Shannon of The Feminist Mystique is chronicling her wedding plans. This week: avoiding conflict diamonds and commercialism:
It seems like there is something inherently wrong with the idea that making life-long promises to a partner you love MUST be marked by spending thousands on a diamond, and I detest the way consumerism has become inextricably tied to the decision to spend your life with someone else. To make matters worse, this consumerism is also intrinsically gendered.