tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19662980304721118402024-03-05T12:00:57.031-08:00Under Athena's Wingtsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-80129794045612923852014-04-30T16:27:00.002-07:002014-04-30T16:27:36.705-07:00The Unslut Project<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/eunslut-logo.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="eUnslut Logo" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-538" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/eunslut-logo.jpg?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
by Taylor Solomon</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Emily Lindin was first called a slut in 1997 at the age of eleven. Her middle school began to fill with rumors that she and her boyfriend were having sex, which soon turned into rumors that she and a number of boys were having sex. She was labeled “the middle school slut,” and torment and bullying (both sexual and emotional) stemmed from her new reputation, which followed her through high school. Lindin began the Unslut project in 2013, by creating a blog where she posted diary entries from when she was ages eleven to fourteen. She is sharing her story hoping it will help people be aware of slut shaming and sexual bullying and how often they occur. In an interview with the blog Qual Pipe, Lindin listed two goals of the Unslut Project. First, “to serve as a resource to girls who are currently victims of sexual bullying.” And second, “to spread the word to as many people as possible that slut shaming is appallingly prevalent on an individual and societal level, and that it is up to us to change our view of female sexuality as a culture.”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Lindin’s middle school experience is relatable, whether you were bullied or not. She writes of note passing, dances, and school trips. The ways she and her classmates talk to and treat is other is reminiscent of how my friends and I acted at that age. Considering I was not in middle school until five years after Emily, I’d venture to say kids still treat each other similarly.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/emily-lindin.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="emily lindin" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-539" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/emily-lindin.jpg?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Not only does Lindin talk about herself being bullied, you can see times in her entries when she is mean to a classmate or calls someone a name based on whatever their own reputation may be. This goes to show how common of a practice this is and how easily we can be the bully without even realizing it. Though the people in Emily’s entries are middle and high schoolers, an adult can still read them and see ways in which they may need to reevaluate their treatment of their own peers.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
One thing I found interesting reading through Lindin’s blog was how much they relied on the internet as a tool to bully one another. And this was in 1997–their main options were e-mail and instant messenger, though there is the occasional free website made in order to harass or call out a single student. Lindin has said the hardest entry to read and share was one about a friend of hers making an instant messenger screenname, “DieEmilyLindin,” and then using it to anonymously torment her. Social media has progressed so much since then, making a source that was already easy for adolescents to get their hands on, that much easier for them to turn to.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Lindin’s project is one that I believe is very important and I look forward to supporting. Her website has now grown to include a section where people may share their own stories of sexual bullying and a blog where she writes posts on the topic. She just finished production on the movie, “Slut: A Documentary Film,” in which she speaks to sexologists, psychologists, and media figures on how we can shape society so that words like slut are no longer used as insults.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
You can read Emily’s diary entries at <a href="http://unslutproject.tumblr.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;">http://unslutproject.tumblr.com</a></div>
tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-49690120777140666362014-04-30T16:22:00.000-07:002014-04-30T16:22:05.300-07:00Terry Richardson: A Modeling Nightmare<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/obama.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Obama" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-527" height="401" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/obama.jpg?w=604&h=401" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="604" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
by Taylor Solomon</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
If you are familiar with the fashion world, then you have more than likely seen the photography of Terry Richardson. Richardson has photographed countless celebrities including Chloe Sevigny, James Franco, Gwen Stefani, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and even President Barack Obama. He’s worked for publications like <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vogue</em>, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">GQ</em>, and <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Rolling Stone</em> and brands including Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford. He even directed Miley Cyrus’s now infamous “Wrecking Ball” music video. His style of photography is simple and recognizable with high commercial success, but there is a reason these big name brands should stop fueling his fame.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/gaga.jpeg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Gaga" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-523" height="403" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/gaga.jpeg?w=604&h=403" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="604" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Starting in 2010, several models have come forward saying that Terry Richardson sexually assaulted them during a photo-shoot. The models who participate in these shoots are often “unknowns,” and are therefore less familiar with the work and more willing to do whatever they can to make a name for themselves. The acts themselves are vile and demeaning, and just when you think you’ve heard them all, another model speaks out about an uncomfortable experience she’s had with Richardson. The allegations include everything from Richardson asking a model to be nude and simulate oral sex on a man present at the shoot to Richardson asking models to perform sexual acts on himself.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/cohen.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Cohen" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-522" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/cohen.jpg?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Liskula Cohen (pictured above) stated that in twenty-four years of modeling, the only time she walked out on a shoot was with Terry Richardson.</div>
<blockquote style="-webkit-hyphens: none; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: italic; margin: 24px 40px; quotes: none;">
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 24px;">
“He made me feel as if I was a prostitute…I want other girls who read this to know that if you do something like this, you will survive, but it will haunt you. I have scoured the internet for these images and thankfully they are nowhere to be found. But it haunts me in my own mind…That shoot was nearly twelve years ago and it still outrages me…I am a forty-one year old mother and this is how my work experience with Terry has left me.”</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/glee.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Glee" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-524" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/glee.jpg?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Terry’s work has often sexualized women, even when working with celebrities. Take his 2010 GQ photoshoot of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Glee</em> stars Cory Montieth, Dianna Agron, and Lea Michele. Montieth is photographed completely clothed and playing drums while Agron and Michele are shown in skimpy outfits and provocative poses. Similarly, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">GQ</em> used Richardson for a 2012 spread of Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston where Rudd is seen wearing a suit, while Aniston poses in a bra and mini skirt. This is a pattern in Richardson’s photography: men are fashionably clothed while women are scantily clad. In the same way Montieth was photographed with a drum set, his photos of men often include sets or props that play off of what that particular celebrity is known for. In a 2011 issue of <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">GQ</em>, Derek Jeter is pictured standing with a baseball bat, and in a 2010 issue, Jeff Bridges is photographed in a sweater reminiscent of his iconic role in <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Big Lebowski</em>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/gossip-girl.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Gossip Girl" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-525" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/gossip-girl.jpg?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Recently, Terry Richardson spoke out regarding these claims for the first time, calling the whole thing an “emotionally charged witch hunt.” He explains that sexual imagery has for a long time been a part of his work, and he has chosen to only work with consenting adults, all of whom signed release forms. The latter here is particularly interesting considering model Sarah Hilker described the girls at one of his shoots as being “so drunk they could barely stand, never mind be of sound mind to sign a model release form.” It is also important to make the point that, though he takes a stance against these allegations, he never denies anything.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/notbuying-it.png" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="notbuying it" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-526" src="http://gcwomenscenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/notbuying-it.png?w=604" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
