The F Word

Feminism is a word that depending on who you ask has several definitions. Some of these definitions are favorable, others unfavorable, and some mesh positive and negative words together.

I find it very interesting that if most people were randomly sampled on the street, and asked point blank if they agreed with things like women’s suffrage, equal pay for equal work between men and women, women’s legal rights, amongst other things, they would proudly say “Absolutely.”

Yet, to ask any of these individuals if they consider themselves feminists, the answer would change to “No, I am not crazy like that.”

This puzzled me, because feminism as a movement is the reason that women’s suffrage was won, and is why we have domestic violence laws, and if you can agree that these are good things, why would you not identify yourself as a feminist or a feminist supporter?

I wanted to investigate this idea of there being some kind of disparity formed between the term feminism, and the principles it actually promotes. I went out and asked a sampling of random people their thoughts and feelings towards what feminism is, and if they identified with the term on a personal level. I then questioned them as to what they thought the general perception of the term was to the population. The feedback I received was interesting, yet troubling all the same.

The question posed to everyone was what does feminism mean to you, and how do you think the term is perceived by others? Below are a few good responses:

“People are actively taking a role to ensure a greater equality of all genders. You can’t have prejudices against one person if you’re striving for equality. Those who don’t embrace feminism, they are either scared off by the word because they perceive this as an aggressive kind of means or they just don’t understand it in general.”–Jill

“As far as the perception of feminism, I think there is a huge misconception with what feminism is, and people think it’s a way of bringing men down, when really it’s just a way of bringing women up to the same level. I think it’s really positive and everyone should be feminist, but people really don’t know what it means.”–Laura

“I think there are some feminists that are a bit extreme, but there’s good and bad with everything, like most Muslims are not terrorists, I think most feminists are women who may have had experiences of not feeling equal, so they want to help all women as a gender out, through legislation and demonstrations.”—Steve

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are people too. I think the general populous forms this stereotype of this lady who doesn’t shave her legs, or shave her armpits, and thinks that all men are devils, people form this stereotype, and don’t understand that men can be feminists too.”—Alex

“I think it has a negative connotation in society because people think women want to overpower men, but I think that most women in this wave of feminism want equality, nothing more, nothing less. I think in our generation people take the term as a really liberal radical view on women’s rights, and a lot of people think that women are equal. They think feminist are fighting for something unnecessary, but to feminists they understand that we are [women] misrepresented in politics at almost every level including congress, women still are not paid equally as men, so to feminists it’s just a fight for equality.” --Meredith

These responses are mostly favorable and contain some good points. Firstly, feminism does not necessarily involve just women, but strives for all gender equality meaning men can be feminists too.

Secondly, there is a HUGE misconception about who feminists are. I am a feminist, and I like men as a gender. Most women who consider themselves feminist are not trying to drink the blood of the male gender out of hatred. I think it’s silly that men are threatened by a woman in power, and feel that any male who would take this aggressive view of feminism is nothing but a coward.

Another thing that was popular in defining a feminist was a woman who has never seen a razor in her life, and of course hates men. I feel that anyone who has this view needs to educate themselves on reality, which is very different.

One thing that repeatedly emerged in my interviews was this thought of the radical sect of feminism. Apparently, if you are a feminist you must walk around unshaven and rudely shouting obscenities towards men, while you torch your bra. It was disturbing to me because it seems that most people think of this when they think of feminism, and that is why they refuse to educate themselves on or identify with the movement.

I have never seen a feminist demonstration that crazy and out of hand, and bra burning happened a few times back in the 1960’s, so why is this still popular perception today? I think it’s really important for all feminists to come out and say that they are part of the movement, because popular opinion shows that the only type of feminist is a mean unattractive man hater, and that is an egregious misrepresentation.

Here are a few examples, illustrating the point:

“When I hear the word, I think of man haters, women who hate men, and think it’s really unfair how the world is, and think it should be equal like men and women, people who are speaking toward it, haven’t given it a good rep. The movement has a bad name.” –Chelsey

“I have a very negative connotation with that [the word feminism] and that’s caused by, for instance there are feminists who believe that you can’t truly be a feminist unless you’re a lesbian, which is the same thing like you can’t support not being cruel to animals unless your vegan, and I think that’s crap. So when you say feminism, my first gut reaction is this persons a goof ball. I think it depends where you’re at like when you’re in Athens, people are going to say ‘Right On!’ [about feminism]but the country as a whole may feel differently “—Tom

“I think feminism has a negative connotation, just an excuse for being overly aggressive with beliefs and views”.—Lincoln

“They see it as women hating men and blaming them for all their problems. I think it’s good as long as it’s not taken too far, for example calling freshman girls ‘freshwomen’”-Nick

It was interesting that not only men had a negative reaction to the word feminism, but many women did as well. Every movement from civil rights to religious sects has a radical part. Yet, with feminism it seems that the radical sect has defined the movement. These ‘radical’ members like Susan B. Anthony and Margaret Sanger are the reason things have been accomplished. If women would have quietly sat at a long table for negotiations about voting rights, sexual rights, and workplace legislation NOTHING would have gotten done. You need those ‘radical’ people to own a movement, like women's equality that was/ is unfavorable to some.

It is very disheartening that people have a stigma about these ‘radicals,’ and that is why these disregard the movement and all it’s great work. I think one reason that the ‘radical’ perception is the one that get’s the most attention and is acknowledged by most people is the fact that there is still some discrimination towards women, and it’s much easier to poke fun at the lesbian with the butch haircut than to actually address and assess real problems of gender inequality.

