Rotten Little Girls

Did Homosexuals Cause the Fall of Rome?

by Harlequin

Okay, so I know everyone is upset about the passage of Proposition 8 in California.  I agree that it is total bullshit, and I can only hope that the Supreme Court backs up gay rights on this one.

On a related note, check out this clip of the Ellen Degeneres show in which she responds to absolutely ridiculous claims made by Oklahoma state representative Sally Kern.  I know this happened awhile ago but it has just recently exploded in the media given the blatantly oppressive situation out in California. The views expressed in the clip are simultaneously hilariously laughable but also kind of frightening…it is hard for me to realize that some people actually believe theories like this.

Now, can anyone come up with an example of a society that has collapsed because of the acceptance of gay communities?  I mean, really, let’s just talk about the Roman Empire – they did have those damn bath houses…

sallykernauntieP.S.  Sally Kern has refused to apologize for her statements, claiming that she said “nothing that was not true.”  And not everyone is outraged either; she received a standing ovation from Republican legislators shortly after.  Apparently a lot of people believe that the gay community is simply a bastion of evil that will destroy the world, so much so that even people who fulfill positions of authority in the political world can go around running their mouths like this.  Let’s not forget Sally, that is was not so long ago that women were seen as evil and destructive simply by existing – you probably would have been burned at the stake for making any statement at all.  If you want to talk about indoctrination, perhaps you should look towards your own state and the policies you help pass there.  She actually attempted to remove books that supported gays and lesbians from public libraries!  So now we are getting to decide not only who can get married and to whom, but what books we can read?  Come on Sally, that ain’t America, “the home of the free.”

Photo Credit.

- Harlequin

10 Ways to Boost Your Self-Esteem

by Harlequin

As a young woman, I struggle to find confidence in myself.  I constantly feel like I am on display, and in a way, I am.  The barrage of sexual imagery and the shallowness of pop culture often makes me view myself with disdain, and it is a struggle for any woman to overcome insecurities that are simply heightened by everything around her.  So here is a list of things that I focus on in order to boost my self-confidence, and so far, they seem to be working!

10. Always present yourself in a way that makes you proud – whether this be something as simple as putting on mascara every day before you go out, or something more complicated like standing up for someone when you feel they are being mistreated. If you are happy with your appearance and you live your life according to your values, you will most definitely be happy with yourself.

9. Treat yourself – buy some new clothes, go get a massage, get your nails done.  It isn’t shallow to be pampered every once in awhile, especially if you are paying for it yourself.  A good rule of thumb is to treat yourself as if you were a good friend or a girlfriend; don’t become too self-indulgent, but realize that you know best what makes you feel great on the inside and out.

8. Walk around in your bra and underwear – it feels a bit strange at first, but after awhile you start feeling not only comfortable in your own skin, but also pretty damn sexy!  I was so ashamed of my body during my teenage years that I went through high school in baggy pajama pants; needless to say, I never felt remotely attractive.  But now, the more I see my body, the more I love it…and it is a great feeling.

7.  Learn to be alone – one of the best things you can do for your self-esteem is to treat yourself like you want someone else to treat you. Date yourself, go out alone to dinner or the movies, and realize that you are great company!

6. Exercise – even if it’s just a little bit.  Just like massages and other physical pampering, exercise is proven to have a positive effect on your body as well as your brain. Don’t focus on weight, and I would even go so far as to advise that you get rid of that scale.  But exercise is proven to help both physically and mentally, especially with mental health concerns such as depression.  Moreover, don’t obsess about food or lack thereof.  Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and concentrate on making sure your body feels healthy.

5. Read and watch things of substance – idling away time is one of my favorite things to do, and I do not see anything wrong with it.  I do know, however, that I always feel a little bit worse about myself after reading celebrity magazines and watching trashy television.  They are simply going to make you compare yourself to people who aren’t even real, when in fact you should not be comparing yourself to anyone except yourself.  So watch all the Family Guy you want, as long as you put down the latest edition of In Touch magazine that points out actresses’ cellulite.

