Pop Culture
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Single Gals Guide to Dating in the 1930s
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"Finding Bibi" Bridges the Divide Between East & West
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Is There A New Wives Club?
Swedish Children Push Back On Gender Stereotyping
Published October 12, 2009 @ 07:58PM PT
Well, this is hopeful for the future of gender equality. Swedish children are filing a complaint against Toys R Us for gender stereotyping in their Christmas catalogue.
I have to applaud this effort since these children are the market for the toys being sold. By pushing back on corporations who try to improve their bottom line by selling toys to tots without a progressive understanding of the world children want to inhabit deserve to get some coal in their stocking this holiday season. The world is a changing place and just as people need evolve, so do toys it would seem.
Here are more details from The Local:
According to the youngsters, the Toys"R"Us Christmas catalogue featured "outdated gender roles because boys and girls were shown playing with different types of toys, whereby the boys were portrayed as active and the girls as passive", according to a statement from Ro.
The group's teacher explained to the local Smålandsposten newspaper that filing the complaint was the culmination of more than two years of "long-term work" by the students on gender roles.
Thumbing through the catalogue, 13-year-old Hannes Psajd explained that he and his twin sister had always shared the same toys and that he was concerned about the message sent by the Toys"R"Us publication.
"Small girls in princess stuff...and here are boys dressed as super heroes. It's obvious that you get affected by this," he told the newspaper.
Perhaps it is possible that we will out-age discrimination one day if these efforts are any indication. For now, however, the immediate lesson learned: beware of offending the innocent 6th grader - they might just sue you.
And now, just imagine how they will act when they hit the workplace and things aren't all fun and games...
Friday Femme Fatale: Judges, Philosphers & Victims
Published October 02, 2009 @ 04:28PM PT
Phew! Another week has gone by. And it is getting cold outside already - so it seems that Fall is in full swing - and yet, health care reform has yet to pass. Hopefully by spring?
Anyways, here's the latest in the fem-o-sphere. Enjoy.
- The Daddy Factor (Matt Yglesias)
- Do Women Make Better Judges? (Slate)
- Madonna, Motherhood, and Choices (Bitch Magazine)
- A Dearth of Women Philosophers (New York Times)
- UN Security Council Condemns Sexual Violence in War (Ms. Magazine)
- We Are All Polanski's Victims, and We All Deserve Justice (Huffington Post)
- America's Next Great Pundit (Washingtonpost.com)
- Santiago Rally Seeks to Legalize Abortion (Santiago Times)
- Committee votes down abortion amendment (The Hill)
- Abortion and Health Care Reform (New York Times)
Fighting Back Against the "Mean Girls"
Published September 17, 2009 @ 08:13PM PT
My younger brother, who is a new participant of Teach for America in Philadelphia, pointed out this documentary called the Kind Campaign - which is working to fight back against the concept of "mean girls."
I think that it's important to realize that often women can be each other's worst enemy. I know that is hard to say on a blog that is all about empowering and enabling women to be the best they can be, but undoubtedly this is an issue. We can't be the ones who take each other down, make each other feel insecure or bad about who we are. It's time to stand up against the idea of "mean girls" - and finally, be kind to each other. I give the young women who started this project accolades for being willing to speak out against this type of behavior and encourage young women around them to be better, be kinder, be more supportive in this crazy quest we call life.
For more information about how teens and young women can be harmful to each other in these type of social settings, I'd also recommend Rosalind Wiseman who wrote the book "Queen Bees & Wannabes" and has many more resources for young people, parents and teachers who face challenging situations among teens.
Women Leading the Way to Sustainable Fashion
Published August 14, 2009 @ 07:44AM PT
Over the past few months of working on OrganicNation.tv, I've had the privilege of talking with cool farmers, gardeners, activists and sustainable business people around the country. Recently, I've been working with a lot of eco-fashion brands in particular and I've noticed a very pleasant trend: women-owned clothing companies are leading the industry in sustainable fashion.
Women like Ali Hewson who started EDUN in 2005, Tristan Gribbin and Marion McKee of SUST, Janel Garcia and Irene Clancy of Greenbees and Aysia Wright of Greenloop are not only smart, innovative and incredibly stylish, they're true pioneers who are steering an otherwise wasteful industry in the right direction.