My research proved that most people agree with the goals of feminism, yet will not identify with the word because the word means something completely different in their minds, when in reality the word feminism is what has given women opportunity.

The opportunity of CHOICE is its main contribution. You can choose to stay at home with the children, or you can choose to work. You can choose to use contraception and you can choose to participate in democracy. Feminism is still fighting for equal pay and for a more balanced representation of women in power, as well as equal child care responsibilities.

As much as people would love to say that in this utopia we live in gender discrimination has vanished, they are WRONG. Anyone who can look at a statistic could see that it still exists, trickling down from corporate America right into the unbalanced home.

I think it is important for women to also keep in mind that choice does mean that women can choose to work, can choose to work and have a family, or can choose to just have children. Not any scenario is the right answer, it depends on the individual, but whatever the CHOICE may be it should be respected.

It is my hope that more people will become educated on what feminism truly means and what it promotes and all it has accomplished for both genders. It is the F word, but it is not bad, and needs to receive the respect that it deserves because without it, life would look very different.

Until Next Post,
G.

Hip Hop- Less About Actual Art, More about Cash

It is very obvious that one of the most popular genres of music today is rap/hip hop. This is especially true amongst teenagers. Yet, regardless of its popularity, I find certain aspects of the genre appalling. Specifically, raps derogatory lyrics towards women and the all too common ass shaking/ tit bouncing music video.


I would like to preface this by saying I enjoy some hip hop, and think certain artists in the genre are very talented and evidence this through actually creating ART. Yet, I feel that some of these fast talkers (not calling them real artists) just release songs with a beat to just make more benjamins, and therefore it doesn't really matter what the video looks like, so the default hip hop video model is used.

In general this model simply depicts an orgy of woman wearing next to nothing , oiled up and rubbing themselves all over a single male, while inevitably rolling in some cash and drinking excessively.

I am sure there is an ignorant facet of the population who see’s this as perfectly fine and acceptable, and to this group I would suggest you clear your narrow minded world and realize that by being a proponent and supporting imagery that is so misogynistic and harmful to women, you are encouraging gender discrimination against your mothers, daughters, sisters, and every other self-respecting woman.

To women who allow themselves to be portrayed in such a negative sense, self-respect is a wonderful thing and no amount of dollar bills you collect from your “work,” can buy you that.


Rap has definitely evolved over the years, and seems now to represent a lifestyle. This lifestyle talks all about sex, alcohol, and money, essentially creating a glamorous image of the high life. It seems that a central part of this includes a male to female ratio of about one male to six females.

The language used to talk about women says it all. We are either bitches or ho’s, who are good for one sole purpose, which has nothing to do with mental capacity or the articulation of a sentence. It’s all about how hourglass you can be, and how quickly you can spread your thighs to reveal the prize, the one thing you’re good for, PUSSY.

This may seem harsh, but all one needs to do is to look at the popular songs from this genre to realize that this message is delivered to a large population on a daily basis. Contemplate the following lyrics:

From Lil Wayne’s song “Every Girl,” a popular song this past summer:

Uh, I like a long hair thick red-bone open up her legs to filet mignon that pussy I'ma get in an' out that pussy if she let me in, i'ma own that pussy go on' throw it back and bust it open like you 'posed to

I just find it interesting that the male anatomy would NEVER be discussed in such a capacity, and yet it is deemed acceptable to talk about owning and busting open pussy. This is a mild example, yet illustrates the point of female oppression through lyrics, by manipulating the female identity to just a sexual object.

Yet, hip hop also involves lyrics that are not only sexual, but violent. For example, Eminem’s song “Stay Wide Awake”, uses harsh words and references rape.

I sit down beside her like a spider hi there girl you mightaHeard of me before see whore your the girl that ida,Assault and rape and figure why not try to make your pussy wida


This is a disturbing example of a song that definitely shows a sexual and violent tone toward females.

Yet, as previously noted lyrics do not present the only barrier women face in obtaining a fair representation in the hip hop world. The way women are portrayed in music videos, as a sole accessory that is used for pleasure, and provides nothing else to the picture besides a shallow smile and a status quo for rappers.

Here is a video that just shows some clips from a variety of videos:


Make sure to catch the song making reference to 'bitches swallowing'...charming

One former video “talent” named Karrine Steffans, took a stand against the video culture. She was a former video vixen, who was nicknamed Superhead, and slept with all the big rap names from Jay-Z to Usher. She has since taken a stand against her former career and wrote the best-selling book “Confessions of a Video Vixen,” where she gives the following description in the introduction:

Where young girls once aspired to be models and ballerinas, they now aspire to be hip-hop video girls. I sat down to write this book because I think my story can serve as a warning to anyone aspiring to the kind of life I have led.
Like so many young girls, I grew up wanting to be famous. I used to watch television and dream about the Beverly Hills lifestyle seen in all my favorite film. I reached most of my goals, but I didt do it in a conventional way. I did it using the oldest trick in the book. Sex.
I was known as Superhead, the insatiable lover of many Hollywood stars, sports figures, and some of music's most influential performers and executives.
My hips have swayed and popped on MTV while I danced on tabletops and poolside in some of your favorite videos.

The top reason a woman finds herself in a rap video, sprawled undressed over a luxury car while a rapper is saying lewd things about her, is a lack of self-esteem. No one who values, loves, or knows herself would allow herself to be placed in such a degrading position.



(From Google)

For a woman to have been involved in the music video industry so intensely as Steffans, and to then write a tell all, is definitely very powerful and offers much insight that would not be obtained otherwise.

