Jada Pinkett-Smith is heteronormative

randal7 · 03-03-2005, 07:35 AM

hxxp://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506104

Quote:

After some students were offended by Jada Pinkett Smith’s comments at Saturday’s Cultural Rhythms show, the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) and the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations have begun working together to increase sensitivity toward issues of sexuality at Harvard.

Students said that some of Pinkett Smith’s remarks concerning appropriate gender roles were specific to heterosexual relationships.

In a press release circulated yesterday by the BGLTSA—and developed in coordination with the Foundation—the BGLTSA called for an apology from the Foundation and encouraged future discussion of the issue.

According to the Foundation’s Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Co-Chair Yannis M. Paulus ’05, the two groups have already planned concrete ways to address the concerns that Pinkett Smith’s speech rose.

The BGLTSA release acknowledged that the Foundation was not responsible for Pinkett Smith’s comments. But the Foundation has pledged to “take responsibility to inform future speakers that they will be speaking to an audience diverse in race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender and class,” according to the release.

Pinkett Smith was honored as the Foundation’s “Artist of the Year” at its 20th annual Cultural Rhythms show, which she also hosted.

BGLTSA Co-Chair Jordan B. Woods ’06 said that, while many BGLTSA members thought Pinkett Smith’s speech was “motivational,” some were insulted because they thought she narrowly defined the roles of men and women in relationships.

“Some of the content was extremely heteronormative, and made BGLTSA members feel uncomfortable,” he said.

Calling the comments heteronormative, according to Woods, means they implied that standard sexual relationships are only between males and females.

“Our position is that the comments weren’t homophobic, but the content was specific to male-female relationships,” Woods said.

Margaret C. D. Barusch ’06, the other BGLTSA co-chair, said the comments might have seemed insensitive in effect, if not in intent.

“I think the comments had a very strong focus for an extended period of time on how to effectively be in a relationship—a heterosexual relationship,” Barusch said. “I don’t think she meant to be offensive but I just don’t think she was that thoughtful.”

In order to discuss these concerns and ensure that such a misunderstanding doesn’t occur again, Paulus said the BGLTSA and the Foundation are planning a joint breakfast later this week as well as a general discussion forum for all of the SAC member groups.

Paulus added that the Foundation will issue a letter later this week apologizing for any offense the show might have caused and encouraging concerned students to attend the planned discussions.

According to Paulus, the letter will acknowledge that “Pinkett Smith was just giving the story of her life. She just told things from her perspective, and her perspective was a heterosexual perspective. She wasn’t trying to be offensive. But some felt she was taking a narrow view, and some people felt left out.”

Barusch said the dialogue with the Foundation has been “productive.”

“Both groups have really talked about issues of intercultural relationships and sexuality and the way that student groups can talk about these topics in sensitive ways,” she said.

Barusch also referred to a “minor controversy” that occurred earlier this year, in which some members of SAC questioned the BGLTSA’s role in the Foundation.

“They weren’t sure how the BGLTSA would fit into the Foundation...There was some conversation about the relevance of queer issues,” she said.

But Barusch emphasized that the Foundation has been very supportive of the BGLTSA’s efforts to address this weekend’s comments, stressing that the two incidents are unrelated.

“We’re not blaming the Foundation. It’s not about blame. It’s about how we all need to think more about what we’re saying,” she said.

Ofole U. “Fofie” Mgbako ’08, a performer in the Cultural Rhythms show who watched Pinkett Smith’s speech, said he thought the speech was “insightful.” “You can never appeal to every single group,” he said. “You’ll always in some way be exclusive. I thought her message was clear. I thought it was sincere.”

Three questions:

1: No specific quote is given. Are these folks mad because she appeared to regard heterosexuality as the norm?

2: Is heteronormative really a word?

3: Can this thread generate the same intellectual discourse found in the "...Republicans won't find it funny..." thread?

HomerJSimpson · 03-03-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randal7

hxxp://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506104

Three questions:

1: No specific quote is given. Are these folks mad because she appeared to regard heterosexuality as the norm?

2: Is heteronormative really a word?

3: Can this thread generate the same intellectual discourse found in the "...Republicans won't find it funny..." thread?

1. Yes.

2. No

3. Trout

Ajaxab · 03-03-2005, 08:04 AM

1. Yes
2. Yes, this is part of the intellectual air people breathe in grad school in the humanities. To affirm heteronormativity in any way, shape or form places one in the same camp as the homophobes. To affirm heteronormativity makes left wing professors generally look at you funny or place you in the category of those who have been oppressed by the dominant system and thereby require substantial ideological changes in your outlook.
3. Colossal Lobster

ice4277 · 03-03-2005, 08:23 AM

I could not believe this story when I saw it on the news. This could have easily been a story on 'Weekend Update'.

