Potentially aggressive and destructive and yet potentially orderly and constructive...

Margaret Bleed

1935

Position: Secretary and head of Sponsorship

Hometown: Flushing, NY

Derby wife? Ruthless Benedict and I are pretty close with the pre-existing anthro-nerd relationship we had, but we decided we were more like derby twins than wives... plus we often go out and buy the same socks/skirts by accident.  I am also a commitaphobe, who is derby-courting Arcane Sugar. Every couple of days I get text messages from her threatening me that I'd better propose or someone else is going to make her derby-honorable.

Why this derby name and number? Ruthless and I were having a hard time coming up with anthropology themed names that we were absolutely in love with... but when we talked about doing a Margarat Mead/Ruth Benedict homage I couldn't refuse. Margaret Mead's work and her contribution to the work of women in anthropology and the feminist movement is pretty bad ass. Her book "Sex and Temperment in Three Primitive Societies" was originally published in 1935, and the world was given evidence that that male dominance is neither natural nor universal. Women's Roller Derby further supports this finding.

How did you get into derby? I met Krush at a wedding of a mutual friend, but I was freaking out about losing my keys so I almost didn't remember meeting her until we re-met at the Cellar a few months later. She said something about starting a roller derby team and I thought it sounded cool. A few weeks later I started facebook stalking her and one day we decided to meet up at Emery Bros. Next thing I knew... BAM derby league. None of us thought it would explode the way it did, but thanks to all the lovely ladies on the team (and some dangly bits) we are growing exponentially.

Photo by Julie SwensonDrink of choice: Water, Tea, Beer, Whiskey/Rum (in that order)

Non-derby hobbies: archaeology, wally ball, reading, thesising, playing the ukulele, hitting guys who behave inappropriately towards any woman anywhere, starting (but rarely finishing) DIY projects

Favorite song to skate to: Girl Anachronism because it makes me want to self destruct in the best way possible. Bombs over Baghdad is a close second.

Turn ons: archaeology, feminist propaganda, top hats, canes, and late-night infomercials

Turn offs: fish, bacon, misogynists and closet misogynists,  litter bugs, seal hunters, ignorant and intolerant people

What do your family and friends think of derby? My friends have been super awesome about supporting my new derby addiction. My family supports me as much as they can from 1000 miles away

Favorite quote:
"Some women are cut out for champagne and caviar... I'm more of the beer and pretzel type." -Lucille Ball
"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams" - Willy Wonka