Feminist Coming Out Day

As I was looking for feminist blogs online that that are relevant to our in class discussions I came across one about Feminist Coming Out Day. It intrigued me as soon as I saw it. I had never heard of it before so as I clicked onto the page I was pleasantly surprised at what I found. It deals with feminists all over the world coming out to support feminism. The marked day to do this is March 8, 2011. On the website anyone can upload a picture and write what feminism means to them or what it is they define feminism to be. I really enjoyed reading what each individual had to say, especially what the male feminists wrote. People also answer questions on the blog that ask "why feminism is important, what issues matter to them most, why is gender equality important, and what was their feminism awakening". I think it is great that there is a day designated to "come out" as a feminist no matter which race, gender, or sexual identify one defines them self as. This day gives people who might not typically feel comfortable labeling them self as a feminist a chance to feel support from the entire community and know that they are not a lone in their beliefs. This blog made me feel inspired so I put in a submission with two of my favorite quotes about being a female feminist:


"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels."  ~Faith Whittlesey

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is:  I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a door mat or a prostitute."  ~Rebecca West, "Mr Chesterton in Hysterics: A Study in Prejudice," 
The Clarion, 14 Nov 1913, reprinted in The Young Rebecca, 1982

http://feministcomingoutday.com/ 

Interesting...

  In one of my classes, we took a nice look at 'hip hop culture' and its strong visual (music videos) association with dominant/aggressive masculinity and the objectification of women. After this class, my friend and I were discussing this prevalence of male violence and female objectification... she suggested something interesting: Were the artists that were spoken of male? Actually, yes; they all were. So, she and I decided to do some research and looked up female hip-hop artists: Lauryn Hill, Beyonce. The search didn't really prove her point but, I was sure she was on to something. So, I looked up more female artists/groups such as: MC Lyte, Sista (Misy Elliott's first group), Missy Elliott, No Doubt/ Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, Salt-N-Pepa, Lin Que, Mary J Blige, Aalyiah and Lil' Kim. I found a pattern... the music videos and lyrics of these ladies that were released before the mid 1990's  are generally "clean".. that is to say, there are very few men shown in the videos and when shown, they are 'backup', fully dressed non-aggressive dancers. The videos do not depict the female artist(s) as sexual objects.... until the mid/late 90s. I don' t know what happened but, Sista's songs in the early early 1990s, about love and sisterhood-- showing fully dressed women rap artists.. just singing... turned into "Pass that Dutch"... in 2003 that showed very scarcely dressed women, in a line shaking it... almost screaming: I am only meant for sex! Woo!... Ok, let's throw up, now. I also noticed that, no matter the year, if the female artist co-sang/co-produced a song/music video with a black or latin male artist, the women were more likely to be depicted as sexual objects and male violence was more prevalent however, when co-singing with Eminem, Rihanna was fully dressed, video showing mostly her face (not body), the other white girls in the video were also not objectified but, the male dominance/aggression was still very relevant. I couldn't find that much evidence for Gwen Stefani or really find many white female hip hop artists... Does race really play that BIG of a role in the prevalence of male aggression and female objectification in contemporary hip hop culture? This is serious...

Bill Maher says "we're" better than "them"

I chose this blog because the recent events that have taken place in Cairo have greatly struck my interest.  Also, I have found that the most interesting part of this Women’s Studies course was learning about racism and that feminists find it very important to involve women of any race in their activism.  Bill Maher’s comments took away from the fact that Lara Logan was hurt by a sexual assault, and he made the issue a matter of racism.  He referred to Middle Eastern men as being less than us, and he rhetorically asked his audience, “What’s wrong with saying that?”  All I want to know is what isn’t wrong with his statement.  Bill Maher purposefully ignored the sexual assault case to demonstrate that Americans are not as sexist as men of the Middle East.  I can’t tell is he was being more racist or sexist in this TV clip, but I do know that he truly has the “Western Eye”.

http://www.ihollaback.org/blog/2011/02/20/bill-maher-uses-cairo-rape-to-justify-racist-rant/

Everything I Learned About Women I Learned From Reality TV

http://www.wimnonline.org/WIMNsVoicesBlog/2010/11/12/newsweek-reviews-reality-bites-back-everything-i-learned-about-women-i-learned-from-reality-tv-plus-my-slideshow-reality-tvs-9-worst-stock-characters/
I chose this article because everyone I know watches some form of reality television. Most women are cast in stereotypical roles of bitches, housewives or plastic surgery patients. 75% of creators and producers are men who cast and edit these women into these roles. It supports the thought that sisterhood is dead and is replaced withh two-faced catty women.

