My New Blog, Where To Find Me, And How To Contact Me

If you read this blog or if you liked this blog, when it was alive, then I think you’ll like my new blog.
Check out my new blog: Forwrrrd
Forwrrrd is an activism, DIY, equal rights, feminism, human rights, riot grrrl, and women’s rights blog. If anybody wants to contribute something to the blog, email me: grrrlsvomitcandy@hotmail.com with the subject “blog” or “contribute”. Contributions must be activism, diy, equal rights, feminism, human rights, riot grrrl, and/or women’s rights focused. Any and all contributions will be appreciated and credited. Thanks!

Here are some websites I can be found on:
Riot Grrrl Online Website (RGO) link #1 or RGO link #2 or RGO link #3
Riot Grrrl Online News/Updates Page
Riot Grrrl Online Forum
Riot Grrrl Online Social Network
Free @riotgrrrl.co.uk Email Address
Riot Grrrl Chat
Riot Grrrl Online Updates and Other Riot Grrrl/Feminism Stuff
Riot Grrrl Online LiveJournal Community
Riot Grrrl Online Last.fm Group
Riot Grrrl Online on Myspace
Riot Grrrl Online Group on Myspace
Riot Grrrl Online Mailing List
Riot Grrrl Online on MyBlogLog

Here are some social networks I can be found on:
Care2
Delicious
DeviantArt
Digg
Last.fm
LiveJournal
Myspace
TakingItGlobal
Technorati
Twitter
Wikipedia
Windows Live Spaces

You can also email me, but just remove the NOSPAM part of the email address.

Feel free to email me: links, riot grrrl chapters, information, articles, submissions, contributions, etc. for the Riot Grrrl Online website or for the Forwrrrd Blog. Thanks!

Raping America’s Female Soldiers

For the more than 200,000 women serving on active duty in the U.S. military, sexual assault and harassment are issues not to be ignored – and now that the armed forces are taking steps to correct the problem, some wonder if it is doing enough.

In the fiscal year ’07, ending Oct. 1, military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan reported 131 cases of rape and assault. The Department of Defense recorded 2,688 cases of sexual assault last year; 60 percent were allegations of rape.

Some women claim the military does not respond adequately to allegations of sexual harassment and assault. Carolyn Schapper, 35, told the Associated Press an Army National Guard soldier repeatedly stormed into her room while she was dressing in Iraq. She began changing in her shower stall to ensure she had privacy. Schapper said she wouldn’t think of reporting the incident, because she believed administrative action would be taken against her instead of the other soldier.

Missing pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach’s body was found burned in a shallow fire pit located in Cpl.Cesar Armando Lauren’s backyard earlier this year. She had accused Lauren of sexually assaulting her and planned to testify against him before she vanished.

Lauterbach’s mother, Mary, blamed the military for being slow to act, denying her daughter’s request for transfer and not properly dealing with the sexual assault complaint – even after her daughter was punched in the face.

“I believe Maria would be alive today if the Marine system had been different,” she told a panel of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee July 31.

A woman named Ingrid Torres worked with American Red Cross at a U.S. base in Korea. Torres took Ambien before bed, and an Air Force flight director raped her while she slept.

Testifying before the committee, Torres said, “He still comes after me in my dreams.”

After the hearing was dismissed, Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., said there is an “epidemic of assault and rape against women in our military.”

“Women serving in the military today are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than be killed by enemy fire in Iraq,” she said.

According to a Government Accountability Office report released July 31, incidents of rape and sexual assault in the military are under-reported by nearly half. Many soldiers fail to report assaults because they worry “that nothing will be done; fear of ostracism, harassment, or ridicule; and concern that peers would gossip.”

Some victims argue that the military chain of command would punish or move them if they complained, rather than discipline the person responsible for the assault.

A Department of Defense 2006 Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members shows 34 percent of all female service member respondents were sexually harassed, and 6.8 percent indicated experiencing unwanted sexual contact including rape, nonconsensual sodomy or indecent assault.

