http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bVAl73JvLM&feature=youtu.be
So my friend sent me this the other day thinking I'd enjoy it, and I did!! I have a huge issue with the way media uses women and men without giving any semblance of accurate representation of human life. Now I'm not saying that beautiful men and women shouldn't be used in media or something like that and Photoshop helps when a model had a 6am flight and a small zit, but what they do to these images are so over the top that the original face and body are gone, these women who are already beautiful are being transformed into impossible standards.
The problem I have most with this type of photo manipulation is that it promotes that this is what human beauty is, and it's unachievable! Leaving women to feel lackluster and bad about their bodies because they don't look like what they are told and perceive as beautiful, while at the same time setting these ridiculously high expectations for men with what the average woman looks like. There's no reason to take already beautiful people and change there image so greatly. I feel like it takes away from the beauty that these models already have, that they are considered some of the most beautiful people but even they aren't good enough and need to be altered.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
PEEPS Luncheon-WGST Event
A few weeks back, I attended the informational "PEEPS and Pizza" luncheon that the organization PEEPS (People for Education, Equality, and Promoting Scholarship) hosted for those interested in learning more about the Women's and Gender Studies program here at SLU. I attended not only because I got free food, or that by doing so I would fill the requirement for this class, but because I was genuinely interested in learning about what the department has to offer.
At the meeting, we first addressed what exactly PEEPS means. PEEPS, unlike the student feminist group UNA, is directly sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program, and instead of activism, it has more of a scholarly purpose. PEEPS is meant to teach and guide any student who is pursuing a major, minor, or even just a slight interest in Women's and Gender Studies. PEEPS offers mentoring to the students already in the program, sparks discussions about diversity around campus, and prepares students who will be graduating with a degree in Women's and Gender Studies to enter the workforce or graduate school.
Then came what I thought was the most interesting part of the meeting! We started talking about all the different courses that the Women's and Gender Studies Department offers. To me, this was a completely eye-opening conversation. I absolutely love our current Women's Studies class; I took it on a whim and it's turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. To me, the class is like history, English, sociology, and political science all rolled up into one course that also happens to focus solely on women. Once I learned that most of the WGST classes were cross-listed with other departments, I knew I wanted to minor in Women's and Gender Studies. The people who were at the luncheon were so kind and excited to meet me, and really eager to hear about my own experiences and opinions. Being in that sort of educational environment for the next four years is really appealing to me, and so I decided to add the minor, and join PEEPS! I'll actually be coming to another PEEPS event this next Wednesday, I was so impressed with the first meeting.
After the PEEPS meeting, a fellow peer, and good friend of mine, stayed with me to listen in on the WGST departmental meeting. This was an amazing experience! There were professors I was able to meet who were interested in hearing my ideas and perspectives. For once, I didn't feel like another faceless, nameless student wandering around campus. I felt included. That's something that was really special to me about meeting with the department. Not only did I get to see the inner workings of the Women's and Gender Studies program, but I got to meet real professors who I'll be interacting with these next few years. It was a fantastic way for me to start dipping my toes in the WGST waters.
At the meeting, we first addressed what exactly PEEPS means. PEEPS, unlike the student feminist group UNA, is directly sponsored by the Women's and Gender Studies Program, and instead of activism, it has more of a scholarly purpose. PEEPS is meant to teach and guide any student who is pursuing a major, minor, or even just a slight interest in Women's and Gender Studies. PEEPS offers mentoring to the students already in the program, sparks discussions about diversity around campus, and prepares students who will be graduating with a degree in Women's and Gender Studies to enter the workforce or graduate school.
Then came what I thought was the most interesting part of the meeting! We started talking about all the different courses that the Women's and Gender Studies Department offers. To me, this was a completely eye-opening conversation. I absolutely love our current Women's Studies class; I took it on a whim and it's turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. To me, the class is like history, English, sociology, and political science all rolled up into one course that also happens to focus solely on women. Once I learned that most of the WGST classes were cross-listed with other departments, I knew I wanted to minor in Women's and Gender Studies. The people who were at the luncheon were so kind and excited to meet me, and really eager to hear about my own experiences and opinions. Being in that sort of educational environment for the next four years is really appealing to me, and so I decided to add the minor, and join PEEPS! I'll actually be coming to another PEEPS event this next Wednesday, I was so impressed with the first meeting.
After the PEEPS meeting, a fellow peer, and good friend of mine, stayed with me to listen in on the WGST departmental meeting. This was an amazing experience! There were professors I was able to meet who were interested in hearing my ideas and perspectives. For once, I didn't feel like another faceless, nameless student wandering around campus. I felt included. That's something that was really special to me about meeting with the department. Not only did I get to see the inner workings of the Women's and Gender Studies program, but I got to meet real professors who I'll be interacting with these next few years. It was a fantastic way for me to start dipping my toes in the WGST waters.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Happy Halloween!
One of my Facebook friends posted this powerful video.
http://www.upworthy.com/watch-these-4-girls-destroy-the-female-stereotype-like-the-monsters-they-are-rw1-9b
It revolves around the much-talked-about topic of women's Halloween costumes. It's slam poetry, so it's a really interesting and different way to have this discussion. It's a truly captivating display and the women hold attention with their intellect and devotion to their purpose. I love it because they focus on portraying women as powerful human beings who should be in complete control of their own bodies.
My favorite part of the video is when the women emphasize the value of choice-
"A woman dressing, acting or being should be her choice. If a woman wants to wear a skimpy outfit, let it be her choice. If a woman wants to cover up, let it be her choice."
So, my fellow feminists, for this Halloween I encourage you to dress however you want to. Because what we wear, how we act, or who we are, as much on Halloween as on any other day, is our choice.
http://www.upworthy.com/watch-these-4-girls-destroy-the-female-stereotype-like-the-monsters-they-are-rw1-9b
It revolves around the much-talked-about topic of women's Halloween costumes. It's slam poetry, so it's a really interesting and different way to have this discussion. It's a truly captivating display and the women hold attention with their intellect and devotion to their purpose. I love it because they focus on portraying women as powerful human beings who should be in complete control of their own bodies.
My favorite part of the video is when the women emphasize the value of choice-
"A woman dressing, acting or being should be her choice. If a woman wants to wear a skimpy outfit, let it be her choice. If a woman wants to cover up, let it be her choice."
So, my fellow feminists, for this Halloween I encourage you to dress however you want to. Because what we wear, how we act, or who we are, as much on Halloween as on any other day, is our choice.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Museum Visit: St. Louis Art Museum
Not gonna lie, I visited the St. Louis Art Museum the weekend that this assignment was given to us, I've just been a bit lazy, so it's taken me up until now to write all about my experience!
As a Wisconsin native, I wouldn't exactly say that I was given much exposure to different kinds of art work (Milwaukee isn't as culturally diverse as they might have you believe). However, my senior year of high school, I was lucky enough to take AP Art History, and I learned a lot about different artists, eras, and stylistic traits of famous works. So I was very lucky to be able to see some of the pieces I saw in my textbooks in real life!
Something we talked a lot about in my class was hierarchal positioning. It can be found in almost every piece of art since the beginning of art itself. Any figures who are standing above others, or placed in the foreground, are supposed to be noted as more important. This is often the case with kings v. subjects, warriors v. defeated enemies, and of course, men v. women. I noticed that in many of the works in the museum, male figures were almost always standing, and female figures were almost always seated. Beyond this, women were usually painted either fully or partially nude, their faces mostly obscured or generically painted with ideal concepts of beauty. In fact, the only time when women seemed to be clothed was when they were part of an official portrait.
This is part of a larger difference that I noticed about the nudes in the art museum. While the male nude figures seemed to represent athleticism, and the ideal bodily form, female nudes seemed to be dripping in sexuality. Regardless of form (i.e. sculpture, painting, drawing, etc.) women were almost always sexual objects, while men appeared to be strong individuals. After watching the documentary Dreamworlds, it's interesting to see how the artistic view of women has carried itself through years of patriarchal media. Art is almost singularly dominated by men, so of course, women are always depicted through what ever kind of specific lens men chose for them. They are symbols of fertility, sex, temptation and sometimes contrastingly, innocence. Some artists, (French impressionist Courbet comes to mind) are known for painting women as crudely sexual; bordering on what would be considered pornographic.