The hip hop culture needs to be broken down and remodeled into something that does not consistently degrade women in almost EVERY VIDEO released. It should be more about art, and making a product that took some time and production value, other than a piece of dental floss for a woman to wear and providing the bed for her to lie on, or the table for her to hump.

African American Feminist Bell Hooks had an interesting perspective on the matter. Below is an excerpt from an article she wrote "Sexism and Misogyny: Who Takes the Rap?", which discussed misogyny in hip hop and patriarchy:

Witness the recent piece by Brent Staples in the "New York Times" titled "The Politics of Gangster Rap: A Music Celebrating Murder and Misogyny." Defining the turf Staples writes: "For those who haven't caught up, gangster rap is that wildly successful music in which all women are `bitches' and `whores' and young men kill each other for sport." No mention of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy in this piece, not a word about the cultural context that would need to exist for young males to be socialized to think differently about gender. Staples assumes that black males are writing their lyrics off in the "jungle," away from the impact of mainstream socialization and desire. At no point in his piece does he ask why huge audiences, especially young white male consumers, are so turned on by this music, by the misogyny and sexism, by the brutality? Where is the anger and rage at females expressed in this music coming from, the glorification of all acts of violence? These are the difficult questions that Staples feels no need to answer.

I agree with Staples assessment, yet also feel Hooks presents a valid perspective. The sexism would not persist if customers did not validate the content, by watching the videos, hanging the posters, and accepting the lyrics.

I challenge all of you to think about the messages being sent through videos and lyrics, especially to teenage males about their views on women, as well as the implications it has on young females who see their gender objectified in this way. It is my hope that “artists” will take a more responsible approach with their music, and will actually put some real consideration into video content, by trying something new and actually creating REAL CONTENT.


Until Next Post,
G.

Body Image

Courtney Martin is the author of several articles and the book Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters. In honor of Diversity Week, Martin spoke at Ohio University to a group of feminist thinkers and extra credit seeking students alike.

Martin, who focuses her writings on female development, politics, and activism, spoke about why she wrote her best- selling book. It seemed that writing the book was something she found she had to do, as a service to young women and parents alike struggling with body image issues.

I enjoyed Martin's discussion and agreed with her perspective yet, thought a lot of the information presented in the lecture was common sense. I would like to say that I have NOT read the actual book, so I am ONLY speaking on the talk.

I thought she had a great point when she said that young women learn about body confidence from their mothers, and if their mothers say "Look at my hips...yuck," young women will probably grow up to share in this hatred for their features.

Yet, Martin also shared an example that depicted women on a daily basis having thoughts like "I can't eat this bagel," or "I should be at the gym, when I really want to nap," which I admit happens. Yet, I do not think it happens as often and as painstakingly as Martin depicted. She pointed out that in a woman's lifetime she will have spent six months of her life on these thoughts.

This might be true to some extent, yet I don't necessarily see a problem with going to the gym when you would rather be watching a television program or napping. I do not think that is unhealthy, and would say that life's full of choices, and you can't always do what you want.

Obviously if I had my way, instead of going and busting it at the gym, I'd rather sit and eat a mountain of donuts, yet common sense kicks in and I tell myself "no." This doesn't mean I have an image problem, it just means I want to be confident in my beach attire.


Now, this is not to say that I am going to hit the treadmill until my knees bleed and starve myself until I hit size zero, I am just saying that some of the examples presented seemed to be normal and moderate, as opposed to troubling. If kept in moderation, I think certain choices made even if not desired, are better long term.

Obviously I agree with Martin that young women are made to feel bad about their image, when magazines illustrate the Kate Moss sized models as ideal. Yet, the idea that women are conscious about their figures and will sometimes make healthier choices or choices they don't necessarily want to make to maintain that image, seems fine to me.


As long as women try to live a healthy lifestyle and keep a weight they are comfortable with, I do not see a problem.




Check out part of Martin's speech via podcast!



Until Next Post,
G.

Pornography? Is there an app for that?

It seems that there is an iPhone application for everything, from turning off the kitchen lights, to ordering Starbucks. So obviously an app for porn would not seem too far away?

Interestingly enough, Apple has received criticism for some of their more ‘risqué’ applications, from self- respecting women and concerned parents alike. Apple responded by pulling a few of these applications, but not all of them.

It is important to note that these recently pulled apps involved scantily clad women, yet no actual full on nudity. Obviously porn is retrievable on the iPhone from its internet browser, yet the only application that was ever pornographic was called ‘Hottest Girls,’ which originally showed photos of women wearing next to nothing, however when they added topless content, it was removed by Apple as an application. When Apple took this action their spokesperson Tom Neumayr released the following statement:

"Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content, such as pornography. The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store."


The application that was removed, illustrating how you could take your categorical pick! (minus showing the nudity)

Recently, Apple dealt with complaints dealing with the following applications: Dirty Fingers (an app where a girl in a swimsuit looked as if she was cleaning the iPhone screen), SlideHer (which was a puzzle game where you had to reassemble a scantily clad woman’s body), and Scratch Off (which was an app where with the swipe of your finger you could smudge a woman’s clothing off, revealing her undergarments.) These programs were consistently on the list of the most downloaded apps, however Apple decided to remove these apps because of concerned customers.

Pictured Below is SlideHer and Dirty Fingers Apps

However, as commendable as the 'removal' may be, there are still several other apps that display the same type of content, yet have not been removed. For example, Playboy has an application that shares photos of scantily clad women, Hooters has a puzzle game app (same concept as SlideHer, which was removed), and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has also been deemed acceptable.
Example of a still 'allowed' SlideHer app:


It is just interesting that although Apple seems to be taking the high road in removing content that may be deemed offensive or inappropriate; they are still keeping that same type of content under their offered applications, if it is brand name.

