No, No, Don't Worry. Sexism is Pretty Much Over.

[BostonBeaneater]

Right - I was going to mention that sign about the free chili, but I was too lazy.

Probably the quaaludes.

[matedog]

I've skimmed this, but interesting story about one of the members of the Runaways being raped by their manager: http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/arti ... ost-girls/

Interestingly, Joan Jett has been not terribly forthcoming about the incident.

[matedog]

I've skimmed this, but interesting story about one of the members of the Runaways being raped by their manager: http://highline.huffingtonpost.com/arti ... ost-girls/

Interestingly, Joan Jett has been not terribly forthcoming about the incident.

To clarify, I shouldn't single her out about the matter. There are a ton of other culpable people and societal influences, namely the perpetrator who I would imagine probably did this to a lot of other women.

[biopunk]

I skimmed it too. He wasn't talking directly to Joan Jett though, only her "people".

But it's early days. It'll be interesting how this one is going play out.


Not at all familiar with the writer Jason Cherkis. How old is he?

His characterization of Rodney Bingenheimer as "a notorious hanger-on" and no mention of the English Disco underage scene raised an eyebrow for me.

He's also really, really into reading things regarding photos...

[JennyB]

I follow Maureen Herman, the bassist for Babes in Toyland, on FB. She co-founded an organization called A is For with Martha Plimpton, among others. It's a really cool feminist/pro-choice organization Anyway, she is a rape survivor and her 12-year-old daughter is a result of that rape. This is what she wrote earlier today, and I thought it was pretty on point:

"Joan Jett's continued silence at the public disclosure of her witnessing of her bassist's rape at the hands of their manager is starting to taste like indifference with a side of victim-blaming. That's a really dangerous message to send to the many women and musicians Jett has inspired and influenced in her successful career. As a woman, a musician, a rape victim, and a feminist, my disappointment is turning to rage. It will not be a silent rage.

Though Joan Jett was not the perpetrator of the crime committed against Jackie Fuchs, she was a witness to the rape and did nothing. I understand she was very young at the time, and it's possible Fowley leveraged the threat of rape to retain power and influence over the other band members. It was a very public rape, after all.

But now, the perpetrator is dead, and the victim has taken the courageous step of telling her story to encourage others to tell theirs. Jett's dismissive response to requests for a comment--that Jackie can tell her own story--is not enough. She has the unique chance of finally standing up for the bandmate she so tragically denied all of these years. How healing that would be, how far it would go in assuring victims that rape is never their fault--no matter what."

[Flex]

Jesus, horrible stuff.

[BR16ADE_R055E]

I follow Maureen Herman, the bassist for Babes in Toyland, on FB. She co-founded an organization called A is For with Martha Plimpton, among others. It's a really cool feminist/pro-choice organization Anyway, she is a rape survivor and her 12-year-old daughter is a result of that rape. This is what she wrote earlier today, and I thought it was pretty on point:

"Joan Jett's continued silence at the public disclosure of her witnessing of her bassist's rape at the hands of their manager is starting to taste like indifference with a side of victim-blaming. That's a really dangerous message to send to the many women and musicians Jett has inspired and influenced in her successful career. As a woman, a musician, a rape victim, and a feminist, my disappointment is turning to rage. It will not be a silent rage.

Though Joan Jett was not the perpetrator of the crime committed against Jackie Fuchs, she was a witness to the rape and did nothing. I understand she was very young at the time, and it's possible Fowley leveraged the threat of rape to retain power and influence over the other band members. It was a very public rape, after all.

But now, the perpetrator is dead, and the victim has taken the courageous step of telling her story to encourage others to tell theirs. Jett's dismissive response to requests for a comment--that Jackie can tell her own story--is not enough. She has the unique chance of finally standing up for the bandmate she so tragically denied all of these years. How healing that would be, how far it would go in assuring victims that rape is never their fault--no matter what."