Here's one of Courbet's works, it's not found in SLAM, but I thought I would put it in this reflection anyway because I think it fairly shows how women are viewed in art. Could you imagine a man ever being painted in this sort of manner?
P.S. This woman was a prostitute of Courbet's...nice.
 |
| Snapping a selfie with a nude woman |
As a Wisconsin native, I wouldn't exactly say that I was given much exposure to different kinds of art work (Milwaukee isn't as culturally diverse as they might have you believe). However, my senior year of high school, I was lucky enough to take AP Art History, and I learned a lot about different artists, eras, and stylistic traits of famous works. So I was very lucky to be able to see some of the pieces I saw in my textbooks in real life!
Something we talked a lot about in my class was hierarchal positioning. It can be found in almost every piece of art since the beginning of art itself. Any figures who are standing above others, or placed in the foreground, are supposed to be noted as more important. This is often the case with kings v. subjects, warriors v. defeated enemies, and of course, men v. women. I noticed that in many of the works in the museum, male figures were almost always standing, and female figures were almost always seated. Beyond this, women were usually painted either fully or partially nude, their faces mostly obscured or generically painted with ideal concepts of beauty. In fact, the only time when women seemed to be clothed was when they were part of an official portrait.
 |
| Yes this is a real thing. |
Here's one of Courbet's works, it's not found in SLAM, but I thought I would put it in this reflection anyway because I think it fairly shows how women are viewed in art. Could you imagine a man ever being painted in this sort of manner?
P.S. This woman was a prostitute of Courbet's...nice.Monday, October 28, 2013
Lie to Me
Alright, so this post goes back to our class discussion of
the music industry. Although we focused more on the objectification of the
female body and personality in music videos, and we talked more about rap music
and songs by men, this song is actually by a woman, and doesn’t even involve a
music video. I’m not really sure what made me think of this song recently, as I’m
pretty sure it was something that I listened to in junior high. I don’t think
it was every actually popular, and I don’t remember where I ended up hearing
it. Back then I probably thought it was some awesome love song, not actually
understanding what the lyrics meant. Looking at the lyrics now leads me to the
realization that this song is just plain creepy. It’s called “Lie to Me” by Trish
Thùy Trang (yeah… I have no idea either). Anyway, here’s part of the lyrics:
So lie to me and say that you'll never leave,
I promise that I'll believe.
Don't wanna be all alone.
So lie to me and say what I want to hear
As long as I have you near.
I know I can carry on.
As you probably tell just from this, the song is basically
just this girl singing about the fact that she will never find love, but that
she is so desperate to do so that she will even settle for the temporary
illusion of it. I don’t know about her, but I definitely don’t enjoy being lied
to. I think I’d rather be alone!
Developing Strong Women Fair!!
So tonight I had the pleasure of attending the Developing Strong Women Fair. It is this...
Based solely on the poster alone it is safe to say that this event was pretty awesome. This year differed slightly from past years, as this was the first year that focused on guest speaker, Meredith Osborn. Meredith, who is a SLU Counselor, gave a presentation about an hour long that focused on what it was to be strong and empowered, what it meant to be a feminist, how feminism and living for each other could be spread across campus, as well as ways we could power ourselves personally. She touched on many of the subjects we have discussed in class as she gave a brief synopsis of feminism. During her presentation we also watched a lengthy TEDtalk by Courtney Martin and a fantastically short TEDtalk that in 3 minutes explained how to create a movement. Martin discussed what it meant to be a feminist in today's generation, as well as the struggles of our society. Meredith touched on these videos and feminism by explaining that together as a united focus we need to begin caring for ourselves and caring for each other. I though she did a lovely job of showing that feminism is not just for the braless wearing hippy on a hype, but that it is something we all in fact should and most likely do believe in. With the aids of her personal experiences as well as the videos I thought it was an excellent presentation. Below I have attached a link to Martin's talk and Sivers about how to start a movement - I would highly recommend everyone to watch.
http://www.ted.com/talks/courtney_martin_reinventing_feminism.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html
Honestly I thought this event was really great, while I personally did not learn any shockingly new information - I was instead pleased to realized I was informed. Sitting amongst my fellow sorority sisters and close friends, I realized that a lot of women on campus (though a feminist at heart) do not really know what it means to be a feminist. I sat and watched the faces of those around me and saw that the illumination of empowerment, pride, and determination to move forward. Personally I believe feminism is something that is often overlooked on our campus; whether it be that this is a more conservative environment, that it is made of predominately white upper/middle class students, or whether we really have just accidentally overlooked the realities society faces. I was proud to be at this event as I thought it really did being to bring to light the ideals of the feminist movement. I am a feminist and I am glad that tonight I got to sit in a room of women and men (there was a large number of frat members present) as they too got to be exposed to feminism and positive thinking. It was a really fun event and I am sure I will soon be attending another WSTD event based on this experience alone.
Based solely on the poster alone it is safe to say that this event was pretty awesome. This year differed slightly from past years, as this was the first year that focused on guest speaker, Meredith Osborn. Meredith, who is a SLU Counselor, gave a presentation about an hour long that focused on what it was to be strong and empowered, what it meant to be a feminist, how feminism and living for each other could be spread across campus, as well as ways we could power ourselves personally. She touched on many of the subjects we have discussed in class as she gave a brief synopsis of feminism. During her presentation we also watched a lengthy TEDtalk by Courtney Martin and a fantastically short TEDtalk that in 3 minutes explained how to create a movement. Martin discussed what it meant to be a feminist in today's generation, as well as the struggles of our society. Meredith touched on these videos and feminism by explaining that together as a united focus we need to begin caring for ourselves and caring for each other. I though she did a lovely job of showing that feminism is not just for the braless wearing hippy on a hype, but that it is something we all in fact should and most likely do believe in. With the aids of her personal experiences as well as the videos I thought it was an excellent presentation. Below I have attached a link to Martin's talk and Sivers about how to start a movement - I would highly recommend everyone to watch.
http://www.ted.com/talks/courtney_martin_reinventing_feminism.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement.html
Honestly I thought this event was really great, while I personally did not learn any shockingly new information - I was instead pleased to realized I was informed. Sitting amongst my fellow sorority sisters and close friends, I realized that a lot of women on campus (though a feminist at heart) do not really know what it means to be a feminist. I sat and watched the faces of those around me and saw that the illumination of empowerment, pride, and determination to move forward. Personally I believe feminism is something that is often overlooked on our campus; whether it be that this is a more conservative environment, that it is made of predominately white upper/middle class students, or whether we really have just accidentally overlooked the realities society faces. I was proud to be at this event as I thought it really did being to bring to light the ideals of the feminist movement. I am a feminist and I am glad that tonight I got to sit in a room of women and men (there was a large number of frat members present) as they too got to be exposed to feminism and positive thinking. It was a really fun event and I am sure I will soon be attending another WSTD event based on this experience alone.
Women's Event- Developing Strong Women Fair
Tonight,
I attended the Developing Strong Women Fair, and event co-hosted by Alpha Delta
Pi and Kappa Alpha Theta. The main topic of discussion was empowerment- what it
means to be empowered, and how we can empower not only ourselves, but others as
well. Meredith Osborn, who is a counselor here at SLU, began the event by
giving a talk. In it, she asked us to give her our own definition of what it
means to be an empowered woman. This sounds simple enough, but I honestly didn’t
know what a good definition would be. Eventually, we were given one something
like this- An empowered woman is one who chooses to set aside stereotypes and be
her best authentic self. She knows it’s okay to ask for what she wants, and she
also feels deserving of all that life has to offer her. She spends her life
doing the right things, rather than simply trying to do more things. Lastly,
she empowers herself by empowering others.
Personally,
I really can’t think of any better way to define what it means to be an
empowered woman. My favorite part of her talk, though, was the fact that she
mentioned the importance of doing things that make us happy and give us
fulfillment. She noted that people often spend so much time trying to please
those around them that they forget to take care of themselves. She gave us an
example of this from her own personal experience: While training to run a half
marathon, something she wanted to do for herself, she couldn’t help but feel
incredibly guilty, due to the fact that her training on top of her already busy
work schedule was taking her away from her family. She felt very conflicted-- she
wanted to be a good wife and mother, but at the same time, she knew that
running the half marathon was something she had to do for her own fulfillment.