CraigSca · 03-03-2005, 09:56 AM

Shoot me. Please.

moriarty · 03-03-2005, 10:05 AM

For some reason when I read the thread title, I though Jada might be Sharon Stone's new lesbian love interest in Basic Instinct 2.

Very disappointed.

NoMyths · 03-03-2005, 10:12 AM

Guys, this is an article from a college newspaper--albeit Harvard's, but still. Student groups at every college foment dissent over issues that their members feel strongly about. The bigger question, perhaps, is who profits from making small stories like this into larger ones.

HomerJSimpson · 03-03-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMyths

Guys, this is an article from a college newspaper--albeit Harvard's, but still. Student groups at every college foment dissent over issues that their members feel strongly about. The bigger question, perhaps, is who profits from making small stories like this into larger ones.

The Men in Black?

Ksyrup · 03-03-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomerJSimpson

The Men in Black?

You're not being very sensitive towards the rest of us.

Subby · 03-03-2005, 10:21 AM

w00T!

Fritz · 03-03-2005, 10:30 AM

this wouldn't be an issue at welding school

Klinglerware · 03-03-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritz

this wouldn't be an issue at welding school

Is everyone in welding school gay?

Fritz · 03-03-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

Is everyone in welding school gay?

from what I hear welding is HUGE in the gay community.

rkmsuf · 03-03-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

I think you heard right...

edit... better hxxp it... hxxp://home.comcast.net/~garyfran/framed3.jpg

good call

Franklinnoble · 03-03-2005, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fritz

from what I hear welding is HUGE in the gay community.

I think you heard right...

edit... better hxxp it... hxxp://home.comcast.net/~garyfran/framed3.jpg

sterlingice · 03-03-2005, 01:59 PM

Homer: ... and the entire steel mill was gay.
Moe: Where you been, Homer? The entire steel industry is gay. Eh, aerospace, too, and the railroads. And you know what else? Broadway.

SI

sterlingice · 03-03-2005, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randal7

hxxp://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=506104

Three questions:

1: No specific quote is given. Are these folks mad because she appeared to regard heterosexuality as the norm?

2: Is heteronormative really a word?

You hit the nail right on the head with this. As I was reading through the article, I had no idea what heteronormative even was so I was looking for quotes in context. The fact that there were no exact quotes or even paraphrased specific example citations leads me to believe these people need to, uh, pardon the pun, get that stick out of their ass.

SI

Schmidty · 03-03-2005, 02:23 PM

This article made me uncomfortable. I demand that the author issue an immediate apology to me and anyone else that was made to feel the slightest twinge of discomfort while reading it. No one in America should ever have to hear or read anything that is not in perfect alignment with thier own set of beliefs.

This is the exact reason why I despise living in the communist society otherwise known as western Washington. Crap like this is the norm here. No one is allow to offend anyone else unless the person being offended is religious, or is not in exact agreement about anything that is on the leftist agenda. It really is nauseating.

And yes, I agree that I need to lighten up.

That won't be a problem soon though, because I'm moving back home to Michigan by the end of this month. Yay!!!

vtbub · 03-03-2005, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

This article made me uncomfortable. I demand that the author issue an immediate apology to me and anyone else that was made to feel the slightest twinge of discomfort while reading it. No one in America should ever have to hear or read anything that is not in perfect alignment with thier own set of beliefs.

This is the exact reason why I despise living in the communist society otherwise known as western Washington. Crap like this is the norm here. No one is allow to offend anyone else unless the person being offended is religious, or is not in exact agreement about anything that is on the leftist agenda. It really is nauseating.

And yes, I agree that I need to lighten up.

That won't be a problem soon though, because I'm moving back home to Michigan by the end of this month. Yay!!!

Congrats from the People's Republic of Burlington, VT

bigphesta · 03-03-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

This is the exact reason why I despise living in the communist society otherwise known as western Washington. Crap like this is the norm here. No one is allow to offend anyone else unless the person being offended is religious, or is not in exact agreement about anything that is on the leftist agenda. It really is nauseating.!

ROFLMAO

Wolfpack · 03-03-2005, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

And yes, I agree that I need to lighten up.

That won't be a problem soon though, because I'm moving back home to Michigan by the end of this month. Yay!!!

Unless you're moving to Ann Arbor, Lansing, Saugatuck, or Marquette....

Schmidty · 03-03-2005, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

Unless you're moving to Ann Arbor, Lansing, Saugatuck, or Marquette....

Very true, very true.

Luckily for me, I'm just a hick from west Michigan. Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids to be exact.

