British shop scraps "Boys'"/"Girls'" toy headers.

This month, the 230-year-old toy store confirmed that it has dispensed with its pink “girls” and blue “boys” floors. From now on, toys will be organized around types like “Soft Toys” and interests like “Outdoor” and “Arts & Crafts” with gender-neutral red and white signage.

Read more.

Nobel Peace and Driving

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to African women who understand that the promotion of women's rights will yield the spread of global peace. The prize has been split between three female activists. Read more.

Yesterday, in my Minority Voices course, typical class discussion took an unusual turn. We were to write about a tradition we hold dear that, were it ever threatened, we would feel vulnerable/angry. This was to be an awareness activity: our traditions are not so different from the ones taken from Native American culture and, even if we deem these traditions barbaric or 'weird', they are still important to the survival and overall happiness of the culture.

We discussed the threat to the printed word, and not wanting to move to e-readers. We discussed watching sporting events with family, going to temple on holidays, not being able to download music (should legislation gain significant teeth). We also heard from a Saudi Arabian student who is afraid of her freedom being encroached upon. Why? She doesn't want to drive.

Recently, Saudi women were given the right to vote. This means that, logically, the right to drive (or a similar right given to men but not to women) is next to be distributed equally. The student said, "I don't have time to drive. I have to take care of my kids, feed them, clothe them, wash them. I have to clean my house. I have to care for my husband and my brothers. We have drivers who will pick up groceries. I do not have time to do that. I don't want to do that. Here, in America, when people find out I don't drive, they are surprised. I say, 'I don't want to!' I am learning to drive now, and I know my husband will say something like, 'When you leave school, will you go by Schnuck's and pick up....' I don't want to do that! I don't have time."

This really struck a chord with me. I'm sure there are Saudi women who would like an opportunity to drive. But I have to remind myself that my American perspective clouds my vision. Just because I would see the right to drive as something all people should have in my country, that does not mean it should be forced upon unwilling participants. The student continued by saying, "If we [Saudi women] do get the right to drive, I will not learn or get a license." Surely, the government cannot force women to drive, but there would still be new pressures to learn.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Thankfully, this shirt was pulled from J.C. Penney stores after outrage. Before the mutiny, however, Penney seemed to think the shirt was A-OK, giving this description of the merchandise:
"Who has time for homework when there’s a new Justin Bieber album out? She’ll love this tee that’s just as cute and sassy as she is."

Yuckola.

Not to mention these lovely slogans for other shirts: "I'm too pretty to do math." and "Future Trophy Wife."
 
Source.

Role Reversal

Internet users "[put] male superheroes into skimpy costumes and pose[d] them like Wonder Woman on David Finch’s variant cover for Justice League #1.
The artist’s point was that “people are getting tired of seeing all of the female leads drawn with body language and uniforms that make them appear less heroic, powerful, legitimate, and all-around able to be taken seriously than their male counterparts.”"

So tired of this.

"Gender" does not equal "sex." "Sex" does not equal "gender."

I understand that some parents may want to conduct this test on the basis of sex-linked disorders, but they're called 'sex-linked' for a reason. They are not linked to 'gender.' Educate yourselves, Yahoo writers.

First woman to achieve 10th degree black belt. And she's 98!!

Source.

Just great.

In a search for respite from the workday, I came across some real estate links about unusual homes. Clicking for more information about the skinniest one, I found some disheartening language. Why oh why are these comparisons necessary?

"There are skinny houses. And then there is Jakub Szczęsny's Keret House, which could make Calista Flockhart look like a fatty."

"Szczęsny designed the house to be a work space and home for Israeli writer Etgar Keret. It'll also be a "studio for invited guests -- young creators and intellectualists from all over the world." If, that is, they're willing to drop half their body weight to fit inside."

Airbrushed make-up ads banned for being 'misleading'

Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson complained that the L'Oreal adverts were "not representative of the results the products could achieve".
The Advertising Standards Authority agreed that the images were exaggerated and breached its code of conduct.
L'Oreal admitted retouching but denied that the two adverts were misleading.

Ms Swinson said that while some retouching may be acceptable, the adverts were "particularly bad examples of misleading advertising" and could contribute to body image problems.
"We should have some honesty in advertising and that's exactly what the ASA is there to do. I'm delighted they've upheld these complaints," she said.

Source.

Google's First Ever Science Fair ends with three female wins!

• Lauren Hodge in the 13-14 age group. Lauren studied the effect of different marinades on the level of potentially harmful carcinogens in grilled chicken.
• Naomi Shah in the 15-16 age group. Naomi endeavored to prove that making changes to indoor environments that improve indoor air quality can reduce people’s reliance on asthma medications.
• Shree Bose in the 17-18 age group. Shree discovered a way to improve ovarian cancer treatment for patients when they have built up a resistance to certain chemotherapy drugs.

Also, they got LEGO TROPHIES.

Slutwalk Toronto promptly responded to the ad, demanding a public apology and that the ads be taken down. Heather Jarvis told NOW magazine, “It’s a poster that’s saying, ‘Come check out the hot ladies and stay for the men, because those are the real athletes.’”