She notes that while it is important to make those around us happy in order to
maintain our relationships and friendships, we must take our own feelings and
needs into account as well.
Overall,
I thought that her talk was very powerful and motivating. I was disappointed
that I did not have the time to visit the other booths afterwards, but I’m glad
that I was able to attend most of the event!
Quotes on Feminism
Recently, I found this page on www.goodreads.com called "Quotes About Feminism." The page features 874 quotes about feminism, some of which are for and some of which are against feminism. One quote that I found to be really funny and that stood out was said by Rebecca West. West says, “I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.” There is a lot of truth to what West says here. Anytime a woman shows interests or does activities that are outside of the status quo, they are often considered a feminist. To me, these people are using feminism in a negative context. They are looking at feminism as a way of life that is abnormal or not right, which is not right in itself. Feminism isn't meant to be a movement that is up to no good; no, the purpose of feminism is to create equality for everyone. I think people say things like this as a way to sway people away from feminism. By giving feminism a negative connotation, it makes people not want to be a feminist for fear of being ostracized by society. Unfortunately, it is a powerful tool and it does work. I think the only way we can stop these people from doing this is by making them listen (in a non-violent way of course.) They need to be told in length what feminism is all about and what it stands for. Maybe then will people stop looking at feminism in a negative way.
If you girls have time, you should definitely take a look at some of these quotes. Some are funny and inspiring, while others are infuriating and ridiculous; all in all, they provide some insight into what many different people think about feminism.
Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/feminism
If you girls have time, you should definitely take a look at some of these quotes. Some are funny and inspiring, while others are infuriating and ridiculous; all in all, they provide some insight into what many different people think about feminism.
Source: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/feminism
Sunday, October 27, 2013
America's Flawed Economy
The discussion we had in class Friday regarding the struggle of the middle and lower classes in America made me think of a book I read as a sophomore in high school. The novel was called Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich, and it was basically an expose on the failings of America's economy. The author was actually inspired by the 4 million women (most of had children to support) who in 1998 were being forced into the labor market after welfare benefits began to run out. She wondered how these women could support their families on $6 or $7 an hour salaries and thus decided to pose as "an unskilled worker, a homemaker needing to earn a living after divorce." Barbara spent three months (one month in each of the three different parts of the U.S.) and worked as waitress, maid, a nursing home aide, and a Wal-Mart cashier. At some points she was borderline homeless and was working two jobs at once just to stay afloat. Although I honestly skimmed this book back in high school rather than critically reading it, the sentiment nevertheless left an impact on me as I found it both extremely shocking as well as disturbing. Here is an article that goes more in depth about the novel (http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/05/13/reviews/010513.13gallagt.html) I also might present this as a Show & Tell, but i would highly encourage everyone to check it out because it's extremely eye-opening and relevant to our class discussions.
Man enough?
In searching for my blog topic for the week I stumbled upon this interesting blog post (http://savethestorks.com/abortion-womens-issue/). While I have my own beliefs and concerns about abortion. The article spins the issue of abortion from singularly women to men and gives a perspective that is not usually viewed. When looking at abortion we only see the damages imposed on women both physcogically and physically, but we never look at the toll that it takes on the expected father, the man who wanted his child while the woman didn't. Not allowing the man to have at least some say in the existence of their child, forfeits his ties of responsibility. So often we only hear from these man who are only out here for the "bro-choice", which virtually exploited of the female body. While I am a deep believer in the fact that it is the woman's body and her choice do what she wants with it but the child is not just her's, it is both of theirs. Therefore they have an equal responsibility for the existence if said child.
Define "slut"
Hi all!
So I'm very excited about my blog post this week that I'm actually going to use it as a show-and-tell during class tomorrow. I think it ties in really well with the topic of "women's sexuality" that we've been covering in discussion, especially as to how we foster ideas about sexuality in young, adolescent girls (and boys too, I guess).
This is a link to the website of an amazing organization, The UnSlut Project. Emily Lindin, the woman who founded it, began the project when she was going through her old things and discovered her diaries from middle school, when she was considered the "school slut." She was inspired not only by her own past, but also by the stories she heard in the news of girls taking their own lives because of "slut-shaming." I really suggest going to the site, she has published copies of all her diary entries, and they're heartbreaking to read. Heartbreaking because I'm sure every woman has had the same feelings of embarrassment and depression she had. What she's doing is really inspiring, and I think it's great she's empowering young girls to assert their sexuality in confidence. (Power of the erotic, anybody?) The most important question she asks is: Define "slut." What is a "slut" anyway? It really makes you think. And just this past August, Emily and her organization raised enough money to put into production a documentary about the effects of slut-shaming on young girls. Sounds like good material for future Women and Gender Studies classes to me!
Check it out, really.
Or don't, cause I guess I'm forcing you all to look at it tomorrow anyway.
http://www.unslutproject.com
So I'm very excited about my blog post this week that I'm actually going to use it as a show-and-tell during class tomorrow. I think it ties in really well with the topic of "women's sexuality" that we've been covering in discussion, especially as to how we foster ideas about sexuality in young, adolescent girls (and boys too, I guess).
This is a link to the website of an amazing organization, The UnSlut Project. Emily Lindin, the woman who founded it, began the project when she was going through her old things and discovered her diaries from middle school, when she was considered the "school slut." She was inspired not only by her own past, but also by the stories she heard in the news of girls taking their own lives because of "slut-shaming." I really suggest going to the site, she has published copies of all her diary entries, and they're heartbreaking to read. Heartbreaking because I'm sure every woman has had the same feelings of embarrassment and depression she had. What she's doing is really inspiring, and I think it's great she's empowering young girls to assert their sexuality in confidence. (Power of the erotic, anybody?) The most important question she asks is: Define "slut." What is a "slut" anyway? It really makes you think. And just this past August, Emily and her organization raised enough money to put into production a documentary about the effects of slut-shaming on young girls. Sounds like good material for future Women and Gender Studies classes to me!
Check it out, really.
Or don't, cause I guess I'm forcing you all to look at it tomorrow anyway.
http://www.unslutproject.com
Awesome Dual Gender Photos
I was browsing around on the Bust Magazine website tonight when I discovered this article about creative Montreal photographer JJ Levine and one of his recent projects.
http://www.bust.com/artist-jj-levine-breaks-gender-by-showing-gender.html?utm_source=bust.com&utm_medium=module&utm_campaign=popular
The article talks about a series of artistic photos featuring one model in one frame, but posed as both genders. I thought it was really intriguing because it exemplifies the social construction of gender really well. If one person can so convincingly pose as either gender, who are we to say that any person needs to stay in a specific gender role based on biological sex? This is such a great example of the social construction of gender because it shows that there are few significant anatomical differences between male and female people. This photo series makes the point that people should be who they want to be and express whichever gender they choose, regardless of biological sex.
Here's a longer Buzzfeed article about the art, and more of the photos:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lilyhiottmillis/beautiful-photo-series-explores-how-one-person-can-take-on-t
http://www.bust.com/artist-jj-levine-breaks-gender-by-showing-gender.html?utm_source=bust.com&utm_medium=module&utm_campaign=popular
The article talks about a series of artistic photos featuring one model in one frame, but posed as both genders. I thought it was really intriguing because it exemplifies the social construction of gender really well. If one person can so convincingly pose as either gender, who are we to say that any person needs to stay in a specific gender role based on biological sex? This is such a great example of the social construction of gender because it shows that there are few significant anatomical differences between male and female people. This photo series makes the point that people should be who they want to be and express whichever gender they choose, regardless of biological sex.
Here's a longer Buzzfeed article about the art, and more of the photos:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lilyhiottmillis/beautiful-photo-series-explores-how-one-person-can-take-on-t
Equality, not Misandry!
