Verity La La magazine is an online, transnational creative arts journal that publishes fiction, poetry, nonfiction, visual art, reviews, and interviews from Australia and around the world.
This is one of your best posts ever. The ending is quite brilliant.
I think your writing resonates way better when you write in an easy, informal, conversational tone..As you did so brilliantly in this piece.
Curiously there is an ancient Indian tale about Mother Kali that chimes with the evolution of feminism and the cycle of ages. Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva and in a story she is harassed by a demon (Asura). She fights him, defeats him, but a new demon springs up everytime its blood falls on the ground. (metastasize).
Enraged, Parvati transforms into Mother Kali, a fierce form of Divine Mother and drinks the blood of the demon, but in doing so, the demon posseses her and she starts burning down the whole world!
Then Shiva walks in front of her and Kali, still possesed and enraged, begins to attack and insults Him too. Its then when she realises her blunder and comes to her senses.
Burning it all down, I guess is what is happening now
I want to heart all of this. Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words Ankur. I chose a different writing style for a different platform to differentiate from my usual style.
I also really appreciate the Indian tale and the role of Shiva in Kali's wake up from her possessed state that applies to all of us...and I'm thinking about the role of Rudra in the burning down process from your comment. I have also been exploring demigods and Matrikas, as well as entities described in esoteric judaism/kabbalah recently to write more deeply about toxic feminism. More to come!
I’ve been thinking about this since last night, I concur that it’s one of your best. It won’t surprise you that I’ve been thinking over the last month at least about how feminism is a cover for the type of social control women have always used since the dawn of time - moral coercion covering the need to control the group’s behavior. It is ultimately a social strategy women employ on each other - like the panopticon. We surveil each other and ourselves. I can imagine the moment at the end of this narration - that woman is me these days. But after being burned multiple times for speaking, I just avoid those spaces entirely. Soft social control strategies imo are far more difficult psychologically to tolerate.
I'm honestly surprised when I read that you and others think this is one of my best. It's a style of writing that I reserve for LinkedIN. It just goes to show that you can never know what will resonate! So, thank you for letting me know!
I agree with your line of thinking....moral coercion is what we're seeing among progressive women, Karens, etc. I also see it used by women to control other women out of envy from workplaces to Islamists.
I'm with you on avoiding women only spaces governed mannerisms and norms that foster hierarch and backbiting. My life is better for it.
Coda: I can't help but wonder if this is beginning to take root in masculinity a la the Andrew Tate types and others who perform it for an audience but don't actually live it. We should be on guard that it doesn't also take root in reflexive (enantiodromic) response to the feminism.
I'm already seeing it happening in the US - removal of womens control of their bodies and justifications for replacing women in workforce roles. It's a good cautionary note but history, at least in the US, shows a pattern of swinging between extremes.
Eloquent, on point, and exactly what it is. Thank you for putting into words how I've felt for a long time. I hope this article spreads far and wide and disrupts the narrative.
Unfortunately there will be others who don't or unable to accept this. I'm sure that you will handle any negativity with wisdom, patience, and a steadfast resolve. You got this! 👍
This is going to be a (scalding) hot potato of an article out in the wild of the internet.
While it is inconvenient truth, it is important analysis and professional opinion. It won't receive anywhere near as many "likes" as it could because readers will be, predictably, afraid.
Of course, it just isn't feminism where these types of in-group dynamics and problems exist. There are others, which today, will go nameless, but they know who they are (and deny it), and I'm not talking about socio-political affiliations.
The points you make are courageous ones. In certain countries, it might lead to your ruin, arrest or death yet you were nobly willing to communicate what's behind the figurative curtain.
Judging by their tyrannic Covid policies, I wouldn't count on Australia and Canada to keep anyone safe from anything other than sanctioned speech. It's still the same in all G7 countries, at least for now. Loved your article. I think it's necessary and important for people to stand up and be counted for their contrary opinions but I've learned not to expect to change anyone's mind. Also, be prepared to lose friends.
This is one of your best posts ever. The ending is quite brilliant.
I think your writing resonates way better when you write in an easy, informal, conversational tone..As you did so brilliantly in this piece.
Curiously there is an ancient Indian tale about Mother Kali that chimes with the evolution of feminism and the cycle of ages. Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva and in a story she is harassed by a demon (Asura). She fights him, defeats him, but a new demon springs up everytime its blood falls on the ground. (metastasize).
Enraged, Parvati transforms into Mother Kali, a fierce form of Divine Mother and drinks the blood of the demon, but in doing so, the demon posseses her and she starts burning down the whole world!
Then Shiva walks in front of her and Kali, still possesed and enraged, begins to attack and insults Him too. Its then when she realises her blunder and comes to her senses.
Burning it all down, I guess is what is happening now
I want to heart all of this. Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words Ankur. I chose a different writing style for a different platform to differentiate from my usual style.
I also really appreciate the Indian tale and the role of Shiva in Kali's wake up from her possessed state that applies to all of us...and I'm thinking about the role of Rudra in the burning down process from your comment. I have also been exploring demigods and Matrikas, as well as entities described in esoteric judaism/kabbalah recently to write more deeply about toxic feminism. More to come!
I’ve been thinking about the very same story, and about how Kali is incorrectly co-opted as feminist in the first place.
think people project all the time...we believe what we are or what we want rather than what is...
Shiva is the pure, kind, innocent, Spirit of Truth that we all need to channel I guess.
Keep writing!
I’ve been thinking about this since last night, I concur that it’s one of your best. It won’t surprise you that I’ve been thinking over the last month at least about how feminism is a cover for the type of social control women have always used since the dawn of time - moral coercion covering the need to control the group’s behavior. It is ultimately a social strategy women employ on each other - like the panopticon. We surveil each other and ourselves. I can imagine the moment at the end of this narration - that woman is me these days. But after being burned multiple times for speaking, I just avoid those spaces entirely. Soft social control strategies imo are far more difficult psychologically to tolerate.
I'm honestly surprised when I read that you and others think this is one of my best. It's a style of writing that I reserve for LinkedIN. It just goes to show that you can never know what will resonate! So, thank you for letting me know!
I agree with your line of thinking....moral coercion is what we're seeing among progressive women, Karens, etc. I also see it used by women to control other women out of envy from workplaces to Islamists.
I'm with you on avoiding women only spaces governed mannerisms and norms that foster hierarch and backbiting. My life is better for it.
Oh wow… it gives me chills, you are so right.
The implicit narcissism in righteousness
Thank you Rachael!
I finally got around to reading this and it is scintillating. It lands different for men, I'm sure, but the poignancy is not lost on me.
Coda: I can't help but wonder if this is beginning to take root in masculinity a la the Andrew Tate types and others who perform it for an audience but don't actually live it. We should be on guard that it doesn't also take root in reflexive (enantiodromic) response to the feminism.
I'm already seeing it happening in the US - removal of womens control of their bodies and justifications for replacing women in workforce roles. It's a good cautionary note but history, at least in the US, shows a pattern of swinging between extremes.
May you never experience these women empowerment gatherings in your lifetime.
Kudos.
Spot on, every word. 💯
The only thing that makes femininity dark is the lack of character and maturity to preside over it.
Well said. Dark femininity is embodied by immature people who feel entitled to not use their agency to improve their own lives.
Wow. Every word of this.
Love the story telling, extremely captivating at the beginning.
Every line is clear and hits hard— no fluff, all value.
Bravo. 👏 👏👏 😊
Thank you for reading and for this awesome review @Kate Wand!
What an amazing piece. Such polished handling of the English language. “Worth a subscription”, he said, about to subscribe. Thank you.
You’re too kind! Thank you so much!
Feminism has set up men as the object of hate, much as the Nazis set up Jews as the object of hate.
Eloquent, on point, and exactly what it is. Thank you for putting into words how I've felt for a long time. I hope this article spreads far and wide and disrupts the narrative.
Thank you so much! I hope it spreads too (without the nasty backlash!)
Unfortunately there will be others who don't or unable to accept this. I'm sure that you will handle any negativity with wisdom, patience, and a steadfast resolve. You got this! 👍
Thank you AllAboutEve43 for cheering me on! I got this :)
This is going to be a (scalding) hot potato of an article out in the wild of the internet.
While it is inconvenient truth, it is important analysis and professional opinion. It won't receive anywhere near as many "likes" as it could because readers will be, predictably, afraid.
Of course, it just isn't feminism where these types of in-group dynamics and problems exist. There are others, which today, will go nameless, but they know who they are (and deny it), and I'm not talking about socio-political affiliations.
The points you make are courageous ones. In certain countries, it might lead to your ruin, arrest or death yet you were nobly willing to communicate what's behind the figurative curtain.
I hope I'm relatively safe in Australia and Canada for now with my subversive ideas!
Thank you for your professional opinion and analysis too :)
Judging by their tyrannic Covid policies, I wouldn't count on Australia and Canada to keep anyone safe from anything other than sanctioned speech. It's still the same in all G7 countries, at least for now. Loved your article. I think it's necessary and important for people to stand up and be counted for their contrary opinions but I've learned not to expect to change anyone's mind. Also, be prepared to lose friends.
Fortunately I’ve curated friendships based on shared values, not ideologies. So far, so good.