How to Talk to Girls

"
I went to a dinner party at a friend's home last weekend, and met her five-year-old daughter for the first time.
Little Maya was all curly brown hair, doe-like dark eyes, and adorable in her shiny pink nightgown. I wanted to squeal, "Maya, you're so cute! Look at you! Turn around and model that pretty ruffled gown, you gorgeous thing!"
But I didn't. I squelched myself. As I always bite my tongue when I meet little girls, restraining myself from my first impulse, which is to tell them how darn cute/ pretty/ beautiful/ well-dressed/ well-manicured/ well-coiffed they are.
What's wrong with that? It's our culture's standard talking-to-little-girls icebreaker, isn't it? And why not give them a sincere compliment to boost their self-esteem? Because they are so darling I just want to burst when I meet them, honestly.
Hold that thought for just a moment.
This week ABC news reported that nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat. In my book, Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, I reveal that fifteen to eighteen percent of girls under twelve now wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick regularly; eating disorders are up and self-esteem is down; and twenty-five percent of young American women would rather win America's Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize. Even bright, successful college women say they'd rather be hot than smart. A Miami mom just died from cosmetic surgery, leaving behind two teenagers. This keeps happening, and it breaks my heart.
Teaching girls that their appearance is the first thing you notice tells them that looks are more important than anything. It sets them up for dieting at age 5 and foundation at age 11 and boob jobs at 17 and Botox at 23. As our cultural imperative for girls to be hot 24/7 has become the new normal, American women have become increasingly unhappy. What's missing? A life of meaning, a life of ideas and reading books and being valued for our thoughts and accomplishments.
That's why I force myself to talk to little girls as follows.
"Maya," I said, crouching down at her level, looking into her eyes, "very nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," she said, in that trained, polite, talking-to-adults good girl voice.
"Hey, what are you reading?" I asked, a twinkle in my eyes. I love books. I'm nuts for them. I let that show.
Her eyes got bigger, and the practiced, polite facial expression gave way to genuine excitement over this topic. She paused, though, a little shy of me, a stranger.
"I LOVE books," I said. "Do you?"
Most kids do.
"YES," she said. "And I can read them all by myself now!"
"Wow, amazing!" I said. And it is, for a five-year-old. You go on with your bad self, Maya.
"What's your favorite book?" I asked.
"I'll go get it! Can I read it to you?"
Purplicious was Maya's pick and a new one to me, as Maya snuggled next to me on the sofa and proudly read aloud every word, about our heroine who loves pink but is tormented by a group of girls at school who only wear black. Alas, it was about girls and what they wore, and how their wardrobe choices defined their identities. But after Maya closed the final page, I steered the conversation to the deeper issues in the book: mean girls and peer pressure and not going along with the group. I told her my favorite color in the world is green, because I love nature, and she was down with that.
Not once did we discuss clothes or hair or bodies or who was pretty. It's surprising how hard it is to stay away from those topics with little girls, but I'm stubborn.
I told her that I'd just written a book, and that I hoped she'd write one too one day. She was fairly psyched about that idea. We were both sad when Maya had to go to bed, but I told her next time to choose another book and we'd read it and talk about it. Oops. That got her too amped up to sleep, and she came down from her bedroom a few times, all jazzed up.
So, one tiny bit of opposition to a culture that sends all the wrong messages to our girls. One tiny nudge towards valuing female brains. One brief moment of intentional role modeling. Will my few minutes with Maya change our multi-billion dollar beauty industry, reality shows that demean women, our celebrity-manic culture? No. But I did change Maya's perspective for at least that evening.
Try this the next time you meet a little girl. She may be surprised and unsure at first, because few ask her about her mind, but be patient and stick with it. Ask her what she's reading. What does she like and dislike, and why? There are no wrong answers. You're just generating an intelligent conversation that respects her brain. For older girls, ask her about current events issues: pollution, wars, school budgets slashed. What bothers her out there in the world? How would she fix it if she had a magic wand? You may get some intriguing answers. Tell her about your ideas and accomplishments and your favorite books. Model for her what a thinking woman says and does."

Source.

Preschool fights gender bias.

"At the "Egalia" preschool, staff avoid using words like "him" or "her" and address the 33 kids as "friends" rather than girls and boys.
From the color and placement of toys to the choice of books, every detail has been carefully planned to make sure the children don't fall into gender stereotypes.
"Society expects girls to be girlie, nice and pretty and boys to be manly, rough and outgoing," says Jenny Johnsson, a 31-year-old teacher. "Egalia gives them a fantastic opportunity to be whoever they want to be."
The taxpayer-funded preschool which opened last year in the liberal Sodermalm district of Stockholm for kids aged 1 to 6 is among the most radical examples of Sweden's efforts to engineer equality between the sexes from childhood onward.
Breaking down gender roles is a core mission in the national curriculum for preschools, underpinned by the theory that even in highly egalitarian-minded Sweden, society gives boys an unfair edge.
To even things out, many preschools have hired "gender pedagogues" to help staff identify language and behavior that risk reinforcing stereotypes.
Some parents worry things have gone too far. An obsession with obliterating gender roles, they say, could make the children confused and ill-prepared to face the world outside kindergarten.
"Different gender roles aren't problematic as long as they are equally valued," says Tanja Bergkvist, a 37-year-old blogger and a leading voice against what she calls "gender madness" in Sweden.
Those bent on shattering gender roles "say there's a hierarchy where everything that boys do is given higher value, but I wonder who decides that it has higher value," she says. "Why is there higher value in playing with cars?"
At Egalia — the title connotes "equality" — boys and girls play together with a toy kitchen, waving plastic utensils and pretending to cook. One boy hides inside the toy stove, his head popping out through a hole.
Lego bricks and other building blocks are intentionally placed next to the kitchen, to make sure the children draw no mental barriers between cooking and construction.
Director Lotta Rajalin notes that Egalia places a special emphasis on fostering an environment tolerant of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. From a bookcase she pulls out a story about two male giraffes who are sad to be childless — until they come across an abandoned crocodile egg.
Nearly all the children's books deal with homosexual couples, single parents or adopted children. There are no "Snow White," ''Cinderella" or other classic fairy tales seen as cementing stereotypes.
Rajalin, 52, says the staff also try to help the children discover new ideas when they play.
"A concrete example could be when they're playing 'house' and the role of the mom already is taken and they start to squabble," she says. "Then we suggest two moms or three moms and so on."
Egalia's methods are controversial; some say they amount to mind control. Rajalin says the staff have received threats from racists apparently upset about the preschool's use of black dolls.
But she says that there's a long waiting list for admission to Egalia, and that only one couple has pulled a child out of the school.
Jukka Korpi, 44, says he and his wife chose Egalia "to give our children all the possibilities based on who they are and not on their gender."
Sweden has promoted women's rights for decades, and more recently was a pioneer among European countries in allowing gay and lesbian couples to legalize their partnerships and adopt children.
Gender studies permeate academic life in Sweden. Bergkvist noted on her blog that the state-funded Swedish Science Council had granted $80,000 for a postdoctoral fellowship aimed at analyzing "the trumpet as a symbol of gender."
Jay Belsky, a child psychologist at the University of California, Davis, said he's not aware of any other school like Egalia, and he questioned whether it was the right way to go.
"The kind of things that boys like to do — run around and turn sticks into swords — will soon be disapproved of," he said. "So gender neutrality at its worst is emasculating maleness."
Egalia is unusual even for Sweden. Staff try to shed masculine and feminine references from their speech, including the pronouns him or her — "han" or "hon" in Swedish. Instead, they've have adopted the genderless "hen," a word that doesn't exist in Swedish but is used in some feminist and gay circles.
"We use the word "Hen" for example when a doctor, police, electrician or plumber or such is coming to the kindergarten," Rajalin says. "We don't know if it's a he or a she so we just say 'Hen is coming around 2 p.m.' Then the children can imagine both a man or a woman. This widens their view."
Egalia doesn't deny the biological differences between boys and girls — the dolls the children play with are anatomically correct.
What matters is that children understand that their biological differences "don't mean boys and girls have different interests and abilities," Rajalin says. "This is about democracy. About human equality.""

