163

Feminist
Posted on November 17, 2010 by David M Willis

163 thoughts on “Feminist”

  1. Someone

    Angry Joyce makes me happy. I don’t know why…

    1. Someone

      Also: If teasing and logicing gets you knocked off prospective lists…Crap, now everything makes so much more sense D:

      1. Bill M.

        No, teasing keeps you on the list, it’s the logic that gets you kicked off. I figured this out too late, and now am without prospects.

    2. katie01

      Same.

    3. dran

      Angry Joyce has pretty eyes!

    4. mpark6288

      Angry Joyce makes me happy because it means that even if she is there for what I think are stupid reasons, she’s not a door mat.

      1. Digidestined of Trust (Tim)

        I think I’m in love……..LOL!

  2. Teowulf

    The man raises a good point.

    1. JK9000

      Who, Walky? I don’t think so. The feminist viewpoint would be to respect female autonomy, right? So if Joyce CHOOSES to prioritize marriage over everything else…

      1. Trae Dorn

        What you’re neglecting is that Intro Women’s Studies courses tend to be filled not with ACTUAL feminists per se, but 18 year olds who THINK they know what Feminists are and get angry at anyone who doesn’t conform to their world view.

        In other words, they’re angry teenagers.

      2. Bill M.

        JK9000, you’re forgetting, feminists who choose to have a traditional family are usually looked down on as backwards thinking or against “the cause.” Look at how much the media bashed Sarah Palin BEFORE they thought she was stupid, which was after John McCain named her as VP candidate. She was a woman who was married, didn’t abort a Down’s Syndrome baby, balancing a career and kids, and was a Republican. The media then did everything to villify her, despite praising her as little as 4 months previous for her gubenatorial actions.

        1. David

          Man, it’s a good thing Hillary Clinton was a Democrat, or else maybe The Media might have gone after her.

        2. Bill M.

          Hillary has the victim card in play, with the fact that her husband is a real-life version of Joe, and the fact that she’s clinging onto her maiden name, treating it as her middle name. Although, yeah, being a Democrat does give her somewhat of a pass, remember, she did say that she and her husband were co-presidents during the Whitewater investigation. “I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president.”

        3. taekwondogirl

          Are you kidding? She’s portrayed as a frozen ice bongo with vagina dentata and also crazy.

          At least the last part is true.

        4. L

          …How do you know that Hillary Clinton has a vagina dentata?

          Actually, no. I don’t wanna know.

        5. justafriend

          Palin is kind of dumb, and Hillary is a bongo, you know what the difference is, bongoes get stuff done

    2. R

      Joyce may be unfeminist, but how she presents her view is that it’s her personal goal. I’m a pretty standard feminist, if a woman’s goal is to be married and be a stay at home mom raising the next generation, I think that’s fine, just like a woman who wants to be single and devoted to her career single-mindedly is fine (I don’t think either one is particularly ideal for most of the women I’ve known, but w/e). It’s when a woman wants those things because they’re the only valid option she sees for herself (and other women) that it’s problematic.

      1. R

        I should clarify, when I say “stay at home mom” I don’t mean the moms who are home for a couple years until the kid’s old enough to be in school who then resume their careers.

  3. Sporkaganza

    Good to know that Joyce is, even in this alternate universe, still Joyce. I’m pretty eager to see what she’ll think of Gender Studies. I hope it’s something funny like her being rendered catatonic, but probably she’ll just be confused and/or angry.

    Also it’s good to know it’s not going the same route as the original IW!, since it looks like Joyce might actively dislike Walky in this version. That’ll make for some good drama!

    1. KevinSig

      Just a guess, but I think we’ve already seen a glimpse of the future in this strip:
      http://www.unshelved.com/2010-10-8

      1. Jake

        I’ve always been curious, is this strip considered part of the continuity?

        1. Magnus369

          In a sense yes, in a sense no… This would be an alternate universe or “what if” kind of scenario. It’s real on it’s own, stands on it’s own, and gives all the fanfic freaks a boner.

