Pop-Culture | Posted by Zhenya T on 08/24/2010

“The Woman”: Feminism and Fashion

"The Woman" – Mad Men era femininity reflected by the era's fashion

As the season changes, so do fashion trends; Elle, Vogue and many other magazines have shifted focus from bikinis to boots. This brought a thought to my mind about something that is supposedly back in style: “The Woman.”

“The Woman” is a trend that was conjured up on the runways of Louis Vuitton and Prada in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Obviously, other designers made clothing for women; however it was those two that were somehow considered to have captured the stereotypical essence of femininity. Both collections displayed subdued hues, midi-length, some sort of hourglass shape and frills. Prada seems to send the message that some ruffles on my boobs will do the trick of enhancing not only my bust but also my…

More >

Feminism | Posted by Jill L on 08/23/2010

The Sex of the Scientist

female scientists rockkkk

Despite emerging from them under the vague impression that everything had gone well, I am currently awaiting my exam results with a degree of aprehension, multiplied by a summer of post-exam discussion and dissection.
However, sitting these papers confirmed something to me which I have long suspected. Whenever I exited the exam hall, I would be greeted by my contempoaries standing in huddles and, broadly speaking, the conversations would sound a bit like this. I’ll set the scene.

(Tuesday Afternoon, Outside School, Post Chemistry exam, Rain)
Boy 1- How do you think that went?
Boy 2- I aced it. Seriously. Probably did the best out of all of everyone who has ever sat the exam ever. It went brilliantly. It was so easy. Not going to lie, I was fantastic. What about…

More >

Pop-Culture | Posted by Danielle B on 08/10/2010

Anybody Else Freaked Out By Child Beauty Pageants?

I have to ask this question: am I the only one who’s completely freaked out by child beauty pageants? I mean, whenever I’m flipping through our 900 channels (887 of which are useless) and happen across the show Toddlers & Tiaras, I can’t help but watch it. I just sit there with this overall dumb look on my face because I am both mesmerized and horrified by these strange, nightmare-like creatures that are some people’s idea of “beauty.”

I don’t care what the message was in Miss Congeniality, beauty pageants are messed up. Having full grown women prance around in bikinis to prove their self-confidence is degrading enough, but watching little 5-year-old girls do the same seems borderline abusive. These are tiny, tiny girls. Babies. Yet their coaches – who am…

More >

Pop-Culture | Posted by Shanminio D on 07/15/2010

Sparknotes Gender Test and Gender Stereotypes

sparknotes: more than just helping you cheat!

Ok, the gender test on the Sparknotes website really pisses me off.

Their claim: “Guys and girls are different in ways only we realize. In fact, without asking about your clohtes, grooming, or chest, our Gender Test will predict, with 100% accuracy, whether you’re a guy or a girl. This test’s patented Geni-Tell technology has gotten smarter with every taker. Finally, witness the true power of the Internet.”

I took the test and, apparently, I am a man:

“Well, deep down, your gender affects everything about you, from your favorite number to your views on Canada. Many men who took the test think and act just like you, as you can see from the graph above. Statistically speaking, you are a man—whether you know it or not.”

I’m not offended. But really? It’s…

More >

Pop-Culture | Posted by Julie Z on 07/6/2010

Teen Girls and Twilight: Why Do We Buy It?

the white dress…the red ribbon. SYMBOLISM I DONT LIKE.

After reading Dodai at Jezebel’s minute-by-minute blog of Eclipse, I thought that I could finally pass on an opportunity to fund Twilight mania. Alas, I was wrong: the dark cyclone of doom that is Stephanie Meyer’s brainchild  sucked me in with the masses…in the form of trying to bond with my 15 year old cousin who I see once a year.

I read Twilight, I was grossed out, and I moved on. I’m not going to go on about the sexist and abusive messages being portrayed in this series, and I’m not going to insult the quality of the movies or the books because frankly I just don’t give a shit anymore; it’s been done (here, for example). No, I don’t want to…

More >