an engagement ring, know that how you do this is totally up to the two of you. Buy matching rings, pick out rings together and exchange them on the spot or surprise your partner with a ring. Whatever works for you two is perfectly acceptable.

Do be sure your wedding venue is LGBTQ-friendly. 

The world of wedding venues for all couples is wide open now, and same-sex couples are hosting beautiful weddings in venues that range from restaurants to rustic barns. Now that same-sex weddings are more common, there are a wealth of online reviews for venues from gay and lesbian couples. Be sure you vet your venues before requesting more information to be sure they will enthusiastically accommodate your wedding.

Don’t think you have to put aside your religion or culture when selecting an officiant. 

While it’s true many sects of popular religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism condemn same-sex marriage, that doesn’t mean there aren’t clergy in those religions who happily perform same-sex weddings. For religious couples, it may take a bit more digging, but with persistence, you and your partner will likely find a minister, rabbi or priest to marry you.

Do take advantage of evolving same-sex marriage etiquette and adapt traditions. 

The modern wedding is something of a hodge-podge of traditions, with couples borrowing rituals from other cultures and religions freely. Same-sex weddings have always marched to the beat of their own drum in this way, so shop around! Adapt rituals from straight weddings like unity candles and processional order, or create unique ways to symbolize your union. Feel free to craft the ceremony of your dreams.

Don’t feel like you must wear a wedding dress or a traditional tux. 

Just because you’re a bride doesn’t mean you want to wear—or even feel comfortable wearing—a wedding gown. The same goes for grooms: You’re not relegated to traditional black formal wear. Same-sex couples are leading the wedding fashion world with creative and unique wedding attire like bridal suits or shorts for grooms. Think about what makes you feel special and comfortable, then shop for wedding attire that fits the bill.

Do be as unique as you’d like with engagement, bachelor, bachelorette parties and wedding showers. 

What does a bridal shower become when there’s no bride? An awesome celebration of love and marriage with close friends and family—no matter what you wish to call it. Don’t be shy about breaking the mold when it comes to your pre-wedding parties and showers. Name them whatever you’d like, invite whoever you’d like without regard to gender or “side” of the wedding party and have fun. Some popular trends for same-sex couples include inclusive wedding showers (i.e. one shower for the couple, rather than a shower for one person in the couple) and co-ed, combined bachelor or bachelorette parties.

Don’t think your wedding party must be divided by gender. 

In fact, same-sex weddings are much more likely than opposite-sex weddings to include men and women on both sides of the wedding party. Think about the folks who’ve supported you and your relationship, and ask them to participate. Forget about being super matchy-matchy in terms of the number of attendants, too. No one will fault you if the parties are a little lopsided.

[magnetothemagnificent]

Instead of misrepresenting terms that were created to describe intersex variations and infertility (Six sexes, not genders), as queer Jews we should come up with new, inclusive terms that are inspired by the gender nonconformity and non-heteronormative people and ideas in Judaism, in the same way Native Americans came up with the modern word of "Two Spirit" as an umbrella term. Language is always evolving and we don't need to and shouldn't misgender and misrepresent intersex people to try and find words for ourselves.

I like the term "נברא בין השמשות" ("Nivrah Bein HaShmashot")-"Created between the suns", which refers to the concept in Midrash of the liminal time between the end of the Sixth Day of Creation and the Seventh Day of Creation. It is said that during this time certain important objects, creatures, and concepts were created. The entities created during this time mostly follow themes of not fitting into certain binaries and/or not being able to be fully explained or rationalized, hence they were created "Between the suns", because they did not fit neatly into one category or another.

I've talked about this idea before and how I relate it to my transness, and I think it would be a perfect umbrella term for Jews whose gender and/or sexuality is outside of societal cishetnormativity.

Another term I like is "עוברים" ("Ovrim") ("Those who cross over"). Jews are known as "עברים" because of how we stand out and may seem to be transgressive or rebellious when we cross over boundaries, and this shares a root with "עברים". The term melds Jewish identity with gender nonconformity and/or transitioning and sexuality that isn't heterosexual.

Or maybe we can come up with another term! But regardless, it's important that we don't misappropriate terms that were created to describe intersex people (who still face mountains of stigma and discrimination and shouldn't be silenced or spoken over by trans people). And anyway, I think it's far more meaningful and beautiful to come up with our own terms rather than misuse centuries old terms that never had us in mind.

The Queer Jewish community is a thriving, invaluable community, and we deserve to create and use our own words.

[ladyimaginarium]

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! Almost done Week 3!

𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖈𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖊𝖘:

Be There Certificate via the Born This Way Foundation ✓

Faculty of Native Studies: Indigenous Canada via the University of Alberta ✓

Managing Emotions In Times Of Uncertainty & Stress via Yale University (upcoming)

Bioethics: The Law, Medicine, & Ethics Of Reproductive Technologies & Genetics via Harvard University (upcoming)

Understanding The Brain: The Neurobiology Of Everyday Life via the University of Chicago (upcoming)

Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology via the University of Alberta (upcoming)

Stanford Introduction To Food & Health via Stanford University (upcoming)

Resilience In Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster & War: Global Perspectives via the University of Minnesota (upcoming) ✓

Humanitarian Response To Conflict & Disaster via Harvard University (upcoming)

Suicide Prevention via Wesleyan University (upcoming)

Introduction To Psychology via the University of Toronto & Yale University (upcoming)

Introduction To Philosophy via The University of Edinburgh (upcoming)

Shakespeare's Life & Work via Harvard University (upcoming)

Ancient Masterpieces Of World Literature via Harvard University (upcoming)

Masterpieces Of World Literature via Harvard University (upcoming)

PredictionX: Omens, Oracles & Prophecies via Harvard University (upcoming)

Children's Human Rights - An Interdisciplinary Introduction via the Universite de Génève (upcoming)

Child Protection: Children's Rights in Theory & Practice via Harvard University (upcoming)

Early Childhood Development: Global Strategies For Intervention via Harvard University (upcoming)

Introduction To Family Engagement In Education via Harvard University (upcoming)

Religion, Conflict & Peace via Harvard University (upcoming)

Justice via Harvard University (upcoming)

Negotiating Salary via Harvard University (upcoming)

The Science Of Corresponding With Busy People via Harvard University (upcoming)

The Path To Happiness: What Chinese Philosophy Teaches Us About The Good Life via Harvard University (upcoming)

China's First Empires & The Rise Of Buddhism via Harvard University (upcoming)

Cosmopolitan Tang: Aristocratic Culture In China via Harvard University (upcoming)

Chinese Culture & Contemporary China via Nanjing University (upcoming)

Japanese Books: From Manuscript To Print via Harvard University (upcoming)

Deciphering Secrets: The Illuminated Manuscripts Of Medieval Europe via the University of Colorado (upcoming)

Introduction To Ancient Egypt & Its Civilization via the University of Pennsylvania (upcoming)

Pyramids Of Giza: Ancient Egyptian Art & Archaeology via Harvard University (upcoming)

Greek & Roman Mythology via the University of Pennsylvania (upcoming)

Antisemitism: From Its Origins To The Present via Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center (upcoming)

American Deaf Culture via the University of Houston (upcoming)

Black Lives Matter via John Hopkins University (upcoming)

Asian American History & Identity: An Anti-Racism Tookit via the University of Colorado

Global Feminism In The 21st Century via Harvard University (upcoming)

Feminism & Social Justice via the University of Santa Cruz California (upcoming)

Gender & Sexuality: Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace via the University of Pittsburgh (upcoming)

Queering Identities: LGBTQ+ Sexuality & Gender Identity via the University of Colorado (upcoming)

The Art & Science Of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs via the University of Toronto (upcoming)

Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing via Yale University (upcoming)

Positive Psychiatry & Mental Health via the University of Sydney (upcoming)

International Travel, Preparation, Safety & Wellness via the John Hopkins University (upcoming)

Super Earths & Life via Harvard University (upcoming)

Judaism Through Its Scriptures via Harvard University (upcoming)

Yeshiva Classes with a particular focus on Halakhah / Jewish Law & Hashkafa / Jewish Thought & Philosophy via WebYeshiva in Jerusalem (upcoming)

𝖓𝖔𝖙𝖊: 𝖘𝖚𝖇𝖏𝖊𝖈𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊.

[landofforestsandrainfall]

Welcome to The Land of Forests and Rainfall

About:

You can call me Fox or Rayn (🦊,💧, or 🌧️ also work)

Pronouns are mostly he/him or they/them, though mutuals can use ey/em, fox/fox's, or 🦊 to refer to me if they want to

I'm 27, ♉ ☀️, ♎ 🌝, ♊ rising

I'm Welsh, Anishinaabe (Algonquin), Scotch-Irish, and Melungeon. I'm white passing.

Pagan (eclectic grey witch with a focus on ancestral tradition, Appalachian folk magicks, duality/balance, deity work, sigils, blood and bones, divination, spirit work, and energy work)

I'm trans masculine and non-binary, specifically I'm a demi-guy. I'm okay with being referred to as a trans man, trans masc, nonbinary, genderqueer, demiboy/demiguy/demimasculine. I also sometimes just reference my gender with a modified version of the Mars symbol.

I'm pansexual and on the aromantic spectrum (demiromantic and greyromantic both fit), and I'm also polyamorous. My primary partner and I live together and we coparent my two children.

I'm a parent, a Mister Mom, if you will. I have two kids, Squish (he/him age 4) and Bunny (she/her, born summer of 22).

I'm physically disabled (EDS, seizures, spinal injury, TBI, and others) and neurodivergent (bipolar, autistic, ADHD, c-PTSD, and others)

My hobbies include hiking, writing and storytelling, mini farming, crafting, consuming true crime and true horror content, science fiction, cannabis culture, body modification, history, and cooking.