  4. David Herbert

    No, their romance must happen! Then again, I guess it’d be boring if they hooked up right away. Hooray for drama.

  5. maggiemarmalade

    When I read this comic I almost cried. For reals.

    1. David Herbert

      If David does keep them apart, will you punch him in the dick?

  6. Jen Aside

    Is Joe there?

    Studying genders? =D

    1. Sporkaganza

      I think this class isn’t what Joe thinks it is…

    2. Matt

      Well, probably just studying one gender, I’d think.

  7. Cratacon

    It’s time for Joe to swoop in and ‘Joe’ Joyce, if you know what I mean.

    1. Jabberwocky

      Blasphemy.

    2. Gianni

      Nah, he wouldn’t Joe her in the butt

      1. Matt

        I don’t know, he already said he’d joe Dorothy, and she’s his pal’s ex! I don’t think he has many moral qualms.

      2. Björn

        Maybe he could G.I. Joe her? 😉

    3. Bill M.

      Perhaps Joe is like the gypsy moth, which can smell virgin females from over a mile away… 🙂

  8. Zelder

    OH NO, ONE BAD CONVERSATION.

    NOW THEY CAN NEVER EVER POSSIBLY DATE

    1. maggiemarmalade

      SCREW YOU

      1. Cassidy

        Your husband is going to break them up this time, just to ruin your life Maggie!!

    2. Sporkaganza

      I KNOW IT IS TERRIFYING. WHAT IS THIS? WALKY AND JOYCE ARE NOT INSTANTLY IN LOVE? THIS IS BLASPHEMY. UTTER BLASPHEMY!!!

      1. maggiemarmalade

        S C R E W Y O U

    3. Sparks

      Maybe that’s the PLAN! Dumbing of Age is actually how Head Alien 2 is erasing Machete from continuity! That’s got to be it! THE FATE OF THE MULTIVERSE DEPENDS ON JOYCE AND WALKY GETTING BACK TOGETHER!

      …yeah, okay, no. That theory’s insane, never mind.

      (That I jokingly suggested it at all is Willis’ fault, though; his other comics have trained readers to look for any hint of Bizarre Strip-Crossing Conspiracy Theories in his work!)

  9. Qaxis

    She didn’t say no to that though. He still has hope!

  10. maggiemarmalade

    S C R E W Y O U

    1. FortMax

      I screwed your mom.
      I paid her a nickel.

      1. Matt

        Mike screwed yours.
        She paid him.

      2. Jabberwocky

        She overcharged.

        1. BTA

          Jason’s face completely changed how I read your comment.

  11. Mario!

    Damn, I wish my college classrooms had so many left-handed desks.

    1. Rowen Morland

      Yes, that style desk for the wrong hand is just terrible!

    2. Cholma

      I wish my High School had had those lefty desks! Those damn right-handed desks were a royal pain to use, since they were only half the width of the ones in this comic.

    3. Joebo

      They’re all left-handed. I think this is just an artistic typo on Willis’ part. An “arto” if you will.

    4. JacquieH

      Somehow I tend to end up in the ONE leftie desk. I’m right-handed, but I’m usually late so… 🙁

      1. JesseJanitect

        I’m right handed, but I prefer lefty desks. Dunno why.

  12. agentksilver

    Yup, they’re gettin hitched.

    1. Sporkaganza

      You think Willis is going for the slap-slap-kiss thing here? Feasible…

      1. Someone

        Especially feasible when we remember how their PSL burst last time. Now put angry sex in with the rising tension. Least they won’t be superpowered this time…

        1. Jabberwocky

          Epic hatefucks? In DoA?

          Damn you, Willis.

        2. Joebo

          Man of Steel, Woman of Steel, bed of tissue. =D

    2. Jabberwocky

      Seconded.