Source.

The top 25 or so comments were all negative toward this school's agenda, some comparing it even to Nazi Germany/concentration camps/numbered people/brainwashing.

Get excited!

The Women's World Cup started officially yesterday!

Discussion point: does lack of media attention cause the lack of interest in women’s sports or simply reflect it? Is FIFA promoting the Cup well enough? Are the media to blame for not covering women’s sports? Are viewers just not interested?

I'm six years old and I want to lose weight.

Order on the Court (I came up with this little pun all by myself and am unashamed to say so with pride.)

'The official Wimbledon site is giving away free tickets to people for voting on the “best-looking female player”.
Really, Wimbledon, really? You couldn’t think of a better way to honor the top female tennis athletes in the world than to subject them to a glorified “hot or not” contest?
As if that weren’t enough, they’ve made sure to send their best copy-writers to get people excited about what I’m sure must be the showdown of the tournament:
“Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic are neck and neck in this category so far, with each having 27% of the vote. Have your say below, and cast your vote to let us know who you think is the best looking female Wimbldon [sic] player” the website reads.
This inane and insulting contest comes on the heels of Wimbledon official Ian Ritchie making sexist and inappropriate comments about female players “grunting”.
According to Yahoo! Sports, the head of Wimbledon has said female tennis players who grunt when they hit their shots are “spoiling the game for fans”.
“The players have an ability to complain about it, if one player is grunting too much and the other player doesn’t like it and it is distracting, they can complain to the umpire,” Ritchie is quoted as saying'.

Source.

Wal-Mart wins Supreme Court sex-bias ruling

The Supreme Court rejected a mammoth class-action lawsuit charging sex discrimination at Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Monday in a ruling that could affect major cases in other industries.
The justices unanimously overturned a U.S. appeals court ruling that more than a million female employees nationwide could join in the lawsuit accusing Wal-Mart of paying women less and giving them fewer promotions and seeking billions of dollars.
The Supreme Court agreed with the giant American retailer that the class-action certification violated federal rules for such lawsuits.
It accepted Wal-Mart's argument that the female employees in different jobs at 3,400 different stores nationwide and with different supervisors do not have enough in common to be lumped together in a single class-action lawsuit.

Source.

Just so you know...

Until last year, I never knew there was such a thing as a Women's World Cup. I found out there was going to be one in 2011. So I've been waiting. Haven't heard anything. Finally did some research. Since you've probably been out of the loop because these hard-working women haven't gotten the press they deserve, let me tell ya: the games have been scheduled to take place between June 26th and July 17th in Germany.

Let's cheer them all on to victory!

Obama extends protections to gay couples under Medicaid

"The Obama administration is set on Friday to issue policy guidance to states expanding their ability to offer same-sex couples the same protections afforded to straight couples when they receive long-term care under Medicaid, the Washington Blade has learned exclusively.
Under the new guidance, dated June 10, states have the option to allow healthy partners in a same-sex relationship to keep their homes while their partners are receiving support for long-term care under Medicaid, such as care in a nursing home.
Medicaid kicks in for a beneficiary to receive care after an individual depletes virtually all of their money. To pay for the beneficiary’s expenses under Medicaid, a state could impose a lein, or take possession, of a beneficiary’s home to pay for Medicaid expenses.
However, federal law prohibits imposing this lein if beneficiaries are married to someone of the opposite-sex who’s still living in their home. The new guidance, signed by Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Cindy Mann, clarifies that states can offer this protection to the healthy partner of a Medicaid recipient in a same-sex relationship.
“A State can have a policy or rule not to pursue liens when the same-sex spouse or domestic partner of the Medicaid beneficiary continues to lawfully reside in the home,” the guidance states.
The Obama administration previously hadn’t articulated whether gay couples could receive these protections under the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage. The guidance doesn’t mandate that same-sex couples receive this protection, but allows states to “incorporate their criteria for determining when to impose a lien in the Medicaid State plan.”
The Department of Health & Human Services had been examining ways to offer more protections to same-sex couples under Medicaid as part of the work it has undertaken for LGBT people, but until now hadn’t issued the policy guidance to states.
Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement the new guidance represents a path for low-income same-sex couples to receive care under Medicaid.
“Low-income same-sex couples are too often denied equal treatment and the protections offered to other families in their greatest times of need,” she said. “That is now changing. Today’s guidance represents another important step toward ensuring the rights and dignity of every American are respected by their government.”"

