Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 06/30/2011

Jordin Sparks: 30 Lbs Down

Every week, my Grandma brings over her copy of People magazine for my Mom and I to peruse. It’s a guilty pleasure that I actively try to avoid, but every once in a while I’ll flip through the rag just to see what’s happening with my fave celebs (but then I remember that Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Ellen Page are hardly ever featured in such magazines and put the magazine down). But this week happened to be one of the weeks where I succumbed. Hey, it’s Summer, and flipping through a crappy magazine that doesn’t require much thought or effort on my part sounded nice.

It wasn’t even a prominent article. It was a tiny box on the cover of past American Idol winner Jordin Sparks. The article itself …

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Pop-Culture | Posted by Jenae S on 06/29/2011

Feminist Dilemma: An Addiction To It Girl

I’m a feminist and as such I try to make conscious decisions in my daily life that uphold feminist ideals. But then came It Girl. It Girl is a facebook game centered around fashion, partying, and dating. It is one of the few MMO-esque games marketed exclusively to women. The game is simple, create an avatar, buy clothes, go to parties, compete against other users. Yes, you compete against other users in “showdowns” where you can earn money and fame. You level up by shaming other girls with your fashion skills.

This game represents everything that I stand against. It Girl emphasizes style over substance. It Girl tells you that you can improve your reputation through the newest clothes or hottest boyfriends. Worst of all it pits you against other …

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Feminism | Posted by Bre K on 06/28/2011

When Parents Are Wrong

Lately I’ve been getting into fights with my parents. Well, one main fight. They want me to find a job.

The argument part started when my hair turned out three different colors by mistake this year and I really wanted to dye my hair back to its natural, dark color. They said they will pay to dye my hair, but only dirty blond because I need to have “sex appeal” in order to find a part time job while going to school. Gross.

I want to be all natural and real, not fake like I’m trying to look like workplace Barbie. They told me, “You need to use your femininity to get a job. Half the workers are male workers and you can’t even do those jobs because you are a …

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Feminism | Posted by Angela G on 06/27/2011

New Jersey: Women’s Health #Fail

Three months ago, the country was on fire for women’s health. Remember that rally for women’s health in Foley Square where thousands turned out to hear Congressman Anthony Weiner, Kathleen Hanna, Jasmine Burnett, Cecile Richards, and countless other champions for reproductive rights?

Well, a lot has changed since then, and I’m not talking about Weinergate. At the Rally for Women’s Health, I decided I needed to take a public stand and talk about my own experience as a proud patient of Planned Parenthood. I made a YouTube video explaining that I first started using Planned Parenthood as a teen with no money and nowhere to turn for private, safe, and affordable “well-woman” care. I sent it to everyone I could think of.

A few weeks later, I was invited by …

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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 06/26/2011

Support Women Artists Sunday: Gossip

Danielle B’s post earlier this week reminded me how awesome Beth Ditto and Gossip are. Enjoy!

Gossip (formerly The Gossip) is a three-piece American indie rock band formed in 1999. The band consists of singer Beth Ditto, guitarist Brace Paine and drummer Hannah Blilie. After releasing several recordings, the band broke through with their 2006 studio album, Standing in the Way of Control (2006). A follow-up, Music for Men, was released in 2009. The band plays a mix of post punk indie rock and dance-punk.

Gossip was formed in 1999 in Olympia, Washington with vocalist Beth Ditto, guitarist Nathan “Brace Paine” Howdeshell and drummer Kathy Mendonca. All three were originally from Arkansas; Mendonca moved to Olympia to attend Evergreen State College and Howdeshell and Ditto followed. Howdeshell and Mendonca had …

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Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 06/25/2011

Saturday Vids: Beyonce – Run the World (LIES)

I’m sure Beyonce had good intentions with her recent single “Run The World.” But unfortunately she didn’t exactly think that “girl power” sentiment through. Samhita from Feministing wrote a particularly insightful post about the dichotomy of this song, but hey. This is Saturday Vids. So I’m going to let Amber from the YouTube channel “Nineteen Percent” give an equally insightful interpretation of this song via video.

Here’s Beyonce’s song “Run The World” for reference:

And here’s Amber’s response:

Thanks to reader Greta for the tip!

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Creative | Posted by Halee K on 06/24/2011

Feeling Beautiful

I can shoot lightning bolts from my fingertips

Poetry spouts like jewel-encrusted bullets

From my chapped lips

Soul shining like a beacon

Behind my eyes

Creating tiny worlds

With each sleepy sigh.

Beautiful is a fecund seed inside

Empowering all, despite the lies.

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Feminism | Posted by Brian C on 06/23/2011

An Old Boy’s Club

Ask a random Congress person about how Congress runs and odds are their response would sound a little something like, “It operates pretty much like an old boy’s club, please excuse me, I need hard candy.” Needless to say, the climate of Congress has not changed in YEARS (The newly elected Congress brags an average age of 58.2 years old). Representatives get re-elected by overwhelming majorities despite being convicted of 11 ethics violations (looking at you Charlie Rangel). I would support the sentiment, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” however the truth of the matter is that it is broke. Someone needs to get into Washington and change the very fabric that binds it together. Someone like a woman.

To all ye nay-sayers, the discussion about the under …

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