So as I was interneting during rehearsal today, I came across this image and so then I searched it too look up some of the comments and what I read made me a little angry. I was angry because I know so many women that have said this and all of the comments were about how it does take someone strong to move the couch and that oral sex is actually difficult and it was less about what was actually being discussed. The point of his comic is about stereotypes and yes that means that the idea of oral sex being a part of the submissive person of the partnership should be part of the discussion. But we were losing the idea of the discrimination of sexes and that sexism occurs for both men and women. Men are constantly abused for their strength and that women are considered for the weaker sex because they act and are treated as such. Now if she, being the character in the comic, had asked for help instead of implying that the man would do all the work then this comic would have changed completely. It's the idea that women constantly use men and avoid work that they have the ability to do, but choose not to. Now I am not saying that all women do this, I don't do this...most of the time. But that's is the issue! That I know if I ever did not want to lift something all I had to do was to imply that it was too heavy for me because I am a woman and a guy would come help me. Not only would he feel the need to do it because of what he believes, but the pressures of society would dictate that he had to help; he would be OBLIGATED to help me. I think something that gets really lost in the idea of feminism is that we want equality for BOTH sexes. The idea that feminism means women just want women in power is wrong, but so common that some people do not even understand what the point of feminism is.
Stop Fat Talk
So I know usually our blog posts consist of us finding articles or other forms of media that empower or mock the feminist movement - but this week for me at least, it is going to unfortunately be a bit of a rant.
This week I had the displeasure of having an elder man (walker in-hand) call me and another friend fat. Unbelievable I know! Unfortunately it was very very real. I, along with Alpha Delta Pi, the women of Theta, and SLU mental health facilities have dedicated our time this past week to "Stop Fat Talk" in preparation for our Developing Strong Women Fair that is tomorrow. Stop Fat Talk is a week long devotion to aiding women and uniting all in stopping the constant mental and physical abuse that women place on themselves and others. It is meant to empower girls to feel confident in their bodies and stop with the constant negativity. Ending eating disorders, petty "I'm so fat" comments, and girls trashing other girls is the goal of Stop Fat Talk.
I, along with dozens of others sat all week long in the BSC tabling a booth that provided information about the mission of Stop Fat Talk, statistics about media effects and other information about the average girls view of self-worth, were provided at this booth. Also at the booth was a pledge that all were welcome to sign. The pledge stated that whoever signed it would dedicate themselves to stopping fat talk. On Friday I tabled with two other girls. Everything was going great until an old math professor (name unknown) decided to stop by for a little chat...
Immediately off the bat the man began grilling us and explaining that we were disgraceful for wanting fat talk to stop, stating that if someone is fat they should most definitely feel ashamed of themselves and that the goal of our booth was idiotic. Obviously obesity is a serious issue in our society and that help and awareness should be provided to those who suffer from obesity is needed - this was not our goal. We tried explaining that we were not promoting obesity but rather that we wanted to promote a healthy mental and physical awareness for women and men. We wanted to build the self-confidence of individuals and end the constant negativity and self-worthlessness. This explanation however enraged the man who went on to say that this had nothing to do with mental or physical health but was in fact a complete waste of time. Determined to get our message across we sat with this elderingly individual for over 20 minutes. He would not budge. We were at the point that we honestly were upset but thought it a waste of time trying to convince an old man of our cause. Everything finally seemed to be quieting down when he said, "the ironic thing at least is that one of you at this table is actual fit! ha!" As he said this he cryptically looked me and another member at the table up and down. Stunned I didn't know what to say. After this comment and displeasure with my appearance he walked away.
Self-worth and self-image is a serious subject and having someone not understand the importance of that is disheartening but having someone openly discredit it is unacceptable. I have grown up around severe eat disorders as it is very present in my family generational; from my grandmother's decades of anorexity, an aunt's anorexia, another's 30 odd years of bulimia, cousins' countless calorie counting which has lead to the early stages of anorexia, and two others massive obesity. I take these matters so extremely seriously. Now here I have an old man calling me fat and telling me and 20-something year old friends that we are making a mockery out of ourselves by caring about such a senseless cause. I was enraged, and am enraged simply by writing this.
The saddest part is that the other girl this old man (who had a potbelly of his own) labelled as fat is in fact a full figured beautifully curved young women. She was visibly upset by the experience and came to me privately the next morning saying she was still upset by the experience.
I was the oldest tabling at the time, among two underclassman, and yes - I was caught off guard by what this old man said, I wish I could have done something more. I realized that while I was at this booth that was encouraging girls to end the constant negativity they surround themselves with, I was in fact feeling awful about myself and my self image. Honestly there are things I thought to say at the time but didn't because I wanted to keep cool, calm, and collected as I was representing ADPi, but I realized now I was wrong. What I should have said, and would give anything to say to this old man, is that if he didn't agree with what we were saying he should leave because he obviously must have been loosing his sight and couldn't see that three amazing beautiful, strong, empowered young women were standing before him.
This week I had the displeasure of having an elder man (walker in-hand) call me and another friend fat. Unbelievable I know! Unfortunately it was very very real. I, along with Alpha Delta Pi, the women of Theta, and SLU mental health facilities have dedicated our time this past week to "Stop Fat Talk" in preparation for our Developing Strong Women Fair that is tomorrow. Stop Fat Talk is a week long devotion to aiding women and uniting all in stopping the constant mental and physical abuse that women place on themselves and others. It is meant to empower girls to feel confident in their bodies and stop with the constant negativity. Ending eating disorders, petty "I'm so fat" comments, and girls trashing other girls is the goal of Stop Fat Talk.
I, along with dozens of others sat all week long in the BSC tabling a booth that provided information about the mission of Stop Fat Talk, statistics about media effects and other information about the average girls view of self-worth, were provided at this booth. Also at the booth was a pledge that all were welcome to sign. The pledge stated that whoever signed it would dedicate themselves to stopping fat talk. On Friday I tabled with two other girls. Everything was going great until an old math professor (name unknown) decided to stop by for a little chat...
Immediately off the bat the man began grilling us and explaining that we were disgraceful for wanting fat talk to stop, stating that if someone is fat they should most definitely feel ashamed of themselves and that the goal of our booth was idiotic. Obviously obesity is a serious issue in our society and that help and awareness should be provided to those who suffer from obesity is needed - this was not our goal. We tried explaining that we were not promoting obesity but rather that we wanted to promote a healthy mental and physical awareness for women and men. We wanted to build the self-confidence of individuals and end the constant negativity and self-worthlessness. This explanation however enraged the man who went on to say that this had nothing to do with mental or physical health but was in fact a complete waste of time. Determined to get our message across we sat with this elderingly individual for over 20 minutes. He would not budge. We were at the point that we honestly were upset but thought it a waste of time trying to convince an old man of our cause. Everything finally seemed to be quieting down when he said, "the ironic thing at least is that one of you at this table is actual fit! ha!" As he said this he cryptically looked me and another member at the table up and down. Stunned I didn't know what to say. After this comment and displeasure with my appearance he walked away.
Self-worth and self-image is a serious subject and having someone not understand the importance of that is disheartening but having someone openly discredit it is unacceptable. I have grown up around severe eat disorders as it is very present in my family generational; from my grandmother's decades of anorexity, an aunt's anorexia, another's 30 odd years of bulimia, cousins' countless calorie counting which has lead to the early stages of anorexia, and two others massive obesity. I take these matters so extremely seriously. Now here I have an old man calling me fat and telling me and 20-something year old friends that we are making a mockery out of ourselves by caring about such a senseless cause. I was enraged, and am enraged simply by writing this.
The saddest part is that the other girl this old man (who had a potbelly of his own) labelled as fat is in fact a full figured beautifully curved young women. She was visibly upset by the experience and came to me privately the next morning saying she was still upset by the experience.
I was the oldest tabling at the time, among two underclassman, and yes - I was caught off guard by what this old man said, I wish I could have done something more. I realized that while I was at this booth that was encouraging girls to end the constant negativity they surround themselves with, I was in fact feeling awful about myself and my self image. Honestly there are things I thought to say at the time but didn't because I wanted to keep cool, calm, and collected as I was representing ADPi, but I realized now I was wrong. What I should have said, and would give anything to say to this old man, is that if he didn't agree with what we were saying he should leave because he obviously must have been loosing his sight and couldn't see that three amazing beautiful, strong, empowered young women were standing before him.