At Greenbees, for every tire that is rescued from the landfill, four shoes are produced and Garcia and Clancy use only full-grain leathers that are byproducts of the meat industry and considered waste material. EDUN clothing is made from organic cotton whenever possible and SUST works with U.S. based organic cotton growers to reduce the carbon footprint of their products. SUST's brand ambassador Laura Jones is even embarking on a three-month Sustainability Across America Tour to spread the word about other sustainable businesses across the U.S!
Let's take a moment to salute all women business leaders who have made it their mission to not only turn a profit, but to help the environment as well. Keep up the great work ladies!
Do you have a favorite woman-owned business that is working to green their industry? Share in the comments section!
Support Legislation for Women Veterans
Published August 02, 2009 @ 06:00AM PT
On Monday, Jen wrote a great post on what you can do to support women veterans, including:
Support pending or new legislation for female veterans:
* Write letters
* Place phone calls to Congress
* Raise consciousness by blogging, tweeting, sharing the news with friends and family
To get you started, I've compiled a list of legislation already introduced in the current Congress.
1. S. 252 Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009 which revises or adds provisions concerning Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel matters including provisions concerning women veterans health care. (You can read much more about the bill by clicking the bill name above.)
Current status: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders (7/24/09); Sponsor is Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI);
***Since this bill has been put on the legislative calendar and has Sen. Akaka's weight behind it, call/email/tweet your senator!
2. H.R. 1211/S. 597 Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act will expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraqi), from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Current status: House (H.R. 1211): Passed in House on June 23, 009; Sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD). Senate (S. 597): Introduced in Senate on March 16, 2009, and sent to Veterans Affairs committee; Sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
3. H.R. 2583: Women Veterans Access to Care Act will direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve health care for women veterans, and for other purposes
Current status: Referred to House Committee on Veterans Affairs (5/21/09); Sponsored by Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA)
3. H.R. 293: Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Act of 2009 will expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes.
Current status: Introduced and referred to Veterans Affairs subcommittee on Health (1/9/09); Sponsored by Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN)
4. H.R. 1171: Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 Directs the Secretary of Labor to make grants to programs and facilities that provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.
Current Status: Passed House; Received in Senate and referred to Veterans Affairs Committee (3/31/09: Sponsored by Rep. John Boozman (R-AR)
5. S. 1237: Homeless Women Veterans and Homeless Veterans with Children Act of 2009 will expand the grant program for homeless veterans with special needs to include male homeless veterans with minor dependents and to establish a grant program for reintegration of homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children, and for other purposes.
Current Status: Introduced in Senate and referred to Veterans Affairs Committee (6/11/09); Sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)
6. H.R. 2559 Help Our Homeless Veterans Act: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to carry out a national media campaign targeted at veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, with special emphasis on such veterans who are women.
Current Status: Introduced in House and referred to the House Committee on Veterans Affairs (5/21/09); Sponsored by Rep. Phil Hare (D-IL)
7. H.R. 840: Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act will reduce sexual assault and domestic violence involving members of the Armed Forces and their family members and partners through enhanced programs of prevention and deterrence, enhanced programs of victims services, and strengthened provisions for prosecution of assailants, and for other purposes.
Current status: Introduced and referred to House Judiciary subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security (3/16/09); Sponsored by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
8. House Congressional Resolution 28 calls for the Secretary of Defense to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase and encourage investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and rape cases in the military.
Current status: Introduced and referred to House Armed Services subcommittee on Military Personnel (2/6/09); Sponsored by Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA)
OK, people. You've got your marching orders. You know what to do.
For more information on any of these bills or to do your own research, check out these sites:
Has American Apparel Gone Too Far?
Published July 30, 2009 @ 12:25PM PT
I like American Apparel's colorful and sexy clothing as much as the next girl but a recent visit to their website left me disturbed. I get that their brand promotes a barely-legal LA hipster vibe and that provocative images of pretty girls sell clothing. But am I crazy or is there something sinister about these photos?
Whether it's the practically pre-pubescent bodies, the blatantly pornographic poses or the girl's baby faces...it's definitely turning me off from this brand. They still have to sell these clothes to young women, right? Are we ok with this? Is there a point at which say, "ok guys, you're really grossing us out!"
Latest & Greatest in "Target Women"
Published July 19, 2009 @ 06:29AM PT
Cara over at Feministe reminded me of the "Target Women" series by Sarah Haskins, which illuminates some of the more ridiculous moments in society to manipulate women. Here are my favorites:
