Lower Self Esteem, Guaranteed!

We all know Wal-Mart has become a problem. They shut down successful independent businesses, over 70% of their products come from China, employees are treated with no respect, women are blatantly paid at least 5% less than men. The list goes on and on. But we can now ad a new point to Wal-Mart's seemingly endless checklist of offenses.

Attention parents, please lock the doors and pull the curtains. The Big Brother of superstores is now targeting your daughters.

Put yourself in the shoes of a teenage girl: You're trying to find a way to fit in. Twilight is the latest fad at school (unfortunately). You just happen to be in Wal-Mart. So, naturally, you check out Wally World's pathetic excuse for a book section. And there it is (cue the Hallelujah), three whole shelves stocked full of vampires.

But wait, there's more! Just inches above Stephenie Meyer's "masterpieces", three different editions of Eat This, Not That and The Flat Belly Diet books littered the shelves. The message that is being said to young adults is disgusting. “Hey girls, want to look like Bella and feel good about yourself? Just lose 30 pounds, after getting knocked up, of course!”

To make matters worse, the cover of YOU Having a Baby had an intimidating picture of a pointing finger, clearly attempting to single out any unsuspecting soul looking for a decent read.

No wonder girls have issues with self esteem!
I wonder if Sam Walton knew that he would significantly contribute to the lack of self esteem, confidence, and comfortablity of young American women?
Maybe, or maybe not.

So Mr. Walton, I raise my glass to you and your company, to all the thousands of lives you've managed to destroy in your quest to "save money and live better".

Dinner with the Broads on Bull

As a part of a new program, the Charleston 40 invites in-coming Freshmen to have dinner in a learning community. Thus, a terrified soon-to-be-freshman, John, spends an evening with the raging feminists at 2 Bull.

Dinner with the Broads on Bull by anjordan1 | Make Your Own At www.toondoo.com

Just Disgusting

Well, they're at it again. Only this time, it's not a cosmetic company, fashion magazine, or household product retailer. It's the fitness companies, or as I like to call them, the you're-too-fat-so-buy-our-product businesses. And at the top of the heap, above the diet pill and lyposuction propaganda is Reebok, a new contender in the Who Has the Most Revolting Advertisments competition. Take a look.



The first time I saw it, all I could say was "What the FUCK?! Did they really just put that on national television?!" So I see a couple problems with this commercial, and because you're still reading this, I'll wager you see them too, or at least want to hear my thoughts.

First off, what real woman has such a tiny (and honestly non-existent) ass? And why would a camera man (and there's no doubt he's a man) zoom in to a slight "bump in the road"? Makes no sense, I tell ya! When people say "Real women have curves," they mean it! Yes, there are some thin women out there, but the majority of ladies have large rumps and thighs, an evolutionary development that keeps our libido up and helps in childbirth. So why not depict a curvy woman and zoom in on an actual ass?

The next problem, however, is the actual zooming. For one thing, the commercial is for women, not men, so why would we want to see her derrier up close? Yes, yes, yes, if a man will focus on her, then they'll focus on me could be the intended thoughtprocess, but what is that doing to us? We think that we need to get these shoes, so our buns are tighter, but we're striving for something that isn't gauranteed. And for some, we just get let down and eat our feelings. I'm only half joking.

Check out this one, also by Reebok:

I'd say this commercial is less offensive, but it does do one thing the previous ad does not -- it forces your eyes to the breasts. It's not enough that the chick bends over in a very non-realistic, overtly sexual way, but we also have to stare at her tits. They're lovely, but really? I don't have enough to worry about when I'm being told my ass isn't as good as it could be? Or as it should be? Ugh. Damn shoes.

And last but not least, the third Reebok your-ass-isn't-good-enough ad:

True, it's classier, less trashy than the other two, but still all we see is another lady's backside and a panoramic view of a body we'll never have. Did you notice you don't see her face either? She's just an unattainable body. An object.

There's no sense in Reebok's advertising. They target women, yet they insult us with sexual images, inciting rage and jealousy, not confidence and self-worth. So how about show us a little respect dammit!

Meet the Broads

Lindsey - Sophomore, Chemistry and Women and Gender Studies major, token Republican and Moaning Myrtle.
Bess - Junior, Biology major, We're all jealous of her life.
Ashley - Sophomore, Political Science major, "I never played princess. I played queen."
Sarah Morris - senior, History and Women and Gender Studies major, has been called the "goddess of wgs."
Kate - sophomore, Women and Gender Studies major, bigstronglesbian.
Sarah Holt - junior and 1/2, Philosophy major, in case you didn't know, she's from Knoxville.