Source.

North Carolina passes “Women’s Right to Know” Act

"
Yesterday, North Carolina House voted 71-48 to pass the “Women’s Right to Know” Act which forces women to wait 24 hours to have an abortion, forces them to see a sonogram and feeds them “information” about the risks of abortion. Because nothing says ‘I love you women of North Carolina’ like forcing state mandates on women about what they think is best for their minds and bodies.

“This is about respecting women,” said Rep. Ruth Samuelson, a Charlotte Republican who sponsored the bill. “This bill keeps abortion legal. It keeps abortion safe. And, by golly, we know it helps make it more rare. It is still her choice. It makes it her informed choice.”
Opponents called it an unwarranted intrusion on a women’s privacy.
“Today we decide we know better than every woman in North Carolina about her body, her mind and her soul,” said Rep. Rick Glazier, a Fayetteville Democrat.
Perdue joined the criticism.
“The Legislature should be focused on what they said they would focus on: creating jobs and strengthening education,” she said in a statement. “Government has no role interfering in the relationship between a doctor and a patient. Legislative leaders who vow to make government less intrusive and to protect individual freedom are advancing a bill that does just the opposite.” "

I agree that women should be informed before having an abortion and even before they have sex. Women should be informed, period. I don't think a forced sonogram is appealing as much to the rational side of things that legislative proponents think it is. It's a purely emotional tactic attempting to scare women out of the choice.

Source.

Jilted ex-boyfriend puts up abortion billboard

"A New Mexico man's decision to lash out with a billboard ad saying his ex-girlfriend had an abortion against his wishes has touched off a legal debate over free speech and privacy rights.

The sign on Alamogordo's main thoroughfare shows 35-year-old Greg Fultz holding the outline of an infant. The text reads, "This Would Have Been A Picture Of My 2-Month Old Baby If The Mother Had Decided To Not KILL Our Child!"

Fultz's ex-girlfriend has taken him to court for harassment and violation of privacy. A domestic court official has recommended the billboard be removed.

But Fultz's attorney argues the order violates his client's free speech rights.

"As distasteful and offensive as the sign may be to some, for over 200 years in this country the First Amendment protects distasteful and offensive speech," Todd Holmes said.

The woman's friends say she had a miscarriage, not an abortion, according to a report in the Albuquerque Journal.

Holmes disputes that, saying his case is based on the accuracy of his client's statement.

"My argument is: What Fultz said is the truth," Holmes said.

The woman's lawyer said she had not discussed the pregnancy with her client. But for Ellen Jessen, whether her client had a miscarriage or an abortion is not the point. The central issue is her client's privacy and the fact that the billboard has caused severe emotional distress, Jessen said.

"Her private life is not a matter of public interest," she told the Alamogordo Daily News.

Jessen says her client's ex-boyfriend has crossed the line.

"Nobody is stopping him from talking about father's rights. ... but a person can't invade someone's private life."

For his part, Holmes invoked the U.S. Supreme Court decision from earlier this year concerning the Westboro Baptist Church, which is known for its anti-gay protests at military funerals and other high-profile events. He believes the high court's decision to allow the protests, as hurtful as they are, is grounds for his client to put up the abortion billboard.

"Very unpopular offensive speech," he told the Alamogordo Daily News. "The Supreme Court, in an 8 to 1 decision, said that is protected speech."

Holmes says he is going to fight the order to remove the billboard through a District Court appeal."

Source.

Dire stage set for Iranian women's soccer team: No Olympics, No Gold

"The Iranian women’s soccer team has effectively been banned from the 2012 Olympics because their uniform adheres to Iran’s interpretation of Islamic standards, and thereby violates FIFA’s Olympic ban on religious displays.
The law of the Islamic Republic of Iran states that women must cover their heads in public. The FIFA rules for uniforms and equipment state that “Players and officials shall not display political, religious, commercial or personal messages or slogans in any language or form on their playing or team kits.”
The Iranian women’s team, in keeping with the country’s Islamic law, plays in full-body suits that cover their hair. They were informed last week that their uniform violated the rules, moments before an Olympic qualifying match against Jordan. Unable to play, they forfeited the game, meaning that qualifying for the Games will be virtually impossible. Heartbroken, some of the women burst into tears on the field.

Earlier this year, following a FIFA ruling about religious displays, the team started wearing a new uniform with tight-fitting headscarf, which they believed to be in keeping with the FIFA guidelines. Not so, it seems, and now, it looks like the team’s chances of making the Games are dashed.
Farideh Shojaei, the women’s representative on the Board of the Iranian Football Federation, said that the team now has little chance of making it to London. “It is extremely difficult to predict what results will come out of this, but I think it unlikely because the preliminary games will not be repeated,” she said. “The countries that invested, and spent money and time and took part in the second round will clearly not be willing to repeat these games, especially if this week it becomes clear which team will enter the final round. So it is extremely unlikely.”
Shahrzah Mozafar, the team’s former head coach agrees, but says that the consequences will stretch far beyond 2012. “This ruling means that women soccer in Iran is over,” she said. Mozafar predicts that Iran will simply stop sending the team overseas to play if they’re not allowed to play in headscarves. “Headscarves are simply what we wear in Iran,” she said."

Source.

Women Writers Suck, eh?