While evidence that war worsens the problem of sexual assault is lacking, women serving in the Army were most likely to be sexually harassed and/or assaulted than any other branch. Low-ranking, enlisted females were more likely than their commissioned or higher-ranking counterparts to be raped. Seventy-five percent of victims reported assaults occurring at a military installation.

A full 50 percent of female respondents experienced incidents of rape or attempted rape, 38 percent reported unwanted sexual touching and 12 percent did not specify. Most women did not report the incidents because they felt uncomfortable, thought they would be labeled a troublemaker, didn’t want anyone to know, did not think anything would be done or feared retaliation.

Under fire for its method of handling sexual harassment and assault cases, the military introduced a Care for Victims of Sexual Assault Task Force. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld charged the task force with investigating sexual assault in the military in 2004. The U.S. Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response confidential reporting system was established in 2005 – though reports still show half of female victims do not report the crimes. The military also conducts required classes on sexual assault and harassment.

The Pentagon has teamed up with Men Can Stop Rape, a non-profit organization that seeks “to mobilize men to use their strength for creating cultures free from violence, especially men’s violence against women,” to teach soldiers how to recognize signs of sexual assault.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs added a 16th inpatient ward for military victims of sexual trauma, the Associated Press reported. VA hospitals are also providing keyless locks on its doors so female patients can feel more secure.

Source: WorldNetDaily, August 21, 2008

Blog Survey

I want feedback about this blog, so please answer the following questions in a reply to this post.

1.) What do YOU want to see on this blog? (as in posts)
2.) Are there any changes I should make to this blog?
3.) What do YOU think about this blog?
4.) Any other suggestions for this blog?
5.) Are there certain topics that I should post about more often? If so, What topics should I post about more often?
6.) Are there any posts/topics that YOU would like to see me write about? (I’m not talking about the news posts that I make on this blog. I’m talking about personal opinions, experiences, thoughts, etc.)

I know I already post about alot of different things, but I’m wanting opinions and suggestions. As a blogger and for you, as a reader, it’s important to know your thoughts about this blog, so I can improve this blog.

Feminism Friday: Interested In A Feminism Forum?

Since this is a feminism blog, I thought I’d post it. I posted this in my _feminism Livejournal Commmunity.

What does everyone think of the idea of having a feminism forum? The forum would be about feminism, the many different types of feminism, will be for discussion of ALL types of feminism, discussion of women’s rights, discussion of women’s studies, etc. Yes, I am very aware that livejournal, myspace, last.fm, etc. have groups or coumminities as forums for feminism, however, there are more people interested in feminism out there that are not on those websites. If I get enough heads up for the idea, I will make the forum. If I don’t get many replies to this post, then I will NOT make the forum.

I am thinking of using proboards or invisionfree for the forum provider. If anyone is interested in helping me out with the forum: layout, ideas, or being a moderator on the forum, Please let me know by replying to this post. Also, The forum will be discussed by email, so if you really want to help out or be a moderator, please leave your email address in a reply to this post OR you can email me here: grrrlsvomitcandy at hotmail dot com Thanks!

44 Writings I Need For This Blog

I am in need of some articles and writings for this blog. I will add to this list as I see fit. The ones listed below are ideas for articles and writings and are some writings/articles I need for the blog. By writing the article (or articles), You will be emailed an invite to join this blog and will be able to post up your writing on the blog. Be sure to let others know that you wrote the article (or articles).