The Beauty Rant

What kind of feminist blog would this be if we didn't give an occasional shout out to the true beauties of the world? Well, there are three stories that have hit the news recently, and women everywhere should be aware! That's the most important thing after all.

First off, THE GOOD:

Very rarely do you see a mainstream, high-fashion-ish magazine like Glamour feature models who are bigger than a size two when they can highlight the emaciated, stick-like figures of today's supermodels. But thank God editors are coming to their senses!

We all know that curves are beautiful-- Jennifer Hudson, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Queen Latifa... The list of amazing, strong women with bodacious bods goes on and on! But, for some reason, white America does not embrace the magnificence of bodies like these. White people in power want tall, thin blonds with no ass and no breasts. They want lots of make-up, big eyes, and lots of skin to show... usually.

In September, Glamour ran a column about body confidence in which Lizzie Miller, a 180-lb buxom blond, and six other healthy ladies were featured. Miller is now known as the "Lady on Page 194" and has gotten rave reviews. And truth be told, in all her naked-ness and pudge, she is GORGEOUS! She is fresh, fun, and memorable. Her slight flaws are nothing compared to her smile and openness and the comfort she has with her body.

And the other ladies are just as fetching. All sexy, all models, all plus-sized. So who says sexy means emaciated? Certainly not I. And neither does the American public. In fact, more and more people are vying for "real" women to replace the so-thin-she's-almost-invisible supermodels.


So brava for the women who defy the sickly look in favor of a healthy body and for the editors who see right to feature them!!!


But now, THE BAD:

I used to have Barbies. A lot of them. They've changed so many times, gotten so many Dream Homes and makeovers and new friends that I can't keep track. My Barbies didn't look quite like they do now.

But now, a revamped Barbie is being offered to our children: The I'm so Skinny I Can't Support My Own Body Weight Barbie! She's fabulous-- tall, thin, blond, blue-eyed, and now with bigger boobs and smaller ankles!

Now you might say, "Well, what's wrong with Barbie changing with the times?" First , let's just examine what was bad about the old Barbie:

She is so disproportionately wrong, if she were a real woman, she's be over seven feet tall, only 110 pounds, and have to walk on all fours to be able to hold her body up. Is that really something that needs to be taken to the next level?

Well, French designer Christian Louboutin thinks Barbie has kankles... Wait. Correction: Barbie's arches make her look like she has kankles. So he is forcing Mattel to change it. They must be on crack. Barbie isn't already bad enough for impressionable girls' self-esteem; now she has to be thinner and even more unrealistic. Girls want to be like Barbie. The thinner and more disproportionate we make her, the worse off are our kids. Oy...


Last but not least, THE UGLY:


These days, even the sexiest, skinniest models can't get a break! It's big news now. Have you heard it? Filippa Hamilton, the 120-lb spokesmodel for Ralph Lauren, was fired, because she is too fat. Have you seen this lady?! She's one of the healthier looking girls -- sexy and alluring. But still she's too fat. C'mon! Rally?!

What's worse is after she was released from her contract, an ad of an extremely air-brushed Filippa appeared in a Japanese department store. This image is, according to RL, "a mistake", as if the correct picture was accidentally lost for a million dollar campaign and the extensive body editing, which is very expensive, was not meant to be shown. Sounds like a bunch of bull to me. I think the fashion industry is just getting worse and worse and even more full of itself.


Filippa herself said "I think [Ralph Lauren] owes American women an apology, a big apology. I'm very proud of what I look like, and I think a role model should look healthy." Agreed Filippa!

These fake hips are smaller than her head! In what world is that normal? In what world is so skinny you look like your starving equal to I-wanna-do-you sexy?

Our media and fashion world need wake up calls. No one wants to aspire to being sickly. We want healthy, full, and real. So let's be real. Let's embrace our bodies, ourselves and get over the digitally distorted look.

The Feminist Equation

I was browsing the internet to find something interesting to post tonight. I thought I could report on something historic, recent news, or give my thoughts on a quote. Well, that idea is shot, because I discovered something even more interesting... what normal people think of feminism.

Now when I say normal, I mean people (and I'm assuming they are men) who go to school, work, and have regular interaction with both strong and timid women. Just so everyone knows, the quotes I'm going to comment on come from urbandictionary.com. I know, I know -- that isn't a site you really want to quote, but if you think about it, any average Joe or Joan can add an entry. Therefore, these posts are personal opinions, not polished quips. It's a window into someone's mind. So let's get started! Here's quote number one:

"Feminism is a federally funded, politically correct, special interest hate group."