Posted an hour ago on the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts FB page:

"Anyone who truly knows me understands that if I was aware of a friend or bandmate being violated, I would not stand by while it happened. For a group of young teenagers thrust into 70s rock stardom there were relationships that were bizarre, but I was not aware of this incident. Obviously Jackie’s story is extremely upsetting and although we haven’t spoken in decades, I wish her peace and healing." - Joan Jett

[Low Down Low]

I follow Maureen Herman, the bassist for Babes in Toyland, on FB. She co-founded an organization called A is For with Martha Plimpton, among others. It's a really cool feminist/pro-choice organization Anyway, she is a rape survivor and her 12-year-old daughter is a result of that rape. This is what she wrote earlier today, and I thought it was pretty on point:

"Joan Jett's continued silence at the public disclosure of her witnessing of her bassist's rape at the hands of their manager is starting to taste like indifference with a side of victim-blaming. That's a really dangerous message to send to the many women and musicians Jett has inspired and influenced in her successful career. As a woman, a musician, a rape victim, and a feminist, my disappointment is turning to rage. It will not be a silent rage.

Though Joan Jett was not the perpetrator of the crime committed against Jackie Fuchs, she was a witness to the rape and did nothing. I understand she was very young at the time, and it's possible Fowley leveraged the threat of rape to retain power and influence over the other band members. It was a very public rape, after all.

But now, the perpetrator is dead, and the victim has taken the courageous step of telling her story to encourage others to tell theirs. Jett's dismissive response to requests for a comment--that Jackie can tell her own story--is not enough. She has the unique chance of finally standing up for the bandmate she so tragically denied all of these years. How healing that would be, how far it would go in assuring victims that rape is never their fault--no matter what."

Posted an hour ago on the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts FB page:

"Anyone who truly knows me understands that if I was aware of a friend or bandmate being violated, I would not stand by while it happened. For a group of young teenagers thrust into 70s rock stardom there were relationships that were bizarre, but I was not aware of this incident. Obviously Jackie’s story is extremely upsetting and although we haven’t spoken in decades, I wish her peace and healing." - Joan Jett

That statement is just so repugnant on so many levels. She should just have remained silent if that was the best she could do.

[Rat Patrol]

I follow Maureen Herman, the bassist for Babes in Toyland, on FB. She co-founded an organization called A is For with Martha Plimpton, among others. It's a really cool feminist/pro-choice organization Anyway, she is a rape survivor and her 12-year-old daughter is a result of that rape. This is what she wrote earlier today, and I thought it was pretty on point:

"Joan Jett's continued silence at the public disclosure of her witnessing of her bassist's rape at the hands of their manager is starting to taste like indifference with a side of victim-blaming. That's a really dangerous message to send to the many women and musicians Jett has inspired and influenced in her successful career. As a woman, a musician, a rape victim, and a feminist, my disappointment is turning to rage. It will not be a silent rage.

Though Joan Jett was not the perpetrator of the crime committed against Jackie Fuchs, she was a witness to the rape and did nothing. I understand she was very young at the time, and it's possible Fowley leveraged the threat of rape to retain power and influence over the other band members. It was a very public rape, after all.

But now, the perpetrator is dead, and the victim has taken the courageous step of telling her story to encourage others to tell theirs. Jett's dismissive response to requests for a comment--that Jackie can tell her own story--is not enough. She has the unique chance of finally standing up for the bandmate she so tragically denied all of these years. How healing that would be, how far it would go in assuring victims that rape is never their fault--no matter what."

Posted an hour ago on the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts FB page:

"Anyone who truly knows me understands that if I was aware of a friend or bandmate being violated, I would not stand by while it happened. For a group of young teenagers thrust into 70s rock stardom there were relationships that were bizarre, but I was not aware of this incident. Obviously Jackie’s story is extremely upsetting and although we haven’t spoken in decades, I wish her peace and healing." - Joan Jett

That statement is just so repugnant on so many levels. She should just have remained silent if that was the best she could do.