"VS Naipaul is a winner of the Nobel Prize for literature, and is considered one of the greatest British writers of his generation. So he must be a smart guy, right? Sure, sure.
Hates women, though. Yeah. Shame. In an interview this week, Naipaul said, 1) that no woman writer could be his literary equal; 2) that Jane Austen's "sentimental sense of the world" made her his inferior; 3) "I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me."
What else?

"And inevitably for a woman, she is not a complete master of a house, so that comes over in her writing too," he said.
He added: "My publisher, who was so good as a taster and editor, when she became a writer, lo and behold, it was all this feminine tosh. I don't mean this in any unkind way."

VS Naipaul is like the Too Short of the literary world! But more patronizing."

I do agree with the first comment on this article: "how is not respecting women's writing ability the same as "hating" them?" True, he put his trust in a woman editor (before she became an author) so I do not know if 'hate' is the right term, but at any rate, he is highly prejudicial and bigoted. 

Source. 

Food For Thought that Doesn't Involve Victim-Blaming

The word "bride" originally started as an old English word meaning, "cook."

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4621710

Parents Keep Child's Sex a Secret

As the parents relay, "If you really want to get to know someone, you don't ask what's between their legs."

Sexy Girls Have it Easy

Click here to watch the short documentary.

The Situation Room Shot

By now, we've all seen the photo of President Obama and his colleagues frowning with concentration in a tiny room.

The photo was taken to document the recent Osama bin Laden operation in the works. Whether or not you agree with the operation itself or its results, I think we would all agree that those in the room and those on the field/in the Pakistani mansion should receive credit for their assistance with the mission.

An Hasidic [like my use of the British 'an'?] newspaper didn't think so, promptly erasing the women from the photo:

Apparently, Der Zeitung never shows women on its pages because they could be considered “sexually suggestive.” OK, sure, we all know Clinton’s pantsuits are notoriously sexy. But aren’t the editors concerned about all the ladies who get hot and bothered looking at Biden sitting there being all vice-presidential? Jokes aside, Der Zeitung is free to refuse to publish pictures of women. That’s what we like to call really, really sexist, but also fair enough. However, I am pretty sure they are not allowed to erase women from a photograph and pretend they just weren’t there. That’s straight-up rewriting history. And, in addition to seeming just plain wrong to most people, happens to violate both Jewish principles and the terms of use posted by the White House, which stipulate that the image “may not be manipulated in any way.”

Fox News Does it Again

Trite doesn't even begin to describe the following article. Which, funnily enough, is under 'Men's Health' rather than 'Opinion.' This is utter garbage. An article about why you shouldn't bring her to the gym. Because, naturally, she'll drag on an on about the other women there, comparing herself to them, not allowing you to flirt with and objectify them. (Which, as any upstanding man knows, is vastly more important that having a healthy relationship.) She won't listen to you, she'll distract you, and, worst of all, she'll be UGLY. The only benefit of bringing her? You'll be "providing her with the opportunity to do something about the hail damage on her ass".

Fuck this 'article.' Fuck this author. Fuck this 'news' network.

But thank you to MaU for bringing it to my attention.

A Heartbreaking Update

Remember the cheerleader who refused to cheer for her rapist? She was denied review of her Supreme Court case and her parents had to pay $45,000 to defend her. Read the entire article here.

Not a goodbye

Monday marked the end of my independent study class. I am grateful for the creative outlet this blog served as, the readership I gathered, and the vast information and opinion I grappled with, especially when it competed with my own. I hope the articles and comments I posted illustrated my authorial voice and gave you new perspective. I discovered new-found autonomy in the control I was allowed to exercise over this blog and its contents. To have others read it and give their insights about it made the endeavor all the more worthwhile.

Because feminism is a cause I dedicate my speech, my actions, and my life to, I will not end this blog although the semester is over. I will continually update (most likely not as often) so keep on the lookout. :)

Have a feminawesome day, free of silly pronoun complications. :)

Dear Rapist...

Read the Guardian article that covers the way a female rape survivor received 'justice' after 20 years.

Heyyyy, Kate Middleton! Good on you!

Video says she'll remove the vow to 'obey her husband,' during the wedding today.

Sticks & Stones: An Exploration of Gendered Language

Revelation here, but, how about no one call anyone anything?

Here we go, Ashley Judd & Drink Till You...?

Judd's commentary on hip hop perpetuating rape culture.

Should fraternities be disbanded? They seem to "breed a noxious, violent culture in which young masculinity is measured in pitchers consumed and women fucked. [...] Yes, date rape happens at frat houses. It also happens at marching band parties, and at crew training camp, and in ROTC barracks and at chess club away meets. This is not to minimize what happens in frat houses or to tell women who have suffered sexual violence there that their experiences don’t matter. It is simply to say that sexual assault happens all over college campuses. And that’s what we need to change."

Ye olde holler back and more.

Click here for an article about the early women's movement against street harassment.

Tennessee advances the "Don't Say Gay Bill". The bill "would prohibit teachers from discussing of any sexuality except heterosexuality in grades K-8,” even with students who may be gay or have gay family,” according to Ben Byers of the Tennessee Equality Council (TEP). The committee amended the bill to require the Board of Education to study whether homosexuality is actually being taught in schools, but it will still institute a ban in February of next year."

I'm adjusting my collar from the tension....

Parents, don't dress your girls like tramps

Yep, that's the title of CNN's latest opinion piece. While some relevant points were made throughout the article about there being a market for revealing clothes for a younger generation simply because we create it, the language doesn't help combat the problem either. Harping on parents for dressing their children like 'prostitutes' and 'tramps' isn't going to help. Read the full article here. I wonder if this article had been written by a woman what language she would have used.

Why Star Wars is Secretly Terrifying for Women - Cracked.com Video

"For guys: A guide to girl talk"

Slow down, little Ralphie Parker; 'girl speak' can't be decoded with a Little Orphan Annie ring.

It's articles like this that make smoke billow from my ears. Maybe I should see a doctor. Or maybe this shit shouldn't be written. The latter'd save me a medical bill or two.

What she says: “So, what have you been up to?”
What she means: “Why haven’t you called me? Are you seeing someone else?”

Mmhmm, when I ask you what's up, I feel threatened and neglected. All the time. Women are just globs of throbbing jealousy that like to wear makeup to look better for you. If you've already realized you can't get us to shut our mouths, you may need a writer like Amy Spencer from Cosmo to give you some tips.

Teaching LGBT history

Two days ago, "the California state senate passed a bill that would require public schools to add LGBT people and people with disabilities to the list of groups whose contributions to American society are recognized in social studies curricula.
The New York Times reports that,

… starting in the 2013-14 school year, [the bill] would prohibit districts and the California Board of Education from using textbooks or other instructional materials that reflect adversely on gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
If the bill becomes law, California would be the first state to require the teaching of LGBT history."

Big Miss

Don't try to 'find the funny' in child sex slavery. This is too detached. It shouldn't be a joke.

Operas and Ads

"Soap operas have gradually faded as a TV force, as many of the women who made up the target audience is [sic] now in the work force."

"The world, it seems, is concerned about the "scent of a woman." I've watched those feminine hygiene product commercials with a critical eye. The theme of the commercials are the same: sad looking woman with dingy clothes walking down the street (this huge street) hoping that no one can sniff out her smelly vagina. Actually, the woman in the ad looks more like a crack or crystal meth addict and I'm sure most of the people who pass her on the street are more concerned that she may rob them and not so much about her personal hygiene problem.

And then, of course, a friend tells the woman about a product that can make her vagina smell like flowers or a summer breeze and the woman is made whole again. The next time we see her, she's at an office party doing the electric slide or, even better, riding a mechanical bull. The voice over says ... our product makes you feel like yourself again. Fade to black." Read more about lousy 'dirty down there' ads.

Media Update

15-Year-Old Allegedly Raped, Then Forced to Confess to Church

Pink Polish: Propaganda?!

The original photo and caption (of a J. Crew writer) are beyond sweet: an adorable bonding moment in which a mother shows no qualms about her son's favorite color (pink), and does not appear to believe that this color choice will have any effect on how the child will grow up or which gender identity he may fall into in the future.

Count on Fox News to fuck that up.

Erin Brown, of the Media Research Center [at Fox] called it "blatant propaganda celebrating transgendered children." Really? You researched that?

Aaaand a Fox editorial: "Yeah, well, it may be fun and games now, Jenna, but at least put some money aside for psychotherapy for the kid — and maybe a little for others who’ll be affected by your “innocent” pleasure. This is a dramatic example of the way that our culture is being encouraged to abandon all trappings of gender identity ... These folks are hostile to the gender distinctions that actually are part of the magnificent synergy that creates and sustains the human race. They respect their own creative notions a whole lot more than any creative Force in the universe."

Dramatic? Painting toes is dramatic? Give me a break. If anything, the overzealous reinforcement by Fox writers/staff for everyone to conform to gender stereotypes and categorization is dramatic propaganda.

As the author of the rebuttal article writes (which can be found here), "We're pretty sure that this fuss is far worse for Beckett's [the child's] psyche than a bottle of pink nail polish ever could be." 

I've got 99 posts...

and here's the 100th!

Thank you to the avid readers I've acquired this semester. It's touching to get feedback from you about your shared respect, laughter, or anger.
                                                                                                                                 

Today is Equal Pay Day, marking how far into the year a woman would have to work to catch up to a man’s earning from the previous year. Still 77 cents/per male dollar, folks. For five myths about why women earn less, click me.

                                                                                                                                
Recent scandal: "The Australian Defence Force Academy has been in the headlines in the last week, after an 18-year-old woman cadet went to the press with claims that she had been filmed without her consent having sex with a fellow cadet, and that the footage had been broadcast to several other male cadets at the Academy via Skype. When “Kate” complained to her superiors, her case was ignored, so she went public. She was then disciplined for breaking the Academy’s rules about fraternizing, and the rule about talking to the press." Source
                                                                                                                                 

If a man had been present for the following, he may have had the same misconceptions, but not spoken up. Is it bad that a woman did? Was she doing so for the right reason?

Titled: "The 'joys' of being a single dad, thank you feminists." Would only a feminist speak up? Does this imply all feminists are female? [Note: For those unfamiliar with 'rage' comics, my apologies, as this may be hard to follow.]

The top-voted comment in response to this picture: "Neither that woman nor the officer are feminists. Feminists LIKE when dads take an active role in parenting their children. People who assume a single man with a child is a predator are sick-minded idiots."

I agree with everything but the last sentence. There is no way to tell, by simply looking at a man, to know if he's single or not, barring a wedding ring, which some men don't own/wear.

Fuming

Recently, I sent a letter to Senator Roy Blunt about the cut of funding for Planned Parenthood. I just received this response from a do-not-reply email address:

"Thank you for contacting me about funding for Planned Parenthood.

 

I am deeply opposed to the practice of abortion and do not support federal funding for any organization that performs or promotes abortions, which includes Planned Parenthood. An unborn child is a living human being and abortion ends the life of that child. Throughout my time in the House I worked hard to protect the lives of the unborn. 

 

In 2004, I led the effort to enact the bipartisan Laci and Conner's Law, which treats a crime against an unborn child as a separate offense in criminal cases. This law addressed the murder case in California in which Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, were murdered. I am proud to have the highest possible pro-life voting record according to National Right to Life, and, as I begin my time in the Senate, I will continue to support efforts to make adoption more attractive for parents and prohibit the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion. 