Teen Pregnancy
The other days discussion about teen pregnancy made me do some more
definitive research because sexual education is something I feel really
strongly about. I get really upset when I hear about teen pregnancies
because my entire life I've been surrounded by friends and family that
have been directly affected by teen pregnancy. I went to a public high
school and we had a high incidence of teen pregnancy which I strongly
believe was partly due to the lack-luster sexual education program. My
graduating year we had 75 pregnant women (some of these women were not
originally in our class but were graduating early/late). Our program
health education class and the schools official policy was to teach
abstinence, which infuriated me considering how much of a continuing
issue it was at my school. The health class did briefly go over sexual
education and contraceptives, but no further information of where to get
said contraceptives was involved, or why those contraceptives are
really important.
I was in a journalism class my junior year, and one of the articles I wrote about dealt with the flawed way our school handled sex education. I basically went around the school trying to find any person who would talk to me about resources for sexual health. I went in boys and girls bathrooms making sure there were no condom dispensaries there, I talked to the health teachers individually and they provided me with things like "the clinic downtown" "planned parenthood" and some were more helpful than others with exact locations of where to find this, but they made it clear that they were not supposed to be providing this information to me. I went to the school nurse, asking if there was a way to get condoms or birth control through school (which in return got me a disgusted look as though I was some sexual deviant or pervert for asking) and she replied that there's nothing that the school provides and no information about where to get them her response was to ask a doctor or search the internet and the school's official policy was abstinence and that's what we should follow.
This idea of abstinence is antiquated and ridiculous, with almost 330,000 babies born to teen moms between the ages of 15-19 a year, and with 47% of high school students being sexually active. I'm not fully blaming schools for high pregnancy rates because access to public libraries, school libraries, and homes are almost always equipped with internet access and many reliable websites provide accurate information about sex and how to prevent pregnancy and where to find clinics and places that off the cheapest birth control. Although adolescents can't always be entrusted to go searching for information about how to be responsible(especially if they're embarrassed or feel ashamed of their sexual desires), and I have to wonder why schools think it's their responsibility to teach them not to drink and drive because it can ruin their chances of living normal lives and getting into college when unprotected sex can have similar lifelong consequences. With 47% of high school students being sexually active, only 60% of these students use condoms the last time they had intercourse, with only 9% using two forms of contraception. Teen pregnancy rates in the united states are among the highest even now at 31.3 per 1000 women between 15-19 according to 2011 data, while other countries like the Netherlands have 5 per 1000, Sweden 7 per 1000, Norway 11 per 1000, Canada 16 per 1000, France 6 per 1000, and the United Kingdom with the greatest European birth rate at 25 per 1000. (Note the data available for other countries is slightly older from 2009 instead of 2011 but have seen a continued decrease trend over the last few decades).
Clearly it is foolish to think that teen pregnancy can be prevented 100% of the time, contraceptives fail and accidents happen, but looking at other countries and the approach they have toward sexual education and social attitudes of sexual behavior shows that it can be greatly reduced with the right information and social approach.
I was in a journalism class my junior year, and one of the articles I wrote about dealt with the flawed way our school handled sex education. I basically went around the school trying to find any person who would talk to me about resources for sexual health. I went in boys and girls bathrooms making sure there were no condom dispensaries there, I talked to the health teachers individually and they provided me with things like "the clinic downtown" "planned parenthood" and some were more helpful than others with exact locations of where to find this, but they made it clear that they were not supposed to be providing this information to me. I went to the school nurse, asking if there was a way to get condoms or birth control through school (which in return got me a disgusted look as though I was some sexual deviant or pervert for asking) and she replied that there's nothing that the school provides and no information about where to get them her response was to ask a doctor or search the internet and the school's official policy was abstinence and that's what we should follow.
This idea of abstinence is antiquated and ridiculous, with almost 330,000 babies born to teen moms between the ages of 15-19 a year, and with 47% of high school students being sexually active. I'm not fully blaming schools for high pregnancy rates because access to public libraries, school libraries, and homes are almost always equipped with internet access and many reliable websites provide accurate information about sex and how to prevent pregnancy and where to find clinics and places that off the cheapest birth control. Although adolescents can't always be entrusted to go searching for information about how to be responsible(especially if they're embarrassed or feel ashamed of their sexual desires), and I have to wonder why schools think it's their responsibility to teach them not to drink and drive because it can ruin their chances of living normal lives and getting into college when unprotected sex can have similar lifelong consequences. With 47% of high school students being sexually active, only 60% of these students use condoms the last time they had intercourse, with only 9% using two forms of contraception. Teen pregnancy rates in the united states are among the highest even now at 31.3 per 1000 women between 15-19 according to 2011 data, while other countries like the Netherlands have 5 per 1000, Sweden 7 per 1000, Norway 11 per 1000, Canada 16 per 1000, France 6 per 1000, and the United Kingdom with the greatest European birth rate at 25 per 1000. (Note the data available for other countries is slightly older from 2009 instead of 2011 but have seen a continued decrease trend over the last few decades).
Clearly it is foolish to think that teen pregnancy can be prevented 100% of the time, contraceptives fail and accidents happen, but looking at other countries and the approach they have toward sexual education and social attitudes of sexual behavior shows that it can be greatly reduced with the right information and social approach.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
The other day, I heard in class that more women are falling below the poverty line. This was not a surprise. Simply, because I know the neighborhood I came from was completely below poverty. I had a single mother, and I know that my family was part of that statistic. Although the statistic may be true, I believe that these women should not be seen as "poor" but as strong. This is because I have seen the effort it takes to raise a family. My mother worked a full time job, raised three kids, and had to take care of herself personally. Now, that has to be a strong women if she can carry all of that weight. Think about it, many people believe that it is hard with two parents in the household, but these single women do not have all the support that a two parent family have: incomes from two sources, emotional stability, and more flexibility. The other day I heard in class that more women were falling below the poverty line. Although these women were seen as "poor", I also believe that they should be seen as strong also.
Friday, October 25, 2013
"Anna Rexia" Costume Petition Link
Here is the link to the petition against the "Anna Rexia" costume.
http://chn.ge/1cUyeLd
Anorexia is a serious issue and there is no way that it should be promoted by a Halloween costume. My friend's sister's sorority at SIUE, Delta Phi Epsilon, started this petition and I think it is a really good idea to do so. We can help stop this costume from selling again by signing the petition and/or spreading the word. They need quite a few more signatures so if you girls are able, please sign it for them. Of course, you are by no means obligated or required to sign. :) Thank you for your time!!
http://chn.ge/1cUyeLd
Anorexia is a serious issue and there is no way that it should be promoted by a Halloween costume. My friend's sister's sorority at SIUE, Delta Phi Epsilon, started this petition and I think it is a really good idea to do so. We can help stop this costume from selling again by signing the petition and/or spreading the word. They need quite a few more signatures so if you girls are able, please sign it for them. Of course, you are by no means obligated or required to sign. :) Thank you for your time!!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Women are not objects!
Source: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/23100000/Not-A-Commodity-feminism-23195990-400-600.jpg
I think this is an excellent representation of what we mean when we say females should not be treated as objects. In fact, I think it nails it in the head. The scan bar, which we know is used to buy objects, is put on this woman to show how women are often treated in society. Women are often treated as objects that can be bought, used, and then thrown away or sold, instead of being treated as human beings. The scan bar on her face really brings to light the idea that women are treated as objects; more so, it makes you think about the idea of women being represented as objects while also presenting you with the notion that women should not be treated that way. I hope that as men see this, they will start to think about how they treat women. I hope they start to see how women are often treated as objects and that they stop treating women this way. In fact, the same goes for women who see this picture. Women also need to think about how they treat other women; in addition, they need to stop supporting this notion, whether it is in an indirect or direct way. I say this because women will also go along with the idea that women are objects because this is what society has engrained in them. Women like this need to break free of the idea that women are objects and start treating themselves and other women as people.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Am I pretty or ugly?