4.  Challenge yourself - every so often, do something that scares the shit out of you.  Life is all about taking risks, and if you confront something that petrifies you head-on you can show yourself that you have the guts to face your fears. And most likely, you will find out that it’s not so bad; you might even begin to feel infallible.

3. Surround yourself with positive people - negativity will simply bring your levels of happiness and self-esteem down.  Of course everyone has to deal with the good and the bad of life, but try to step away from drama and negative people who confirm your self-doubts.  If you are anything like me, you judge yourself enough, so you certainly don’t need it from other people.

2. Pursue your passions - find out what makes you tick and go after it. Whether it is your friends, your family, your career, or even your part-time blog, focus on things that create intensity inside you. If you love something, then it is much easier to be good at it and feel as if your life has purpose.

1.  Smile - seriously, it works.  Even better…LAUGH.  Both of these are studied in terms of their beneficial effects on human psychology and physiology.  Not only do smiling and laughing make you feel good, but the most attractive people are often the happiest.

Photo Credits Here.

Barack Obama: The President Elect

by Harlequin

Here is the acceptance speech by Obama after being elected president, just in case anyone missed it like I did. It is an amazing expression of his hopes and plans for America, and I can say that my faith in America has been renewed. So thank you everyone who voted; we can now look forward to what everyone wants – CHANGE!

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Here are some other links about Obama’s victory – I found them really interesting, so even though it is 5 am I am going to share them with you anyways!  Sorry there are so many links and photos, I got really overexcited and I can’t sleep – I feel really hyperactive right now…

artkenyaafp-> I had an amazing night of celebration and solidarity with people who were elated with Obama’s victory, and this was only in my isolated locale.  Check out the experience of Americans all over celebrating this historical moment.

-> Obama mentioned her in his speech tonight, and she is a new and improved version of “Joe the Plumber.”  Read the amazing story of 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper, who talks about the contrast between voting in this election and the dramatic changes she has seen in America over the course of the 20th century.

-> What does the international world and foreign leaders think of the election results?  Well, as one Russian newspaper puts it, “Eight years of hell are over.”  And if the celebrations across the United States are any indication of the spirit of America, then the celebrations around the world are an even better sign of a bright future.281x2112

-> We can’t forget about Senator McCain, who made his concession speech early on tonight in Phoenix.  I have to say, I think he came off much better than he ever did in any other speeches or debates – I might even say I was impressed with his graciousness.

-> Why did McCain lose? Okay, this might seem like a question with a glaringly obvious answer, but it doesn’t hurt to have your theories confirmed!  Plus, in a streak of irony, reporters are talking about the “Palin effect” in the video below.

-> Even better, why did Obama win? I know, I know, because he is awesome!!!  But, to my surprise, it is even deeper than that!

joseph-biden-460b_795538a2-> And, of course, Joe Biden…I won’t even start, I love the man too much to stop…him and Obama and those smiling charismatic faces make my heart melt.

-> Check out this election map to see where each state went…

-> Major change is going on in the Senate and House as well, as Democratic majorities are pulling a huge lead over Republicans in Congress.  Looks like we will have a Democratic White House after all…

-> In another example of a historical election, the first woman was elected governor of North Carolina – much better than Sarah Palin!

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Again, thank you America for voting.  No matter who you voted for, this has been an impressive and historically consequential moment for all of us.  And it is because of everyone who went out and voted – in spite of the long lines and other hassles – to make this an election with a record turnout.

Photo Credits Found Over Here.

Mondays are a Bitch and So is She: Cindy McCain

by Harlequin

With the election just a day away, people are getting anxious.  I have a lot of confidence in Obama, but what will happen if McCain becomes the next President of the United States?

Well, for one thing, Laura Bush will be replaced by Cindy McCain.  I didn’t think the Stepford Wife thing could go any further.

Don’t get me wrong, Mrs. McCain has a fair amount of accomplishments hidden under her brightly colored pantsuits.  She is a philanthropist, most notably through her founding of the American Voluntary Medical Team, which sends people out to areas hurt by disasters or war.  After receiving a master’s degree in special education, she even turned down a role in her father’s company in order to work with mentally challenged kids.  Even though that lasted for only one year, she was an important part of developing a new approach to movement therapy for severely disabled children.  She also has four children of her own, one of whom was adopted from Bangladesh, in addition to the three kids from John’s first marriage.  Still, my mother raised four children on her own while running a home daycare; and this was without a cushion of cash or prescription drugs to fall back on.  Cindy’s addiction to Percocet and Vicodin is certainly not something to be taken lightly, but addiction can get the best of any of us.  Her actions, however, led to the demise of the American Voluntary Medical Team after it was discovered that she was illegally obtaining prescriptions by using the names of its employees without their knowledge.  While I respect her for overcoming her addiction, I feel that even her “nonprofit” organizations are very profitable to her in ways that most people wouldn’t even expect.  If all I had to do was pay restitution with my father’s money to get off of drug charges, I would fraudulently obtain some sedatives myself.

Cindy McCain is one woman I know I wouldn’t be able to stand if I came face to face with her.  Born Cindy Lou Hensley, she’s a rich girl who has benefited profusely off of family money (beer from Anheuser-Busch is completely ruined for me) — not to mention the fact that she uses this money to fund her husband’s political campaigns.  She has funds from a $300 million dollar company, and she is bitching about Obama’s campaign money?  And if you thought John McCain’s seven houses were bad, his wife owns ten, in addition to parts of 3 office complexes.  I thought women married older men for money — so why did 25 year-old Cindy go for McCain at 42?  I mean he is 72 now…an old 72.  Not to mention he already had children and, oh yeah, a wife.  During his courtship with Cindy, John pushed for a divorce from his wife Carol McCain. He remarried a month after their divorce was finalized.  While her husband went on with his political life, Cindy followed him to Washington — where she was ostracized because of Carol McCain’s popularity and spent her time writing over 4000 Christmas cards in 1983.

Writing Christmas cards is a pain in the ass, and I am sure I will end up doing it when I am a “wife.”  But I can hardly stomach the fact that this is a fact listed in Cindy McCain’s life story.  I firmly believe that a First Lady should be a woman who uses her intelligence for more than domestic niceties.  The contrast could not be any more apparent — Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama both act like ladies, but they are also able to articulately voice their opinions.  Cindy McCain can voice her opinions too, but she sounds less like an intelligent woman and more like that bitchy girl from high school.  Still, the Republican Party praises her for “her elegance at coffee shops and other small campaign settings, where she frequently refers to her children, carpooling, and charity work.”  I agree that raising children is more than a career, but I don’t think women fully convey their intelligence by talking about chauffering their children around.  Talk about your children, talk about teaching kids with special needs, but please, don’t relive every detail of getting your kids and their friends to pee-wee football practice.  Cindy herself emphasizes the idea that she would be a “traditional” First Lady — which seems to mean she will not stick her nose into her husband’s business…you know, his business of governing the country.

I can’t imagine that John was a young and lively man when he met Cindy.  As hard as it is to believe, this ice queen was the epitome of the vivacious girl-next-door in her younger years, and she definitely started early.  At the age of 14, she was named the Junior Rodeo Queen of Arizona, followed up by the even better accomplishment of being voted “Best Dressed” at her affluent Phoenix high school — well, at least now we know how she came to be so diluted in her fashion sense.  At college in California she was a cheerleader as well as a sorority sister (is anyone else seeing the stereotype come to life?).  She was not as dumb as one might think, however, and she was heavily involved with Charles Keating’s financial affairs.  Cindy and her father invested nearly $400,000 in a project with Keating, and she also acted as a bookkeeper — although not a very good one, seeing as how she simply “couldn’t find” several receipts when shit hit the fan in the Keating scandal.

