Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 05/15/2012
Writing “A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not A Dirty Word”
On May 15th, my first book will be published. This fact is not a result of some pretentious belief that at 19, my writing skills have been so carefully honed to the point that my work must be shared with the world. It was not some ploy to get into college. Contrarily, writing this book was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, and something I almost didn’t do. But it was also an experience that completely transformed me, and for which I will forever be thankful.
After a year of running the FBomb, I was approached to write a book about the next generation of feminism. I tried to explain that the FBomb was always meant to be a community – a place I may have started, but a …
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Feminism | Posted by Fiona L on 05/2/2012
An Open Letter to Street Harassers Everywhere
Dear leering men on street corners and subway cars staring and grabbing your crotches:
It’s me…the eighteen-year-old girl who is probably just one of many you all have directed your attentions to over the past seven years. Anyhoo, I’m just writing to express my sincere thanks for your behavior.
In my opinion there is nothing more attractive than a man who makes me scared to walk down the street—and that whole grabbing your crotch and licking your lips bit? I think it’s so sexy how you make it known what you want, regardless of my consent.
Sure, I’ve yelled back a couple of times, but you were right when you called me a bitch for doing that or told your friend that I wanted you. When I yelled “f**ck off” …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 04/30/2012
The Women’s College Experience
Over the past few weeks, there has been an influx of accepted students on Barnard’s campus. I’ve tried to talk to as many as possible, successfully resisting the urge to desperately grab them and urge them to get as much sleep as possible before Fall, and instead asking them if they have any questions about what it’s like to go to Barnard. Time and time again, these prospective students mentioned their trepidation about the idea of attending a women’s college — which is something I totally understand.
When I initially began the college application process, I had absolutely no interest in attending a single sex institution. In fact, I knew exactly what I wanted in a school. I wanted to go to a small liberal arts school in New York …
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Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 04/28/2012
Saturday Vids: The Conversation
The Conversation, hosted by Amanda de Cadenet, premiered on Lifetime this past Thursday. If you watched it I would love to hear your feedback, and if you haven’t check out the Conversation’s page on Lifetime’s website. Also check out the blog extension of the show, where I (along with some other amazing contributors) am also blogging!
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Feminism | Posted by Bre K on 04/27/2012
One In Five Women
There you are at three in the morning, sprawled out on someone else’s bed in a foreign room that smells like sex. Your body doesn’t even feel like yours — it feels like you’re standing over yourself, watching something happen to you. You’re not quite able to explain what’s going on. Confused. Dissembled. Disgusted. Shocked. So many feelings you can’t quite put together to equate to that word. And yet there it is: Rape. It finally pops up into your head three weeks later after you come back from Thanksgiving break — your first break during your first term in college.
No this wasn’t me. This was an 18-year-old freshmen living a couple doors down from me. Let’s say her name is Barbara.
The worst part is Barbara and I …
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Feminism | Posted by Crystal on 04/25/2012
How Do I Deal With Sexual Harassment?
I work as a bagger in a grocery store where the majority of my co-workers are male. Ever heard someone say something like, “To him, women are just a piece of meat?” Well, that’s the mentality of most guys at my work place.
The men at my workplace discuss women a lot. They have a phrase for them even: they call women “burgers.” Often when a few guys are on break or about to get off work, they talk with the other guys about how they are going to go get some “burgers.” Then they discuss what they want on their “burgers.” Lettuce for pubic hair. Bacon for under age of consent. Toasted bun if they want the girl to be intoxicated. And so on. If they do something to …
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Feminism | Posted by Heidi L on 04/23/2012
Girls Leadership Institute: The Summer That Changed Me
A-woo, GLI, that is my heart’s desire!
A-woo, GLI, I love it, I love it, I love it!
So goes the celebratory chant of the Girls Leadership Institute. For three weeks over the summer of 2011, GLI was my camp. For the rest of my life, it will be one of my fondest memories.
I did not want to go, for no other reason then I felt lazy and the idea of an all-girls camp seemed silly to me. I’m a feminist, but I feel no need to seek out sisterhood. Reluctantly, I packed my bags and arrived at Smith College.
Every day and every night, something happens at GLI. I can’t think of a single moment I was bored there. Between the projects, the impromptu Bananagrams, and legitimate …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 04/21/2012
Saturday Vids: Nineteen Percent on The Erosion of Roe v. Wade
This video is a few months old but I stumbled across it recently and think it’s still (always) very relevant, and a good review of where we were on the reproductive rights debate in 2011. Also, I love Nineteen Percent.
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