Hustler

Meanwhile, as we debate women-only space, President Holmgren of Mills College has issues a response to Hustler's recent article about Mills. Yes, in the normal, non-exclusive parts of society, anybody who wants to can read Hustler without violating anybody else's them-only space. Yes, absolutely anyone who wants to look at degrading images of women as sexual objects is free to walk to their corner smut shop and proudly tell the cashier, "I would like to purchase one copy of Hustler, please!"

Well, I mean, within the bounds of heteronormativity, at least. I mean, a woman buying Hustler needs to make sure she's someplace where the cashier is open to the idea of women buying degrading images of women as sexual objects, otherwise she might get denied in her request or harassed or who knows what. I mean, hey, sometimes women get called "dykes" and beaten up for such things in some parts of the country. Sad but true. And you know, some women don't really like the idea of looking at degrading images of women as sexual objects, cuz they're not into sexualizing women at all or cuz they object to the degrading part or something. And you know, some men don't like degrading images of women as sexual objects either cuz they're gay! Or they're feminists who might as well be pansies! Yeah, really, Hustler is best viewed by manly men who enjoy the idea of degrading women and viewing them as sexual object. It's really the target audience. Anyone else either shouldn't buy it, or else they're taking a risk of being harmed or at least wouldn't enjoy it.

I'm sure glad society is a whole is so open and freedom loving. I mean, I would hate to see the world divided into little exclusive enclaves where certain identity groups try to carve out niches of power for themselves by excluding others. That would suck.