So all in all, I am obviously not impressed with Mrs. McCain, volume 2.  She may have accomplishments, but like Sarah Palin, I can only wonder where her ambition comes from and, more importantly, where this ambition is headed.  Everyone makes mistakes, but her demeanor serves only to emphasize the idea that she doesn’t seem to learn from them…just as with her anger towards the Obama campaign, her problems and misdeeds seem to be on everyone else’s shoulders.

***Explore the many faces of Cindy – this made me laugh, but be warned, it is offensive.

***Read this satirically heartwarming look at the McCain marriage.

***Who does Mrs. McCain most closely resemble?  This look-alike website has reached a consensus…

Photo Credits Found Here.

End of the Week Links — 11/2/08

by Harlequin

-> Sarah Palin has done it again – she never ceases to be in the center of a not-so-flattering spotlight.  Apparently she received a prank phone call from a radio personality posing as the French President.  Below is a clip of the 6-minute phone interview.


–> I love Joe Biden – if for anything, simply for the fact that he can be so deadpan with his responses.  This interview has been all over the place, but if you haven’t seen it, watch Joe own this reporter.

–> So is voting for McCain anyways?  Apparently the GOP is struggling to understand the demise of their party.  And after the disaster of the McCain/Palin ticket, they are fighting to keep a foot in the door of the White House.

–> Sick of hearing about the Bradley effect?  Well read this article about white Americans who are really voting for Obama.

–> Here is a relatively short video piece by Time Magazine’s Joe Klein on his interview with Barack Obama. This is not only thought-provoking but really worth viewing. Watch the 3 minute video here.

–> As Dollface recently mentioned, an awesome blog that’s developed during this Presidential election is Yes We Can (Hold Babies). It’s a series of photographs of Obama with children or babies (and sometimes Michelle or Biden). Seriously, each picture on this site is cuter than the last. Highly recommended.

–>Hope you all had a great weekend – and please…

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!!!


yours

truly

-

HARLEQUIN

Selling Motherhood

by Harlequin

I just had to comment on the latest Angelina Jolie news.  You know, the one where she is breastfeeding on the cover of W magazine.  I will not deny it – for the most part, I think the concept is great.  As a woman, she looks real, beautiful, but most of all she looks happy.

Still, I am ridiculously sick of hearing about Brad and Angelina.  While I give her props for the breastfeeding photo shoot (which was actually done by hubby Brad), I feel as if she is constantly trying to do things for shock value.  Making out with her brother, wearing a blood-filled vial around her neck…she has created an un-shockable persona.  This reminds me of Demi Moore’s nude pregnancy shot for Vanity Fair.  Sure, I like the idea of having a positive attitude towards pregnant and breastfeeding women (I find it strangely attractive), but does the process of sexualization ever end?  It’s not as if we even see anything; in fact there is a little hand right over her nipple.  But we all know men and women alike love Angelina for her sex appeal, otherwise I doubt we would be obsessing about her newest kid or a picture of her breast that might as well have been her in a low cut evening gown.  I would find it a bit more heartwarming if I didn’t feel as if it was another ploy for Hollywood hype.  Something about it just seems so ingenuine – even if it is a “family” affair.

Not only that, but apparently Angelina is raking in the cash based on her status as one of the “most bankable” faces in the world.  Especially during this economic crisis, when our exorbitant consumer culture is threatened with a recession, magazines are clamoring for stars like Ms. Jolie who will sell covers.  And whipping out her breast will surely sell magazines.  It is a telling sign, though, that this same idea was conceptualized on the cover of Babytalk magazine two years ago – except it definitely did not receive positive feedback.  People thought it was disgusting and inappropriate, while Angelina Jolie is being praised by La Leche League International, an organization for breastfeeding.  Perhaps Ms. Jolie’s photo is a bit more tasteful for those who might be offended by a baby sucking on a full breast, but I feel as if we welcome the cover of W magazine because it is someone beautiful and famous.  In the end, it’s all about sex appeal, and celebrities can carry it off.  Women discussing the cover of Babytalk worry about their husbands or sons looking at it, not the actual breast itself.  And maybe that is what bothers me.

