Alyssa Milano calls for "sex strike"

[spanna]

Withholding Intimacy Can Be Abusive, Too

Food for thought

[clairobscur]

@Velocity

In response to the Georgia abortion law (this thread is not about that law, but rather, about the sex strike in response) - actress Alyssa Milano called for a “sex strike” in response.
It quickly led to criticism, though - some people pointed out that this ‘sex strike’ implies that sex is something only enjoyed by men and not by women and promotes the notion that sex is something women ‘give’ unhappily and men ‘take’ happily.

Totally. The idea of women wielding the power of granting or denying sex should have been put to rest long ago.

Secondly, a woman who would feel motivated to “strike” is likely to live with someone who shares her values. So, this would result in “punishing” only people who are already opposed to these laws.

[Bryan_Ekers]

@clairobscur

Secondly, a woman who would feel motivated to “strike” is likely to live with someone who shares her values. So, this would result in “punishing” only people who are already opposed to these laws.

A few people have said variations of this, but I’d like to suggest:

1. We assume the pro-choice/pro-life divide is nearly even.
2. Most (but not all) people will tend to marry people of similar views.
3. So we can roughly assume that 40% of married couples are both pro-choice, 40% of married couples are both pro-life, 10% of married couples have the wife pro-life and the husband pro-choice and 10% of married couples have the wife pro-choice and the husband pro-life.

If Milano’s suggestion is aimed primarily at the last group, could it not have a positive effect?

[asahi]

The problem with a sex strike is that if this becomes a serious thing, Georgia will probably just legalize rape.

[Gyrate]

As amusing as Milano’s suggestion is, I agree that it’s not remotely practicable. She would do better to push for Insatiable to be filmed elsewhere if she wants to have a real impact.

@octopus

Seriously though, who takes their sex advice from some nutty Hollywood type?

Who takes advice on women’s health issues from elderly conservative men who have repeated demonstrated they understand nothing about women’s health issues? Oh that’s right - the Republican Party.

@Isamu

Is that like a missle strike but with sex instead of missiles?

Sex bomb!

@asahi

The problem with a sex strike is that if this becomes a serious thing, Georgia will probably just legalize rape.

They don’t have to make it legal. They just have to redefine it.

[Bijou_Drains]

@LAZombie

I’m against the weaponization of vaginas.

Many years ago the very attractive wife of a Major League baseball player declared that if she ever found out her husband was cheating on her she would have sex with all of his teammates. Most people were bemused, but I found it rather disturbing.

The player’s wife, like many other women, instinctively knew the anger and hurt she could inflict by using her sexuality in a way no man can. It triggers an animal like response in men. It’s the type of behavior that is tolerated in western societies but nonetheless destructive.

she said she would even sleep with the mascot, Mr. Met

[kayaker]

If the strike were to happen, how long before there’s a call for scabs?

[RickJay]

I have a ton of respect for Alyssa Milano. She’s not some flightly Hollywood type who just tweets opinions; she is a dedicated advocate who works hard for what she believes in and is in the right side of pretty much every issue. The fact Trumpists hate her is reason to admire her…

… but this is a remarkably stupid idea, and the ugly implications are too numerous to list.

[clairobscur]

@Bryan_Ekers

If Milano’s suggestion is aimed primarily at the last group, could it not have a positive effect?

No, because these people are unlikely to have any influence on which law passes.

Secondly, blackmail is bad in general. Blackmailing your SO is even worse.

And sex shouldn’t be used as a tool to control people. Especially, again, your SO.

[CalMeacham]

@asahi

I was going to post “The Alyssistrata”

[applause]

[aruvqan]

@Kimstu

(Although I suppose members of the legislature could technically pass legal measures to decriminalize marital rape, which in practice would accomplish the same thing, at least to the extent that husbands would once again run no risk of legal penalties for forcing their wives to have sex against their will.)

@asahi

The problem with a sex strike is that if this becomes a serious thing, Georgia will probably just legalize rape.

Then the guy better learn to sleep with his eyes open … my husband or SO who rapes me will be dead, or at best castrated. <wonders how fast it would wake a guy up with that rubber band snaps tight>

[Bryan_Ekers]

@clairobscur

No, because these people are unlikely to have any influence on which law passes.

Well, let pro-life men go without anyway, because, frankly and ironically, fuck those guys.

[Intergalactic_Gladiator]

@Gyrate

As amusing as Milano’s suggestion is, I agree that it’s not remotely practicable. She would do better to push for Insatiable to be filmed elsewhere if she wants to have a real impact.

Film and TV productions are already doing this: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/05/232482/hollywood-industry-fighting-georgia-abortion-ban-law

Apparently, Insatiable is currently obligated to remain in Georgia at this time.

[skdo23]

@Nava

Only the fifth decade?

And can we finally go back to putting the toilet seat down and not waiting until half an hour before the mall closes on Feb. 13th to buy Valentine’s Day gifts, that doesn’t seem to be working either.

[Velocity]

You know that somewhere there’s got to be some conservative woman who is purposefully having more sex with her conservative husband these days after reading about this, just to flout the strike.

[puddleglum]

If it does catch on men can just go on a “Killing Bugs strike” and women will fold faster than superman on laundry.

[nightshadea]

well with things like this going on they’ve got to do something to keep their rights …MSN

[thorny_locust]

@puddleglum

If it does catch on men can just go on a “Killing Bugs strike” and women will fold faster than superman on laundry.

I (female) am generally the one in my household carefully removing the spider, wasp, or whatever. Sometimes I’m doing it to oblige a man who’s not about to go near it.

[Kimstu]

@thorny_locust

I (female) am generally the one in my household carefully removing the spider, wasp, or whatever. Sometimes I’m doing it to oblige a man who’s not about to go near it.

Yeah, if men in general did go on a “Killing Bugs strike” I think they might be somewhat dismayed to find out how much of the terrified begging for their assistance was mostly or entirely a performance designed to pamper their egos.
(Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have revealed that in mixed company, but at least we haven’t let on about the jar-lids thing, right?)

[Velocity]

All for the best, I say. Those wasps and spiders should live; they’re beneficial to the environment and for bug-killing. (Well, most of them)