Reactionary Feminist

Reactionary Feminist explores the intersection of feminism, technology, culture, and health from a critical perspective, questioning progress narratives. It discusses societal shifts in perceptions of gender, sexuality, and relationships, highlighting concerns over the erosion of traditional roles, impact of digital culture, and the exploitation of human nature by capitalism.

Feminism and Culture Technology and Society Relationships and Societal Norms Health and Biotechnology Gender and Sexuality Capitalism and Consumerism Art and Literature

The hottest Substack posts of Reactionary Feminist

And their main takeaways

Strip-Mining Children

34 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Children's Health Ethics Parenting Gender identity Medical Ethics
  1. Some argue for allowing everyone, including children, unrestricted freedom to modify their sexed appearance, claiming it as a fundamental right.
  2. The concept of normophobia pushes for a war on normalized societal patterns, particularly targeting children for exploitation in the name of individual freedom.
  3. Challenges arise when trying to balance individual freedom with the need for limits and guidance, especially in the context of children's development and well-being.

Ireland says NO to abolishing mothers

33 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Feminism Ireland Motherhood Equality Activism
  1. The Irish people rejected a proposal to remove explicit mention of mothers in the constitution during a recent vote.
  2. There is a growing resistance against the push for absolute gender sameness and the erasure of women's sexed nature.
  3. The women's movement is evolving to address new blind spots and emphasize the distinctiveness of mothers and the importance of women's lived realities.

Guest Post: When Reactionary Feminism Ain't It

17 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Feminism Gender Society Family Politics
  1. Feminist policies are not universally applicable and need to consider local, cultural, and material contexts.
  2. Luxury beliefs in feminism can vary greatly across different societal contexts and personal experiences.
  3. Some women may benefit from traditional feminist values like independence and career focus, while others may prioritize family and marriage due to different societal pressures.
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Fetal Schmittianism

26 implied HN points • 24 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics Abortion Legislation Autonomy Compassion
  1. The debate around when unborn babies should be considered people is complex and impacts legal, ethical, and emotional aspects.
  2. Laws on abortion are tied to the concept of personhood and individual rights, presenting challenges in balancing the rights of the mother and the unborn child.
  3. Changing legislation regarding late-stage abortions may affect the broader understanding of personhood and who holds the authority to determine it, potentially leading to unintended consequences.

Doctors Are Not Being Honest About The Pill

29 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Women's Health Medication
  1. Doctors may not be fully informing women about the risks and effects of birth control pills.
  2. The Pill can have serious mental and physical side effects, such as depression, altered mate selection, and chronic inflammation.
  3. There is a lack of long-term research on the impacts of birth control pills, especially on young women's brain development.

Guest Post: Nourishing Your Intellectual Life As a Mother

14 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
  1. Stack reading materials by your nursing spot to utilize time while nursing your baby for reading.
  2. Stay connected with a like-minded buddy to engage in intellectual conversations and grow together.
  3. Involve your kids in your interests like learning about music, as it can be a bonding and enriching experience for the whole family.

Guest Post: The Mother’s Mother’s Tale

10 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Heritage Motherhood Family Literature Identity
  1. The story highlights the importance of understanding one's heritage and the difficult choices mothers sometimes have to make for their children's well-being.
  2. It portrays the struggles and determination of a mother facing societal pressures and personal challenges during her journey of becoming a parent.
  3. The tale emphasizes the power of a mother's love, resilience, and willingness to fight against convention to do what she believes is best for her child.

Best writers and thinkers on the Machine?

11 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🚌 Education Philosophy History Literature Technology
  1. Ruth Gaskovski at School of the Unconformed compiled a reading list on the Machine and asked for suggestions.
  2. There is a summer seminar in Cambridge, MA on the philosophy of technology called 'The Machine Has No Tradition'.
  3. Selected readings from the seminar's syllabus include works by Karl Marx, Carl Schmitt, Ivan Illich, and others.

Are We Replaceable? Part One

6 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
  1. Renaud Camus coined the term 'The Great Replacement', known as a far-right conspiracy theory.
  2. Camus disassociates 'replacism' from conspiracy and argues it is a real phenomenon in Western culture.
  3. The discussion around 'replacism' delves into deeper issues beyond racial violence, exploring structural blind spots in Western ideologies and culture.

The Abolition Of Woman

9 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Gender Athletics Ethics Politics Transhumanism
  1. The biotech of the Left and the Right both view women as a problem to be solved.
  2. Transhumanist efforts to engineer perfect athletes intersect with efforts to engineer phenotypic sex.
  3. The Enhanced Games promotes freedom-enhancing biotech with an emphasis on competitive excellence, framing biomedical interventions as a right.

The Missing Aunties

27 implied HN points • 09 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Relationships Marriage Gender Family Community
  1. In the past, 'aunties' played a role in matchmaking and family formation, which seems more successful than modern dating methods.
  2. The decline of the 'auntie' role in society may have led to challenges in relationship formation and marriage survival stories.
  3. Efforts are being made to recreate an 'aunty-like' network for matchmaking and support in relationships, recognizing the need for social coordination.

Barbie's Beauty Standards

21 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Feminism Gender Society Beauty Art
  1. The Barbie movie explores adult themes like body image and feminism, questioning artificial beauty standards
  2. The concept of economic sex persists despite advancements in technology and biotech interventions
  3. Barbie feminism raises questions about duality, reproduction, and the societal pressure to conform to certain beauty standards

Devour Me, Mummy

25 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Youth Surveillance Digital Culture Online behavior
  1. Thirty percent of zoomers support surveillance cameras in homes, linking to a decline in democratic norms and a rise in authoritarian control.
  2. The shift towards supporting surveillance may be influenced by factors like early childcare experiences and internet citizenship norms.
  3. Younger generations, accustomed to digital surveillance and online authority, are transitioning towards post-liberal subjects.

The Hyperpalatable Human

27 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness
  1. There is a cultural shift in society's view of human nature and health, shaped by biotech and digital advances.
  2. The aim of medicine is now more about self-expression than restoration, leading to extreme self-modifications.
  3. Surgical enhancements, like hyperpalatable foods, can distort natural signals at the expense of their original purpose and health.

Kill The Mother

26 implied HN points • 17 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Gender Studies Psychology Feminism Social Issues Motherhood
  1. The article discusses the concept of 'killing the mother' as a psychoanalytic fantasy related to Oedipal complex.
  2. There is a trend of intense hostility towards women, especially mothers, in contemporary culture.
  3. Expressions of rage and fantasies of annihilating the mother are evident in various cultural aspects, leading to questions about the origins and implications of this phenomenon.

“Parentcare”

25 implied HN points • 23 Apr 23
  1. There is a push to erase female-specific terms and redefine traditional roles.
  2. The idea of flattening sex differences can be seen as erasing women and motherhood.
  3. The call for 'parentcare' over 'mothercare' reflects a trend towards interchangeability and erasure of sex differences.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

18 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Modernity Technology Nature Human nature
  1. Modern tech brings power but also great responsibility or temptation.
  2. Art has long warned about the dangers of wielding power without understanding its consequences.
  3. Exploring tech that aligns with human nature may offer a more balanced approach than seeking to escape it.

Kill The Mother part 2: Babies to Order

18 implied HN points • 31 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Feminism Motherhood Technology Law NGOs
  1. The Law Commission is proposing changes to surrogacy laws that shift focus from natural motherhood to legal parenthood.
  2. There is concern that legal changes may prioritize commercial interests over the natural bond between a mother and her newborn baby.
  3. There is a call to re-examine the influence of NGOs and ensure that technological advancements align with human nature and flourishing.