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waitingtofall:

anotherfeminist:

Femonster: Let me just begin by saying,

feministhistorian:

[tw: rape culture]

theforthrightfeminist:

This is what my pepper spray looks like. For the record, I didn’t buy it for myself, my parents got it for me. As I was walking out of Wal Mart tonight, without it, it donned on me on how fucked up it is. Not only the fact that I need the weapon itself, but it’s color.

It’s like, we’re trying to make rape culture cutesy. Same goes for pink tazers. Pink handguns. We’re trying to make these weapons adorable in order to distract ourselves from the reason we carry them: to prevent ourselves from attackers. 

Not only that, but the pink is geared toward women (or people who identify as women). There isn’t any blue, masculine mace. Why? Because men aren’t the ones who carry it around. How fucking terrible is that? “Here you go, you cute little girls, here’s a pink weapon to protect yourself from potential rapists and/or murderers.” It’s furthering the idea that rape and violence towards women is acceptable. It’s saying because our ways of protecting ourselves are cute and stylish, we’re harmless. Weapons should never make a fashion statement.

I believe the reason it is pink is because it sponsored/donated to breast cancer awareness (I have the same pepper spray). But I understand the sentiment behind this post.

i agree with the viewpoint that it sucks that stuff like this is marketed to women because of rape culture, but this post just reminds me that it bothers me when things that are stereotypically feminine are derided by feminists… like once i was told that i shouldn’t like the color pink because it’s oppressive. i’m pretty sure that i have the right to choose whatever color i like, and it’s just problematic when a certain thing is made out to be the ‘only’ correct choice. not that this post is necessarily making that argument but it just reminded me of that incident.

that said, all of my children will probably be carrying pepper sprays no matter what their sex is. and it will probably be something bright like pink so they can easily see and grab it, and maybe it especially will be pink no matter what if its proceeds are donated to breast cancer awareness organizations~