Feminist Mormon Housewives

http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=3506

 I decided to choose this blog after reading several others because it interests me to see how people grow up and be feminist. I am curious as to see why they have decided to turn feminist and the struggles they have went through to stand up for what they believe in. In class we have been discussing a lot of stories how women could not speak there mind. This blog is a little different because Joanna did not realize she was a feminist till her college years. She said, "As a young Mormon feminist at BYU, I felt like I finally was starting to figure out how to put the pieces of myself together and understand what my life was for.  I have never felt so alive as when I was marching through the streets of Provo late on a spring night with hundreds of women (and several dozen pro-feminist men) for our first Take Back the Night." This interested me because she went a few years without knowing she was actually feminist. She also stated, "Why, I wondered from the time I was a little girl, if my eternal destiny was homemaking had God given me a head full of brains and words and absolutely no aptitude for or interest in sewing, cooking, or crafting?  That glass slipper just never fit." When I read this I feel like she knew that she wanted to stand for something like equal rights for women. Along with the stories we have been reading in class about women not being able to speak there mind I feel like Joanna was able to and felt like she fit in at church because she stated this about church being a protection for her "where a smart, dark-haired, oustpoken girl was encouraged to take herself seriously."

But It's Just a Can! -- The Sleek, New Look of Diet Pepsi

I chose a post on the blog the Pursuit of Harpyness which discusses the new Diet Pepsi campaign as well as other advertisements created by Big Foods (which created the Skinny Pepsi advertisement).  I chose this blog and this topic because the messages sent to women about what the ideal body should look like are highly problematic.  Even though most of us are (at the very least) aware of this problem, it is still a very important issue to discuss.

In the wake of the controversy created by the Pepsi Max Superbowl commercial, Pepsi has unveiled their next ad campaign: “the taller, sassier new Skinny Can”.  This new can, which is indeed taller and skinner than its predecessor, is meant to celebrate “beautiful, confident women”.  In a press release for PepsiCo, Chief Market Officer Jill Beraud (who, for what it’s worth, also worked for Victoria’s Secret) stated, "Diet Pepsi has a long history of celebrating women through iconic fashion imagery seen in our infamous and historical campaigns, and we're proud to continue that tradition as an official sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Our slim, attractive new can is the perfect complement to today's most stylish looks, and we're excited to throw its coming-out party during the biggest celebration of innovative design in the world."  Basically, the message of this campaign (coupled with Beraud’s comments) is that in order to be beautiful, confident, and fashionable, you must be “tall”, “skinny”, and “new” (so therefore young?).  Although this is hardly a new message, especially for advertising, that does not make the campaign any less ridiculous (how can a soda can be sassy?).

I know some people may be inclined to argue that it’s just a can, and, to be honest, they’re partially right – there is nothing inherently wrong with redesigning a can.  The problem is not with the can, but the advertisements and the decision to unveil this design in conjunction with fashion week.  The fashion industry is notorious for pushing the exact message that the Pursuit of Harpyness (as well as many other feminist blogs) argues that PepsiCo is trying to push with this campaign – that in order to be beautiful and fashionable, you must be thin and tall.  As a final though, I find it very interesting that the new design and campaign is for Diet Pepsi and not regular, full-calorie Pepsi.

-- Stephanie Cristiano

Sex & The City

"A Feminist Argument For 'Sex And the City 2'"

http://blog.ajchristian.org/2010/05/31/a-feminist-argument-for-sex-and-the-city-2/

I chose this particular blog for several reasons. To start, throughout the semester thus far we have been given several examples of how not just women, but also men, are feminists. The author of this blog, Aymar Jean Christian, claims to be a male feminist who "investigates visual culture and media industries".

