Welcome back to Byte Me, our feminist newsletter that makes everyone mad <3
We have some really sad, horrifically tragic news, maybe even the worst thing thats happened in 2020
This newsletter will be our last Byte Me. *SOB*
Cara and Gigi are both moving on to greener pastures. Were abandoning our mama Anouk, and the Byte Me cause, like the treacherous woman-haters we are.
Were completely devastated that Byte Me is coming to an end, because its something we genuinely love creating every month. Weve heard from so many of you who tell us you love it or hate it. Either way, thank you so much for reading!
But hey, this doesnt have to be a full goodbye you can follow Gigi, Cara, and Anouk on Twitter. Wed also URGE you to subscribe to Big Spam, our dailyish love/hate letter to technology.
Unfortunately, some men are involved with Big Spam, but we promise its still full of snark and feminism.
PLEASE SIGN UP!
Our gloriously gifted designer, Saïna, has one last beautiful illustration for us:
the bloody news
- By talking plainly about her qualifications, [Kamala] Harris embodies progress. Will it work? (The Atlantic)
- Heres how Beyoncé tackled 2020. Spoiler: Better than us. Like everything else she does. (UK Vogue)
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote an op-ed about the brutal SARS police for The New York Times: Nigeria Is murdering Its citizens.
- Our patron saint, Dolly Parton, is saving the world by helping to fund the Moderna vaccine. We also loved her profile in The New Yorker: The United States of Dolly Parton. AND finally, if you havent listened to Dolly Partons America, drop everything youre doing, panic, and click on this link.
- Cazzie David, Larry Davids daughter, has a new book out, called No One Asked For This. The Cut published an excerpt called Too Full to Fuck: You cant always make room for a dick. Especially if youve eaten dessert.
- them: TERFs are mad at Tampax over their inclusive tweet about people who bleed.Fact: Not all women have periods. Also a fact: Not all people with periods are women. Lets celebrate the diversity of all people who bleed! : @gobeeharris#mythbusting#periodtruths#transisbeautifulpic.twitter.com/5s1416cZBw
Tampax US (@Tampax) September 15, 2020 - Masha Gessen for The New Yorker: The abortion protests in Poland are starting to feel like a revolution.
- When AI sees a man? Official. A woman? Smile. (WIRED)
- The New York Times: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez predicts whats next for the left.
- For some good, ol fashion bitchyness, we enjoyed this Ivanka Trump tell-all written by one of her former best friends. (Vanity Fair)
- National Geographic: Prehistoric archaeological evidence suggests hunter-gatherer gender roles may have been bullshit. We dig it. (Get it?)
- If you have any sticky mini-humans in your life, here are 12 childrens books with trans and gender non-conforming characters.
- Rebecca Traister wrote about how young girls have become political symbols for The Cut: Americas Daughters Grow Up To Be Women It Cant Handle.
thats what she said: what makes a good feminist role model?
For this months thats what she said, were discussing what makes a good feminist role model. Weve linked to our full discussion here, and included the TL;DR below:
Georgina: Soooo the USA has elected the first woman to ever be VP Kamala Harris. Shes also the first woman of color to hold the position.
Her election spawned a lot of excitement features and think pieces on how shes breaking new ground for women. BUT some people are also coming out and saying shes hardly breaking any new ground, cos other women leaders have already done it, and have been even better role models.
So what makes a good feminist role model? Maybe good to start first with: is Kamala Harris a good role model?
Anouk: Definitely.
Cara: Yes!
Georgina: Why? Is she just a good role model cos shes the first in a lot of ways? Or has she done more to back it up?
Anouk: Shes concerned with being a role model to all minorities (racial minorities, LGBTI) not just women. Shes a self-made woman with an extensive law career.
Cara: Shes very outspoken about issues facing minorities and women, something that is rarely spoken about in a progressive way in politics. I felt very hopeful for the first time in foreevvvveeerrr seeing her be elected as the Vice President.