  13. Akurei

    compared to Questionable Content this week this shit makes me so happy

    you have no idea

    1. Bickendan

      Amen.

      1. Grrt

        Seconded

  14. Samui

    Do not sit next to me. I am angry at your FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

    1. Cinder

      Joyce should have totally done that. XD

      1. James

        Maybe she’s saving it.

  15. Al

    Remember how it took Joyce and Walky like a couple years to actually get together?
    And how it may also happen here?

    1. maggiemarmalade

      You seem even snarkier when you say that with Sarah’s avatar.

  16. Sakimei

    I’m still surprised that Walky took a Gender Studies class. Does IU have the General Education program so there are certain electives you need to graduate?

    Joe in a class full of feminists… =D x 10^100000000…

    1. Sporkaganza

      I have a feeling that he picked it because it sounded like a class that he wouldn’t have to do any homework for.

    2. Jabberwocky

      Once again, the Ironic Avatar fairy works her magic.

    3. dchorror

      They might not have. Any of them. Some colleges choose your first semester schedule for you.

      1. mpark6288

        Or Walky was at Taco Bell when everyone was supposed to be registering, and it was an open elective.

  17. Chris

    Oh Joe, that is not the right place to look XD

    1. No0ne

      Naw, all you have to do is convince them you share their views. Which should be easy considering all he wants is one night…

  18. Jabberwocky

    Of course Joe is taking gender studies.

    1. Sporkaganza

      This comment fits well with your avatar

  19. No0ne

    Did Joyce just threaten Walky’s “man parts” or maybe even his life? O.o I don’t think I ever saw that one coming…

    Also, Joyce will make Walky into a eunuch. (Mike will help)

    1. T Campbell

      I’m pretty sure she just means that Walky is being unlovable.

      Which is cutting enough when it comes from someone achingly sincere.

      1. No0ne

        I like my joke interpretation better…

        1. No0ne

          I WAS JOKING SERIOUSLY GUYS… IT WAS A JOKE… >.>

          Note: never take anything I say seriously…

      2. R

        Really? I don’t really understand it that way, since pissing off a particular person won’t make you unlovable to everyone else in the world for all time. To me, it sounded completely like a threat and not like a sincere criticism.

        1. Kamino Neko

          She thinks he’s being a jerk.

          She’s being…relatively optimistic about the tastes of the human race, and assuming nobody’d ever date a jerk.

  20. Sporkaganza

    I love that Walky has to think for a second before he can remember the word “feminist”.

    1. Jabberwocky

      I think it was more for emphasis.

      1. No0ne

        Dude Its WALKY! … Of course he had to take a second to remember any word with more than 5 letters…

        1. Ragnal

          I dunno, this Walky seems to be a bit sharper on the edges, I’d buy that answer…

        2. Someone

          Walky was always at least a little bright. It was using it he had issues with. Also: It’s so much more fun being fun, why would he want to be smart?

    2. maggiemarmalade

      I think this Walky at leasts attempts “tact.”

      1. No0ne

        What is this word “Tact” of which you speak?

  21. Joebo

    Joe… in a gender studies class. Oh this should be fun.

  22. JK9000

    I’m terrified that Joyce has the power to forbid Walky from marrying anyone.

    1. Sporkaganza

      Joyce is the Marriage Police.

      …OK now I am imagining a buddy cop show with Walky and Joyce. FUND IT

      1. Jabberwocky

        JOYCE is a loose-cannon cop on the run who PLAYS BY ALL THE RULES!

        1. Sporkaganza

          WALKY is the street-smart beat cop who is actually NOT SMART AT ALL NEVER MIND!

        2. Jabberwocky

          COMING THIS FALL TO THE HUB!

          The show is immediately cancelled due to being directed by Joss Whedon.

        3. FortMax

          Together, they FIGHT CRIME!

        4. R

          I’m tempted to write it as fanfic, very tempted.

        5. Freeholder

          WRENCH!

