Feminism | Posted by Natasha V on 03/11/2013
Teen Mom Shaming vs Teen Pregnancy Prevention
What is with this unnecessary need to shame, bully, and stereotype teen mothers in an attempt to decrease teen pregnancy? Teen pregnancy prevention campaigns DO NOT have to be at the expense of a teen mom’s dignity. It doesn’t work, it isn’t fair, and it’s only perpetuating a stigma that further increases the isolation of young parents who need support. Quite frankly, it’s extremely sexist too! I don’t see an ad shaming teen dads? If my comprehensive sexual educating cohorts are correct, it takes two to make a baby.
In this pathetic and desperate attempt to eliminate teen pregnancy, the adults who sat around this campaign and ok’d it knew that it would send a horrible message to teens: “Teen moms suck so don’t become one.” And of course, the …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 03/9/2013
Saturday Vids: Thank You, Zerlina
Awesome feminist writer and activist Zerlina Maxwell has recently been the target of horrendous threats of violence. Why? Because of statements she made on Hannity.
In her own words, from a post she wrote on Feministing:
“On Tuesday night, I appeared on Hannity in a segment framed around the idea that giving women guns is the solution to ending rape. I was on with Independent Women’s Forum’s Gayle Trotter who recently made the point that women need guns for self defense from rape and gun violence prevention is infringing on their second Amendment rights, as well as, putting them at greater risk for domestic violence and rape.
Obviously, I disagreed. Giving every woman a gun is not rape prevention. If a woman chooses to go out and buy a …
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Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by Anya J on 03/4/2013
Sexism Is Not Actually “Edgy”
Seth McFarlane has been repeatedly called an ”edgy” choice for an Oscars host. The Onion brands itself as a daring, controversial form of satire, steadfastly refusing ‘to knuckle under to pressure from the community.’ Unfortunately, there is nothing edgy, nothing daring, and nothing unique about an hours-long fest of sexist, racist, and objectifying “jokes,” comments, songs, and tweets.
As charming and incredibly talented 9-year-old actress Quvenzhané Wallis was at the Oscars celebrating being the youngest person ever nominated for Best Actress (and only the tenth black actress ever nominated), the Onion, a satirical newspaper, put out the following tweet:
Reducing the incredible achievements of a young girl of color down to a highly gendered insult isn’t edgy or daring. It’s reinforcing sexism, and that’s the opposite of risky humor. …
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Feminism | Posted by Julie Z on 03/2/2013
Saturday Vids: End The Silence – National Eating Disorder Awareness Week
In honor of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, here’s one young woman’s message about having an eating disorder. To learn more, visit the NEDA website.
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Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by mbond on 03/1/2013
Sexism On Late Night TV: Even Jimmy Fallon Isn’t Immune
Jimmy Fallon is charming, enthusiastic, and totally non-controversial. Ask any fan or casual “Late Night” viewer, and you’ll hear things like, “Yeah, he seems like a really nice guy.” Recently, however, Fallon was also the conduit for Artie Lange (a washed-up comedian and self-identified “G-List” celebrity) to spew sexism and to promote ogling and objectifying women as a vehicle for male bonding.
A quick summary: On Fallon’s February 18th show, Lange shared a story of meeting NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown at a celebrity football game. Rather than playing in the game, Lange and Brown both sat on the bench and occupied themselves by “staring Kate Upton’s ass.” Upton is a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, and she was wearing “real tight pants” that day, by Lange’s account. During the …
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Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by Becka W on 02/25/2013
Top Five Fictional Female Athletes
Anybody who has ever met me can agree on one important point: I am a pop culture addict, with a list of favorite TV shows and movies a mile long. Some of my all-time heroes are fictional ones and it’s undeniable that even fictional depictions of women deeply impact the way girls and women view themselves and model their lives. Unfortunately, these representations are often based on stereotypical gender roles — including a serious lack of representation of female athletes. This may not seem like the most pressing issue, but studies have shown that girls who participate in sports have greater self esteem and participating in sports imparts valuable lessons. Modeling the benefits of sports in the media has the potential to impact countless girls, which is why I want …
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Feminism, Pop-Culture | Posted by Jasmine W on 02/18/2013
Defeating the Enemy: Me
About three days out of every week I have what I like to call “ugly days.” These are days where I feel like I look like crap and nothing I do can change it. This puts me in a terrible mood, and it makes me lose focus. As I walk through hallways of crowded people, hallways of classmates, of peers, I am wondering what they’re thinking about me. Did they notice the swollenness of my face, the scars left by acne, the dark circles under my eyes? Are they judging me because of how I look? They must think that I didn’t even try, but really I did. I tried so hard.
That is when an important question appears: why? Why am I trying so hard? Whose approval am I …
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Feminism | Posted by Mansi K on 02/13/2013
I’m Not Sorry I’m A Girl. I’m Sorry You Care.
How are you supposed to feel the first time you realize your grandparents wish you had been born a boy? I’m still not sure. I do know, however, that if my paternal grandparents had the option to transfer my identity into a body with a penis, they would gladly capitalize on the opportunity. I, the oldest child, should have been born a boy. When I came out penis-less, this hope was transferred to my younger sibling. Well, exactly 4.5 years later, my mother disappointed again. And that was it; my parents didn’t want more children.
I have never doubted the fact that my grandparents love me. But every time I remember that I am worth even a little bit less because I have breasts or because I will not carry …
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