September in Ill-Behaved Women: The Podcast
Uncensored America, making America gag again | When misogyny kills | The Wright Sister, a new book and history's forgotten heroine
Every month, I record an episode of Ill-Behaved Women for Radio St. Pete, then post the transcripts here. Or you can listen to me here:
Welcome back to Ill-Behaved Women, the podcast that exists because well-behaved women aren’t the ones who make it into history, and today’s episode is the perfect example of exactly that.
I’m L.L. Kirchner, your host, a voracious reader, big and small screen fanatic, and unabashed feminist, here to celebrate the unforgettable women taking center stage whether it's in today's news, historic figures, in must-read books or must-watch shows.
Today, we're diving into a trio of tales plus a book recommendation that'll make your blood boil, your heart ache, and your spirit soar.
## First up: the "comedy" of cruelty
To kick things off, let’s talk about comedy, a story that’s about as funny as a root canal.
Uncensored America, an organization that claims to be all about free speech and fighting cancel culture, is putting on a so-called "comedy" show. And who are the stars of this laugh riot? Two January 6th insurrectionists roasting vice president Kamala Harris.
Now, I don't know about you, but nothing says "hilarious" quite like people who tried to overthrow democracy making fun of the first woman of color to hold the second-highest office in the land. Oh, wait, did I say hilarious? I meant horrific.
Let's break this down. Uncensored America claims to be all about free speech. But here's the kicker – the only voices they seem interested in platforming are those from the conservative right wing. It's like they're running a very exclusive club where the password is "make America gag again."
Here's a wild idea: maybe, just maybe, true free speech means amplifying diverse voices, not just the ones that agree with you. But what do I know? I'm just a podcaster who thinks comedy should be punching up, not down.
So, to Uncensored America, I say: if you're going to claim you're fighting cancel culture with comedy, try not canceling out every voice that doesn't fit your weird worldview. And if you're going to put on a comedy show, for the love of God, hire some actual comedians.
## Next up: When Misogyny Kills
Now, brace yourselves, because our next story is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. Rebecca Cheptegei, a young and brilliant Ugandan athlete, was murdered in cold blood in Kenya.
In case you haven't heard the story, the partner she was separated from assaulted her at her home, dousing her in gasoline in front of her children and lighting her on fire. She died hours later.
Brutal as this crime is, it's matched by the problematic media coverage that followed. Let me explain –
Her murder was one of gender-based violence, known as femicide.
Acts of gender-based violence are essentially hate crimes linked to sexual orientation or gender identity.
In this case, Cheptegei's murder was widely reported as if she was a victim of domestic violence. In other words, the true depravity of this killing was erased.
This kind of reporting puts women under the microscope, as in, well what happened? What did she do?
Newsflash: the problem isn't women existing in public spaces. The problem is a society that still treats women as disposable.
This wasn't just a murder. This was femicide – and it's not the first time it's happened in Kenya, or even in Kenya's elite running community. In 2020, a group was formed in the wake of the femicide of Agnes Tirop, check out tiropsangels.org, that's T-I-R-O-P-S-A-N-G-E-L-S dot org.
The killing of women and girls because of their gender is something we need to name because that's the only way to deal with a thing and name it.
Because let's be clear – this isn't just Kenya's problem. This is a global issue that demands global action. Every country needs to recognize femicide for what it is: a hate crime against women.
To Rebecca Cheptegei, a star extinguished far too soon: we see you. We mourn you. And we promise to keep fighting the misogyny that took your life.
## And Finally: The Wright Sister
Let's end on a high note, literally, with a story that's about a woman whose critical contributions to flight were erased from history, and a book recommendation– Katharine Wright.
If your first reaction to that was, "Who?" I get it.
Because I lived in Ohio! And I thought I knew all about aviation's Wrights. But no, I did not, as I realized when I read Tracy Enerson Wood's brand new book, Katharine – The Wright Sister.
According to Orville Wright, she was critical to their success–these are his actual words: "When the world speaks of the Wrights, it must include our sister. Much of our effort has been inspired by her."
But when, at age 50, she found love and finally decided to live the life she wanted? He cut her out of the story. Literally. The Associated Press received a memo from Orville, dated two months after Katharine's wedding, where he denies she contributed financially or scientifically to their success in any way, basically telling them to stop reporting it that way, because they did. At first.
That she cooked and cleaned for them is a given. She also ran their bike shop, and worked there so they could obsessively work on their invention. Did I mention she also had a full-time job?
She was fluent in Latin and Greek. In fact, her facility with not only language but humans–it seems clear that the boys were most likely on the spectrum–that capability is what enabled her to introduce their invention to the world and ensure the family, after decades of work, would realize an income from their invention.
I want to go on, but you can and should pick up the book.
If, however, you'd like to hear about some fictional historical women who were not well-behaved – as well as a few real-life characters who were – please join me at the Gilded Page Bookstore in Tarpon Springs where I'll be talking about and signing "Florida Girls" at 7pm.
Or in Gulfport next Friday, September 20, at the Gulfport History Museum, also at 7pm, where I'll be in conversation about "Florida Girls" fact and fiction with the delightful Arin Greenwood, author of "Your Robot Dog Will Die."
Or maybe at your next book club meeting? I'm doing one tonight so it's on my mind, I have so much fun and I give away fun stuff! You can find out more about booking me at my website.
And, though I try to keep up, if you want to see where I'll be next, your best bet is on Instagram.
Which brings me to one last note, a PSA – your pets may be safe in Springfield, but if you're a childless lady and your pet of choice happens to be a cat or cats, you may not be. Don't forget to vote.
And that's our show for today, folks! From comedy that's not funny, to tragedy that's all too real, to history that's finally being rewritten, we've covered it all.
Remember, being well-behaved has never changed the world. So go out there and make some trouble. Question the narratives, amplify the voices that others try to silence, and for heaven's sake, learn about the women who've shaped our world.
This is L.L. Kirchner, signing off. Until next time, stay curious, joyful, and ill-behaved.