Apparently, the next big youtube trend has begun, and it’s
called “Pretty or Ugly.” According to a buzzfeed article (http://www.buzzfeed.com/tabathaleggett/theres-a-youtube-trend-called-pretty-or-ugly),
a youtube search of “Am I pretty or ugly?” will yield almost 600,000 results.
This videos feature young girls between the ages of 9 and 14, who invite anyone
on the internet who wishes to critique their appearance. I guess with the value
that our society places on physical beauty, this really shouldn’t be all that
surprising. Throughout their entire lives girls are bombarded with images and
standards of what it means to be “beautiful.” The really disturbing part about
this trend can be found in the comments. The majority of them don’t come from
adolescents, but from older guys. They range from sexually aggressive to
downright nasty and insulting. As if that’s not bad enough, there are others
who are commenting on these videos who are trying to be genuinely helpful by
saying things such as, “Well, your forehead is too big, but get some bangs and
you’ll be fine!” Like I said, as horrible as it is that these young women feel
the need to put themselves out there like that, this is the kind of society
that we’ve created- we send girls such mixed messages about the concept of
beauty that it should be no wonder that they feel confusion and the need to
seek public affirmation.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
The Cure
Not many of you guys know this but this past semester I've been struggling with a lot of things. One thing in particular was my moms health, but thankfully by the grave of God she okay. My mother is a ten year breast cancer survivor and this past semester she discovered another tumor and seemed like my worse fears were back. Until she went to the doctors and it turned out to be a malignant tumor. I was overjoyed! But this past weekend I was on twitter, follow me @comPLUTOlove, my male friend was speaking about the Race for the Cure in his city. "Men can't participate in the The Race" as if Breast Cancer is soo beneath or the problem of women are unimportant. It honestly blowed my mind.
Bar Etiquette
So this weekend I went out with some of my friends and one of them recently got a new boyfriend, who we'll call Tim, so she brought him with us. While we were out Tim saw some of his friends and we were all hanging out and then one of the guys wanted to buy a drink for my other friend, so she let him. As the night progressed the second guy proceeded to get more attached to my friend and wanted her to go home with him. She politely declined since she had no idea who he really was and quite frankly didn't want to go. The guy didn't seem to take it badly and shortly went to a different friend group. This is where Tim gets bitchy saying that my friend should've at least gone home with him to makeout because he was a nice guy and he bought her drinks cause it was "Bar etiquette". His girlfriend promptly straightened him out but it bothered me that a guy thought that was a thing. That unwarranted attention deserves sex.
U.N. Internet Ad
A friend actually posted this link on my Facebook wall this week, which was surprising considering I wouldn't exactly call him a feminist...but I thought I'd share it with you all!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/hunterschwarz/un-ad-campaign-shows-what-the-internet-thinks-of-women
The title of this article is called "What the internet thinks of women", but I actually think that it's less of what the internet thinks, and more of a reflection on what the world thinks of women. I loved how this was a campaign done by the UN, it's important that global institutions address the gender gap not only in countries like America, but in all places around the world. The ad was really effective in the way that it included all different kinds of women, and how it showed what the world really thinks about them. I loved how the UN put messages about what we SHOULD be thinking at the bottom too, it was a great way to spread the word about equality for women! Lemme know what y'all think.
Friday, October 18, 2013
"The Case Against Female Self-Esteem"
I came across this article titled "The Case Against Female Self-Esteem" earlier this week when one of my
facebook friends posted it.
http://mattforney.com/2013/09/16/the-case-against-female-self-esteem/
Thankfully, she was
posting it because she disagreed with it and found it completely ridiculous, as
did I. In fact, I was seriously enraged by reading this. I won’t get into the
very specific details of it, because I could probably stay here all day and
point out everything that’s wrong with the arguments this guy is trying to
make. However, the overall message of the article was that confident, strong,
independent women who have self-esteem are unattractive to men. The author
asserts that taking on these qualities rather than the traditional feminine
qualities makes them unattractive to men, and therefore useless. He states that
if all women were fired from their jobs today, “elementary schools would have
to shut down for a couple days, but otherwise life would go on as usual.” Furthermore,
he states that no women actually want to be strong, independent, etc. We all
have a “biological” dependency on men, and therefore we only act that way
because we want someone to “lead us back to the kitchen.” I think the thing
that most shocked me was the fact that everyone who was commenting on the
article was actually in agreement with the author. What do you guys think?
Cheers to Female Doctors!
Ever heard this one?
"A young boy and his father are in a car accident. The father dies at the scene. The boy is transported to the hospital, taken immediately into surgery... but the surgeon steps out of the operating room and says, "I can't operate on this boy - he is my son! ---How can this be?"
The surgeon is the boy's mother, of course. But unfortunately it's still the tendency of our society to think of surgeons and doctors as mainly male (maybe because women are oh sooo emotional and couldn't possibly have a strong standing in an analytical and technical profession). However, a report published by the University of Montreal argues that female doctors are actually outperforming men! Here's the article I read from Time:
http://healthland.time.com/2013/10/17/women-make-better-doctors-than-men/?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29
(Note: the author of the article is male; he seems a little biased and I don't always like his tone, but it's solid info.)
Here's a take from Jezebel, a feminist website:
http://jezebel.com/lady-doctors-are-outperforming-men-on-pretty-much-every-1447746274
Of course, this study was only focused on a relatively small group of people, and there's always the possibility of researcher bias, but I found it really interesting. Hopefully more and more women will continue to become doctors so that the answer to the aforementioned riddle will soon be obvious to everyone.
"A young boy and his father are in a car accident. The father dies at the scene. The boy is transported to the hospital, taken immediately into surgery... but the surgeon steps out of the operating room and says, "I can't operate on this boy - he is my son! ---How can this be?"
The surgeon is the boy's mother, of course. But unfortunately it's still the tendency of our society to think of surgeons and doctors as mainly male (maybe because women are oh sooo emotional and couldn't possibly have a strong standing in an analytical and technical profession). However, a report published by the University of Montreal argues that female doctors are actually outperforming men! Here's the article I read from Time:
http://healthland.time.com/2013/10/17/women-make-better-doctors-than-men/?xid=rss-topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29
(Note: the author of the article is male; he seems a little biased and I don't always like his tone, but it's solid info.)
Here's a take from Jezebel, a feminist website:
http://jezebel.com/lady-doctors-are-outperforming-men-on-pretty-much-every-1447746274
Of course, this study was only focused on a relatively small group of people, and there's always the possibility of researcher bias, but I found it really interesting. Hopefully more and more women will continue to become doctors so that the answer to the aforementioned riddle will soon be obvious to everyone.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
My Trip to SLAM
First of all, the vast majority of artists are indeed male. I'd never really thought about that fact before taking this course. Although fine arts is often viewed as a female-dominated or "feminine" field, apparently much of the work that is considered professional or advanced enough to be put in a museum is done by men. However, many of the subjects of paintings or sculptures are women. It's interesting to me because I don't really understand how a female perspective can be accurately conveyed by a male, but that's what the focus of many pieces of art are; a seemingly female perspective from a male artist. The majority of the female subjects were nude, and likewise, the majority of nudes were female subjects. Another thing that interested me was the variation of the body types in centuries-old art. There was certainly an ideal that existed, but the women in these pieces were much more curvy than they are in a lot of modern art. It seemed the essential focus was the natural curves of a woman- the hips and breasts were accentuated, and they were never stick thin. (Perhaps a focus on the value of the body for childbirth?)
I found one piece in an Asian art exhibit that really intrigued me. The information card and a picture of the sculpture are below.
If you can read the card, it explains that this sculpture is of the Hindu god Siva. The god is half man and half woman, divided down the middle. It is said to symbolize "the great unity of all things and the complementary aspects of gender and sexuality," which I thought was really cool. Instead of having the masculine side domineer the art, both the feminine and the masculine come together to make a piece of art that fuses together and shows the necessity and harmony of both sexes. It was interesting to me that this in fact is a Hindu god, and the feminine side isn't regarded as any less than the masculine side. So often we discuss gods in a masculine fashion, so I like the concept of a female (or at least half female) god being just as worthy of worship. I also like the attitude of unity in the universe. Domestic Violence as a Serious Issue
Source: http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32900000/What-War-on-Women-feminism-32987702-1476-1365.jpg
Wow, this depiction really shocked me. More so, it really opened my eyes to just how serious domestic violence is. I know that domestic violence is a big problem, but I haven't thought of it causing more deaths than wars and terrorist attacks combined!! That is horrible! If this is true, then why isn't it raised as a bigger issue in society?! How can people not take domestic violence seriously when it causes deaths, especially this many!