People have already started to stand up against Terry Richardson. H&M, who in the past have used him to shoot advertisements, say they have no plans to use him in the future. In hopes to shame big companies, <em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jezebel</em> has published a list of all of the magazines who have chosen to use him since the first claims in 2010. Lena Dunham, who in the past has been socially linked to Richardson, recently said in an interview “I’m not big on regrets, but I regret posing for Terry Richardson. As for being friends with him, he’s not and never was my friend… I’m also not in the business of being BFFs with alleged sexual predators.” There is currently an online petition reaching out to these big name brands and asking that they choose not to use Richardson’s photography in the future. It is important that in a world that can look past claims and assaults when they pertain to so-called artists, we have the strength to stand up for what is right.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Online Petition against Richardson: <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/big-brands-stop-using-alleged-sex-offender-pornographic-terry-richardson-as-your-photographer" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.change.org/petitions/big-brands-stop-using-alleged-sex-offender-pornographic-terry-richardson-as-your-photographer</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Jezebel’s List of Magazines who have used him: <a href="http://jezebel.com/who-supports-and-funds-terry-richardson-gq-and-bazaar-1543259950?utm_campaign=socialfow_jezebel_twitter&utm_source=jezebel_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;">http://jezebel.com/who-supports-and-funds-terry-richardson-gq-and-bazaar-1543259950?utm_campaign=socialfow_jezebel_twitter&utm_source=jezebel_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Sources:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://girliegirlarmy.com/lifestyle/20131106/terry-richardson-indecencies-revealed-by-supermodel/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;">http://girliegirlarmy.com/lifestyle/20131106/terry-richardson-indecencies-revealed-by-supermodel/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jan/11/lena-dunham-called-fat-hideous-and-i-lived" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #98631f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/jan/11/lena-dunham-called-fat-hideous-and-i-lived</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Originally written for: http://gcwomenscenter.wordpress.com</div>
<div class="sharedaddy sd-like-enabled sd-sharing-enabled" id="jp-post-flair" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #252137; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<div class="sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled" style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;">
</div>
</div>
tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-30350444048885035162014-03-08T11:12:00.002-08:002014-03-08T11:12:30.774-08:00Happy International Women's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rpjmeyI2pfI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Hope everyone's International Women's Day is off to a great start! Be sure to check out my 10 Ways to Celebratetsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-44771699915011226782014-03-07T08:35:00.001-08:002014-03-07T08:35:19.404-08:0010 Things to do for International Women's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/osSQPaA7wSg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-68323f6e-9d4c-f351-298a-c1aec4295ad6" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-68323f6e-9d4c-f351-298a-c1aec4295ad6" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tomorrow, March 8th, is International Women’s Day, a holiday for celebrating the women in your life and the many political and social achievements of women. As this holiday is so important to me, I wanted to share some ways to celebrate.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT5equKONpCYzFy_VpZzGBs35yxn21RSJcM70hI4nkxrZsu9Z6WTN-42dauauIWl51ULmDOJvlHrh403un2hAuyPUR9KkLCi7_Rmh7aF8eNbrfq4sZ4_yQUTwSXyqSD3wXATCcnW5cwc/s1600/Iron+Jawed+Angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT5equKONpCYzFy_VpZzGBs35yxn21RSJcM70hI4nkxrZsu9Z6WTN-42dauauIWl51ULmDOJvlHrh403un2hAuyPUR9KkLCi7_Rmh7aF8eNbrfq4sZ4_yQUTwSXyqSD3wXATCcnW5cwc/s1600/Iron+Jawed+Angels.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1. Enjoy women in all forms of media. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808417/">“Persepolis”</a> or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338139/">“Iron Jawed Angels.”</a> (Both available on iTunes) Read </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Well-Behaved-Women-Seldom-Make-History/dp/1400075270">Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History</a> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich or, one of my personal favorites, </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Killed-Women-American-Comedy/dp/1250037786"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We Killed: The Rise of Women in American History</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, and oral history collected by Yael Kohen. Listen to Carly Simon, Carole King, and Joni Mitchell.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevsykUvQny5fzq1UJW-g58lJ7CYv1dIJt9CuTcahlR_uSpFfLE1GSPWQB7t2I3U2As-f8jqmZgL8JG2piEIVGGhIGo427Xz9NV6eBKSVMu33QCjcJBFazaa-wMt874rYBI0HBElW5CUU/s1600/dinner+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevsykUvQny5fzq1UJW-g58lJ7CYv1dIJt9CuTcahlR_uSpFfLE1GSPWQB7t2I3U2As-f8jqmZgL8JG2piEIVGGhIGo427Xz9NV6eBKSVMu33QCjcJBFazaa-wMt874rYBI0HBElW5CUU/s1600/dinner+party.jpg" height="215" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Dinner Party </i>by Judy Chicago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2. Educate yourself on women’s history. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> There are many museums devoted to women’s history like the <a href="http://womensmuseumca.org/">Women’s Museum of California</a> and the <a href="http://www.nmwa.org/">National Museum of Women in the Arts</a>. If you can not make the trip to one of these places, you can always visit the<a href="http://www.imow.org/home/index"> International Museum for Women </a>online and enjoy the knowledge their website has to offer.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEaSypLTs5nkKaKlqPTA5xxA_0AIekaszFBBJ3fRBQo89sGR7bC2ZPwzxW-rpVieGy97uI0pJJ5xfOHCwSEYi9IucRkfULxx3dwMCZbcbY-npeCn9nCbOs70qanqhM911sZxaJl3KtlY/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEaSypLTs5nkKaKlqPTA5xxA_0AIekaszFBBJ3fRBQo89sGR7bC2ZPwzxW-rpVieGy97uI0pJJ5xfOHCwSEYi9IucRkfULxx3dwMCZbcbY-npeCn9nCbOs70qanqhM911sZxaJl3KtlY/s1600/dinner.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3. Host a dinner for your friends. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Cooking a meal is a great way to make yourself feel appreciated, while doing the same for others. Plus nothing goes better with friendship than food.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSSDDIvRi1HwkV8IACmx-vS6rAUfNr2qLtuRyRAL0o0vHjF9zNNDwiRB5Jk5X-QVQfX18YeYAoU47A8_CJUgCCdJvI2ws5ahDiYB1MueXonOObD8-4X1m0qxKahR7Ari_725cFeDWF1Y/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSSDDIvRi1HwkV8IACmx-vS6rAUfNr2qLtuRyRAL0o0vHjF9zNNDwiRB5Jk5X-QVQfX18YeYAoU47A8_CJUgCCdJvI2ws5ahDiYB1MueXonOObD8-4X1m0qxKahR7Ari_725cFeDWF1Y/s1600/flowers.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4. Let the women in your life know they are appreciated. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Call your mom. Send your best friend flowers. Write a thank you note to the professor who mentored you through college. These are ways to acknowledge others which are simple, but still incredibly effective.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-_eF8a5J3z_0qmPTQ7-zfesNb5ayMPI7tV6IPFxhqSQ5O8d5n543SqkVzovvdMadNYnUrGrgVPRUE-F4Mza3svxKtp0uFvsNbTZqCPQUZD_dnJoz127_ShGiQrti4qA80K1M5DyPw3o/s1600/tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-_eF8a5J3z_0qmPTQ7-zfesNb5ayMPI7tV6IPFxhqSQ5O8d5n543SqkVzovvdMadNYnUrGrgVPRUE-F4Mza3svxKtp0uFvsNbTZqCPQUZD_dnJoz127_ShGiQrti4qA80K1M5DyPw3o/s1600/tea.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">5. Pamper yourself. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you are a follower of my writing you know I am all about the Treat Yo Self and I can’t think of a better day to show you some love! Whether it be taking a warm bubble bath, going for a sunny walk, or curling up with a mug of tea to watch your favorite series of Netflix for the millionth time, care for yourself by doing what you want.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">6. Wear a purple ribbon. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Purple is often a color used to represent women’s rights or empowerment. Wear a ribbon to publicly show your support. If others ask you about it this is a great opportunity to share this cause with them.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">7. Donate. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are many organizations working to educate the population on women’s health and social issues. Giving your time or money to these groups can be a huge help to them as well as make you feel accomplished.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">8. Write a letter to a company that uses sexism in their advertisements. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You were given a beautiful empowered voice, use it! You never know when it could be your words that really make an effect on these companies whose image can be so powerful in media today.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEcv2cSkyXNBoBNq-MIOBQJ7UOQFUgIH-9POB3bBGbAKltiopKtTKBBKT6veLJwYwhc_3PWgS5OcLoB4OMEO7PIbrYF7BRE746rMnZO2f2Cef8vzULGdYmoC7pO4V09gPrWOA1kJoRec/s1600/card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEcv2cSkyXNBoBNq-MIOBQJ7UOQFUgIH-9POB3bBGbAKltiopKtTKBBKT6veLJwYwhc_3PWgS5OcLoB4OMEO7PIbrYF7BRE746rMnZO2f2Cef8vzULGdYmoC7pO4V09gPrWOA1kJoRec/s1600/card.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">9. Write a letter to a company who shows a commitment to gender equality. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As important it is to voice an opinion when you believe something is wrong, it is just as necessary to show an appreciation of those who you believe are doing the right thing. Often times if people are acknowledged for something they did in the past, they’ll continue to act that way in the future.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">10. Teach a younger girl in your life how it feels to be empowered. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Younger generations are so important for our future. Take the time to teach someone younger than you about women’s history and what we can still do to make an impact.</span></span></div>
tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-34666357715545423842014-02-28T08:00:00.000-08:002014-02-28T08:00:10.457-08:00Go For the Gold<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid--c1b0d31-7936-416b-ffa6-ff013ced8d94" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
2014 Winter Olympics ended this past Sunday. While watching the events
I found the reactions of my friends, family, and the media, as well as
myself, very telling of how our society looks at women. It is not
enough that these women are some of the best athletes in the world, they
must be pretty too. Without realizing it we judge female athletes more
on their looks than on their outstanding ability in their respected
sport. Not only does this affect how we look at them, but it affects
how they act. These women feel they must live up to a higher standard
of skill and good looks. <a href="http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2014/02/10/medals-arent-enough-female-olympians-still-have-to-sell-sexiness/"> In a recent interview figure skater, Ashley Wagner, said “I feel like the media and society in general--because it is easy--put female athletes into two boxes. You’re either a very pretty athlete or you go to the opposite end of the spectrum and you’re very sexy.</a>” There is no room to be an unattractive female athlete.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqp-ovd8i2TWObxmsE-cQCgIhrYqx6enHxyzKgNarIUGSRE1CihsXd6jVswSuTPwphT19XW9PLfKJc6ZG4a0li8rw-oATwq5v-OY8NyMm5FAUEUCV3fbjDL_Ac7b271hsk3R_H569m_Y/s1600/Gracie+Gold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqp-ovd8i2TWObxmsE-cQCgIhrYqx6enHxyzKgNarIUGSRE1CihsXd6jVswSuTPwphT19XW9PLfKJc6ZG4a0li8rw-oATwq5v-OY8NyMm5FAUEUCV3fbjDL_Ac7b271hsk3R_H569m_Y/s1600/Gracie+Gold.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">NBC
marketed eighteen year old figure skater, Gracie Gold, as the “face of
the Olympics.” As an Olympic athlete she should become a household name
for her talent, not because she’s being billed as “America’s
Sweetheart.” This is the first year women’s ski jumping has been
included in the Olympic games. How cool would it be if they were the
“face of the Olympics?” These women have worked so hard to get to go to
Sochi and will forever be a huge part of Olympic and Women’s history.
I can’t think of anything wrong with using strength and willpower to
promote the games, not just a pretty face.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzK3W_X8Cug6neOMIu6ToyGcyLhBekSzFa8nrrd7S828EB4b__t3NlNK7alrgTmQbPuxsYwoJbX6PFDkeowgFkpcrPVi7NFi3onoALdVVCYsxA5VZydJ98wbbANJfiSRQgAr-NFEXPBU/s1600/Julia+Mancuso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzK3W_X8Cug6neOMIu6ToyGcyLhBekSzFa8nrrd7S828EB4b__t3NlNK7alrgTmQbPuxsYwoJbX6PFDkeowgFkpcrPVi7NFi3onoALdVVCYsxA5VZydJ98wbbANJfiSRQgAr-NFEXPBU/s1600/Julia+Mancuso.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before
traveling to Sochi, Alpine skier Julia Mancuso provocatively posed for
GQ magazine wearing nothing but what she calls her “lucky underwear.”
She has since won the bronze medal in her event but will continue to be
known more for this photoshoot. The Russian team posted photos on
their website of their female athletes scantily clad in lacy lingerie
and see through garments saying <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2550897/Off-piste-Russias-female-Olympians-Russia-goes-Sochi-charm-offensive-scantily-clad-photo-call-athletes-youve-never-seen-before.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490">“Our Russian team defies stereotypes that women in sports are just a heap of muscles and masculine shapes.”</a></span></div>
<br />
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCv7ifBEVlF-YPejBFNwIwzmKUxV5nN7gqUNyVkUuZGf_Iuvip43gA2soHOReCfL_5-uNaIktl4urbqWMxWKA8CqGb2s2mtsE0DBggWCt1Hrz_hKjXS4AhIJEQ2W3OpPQGOG1YrPkOKg/s1600/Ski+Jumping+Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCv7ifBEVlF-YPejBFNwIwzmKUxV5nN7gqUNyVkUuZGf_Iuvip43gA2soHOReCfL_5-uNaIktl4urbqWMxWKA8CqGb2s2mtsE0DBggWCt1Hrz_hKjXS4AhIJEQ2W3OpPQGOG1YrPkOKg/s1600/Ski+Jumping+Team.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These
sort of photo shoots are often defended saying athletes in winter
sports wear so much gear and equipment, its humanizing to see them
without their pads and goggles. I applaud <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/magazine/who-said-girls-cant-jump.html?_r=2&">New York Times</a> for
successfully achieving this without having the athletes strip down.
Their article on the US women’s ski jumping team shows them training
and in full uniform but also having fun and interacting with each other.
