Sorry about running late with this post, but I'm really frazzled. I agree with Whitney and Tracey, I have definitely had some issues reading Cunt. I try to keep an open mind about people whose views differ from mine. But I really had trouble stomaching some of this one. The parts about abortion made me physically ill. And like Amber said today when she, Tracy and I were talking: How do you accidentally get pregnant three times?? Hello?? When she began to denounce Christianity by implying a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdelene I was very upset. I know she is not the only person to do this, but it still bothers me. Much of her commentary was extremely hateful to men. I'm sorry, but all men are not scum! Trust me when I say, I have dated the worst of them. I have been in an abusive relationship, and yes that takes time to get over. But all men did not abuse me, one did. The relationship I am in now is wonderful, mutually respectful and he treats me like gold. There are such examples of positive heterosexual relationships. Both Inga and Eve need to include those womens' experiences too, and they choose not to, becuase they dont fit their political and social agendas. That really bothers me. If you want to write a book about universality and all cunts, then talk to all women. Include all their stories. Even those that may discredit your social agenda. Women who are not whores, who have not had abortions, who are not lesbians, who may be happy being in healthy heterosexual relationships as wives and mothers have a right to tell their stories too. I'm sorry I am just a little upset about the one-sidedness that i see in Inga's work.

I know, I am also late on my posting, and though it does not count for a grade any longer, I just want to get this in. I will not lie, I absolutely hate this book. I know that there are some valuble parts to it, but overall, I was so dissappointed in it, that those parts were completely discredited for me. This book honestly made me sick to my stomach at times and brought angry, almost hateful tears to my eyes at others. I simply cannot respect Muscio as an author or person. While this may seem harsh, I only want to get out exactly what I feel. It took everything in me to keep reading this book and honestly, if we weren't writing a paper on it, I don't think I would have. I really try to encourage my sisters and my mother (who are all pretty behind on feminism) to read the Vagine Monologues, but I have told everyone I know to never read this book. It has had a really negative influence on me!

Well, as you can see, I am posting two days later than the Friday deadline. I have had to put this book down and pick it up so many times. I agree with whomever said at times they wanted to throw it out of the window. For the most part, I am not enjoying Cunt. One section that I did like, before I state my dissatisfaction, is the paragraph that she wrote on in having a menarche party. What a wonderful way to celebrate crossing over into womanhood. For the most part, growing up, many people do view a womans menstral cycle as being a bad thing, but to be able to reclaim the meaning of our menstral cycles and to be taught to look at it as a celebration is awesom. Although I did not have a big celebration for my coming into womanhood, my daughter will. I agree with Amber that Muscio doesn't leave much room for the awesome miracle that can be and has been conceived from my cunt. I have two wonderful miracles that have come from my cunt and I am happy about them. Just like VM the authors don't leave room for married couples who celebrate and explore cunt and in situations where the man is honestly and truly happy about and want to make his woman's cunt happy and is doing so not grudgingly and with a smile. I was not happy with the section Reproductive Control for Cunts. I believe Amber put is so nicely about it seeming to be a celebration of abortions and not reproduction. I have to agree with Joe. One reason it took me so long to post my message is because I am higly upset with Muscio's audacity (did I spell that right) to put the the terms, Christian, Jesus and Apostles together with forms of negativity. For one, in the preface, page xxxi, she is naming different types of women and I do not like Women are Christian motorcycle dykes. I like motorcycles, and I am a TRUE Christian woman and I am not a dyke. I didn't like that she put those words together. I am not saying that those persons who are dykes or whatever are not good people, but as a Christian I do not agree with the lifestyle, but that is another conversation. Muscio also states on p. 39 that "a number of societies have the right idea prohibiting higly sensitive menstuating womenf rom entering churches. . ., sadistic god is worshipped". I don't know what church she was going to but she certainly would have been welcome in my place of worship. I know understand and know where the idea came from in the OT of the Bible, in the book of Exodus, when women were mensturating, they were ostracized and left out and anything that they touched or sat upon was considered unclean. I don't know if that is still the case in the Jewish religion today, but it does not exist in the the Christian religion. Yes, Mary Magdalenw was a Whore, prostitute, whichever you prefer, but did she in no way have a sexual relationship with JESUS!!! And to suggest that Jesus perceived Mary Magdelaen as an esteemed Teacher is an outrage and she in no way had anything to do with helping Jesus in the are of being humble, or sharing the love manifested in his heart. Furthermore, Eve was not created as a docile replacement for anyone by the name of Lilith. God created Eve in the beginning as a helpmate for Adam so that man would not be alone. Muscio made too many religious accusations that may have been true but she is mixing them up. On p. 105 where she states that women were silent as punishment for the sins of Eve, that is untrue. Our punishement for Adam and Eve's sins was for women to have to go through giving birth and the travail that comes with it. Women were to keep silent in church because they were causing too much comotion about things that they had no knowledge about. Anyways, you get my point.

