Men Showing Emotion, First Installment

     Whether we want to accept it or not, we live in a culture that castigates men who show too much emotion. On the other hand, women in positions of power are frequently criticized for not being emotional enough. Hillary Clinton was often derided for an overly stoic chilliness. The sense of relief seeping from the media was evident when Clinton teared up on the campaign trail.


When men cry, on the other hand, they get labeled bitches, pussies, and any other name that undermines them...by calling them female.

So, PHG would like to do something to balance the scales a bit. Men crying shouldn't be so horrifying or shameful. Part of the problem is the lack of exposure the public has to men showing emotion - most likely because men feel the need to hide such embarrassing behavior. To remedy this problem, PHG would like to introduce the first installment of "Men Showing Emotion."

To kick off the series PGH presents the beloved Coco getting a little choked up on his exit from The Tonight Show:



Congrats Conan on a completely manly, menschy display of emotion!

Blog for Choice Day

In honor of the 37th anniversary of the landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade, NARAL has asked bloggers to respond to the phrase "Trust Women" and explain what it means to them. Dr. George Tiller, the Wichita physician and late-term abortion provider who was murdered on the steps of his church over the summer by a pro-life activist, adopted the phrase as his motto and often wore it on a button.

What does the phrase "Trust Women" mean to PHG? Well, to be honest, not all women can be trusted. The thing is, women don't deserve reproductive freedom because they are such noble creatures and can always be trusted to do the right thing. Integrity is never the basis of our freedoms in this country. To quote Jo March in the 1994 adaptation of Little Women (for the first and last time):

"I find it poor logic to say that because women are good, women should vote; men do not vote because they are good; men vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because they are angels and men are animals, but because they are human beings and citizens of this country."

The same can be said of reproductive rights. Women do not deserve these freedoms because they are trustworthy, but because they are human beings, citizens of this country and should be allowed the right to make their own reproductive choices - without government intervention.

Not to knock Dr. Tiller's sentiment. He was, by all accounts, a decent man who took an incredibly brave stand in the name of freedom. And the concept behind his motto seems to be this: treat women and their birth canals with the respect, autonomy and equality they deserve, rather than forcing what is ultimately a moral, religious judgment on American citizens (whose country, by the way, claims to have a separation of Church and State.)

Sarah Palin and her ilk are all kicking up a storm today for the Roe v. Wade anniversary. There's a perfect example of a woman PHG doesn't trust. But Palin's right to decide what goes on inside her body? That's something PHG will always defend - no matter how frustrating her opinions (and accent) are.



**To participate in Blog for Choice, link your response here or leave a comment below**