So I am not sure how I feel about this photo.  Part of me thinks it is a positive step for women’s bodies, but the other part of me strongly feels that this is just another example of advertising that objectifies women.  Except that now, we are objectifying hot women who have babies.  It’s great that we are finding pregnant women and new mothers to be sexually appealing (God knows my future husband damn well better) instead of calling them fat cows, a nickname O.J. Simpson used to refer to his pregnant wife Nicole.  But something still doesn’t seem right about it to me.  What does everyone else think?

Photo Credits Here

Round Two: McCain Has Fallen…and He Can’t Get Up

by Harlequin

So we have debate number 2. The general consensus is that John McCain lost because he didn’t win; so Barack Obama won by default?

I don’t rely too much on polls, but it seems that McCain had to knock Obama out in this one just to regain an even balance. I did think Obama focused on the issues and gave specific examples of his policies, but I honestly wasn’t extremely impressed by either candidate (check out their report cards).  I felt as if the debate evolved into a bickering match over records, policies, and of course, character. We had McCain talking about the “candies and goodies” used to entice Senators such as “that one” (Obama) into voting for certain bills, and then we had Obama talking about how McCain has been “cheerleading” Bush through the war (although I have to admit, I did laugh on that last one). There seemed to be too much of a back and forth, with each pointing out the hypocritical voting records of the other – I ended up not knowing what was the truth and what was a crock of crap.

Not to mention the snide comments about time constraints. Yes, Obama talked a lot, so much so that he often went over the time limit. Honestly, I know there are time limits imposed for a reason, and the campaigns previously agree to them in the name of fairness. But at the same time, is it really necessary to keep to the 90 minute time frame? This is the presidential election for Christ’s sake, and I would hope that the candidates have enough to say to make the debate longer than a feature film. I like Obama as a debater for firmly yet politely emphasizing his stance instead of being shut up and sat down by a clock. McCain seemed as if he was brown nosing not only the moderator but also the audience: “I am going to stop, and you didn’t even have to wait,” McCain told moderator Tom Brokaw at one point. Good job, Johnny, you showed us Americans that you can follow the same rules they institute into beauty pageants…hmm, Sarah Palin has taught you a lot.

Still, there were a lot of important points brought up despite the childish bickering. One aspect of the debate that I found particularly interesting was the discussion of the Iraq War and the Vietnam War. One audience member at the town hall asked a question about whether or not the U.S. should go into countries neighboring Iraq, which was a tactic considered during the Vietnam War. In the 1960s, the U.S. chose not to enter Cambodia or Laos, and in fact a communist regime came to power in the state of “Pathet Lao.” The debate of today mainly involves Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries that Obama believes we should be focusing on. While McCain argues that Obama is “telegraphing his punches” on live television (saying the Democratic candidate is broadcasting his plans to “attack Pakistan”), the former military hero quotes one of his own “heroes” when he declares his foreign policy strategy: “speak softly but carry a big stick” (Teddy Roosevelt, by the way). Now, I do not know much abut military strategy or foreign policy, but I would think that talking would be a bit more important. Both candidates emphasize that they need to gain support of Pakistan’s people, just as the U.S. government had unsuccessfully tried to gain the support of the South Vietnamese. Still, McCain wants to be diplomatic in a way that can hide America’s true motives; we have to be tough and carry that big stick, right? On the other hand, Obama says that America needs to “stop coddling” Pakistan. He did not mean we should jump in there and attack them (as if we never do that…), but it was his way of letting them know where America stands. Pakistan might be angry, but they ain’t gonna hear us if we speak too softly, and darn tootin’ right they aren’t gonna like us too much if we act nice and then whip out our big sticks (come on, McCain, save that for Cindy).

