Feminism | Posted by Jill L on 08/5/2010
Let’s Reclaim the Name
“So, you know how you’re a feminist?”
“Yes.”
“And yet you still expect men to open doors for you?”
“No, I expect the person going in through the door in front of me to slam it in my face.”
‘Feminist’ is often used as an insult to describe women who have characteristics which we admire in men but are contradictory (or so we fear) to society’s archaic view of femininity. Women who are strong, confident, loud, ruthless in business and assertive are ‘feminists’. And if they’re not vilifying it, society trivializes feminism’s cause. Men can’t open doors because feminism contradicts common courtesy. Obviously.
But to me, ‘feminist’ does not carry with it the images that it inspires in the minds of others. To the boys (and sadly, so sadly) the …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 08/4/2010
Formspring and Cyber Bullying
My first interaction with Formspring (for those who don’t know: Formspring is a site where people can comment anonymously about eachother) occurred just this past year when a girl a year younger than me from a nearby school became relatively famous amongst local high schoolers because of her formspring. Other “anonymous” commenters (mostly girls from her school) began leaving notes implying (in a tone that could be called just about anything besides subtle) that they thought she was a slut. She announced via formspring that she would not be returning to that school next year.
I watched this incident with pretty fervent, yet detached, disgust. Almost every Formspring profile I’ve viewed was used to express hateful comments, some verging on actual threats. It seems that when one adds teens plus anonymity …
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Feminism | Posted by Cicutae on 08/3/2010
Sexism in Science
You know what makes me angry? The fact that I apparently can’t do science because I have a vagina. Now, I didn’t think that my gender was damaging my math and science skills, but I guess having breasts means that engineering isn’t for me.
I went down to a NASA space flight center earlier this year as part of my Rocket Club team. We were participating in a competition sending 10-foot-long rockets a mile into the hot Alabama air. There was a “rocket fair” where we displayed our rocket and experiment for NASA employees and the other teams to peruse. I stood proudly in front of our display and tried to engage the passing engineers.
“Do you have any questions Sir?” The response was almost always the same – a …
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Feminism | Posted by Erica Lee on 08/2/2010
Banish Girl Hate Today
I’ll admit it: I used to be a hater. After I hit 13, for whatever reason, I started to really, really dislike other girls. I was constantly jealous of them, hated when they talked to my array of (oftentimes disgusting/unworthy) boyfriends and basically wanted nothing to do with anyone with breasts who was outside my usual social circle. I just didn’t like them.
Or so I thought.
Actually, now I see I was brainwashed by society into being jealous of them.
Now, 10 years later, I know that most of my “hatred” for the other (beautiful, smart, talented) ladies around me was actually jealousy. Insecurity. A byproduct of a society that was becoming hypersexualized & overly focused on outward appearances.
So yes, I am a victim. And so is every …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 08/1/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Laura Jansen
Laura Jansen (born 4 March 1977) is a Dutch singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Jansen established herself as a regular at the Los Angeles live music venue the Hotel Cafe before gaining fame in her native country, The Netherlands. The daughter of an American mother and Dutch father, she holds dual citizenship in the United States and The Netherlands.
Her music has been featured on the television shows Newport Harbor and The Real World: Cancun.
She previously toured with Joshua Radin for six weeks as part of his band in 2008. In 2009, she toured with William Fitzsimmons as a part of his band and also as his support act.
via Wikipedia
Wicked World
Single
Laura Jansen on iTunes: 
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