Georgina: I think what people were arguing was that just cos shes the first in some ways, does not automatically make her a great role model I dont agree with them, I do think shes a feminist role model, but shes not perfect right? Her legacy is v tough on crime which many argue is anti-black. Can a good role model have bad bits?
Anouk: Hmm, so in order to be a good role model, you need to support more than just women? We agree its also about supporting all underrepresented groups?
You can check out the full conversation here.
Feel free to comment on the document with your thoughts, or send us an email!
the best and the worst
In this section, we ask women much smarter than us about the best and worst piece of professional advice theyve ever received. This months is from Professor Sue Black OBE, a computer scientist and activist who is responsible for saving Bletchley Park:
The best? The best is that I should network. I think networking, or as I think of it now making new friends has been a game-changer for me. I absolutely hated it to start with, but with practice and confidence, I now love it. Its enabled me to do so many things. People say Its not what you know its who you know but in my experience its what you know and who you know. If you want to make something happen, know lots of people that you like and get on with, that you can ask for advice, etc. is amazing.
The worst? Something like why are you bothering with all this womens stuff?’
tweets of the month
men embarrassing!
hunter harris (@hunteryharris) October 29, 2020
why does this look like my cervix before and after seeing footage of the entire trump family pic.twitter.com/Pvu1AoGMJn
Mollie Goodfellow (@hansmollman) November 5, 2020
Kelly Rowland knew https://t.co/llhOjCKRx5
the Lancelot of the revolutionary set (@TheIndiaMike) November 18, 2020
word(s) of the month: International Mens Day
Next up:
Yesterday was International Mens Day. (Well really, today, because were writing this on Thursday the 19th).
Wait, what? You missed it??? Typical. I bet you celebrated International Womens Day, didnt you? You probably Instagrammed some inspirational quote by Kamala Harris or Dolly Parton, shoving the message of gender equality in everyones faces.
Too bad you didnt pay men the same courtesy on their special day. But lucky for you, the Byte Me shrews are here to take you through the highlights:
Many men were very upset Google didnt do a special doodle:
Thanks for the support as always, Google. Happy #InternationalMensDaypic.twitter.com/s4CJAUk8vV
The Critical Drinker (@TheCriticalDri2) November 19, 2020
Some took a moment to speak up on the perils of manhood:
Happy mans day #InternationalMensDaypic.twitter.com/mtx6dhWKZk
Bhupendra Shishodia (@BhupendraShish9) November 19, 2020
And some went with old-fashioned, straight-up misogyny:
Men will be men #InternationalMensDaypic.twitter.com/3VwpUw7kTC
Kumarvishal_7 (@Kumarvishal_7) November 19, 2020
Was it all this petty and bad? Of course not. Just like in life, most men supporting International Mens Day are totally decent.
Many of them took the chance to celebrate their male friends and family. Others specifically involved gay and misgendered men in their messages. Some used the hashtag to promote awareness for domestic violence against men, or the importance of mental health.
Happy #InternationalMensDay you sexy international men. Use today to check in on yourself, look after your noggin, check in on a mate if you can, throw off the antiquated gender roles and live your best life you glorious international dickheads.
TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) November 19, 2020
After 21 editions of Byte Mes Word of the Month varying from Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) to LinkedIncels weve seen the worst of the male species. Weve waded through countless misogynistic tweets, somewhat desensitized but never fully oblivious to the never-ending stream of hate these men are sending our way.
But lets forget that for just a moment. Because its International Mens Day. And because we love our male readers, who actually make up a whopping 37% of our readership.
Dear men, we appreciate you and your struggles. We want you to stay happy and healthy and be the best men you could be this is partly what upending the patriarchy is all about! And yes, we believe you deserve your own doodle, too.
So here it is: a Google Doodle just for you! You can thank us (= Saina) later. <3
Well miss you! And we know youll miss us Reply to this newsletter with your goodbyes, and dont forget to subscribe to Big Spam.
Dont forget
<3 The TNW shrews
Cara ([email protected])Anouk ([email protected])& Georgina ([email protected])