Hate group? How is a collection of women promoting the idea of equality a hate group? I can't even comprehend how the vigor behind the feminist movement can be compared to the aggression of extremist and supremacy organizations.

But don't think I'm taking the "hate group" part out of proportion. Listen to what another contributor wrote:

"Now [feminism] is equal to Nazism in it's zealous pursuit to destroy all that is manly..."

It then goes on to give a dialogue between a feminist and the writer:

"Feminist -- Who cares that the movement is nothing but reverse discrimination, as long as my daughter gets more opportunities than my son!"

Me -- And that's why feminism is good?!?! You know who else tried shit like this? Hitler, that's who..."

Blood boiling yet? From what I gather, all feminists loathe men, choose daughters over sons, and if we continue on our path of equality, we are Nazis. Sounds to me like someone's got the wrong idea about us. Let me just say, however, there are those of us who can be radical bra-burners and man-haters but certainly not all of us! So let me just proclaim this: I like men! I like minorities! I am a feminist! I am NOT a Nazi!

Is it too much to ask that my mother, my sister, my friends, and my daughters receive equal educations, equal pay, and equality under the law as compared to men?

And last but not least, the equation that should not be overlooked. For those of you who appreciate mathematics, here is how feminism is summed up:

"F = (A + B) - C Feminism equals Avarice plus Bigotry minus Conscience."

What the hell?! I lack a conscience because women have been submissive for millenia and I want to change that? I am greedy because I want the world to be fair? And of course, the age-old idea that feminists are man-haters who want to cut off every man's penis arises yet again.

You know what? I'm going to redefine this little equation for us...

F = (A + V) - C Feminism equals A Vital Cause.

There! Take that!

Anyway, there are hundreds more opinions on feminism at urbandictionary.com. Check them out! See what your peers are saying about you and consider how you can communicate the difference between extremist misandrists and strong feminists!

Ushering in a new ERA

ERA. Three little letters that held no meaning for me until just last week. Equal Rights Amendment, the object of the current feminist movement. This proposed Constitutional amendment guarantees equal rights to women under the law. That's it. There are no controversial items tacked onto it. Just equality. Simple enough.



Sadly, I'd never heard of it before, and neither have a lot of young women. Who would? It's relatively uncovered in the media, despite the fact that it's been presented to Congress every year since 1923. It sounds like a good idea, but America is past the Civil Rights Movement, isn't it? Why stir up all the trouble for rights we have? Isn't everyone equal already...?



Not even close.



Did you know women have only the right to vote according to the foundation of our system of law? Why is that? Why does the most important document in this country not include women -- women who work like men, feel like men, think like men? The 14th Amendment, Section 1 declares "No State shall [...] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." But of course, when Congress said person, what they meant was man. Hmmm. Seems odd. And actually quite disturbing.



But there are so many other laws that protect us! (Note the sarcasm.) There's Roe v. Wade precedence, the pivotal case about a woman's right to choose. There's the Equal Pay Act, prohibiting differences in payment based on religion, race, and sex. And no one can forget Title VII of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, which made equal opportunity employment the official national policy.



Yes, those are great. I'm glad I have the right to have an abortion. I'm glad the government says I can't be paid less than a man, and I'm glad I can't be told I can't work, because I'm a woman. But, to be brutally honest, those laws will never have the power that a Constitutional Amendment carries.



Here are some fun facts:

1. Several states have ratified laws that require women to wait at least 24 hours upon their first visit to an abortion clinic before the operation can begin. This way we can't do what we want when we want.


2. The Equal Pay Act isn't working. On average, a woman makes $0.77 to every man's $1.00.


3. Women are still turned down for jobs and even fired because of their sex and the possibility that they may become pregnant and have to take off work.

Smells fishy to me. Why aren't these things working? Why are we still stuck in the past, and how the hell do we combat this?

Here's how: We put it in writing smack dab in the Constitution, so we won't be forgotten.

What would happen if the system collapsed? Nothing would be left but the US Constitution, the rock that everything was built upon. And where would we as women be? Well, we'd have the right to vote. But that's it. No equal pay; no right to privacy; no equal opportunity employment; no rights afforded by the rest of the Constitution; no legal standing at all, because, as I said before, people really means men.

So feminists (both men and women), let's get out! Let's hit the streets and tell the states who refuse to whole-heartedly ratify the ERA (South Carolina's one of the squirmers.) that we deserve to be seen as citizens, not just child-bearers and bedmates. We have the strength, the knowledge, the insight to rival any man, and we want our government to acknowledge that.