I am Woman, Hear Me Roar.

I just can’t.

I have spent the last week+ staring, mouth agape at the internets, news outlets, and twitter trying to formulate a coherent response to the absolutely horrifying comments made by Todd Akin, Paul Ryan, Steve King and a whole bunch of other people on both party lines. And I just can’t.

But, Erin Gloria Ryan over at Jezebel has done a pretty phenomenal job putting my thoughts into words (I am sort of concerned she has burrowed into my brain), so instead of continuing to try to respond, I will quote her:

“What needs to happen before spouting ignorant, anti-woman crap in public is uniformly met with the same sort of derision we now reserve for politicians who appeal to ethnic stereotypes during drunken tirades? How much longer are we all going to have to stay angry, after our mothers spent their lives angry? And is it even working?

Eventually a person gets to the point where they can longer withstand the constant blitzkrieg of bullshit. So, Steve King, Todd Akin, and shouty Twitter conservatives: you win. Rape outrage limit reached. I have given this all of my fucks, and the fucks I have given are still not enough fucks. So many more fucks need to be given, and I have exhausted my fuck supply. The fucks are on backorder. Employees are working overtime to restock my fucks, but in the meantime, please accept this 10% off coupon while we wait for the fucks to arrive via FedEx. I’ll be over here, drinking wine from a Pac Man mug and watching cartoons.”

Just replace “Pac Man mug” with “Bob Marley mug” and “watching cartoons” with “watching That 70′s Show” and her response is exactly what I have been thinking.

While Erin and I spend some time refueling our fuck supply, I thought you should know that there are lots of really really really awesome people out there with unlimited awesomeness that they continue to share with society in spite of the glut of women-hating politicians and pundits running around spewing hate.

So if you need to take a break from being angry/sad/horrified, check out just a few of my favorite (feminist) organizations – these people inspire me to keep on keepin’ on, so I’m sure they’ll help combat your war on women fatigue:

Hollaback! (Wooo woo!)

“Hollaback is a movement to end street harassment powered by a network of local activists around the world.  We work together to better understand street harassment, to ignite public conversations, and to develop innovative strategies to ensure equal access to public spaces. By collecting women and LGBTQ folks’ stories and pictures in a safe and share-able way with our very own mobile phone applications, Hollaback! is creating a crowd-sourced initiative to end street harassment. Hollaback! breaks the silence that has perpetuated sexual violence internationally, asserts that any and all gender-based violence is unacceptable, and creates a world where we have an option—and, more importantly—a response.”

Girls, Inc.

Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM through life-changing programs and experiences that help girls navigate gender, economic, and social barriers. Research-based curricula, delivered by trained, mentoring professionals in a positive all-girl environment equip girls to achieve academically; lead healthy and physically active lives; manage money; navigate media messages; and discover an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. The network of local Girls Inc. nonprofit organizations serves 125,000 girls ages 6 – 18 annually across the United States and Canada.

RH Reality Check

RH Reality Check is an online community and publication serving individuals and organizations committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Protection is our watchword—we are contributing to the global effort to empower people with the information, services and leadership they need to safeguard their sexual and reproductive health and rights and to guard against false attacks and misinformation.

RH Reality Check exists as a resource for evidence-based information, provocative commentary, and interactive dialogue. We enjoyed the support of the UN Foundation and the editorial independence entrusted to us for six years, from 2006-2012. In January 2012 we branched off officially as our own independent 501 c3 (non-profit) organization, and that’s what we are today.

The Crunk Feminist Collective

The Crunk Feminist Collective (CFC) will create a space of support and camaraderie for hip hop generation feminists of color, queer and straight, in the academy and without, by building a rhetorical community, in which we can discuss our ideas, express our crunk feminist selves,  fellowship with one another, debate and challenge one another, and support each other, as we struggle together to articulate our feminist goals, ideas, visions, and dreams in ways that are both personally and professionally beneficial.

The FBomb

The FBomb.org is a blog/community created by and for teenage girls who care about their rights as women and want to be heard. The main purpose of the fbomb is to create a community and dialogue amongst teenage girls, and therefore any and all submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis. There is no limit for the number of submissions per person and multiple submissions and submissions sent over time are encouraged.

There are so many super rad organizations out there supporting girls and women so it was kinda hard to just pick a few of my favorites, but I think you get the point.

Yes, there is a war on women, but look at our army. We rock.

What are some of your favorite organizations, blogs, collectives by and for women? I’m always on the lookout – please share!

And ok… I do have one thing to say about the whole media mess: