Totally Random Thought...

[shipperx]

Seeing the ComicCon picture of Alexis Denisof made me wonder...

Could the Buffy/Angel comics be far more interesting if they simply used all the characters that Joss has killed and/or ignored? /only half-snark.

Comments

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thank for adding that! I thought it was something like 1% but I fear I was being too lazy right then *ahem* too look up the statistics. Those numbers never fail to give me pause; I'm not sure how many people are aware of them.

Additiional fact: according to the World Bank report of 2011, women made up 40% of the global labor force. I assume this does NOT include the fact that women bear the brunt of housework, childcare, and care for elders (whether they work other jobs "outside the home" or not).

On one hand the writers seem to be somewhat aware of it (they use the issue of the "feminization of poverty" ie single mothers raising children, in S6; but can't follow it all the way through. They are aware of it, but as with many things - violations of body and will in S8 & 9 - the awareness never goes all the way down to the bone.)

BTW - it's good to hear from you, I've missed your always-incisive comments! RL has kept you busy I assume. How are you?

[norwie2010.livejournal.com]

Well, life is eating me alive (pun intended). So, not all is well in norwie-land.

OT: You are correct - the term "(global) labor force" means labor within the productive sector, not the reproductive sector (housework, childcare, etc).

So yes, the social complex of women labor and poverty is actually at the forefront of any "serious" feminism. Only equal participation in political, social and economical matters will see true equality. The economy is the groundwork of politics and social participation. (Heh! Historical materialist here. ;-))

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

not all is well in norwie-land.

I'm very sorry to hear that! Here's a wish for better days soon.

Only equal participation in political, social and economical matters will see true equality.

Sadly we are still very far off on that. And it's not a "male vs female" issue either. I have no idea what FULL equality would actually look like, which is a very sad commentary. But full equality would mean a major shift in our hierarchies even on a micro level. And it has to happen in the home first and foremost I think.

I've wondered if how we view or value women's labor has changed since the "Industrial Revolution" ? Not that there was any golden age but I suspect there must have been some shift from a time when most families were basically agrarian (farmers) and less people "worked outside the home" because running the home/farm was the family business for most people?