      2. Joebo

        “Anyone who can give reason as to why these two should not be wed. Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

        1. dchorror

          That have not yet fully grown as people and are as such not qualified to choose whom they should or should not be married to.

        2. Shade

          Wow… if we used your requirement for marriage I know quite a few married couples that would never have been married.

          I like it. Let’s get it legislated.

        3. maggiemarmalade

          It is true that the prefrontal cortex, on average, doesn’t finish developing until about age 20.

    2. NomadPrime

      I think the comment was more along the lines of making him not ABLE to be on anyone’s list…

      1. No0ne

        Murder or Castration? You decide…

        1. Shade

          Castration if you want him to suffer. Murder if you just want him gone.

          I think the Mike avatar is seeping into my brain.

  23. TheSoundDefense

    Maggie, you are making my day.

    1. maggiemarmalade

      S C R E W Y O U

  24. T Campbell

    I’m… curious as to Joyce’s motivation for taking gender studies, considering her nearly anti-feminist stance.

    1. No0ne

      Perhaps it is required at where was it they are at again… IU?

    2. Dara

      Maybe she thinks it will teach her what she needs to know about the opposite gender so she can optimize her husband search.

    3. R

      Probably the same motivation I had for taking three different economics classes (not that I don’t find economics interesting, just when it’s taught in university, it always has some slant to it): graduation requirements.

  25. dchorror

    He’s not said he has a better reason. Just that hers was a bad one for taking out college loans.

  26. Gianni

    Oh no! If Joe’s in this class, and sits next to Joyce instead of Walky… Will JOE become this Joyce’s object of affection?? The mind boggles…

    1. Undrave

      Maybe he’ll make Walky his new wingman until Danny gets out of his funk.

    2. Matt

      Dumbing of Age: The Joe-ening.

    3. dchorror

      That’s creepy. Especially if it sticks.

      1. Jabberwocky

        That’s what she said.

        1. dchorror

          You know, I walked into that one…

    4. R

      I don’t think so, right now the only appeal Joe has to Joyce is that he may be a soul she can save. I actually liked them together in It’s Walky! as they seemed to push each other to grow more (Joe was pressured to be more pure which he couldn’t do which is why they didn’t work, but at least Joyce became comfortable with her sexuality).

  27. Scotty Van

    IU is pretty thoroughly the best place in the US, if not the world, for gender studies. They’re the only school that offers a PhD in it, IIRC, and they have one of the largest porn collections on the planet on hand for research purposes (with librarians who run you through the wringer to make sure you are using it for research).

    So, there are tons of entry-level courses in the subject.

    As for reasons to take it…won’t lie, I can’t think of why Joyce would. It’s going to be major culture shock for her once it starts getting into IU’s brand of sex-positivity. Most feminist thought is actually very accommodating to Joyce’s point of view, but there’s no way it’s going to be pleasant for her right now.

    1. R

      Honestly, gender studies is probably a very good class for a teacher to take. It would teach them about how the children are dealing with gender-based expectations and treatment. Although, honestly, it would probably be more useful for junior high/high school teachers, as that seems to be when more gender differences in performance occur (IE girls tend to start not doing as well in math in seventh grade or so iirc).

      I’m guessing it was either a gen. ed option that fit her schedule best or something an adviser recommended.

  28. Matt

    Panel 3 Joyce is preparing to fire eye beams…

    1. Joebo

      cheu, cheu

  29. Kater

    Feminist and romantic aren’t opposites, at least not as I define them.

    Should be interesting to see the gender studies class.

    1. dchorror

      They’re not neccesarily different, nor do they neccesarily overlap. Someone might identify with both, but identifying with only one concept is as equally valid.

  30. Kater

    Perhaps, Joyce, the ideal husband is somebody who wants you to have a life beyond him and be your own person.

    1. Gianni

      Woah, woah WOAH! Don’t be putting ideas in her head so that she might grow as a human being! If she does that too soon the whole comic goes down the tubes!