While this is a huge problem in the world of women’s athletics, itis
not as much in men’s. A google search of “Female athletes 2014 winter
Olympics” will provide pages of results like “15 Hottest Female
Athletes,” “Hottest Olympic Athletes,” and “The 50 Hottest Female
Athletes of the 2014 Winter Olympics.” A search for “Male Athletes 2014
Winter Olympics” gives you more skill-based headlines, “List of Olympic
medalists” and “Meet the 2014 US Olympic Team in Sochi.” We must work
to make ability the priority for all genders of athletes.</span></div>
<br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-75909172636135055212014-02-17T15:41:00.004-08:002014-02-17T15:41:52.188-08:00Can Beyonce have her cake and eat it too?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nKNKt-7GBkQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b92fbc3-4236-b435-3d53-04721c7716ff"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Since the release of her self-titled album Beyoncé has been placed on a feminist pedestal, so to speak. The video for the song “Pretty Hurts,” the moral of which is “perfection is the disease of our nation,” depicts Beyoncé as a vulnerable pageant contestant. Her song “Flawless” samples Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk, “We Should All Be Feminists.” Despite these powerful messages, there is one lyric on the album that does not sit well with me.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the song, “Drunk in Love,” Beyoncé collaborates with her husband Jay-Z. It is without a doubt one of her most sexually fueled songs to date. The couple explicitly describes their sex life, but it is Jay-Z’s verse where you can find the troubling lyric: “I’m like Ike Turner, turn up/Baby no I don’t play/Now eat the cake Anna Mae.” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b92fbc3-4237-143d-bfb1-695237875118"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The line references the 1993 biopic based on Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship, “What’s Love Got to do With It?” In one scene, after experiencing the satisfaction of hearing her own song on the radio Tina, born Anna Mae Bullock, meets Ike in a diner where he has purchased her a cake to celebrate the newfound success. After she says she does not want any, Ike forces the cake into her face yelling “Eat the cake, Anna Mae.”</span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DadlLq2yrBw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship was infamously tumultuous. She has said her 1968 suicide attempt was because it was the only way she believed she’d feel free. She ultimately had corrective surgery on her nasal septum due to the number of times he had beaten her. He is quoted in a 1985 </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spin </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">interview saying “Yeah I hit her, but I didn’t hit her more than the average guy beats his wife...If she says I’ve abused her, maybe I did.”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-indent: 36pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4b92fbc3-4238-c02f-1840-9e03f203816a"></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A London-based radio station had the lyric removed saying it displayed the “promotion of domestic violence against women.” I was surprised to hear the lyric during Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Grammy performance (which aired during the eight o’clock hour) and even more surprised to see Beyoncé sing along with it.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a world where two women a week are killed by a current or former partner and eighty-five percent of survivors know their attacker prior to rape or assault, we must do whatever we can to keep this topic serious and make a conscious effort not to trivialize the act. Often times, we expect an artists’ work to reflect their own lives. I’d love for this to open the floor for more conversation and eventually a statement from Beyoncé on the matter. I can’t imagine giving my partner the okay to reference a man who seems completely unfazed by abusing his wife on something that has my name attached to it. As this choice has me dumbfounded, I am begging to ask Beyoncé “Why?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source List:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Turner" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Turner</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic_violence_topic.asp?section=0001000100220036" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic_violence_topic.asp?section=0001000100220036</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4b92fbc3-4239-9bdd-7af3-0d3eeff35370"></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/maritalrape2.php" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/maritalrape2.php</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div>
tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-3728200187689060852014-02-17T15:35:00.001-08:002014-02-17T15:35:08.752-08:00Response to TFM's "Stop Crying Rape"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Recently Catie Warren, a correspondent for the website Total Frat Move, wrote an article titled </span><a href="http://totalsororitymove.com/stop-crying-rape" style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">“Stop Crying Rape.”</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> In this article, Warren describes college-aged girls who go out, drink excessively, and subsequently sleep with their male peers, only to claim they have been raped when they wake up the next day regretting their actions. Warren believes that this practice creates a mockery of actual sexual assault victims. While I agree with her that a remorseful sexual encounter is not rape, I do believe there are a few points which should be discussed regarding this article.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">In Catie Warren’s article, there is an overgeneralization of exactly what rape is. She writes as though the only victims of rape are college-aged women who have had too much to drink and fall into bed with someone. Sexual assault is very prominent on college campuses, but it happens in many different situations as well. Women can be victims; men can be victims. The attacker and the victim may be of the same sex. It can occur drunk or sober. The attacker may be a stranger, or it may be someone you have known your entire life. Even when it occurs on college campuses, </span><a href="http://www.rainn.org/public-policy/campus-safety" style="background-color: white; color: #626262; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">only 5% of students who have been sexually assaulted will report the case</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">. So why should we try to discourage others from doing so?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">There is a lack of knowledge about consent, making it more difficult to know exactly what is and is not considered rape. Consent is an agreement between two people who voluntarily and willingly want to have sex with each other. Consent is discussed before sexual activity has commenced and is consistently revisited regarding different sexual acts. Consent is not implied or assumed, even if you are in a long-term relationship or have had sex with that person before.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Catie Warren’s article gives several examples of victim shaming (making a victim feel responsible or ashamed of his or her own victimization), a huge problem which attributes to today’s rape culture. Rape culture is an environment where sexual violence is excused in reality as well as in media and pop culture. Some examples of rape culture include blaming the victim, sexually explicit jokes, gender violence in movies and television, sexually fueled song lyrics, and refusing to take rape accusations seriously. Some ways we can avoid rape culture are to avoid using language that is degrading to women, to speak out when someone makes an offensive joke, define your own manhood or womanhood without letting stereotypes shape it, and communicating with sexual partners about consent.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Yes, Catie Warren was right to stress the fact that sex which you agreed to, though you may regret, is in not considered rape. But this article is missing several key points which I felt should be emphasized. Rape is not just something that happens to girls at parties. It can happen to anyone in almost any situation. Consensual sex occurs when two people have previously discussed that they want to have sex with each other. Therein lies an issue that needs to be discussed. How do we empower young women and men to have that clarifying conversation? Talking about and defining consent is the beginning and needs to be the norm. As a society we have to stop tolerating “rape” as a casual term. For example, “our football team raped in intramurals” or “I raped that calculus exam.” It is a powerful word with an emotional connotation and should not be used so innocuously it seems like an attempt to make an action of the word. We must band together to abolish a culture where it is okay to excuse or joke about rape.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Originally written for the Georgia College Women's Center</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">.</span>tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1966298030472111840.post-7770809079653686902014-02-17T15:33:00.000-08:002014-02-17T15:33:16.059-08:00Introduction to Under Athena's Wing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp1q-Rp55QoZMqUeD4vHP11SMPuSIu-j9KWI1CImaoB_jZDTVALKfP6YO1xmuwNFn5NqJ4v1UdQx4dcFCMdHDNlV7YCv_nPDIgsSYb3ii_Et0LQywKqWRKJa_cx8Gtqeh7ca3hMPJdz8/s1600/Athena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMp1q-Rp55QoZMqUeD4vHP11SMPuSIu-j9KWI1CImaoB_jZDTVALKfP6YO1xmuwNFn5NqJ4v1UdQx4dcFCMdHDNlV7YCv_nPDIgsSYb3ii_Et0LQywKqWRKJa_cx8Gtqeh7ca3hMPJdz8/s1600/Athena.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I have recently started working at the Women's Center at my school and have come to the realization that Women's and Gender issues are my passion. Though I will continue to post on <a href="http://taylorsolomon.blogspot.com/">my personal blog</a>, I began this blog as a place to collect my feminist related writings. Though Greek mythology is not known for being incredibly feminist, I believe Athena could act as a great role model for many women. Not only is she my favorite goddess, she is representative of wisdom, courage, strength, and skill; all traits we must embody in order to make the change we want. Growing up in Athens, Georgia, I was constantly seeing Athena in the form of a statue placed in the middle of our downtown. I have always found this depiction of her regal and worth looking up to. As I am still new to the feminist world, I titled this blog Under Athena's Wing to represent the position I believe I am in. I have found something that I love so much and though I am no expert on the subject I am so ready and willing to learn and be able to put these lessons back into this world.<br />
<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6V6W_Athena_Athens_GA">Way Marking</a><br />
<br />tsolomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11057498543902200851noreply@blogger.com0