I think that it is great Apple wants to maintain a squeaky clean and family-friendly image. I also think it is a good idea to not allow full scale pornographic applications.

Yet, if Apple is going to say they do not support this type of content, then just REMOVE ALL OF IT or KEEP ALL OF IT, don’t pick and choose because of the name.

Just because Hooters or Playboy releases the app, does not make it any friendlier to children or any less misogynistic to women. It’s the EXACT same thing and serves the same purpose whether done by Playboy or Dirty Fingers.

It’s nice to receive good press, and I do commend Apple for taking some action and striving to be a responsible brand, however it’s all or nothing in this case.



Until Next Post,
G.

Link to The New York Times Article

Planned Parenthood- Protecting Health and Reproductive Rights

Planned Parenthood is an organization that has consistently fought for woman's health and reproductive rights. This has often been met with controversy, considering one of the reproductive options provided by Planned Parenthood is abortion and abortion referral (which is interesting because only 3% of all Planned Parenthood's health services are abortion services.)

However, whatever your bias may be, the services and education Planned Parenthood provides to the community are extensive, and go beyond what most people expect.

Planned Parenthood offers SEVERAL services however, to name a few: General health care (including different kinds of screenings, tests, and vaccinations),sexually transmitted infection tests and treatment, birth control services, a variety of male and female health services (from pap tests and infertility testing to cancer screenings), abortions and abortion referrals, LGBT services, and education. To me, this represented a diverse range of needs for all kinds of people, and Planned Parenthood tries to fill this large roll.

Currently there are 840 centers in the United States, and statistically speaking 1 in 4 women will go at least once in her life to a Planned Parenthood facility for some kind of service.

One woman in particular, Margaret Sanger, is largely responsible for much of the birth control liberties, individuals enjoy today. Sanger was born in 1879 and was the sixth of eleven children. She studied to become a nurse, and became extremely interested in female reproductive rights, because she felt that more education would greatly improve the lives of women.

Margaret Sanger
In 1921 Sanger founded the American Birth Control League in Brooklyn, NY which later changed it's name to Planned Parenthood in 1942. She faced much adversity, considering this was very controversial at the time, however she felt that women needed more control over their bodies and their reproductive choices.

Overall, one of Planned Parenthood's largest contributions to society is the promotion of safe contraceptives, as well as emphasizing healthy and intelligent sexual choices. Yet, it has branched out to include several comprehensive health care services, and this should be recognized.

Although it is not without controversy, Planned Parenthood is a necessary haven for both genders alike to receive proper information and to make educated choices about their health. It is necessary in today's society, because it advocates for women and educates the community.

Until Next Post,
G.


Below is a map illustrating the Planned Parenthood locations in the state of Ohio:


View Ohio Planned Parenthood Locations in a larger map

Just because life is short, does not make adultery acceptable.

The Internet is a playground for social networking. One of the most notable contributions to this bubbling landscape is the idea of Internet dating sites. Yet, with these new dating models gaining more popularity, entrepreneurs are coming up with new and more ‘innovative’ ideas to reach different groups of Internet users.

One of these entrepreneurs is Noel Biderman, who is President and creator of The Ashley Madison Agency, an Internet Web site that is essentially a dating service for married individuals looking to commit adultery. The Web site was made available to the public in 2002, and currently boasts having over two and a half million members. Its tag line says enough “Life is short, have an affair.”

This begs many ethical questions. However, some may make the argument that it can help a marriage, because monogamy is “against human instinct.” I am not saying that I agree with this, but statistically speaking if you were to compare divorce statistics, the United States (a country that generally frowns on infidelity) has a rate of 4.95 divorces per 1,000 people, and a country like Italy (where infidelity is more common) has a rate of .27 divorces per 1,000 people. The argument could be made that having an extra- marital affair may be what is needed to hold the family together.

I want to say that I truly believe in marriage. I think monogamy is great, however with sex scandals constantly in the lime light (Tiger Woods comes to mind?), I think it’s important to examine how our culture is currently looking at the institution.

I do not agree with the Ashley Madison philosophy, and do think that it promotes cheating by creating an environment where it is considered acceptable. Yet, I have to consider that if people in committed relationships want to cheat so bad as to pay for the service, if this site was non-existent would they just pose as unattached lookers on a legitimate dating site for singles? Who knows…

Yet, in my opinion the problem with Ashley Madison is not only their promotion of desperate housewives and dick-brained husbands, but how they choose to advertise their service. I have seen a few commercials, and find them misogynistic. I suppose for a site like this the punch line has to be raunchy and memorable, yet even their print ads are in bad taste(70% of the clientele are male users, so this is not a surprise).
Below are a few examples:




Overall, I believe in a person’s right to choose how they want to live, yet if you are so desperate as to turn to such a site, I think that couples counseling would be the better option. I hope that no one ever anticipates being unfaithful to a spouse prior to entering a marriage, but I am sure some people do, so to those individuals the message is simple: DON’T EVER GET MARRIED.

And, if the marriage is beyond repair, counseling does not work, and the only option left is to get your rocks off on a site like this, I think it should be clear that you don’t only need to register for the Web site, but for a divorce attorney as well.


Good Morning America talking about real "Desperate Housewives."


You should go home to your wife dumbass!

Until Next Post,
G.

The Magnificent Magnification Difference between Pink and Blue Telescopes

It does not take a scientific study to prove that males and females are socialized differently from the time of birth. What do I mean by socialized? Simply, the idea that girls are introduced to the world of pink tea sets and dolls, while boys are given their toy trucks and blue microscopes.