      1. TexasNinjaBuzzard

        YEAH! …Do it right, man– put your ideas in her mouth. Then give her a nickel.

        …What? She’ll be a mother someday. Probably ten or twelve times.

        1. maggiemarmalade

          She won’t be a mother if he puts it in her mouth. Please Google “how is babby made.” PSA for today!

  31. Robert in San Diego

    “Gender Studies” might be a tie-in to some of Joyce’s Elementary Education requirements. A broad general understanding of all sorts of weird stuff is necessary in elementary education, and I’m not just speaking about in-classroom stuff. I used to “collect” Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting horror stories. Endocrinology and neurology would be better preventives for some of the dumbness I’ve come across (I have given up saying “You get your MD from the Daytime Drama School of Medicine?” because it only makes them mad), but “Gender Studies” is far more approachable for the general population, even at the undergraduate level. It could also be a “general ed” requirement. I’d go with a “general ed” requirement. For what it’s worth, the college I sent to had pretty tough gen ed requirements — about twelve quarter length classes worth (leading to a very peeved bio instructor who realized that instead of a pristine fallow field of premeds his hardcore class was infested with gen-ed freshpeople, think Professor Doc except with actual teaching skills).

    1. Heather

      Yeah it wouldn’t surprise me either that it would be part of the requirements for her to study this is relation to what she is specialising in. If you’re working with kids there’s probably a variety of things you have to study which might not immediately come to mind or directly related to teaching, possibly even in dealing with parents too. I wouldn’t be suprised in Joyce had to do something like on comparitive religion in a module, or at the very least it was a highly recommended module if it wasn’t compulsory. And possibly quite a lot of social studies/humanities things in addition to the basics maths/english/science. I’ll admit that my knowledge of how American schools and universities work and are structured is rather basic though, and only really comes from the fact the vast majority of my entertainment comes from there/is set there. Like: I know the freshman, sophmore, junior, senior deal. Plus people can choose what they major in AFTER they apply it seems or change it more easily at least (at least it seems to work out that way for some?), which just boggles my mind. Sounds kind of cool though and more crossovers and interactions with people majoring in more different things.

      Though I’d probably have still ‘majored’ in Biological Sciences area even if I’d been American/gone on to America for such education, it would be cool to do some more history modules or learning this sort of thing too (Gender studies). And creative writing. Oh and something random but cool like astrophysics maybe. And mythology.

      (What?)

  32. Just for kix

    Yeap, everybody’s gonna sleep with everybody. Dumbing of Age is apparently being designed as a huge orgy universe.

    — This is “just for kix” and I approve this message.

    1. captainswift

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4eTZPvtSsQ

  33. Cope

    So…is this gonna be Leslie’s class?

  34. Aeron

    A tinge of Anti-Joyce there for a moment o_o

  35. Animal

    Second panel – you should always draw girl’s asses

    Just.
    Like.
    That.

  36. Tekkactus

    Walky having an intelligent conversation… haven’t seen that recently.

  37. Drpepperfan

    Why is Joe in Gender Studies? Surely he knows all there is to know about females….

    1. Heather

      Joe is always up for more ideas which will help widen is scope.

      Or maybe it’s a requirement on whatever random ass thing HE is studying.

      I wonder what HIS major is?

      1. Joebo

        Major?

  38. MrGBH

    I wonder if Roz is taking Gender Studies?

  39. Heather

    You know… I thought a major aspect of feminism was about choice.

    Basically Joyce can be a housewife/whatever if she wants and still be feminist, it’s just when you take the stance that is all women should ever want or aspire to be that it’s decidedly unfeminist. That when a person regardless of their gender both the desire and has the ability to do something shouldn’t do it simply because of their gender.

    Similarly if we’re talking gender equality, men should also feel like this is an option to them. (Being a stay at home parent or house-husband- whatever.)

