Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 05/21/2010
The FBomb
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a feminist. Well, not recently, I pretty much always think about that, but more specifically how I define feminism and how it carries through on this blog, in terms of what I post and what other people submit.
I started this blog under the impression that it would be a place for girls to share their opinions and experiences, their thoughts on feminism or just their thoughts on life in general. For me, the feminist aspect of this blog was less in the intricacies of the content of each post but more in the act of girls finding strength in their own voice and strength in a community. However, I want to be clear: I’m definitely not shying …
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Feminism | Posted by Helen H on 05/20/2010
Belgian Burqa Ban
I just read an article about the vote in Belgium that led to a nationwide ban of wearing burqas in public.
On one hand, I can see where people who are for the ban are coming from. The burqa does have a lot of stigma both within and without Muslim culture. It’s one of the more ambiguous Islamic concepts, and it’s hotly debated. Some Muslims believe it’s mandatory, others believe it’s just an option, and others still think it’s absurd. Personally I don’t think it’s a particularly liberating piece of clothing and I don’t expect I’ll ever wear one.
On the other hand, I don’t think this is the way to fix anything. First of all this absolutely screams Islamophobia and xenophobia and will only serve to perpetuate the negative …
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Awareness | Posted by Julie Z on 05/19/2010
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
One of the ultimate highlights of my middle experience was the concept of the “Window Trip.” Our middle school, dedicated to giving us ignorant brats a broader view of the world, forced us onto a bus every year and shipped us off to a set destination in order to give us a “window” into history/the lives of others. In 6th grade, we were bussed to colonial Williamsburg, which I must say was a pretty awesome experience. We each had to interview somebody there, and I recall stalking the Thomas Jefferson impersonator to give him the third degree about his status as a slave owner. In 8th grade we went on an ubran outward bound trip to New York City where we visited an African cultural center and a sikh temple. …
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Feminism | Posted by Katherine C on 05/18/2010
Brilliance is Human
We’ve all read about the studies and statistics on girls in school- that we self-defeat in math and science, that we don’t speak up in class. That we’re afraid. But what about when our teachers and classmates doubt us- when they question our individual intrinsic creativity? Why is brilliance perceived as masculine?
My friend Zoey is a mathematical genius; she was playing around with complex multiplication problems when she was four. She’s in the Higher Math class, in which there is a smaller contingent of über-math-brains: kids who are passionate about math and have a real talent for it. Brilliant people, all. Zoey is the only girl. She asked the teacher if she could move her seat to where these high-performing boys sit so that she could collaborate with them. …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 05/17/2010
National Punch a Slut Day
The facebook trolls who think they’re hilarious for their misogynistic groups and events are at it again, folks!
Some FBomb readers and a recent Jezebel article alerted me to a series of “slut punching” events – one a week-long event that I believe was removed, and another, which will merely last a day.
The latter event includes some seriously gross comments, such as:
Dongie Lee:
Some of you need to stfu about violence toward women. boohoo. Ever thought about violence toward men? toward elderly? toward kids? And I bet 99.9% of you fuckers bitching and crying aren’t doing a fucking thing to stop any real violence. Let’s also not forget that this group isn’t about punching women but about punching slutts. Do criminals deserve time in prison? Yes. …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 05/16/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Electrik Emily
Electrik Emily is a 26 year old rock musician, blogger, and all around “women in music” buff, currently living in Seattle, WA.
Born in rural Pennsylvania, her musical career began as a rebellious teen in high school, forming her own all-female rock band in the tradition of The Runaways, playing fast, aggressive, and loud music. In and out of bands all through college, Emily decided to “go her own way” by becoming a feminist backed solo artist after taking a women studies class.
“I finally had an intellectual epiphany you could say, that reflected my thoughts and feelings about being female in a world that didn’t always feel welcoming. I knew I was a feminist, I just never had a word for it until then.”
Emily follows a …
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Feminism | Posted by Marissa B on 05/15/2010
Swearing
I guess I should tell you (being the reader) about me. I’m not going to say my name and school and age, because then I might as well just give you my social security number and blood type and invite you to steal my identity. So I’ll just talk about my likes and stuff like that. I like music (but I’m bad at finding new bands), I like reading (Harry Potter is my personal bible), I like eating, and I really enjoy swearing. For some reason it always seems to get a point across, and make me feel all around more badass, yet it always seems to get me in trouble.
For example, I’ll be in PE, and drop a 30-pound weight on my foot. Naturally, I scream, “Holy Mother …
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Awareness | Posted by Talia W on 05/14/2010
Females and Four-Letter Words
58% of women curse in public. Are you of that 58%? Is it a fact that you’re proud of, or a bad habit that you’re trying to kick? Cursing is something that should be avoided, and definitely by girls, because of the negative effects, double standard, and anti-feminist terms.
There are many negative effects of cursing. When you curse and people around you don’t, people may feel you’re unpleasant to be with and may become uncomfortable with you, which can endanger relationships. It’s commonly accepted that people who use bad words are ignorant, unimaginative, disrespectful, immature, whiny, offensive, and have nothing better to express themselves with. People will also assume that you have a bad attitude, lack of control, and little character if you curse. Society has deemed cursing as …
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