Recently there was been much debate and published studies on whether or not girls are just biologically ‘wired’ to prefer pink, and boys blue.

I do not dispute this research, yet I think the impact of socializing girls into pink, goes a lot further than just the eye’s pigment preference. For instance, most toys that cater to young girls promote very stereotypical female values. You have dolls, tea sets, vanity’s, easy bake ovens, princess wear, ect. While boys play with more science and engineering oriented toys.

Surely this is no surprise to anyone who has ever stepped into a toy store aisle, yet I think it is important to discuss.

I recently read an article titled "Girls Learn Math Anxiety from Teachers," that touched on the fact that girls may learn to be uneasy about math from their female teachers who have anxiety about the subject. I am unsure if I agree with this research, I feel more information needs to be gathered. However if it is true, we have a big problem. Women need to feel confident in their math and science abilities, but this can be challenging considering we have been conditioned to think and feel otherwise.

There is a stigma placed on girls to not be interested in math or science because those are ‘boy subjects’, and rather to focus on reading, which is traditionally where females thrive. Yet, I can’t help but think this is due to what females are exposed to and brought up to think acceptable, beginning as early as the easy bake oven days.
An interesting Web site I stumbled upon from the United Kingdom is called Pinkstinks. The sites core message is as follows:

“Pinkstinks argument is that while toys for boys encompass every avenue imaginable - construction; science; adventure; role play; physical and educational – in the so-called ‘pink alleys’ of toy stores choices for girls are much more limited – and limiting.”

I tend to agree with this message, because the toy choices for young females are far more limiting and often lack serious educational value. For instance looking at the microscope section of the Toys r Us catalog, says enough. There are three microscopes and three telescopes, and the pink ones (aka the girl ones) both have the LOWEST magnification. That sends a pretty big message about the general perception of girls and science; even from the Toys R Us age.

Observe the colors and the magnification levels (the pink microscope is 600, while the red is 900, and the black is 1200) ...coincidence? Probably Not...


I am not saying that we should burn everything colored pink, yet I believe that there should be more promotion for females to have an interest in science at an early age, as well as EQUALITY in these gender colored toys.

Until Next Post,
G.

The Female Perspective

I wanted to talk to women from my generation to find out their views on family life, work, and females in the media. I found some consistencies during the interview process that were surprising. Each female that I spoke with brought up the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Yet, there were some disparities in opinion about the effectiveness of the campaign. One female thought that it was working well, while another found it a good effort, yet not taking hold within our culture.

The questions that were asked were very general and each interviewee had the opportunity to answer however she saw fit. Some replies were generalized responses, while others gave insight into personal experience.

I would say that I mostly agree with the content of the video. As far as family life is concerned, I feel that it is solely the woman’s decision on whether or not she wants to be home with the children full-time. Yet, I also think that in today’s society men need to assume half the responsibility in regards to household tasks and childcare, specifically if his wife is employed.

It is becoming more of a commonality to have women working a second shift, after the typical nine to five day. With gender roles evolving, the old 1950’s system also needs to change to fit a more modern day family structure. This means that mommy is not the only one changing diapers, driving to after school functions, and cooking dinner.

As for single parents, it is important that communities and employers offer resources like adequate child care facilities and support systems to assist single mothers and fathers.

I feel that there is still a glass-ceiling issue in the workplace, considering on average women still earn around .70 cents to a mans dollar. It is my hope that in the future the ceiling will shatter and that the “boys club,” will recognize the worth and perspective that women can bring to a company.

Lastly, I feel that the media does oppress our gender as far as setting a very unrealistic and unhealthy level of beauty. Yes, this “all American girl,” image can be obtainable if I want to fake in bake my body, so that one day my skin will be reminiscent of my faux gator hand bag, or dish out some of my hard earned bucks to have my chest sliced open and a pair of plastic D’s put in.

Yet, this is clearly not the reality for most women, and I think that the media could do a much better job of accepting other types of beauty, regardless of hair color, skin tone, bust size, or waist. Things will only change, if perceptions shift and this is only achievable through visibility efforts.

Thoughts from Females:



Until next post,
G.

Let's Talk about Date Auctions

Some people consider date auctions controversial. An article published around this time last year in The Post titled"Can buy me love: Date Auctions prompt ethical, safety concerns", accused date auctions of being reminiscent of prostitution and the slave trade.

I was personally in a date auction just this last Thursday, for an organization that I am a part of on campus. The event donates the majority of its proceeds to the American Cancer Society. This year we grossed over $2,000 dollars at the event.

It is important to note that we auctioned off relatively equal numbers of males and females, and that there was a social afterward which was considered “the date,” for safety purposes. I think that a date auction, if done properly, is not always anti-feminist or dangerous. It is a good way to raise money for a worthy cause and a fun experience for group members. I felt that The Post article was unfair and a narrow minded assessment of date auctions.

A slide show of the event, which was themed Valentine's Day:




Until next post,
G.

Not a touchdown for Women's Reproductive Rights

When you think about commercials that air during high-profile sporting events, like the Super Bowl what comes to mind? Perhaps beer, bimbos, cars, and family values? This past Super Bowl, a controversial ad aired which promoted “Focus on Family,” with Heisman trophy-winning football star Tim Tebow and his mother.


Focus on Family Ad

The ad funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, touched on Pam Tebow’s difficult pregnancy with Tim in 1987, when doctors advised her to obtain an abortion, due to expected health complications. She did not listen to doctors, and surprisingly gave birth to a healthy child. The ad has a pro-life message. It is controversial because in the past major networks like CBS have refused to air hot-button issue ads, especially during large events.