 

Again, thank you for contacting me.  I look forward to continuing our conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RoyBlunt) about the important issues facing Missouri and the country.  I also encourage you to visit my website (blunt.senate.gov) to learn more about where I stand on the issues and sign-up for my e-newsletter.

Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt"

No, I do not want to discuss this with "you" over Facebook. I want to receive a legitimate response from you via letter, or, even better, receive face time with you. I want to see your face when I volley. So, Blunty, whaddya say; if PP received the funding it deserved, sexually transmitted diseases and infections would potentially be less widespread because they used to be able to test you for free or for a low fee. If PP received the funding it deserved, contraceptives would be more widespread, which could reduce the need for abortions. If PP received the funding it deserved, many teens could get access to information about sexual choices they want to research but cannot speak freely with their parents about.

How Toy Ad Vocabulary Reinforces Gender Stereotypes

Excellent use of technology to highlight the gendered words (and the actions they represent) in toy ads targeted to kids.

The boys' list:

The girls' list:

The experiment was very insightful; I suggest you take a look!

Non-feminist ‘more hostile’ towards men than feminists, study finds

Not a very generalizable study because it was completed by a small portion of college students, but still interesting results!

A moment of recognition.

Katie Couric, the first woman to anchor a nightly network news program, is leaving her post at "CBS Evening News". Thanks for your strides toward [positive] female representation in media!

Brain fatigue. Solution!

Craving a respite from trashy women-directed "articles" about "important things" like looking hot and the downfall of modern celebrities' personal and professional lives, I found good company in a men's magazine. Unexpected, but wholly awesome.

goodmenproject

Of particular interest: Ethical Pickup Artistry: Where can men find non-misogynist advice for hitting on women?

Pro-Prostitution [EDITED]

Let's continue the Twilight talk about making choices. Any woman making a choice does not a feminist make her. The choice itself must be pro-woman, pro-self. I.e. reproductive rights, and occasionally prostitution. Enter comedian George Carlin's thoughts:

 

Edit: Let me make it clear that because prostitution is, for the most part, not regulated, it is unsafe. If there comes a time (and there have been such times) when women are able to safely choose their clients, easily acquire medical supplies, and have a debt-free place to eat, live, and sleep, one can hardly deny them the choice to do something that they find empowering. The current situation with demeaning pimps and degraded young girls is not the prostitution I speak of. While I am skeptical about the empowerment factor, it is not my place to judge. Here, I direct readers to Igna Muscio's thoughts about 'Whores' and the characters of 'Companions' in the sci-fi show: Firefly. 

Muscio writes: “Without honoring Whores, we cannot truly understand and transcend the dynamics of violence, destruction and ignorance fostered in our cuntfearing society. The fact that some women are considered “bad” is a puritanically based value judgment that reinforces a fatal division between women.”

“The measure of respect Whores receive is in direct proportion to the measure of respect all women receive. Until there is an established, respected place for Whores in this society, no woman will have an established, respected foundation of power.
There is no circumventing this.
Until there is a shift in consciousness about the potential of Whores, we will continue to live in a society which offers no formally acknowledged Teachers to awaken us to our power as sexual beings.
Aint no getting ’round this one either.”

"Companions are a cross between the oriental-style Geisha and the classic courtesan of renaissance Italy -- in many ways, they are the highest ranking nobility of the Firefly [universe]". From what I've seen and what I've been told, their power lies in reading people and counseling, using sex as a tool to further bring some form of self-actualization.

Oh har-dee-har. Marginalization is so funny.

Obligatory

What kind of feminist would I be if I didn't comment on Twilight? First, let's set some ground rules: I will attempt to discuss this topic with grace, but, ultimately, these books and their author provide me with little more than murderous emotions. Secondly, the books are not a saga. They are a trilogy. (With an unfortunate addendum book added, breaking the label of 'trilogy' I suspect so that Stephanie Meyer could continue falsely labeling the books parts of her 'saga.' But I digress.)

I have attempted to read at least one (and did finish the first) of the books in order to educate myself so that my arguments can possess some sense of validity. The second book I started and threw at the wall. I tried to block out what I'd read, but knew it'd be at least useful to argue against in the future, so I've retrieved the following information/presented argument from what I could restore from my mind's Recycling Bin and Google. (A quick search of 'feminism and twilight' came up with about 1,080,000 results.)

A list:

1. The author is female, yes, but, as a feminist, that does not incline me to like her any more than I would a male author. (Feminists should never be stating women are almighty and incapable of mistakes [in this case, GRAVE mistakes].) Meyer's writing style is heavily flawed and her plot a personal but voyeuristic sexual vampire fantasy. All she did was change her name to 'Bella.'

2. Bella Swan. After criticism of the awful name choice, let's discuss her character: she has none. She is a plain jane who is somewhat klutzy. Because of this bland mixture, millions of female readers have been able to project themselves onto her, fitting themselves in her very plain shoes. ("She's just like me! I trip down stairs too!") The anomaly in the equation? EVERY guy who comes into contact with her immediately falls MADLY in love with her, thus giving the projecting female readers an immense amount of false hope for themselves.

3. Edward Cullen: the creeper. When he first meets Bella in Biology class, they are to be partners. Cullen maintains distance and a look of disgust on his face because of Swan's 'scent'. Naturally, Swan pairs herself romantically with Cullen in her mind because he avoids her and treats her like shit. What a great lesson. Not to mention the times (yes, plural) he spends on her windowsill watching her sleep. When she catches him, Swan swoons over the 'gesture' like it's some big romantic leap. (A stalker breaking and entering? Oh yeah, total heartthrob right there. Barf.) "Glorifying this behavior" as writer, nikkigassley, mentions, "isn’t just ridiculous, it’s dangerous." Let's not forget that much of the text is occupied with elaboration on his sparkling flesh, chiseled jaw, and marble-like complexion. (I don't want to date a fucking ice-cold statue.)