I agree. If you're just going to make a non-statement statement, don't make a statement at all.

[JennyB]

I follow Maureen Herman, the bassist for Babes in Toyland, on FB. She co-founded an organization called A is For with Martha Plimpton, among others. It's a really cool feminist/pro-choice organization Anyway, she is a rape survivor and her 12-year-old daughter is a result of that rape. This is what she wrote earlier today, and I thought it was pretty on point:

"Joan Jett's continued silence at the public disclosure of her witnessing of her bassist's rape at the hands of their manager is starting to taste like indifference with a side of victim-blaming. That's a really dangerous message to send to the many women and musicians Jett has inspired and influenced in her successful career. As a woman, a musician, a rape victim, and a feminist, my disappointment is turning to rage. It will not be a silent rage.

Though Joan Jett was not the perpetrator of the crime committed against Jackie Fuchs, she was a witness to the rape and did nothing. I understand she was very young at the time, and it's possible Fowley leveraged the threat of rape to retain power and influence over the other band members. It was a very public rape, after all.

But now, the perpetrator is dead, and the victim has taken the courageous step of telling her story to encourage others to tell theirs. Jett's dismissive response to requests for a comment--that Jackie can tell her own story--is not enough. She has the unique chance of finally standing up for the bandmate she so tragically denied all of these years. How healing that would be, how far it would go in assuring victims that rape is never their fault--no matter what."

Posted an hour ago on the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts FB page:

"Anyone who truly knows me understands that if I was aware of a friend or bandmate being violated, I would not stand by while it happened. For a group of young teenagers thrust into 70s rock stardom there were relationships that were bizarre, but I was not aware of this incident. Obviously Jackie’s story is extremely upsetting and although we haven’t spoken in decades, I wish her peace and healing." - Joan Jett

That statement is just so repugnant on so many levels. She should just have remained silent if that was the best she could do.

I agree. If you're just going to make a non-statement statement, don't make a statement at all.

Yep.

[tepista]

So is Joan Jett the new Joe Paterno?

[BostonBeaneater]

So is Joan Jett the new Joe Paterno?

Ouch.

[tepista]

So is Joan Jett the new Joe Paterno?

Ouch.

Well I'm just askin. She's being accused of "see-no-say"

I guess in Joe's case it was see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see-no-say

[Low Down Low]

So is Joan Jett the new Joe Paterno?

Ouch.

Well I'm just askin. She's being accused of "see-no-say"

I guess in Joe's case it was see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see-no-say

It's a fair question, but not sure there is equivalence. Paterno didn't see anything, he was told of an incident and passed the details on to a superior and then did precisely nada. Not sure if there were further developments, but was it ever conclusively proven he actively lied or participated in a cover-up? Don't believe it was. As for JJ, either she's a bare-faced liar or else through some profound, semi-conscious mind-altering process, she's managed to convince herself that her reality - basically all the good stuff that happened from the outset of the Runaways with anything bad blotted out - is the only one that counts.

[JennyB]

So is Joan Jett the new Joe Paterno?

Ouch.

Well I'm just askin. She's being accused of "see-no-say"

I guess in Joe's case it was see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see, see-no-say

It's a fair question, but not sure there is equivalence. Paterno didn't see anything, he was told of an incident and passed the details on to a superior and then did precisely nada. Not sure if there were further developments, but was it ever conclusively proven he actively lied or participated in a cover-up? Don't believe it was. As for JJ, either she's a bare-faced liar or else through some profound, semi-conscious mind-altering process, she's managed to convince herself that her reality - basically all the good stuff that happened from the outset of the Runaways with anything bad blotted out - is the only one that counts.

Paterno, because of his job, was a mandated reporter. That means, if he had a reasonable cause to suspect abuse, he had to report it. Doesn't mean he had to have proof.