Overall... I think reading Cunt is going to be a learning experience. Personally, I am very fascinated by what Muscio has to say, however like most I find some of her methods of addressing certain issues to be a little rough around the edges. I do really like that Muscio seems to address more than just one side of some issues. For instance the way in which one chooses to deal with menstration whether it be a rag, sea sponge, or tampon even though it contributes to the male-run corporations who dominate the industry. Thus although I have found some problems with the book... I also have found many things that I enjoy.

Cunt is an interesting book that I think moves to shed light on a more modern femininity in a shocking fashion as many of our classmates have pointed out. Muscio is interesting and frustrating at the same time. She sees a core problem in the way womenhood is approached by women and men alike in society and throughout time. However, I do not see the point in a lot of the ways Muscio tackles certain subjects. I understand what she is trying to do and the messages she is trying to relay/ reveal, but the method and delivery is sometimes just as important if not more than what is actually being said. The deliberate in your face presentation of the material, in my opinion takes away from the essence of the book. In fact, I think it is the reason or part of the reason that a lot of feminist books about women and their experiences are repudiated and simply dismissed in mainstream academia. I cetainly do not want to say that the thoughts and works of others should be blanketed to fit within the mainstream, but there are certain discretions that should be taken. I am not sure who Muscio was thinking of in terms of her audience when she wrote this book, because some components just do not fit. I do like what Muscio has to say, but I think the presentation of the material could have been a bit more refined.

Edited by author 03-19-2004 01:03 PM
I really love that song Lauren!! I actually liked the chapter about menstration, although it has taken me a couple of days to appreciate it. when i first began reading i was very interested b/c it gave alot of suggestions on things to think about. She offered alot of options on what to use that I was not aware even existed and I especially loved the part about the "menarche", which i think that I brought up earlier in the semester(i did not use that term for it). I think that we should celebrate the coming of our menstral cycles. That said, I could not help thinking about the men in our class and how they were taking all of this graphic detail. I'm happy that you're getting through it o.k. Joe. At times though, I got irritated by the chapter b/c it seemed almost like a "how to" book (how to properly menstrate). The part about rinsing one's sea sponge in a public since just did not seem sanitary to me at all!! There were some problematic points that I found in the book, which I am suprised that no one discussed. The chapter "Reproductive Control For Cunts" really bothered me. I will have to save most of my thougts for class but i pose his question to the class. When speaking of "cunts", does the author mean specifically the female organ and all that it can do, or is she using it metaphorically to mean women and their rights? If she is writing about the former then I have a real problem with this chapter. How can we truly appreciate cunts without truly appreciating all of the wonders that they can create? In this chapter, it seemed that she was using healing, magic, and the right to an abortion interchangably. Doing this made it seem as if pregnacy was some disease that needed to be healed/fixed. I am definatly prochioce but what about reproducion and the beauty of it. this chapter was a "how to" on choosing not to reproduce. I can't speak for everyone but my cunt was not pleased. Bleeding is a wonderful necessity and important for cleansing but the month that I noticed my period was gone I did not feel a sense of doom, i felt flattered, Like "wow, why did these beautiful lives choose me". That it what both books are missing. I have yet to finish all of Cunt and hopefully it will redeem itself, but neither book seems to do reproduciton and motherhood any justice. Other than that, i really respect the book for its boldness and even the fact that it is graphic. I don't know of a neat way to talk about bleeding uncontrolably. Sorry for ranting, I'm through.

I can honestly say that I was able to read this book without making cringing faces until a certain couple paragraphs. When she spoke of "whoredom" and Mary Magdalene I dreaded reading every word after the other. I really didn't want to hear any of that kind of talk in the same sentences as "Jesus" and "Apostles". It's not that I am a Jesus Freak who sets out to convert the world, I just felt that I was able to understand her point w/o all the whore-talk. Other than that grievance I can say that I am learning a lot from this book.