Another reason I chose this article is because of the interesting content, which I could find relatable. The article gives the reader a critical look at the Sex and the City 2 movie that was released last year. Most blogs and articles I have read on this movie, regarding a feminist outlook, see the movie in some ways degrading to women. In this category they also included realty shows such as the Desperate  and Real Housewives TV series. However, to the contrary this blog depicts the movie in a different light.

Christian highlights how the movie still raises valuable questions such as the institution of marriage and what female sexuality is like at an older age. (To add to this I also believe it shows how women can rely on friendships between each other, instead of the sometimes evident "caty-like" behavior between women.) The importance of these topics is relevant in today's society with the increasing divorce rates, it seems that the media is depicting marriage in several different ways. Just throughout this movie the gay couple gets married (and states that they might have open sexual relationships with others outside of their marriage) and how Carrie, the main character, is thinking of divorce within a year of marriage. A growing trend throughout media is also emerging, depicting women only being happy if they are married. (For example movies such as: Date Night, The Proposal, Couples Retreat, He's Just Not That Into You)

Female sexuality is also highlighted through Samantha's inner battle of aging, and the movie shows in an exaggerated form for entertainment what life is like to be sexual and single at an older age. This I found interesting because throughout most movies and TV shows having an active single social life is only depicted through a younger cast.

When does defining your sexuality matter?

http://feministsforchoice.com/defining-sexuality-matter.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=defining-sexuality-matter

Killing two birds with one stone?

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/02/04/new-bill-will-let-doctors-refuse-to-save-the-lives-of-pregnant-women/


I chose this blog because it irritated me and frustrated me with the healthcare system, even more so then I already was. I am studying to eventually go into med school, and as a scientist from a purely factual manner, this new bill is absolutely ridiculous. To think that in America, we have to right to emergency care with or without insurance in a life or death situation is clearly NOT the right assumption. This "Protect Life Act" states that point in black and white. "The Act allows doctors to refuse necessary care to a pregnant woman if that care will kill the fetus."


ARE YOU KIDDING ME? There have been so many cases in our society where emergency abortion has been necessary to save the life of the mother. Think about it, say a mother has three kids at home and is having her fourth and has a life-threatening condition. The doctor's would rather allow for the mother to die then to save her life for her to be home with the other children. In reality, the doctor is committing crimes well past the realm of just malpractice and poor sense of judgement. The doctor is allowing NOT one, but TWO deaths to occur, the death of the fetus AND the death of the woman. Not to mention, the code of conduct that doctors take after leaving medical school. To allow religious beliefs into federal government not only disproves that America is a country where all religious beliefs are equal, but blatantly is a serious breech in the constitution where "church and state is kept separate".  Doctors really need to start working with their hearts and brains, instead of with dollar signs. Sheesh, hopefully drug therapy and genetic advancements move a little quicker, otherwise people are just going to be left out high and dry to die. 


-Kayleigh Jones

Beauty & Representation: Dove's Commercial

-Ali Wondoloski

Is this new Dove commercial promoting their idea of a "strong, beautiful women"? Go to this website and watch the 30 second commercial and see for your self. For me, I think they see the ideal beauty in women as tall, skinny, brunette. They show many women in the commercial, but only one of them is a darker skinned women. That doesn't represent Dove as a company that believes in beauty in everyone, does it?! Also they are saying "where beautiful girls find strength" in the tag line. Only beautiful girls can be strong? This is a deodorant commercial of all things! Armpits-all women have them and in my opinion not the most beautiful part on ANY women.



http://bitchmagazine.org/post/mad-world-dove-deodorant-is-just-for-pretty-babies

Study reveals gender pay gap in new doctors

http://feministing.com/2011/02/04/study-reveals-gender-pay-gap-in-new-doctors/comment-page-1/#comment-342142

