Quvenzhané, the C word, and innocence lost

[seabeyond]

She played dress-up with her American Girl doll while I followed the commentary on Twitter. "Look, Mommy! Julie's all ready for the red carpet," she exclaimed, showing off the updo she created for her doll. She watched with mild interest until the moment we'd been waiting for arrived: Nine-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis appeared in a frenzy of flashing camera lights with her mom and sister in tow. "Look, Mommy, there she is! Look at her purse! It's a puppy!" Kaia jumped up and down. "I want one of those!"

What a moment! I wanted my daughter to see a little girl, just like her, walking the red carpet among the most talented women in Hollywood. Quvenzhané did not disappoint. She was sassy and confident while talking to reporters. And she was dressed in a perfectly age-appropriate Armani gown that she chose because "it's sparkly!" Her mom looked on, proud as can be. I had a tear in my eye. "Do you know that she's going to play Annie in the new movie?" I asked. Kaia's smile was so big. "Wow, Mommy! She's the luckiest girl in the world!"

*

Instead, last night, on her special night, she was subjected to the most distasteful showing of adult "humor" I have ever seen. It started with a "joke" by Oscar host Seth MacFarlane about how it will be "sixteen years before she's too old" for George Clooney, but sadly it didn't stop there. The popular satire site The Onion tweeted the following to its more than 4 million followers during the show last night: "Everyone else seems afraid to say it, but that Quvenzhané Wallis is kind of a ____, right?" (If you want to see the actual tweet, it's here.)

As if it wasn't bad enough that she was sexualized in front of her peers during what was undoubtedly the most exciting night of her life, but to be further humiliated on a social networking site and called one of the most degrading terms that can be used toward women is reprehensible. The Onion is a site known for its sarcasm and although I'm sure they didn't mean it, does that make it better? Am I supposed to laugh at the absurdity of the statement? Am I supposed to look at my daughter and think, wow, it would be really really funny and smart if someone jokingly called her the c word? How ironic.

*

We all are, little girl. So, so sorry.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/25/living/parenting-quvenzhane/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11

[gollygee]

1. How old is this little girl?

My daughter just turned 11 and I'm quite sure she doesn't even know that word. The word "stripper" came up in conversation somewhere and she asked me what that meant just recently, so I feel confident that she isn't up to the C word yet. She did have to ask me what the F word was at some point. I can't imagine her having to learn about that word in that way. It's so dehumanizing to be talked about like that, but when you're young and more sensitive to criticism, and then when it accompanies a new and very harsh word, I can't even imagine.

[seabeyond]

2. i believe she is 9. nt

[redqueen]

3. Yep. 9. nt

[MadrasT]

4. This makes my heart hurt. n/t

[BainsBane]

6. mine too

It's unfathomable how anyone could be so deliberately callous and insulting toward a child.

[BainsBane]

5. That she was a target

of their disgusting misogyny is beyond the pale.

[redqueen]

7. Yes.

Thinking about her age reminded me of this.

Emma Watson has said that on her 18th birthday she realised that "overnight I'd become fair game ... One photographer lay down on the floor to get a shot up my skirt. The night it was legal for them to do it, they did it . I woke up the next day and felt completely violated."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/sep/22/creepshots-revenge-porn-paparazzi-women?fb=native

[CrispyQ]

8. It sickens me that our culture has no boundries - everyone is fair game, even 9 year old girls.

[ismnotwasm]

9. This article is uncomfortable to read

But I accept the criticism. There was an appalling lack of media 'outrage' (can we still get outraged?, or have those who police feminism made it into a 'go sit in the corner you bad feminist kind of word?) I think it's a POV that needs to be expressed.

Where Were White Feminists Speaking Out For Quvenzhané Wallis?
FEBRUARY 28, 2013 BY KIRSTEN WEST SAVALI


If there were ever any doubts that white feminists are disengaged from and apathetic to the concurrent racism that Black feminists must navigate in an increasingly hipster and kyriarchal society, look no further than their deafening silence when satirical website, The Onion, called 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis a “cunt” on Twitter.

The arc of white feminist dialogue on social media in the wake of the barbaric, misogynistic tweet emerged as tepid awareness – maybe, possibly, there’s racism – before curving towards the indefensible position of their white, male counterparts – it’s just brilliant satire – before ultimately coming to rest at dismissal. The lack of concern that white feminists displayed for this little, brown girl could not have been more obvious even if they donned a head scarf and said a raspy, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” before scurrying off to chide Oscar host Seth MacFarlane for his song about boobs or the Academy for only awarding 9 out of 30 awards to women.

http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2013/02/quvenzhane-wallis-white-feminism/

[Number23]

10. K&R I bet that child's mother is having to be restrained from visiting The Onion's offices

'Cause I sure as hell would be.

[gollygee]

11. +1

[sufrommich]

12. For those interested, Mellisa Harris Perry

Is discussing this right now , next question coming up on the show " to my feminist sisters,where are you"? Very interesting discussion.

[seabeyond]

13. being called fat asses and other posters defending the attack on said feminist. feminist speak up

and the men flip out. this is so fuckin' topsy turvey in DEMANDING men can say what ever garbage they wnat about women and SHUT THE FUCK UP or the little egos will attack some more. and again there will be men defending the idiots.

just what the fuck did hof do to result in a week of attacks from men in there? i mean really, i have been busy with RL, and what evil did we commit?

call out grown men calling a 9 yr old girl the c word? call out grown men reducing women to a tit? calling out grown men tying a NINE YR OLD in a sex joke.

GOD FORBID women say a fuckin' thing

call a woman a skanky snatch and shut the fuck up. how dare one says anything.

i mean really, what the hell did hof do?

[sufrommich]

14. " what the hell did HoF do"

We didn't ask politely. By the way ,I think it's important to note that " HoF" has now morphed into all impolite DU feminists, I've seen non HoF members treated to the same abuse.

[ismnotwasm]

15. I've come to the conclusion

There are simply not the brightest bulbs here when regarding feminist/ gender/ issues.

I don't have the time or inclination to explain women's history and gender dynamics.

I've had more enlightened discussions with outlaw bikers.

Seriously.

And I can't begin to describe how weird and disturbing that really is.

[seabeyond]

16. no. what it is the demand that we all live in their gutter and trash world.

they have so immersed themselves in the filth that they want all of us to stink to high heavens with them

[redqueen]

17. There are a couple of women defending them, too. nt

[seabeyond]

18. yes. i am sure those women have nice slim asses and loves their sex.

[seabeyond]

19. i am sorry i messed up your subthread. i REALLY want to know how that commentary went. nt

[sufrommich]

20. I wish I could remember the name of

the female black comedian was because she made some very good points,one being that white people do not see their own children when they make racist remarks about a black child. I forgive you for the threadjacking, I think we're all justifiably outraged by what's going on in Meta. If I can find the MHP video, I'll post it.

[seabeyond]

21. thanks. i am getting back to Rl. got a bit pissed. lol. but, i will check out video

or try to post it myself a little later.