The Patriarchy Is Insidious That Way

[pantryslut]

Strange things I have learned today: there is no configuration of "carbon-based" vs. "silicon-based" as add-ons to the standard gendered restroom signs that does not subtly recapitulate problematic tropes about the nature of men vs. women.

(not to mention the equally subtle one about triangles vs. circles, which my daughters have recently brought to my attention due to Simone's repeated desire to "go to the triangle room.")

Comments

[thette.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've seen triangles and circles. Triangles pointing up and down, I've seen at least a few times.

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

Nor even the words "stand up" vs. "sit down," though I like those options.

[bifemmefatale.livejournal.com]

There's a hunting-themed restaurant in WI that simply has a picture of a dog on each door. A patron asked, "How do I know which one is men's and which one is ladies?" The server replied, "That one's for pointers and that one's for setters, ma'am."

[touchyphiliac.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!

[sparkymonster.livejournal.com]

Huh. Good point. Though I really like the idea of going to the triangle room.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Carbon silicon do what?

I can't even begin to parse that as anything but "these divisions are silly, go whereever you want to". What is it *supposed* to be...? (This is my confuuuuuuuused frowny face.)

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

It's a not-uncommon guerrilla relabeling scheme at certain SF cons, and yes, it's meant as a trans-friendly way to convey "these divisions are silly, go wherever you want to."

[trinker.livejournal.com]

Yay, I have successfully deciphered the folkways of my adopted people!

[garnetlocks.livejournal.com]

Is that what that was about?

[redbird]

Trans and intersex: Raphael Carter posted about the whole thing shortly after doing it the first time, but zir web site crashed a few years ago and I think was never put back up.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

And so I can't remember if, in the original incident, the standard restroom signs were *replaced* or not. Because that's what I noticed: it has a different effect in each case.

[redbird]

If I recall correctly, Raphael was prompted to do this by a pair of single-stall restrooms that had no gender labels, either words or drawings. But I am working from distant memory.

[abostick59.livejournal.com]

Some wag appended an "E" to "Silicon(e)-based," unfolding yet another problematic dimension to the recapitulation of problematic tropes. (This was mitigated a bit by "Silicone-based" being on the traditionally-male restroom.)

And, as I noted on Twitter, once again energy beings have been disappeared and ignored. Plasmafail strikes again.

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Silly. Energy beings don't need to use the restroom.

If I think about this too long I am going to start figuring out the waste products of silicon and silicone-based beings and gross myself out.

[tinyrevolution.livejournal.com]

The prevailing opinion is that they'd secrete quartz crystals!

[tinyrevolution.livejournal.com]

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2010/09/02/guest-post-go-where-sex-gender-and-toilets/

[sparkymonster.livejournal.com]

psst. Random link drop for your daughter's hair. The site is geared a little older but your household may find it useful.
http://tweenyhair.blogspot.com/

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Oh, awesome. Thank you.

Coincidentally, Simone gets her first haircut tomorrow.