    I more so take issue with the idea Joyce is only going to college for that reason alone it seems so far (to find a husband) and it almost seems like she hasn’t stated what other aspirations she has considered at all. What about the things she could at least learn while there about the world? (Not necessarily in the classroom). College/University is an opportunity to get some stupid stuff out of the way too and almost a half-way house to adult hood in some respects, like her childhood friend sort of pointed out in an earlier strip.

    Time will tell I guess.

    As long as she doesn’t start stating to all girls everywhere that that is all they ever should do, she’s still as I stated yesterday, better than the girl I talked to during my GCSEs.

    In any case, I am eagerly anticipating Leslie. I’m kind of wondering how Joyce will take it when her sexuality is revealed too.

    1. Doom Shepherd

      It’s supposed to be about choice, but as with everything else, some people take it too far and will condemn you if you make choices that aren’t the ones that they think you should make. I guess they just can’t comprehend why an “empowered” woman would aspire to motherhood. (I assume it’s the same kind of cognitive malfunction that keeps some religious people from accepting the concept of an atheist with “morals.”)

      “There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it.”

  40. Jimmy

    I know plenty of girls who take women’s studies courses who are not feminists and some actually believe that a woman’s place is as a wife and a mother. As a feminist, I respect any decision these girls make, but considering the nature of the intro course, I don’t really understand why they’re taking them.

    1. Joebo

      shh, you’re supposed to ignore the glaring contradictions.

  41. Zem

    Oh, right, I almost forgot that we’re dealing with pre-SEMME Joyce here. A few mind-wipes to keep that woman in line will fix her right up.

    OH NO I DIDN’T! AND IN GENDER STUDIES CLASS TOO!

  42. arjay2813

    that third panel made me think of a joyce & mike relationship. how truly scary that would be

    1. Cassidy

      +1

  43. Richie9999

    Haha, Joe taking Intro to Women’s Studies. I’m not surprised, and honestly, I think it may work out for him.

  44. Roborat

    Oh noes, off the husband list, Walkie must be crushed. And Joyce is making her angry FAAAAAAACE. I like how even her angry face is cute. And Joe is taking a feminist studies course? Holy irony batman!

    1. Cassidy

      FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

      1. Cassidy

        this would have worked better on my ipod… my gravatar is billie on there…..

  45. agentksilver

    Joe is only there because he assumes that’s where all the bangable chicks are. Obviously.

    1. Roborat

      Seeing as how womens studies is supposed to be where the raging lesbians hang out, maybe he wants more of a challange.

  46. Chaun

    Why are all of these desks lefty desks?

    1. Joebo

      I’m figuring that it’s an art typo, or an “arto” if you will.

  47. Dahlia

    Well now!

    I had always wondered if Walky and Joyce would have still made it out ok if they had a rocky start on Joyces end (Walky did like Joyce at first sight, and Joyce and Walky got along fine at pretty much every turn except near the middle of their friendship, whereas here Walky kinda already started botching things up)

    Guess now I’ll know… o:

  48. Onomatopoeia

    There is no tighter shirt, Joe checked.

    Riiiip.

  49. Randonimity

    Joyce clearly doesn’t realize that being a feminist and a romantic are not mutually exclusive things. But she’s young and stupid and eventually (hopefully) will learn what feminism really means.

  50. SteveCharb

    hahaha, Walky said “Tushy”!

  51. GrassyNoel

    I was going to write “how the hell does Walky know a word like ‘touché’?” when I realised he didn’t pronounce it properly anyway. So it’s the same Walky I know.

  52. ilvos

    This is what I imagine Joyce’s bubble in panel 3 should say- “The Spice is Life.”
    (Cause her eyes are FREAKIN BLUE.)

  53. nothri

    I think joyce’s eyes turn bluer the angrier she gets.

  54. Elva Rodríguez

    I start reading dumbing of age and didn’t thought much about Joyce don’t liking Walky… then I read your other’s comic and think “Oooooh, now I get it”

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