Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 09/22/2010
Ines Sainz: Sexual Harassment Handled Well
By now, most people have probably heard about the latest news in sports related sexual harassment. This time around, the media has zeroed in on Ines Sainz, a Mexican sports reporter, who was reportedly harassed by members of the Jets.
When I first saw this story reported on the Today Show, I was actually surprised at the way it was being handled. It seemed that the media may actually be coming to the aid of Sainz, recognizing that she did not “ask” to be sexually harassed just because she was named one of the sexiest sports reporters in the world and has “suggestive” photos on her website. I was also impressed that the guys in charge at the Jets were taking her claims seriously and even investigating her claims.…
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Feminism | Posted by Anna M on 09/21/2010
An Unabashed Imitation of An Article by Peggy McIntosh
In 1990, Wellesley College professor Peggy McIntosh wrote an essay called “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”. McIntosh observes that whites in the U.S. are “taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group.” To illustrate these invisible systems, McIntosh wrote a list of 26 invisible privileges whites benefit from.
As McIntosh points out, men also tend to be unaware of their own privileges as men. In the spirit of McIntosh’s essay, I thought I’d compile a list similar to McIntosh’s, focusing on the invisible privileges benefiting men.
Due to my own limitations, this list is unavoidably U.S. centric. I hope that writers from other cultures will create new lists, or modify this one, to reflect their own …
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Feminism | Posted by Hannah K on 09/20/2010
Fudge
I go to a fairly progressive co-ed school in Northeast Ohio. We just implemented this new crazy schedule where no period is less than sixty minutes long, and there is going to be a three week period where we take only one class ALL DAY LONG. Yet, beneath this shiny, new agey exterior there seems to creep some weirdly archaic views of women.
These ideas presented themselves recently in the form of a few delicious and gooey pieces of fudge.
“Fudge” you say. “How can fudge be sexist? Fudge is chocolate. Fudge is goodness. Fudge is right.” Ah yes. How I wish. Yet, this fudge of sexism has a very specific purpose, a specific meaning. It is part of an old school tradition.
Before a football game a boy on …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Brian C on 09/19/2010
Support Women Artists Sunday: Zee Avi
Zee Avi (born Izyan Alirahman) is a Malaysian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and ukulele player. She was born in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. She moved to Kuala Lumpur when she was 12. She studied fashion design at American InterContinental University in London.
In September 2007 Avi posted a video of her first song on YouTube for one of her friends who had missed her first performance in Kuala Lumpur. The friend convinced Avi to leave the video online even after he had seen it, and soon she received positive feedback. This inspired her to put more videos on YouTube. After being featured on the main page of YouTube, she was discovered by Patrick Keeler of The Raconteurs, who passed the link to Ian Montone, the manager of The White Stripes, The Shins, The …
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Randomness | Posted by Julie Z on 09/18/2010
Saturday Vids: Confessions of a Hipster
We all know this person. Rock on to “xOphoeniXfeath3r” for making me laugh as much as this video did.
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Creative | Posted by Emily B on 09/17/2010
How To Be Casual
Eat slowly, but finish everything. When he asks about school tell him it’s OK and then neglect to return the question. Stare at the cheap candle in between the two of you as he talks about himself, unprompted. Deliberately glance around the room at other couples.
Close the menu. Focus on a point roughly three feet above his head. Trace the red and white patterned wallpaper with your eyes. Move on to count the number of lights.
He asks if you like his new sneakers. Shrug. They’re at least two sizes too big. Begin to hate his 3 Days Grace shirt. Begin to realize you have his wardrobe memorized.
He tells you that you look sexy in jeans. Wear a skirt the next day. You hate skirts.
Cultivate a knowledge …
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Pop-Culture | Posted by Jackie S on 09/16/2010
Women in Pre-Code Film
Pre-production code films were made from 1929-1934. They were interesting, because they explored subjects that would be relevant in today’s society. They had themes of violence, drug abuse, and sexuality. The thing that was so “naughty” about these films was that most of the sexual encounters were controlled by women. The actresses in these movies gave strong performances as intelligent, independent, and, yes, sexual people. The roles were such departures from the housewife/stereotypical characters women usually played in classic cinema.
There were some great actresses in pre-code films. There was Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, and Barbara Stanwyck. Actresses got to personify the promiscuity of the typical “male stereotype,” and turn it into many complex characters that were also successful and strong-willed. To me, it was so refreshing …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 09/15/2010
Political Correctness: Where’s the Line?
This past week, my school’s website posted a link to my blog. This resulted in many of my peers who to my knowledge had generally thought of me as the random girl who sits in the corner (or hadn’t thought about me at all…no that’s definitely it) asking me about my views on feminism. In general, I love talking about feminism – not just because it’s “my thing” (as in “That’s Julie: The Feminist”) but because I like educating people about something they didn’t understand or thought was evil. The feeling I get when people I talk to about feminism actually begin to consider incorporating it into their lives totally overrides every negative comment people have made to me about feminism. Times a billion.
The thing that kept coming up …
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