CBS commented stating "We have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms," said spokesman Dana McClintock. "In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time."

This is a new policy for CBS, considering they refused to air an ad in 2004 released by the United Church of Christ, extending acceptance to homosexuals and others who may feel unwelcome in more conservative congregations.

Women’s advocacy groups like NOW (The National Organization for Women) and Planned Parenthood were upset with the coverage. It seemed to give the message of “don’t listen to your doctor.”

I think it’s great that Pam Tebow made a choice that was right for her, even if she did not listen to medical experts. Doctors are not always right, as is proven in this instance, yet their opinion does have value. I think if CBS was going to release such a pro-life ad, they should also air pro-choice and pro-woman commercials, obtaining a balance of opinion in their advertisements.

It is also important to note that if you are pro-choice, you can still have family values. To focus on your family means to make educated decisions about family planning. I respect Pam Tebow’s choice, but also feel like it’s a very personal decision, that only the woman can and should make.

Planned Parenthood released a short ad in response to the Tebow’s. I prefer their ad, because it seems to respect all decisions whether they are for life or choice.



Planned Parenthood's Ad

To air such an ad during a large event like the Super Bowl, only asks for controversial backlash.

What do you think?


Until next post,
G.

A link to Palin's interesting response to the Focus on Family advertisement.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/32187.html

Nothing delightful, just tacky.

Do you ever see someone walking down the street, and automatically make a judgment or assumption about them? I am not saying this is a good thing to do, however as human beings sometimes an automatic judgment is made on another, solely based on their appearance. I will instantaneously think a little less of someone, is if they are sporting a certain shirt with brown and orange colors (and no this is not another joke about the Cleveland Brown’s poor season) , I am making reference to Hooters apparel.

Often around campus I see individuals both men and women proudly gallivanting around Court street in Hooters shirts. Generally a look of bewilderment forms on my face, while I wonder what kind of statement this individual planned on making to the world .Whether we like it or not, we are judged for the clothes on our back. Most of the time I will never look at someone’s outfit and think “Wow, that was a real miss,” except in the instance of the Hooters tee. I could never picture myself waking up one fine morning, puttering over to my dresser and saying “Geez, how should I represent myself in public today? Oh look! My Hooters wife beater tee…perfect."

I honestly would only wear set shirt if I was totally joking, and in that case I would not go light on the body glitter, nor would I hesitate to take a Facebook default photo complete with pursed lips and a sideways peace sign. Overall, it would be classy.

I just can’t see the appeal of advertising a chain restaurant with mediocre food on my outfit. You rarely see people in restaurant T-shirts yet, clearly there is another reason to wear the Hooters shirt. Obviously the restaurant hires woman workers for an atmosphere that caters to the idea of “the bigger the tits, the bigger the tip.” So essentially, the only reason why patrons purchase this apparel is that they feel some identification with the brand and the idea that they were served a platter of wings by a large breasted waitress. Obviously, that is something to share with the world.

It’s just interesting the popularity of Hooters shirts and not Chili’s tees or Harry Buffalo hats. It’s like the shirt is a symbol of pride that an individual was able to sit in a restaurant and pay to eat and stare at little orange shorts. Apparently it was worth $15.95, to purchase a shirt because the meal was so delicious.

I find it a bit misogynistic and extremely low- class to walk around and wear such an outfit with pride. I feel that men who wear the tee’s are juvenile and trying to reflect an image that they are cool, and probably trying to compensate for some kind of short-coming. Women on the other hand probably wear them to try and appeal to men as “sexy” because they are not confident in their own skin.

Some may think this a harsh analysis, but I feel it does reflect part of our culture. From the Hooters Web site “Hooters of America, Inc. is the Atlanta-based operator and franchiser of over 450 Hooters locations in 43 states in the US, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Korea, Mexico, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Venezuela and the Virgin Islands. The privately held corporation owns 122 units.” This demonstrates the chains popularity in the US and abroad, clearly a part of society to some capacity.

The idea that the Hooters Web site has a section dedicated to women in the “Hall of Fame,” who were “the elite of that sorority,” says it all. It has made a definitive brand for itself that hosts pageants and pool parties, prints calendars, and places the worth of a woman is one central location, and I think it’s easy to guess that it’s not her mind.

In a culture that promotes plastic surgery at such an alarming rate and in certain cases, sets the self-worth of a woman based on her chest size and tanned skin, it makes me wonder about the future of the land of the free.

Until next post,
G.

Pumping Problems (And this is in no Reference to Fists)

With the recent devastation in Haiti, several groups are responding with help, including organizations like The International Breast Milk Project and The Human Milk Banking Association of North America. These organizations released an urgent call to all nursing mothers to donate milk to be sent to Haitian infants in need. There is currently an infant care unit being housed on the naval carrier U.S.S Comfort anchored near Port-au-Prince. The need for milk stems from babies that have been abandoned or separated from their mothers in the tragedy. Powdered formula is not practical in countries like Haiti, because there is not much clean water available to mix it with.

Recently close to 500 ounces of milk was elaborately transported from the United States to the U.S.S Comfort, first through a special shipping company that packed the bottles in dry ice for quick air travel, then by military helicopter.

The U.S.S Comfort

Retrieved from http://www.radiomelodyfmlive.com/newsadmin/_files/Image/MARCH%202009/USNS%20Comfort.jpg

The breast milk arrived safely, yet now it cannot be utilized and is said by some to be “unnecessary.” Relief groups and organizations like The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Program, say that the current infrastructure in Haiti cannot accommodate the donations. Babies on the ship have been fed some milk from Navy mom’s who were lactating, yet the current coolers on ship do not have space to store shipments of breast milk.

