Transcript of the Rebecca Watson talk at the CFI Leadership Conference 2011
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[…] But in this case, what we’re talking about is the difference between sexual interest, sexual attraction, versus sexual objectification. Objectification has a few things about it that separate it from interest. For instance, focusing on the physical aspects of a person; ignoring their individuality, and their stated desires (for instance, my desire to go to sleep, my desire to not be hit on, which is all I had been talking about all day); and also a disinterest in how your actions will impact the “object” in question. And that’s a really serious point, that I think you all should consider, especially if you want to encourage more women to join your groups.
Because there are people in this audience right now who believe this: that a woman’s reasonable expectation to feel safe from sexual objectification and assault at skeptic and atheist events is outweighed by a man’s right to sexually objectify her. That’s basically what these people have been telling me, and it’s not true. [one person applauds] Thank you, Melody. You know, since starting Skepchick, I’ve heard from a lot of women who don’t attend events like this because of those of you who have this attitude. They’re tired of being objectified, and some of them have actually been raped; quite a number of them have been raped, or otherwise sexually assaulted. And situations like the one I was in, in an elevator, would have triggered a panic attack. They’re scared, because they know that you won’t stand up for them. And if they stand up for themselves, you’re going to laugh them back down. And that’s why they’re not coming out to these events. […]
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Of course, you can just ditch all the superfluous words. Instead, lets present –
A Woman at TAM
– A poem by Becky Watson
objectification. Objectification,
object,
safe…
objectification, assault,
objectify,
objectified, raped,
raped, assaulted,
panic, scared.
The End.
grey lining 
August 4, 2011 at 1:02 am
So, by Rebecca’s own words, there’s a difference between sexual interest and sexual objectification. Well, I guess that means Elevator Man is off the hook then, right?
Oh, and notice how Rebecca tries to shift the blame on panic attacks. If you’re a guy and talking to a woman alone in an elevator gives her a panic attack, it’s YOUR fault, because it’s a woman’s right to not have her nonsensical fears triggered by an innocent man. So wait, who’s privileged, again? It’s the GUY who’s privileged?!?!? You might want to rethink that one, Rebecca.
Here’s what Rebecca doesn’t understand. For YEARS, men have been pushed, prodded, and harassed by the feminist movement into believing that by merely enjoying our existence as sexual beings, we are somehow victimizing women. Let’s talk about REAL objectification here. Men are the OBJECT of feminist aggression, and as objects, we are not even afforded so much as an ounce of empathy for the vilification that we endure on a daily basis. It’s so bad that a bunch of Hollywood bimbos can host a show on national TV where they laugh about a man whose penis got thrown into the garbage disposal, to the approving laughs and applause of an entirely female studio audiences, and absolutely no one expects an apology from them. Sharon Osbourne will apologize for calling Susan Boyle fat and ugly, but she won’t apologize for laughing at a man who is physically maimed for life.
It’s perfectly clear who has the privilege now, and it’s not men. When women can simply demand special treatment in society and have the temerity to call it “equality”, that’s when men need to rise up and fight back. We’re not going to take this anymore.
August 4, 2011 at 1:08 am
Whoa Pig. Why don’t you tell us how you really feel? This vid should cheer you up –
August 4, 2011 at 2:11 am
Haha… Yeah, I got a little carried away. I’ve just had enough of this, you know?
But since you highlighted objectification, I felt the need to point out that objectification is more than just having some guy leering at a girl. I mean, the example about Sharon Osbourne shows how easy it is for today’s “empowered woman” to not even treat us as though we are human beings. And yet, we have Rebecca Watson carrying on about her awkward moment in an elevator with a man who meant her no harm.
And what’s more, I hate being that guy who has to say, “But I have a lot of female friends,” because I have to use that as a shield to keep from being called a misogynist. The funny thing about that, though, is that of my female friends, every single one of them is an empowered and insightful person, and none of them refer to herself as a feminist. In fact, THEY talked ME out of feminism, because they HATE getting special treatment.
So there is hope yet.
August 4, 2011 at 1:47 am
There are some women who agree with you, but we are just considered “Gender Traitors” and “rape apologists”.
August 4, 2011 at 4:10 am
The bit that gives me pause the most in Watson’s speech is the part where she seems, in the most casual of manners and with a perceptible touch of gloating, (a) to imply that the atheist and skeptical community is a consort of rapists, and (b) that “a number” of women have been raped or “otherwise sexually assaulted” (by atheists and skeptics?), where, supposedly, “sexually assaulted” means whatever Watson wishes it to mean, probably including that awkward pass in the elevator.