My fandoms are TUA, Bojack Horseman, Marvel, DC, Homestuck, Psycholonials, The Fifth Element, Pokemon, AHS, and Rick and Morty.

I'm generally inclusive of all labels and identities. I support the ace and aro communities. I also support the bi, omni, polysexual, and other mspec communities. I support neo pronouns and neo genders, as well as micro genders. I support people referring to themselves in whatever way is most accurate for them. I don't support or engage with LGBTQ infighting.

I'm pro-choice, pro-baby formula, pro-lgbtqia rights (including rights to become a parent), pro-equality, pro-Islam, pro-Judaism, pro-land back, pro-blm, pro-cannabis, pro-sex work, body positive

DNI:

Minors (I don't plan on posting anything nsfw on my main but both as a parent and as someone who's been on here since I was a minor, I'm not okay with it)

TERFS, truscum, transmed, and other transphobes, homo/bi/pan/queer/aphobes and LGBTQIA gatekeepers or exclusionists

anti-semites, islamaphobes, paganphobes, and all others who don't respect certain religions

Racists of any kind including pro-blood quantum and anti-BLM

pedos including maps, nomaps, groomers, DDLG

ableists including pro-autism $peaks, anti-medicine, anti-psychiatry, antivaxxers

pro-ED/thinspo (those seeking recovery welcome)

Child abuse/neglect apologists including pro-home birth,"freebirthers", pro-bed sharing/co-sleeping, pro-ABA, "breast is best", "unschoolers"/anti-education

anyone who supports PETA, one million moms, a$, multi-level marketing, homeopathy, or other bigoted/scam organizations

people who post NSFW on their main blog

People who fetishize/sexualize transphobia, racism, child abuse, mental illness/ableism, or other systemic abuse

any other bigots I didn't mention, any other people who hurt people (especially kids), and general assholes

[women-wellness]

Cultural Perspectives on Menstruation: Taboos and Traditions

Menstruation is a biological process experienced by individuals worldwide, but cultural perspectives on menstruation vary significantly. Across different societies, menstruation has been subject to diverse taboos, rituals, and traditions that reflect cultural, religious, and social beliefs.

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Make the switch to Liwa today and redefine your period experience with unparalleled comfort and protection. Feel the difference and embrace a new level of confidence during your periods!

Here's an exploration of cultural perspectives on menstruation:

1. Taboos and Stigmas:

Impurity: In some cultures, menstruation is considered impure, leading to restrictions on women's participation in religious activities, communal spaces, or even their daily lives during menstruation.

Secrecy: Menstruation is often surrounded by secrecy, and open discussions about it may be discouraged. This can contribute to the perpetuation of myths and misinformation.

2. Religious Perspectives:

Religious Practices: Some religious traditions have specific guidelines regarding menstruation. For example, in Hinduism, women may be restricted from entering temples during menstruation, while in Judaism, there are rituals associated with purification after menstruation.

Symbolism: Menstruation is sometimes symbolically linked to broader religious themes, such as fertility, life, and the cyclical nature of existence.

3. Coming-of-Age Rituals:

Celebrations: In some cultures, menarche (the first occurrence of menstruation) is celebrated with rituals and ceremonies marking the transition from girlhood to womanhood. These ceremonies may include teachings about womanhood and responsibilities.

4. Traditional Practices:

Isolation: In certain societies, menstruating individuals may be isolated from the community during their periods. This practice is often rooted in beliefs about purity and the potential negative influence of menstruating women.

Special Accommodations: Cultural practices may include providing special accommodations for menstruating individuals, such as separate sleeping quarters or specific utensils for eating.

5. Modern Perspectives and Activism:

Challenging Taboos: In recent years, there has been a global movement challenging menstrual taboos and advocating for open conversations about menstruation. Activists work to break down stigma, improve access to menstrual hygiene products, and promote education about reproductive health.

6. Menstrual Hygiene Education:

Promoting Awareness: Initiatives around the world aim to educate both men and women about menstruation, dispelling myths, and promoting a more positive and informed perspective on this natural bodily process.

7. Economic Implications:

Access to Products: In some cultures, limited access to menstrual hygiene products due to economic factors can further contribute to the challenges faced by menstruating individuals.

8. Intersectionality:

Gender Inequality: Cultural perspectives on menstruation are often intertwined with broader issues of gender inequality. Challenging menstrual taboos can be part of a larger effort to address gender-based discrimination.

Conclusion: Cultural perspectives on menstruation are deeply ingrained and reflect the values, beliefs, and norms of a society. While some cultural practices celebrate menstruation, others perpetuate taboos and restrictions. The ongoing discourse around menstrual equity, education, and advocacy aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive global perspective on menstruation—one that recognizes it as a natural and integral aspect of reproductive health.