Grinning Cat's definitions

man box

The rules for "acting like a man"; the mentality, behaviors and restrictions that many men and boys are socialized to conform to. These tenets of the "cult of masculinity" are both symptoms and enablers of Dominator Culture. They can be so pervasive as to be almost invisible; yet they lead men to disrespect, mistreat, and abuse women and each other.

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THE MAN BOX

Demonstrate power/control (especially over women)

Aggression - Dominance - yell - intimidate

Do not cry openly or express emotions (except for anger)

Do not express weakness or fear - "take it"

Don't back down - don't make mistakes

Do not be "like a woman"

Heterosexual

Have lots of sex with women - "conquests"

Do not be "like a gay man"

Tough/Athletic/Competitive/Strength/Courage

Make Decisions - Never ask for help

Women viewed as property/objects (especially sexual objects)
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(Based largely on Tony Porter's TED talk "A Call to Men")

This is the love of my life, my daughter Jay. The world I envision for her -- how do I want men to be acting and behaving? ... I need you working with me and me working with you on how we raise our sons and teach them to be men -- that it's okay to not be dominating, that it's okay to have feelings and emotions, that it's okay to promote equality, that it's okay to have women who are just friends and that's it, that it's okay to be whole, that my liberation as a man is tied to your liberation as a woman.

I remember asking a nine-year-old boy ... "What would life be like for you, if you didn't have to adhere to this man box?" He said to me, "I would be free."

by Grinning Cat March 28, 2013

anticronym

Another name for "RAS syndrome" (short for Redundant Acronym Syndrome syndrome) -- redundantly using a word in connection with an acronym or initialism that already contains the word. "ATM machine" is an example: the phrase literally refers to an "Automatic Teller Machine machine".

Enter your PIN number when the ATM machine prompts for it on the LCD display.
(That sentence contains several anticronyms.)

by Grinning Cat January 6, 2015

Delauterism

A moronic or ignorant statement about the First Amendment. Named for Frederick County Council Member Kirby Delauter, who threatened to sue The Frederick News-Post for using his name without authorization.

From now on, saying something moronic about the First Amendment will be forever known as a Delauterism. #KirbyDelauter #Delauterism
-- Coin Graham (@CoinGrahamIV) commenting on the U-T San Diego article "Councilman Kirby Delauter says Maryland newspaper can't use his name so it does, gloriously" (The editorial's title is "Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter". It goes on to mention his name 15 times in the first three paragraphs, 30 times in all.)

by Grinning Cat January 7, 2015

Kirby Delauter

A politician who's clueless about the First Amendment.

This Frederick County council member threatened to sue The Frederick News-Post in January 2015 for putting his name in the paper without authorization, thus lending his name to "delauter" and "Delauterism".

"Use my name again unauthorized and you'll be paying for an Attorney. Your rights stop where mine start."
(Kirby Delauter, in a Facebook comment) http : // media.utsandiego.com/img/photos/2015/01/06/Kirby_Delauter_t540.jpg

"... Kirby Delauter has no case. ..."
("Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter, Kirby Delauter", FNP editorial that gloriously mentions the name Kirby Delauter 30 times, posted Tuesday, January 6, 2015) http : // www.fredericknewspost.com/news/politics_and_government/kirby-delauter-kirby-delauter-kirby-delauter/article_da85d6f4-fa3c-524f-bbf6-8e5ddc0d1c0a.html?mode=story

by Grinning Cat January 7, 2015

slut

A person who enjoys sex like a man but will be shamed or ridiculed for it because they're a woman.

See also: double standard, hypocrisy

That definition comes from a bumper sticker by sexologist Dr. Jill McDevitt, www.thesexologist.org

Also consider that there's no masculine equivalent to this common use of "slut". Men are instead admired for wanting and having lots of sex!

by Grinning Cat November 6, 2013

cereal monogamy

The custom or practice of eating only one type of cereal at a time. Cereal monogamists view the casual alternation of cereals, or, worse, mixing different cereals in the same bowl, to be simply wrong.

Not to be confused with serial monogamy.

"I eat Cheerios for breakfast. I eat only Cheerios; no other cereals. Cheerios are the greatest thing since sliced bananas! Wait-- I'm out of Cheerios... time to get some more cereal... I eat Frosted Flakes for breakfast. No other cereals; just Frosted Flakes."
That's an example of cereal monogamy.

by Grinning Cat January 18, 2015

serial monogamy

The custom or practice of having one mate at a time. Each relationship may be serious and committed, or not. The term is used in contrast with strict "monogamy", which can imply just one partner over a lifetime.

Not to be confused with cereal monogamy.

People who remarry (and who have exclusive relationships, and who don't cheat) are practicing serial monogamy.

by Grinning Cat January 19, 2015