Lauren- I love Ani and kept thinking of that song when i was reading certain parts of Cunt- particularly about her dripping her period blood on the floor...
i dont really have that much to say (i feel like i said the bulk of what is on my mind in class on wednesday). i have really enjoyed reading this book. I cant say that i like it better or worse than VM, it is just completely different. VM, i feel, had a tone of victimization and self loathing behing every monologe, whereas i feel that Cunt is more power driven, outspoken, and hopeful. But stating your case is one thing, doing it for the sake of shock is another....
There are times in this book that i feel Muscio uses language and detail for the pure sake of shock- as if if she graphically describes her menstral blood or vaginal discharge, the reader will take away from it some sense of empowerment, provokied by shocking/ borderline gross detail. Am i making sense?? i dont know- i know what i'm trying to say, but its hard to word it.
overall, i am enjoying this book though.

Lauren...that song you chose has some really good yet interesting lyrics that would have even been good to bring in to our in class dicussion on Wednesday as well...anyway...in regards to the chapter on menstration I must say that much like the remainder of the book I have read, I am growing pretty frustrated because the author makes such a conscious effort to emphasize a particular claim but it's almost as if she negates it with her bluntness or what I would like to call her sarcasm. Aside from the writing style though I do feel she makes some thought provoking points, however, in the chapter on menstration I just could not believe the extent of the detailed presented in that chapter as far as feelings, emotions, personal thoughts and other various external forces that provoked more in depth thought and issues for concern. I wrote in my journal that I equated the term,"cuntpower," with the ability to menstrate and whether or not having this ability gave you status and prestige and worthy of having this so-called "cuntpower." But this is still a bit confusing to me so anyone who may understand it better than I do feel free to comment on it.

I assume it's ok to make more than one weekly comment here. Christina, your message made me sit back and think (all morning, actually)of a perhaps less-offensive way to state what I said about "no woman in her right mind wants a period" (or whatever). What would perhaps be a better way of stating it, while still maintaining my position--is that what woman, if given the choice, would want for "Lordisa" (or whoever) to had made menstruation a part of "being a woman" or "being female"? --Yes, of course I can understand what a blessing it might be to have regularity and thus a physiologically healthier body; however, if Woman had been asked, upon being created, if she wanted this monthly mess in order to be able to reproduce (if that's her choice as well), I can not imagine that she would have answered in the positive. What woman wouldn't just like to think that human reproduction is possible merely by lovemaking and experiencing an orgasm--as the other half of society can do? --with no monthly muss, no fuss, no sea sponges or moon-watches. Maybe I'm wrong; I dunno. To me it has been nothing but trouble and pain (emotional and physical) and expense--at its onset, during my adult life, and especially now that I am peri-menopausal. Thanks for listening, and if I truly offended you or anyone else, I do apologize :)

I really don't know what to say about Cunt. I have enjoyed it, but I have also wished that I could throw it out the window at times. Lauren, I really enjoyed the lyrics that you posted it, I think they really get to what Cunt is talking about. I really don't know what to write here, because when Cunt talks about rape and how to treat a rapist I had some really conflicting issues with it, and I don't think that I can truly put into words why that is so. But I did think alot about the t.v. show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, while reading that section, and I think that perhaps this show is somehow trying to get past the silence of rape. I know that I'm probably not making any sense because I don't truly know how I feel about this book. On one hand, I've enjoyed what we have read to this point, and on the other I've been throughly pissed off because of some personal experiences and I don't know where to find the middle ground.

Christina . . . I do sympathize because yes, I DO feel health is important. I also am sympathizing with whoever is missing their CUNT book because somehow I ended up taking two home--my own and someone else's! If whoever you are needs it before Friday, my home # is 541-4572, and cell # is 476-2165. I am on campus today until 11:15 and will bring it with me--contact on cell if you wish and I'll get it back to you. Also, even though we're not officially meeting for class tomorrow, I will be there as usual to meet with my philanthropy group. So sorry; I didn't even notice it until this (Thursday) morning.

Lauren...Thank you so much for those lyrics. I haven't thought about that song in awhile!

The one thing that I wish that writers would take about is those of us women who do not have periods regularly and who wish, hope, long for a period, because that means we are normal or at the very least healthy.

Thanks for a great class today!

