A lot of work is being done to challenge the medicalization and diagnosis of "Gender and Sexual Identity Disorder" in the upcoming DSM-V.

Rather than recognizing gender and sexuality as socially constructed categories that differ (in terms of arrangement, understanding, etc.) cross-culturally and historically, the DSM-V committee views this compartmentalization primarily through a harmful biological essentialist lens.

"Gender and Sexual Identity Disorder" is still listed as a legitimate disorder in the current DSM-IV, and many psychiatrists and others in the health community continue to promote and and exercise a medicalized, 'reparative therapeutic approach' to those with perceived gender-variance.




To see a previous post I wrote on this earlier, go to:
http://carmel-devine.livejournal.com/6512.html

Please sign the petition below to counter the DSM-V committee members on gender identity :
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/objection-to-dsm-v-committee-members-on-gender-identity-disorders

I'm really looking forward to seeing this on Thursday:





It's based on Jean-Dominique Bauby's memoir, "Le Scaphandre et le Papillon." He had a stroke in his 40s and was suddenly diagnosed with locked-in syndrome. His book is told from the perspective of someone who lives with locked-in syndrome; he wrote it by blinking his left eye for every single letter. Apparently it took him, on average, two minutes to write each word. Then, two days after his memoir was published in France (to critical acclaim, no less), he died.

Wikipedia says that 'locked-in syndrome' is the closest thing to being buried alive.

It's disconcerting the number of people who've taken to flocking to the new 'Memorial' Dominion. For some reason I was naive and thought that more people would boycott it.

The Learning Co-op (TLC) and the St. John's Campaign Against War (SJCAW) will be screening the film "Why We Fight" on Wednesday evening, which will be followed by a moderated discussion.

Here's the blurb I wrote up for promotional purposes:

The Learning Co-op (TLC) and the St. John’s Campaign Against War (SJCAW) are sponsoring a film screening and moderated discussion concerning the social, psychological and economic factors that contribute to the use of aggressive military tactics in the American government’s foreign relations, and by extension those of the Canadian government. The film “Why We Fight” helps us understand contemporary wars by placing them in their social and historical contexts.
The film will begin at 7pm on Wednesday, August 15 in the Arts and Administration Bldg. at MUN, room A-1046. A moderated discussion will follow.
Contact learningcoop@gmail.com for more info.

There will be no panel for the discussion, per se, but we've been sending out invitations to people we feel might add some interesting and varying perspectives to the discussion. So far, we've got a couple of military historians, some anthropologists, at least one self-proclaimed anarchist-academic, you get the idea...

The discussion afterwards will be moderated by yours truly. But feel no pressure to stick around. The event is free and open to the public. And the film is good! So come on out and see a good, free movie if nothing else.

i got broken into tonight
laptop is gonzo.


i don't like to put much emphasis on material things. However, laptops are fucking expensive.

I also let out an enormous sigh of relief when I saw that my guitar was still positioned atop the brown chair, where I left it. Untouched by thieves.

Feelings of violation eat us apart. and I'm no stranger to it
though the intensity of such feelings rarely subside the more frequently they occur.

Here is just another reason - among many - leading me to seriously question why I'm even taking a psych. course to begin with (despite the fact that I can avoid doing a lab course if I use this as my science):

Tonight we were taught that 'Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder' is listed as a 'Psychological Disorder' according to the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - last revised by the American Psych. Association in 1994).
Needless to say, I was pretty outraged by this and couldn't help but comment about it. All the professor could say in response was "this is just what the textbook says."

The American Psych. Association Revised the DSM in 1973 to exclude 'homosexuality' as a disorder category.
The next DSM won't be published until 2011; I'm not sure what the future holds for 'Sexual and Gender Identity Disorder' as a category in this next edition.

My question is this:
Why is it so difficult for people to realise that such broad categories as sexuality and gender only exist because we decided to compartmentalize them in such a way to begin with? They are not these distinct, 'natural' entities that have always existed 'naturally,' but rather mere categories that have been (and are) socially produced and regulated (I should probably cite Gary Kinsman in here somewhere...).

So, when it comes time for me to write my next test - seeming as how they are of an 'objective nature,' that is, true/false and multiple choice - I'm going to have to agree that 'sexual and gender identity disorder' is, in fact, a disorder.

This issue actually interests (and angers?) me, and I would take the time to dispute it. However, what about those who are apathetic? Or are just passively taking the course to get their 3 psych. credits? Or those who just believe whatever the textbook/their professor tells them to?

The perpetuation of sexual norms and opression in our society continues...





Oh. This is the lovely Sebastian (otherwise known as Sea-bass) whom I'll be officially adopting in about 8hrs. :)

Today I saw this movie and I loved it.



I never liked Penelope Cruz before... but I think I might have found a new kind of respect for her.

In other news... This is my new kitty! (Sebastian, formerly known as Andy - when he was on Death Row)





Look how big and beautiful he is! Bigger than my dog, I swear!

Tonight I will be getting very drunk with one of my anthropology classes.
Anthro. charades is in order.
What happens if I'm supposed to act out 'post-structuralism' ???
The only things that come to mind are:
a) Kicking a Levi-Srauss book across the room
or b) (if no Levi-Strauss book is in plain sight) pissing on a pair of Levi-Strauss jeans.

Any other suggestions?

Bobby Mcferrin and Richard Bona live in Montreal

fucking amazing!




wouldn't you agree??