ARTICLES AND WRITINGS NEEDED:

1-History of riot grrrl: how, why, where, when, and who started it. (about the music and the movement)
2-History of feminism: how, why, where, when, and who started it.
3-The 3 waves of feminism.
4-The many different types of feminism such as: anarcha-feminism, individual feminism, radical feminism, and all the others.
5-Write about your favorite feminism/riot grrrl website or write a review of your favorite feminism/riot grrrl website. (can be blogs, websites, forums, etc.)
6-Write your own definition of what feminism means to you.
7-What does riot grrrl mean to you? (Write as much or as little as you want.) Describe riot grrrl in your own words.
8-Write about being a riot grrrl in another country. What’s the riot grrrl scene like where you live? Is there a chapter where you live? Any riot grrrl bands where you live? How did you get into riot grrrl? How long have you been into riot grrrl?
9-Write about how you got into riot grrrl. What, how, when, who, and where made you get into riot grrrl?
10-Write about being a riot boy: how, when, who, what, and where did you get into riot grrrl?
11-Write your own riot boy manifesto. (I already have a version on my website.)
12-Write about being a male feminist: how, when, who, what, and where did you get into riot grrrl?
13-Write some feminism questions that you would like answered or start a feminism FAQ (frequently asked questions) of your own and the answers to them.
14-Write some riot grrrl/boy questions that you would like answered or start a riot grrrl FAQ (frequently asked questions) of your own and the answers to them.
15-Write about women’s issues important to you.
16-Write about feminism and what it means to you.
17-Write how you got into feminism and why.
18-Make a list of reasons on why your a feminist. Try to think of 50 or more reasons, if you can. 10-20 reasons will do too.
19-Make a list of reasons on why your a riot grrrl. Try to think of 50 or more reasons, if you can. 10-20 reasons will do too.
20-Write some DIY tips or share yours. Share your own DIY stuff.
21-Write something about being an activist/ or about activism.
22-Write something about zines or your life as a zinester.
23-Write about your ladyfest or a ladyfest you attended.
24-Write about a riot grrrl chapter or your own riot grrrl chapter.
25-Write about being pro-choice, why your pro-choice, or what it means to you.
26-Write something about how riot grrrl and queercore music are connected.
27-Write something about how riot grrrl and grunge music are connected.
28-Write something about how riot grrrl and punk music are connected.
29-Write something about feminism in other countries. What’s feminism like in your country or other countries?
30-Write something about human rights in your country or another country.
31-Write something about equal rights.
32-Write about why is feminism important today.
33-Write your own definition of what a riot boy is to you. Give your own definition of riot boy.
34-Write your own Zine DIY guide.
35-Write how to start a riot grrrl chapter DIY guide.
36-Write your own list of ways to be an activist.
37-Write a review of a zine or your favorite zine.
38-Write about your experience with the Riot Grrrl Online website.
39-Write about the Riot Grrrl Online website or do a review of the website. If you write about the website, write how you found the website, how you got active in the website and why. I’m sure there are more things you can write about the website, as long as your a reader or fan of the website, your input is appreciated.
40-A review of your riot grrrl or feminist website.
41-Write a news story. Write about an issue or topic important to you or an issue/topic you think would be important to others that is happening in the news.
42-Write your own women’s issue story. If you are a survivor (of anything from rape to cancer, etc.), I’d like to hear your story and what you went through.
43-Write how to start a ladyfest.
44-Write how to start your own record label and/or band.

If your interested in writing one of these articles, Feel free to read the “contribute” page and reply to the “contribute” page or email me. If you comment on the “contribute” page or email me, Please specify which article (or articles) you want to write about by letting me know which number or numbers (# or #’s) your interested in writing. If you have your own ideas for writings or whatever, feel free to email me some of yours.

*This is also posted on the “Ideas” page.

What You Can Do Right Now About The Federal Abortion Ban

This was taken from here.

What you can do right now about the Federal Abortion Ban

The Supreme Court just issued its decision to uphold the Federal Abortion Ban. The ban, which has no exception for women’s health, opens the door for further political interference in our personal, private medical decisions.

Here are several things you can do right now to help fight back and protect a woman’s right to choose as recognized under Roe v. Wade.