I chose this blog, "Study reveals gender pay gap in new doctors," because it stood out to me and I found it very interesting.  It stated that the pay gap in men vs. women is widening, especially among new doctors.  As of now, the gap is $17,000 and this seems rediculous to me.  A woman can be just as good of a doctor as a man can so I don't understand why they need to receive so much less for the work they do.  The blog suggested that the pay gap could be attributed to indirect things, such as a women's desire to work less and for her job to be family friendly and the fact that men can negotiate their salary better than women can.  Although this things are indirect, they are still a result of sexism.  For example, of course women perfer a more family friendly work environment, because they are expected to be the primary caretaker of the household, so it is extremely difficult to work long hours or inconvient shifts and care for their family at the same time. Also, women are probably not as good at negotiating as men because women have always been led to believe that their male counterparts are superior to them and that their voice doesn't matter as much as men's so obviously it will be harder for them to have the courage to ask for a higher salary then it is for men.  I was disappointed to see that the pay gap is widening instead of becoming smaller, but I hope this changes because I believe women deserve the same pay as men if they are doing the same exact job as them.

Kristie Weiss

The Character of a City

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/01/23/the-character-of-a-city/#comment-348651

I chose this blog in reference to the racism and classism we have been discussing in class. This blog talks about the racism and classism that is still seen today in Australia. It opened my eyes to the fact that racism and classism are world wide issues and they do not solely occur in the United States. I feel like there is a big push within our society to speak of racism and classism two-sidedly, which is great. However, I feel by focusing only on our own countries racist and classist habits is a biased notion in itself. So while we are aiming to not discriminate within our own country, we are discriminating against other countries.

The one thing that stood out to me in this article was the talk about Australian day.
       "For me, personally, the hardest time for living in this country is 26 January. Australia Day is the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival: the beginnings of the colony of New South Wales. Australia Day is known also as Invasion Day. It’s a day on which it’s popular to dress up in clothes with Australian flags on them, and to use Australian flags as capes. I am scared to go outside on 26 January because I know that racist feeling is running high (‘we grew here, you flew here’)."

The statement that I highlighted really stood out to me because it made it real to me that racism is in fact bigger than the United States....it is everywhere.

-Sadie Little

The smaller the body, the bigger the paycheck

http://feministing.com/2011/01/31/the-smaller-the-body-size-the-bigger-the-paycheck/

http://www.medindia.net/news/Good-Looks-Equate-Intelligence-79558-1.htm


I found this interesting because we have been discussing this such as women in the workplace. I had never thought about a salary having anything to do with looks or body composition. There may be certain reasons as to why this is, one maybe because people making more money find it easier to do this such as purchase a gym membership or exercise equipment. Other reasons may be more judgmental. This may include that more men may be higher up in companies and would prefer to higher "better looking women" or that it looks better for a company to have employees that are in good shape and attractive. Another study by researchers at the London School of Economics says that physically attractive men and women are to have IQs approximately 14 points higher than those of average or lower than average attractiveness. This may show why more attractive women make more but what determines someone attractive versus unattractive? What ever the reason it seems to be an unbeatable cycle that needs some serious attention.

Cisgender Folks: The Bullies on the Playground

http://www.alternet.org/story/149667/on_tv,_the_lesbians_are_all_right..._as_long_as_they%27re_pregnant/?page=2

I chose this blog thinking about "good gay" and "bad gay"; who decides what is acceptable and who receives the brunt of that decision.

The article draws from the TV series 'Rules of Engagement'. I found other applicable examples in TV series: "The 'L' word" and the movie "The Kids are All Right". I'm sure Maury and Jerry are also proud sponsors of this stereotyping.

In summary, the author is pointing out that many of the lesbians that ARE displayed in media are lesbians who want to be pregnant, are trying to get pregnant. pregnant or with children. Personally, I take this seriously. If lesbians are very rarely being depicted in media then, when they are depicted many viewers are receiving only one message: Lesbians can have female lovers... sure but, they will never escape the desire to have a family, like all the 'normal'/cisgender gals... Bullshit! Bullshit! Horseshit!

I read this article as the cisgender folks' way of giving gays/lesbians a means of assuming the role of 'good gay'.

They seem to be saying, "We are completely accepting of your sexual preferences only if you show some signs of normality and pop out the babies. Thanks, we're watching you..."

Upsetting, disturbing, immature bullying.
I'd like to research this more, seeing as the article drew from only one source. We shall see..