There were sharp disagreements not only about the war in Iraq, but also about America’s position in the world. Not only do most people agree that Obama won the debate, but they also believe that he presented a stronger foreign policy stance than his opponent.  McCain emphasized our status as the shining light of the free world, noting that our country is obliged to at least try to intervene in world struggles. Obama, on the other hand, said that while it is a moral duty to intervene in cases of genocide, there are other situations (I am assuming he means politically) in which the U.S. has to determine if, in fact, their presence will benefit anyone or bring about any sort of resolution. This seems like a legitimate enough foreign policy for me, and it probably would not have gotten us into Iraq in the first place. Sure, I want genocide and ethnic cleansing in Darfur to end, but I don’t think the U.S. should go around policing governments that we do not approve of, like Iraq. Like Obama said, we can not do it all. There is always going to be oppression and struggle in the world, but we can not intervene everywhere. Especially during this economic crisis, Americans should be focusing first and foremost on our country. Even McCain said that in order to have a strong military, you need to have a strong economy as a foundation. Well, maybe now is a good time to focus on the root of the problem instead of spending billions of dollars in a country where we really do not seem to be getting anywhere.

There is so much more I could talk about (economic and energy policies in particular) but what did everyone else think of the debate?

Photo Credits

Dying or Dead?

by Harlequin

I read this article on Yahoo! News about “What happens when we die”, and with recent events, it just made me think. As for my atheist and pragmatic perspective, I am inclined to believe that after death our bodies rot and decay just as everything else in the world does. It would be nice to go to some beautiful kingdom of fluffy clouds and pearly gates, or maybe even a boat filled with all the people we know and love (my sister always says “Titanic Heaven” to refer to the last scene in the film) but I can’t buy into that. And even if I did, I would probably be going to hell.  It seems as if death has become a sort of Brothers’ Grimm fairy tale that has been edited into a fantasy of happiness. While I tend to maintain the stance that death brings nothing but a rotting flesh and bone playground for worms (hence why I plan on being cremated), I actually find this expectation somewhat comforting. It might not bring the same sense of happiness that a party up in the sky might, but becoming part of the earth over the course of years seems peaceful.

Still, the actual process of dying is one that frightens me. This article is interesting because I have never thought of the biological aspects of dying. My impression of death has been primarily deduced from the metaphysical and spiritual connotation it has. Presenting a rather detached view of death, this study of the objective biological events during the process of dying represent a whole new aspect in scientific endeavors. The concept of “near-death experiences” and “coming back to life” gain more significance with scientific backing. I can’t help but be reminded of Terry Schiavo and the whole debacle that emerged out of her mere existence.  Perhaps science can end the debate about life support and brain damage, if people are willing to accept the findings.  Would scientific knowledge about death make you feel better about it, either for yourself or for those around you?  I wonder if pretty soon we will all know exactly what to expect when we die – and will predicting death be better than waiting and being surprised?

On a similar note, Dollface recently lost someone close to her.  My heart goes out to her, and I hope yours do as well…we love you, babe – keep your head up and come home to me soon!

Photo Credits

End of the Week Links — 9/28

by Harlequin

–> I have never been a big fan of the advertising industry, but looking at these 12 Vintage Cigarette Ads They Would Never Get Away with Now, it seems like we have come a long way…it’s just too bad we started so low.  Do these remind you of any ads today – I personally prefer ads like these.  My personal favorite is probably the Santa Claus – I mean, who doesn’t have a jolly old grandpa with a hacking cough?

–> I am a total animal lover, but these guys definitely don’t make me want to cuddle with them.  I will stick to becoming a cat lady, thank you very much.

–>I know we are all pretty sick of the trivial nature of politics lately, but after watching the debate on Friday I was more annoyed than ever with John McCain.  Not only was there some nonsense talk about wearing bracelets, but I realized I can not spend 4 years watching that turtle-headed man speak on behalf of our country.  Not to mention i was not impressed by anything he said, especially after reading some of his comments over.  I can not wait for the Biden-Palin debate.  Also, check out this article on Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comment.

–>I really enjoyed reading this random letter mocking the role of Biblical traditions in our legal system.  It’s a very clever way of seeing the blatant hypocrisy of the religious rite; and it is just pretty funny.