1. Make a donation.
If you believe that women and their doctors should never be forced into making difficult, personal, medical decisions based on extremist politics – then you must stand up and fight back. Click here to find out how we’re fighting back, and how you can help.

2. Support the Freedom of Choice Act.
Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), to secure the right to choose by establishing a federal law guaranteeing reproductive freedom for future generations of American women.

3. See how real women are affected.
Read the story of a woman whose health would have been in danger under the Federal Abortion Ban. Then, share this story with your friends.

4. Share your thoughts.
Visit our blog to read and comment on pro-choice news and the future of a woman’s right to choose.

Stalking Facts And Information

I thought this might be interesting to read about. It is a women’s issue and it seems to be a problem. I got the information below from here.

Stalking Facts and Information

10 Things You Need to Know About Stalking

1. Stalking is a crime.
Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that places a reasonable person in fear for her or his safety. It is against the law in every state. Stalking across state lines or in federal territories is illegal under federal law.

2. Many people are stalked.
1 in 12 twelve women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetimes. 1.4 million people are stalked every year in the United States.

3. Stalking can be very dangerous.
76 percent of women killed by their intimate partners were stalked by these partners before they were killed. All stalkers should be considered unpredictable and very dangerous.

4. Stalking is harmful and intrusive.
Stalking victims often lose time from work or never return to work, and some even relocate to regain a sense of safety. Many suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and severe depression as a result of being stalked.

5. Anyone can be stalked— not just celebrities.
The vast majority of stalking victims are ordinary people. Furthermore, most stalkers are not strangers, but are known by their victim.

6. Stalking can occur during a relationship, after a relationship, or in the absence of a relationship.
Stalking often begins during a relationship. Stalkers may keep the victim under surveillance or threaten her or him. Others begin stalking after the victim has ended the relationship, and the stalker feels desperate to maintain or regain control. Still others become fixated on a victim without ever having had any relationship with the person. All forms of stalking are unpredictable, and all should be considered dangerous.

7. Technology can be used to stalk.
Although newly-developed technology enhances our lives, it can also empower criminals. Cell phones, computers, and surveillance equipment are just some of the technologies stalkers now use.

8. An effective response to stalking includes the entire community.
Police, prosecutors, advocates, educators, reporters, neighbors … everyone can and should play a part in stopping stalking. Working together, we can make victims safer.

9. You can make a difference.
Visit http://www.ncvc.org/src to learn more about stalking and how to fight it.

10. Help is available.
If you or someone you know is being stalked, call 1-800-FYI-CALL for assistance.000 M Street, NW Suite 480, Washington, DC 20036, Tel. 202-467-8700, 1-800-FYI-CALL / TTY: 1-800-211-7996, http://www.ncvc.org,

All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 by the National Center for Victims of Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is distributed free of charge, in its entirety and includes this copyright notice.

If Your Or Someone You Know Is Being Stalked

If You Are Stalked
These are common reactions to being stalked. You are not to blame for a stalker’s behavior. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. These are common reactions to being stalked. Stalking is a crime.

These are common reactions to being stalked. You might:

• Feel fear of what the stalker will do.
• Feel vulnerable, unsafe, and not know who to trust.
• Feel nervous, irritable, impatient, or on edge.
• Feel depressed, hopeless, overwhelmed, tearful, or angry.
• Feel stressed, including having trouble concentrating, sleeping, or remembering things.
• Have eating problems, such as appetite loss, forgetting to eat, or overeating.
• Have flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, feelings, or memories.
• Feel confused, frustrated, or isolated because other people don’t understand why you are afraid.

If Someone You Know is Being Stalked, You Can Help
Listen. Show support. Don’t blame the victim for the crime. Remember that every situation is different, and allow the person being stalked to make choices about how to handle it. Find someone you can talk to about the situation. Take steps to ensure your own safety. For more ideas on how you can help, call 1-800-FYI-CALL.
Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. There are no guarantees that what works for one person will work for another, yet you can take steps to increase your safety.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are. Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about suicide or murder, or when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.

Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, or a domestic violence or rape crisis program. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, refer you to other services, and weigh options such as seeking a protection order. Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay, and having a friend or relative go places with you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the stalker shows up at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell people how they can help you.

Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you. Keep evidence of the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, write down the time, date, and place. Keep e-mails, phone messages, letters, or notes. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries the stalker causes.

Ask witnesses to write down what they saw. Contact the police. Every state has stalking laws. The stalker may also have broken other laws by doing things like assaulting you or stealing or destroying your property. Consider getting a court order that tells the stalker to stay away from you.

Tell family, friends, roommates, and co-workers about the stalking and seek their support. Tell security staff at your job or school. Ask them to help watch out for your safety. Stalking is a series of actions that make you feel afraid or in danger. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can
escalate over time.

A stalker can be someone you know well or not at all. Most have dated or been involved with the people they stalk. About 75 percent of stalking cases are men stalking women, but men do stalk men, women do stalk women, and women do stalk men.

All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2002 by the National Center for Victims of Crime. This information may be freely distributed, provided that it is distributed free of charge, in its entirety and includes this copyright notice.

Riot Grrrl FAQ

I got this from here at archive.org.

If you want to ask a question about riot grrrl, Feel free to comment in a reply to this entry. I will make a new post with my own Riot Grrrl FAQ and will post your questions and I will post my answers. If you want to ask one of the same questions that is listed below, that’s fine. You will get my own answer.

Riot Grrrl FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Question 1: Who started the riot grrrl movement?

Answer: As far as I know, it started in Washington, DC in 1990 by a bunch of girls who started having meetings to talk about issues that were bothering them and to start bands and fanzines together. Molly, Erin, and Allison from Bratmobile were involved with this. In fact, Molly Neuman was the one who coined the term “riot grrrl” as a joke, but somehow the title caught on. There was never a set agenda made by these girls. Soon after, Washington State, most notably, Olympia. After a heavy circulation of riot grrrl oriented fanzines circulated the country, so did upstarting riot grrrl chapters.

Question 2: What exactly constitutes a “riot grrrl band”?

Answer: This is a question I’m going to have a hard time answering because I’ve never actually heard of what you may think of as “riot grrrl bands” (e.g. Bikini Kill, The Lunachicks, L7, Babes in Toyland, and so on…) call themselves such. In fact, I’ve heard a lot of those bands reprimand journalists for calling them “riot grrrl bands”. Members of Bikini Kill and Bratmobile did have ties to the movement. So did Lois Maffeo, Kim Gordon, and Courtney Love. But they never necessarily wanted their music to get dubbed as “riot grrrl”. It’s almost as though if you were in a female or predominantly female band in the early 90′s, especially, you’d get called a “riot grrrl band”. But it’s not a form of music, contrary to popular belief. It’s a feminist movement.

Question 3: Is Courtney Love a riot grrrl?

Answer: No. She was very interested in it when she first heard about it, and she spread the word to everyone. Many riot grrrls didn’t like the fact that she spread it to the mainstream media, which was seen as the enemy. At the end of 1991, she had told Melody Maker that the riot grrrls really made her year, in all seriousness. By 1992, she had written a couple songs with anti-riot grrrl lyrics since she had been ostrasized from the group. She no longer identifies or involves herself with riot grrrl at all.

Question 4: What is the definition of a riot grrrl?

Answer: There is no set definition. Every riot grrrl has a different definition for it, and that’s one thing that makes it so different than other social movements- the personal freedom that’s involved.

Question 5: How does one start a riot grrrl chapter?

Answer: If you already have a group of friends together who would be interested, simply find a time and place to have meetings, and go for it! If not, then make flyers about it. Make sure to include yr name and address, phone number, fax number, e-mail address, or some way to contact you. Post them anywhere you can in yr area. Run ads in fanzines or even the newspaper. And never underestimate word of mouth! When people contact you about it, make sure to take down their information, too so you know how to get ahold of them once you want to start having meetings.