There is not electricity to cool the milk, nor the means of transporting the bottles on mainland. There is also the issue of cleaning the supplies used to distribute the breast milk, not to mention the worries The Red Cross has with donor health screenings (which are very routine with breast milk donations, usually involving blood tests, etc.)

Not only is breast milk proven to contain more antibodies for babies than formulas milk, it also is better in emergency situations. As an article in Time Magazine articulately pointed out,

"Formula is a recipe for disaster in emergency situations," says Cathy Carothers, who serves as a spokeswoman for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee, a coalition of more than 40 organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics that promotes breast-feeding. "In emergencies, babies who are not breast-fed are more likely to die because of issues of lack of water or contaminated water and inability to sterilize feeding tools.”

It will be interesting to see if the infrastructure can gain enough strength to eventually take additional breast milk donations, but for now the donated milk is not of much use, and will go sour in the current conditions. Only time will tell.

Keeping Haiti in our thoughts and prayers, I would now like to briefly discuss breast- feeding right here in The United States. There is definitely a strong breast -feeding culture present in maternal networks online and in lactation classrooms cross- country.

As someone who has never breastfed, I don’t mean to be overly critical, yet I cannot imagine that the latching, biting, waking up a few times a night, and the leaking would feel anywhere near natural. But, there seems to be a popular belief that good mothers breastfeed because it is healthier for the baby and creates this angelic bond between mother and child. I am not denying that this is truthful, yet when in public I admit that if I see a woman who has it all out there, I find it in bad taste.

For example, if you are in a restaurant, I do not feel there is anything “natural” about me looking up from my pasta dish to see a breast spilled over the table across the room with a child enjoying their dinner. I hope the milk was tasty little one, because my appetite has been calmed.

I am in strong support of Lactation rooms (there is one in Baker Center) and areas in public designated to breast feed. I think that it is great to offer women a comfortable place to feed their child, in a more private setting. I think that chairs and SPACE should always be provided in female/ gender-neutral public restrooms for this purpose.

Most states have very friendly public breast feeding laws, yet I feel that there should be additional legislation but in place about requiring more facilities to be “breast -feeding friendly.”

I feel that it is a woman’s total choice as to whether or not she wants to breast- feed and I can definately see the pro’s and con’s of the decision. Most pediatricians say a woman should breast feed for at least six months because the nutrients in a mother’s milk are good for the baby.

A Breast Pump
Yet, we live in an age where formula is advancing and women have FULL-TIME JOBS. It would be very hard to feed for six months while trying to work, when a baby eats (pending on its age), around seven to twelve times a day. One feeding can take an hour, so clearly this can prove exhausting to a mother who has other responsibilities outside the home.

Another excellent point that was brought to my attention in the article "The Case Against Breastfeeding,” ” from The Atlantic was the fact that when a women breast- feeds it immediately sets the precedent that she is doing most of the work for the baby. In our enlightened “we split the check society”, it would seem a slippery slope that the woman always be feeding, waking up at night to comfort, etc. Just something to think about.

So what do readers think? Public feeding okay or unnecessary? Breast feeding magical or outdated? Share your thoughts!


Until next post,
G.
Check out these related articles:

From MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35134523/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

Another great piece from Time

http://wellness.blogs.time.com/2010/01/28/will-donating-breast-milk-help-haitian-infants/

The Juno Effect

As an older sister to a thirteen year old, I worry about what the younger generation of girls is watching, and the impact that these shows may have on their perception of reality. With a statistic of 42 births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (USA Today) , I question the value of certain programs like The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Teen Mom, who both have large audiences.
I must confess that I have watched a few Teen Mom episodes in my day, and I think that it actually does frankly portray and humanize many of the struggles these young moms face. The show is like a documentary and focuses on four young women Maci, Farrah, Amber, and Catelynn( who gave her baby up for adoption). These women come from different backgrounds and all have different circumstances with their families and birth partners.
Each young woman has issues with money, child care, relationships, and schooling. It shows how tiring and hard motherhood can be for a young person who still wants to go out with their peers and still needs a high school or college degree. Each mother is constantly in a state of stress and can not juggle the demands of baby time, work, school, and a potential social life. I feel like this program does not glorify teen pregnancy but rather is a pretty good visual birth control method for young people.
Each of the young women on the program is very likeable and as a viewer you begin to sympathize with their situations. The program balances entertaining along with giving a fairly accurate depiction of how hard early motherhood can be.
Yet, the program The Secret Life of the American Teenager, although it does not necessarily glorify pregnancy, presents it in a way that seems harmful to young girls. The main character Amy becomes pregnant from a one night stand. She regrets her choice and is definitely emotional throughout the series. Yet, for the most part her life is relatively normal. The father spends time with the baby and gets a job to support his child. During her pregnancy she begins to date a new boyfriend who is very supportive and she is able to stay in school fulltime. She has the help of her family for money and child care.
I am sure many teen moms do have a lot of family support, but in my opinion what message does this send to girls like my sister? If you get pregnant at band camp, don’t worry because you will still be able to get a boyfriend, go to school, and have several loyal friends?
According to USA Today, in 2006 teen birth rates in the United States were up 26%, a staggering increase. So are television programs contributing to these statistics? “By age 16, teens who watched a lot of sexually charged TV were more than twice as likely to be pregnant or father an out-of-wedlock baby as teens who watched very little,” a study from USA Today found.
With the popularity of the Juno’s , Jamie Lynn’s, and Bristol’s, I feel that it is important to emphasize to young ladies to set long term goals for themselves, like obtaining college degrees, and to emphasize education about family planning and the importance of waiting on motherhood.
A clip from Teen Mom

Teen Mom - MTV Shows

A clip from Secret Life


Link to USA Today article
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-07-teenbirths_N.htm

Purity Balls-A Fairytale Night Out with Dad or a Ball Commemorating Unrealistic Expectations?