So I hope you all had a great weekend full of anonymous sex and drunken debauchery; that’s what I was aiming for, but like most of my plans it failed to come to fruition…

Photo Credits

Femme Fatales and Some Crazy Bitches: The Top 10 Female Serial Killers

by Harlequin

10. Myra Hindley - she began murdering as a young woman in order to win the love of her sadistic first love, Ian Brady.  While it started off with him encouraging her to read the works of Hitler and participating in bank robberies, she soon moved on to sexually torturing and murdering children with her boyfriend in 1960s England.  I know we all get attached to the man we lose our virginity to, but come on, Myra – if a man asks me to do more than show up for dinner, I think it’s about time to end the relationship.

9.  Christine Malevre – joining the ranks of lethal nurses who seem to be contradicting their job purpose, Christine may have honestly believed that she was being compassionate by killing her patients.  Her book “My Confessions” emphasizes her support of euthanasia.  I hate intolerable pain as much as the next person, but I am now somewhat hesitant to hand my life over to hospital staff.  Don’t they have sedatives for a reason?

8.  Belle Gunness - one of the earliest Black Widows, she actually managed to lure men through mail (kind of like a modern day internet serial killer) to come and see her, at which point she murdered them for money. She ended up killing her kids and faking her own death, and Ms. Gunness was never apprehended.  So she wasn’t the greatest wife or mother, but on the other hand she took the phrase “independent woman” to the extreme.

7. Helene Jegado - while working as a domestic servant in France for most of her 19th century life, she killed anywhere from 23-60 people and eventually got the guillotine. Mostly focusing her murders on her employers, she also had a brief stint as a nun – during which she offed some of her peers. Who hasn’t wanted to kill their boss at one time or another? And don’t even get me started on the Christian Church…

6. Aileen Wuornos – Charlize Theron’s role in “Monster” was based on the real life of this prostitute, who justified her vigilante murders with claims of self-defense. She was a tough bitch and a pretty belligerent one as well, but if I was working as a low-class hooker I think I might end up cutting a few dicks off. As far as I am concerned, she was relatively considerate.

5. Katherine Mary Knight - the female equivalent of Hannibal Lecter in Australia, she grew up working in a slaughterhouse where she developed an obsession with “boning” knives. Years later she hacked up her husband and cooked him with some vegetables.  Sometimes men can be like a piece of meat – maybe she just got confused?

4.  Raya & Sakina – From 1919 to 1922, these two Egyptian women were the leaders of a gang that included their husbands and a handful of other men.  Under the guise of running a brothel, they lured women wearing expensive jewelry to their home and murdered them.  Not only were they like mafia bosses to their husbands, but they were also the first women living in British-controlled Egypt to be sentenced to death…and all for some heavy rocks.

3. Rosemary West – alongside her husband Fred, she ran a prostitute and nanny service that served as a cover for her recruitment of women whom they sexually attacked for pleasure.  Not only was she a successful businesswoman, but talk about kinky…

2. Julius Fazekas – as the only midwife in a small Hungarian village, Fazekas and her cohort “Aunt Susi” (a suspected witch) initially started out their health care practices with abortions.  Pretty soon, they were providing the community with arsenic strips.  Used mainly by women against their husbands, it was said that the lady consumers didn’t want to give up the sexual freedom they had gained while their husbands were away at war.  So many people were killed that the town became known as “the Murder District.”  Killing the way to sexual liberation – now how is that for a women’s rights movement?

1. Elizabeth Bathory - nicknamed the “Blood Countess” for her strange bathing habits, this noble lady of 17th century Hungary tortured and killed virginal women because she believed that bathing in their blood would retain her youth.  Hey, delusional psychosis aside, she was just as afraid of getting old as the rest of us.

Related Links:

*Read more about women who kill

*Check out the Crime Library’s archives on famous serial killers – male, female, maybe even intersexual…do intersexual serial killers exist?

*Myra just loved everyone – men, children, and as this article reveals, women too!  At least she was open-minded.

Photos:  Hindley, Malevre, Gunness, Jegado, Wuornos, Knight, Raya & Sakina, West, Fazekas, Bathory

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