4. The time I threw the book at the wall. (And I'm not one to harm literature. [But this isn't literature.]) Somewhere in the second book, Cullen leaves Swan (you know, to create that conflict and rising action Meyer learned in Writin' Skool). The pages become filled with thoughts of suicide (need I mention they'd only known each other for less than a year by this time) and desperation. Next, the pages become only one word: "October", "November", "December". SHE HAS NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT AND NOTHING TO LIVE FOR WHEN HE LEAVES HER. I believe this instance was after the sage line, "You are my life now." (Give me a breeeeaaakkkk.) Swan gets a little bit of her life back when she hangs out with Jacob Black (the werewolf boy). Notice how she can't have a life without a man? She's still upset that Cullen's gone, though. Then she realizes when she puts herself in danger, she begins to see visions of Cullen telling her to stop and take care of herself ('looking out for her'). The visions become stronger the more dangerous she gets. Naturally, she attempts suicide. LESSONS, PEOPLE. So, of course, with his vampire future-seeing powers and all that, Cullen comes back to save her.

5. After Cullen returns. (Because, per Writin' Skool, there should be someathat good ole 'resolution'.) There's lots of mushy gushy action and then Cullen proceeds to tell her who she can and cannot associate with (other men). And there's all these heroics about his stern hand, keeping her in his care and his sight 'for her own good.' Yes, that's what an abusive relationship is for: the good of the woman.

6. Let's return to the notion of vampires. So we have a hungry group of people who 'out of the goodness of their hearts' turn 'vegetarian' and do not feast on humans. But they still have urges. Cullen's urge with Bella is so strong, I believe there's another gem of a line in which he labels her as his "own brand of heroine." (Kill me now.) So, yeah. All that lovely BDSM stuff floating around the subcontext. And Cullen withholds sex and 'turning' Bella (into a vampire) in order to get what he wants. Further male control. But it's 'out of love.' "Edward's a vampire, but no matter, he's incredibly good-looking. He may be a dangerous dude, but a woman's love can tame him."

7. Traditional gender roles. The men are muscle-y or otherwise strong and defensive of 'their' women. (The muscle-y part is continually apparent in the Twilight movies in which the Jacob Black character is without a shirt through most of the film -- to my dismay, but titillating the borderline pedophilic tendencies in some viewers.) The women in the books are not particularly strong physically and certainly not strong in character or personality. They are bland and remain in the house/kitchen. Here's another gorgeous staple of the text: "In the third book [Bella] describes herself as 'helpless and delicious.'"

In response to critiques like mine, Meyer has been quoted: "The foundation of feminism is this: being able to choose." Thus Bella's ignorance and willingness to remain in an abusive relationship qualify her as a feminist. Sound logic, Meyer. "This seems to imply that anything a woman does is a feminist act, unless she's performing it because someone's put a gun to her head."

14 year old rape victim killed with lashes

Sentenced to 101 lashes, 14-year-old Hena only survived 70. She was a victim of rape, but viewed as one who committed adultery. Her story here.

Interesting Find

While in London, our tour guide showed us three memorials: one for the men, one for the women, and one for the animals of World War II, commemorating their assistance.

The memorial for men was built first, then the memorial for animals, and finally the memorial for women. I found the latter beautiful, but cocked my eyebrow with a dash of contempt at the fact that only women's clothes were represented, not even their bodies.

Men's Rights Backlash

Scott Adams, author and creator of Dilbert, blogged a few weeks ago about Men's Rights (after being told it was a topic of interest to his readers). He wrote a recent article about the fact that, taken out of context, his message was unintentionally hurtful. This article (along with the 'offending' article) is posted here. Thank you to reader M.a.U. for the link.

While I don't fully agree with everything Adams' wrote in his first article, I am pleased there was an addendum. I do not think it was necessary to label the men offended, "a bunch of pussies". Doing so shoots down men who expressed their emotions and critiques and, inadvertently or not, degrades women by using such a term.

The object of finality I will mention is the topic Adams and I agree most on is: humans are never satisfied, no matter what our gender. And we most likely never will be. But, I believe gender-linked injustices and grievances (for a man or woman) hold more weight (and should be addressed) than what Adams labels "whining".

Femi-fun photos from far away.

Eurotrip finds. I apologize I was unable to rotate them. Click to enlarge.

Advertisement for a job search website. Normally women are accused of 'faking' orgasms.

Hmm. The 'careless' talkers are women. But, the evils in power are men.

French advertisement asking 'You are woman?' A man shaves her leg with a large knife razor a la Sweeny Todd while her attention is directed elsewhere. Beside this, the woman on another ad nearly bares her vagina.

Awesome ad in The Guardian!

Only gentlemen must remove their hats? Are they necessarily more likely to be wearing one?

I do realize the crotch needs to be protected in battle, I just found this amusing.

Eye-opening fashion comparison ad in the underground. Notice the skirt hike and lowered collar for more cleavage!

His chest: "The man" in French. The (presumably female) arms pulling him: Vice and Tenderness? (Not sure about the translation of the latter.)

Apparently a film? I researched it and I believe this is a still from the movie 'Made in Dagenham.'

Advertisement for 'Eternal Women'. Appeared to be for a gallery opening?

A card (and later found to be on a t-shirt, too) representing Sigmund Freud.

The card reads: "You'll Eat Better" with a man biting a woman's backside. The slogan: "Be Stupid" from Diesel (the makers of jeans).