Hurst2112 · 03-03-2005, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Jada Pinkett-Smith is heteronormative

Does that mean she has a penis and vagina? Wait...

sterlingice · 03-03-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hurst2112

Does that mean she has a penis and vagina? Wait...

No, that was Cartman's mom and that's a hermaphrodite.

SI

Desnudo · 03-03-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

You're not being very sensitive towards the rest of us.

I find your public admonishment of him insensitive and socionormalized.

Honolulu_Blue · 03-03-2005, 04:06 PM

Whoever wrote this article needs to be slapped with a wet fish. A trout, a salmon, I don't care. In fact, anyone who uses this word in a non-mocking way needs to be slapped with said fish.

BrianD · 03-03-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Whoever wrote this article needs to be slapped with a wet fish. A trout, a salmon, I don't care. In fact, anyone who uses this word in a non-mocking way needs to be slapped with said fish.

Make it a herring.

Franklinnoble · 03-03-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD

Make it a herring.

Make it a sperm whale. Just to be sure it's not heteronormative.

Ksyrup · 03-03-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmidty

This is the exact reason why I despise living in the communist society otherwise known as western Washington. Crap like this is the norm here.

So you freely admit you are NOT Washingtonormative? Tsk, tsk.

Ksyrup · 03-03-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Make it a sperm whale. Just to be sure it's not heteronormative.

Your lack of consideration for whales without sperm makes me very uncomfortable. I won't say I was offended, because I don't think that was your intent. I only ask that you be more considerate in the future.

Oh yeah, and issue a public apology which provides the proper amount of embarrassment you deserve for making such a comment.

Ajaxab · 03-03-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Make it a sperm whale. Just to be sure it's not heteronormative.

I don't know if there's enough sperm whales in the ocean to hit people with given how many times I hear heteronormative in grad school.

randal7 · 03-03-2005, 10:18 PM

Hey... 30 replies to my thread... most ever for a thread I started. Is this enough to qualify me as an elitist?

calvin · 03-03-2005, 10:43 PM

Aren't we missing the point of this whole discussion?

Jada is hot.

Neon_Chaos · 03-04-2005, 12:06 AM

I'd hit it.

BigJohn&TheLions · 03-04-2005, 03:41 AM

I thought it was funny due to the rumors of a few years ago that her marriage was a cover for both her and Will... that she is more man than he'll ever be...

By the way... this whole idea that straight people are the norm makes me ill. We all know that God intended for man to be a homosexual creature and this whole procreation thing is his way of exacting revenge on those who defy his homosexual norm! Yes, child support is the wrath of God!!! Now go forth, be fruity and don't multiply!

Franklinnoble · 03-04-2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randal7

Hey... 30 replies to my thread... most ever for a thread I started. Is this enough to qualify me as an elitist?

Shut up and hold my jock strap, rook.

randal7 · 03-04-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franklinnoble

Shut up and hold my jock strap, rook.

Sorry, I thought that was your eyepatch...

Franklinnoble · 03-04-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randal7

Sorry, I thought that was your eyepatch...

Common mistake. JeeberD likes wearing it on his head.

Carry on.

BigJohn&TheLions · 03-30-2005, 04:46 PM

Jada is on Oprah today. I have it on at work with the sound off so that I can catch glimpses of Serena Williams' legs...

They are just sitting there man-bashing... I read on the captions that they were bitching about men "depositing their trash inside" of women.

Sounds a bit hetronormative to me...

JeeberD · 03-30-2005, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJohn&TheLions

I have it on at work with the sound off so that I can catch glimpses of Serena Williams' legs...

*shudder*

Drake · 03-30-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMyths

Guys, this is an article from a college newspaper--albeit Harvard's, but still. Student groups at every college foment dissent over issues that their members feel strongly about. The bigger question, perhaps, is who profits from making small stories like this into larger ones.

NM nailed it. Never take anything (ANYTHING) that comes out of a college newspaper or that was written by a college newspaper journalist seriously. And for God's sake, never (NEVER) read the opinion page in a college newspaper. Those things will make your head explode.

That's also why it always scares me when college kids start talking about how they're the Leaders of Tomorrow (LEADERS OF TOMORROW!!) and we should start listening to them now.

Rizon · 03-30-2005, 06:15 PM

Wikinormalitied it:

hxxp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronormative

03-03-2005, 08:04 AM	#3
Ajaxab College Benchwarmer Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Far from home	1. Yes 2. Yes, this is part of the intellectual air people breathe in grad school in the humanities. To affirm heteronormativity in any way, shape or form places one in the same camp as the homophobes. To affirm heteronormativity makes left wing professors generally look at you funny or place you in the category of those who have been oppressed by the dominant system and thereby require substantial ideological changes in your outlook. 3. Colossal Lobster Last edited by Ajaxab : 03-03-2005 at 08:05 AM.