Oh, Lauren: I saw the time of your posting . . . you just couldn't WAIT to share that little "gem" with us, now could you??? (yes, I am laughing and appreciated it)
 In fact,I sure appreciate POEMS about it rather than IT itself. Lately we have talked a lot about "reclaiming" certain words and feminism-related phrases, ideas, etc. but I just have to say I do not care to RECLAIM menstruation; I want to DISCLAIM it and furthermore PROCLAIM that no matter how anyone tries to "soften" or "make it more acceptable"--I can guaran-damn-tee you that no woman out there, in her right mind, anyway, would have CHOSEN this Plague of the Period.
Period.
 I have to say that I was dreadfully in fear/awe of my mother, but had she chosen to throw me a "menarche" party, or suggested I watch the moon in search of Harmonizing with the Curse Goddess, I'd have run away from home and never returned. As it was, it was bad enough to suddenly be denied most of my tomboy-related pleasures while bending over agonizing in pain that seemed intent upon rending me in two. And even today, I DARE some woman to accost me in a public restroom with dripping, red-foaming sea sponge in hand and expect me to engage in informative discourse . . . grrrrr. Whatever the opposite of "menarche" would be is what this woman just might encounter if she caught me on a particularly-bad day (and I'd just blame it all on PMS, because I'm sure I'd never be able to cop a self-defense plea)
 But even in all this, there IS some humor:
 My Mom (God rest her sadly-missed soul) had never found tampons comfortable, so when I started on the great Periodical Anatomical Chart, those first few months of Kotex and elastic belts were sheer torture on top of the Hell. So . . . in a rare burst of bravado, one day on the way home from school I stopped at a drugstore and bought some Tampax (even saved my allowance instead of buying 10 packs of baseball cards a week for that month.) Anyway, I ran home, esconced myself in my room, and dutifully read ALL the instructions before trying one in for size. Voila! Success! And so much more comfy than the pad . . .
 BUT
 How to keep Mom from knowing? Well, I suddenly started asking her to buy Pepsi in cans (bottles were still quite common back then)because--in the days before recycling--with a little patience, a used tampon could be safely sequestered
and thus discreetly tossed out with the can. Or, when Mom started worrying if I was diabetic becasue I was so thirsty, I would wrap the evidence in a paper towel and dispose of it in a garbage can somewhere along the way to school. As it was a 2.7-mile walk, I even made it a point not to use the same can too often, lest anyone suspect (and maybe tell my mother!!!!)
 But Mom being Mom, I was ferreted out after a few months (I hadn't stopped to consider that I should have been taking Kotex out of the box we shared, just for appearance's sake). And much to my surprise, I was not scolded or punished for my rebellion, which of course would have added inestimable insult to injury to misery to torture to Hell.
 Watch the moon? Treat myself to a special bath? Fuggidaboutit. Ain't nothin' gonna make this luntcovin' woman rejoice about/reclaim this subject!

Edited by author 03-16-2004 10:55 AM
The reading for CUNT this week, regarding menstruation, reminded me of this song. Isn't it great? I especially like the stanza regarding her conversation with the secretary and her appraisal of the power of her cycle and her blood.

Ani Difranco - Blood In The Boardroom
(written by: Ani Difranco)

From the album "puddle dive"

sitting in the boardroom
the i'm-so-bored room
listening to the suits
talk about their world
they can make straight lines
out of almost anything
except for the line
of my upper lip when it curls
dressed in my best greasy skin
and squinty eyes
i'm the only part of summer here
that made it inside
in the air-conditioned building
decorated with corporate flair
i wonder
can these boys smell me bleeding
though my underwear

there's men wearing the blood
of the women they love
there's white wearing the blood of the brown
but every woman learns to bleed from the womb
and we bleed to renew life
every time it's cut down
i got my vertebrae all stacked up
as high as they go
i but i still feel myself sliding
from the earth that i know
so i excuse myself and leave the room
say my period came early
but it's not a minute too soon

i go and find the only other woman on the floor
is the secretary sitting at the desk by the door
i ask her if she's got a tampon i could use
she says
oh honey, what a hassle for you
sure i do
you know i do
i say
it ain't no hassle, no, it ain't no mess
right now it's the only power
that i possess
these businessmen got the money
they got the instruments of death
but i can make life
i can make breath
sitting in the boardroom
the i'm-so-bored room
listening to the suits talk about their world
i didn't really have much to say
the whole time i was there
so i just left a big brown bloodstain
on their white chair