As a female, sex is always on the radar. Yes, it may not be thought of in the animalistic way that many men fantasize about, but it is always lurking in the media inspired distance. It’s on the cover of magazines with young women who choose to get a second breast augmentation because the D-cup was too small, or the television shows that center their plots around hookups and pregnancy scares. Yet, through all of this sexual clout there seems to be a movement toward a “New Virginity.”

This can be evidenced through the lot of Disney Channel royalty that sport their silver rings, and the fact that many schools still focus their “sexual education,” solely on one concept: Abstinence. I do not argue that waiting to have sex or keeping the ring shiny can be positive, but how far is too far? Purity balls have begun to gain national recognition since their founding in 1998. These balls have spread across the country and are currently held in forty eight states. This begs the question of how should “purity” and virginity be taught?

So what exactly is a purity ball and how did they originate? Randy Wilson and his wife are co-founders of Generations of Light (http://www.generationsoflight.com), and held the first purity ball in their hometown of Colorado Springs. Wilson has five daughters, and wanted to be involved in their lives by guiding and protecting them.

Hence, the idea of the purity ball was created. The ceremony is reminiscent of a father-daughter prom; dad’s sporting their tuxes and daughters delicately adorned in their evening best. The evening commences with a performance of a worship dance by The Regal Daughters Ballet Company .The fathers then take an oral pledge that they sign. The pledge goes as follows:

I, (DAUGHTER'S NAME)'S FATHER, CHOOSE BEFORE GOD TO COVER MY DAUGHTER AS HER AUTHORITY AND PROTECTION IN THE AREA OF PURITY. I WILL BE PURE IN MY OWN LIFE AS A MAN, HUSBAND AND FATHER. I WILL BE A MAN OF INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS I LEAD, GUIDE AND PRAY OVER MY DAUGHTER AND MY FAMILY AS THE HIGH PRIEST IN MY HOME. THIS COVERING WILL BE USED BY GOD TO INFLUENCE GENERATIONS TO COME.

The daughters will step under a sword arch held by fathers and proceed up to a cross that is ornamented in white cloth. The girls then lay down a white rose, silently pledging that they will remain virgins under their father’s guidance, until their wedding night. The ball also involves father-daughter prayer, and dancing. Tickets for the Colorado Springs ball cost $85 per person, which definitely brings up another issue all together of class disparities and who can afford/ is expected to pledge the V.

(The Regal Daughter Ballet Company)

The event itself is very beautiful and appears to be a good father- daughter bonding ritual. However, it begs the question of practicality and ownership. The girls who attend the event and take the silent pledge are typically around ages five to late teens. Do girls that young grasp what they are pledging? Probably not, considering one in six adolescents take a virginity pledge, yet only 12% actually save themselves for marriage.

However, the dominant issue is that those who have taken a pledge have generally only received abstinence education. They do not know how to use condoms or other forms of contraception. This clearly leads to issues with sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. A sexually active teenage girl who has sex without contraception has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within a year, according to the Institute. Just as disturbing is that in a single act of vaginal intercourse with an infected male partner, a female teenager has a 30% risk of contracting genital herpes, a 50% chance of contracting gonorrhea, and a 1 in 100 chance of acquiring HIV. (Web MD)

Personally, I think that in today’s hyper-sexual culture, it is great for a father to spend time with this daughter OR son (Generations of Light does have programs for males), and to frankly discuss sex. Yet, that conversation needs to also include practical information and can’t be all about a fairytale ending. It is hard to fight biology, especially when people are getting married at thirty years old.

I commend these fathers for taking an interest in their daughters relationships, yet abstinence and the signing away of their daughters sexuality first to them, then to her husband, seems to deprive a woman of making her own choices and does not encourage independent thought. It seems to reverse the progress that women have made in the ownership of our own bodies. It is important to teach young women on how to make their own educated and responsible decisions, and I think a father can aid in this process by just being present in his daughter’s life. Girls and young women need to be able to form their own independent views, because when they are faced with hard choices, daddy may not always be there.

Abstinence is definitely an option, yet the other options need to be presented without this feeling of shame and guilt. If a girl engages in responsible sexual behavior prior to marriage it does not mean she “failed” or is “ruined.” It is a nice idea that a father wants to keep his baby girl pure as snow until her wedding night, yet that choice should ultimately rest on the young woman and she needs to be given the proper tools to ensure her safety when that time and question inevitably come.

A video from Good Morning America




Until next post,
G.


For more information on Purity Balls visit:
http://www.generationsoflight.com/generationsoflight/html/News.html

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1823930,00.html

http://www.jezebel.com/5440014/purity-balls-protecting-girls-from-making-choices (Has great video clips)

Bienvenu

Welcome to The Renaissance Woman! The Renaissance Woman is a blog devoted to contemporary issues and human interest topics most pertinent to women. As a new blogger, I have high hopes to generate posts that will be thought provoking, insightful, and will begin a conversation with readers. I am looking forward to raising awarness on important issues and bringing them to the forefront of an educated dialogue. Please feel free, as a reader, to leave candid commentary and too add relevant information/questions to the topics discussed.

Until next post,
G.