03-03-2005, 09:56 AM	#5
CraigSca Pro Starter Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Not Delaware - hurray!	Shoot me. Please. __________________ She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! She loves you, yeah! how do you know? how do you know?

03-03-2005, 10:21 AM	#10
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	w00T! __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

03-03-2005, 10:30 AM	#11
Fritz Lethargic Hooligan Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: hello kitty found my wallet at a big tent revival and returned it with all the cash missing	this wouldn't be an issue at welding school __________________ donkey, donkey, walk a little faster

03-03-2005, 01:59 PM	#16
sterlingice Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Back in Houston!	Homer: ... and the entire steel mill was gay. Moe: Where you been, Homer? The entire steel industry is gay. Eh, aerospace, too, and the railroads. And you know what else? Broadway. SI __________________ Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!"

03-03-2005, 08:23 AM	#4
ice4277 Pro Rookie Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Berkley, MI: The Hotbed of FOFC!	I could not believe this story when I saw it on the news. This could have easily been a story on 'Weekend Update'.

03-03-2005, 10:05 AM	#6
moriarty College Starter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: A negative place	For some reason when I read the thread title, I though Jada might be Sharon Stone's new lesbian love interest in Basic Instinct 2. Very disappointed.

03-03-2005, 10:12 AM	#7
NoMyths Poet in Residence Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Charleston, SC	Guys, this is an article from a college newspaper--albeit Harvard's, but still. Student groups at every college foment dissent over issues that their members feel strongly about. The bigger question, perhaps, is who profits from making small stories like this into larger ones.

03-03-2005, 02:23 PM	#18
Schmidty Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Early, TX	This article made me uncomfortable. I demand that the author issue an immediate apology to me and anyone else that was made to feel the slightest twinge of discomfort while reading it. No one in America should ever have to hear or read anything that is not in perfect alignment with thier own set of beliefs. This is the exact reason why I despise living in the communist society otherwise known as western Washington. Crap like this is the norm here. No one is allow to offend anyone else unless the person being offended is religious, or is not in exact agreement about anything that is on the leftist agenda. It really is nauseating. And yes, I agree that I need to lighten up. That won't be a problem soon though, because I'm moving back home to Michigan by the end of this month. Yay!!! __________________ Just beat the devil out of it!!! - Bob Ross

03-03-2005, 04:06 PM	#26
Honolulu_Blue Hockey Boy Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Royal Oak, MI	Whoever wrote this article needs to be slapped with a wet fish. A trout, a salmon, I don't care. In fact, anyone who uses this word in a non-mocking way needs to be slapped with said fish. __________________ *Steve Yzerman*: 1,755 points in 1,514 regular season games. 185 points in 196 postseason games. A First-Team All-Star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Selke Trophy winner, Masterton Trophy winner, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Olympic gold medallist, and a three-time Stanley Cup Champion. Longest serving captain of one team in the history of the NHL (19 seasons).

03-03-2005, 10:18 PM	#32
randal7 H.S. Freshman Team Join Date: Nov 2003	Hey... 30 replies to my thread... most ever for a thread I started. Is this enough to qualify me as an elitist?

03-03-2005, 10:43 PM	#33
calvin n00b Join Date: Feb 2005	Aren't we missing the point of this whole discussion? Jada is hot.

03-04-2005, 12:06 AM	#34
Neon_Chaos Pro Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Parañaque, Philippines	I'd hit it.

03-04-2005, 03:41 AM	#35
BigJohn&TheLions College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York	I thought it was funny due to the rumors of a few years ago that her marriage was a cover for both her and Will... that she is more man than he'll ever be... By the way... this whole idea that straight people are the norm makes me ill. We all know that God intended for man to be a homosexual creature and this whole procreation thing is his way of exacting revenge on those who defy his homosexual norm! Yes, child support is the wrath of God!!! Now go forth, be fruity and don't multiply! __________________ In the immortal words of a great alcoholic, "Can't we all just get along?" Last edited by BigJohn&TheLions : 03-04-2005 at 03:41 AM.

03-30-2005, 04:46 PM	#39
BigJohn&TheLions College Benchwarmer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York	Jada is on Oprah today. I have it on at work with the sound off so that I can catch glimpses of Serena Williams' legs... They are just sitting there man-bashing... I read on the captions that they were bitching about men "depositing their trash inside" of women. Sounds a bit hetronormative to me... __________________ In the immortal words of a great alcoholic, "Can't we all just get along?"

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