In my opinion, the home is a place to feel safe and secure; it should not be a place that is feared. No man, woman, or child should be afraid to go home. Personally, I love to go home, because when I am home I feel safe, loved, and happy; there is absolutely no reason why everyone should not feel this way at home. I really hope someday we will be able to seriously cut down or eliminate domestic violence all together.
How can we change the attitudes of those who do not take domestic violence seriously and/or do not see it as a problem? Honestly, I think this is a tough question to answer, because I feel like there are a lot of different causes for domestic violence. Regardless of this, the major idea we need to get across is that every family member is important; no member of a family should be physically or mentally abused inside or outside the home by other family members (and also non-family members.)
Monday, October 14, 2013
Does it mean the same thing?
10/15/13
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/
I would like to take this moment to imagine myself, cis-male, in Danielle's situation
If I were in "her" situation, as "him", I do not think I would feel moved for the same reasons. Even if Oflek were "her" I wouldn't dream of calling it misandry. I'd just be like...wow...okay...wtf? Oh patriarchy.
"------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Hello [JP]
My name is Ofek and I am the Blog Editor at Biology-Online.org - one of the worlds largest biology websites with over 1.6 million visitors a month. I encountered your blog "Urban Scientist" and am wondering if you would be interested in joining us as a guest blogger for a short monthy article. I know you are busy, but you could serve as "educator" and guide for your world of science. As an added benefit (more to the point) you will enjoy a great deal of exposure from our 1.6 million monthly visitors,
Please let me know if you are interested and I can provide further details. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Oflek
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Good day Ofek,
Thank you very much for your interest. It does sound like a great opportunity. Please tell me more about this? Are you looking for a Guest Blogger for a 1 month stint? If so, how many pst are you expecting in this one month? Or are you looking for a single monthly contribution? If so, for how many months?
Finally, what are your payment rates for guest bloggers?
Thank you,
[Jonathan]
------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Hi [Jonathan]
Thanks for your reply.
Regarding frequency, we would be happy for a monthy article. The only caveat is we ask for a delay of two weeks before you repost on your own blog, though you can post a link immediately. Regarding payment, truthfully, we dont pay guest bloggers. Even Dr. Michael Joyner, who i an internationally recognized expert in his field did not recieve payment.
That said, by writing for us you stand to profit financially in other ways. As I wrote previously, we have 1.6mm monthly visitors, so by writinga nd linking to us, you not only recieve traffic from us, but it can have a direct effect on the traffic and rank of your blog, and that in turn has a direct effect on advertising revenue.
So there are tangible financial benefits, but direct payment for blogging is not one of them.
I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.
Thanks, Oflek
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Thank you very much for your reply.
But I will have to decline your offer.
Have a great day
------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Because we don't pay for blog entries?
Are you an urban scientist or an urban [manwhore]?
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Did YOU JUST CALL ME A [MANWHORE]?
------------------------------" (blog.scientificamerican)
Other thoughts/ Final analysis:
Manwhore vs. Whore
Cracker vs. Nigga/er
Does my parallel support this connection with sexism and racism?
At the end of the day, what decides what words have power and do not?
Sources:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/
(http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-1.png)
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-2.png
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-3.jpg
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/
I would like to take this moment to imagine myself, cis-male, in Danielle's situation
If I were in "her" situation, as "him", I do not think I would feel moved for the same reasons. Even if Oflek were "her" I wouldn't dream of calling it misandry. I'd just be like...wow...okay...wtf? Oh patriarchy.
"------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Hello [JP]
My name is Ofek and I am the Blog Editor at Biology-Online.org - one of the worlds largest biology websites with over 1.6 million visitors a month. I encountered your blog "Urban Scientist" and am wondering if you would be interested in joining us as a guest blogger for a short monthy article. I know you are busy, but you could serve as "educator" and guide for your world of science. As an added benefit (more to the point) you will enjoy a great deal of exposure from our 1.6 million monthly visitors,
Please let me know if you are interested and I can provide further details. Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.
Oflek
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Good day Ofek,
Thank you very much for your interest. It does sound like a great opportunity. Please tell me more about this? Are you looking for a Guest Blogger for a 1 month stint? If so, how many pst are you expecting in this one month? Or are you looking for a single monthly contribution? If so, for how many months?
Finally, what are your payment rates for guest bloggers?
Thank you,
[Jonathan]
------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Hi [Jonathan]
Thanks for your reply.
Regarding frequency, we would be happy for a monthy article. The only caveat is we ask for a delay of two weeks before you repost on your own blog, though you can post a link immediately. Regarding payment, truthfully, we dont pay guest bloggers. Even Dr. Michael Joyner, who i an internationally recognized expert in his field did not recieve payment.
That said, by writing for us you stand to profit financially in other ways. As I wrote previously, we have 1.6mm monthly visitors, so by writinga nd linking to us, you not only recieve traffic from us, but it can have a direct effect on the traffic and rank of your blog, and that in turn has a direct effect on advertising revenue.
So there are tangible financial benefits, but direct payment for blogging is not one of them.
I am happy to answer any other questions you might have.
Thanks, Oflek
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Thank you very much for your reply.
But I will have to decline your offer.
Have a great day
------------------------------
ofek@biology-online.irg
To J C Pulphus
Because we don't pay for blog entries?
Are you an urban scientist or an urban [manwhore]?
------------------------------
JCPulphus
To ofek@biology-online.org
Did YOU JUST CALL ME A [MANWHORE]?
------------------------------" (blog.scientificamerican)
Other thoughts/ Final analysis:
Manwhore vs. Whore
Cracker vs. Nigga/er
Does my parallel support this connection with sexism and racism?
At the end of the day, what decides what words have power and do not?
Sources:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/2013/10/11/give-trouble-to-others-but-not-me/
(http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-1.png)
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-2.png
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/urban-scientist/files/2013/10/pic-3.jpg
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Thinspiration
So I'm not sure if any of you had a similar experience, but when I was in 8th grade going into high school there was a huge issue with eating disorders amongst my peers. Many of the girls became obsessed with blogs that focused on "thinspiration" sentiment (or in other words a blog which perpetuated not only the motivation but also the 'need' to be thin within today's standards). I remember all the girls in my 8th grade class had to have extra health classes focusing on eating disorders and such as this was becoming such a prominent trend amongst us. Remembering this, I googled "thinspiration" and sadly found that such blogs are more popular and abundant than ever. The one I chose to focus on (http://thinspiration-pictures.blogspot.com/) had picture after picture of rake-thin girls and makes a not so subtle statement that within American society today, skinny is considered pretty and there's very little room for anything else. After I got sick of looking at the pictures and subconsciously making comparisons between them and myself, I began to think about just how detrimental such websites are especially to young girls who are taught that every insecurity is a flaw that should be overcompensated for. The continued popularity of such blogs and forums just show how truly destitute American standards of beauty have become, and moreover these blogs perpetuate the pressure women today feel to be skinny in order to be considered beautiful.
Foolishness.
Sooo..I’m scrolling down my News Feed on Facebook. (I’m surprised that I’ve been getting soo much inspiration from these social networks) They do indeed do their job in soliciting the news. I was entranced by this story that hits a little close to home. http://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/12/4549775/nightmare-in-maryville-teens-sexual.html Reading through this has a direct connection to my previous post. It speaks directly to the treatment of these sexual abuse victims. These children were manipulated by whim the will of men to partake in an action they were no way prepared to deal with or even want. These children underage as well as under the influence were forced into acts that would sully their as well as their families’ reputation. It’s hard to believe that these victims are frowned upon within society instead the monsters who have committed these heinous crimes.Why are their families forced to defend their honor and relocate when they are the victims in these horrible horrible situations? I just don’t understand guys.