Question 6: Are boys allowed in riot grrrl?

Answer: Yes! Equality can not be achieved unless effort is put forth by everyone! Therefore, boys are encouraged to get involved with riot grrrl.

Question 7: What do you have to do to be a riot grrrl?

Answer: All you have to do is simply proclaim yrself as one.

Question 8: What are the beliefs of riot grrrl?

Answer: We believe in girl love, not girl competition… supporting eachother and sisterhood and all that sweet stuff. We believe in fighting against discrimination based on gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, and appearance at all costs. We believe in creating our own means of getting these messages across such as starting fanzines, bands, and making stickers rather than using the mainstream media as a tool.

Support the Support Act!

As a huge fan of music and a regular national and local gig goer, something has been bothering me just recently. It’s all about support acts at any tour or gig in this country, I won’t speak for other countries as I don’t know if it’s the same worldwide, I’ve not been to any gigs anywhere else in the world (yet).

My problem is us British people show no enthusiasm at all for any support acts. Every gig I’ve been to recently, while the support act is on, people just stand there not moving, not even tapping their feet and giving the least exciting applause you can get.

I appreciate that the majority of people are not there to see the support act, of course they are there to see the main headliner. But does this really mean we shouldn’t show them any interest? If the shoe was on the other foot, and you were there to see the support act mainly, you’d be quite upset that no one else was interested in them. I know when I saw Joan Jett and the Blackhearts supporting Motorhead and Alice Cooper, I felt quite sad that I couldn’t get up and dance as I felt uncomfortable as no one else around me was moving at all or even smiling! And this was someone as famous as Joan Jett!

My theory is even if we don’t know the support act or particularly like them, we should either not come until the person we want to see is on, so that the people that have come to see them can enjoy them, or we do our best to show them our support! This band/s has probably either been asked by the band you’ve came to see or is perhaps on their record label or needs exposure. In any which case, if you’re a real fan of the band you’ve came to see, you will be happy that they’ve provided you with some other music to enjoy whilst you wait for them to get ready to perform!

So my thought is to have this manifesto, the Support the Support Act Manifesto! This the manifesto itself:

I will show my support for support bands at every gig/tour I go on. I will dance to them even if no one else is, I will at the very least tap my feet or nod my head, I will clap loudly after every song. I will not say how terrible they are to other members of the audience. If I think they are, I will talk about it to my friends away from the gig itself. I will be thankful that the band I’ve came to see has bothered to put some more entertainment on for me, I will appreciate that the band needs exposure and that there may be some people that have came just to see them. I will support the support act!

If you agree with this manifesto, please copy and paste it and put it into your myspace/face book/blog wherever you can where people will see it!

Hello World

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Riot Grrrl Online Blog. The blog is part of the Riot Grrrl Online Website/Forums. The website is back up and running and the forums are located there. If you were a member of the website before and you cannot login now, You might have to re-register (create) a new account on the website to have access to certain features of the website. (including the forums) If you have any questions or if you want me to create an account for you, Feel free to email me the following information: username, password, country you live in, and your email address. DO NOT send me this information in a reply to this post!

This blog needs YOUR HELP! If you want to be an author (someone who posts daily or almost daily) or a contributor (someone who posts whenever they want) to this blog, Please email me or reply to this post and let me know which you want to be: an author or a contributor. Let me know what you plan on writing about in the blog. It MUST be feminist or riot grrrl related. Also, If you have any ideas for what I (Greta/grrrlriot) can write about in this blog, Please let me know. I want this blog to be interesting and feminist/riot grrrl/riot grrrl online related. I do not want posts about how your day is going or other personal stuff, Write that stuff on your blog on the Riot Grrrl Online website, if you are a member of the site.