August 4, 2011 at 4:31 am
And still no answer to the question “are there many cases of rape/sexual assault during atheist/skeptic event? Any datas, please”? Granted, it could happen, and no mistake. But has it ever happened yet. Mountains out of molehills?
August 4, 2011 at 11:38 am
“otherwise sexually assaulted” (by atheists and skeptics?)
Zackly Raimondo. This semantic ambiguity, whether by design or subconscious, expresses her true mindset clearly – that there is no ambiguity. *You* are a rapist, or a rapist that has not had an appropriate opportunity to rape. All of *you* (that have penises). The rest are apologists and collaborators.
August 12, 2011 at 12:21 am
@Franc, it’s all so deliciously Soviet.
August 4, 2011 at 4:34 am
“There are some women who agree with you, but we are just considered ‘Gender Traitors’ and ‘rape apologists’.”
And that shows you the real motivation behind this. This isn’t about equality between men and women. This is about someone with a narcissistic victim complex who will demonize ANYONE who speaks out against her. Both men AND women.
What’s happening here is the Rebecca Watson and her legion of followers want special privileges that apply only to them, and they’re throwing a big temper tantrum because people who’ve had had enough of the guilt mongering and self-pity are finally starting to fight back.
August 4, 2011 at 7:36 am
I think it’s even simpler than that. Once certain people get a taste of power, they seek more. I see this as Watson being power-hungry, and concealing her motivation behind a whole array of fabricated slights and hyperbolized “victimization”.
August 4, 2011 at 4:20 am
Also, Watson seems to forget the very basic fact that in sex we are ALL the object of the other’s desire. And it better be that way — or else should we reach our climax just by thinking of our partner’s intellectual achievements? It doesn’t work that way, and we all know it. Respect and love must accompany raw desire, but raw desire objectifies, and it also provides a great foundation for bigger things. It’s our ability to make that a part of a wider attraction (a.k.a., maturity) that separates the men and women from the boys and girls (or the skepchicks).
August 4, 2011 at 8:46 am
At least Becky has learned to be a fucking awesome poet from this experience.
(And people try and tell me that I’m not an optimist.)
August 5, 2011 at 11:30 am
Of course she would have a reason for why the picture of her carrying on with that dude is different and not objectification.
Other than splitting hairs, she is also profiling. “Men are more likely to rape women so they shouldn’t be allowed in elevators.” What does she think of “Muslims are more likely to carry bombs so they shouldn’t be allowed on planes”? She should at least be consistent; if you can discriminate against one group because of what some of that group do, then you can do it to every group. I’m sure she’d have a reason why that is different.
And sexual attraction is not all that different from sexual objectification anyway. How is he not interested in her reaction if he is telling her to come back to his room? How is he not paying attention to her individuality if he heard her talk? I have the strongest sexual attraction to people whose personalities add to their already being attractive.
August 5, 2011 at 12:03 pm
The more they carry on, the more they sound like white puritans a century ago whining about those filthy blacks. It’s just “socially redeeming” hatred. And nothing more.
August 6, 2011 at 2:27 pm
I just stumbled into this:
http://thetimchannel.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/attack-of-the-american-girlyban
Yep. I think ‘girlyban” aptly describes the Watson faction.
August 7, 2011 at 12:53 pm
Actually replying to Raimondo, but depth levels etc.
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Raimondo, that Girlyban thing is hilarious. Thanks for linking to it.
August 11, 2011 at 12:56 am
[…] Leadership Conference 2011 where she took full opportunity of the event to, again, grind out her misandrist sermonising. Amongst the choice nuggets she injected into a defenseless audience – You know, since starting […]
August 12, 2011 at 12:23 am
That poem is so emo.
August 26, 2011 at 10:43 am
[…] Becky Watson: ‘They’re tired of being objectified’ (greylining.wordpress.com) […]
October 1, 2011 at 2:27 am
[…] she thinks that’s gonna improve her chances of getting laid… well, I just resent being objectified in this manner. We’ve covered Galileo and dogshit. Next is her favourite post of mine – My […]
October 26, 2011 at 5:54 pm
[…] Because that is what we have been enduring for what seems like eternity now, The Naked Emperor, The Pudgy Pink Princess and the Watsonista hordes fabricating an artificial state of catastrophe and then justifying their […]
March 26, 2014 at 5:24 am
Good – don’t come to the events. You treat men there like shit – we don’t want you there. Fuck off.