Hugh Hefner "respects" women...?
yeah.The case against female self-esteem
http://mattforney.com/2013/09/
So this link is a link to a blog that is quite possibly the most infuriating thing that I have ever had the displeasure of coming across. At first I thought he was writing things sardonically mocking society, but as I looked at his other articles I could not help but to be disgusted. This article is called "The Case Against Female Self-Esteem" and this man goes to point out how women do not deserve self-esteem and what have they even done to earn it. He berates women for having a degree from college and says that even if they get a degree, the degree is a "complete joke". I think the most frustrating part was reading the comments and seeing how many men were agreeing with the complete bullshit and even some women were saying that this is exactly right and completely the point. I just do not understand how society can seem so foreword and backward at the same time, I just want people to be appreciated as people and not defined by their gender or race or anything else.
So this link is a link to a blog that is quite possibly the most infuriating thing that I have ever had the displeasure of coming across. At first I thought he was writing things sardonically mocking society, but as I looked at his other articles I could not help but to be disgusted. This article is called "The Case Against Female Self-Esteem" and this man goes to point out how women do not deserve self-esteem and what have they even done to earn it. He berates women for having a degree from college and says that even if they get a degree, the degree is a "complete joke". I think the most frustrating part was reading the comments and seeing how many men were agreeing with the complete bullshit and even some women were saying that this is exactly right and completely the point. I just do not understand how society can seem so foreword and backward at the same time, I just want people to be appreciated as people and not defined by their gender or race or anything else.
The Internet: constantly making you question your faith in humanity
So today I was trying to figure out something to write about and while procrastinating I stumbled upon this gem. I was pretty conflicted, because I couldn't decide if this was just apathetic greedy people or just another example of how women aren't taken as seriously in their achievements. I decided it was probably a bit of both. I was angry though because while I don't really like watching basketball, I compared this to that of things around St. Louis. I would rather have the Rams win the Superbowl than find $5 and I think I dislike professional football more than professional basketball! I imagine there would be a much smaller amount of people who would want $5 vs the winning of a major male sports team.
I was just a little angry because in all honesty the WNBA should be just as exciting as the NBA for people who truly appreciate basketball because they're just as good in technique, athleticism, and intensity. The one thing that keeps getting thrown in their face? They don't dunk. The height of the average woman in the WNBA is 5'11 vs the NBA having an average of 6'7. Males grow taller than females, so does this mean that women should have shorter baskets? I'm not sure, on one hand I feel as though it would be demeaning to have a shorter basket specifically for women, but on another is it fair to uphold women to the same standards of men when their physical bodies won't accommodate it? I would argue that people should stop holding these women up to the standard that they have to jump on average eight more inches to achieve the same trick as the average male basketball player.
I was just a little angry because in all honesty the WNBA should be just as exciting as the NBA for people who truly appreciate basketball because they're just as good in technique, athleticism, and intensity. The one thing that keeps getting thrown in their face? They don't dunk. The height of the average woman in the WNBA is 5'11 vs the NBA having an average of 6'7. Males grow taller than females, so does this mean that women should have shorter baskets? I'm not sure, on one hand I feel as though it would be demeaning to have a shorter basket specifically for women, but on another is it fair to uphold women to the same standards of men when their physical bodies won't accommodate it? I would argue that people should stop holding these women up to the standard that they have to jump on average eight more inches to achieve the same trick as the average male basketball player.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Playhouse Creatures
Yesterday, I went to see SLU Theatre's "Playhouse Creatures." The play is set in England of 1669; theaters had just reopened after Puritan suppression and women are allowed on stage for the first time. The play focuses on five actresses from the Playhouse Theatre and shows how they have to work extra hard at what they do to show they can perform too. I really liked the play for many reasons. First, they used a lot of comedy, and the comedy was often pointed at typical feminist roles such as doing laundry and pleasuring men. Second, I really liked how the women were witty and how they stood up for what they believed in. At one point in the play, one of the actresses yelled at a male in the audience who was making fun of their performance. To give a little more background, the Playhouse actresses would perform on a stage for the largely male audience who came to the theatre. One of the men in the audience apparently thought their performance wasn't that good so he yelled rude things at them. One of the main actresses didn't hesitate to respond and yelled back at the man. I thought that was great that she did that, because that shows that she doesn't allow people to put her or her friends down.
While I thought the play was very good, it also left me a little confused. Very often, the women would use the f@$% word; this really confused me because I didn't expect that people used it that long ago. Maybe I am just naive, but I assumed that the f-word wasn't around that long ago. I assumed that people spoke in very proper ways without the use of cuss words. It would be interesting to find out when cuss words did enter the English language. This way, I could be better informed and wouldn't feel like it doesn't fit with the play.
Source for synopsis: Playhouse Creatures synopsis and information card (presented at box office before play)
Source for synopsis: Playhouse Creatures synopsis and information card (presented at box office before play)
Friday, October 11, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Origins of the Pin-Up Girl.
So, while watching that documentary in class, i couldn't help but wonder "when and how did this dreamworld for men come about?" My theory was that the original Pin-Up girls started it. I've heard that these posters of women lollygagging in their underwear were created to occupy men fighting wars so that they could focus their mind on something other than how much they missed their families or the risk of dying.
I found an article that proved me right. (link on bottom) The Pin up was in fact, created to help keep men fighting in WWII "Morale". But also, i learned that pinups were also designed as a feminist act. the article stated " Pin up is not a mere sex symbolism but a bold feminist act of eliminating the norm of women’s restrictions in a patriarchal world". i was confused because i just don't understand how pin-ups aren't sex symbols? what is so empowering about being almost naked? (maybe i'm looking at this with the wrong view?) i understand that they were protesting how oppressed they were because they weren't allowed to do anything but i feel that this movement jumpstarted how women are portrayed in the media today.
what do you guys think? can someone enlighten me?? :)
http://www.pinuppassion.com/pin-up-history.html#.Ulb1MNJwqwE
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Civil Rights Museum
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Dress-Up Time!
First briefly, below is the link to an article that I mentioned in class that backs up Robin Thicke's song Blurred Lines and expresses how it in fact is "pro-feminist" and that the rest of us feminist have it wrong. It is definitely an interesting read and deals a LOT with what we are talking about in class with women in media. So please if you are at all interested take a look. While I don't think Thicke's song is pro-feminist, in the same hand this article sticks soundly to its claims and it did get me thinking for sure. Class discussion maybe? haha
http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-5-kick-ass-women-this-mom-dressed-her-daughter-as-instead-of-a-disney-princess?c=bm1
Secondly, with Halloween coming up I found this tiny article with is not only ADORABLE but also really cool. It is about a mother and daughter looking together for a Halloween costume for the young daughter. The mother wanting to have her daughter looking up to real-life role models and not just the usual characterized princess decided to take a different route. The daughter ended up dressing up as several famous women throughout history that represent the power of the individual, the power of determination, and the power of feminism. Plus like a mentioned before this daughter looks so cute dressed up as these famous historical figures. I would love to hope that more young daughters and their mothers (the mothers that believe in promoting all types of individuals in their children's lives) will want to dress up as role models for Halloween - I'm tired of helpless princesses.
http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-5-kick-ass-women-this-mom-dressed-her-daughter-as-instead-of-a-disney-princess?c=bm1
http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-5-kick-ass-women-this-mom-dressed-her-daughter-as-instead-of-a-disney-princess?c=bm1
Secondly, with Halloween coming up I found this tiny article with is not only ADORABLE but also really cool. It is about a mother and daughter looking together for a Halloween costume for the young daughter. The mother wanting to have her daughter looking up to real-life role models and not just the usual characterized princess decided to take a different route. The daughter ended up dressing up as several famous women throughout history that represent the power of the individual, the power of determination, and the power of feminism. Plus like a mentioned before this daughter looks so cute dressed up as these famous historical figures. I would love to hope that more young daughters and their mothers (the mothers that believe in promoting all types of individuals in their children's lives) will want to dress up as role models for Halloween - I'm tired of helpless princesses.
http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-5-kick-ass-women-this-mom-dressed-her-daughter-as-instead-of-a-disney-princess?c=bm1
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