16 May 2013

Blog Day, part the tenth: television revisited revisited.

How many of you have seen that commercial with Sarah Michelle Geller narrating, which begins with the words (from memory): "Who can understand the life of a woman in a third world country, except for all women, everywhere?"

Really?

The hubris and arrogance of this statement is just so stunning, I have trouble wrapping my head around it.

They actually think they can relate to the life of women in the third world simply by virtue of being a woman?  What in the name of all that is good and right in this world makes these people think that their privileged, white, western life qualifies them to understand the life of women in poverty and squalor?  It is gender based imperialism.  You know exactly what these poor women need.  Hail to you, O women of the first world! You have just undertaken the White Woman's Burden.  Worked out great for men.  Good luck with you.

Seriously, if that converter doesn't show up, there will be much suffering.

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