Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 02/19/2011
Saturday Vids: If I Were A Boy
…
Feminism | Posted by Valentina V. on 02/18/2011
Silvio Berlusconi and Italian Women
You may have heard about the private behaviour of Silvio Berlusconi – the male chauvinist politician that opened his door to protégées and lovers. Add this to Italian culture of degrading media and the poor opportunities women have for careers and the world must be wondering how we can accept all this madness. A lot of Italian women are trying to find the answers to the complicated question (our reality), “Why do women always have to find a solution to excesses of male privilege? Why do we put up with it?”
For a young woman like me, who was born in and has always lived in Italy, the recent political incident that has shocked society seems to be the last chapter of a long tradition of a corrupted generation. I’m …
Feminism | Posted by Talia on 02/17/2011
How the AP Deals With Women
I don’t like being patronized. I know this probably isn’t shocking, but I seriously HATE it. It also annoys me to no end when people patronize womankind.
This year, I’m taking AP European History. Ignoring the fact that the teacher is honestly the worst I’ve ever had (although it is rather fun piping in with my obnoxious feminist comments), I find the course itself patronizing towards women. Maybe I’m overreacting and being too picky, but nevertheless it annoys me that there are specific “Women in xxx” units (for example – “Women in the Scientific Revolution”).
On a handout my teacher gave us outlining women’s role throughout the periods we’ve studied, it says at the top, “A generation ago, women’s history, if it appeared at all in the textbooks, was generally …
Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 02/16/2011
Masculinity: From A Feminine Perspective
It pains me a little bit to say this, but I have to admit it. I’m kind of a hypocrite. I’ve spent over a year on this blog exploring most every facet of being a teen girl in this culture through a feminist lens. I’ve bitched (and rightfully so) about how there’s still a shit ton of sexism out there and how we still need to fight for equality, but I never really mentioned the guys.
While I’ve always supported men in the feminist movement, and believe they need to be a part of it, I’ve always viewed the way masculinity standards shape and effect men as something completely separate from women in this culture and a marginal part of feminism. It wasn’t until I read Michael Kimmel’s book Guyland that …
Pop-Culture | Posted by Amanda K on 02/15/2011
Notes on Beauty
When I was nine years old, I secretly dreamed of becoming a model.
I still wanted to be a writer, of course, but hey, a girl can dream, right? My family doctor had told my parents that because of their heights (my mom is 5’6” and my dad is 6’1”), my twin brother and I were likely to grow like bean sprouts to over 6 feet. I liked being tall for my age. Being my nine-year-old-self, I thought my potential height would be the key to becoming a model. (Also being young and naïve, I succumbed to society’s spoon-fed diet of telling girls that beauty is limited to certain numerical requirements. Thanks, society.)
I also liked the way models looked so serious as they strutted down the runway. (I distinctly …
Feminism | Posted by Marie L on 02/14/2011
Cut Title X? I Don’t Think So.
First the Hyde Amendment, then the reduction in women’s services under the new health care bill, and then the attempt to redefine rape – this is really getting under my hackles. Here comes the GOP men in Shining Armor to clarify to us what rape is…how wonderful. As if as women are just wandering around not knowing what violation feels like or aren’t sure if we really were “asking for it.”
I’m a patron of Planned Parenthood. I walk myself down to the clinic, past the typical protesters, and sit myself in some of their lovely waiting room chairs and I fill out that nice sheet that says I’m a student that lives off loans and work study allotments. I go back and have my pap smear and …
Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 02/13/2011
Support Women Artists Sunday: Ladies of the 2011 Grammys
Normally I don’t pay much attention to the Grammys, but this year there are a number of female nominees that I’m pretty freakin psyched about. Some I’ve featured on SWAS before, others are new inductees, but in honor of the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards I’ve decided to feature all of the badass women who are being recognized tonight.
By the way, the full list of Grammy Nominees can be found here.
Artist: Lady Gaga (Mainstream? Yes. But I will love her forever).
Nominated For: Album of the Year, Best Female Pop Performance
Artist: Miranda Lambert (Normally, I’m like “meh” about country music, but I absolutely love this song).
Nominated For: Song of the Year
Artist: Sara Bareilles (Fun fact: her first hit …
Pop-Culture | Posted by Josie T on 02/12/2011
Saturday Vids: Katie Makkai “Pretty”
I came across this video while researching performance poetry for a competition I’m involved in at school, and I was floored by how truthful and beautifully written and performed it is.
