tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16302243387443811012011-07-07T16:17:20.729-07:00Fight For Your Writes!Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.comBlogger831100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-69253653195917144412008-05-11T13:28:00.001-07:002008-05-11T13:28:14.341-07:00

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-68371845913434556622008-05-05T17:19:00.000-07:002008-05-05T17:34:10.248-07:00

- Lesbians (as in residents of the Greek isle Lesbos) are taking LGBT organizations to court to prevent them from using the term "lesbian" in a homosexual context. "Evangelia Vlami, who is representing the Gay and Lesbian Community of Greece, said: 'We will be laughing in court. This is ridiculous. The term has been accepted by society, by scientists, historically, and by the United Nations.'"

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-33446780928468359072008-04-30T14:00:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:24.248-08:00

I'm an ardent supporter of gender-based, not gender-discriminatory, health care; women's health issues are often marginalized by standard medical care. Just because I support prescribing different but equally-effective medications to men and women based on biology, however, does not mean I support the sexist marketing of this "for-women" sleeping pill.Sleep Pretty in Pink is a women's "natural

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-73110210191191431042008-04-22T16:05:00.001-07:002008-04-22T16:20:27.677-07:00

Afraid the Democratic party will shatter after the nominee is chosen? Afraid a Republican will enter office in 2009? Afraid of divisiveness? Big Brother? Poor word choice? Then stop calling Pennsylvania, Indiana, or any other state having a primary or caucus a freaking battleground!This means you, Wolf Blitzer.

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-12893736804043217812008-04-21T18:01:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:24.411-08:00

Hot on the heels of the NYT's profile of the Harvard Chastity Club comes a new crusader for close-legged justice, University of Illinois student and motivational speaker Taylor Moore. Moore's speaking engagements, which encourage kids to become lawfully-wedded coupes before they, as she puts it, "release the beast." Why? "For this is the will of God," of course. Unlike the leader of the Harvard

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-9629078182723142742008-04-21T17:25:00.000-07:002008-04-21T18:05:45.503-07:00

You know what I love to do? I love to watch shows where frat boys can whip through skanky girls like tissue paper. Many of you might have heard of the MTV show "Next," but if you take a minute to stop laughing at the horrendous rhyming and styling, you'll find something much more disturbing than any quantity of hair gel.On each episode, there is always AT LEAST one young woman who grabs at her

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-68794711111506921482008-04-19T20:41:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:24.657-08:00

Today marks the first day of Pesach ("Passover" to you goyim), a Jewish holiday celebrating the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, ending 400 years of slavery. On a day when my family and I come together to recognize both the struggles we face and the freedoms we have as Jews, it is essential to recognize the oppression and enslavement of people all over the world. An enslavement by patriarchal

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-30803610704697426432008-04-18T18:09:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:24.781-08:00

Faster than you can say "our bodies, ourselves," Yale senior Aliza Shvarts has become an internet phenomenon. All sides of the abortion debate are confused, amused, or flat-out disgusted by her art senior project, which allegedly consists of the blood of many miscarriages and Vaseline smeared on giant cubes.According to Shvarts, she regularly artificially-inseminated herself, then videotaped

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-8367612186447515452008-04-15T19:00:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:24.971-08:00

Alicia Douvall is apparently well known across the pond for her salacious snapshots and penchant for plastic surgery. Now, her 13-year-old daughter, Georgia, is joining the silicone celebration with her birthday present, a breast augmentation. "My mum always taught me to take care of my appearance and that's all I've taught Georgia. Surgery's just the modern-day next level," comments Alicia. "

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-85041180729061162542008-04-10T17:25:00.000-07:002008-04-10T18:00:46.101-07:00

The popular web-comic xkcd is more known for its mathematically-minded jokes than it is for advocacy. But that's not to say the artist/writer, Randall Munroe, isn't in tune with social justice issues, and in previous comics, pro-women ideas have been mentioned amongst the higher education. On his "blag", Munroe comments on the lack of women in lead cinematic roles. His observation is certainly

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-35704539339311320632008-04-06T15:14:00.000-07:002008-04-06T15:37:41.979-07:00

We've heard the phrase in numerous contexts: "real women have curves", "join these real women in insert-sweepstakes-campaign here". It begs the question, what is, or more appropriately, who is, a "real" woman? If we approach the question purely semantically, then according to a Miriam-Webster connotation, a real woman is a woman who legally exists and lives as a woman. However, the term has come

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-53830592586751592612008-03-30T18:37:00.000-07:002008-03-30T19:08:45.538-07:00

There was an article in the NYT magazine this weekend discussing a chastity club, made up of a merry band of Harvard celibates. Janie Fredell, the president of this student-run club, had an interesting but skewed opinion on why abstaining until marriage is best. She believes women suffer from having premarital sex, "due to a cultural double standard, she said, “which devalues women for their

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-84927043888205722692008-02-27T19:24:00.000-08:002008-02-27T19:38:26.224-08:00

A recent piece in the New York Times examines the culture of cosmetic consumption among tweenaged girls, and how when the media message of "buy, buy, buy" hits young girls, it's usually glued to beauty products. Referring to actual use and not just swiping a lick of grandmother's coral-colored Chanel, the article cites, "55 percent of 6- to 9-year-old girls said they used lip gloss or lipstick,

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-26648651264387901582008-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:25.071-08:00

Abstinence-only sex-ed getting you down? Feeling awkward, insecure, and unsure of your burgeoning sexuality? That's all well and good, just don't try to take a joyride to calm your nerves. This great parody of abs-only curriculums takes the bizarre conservative thought process one step further, applying it to cars ( Remember this handy little slogan: "No ring on your finger, no hand on the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-55148913126272985492008-02-16T10:30:00.000-08:002008-02-16T13:14:56.367-08:00

A new and slightly mind-boggling idea has emerged from the feminist community: support Obama over Hillary. Many prominent feminists like Kate Michelman, president for 20 years of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Ellen Bravo, former director of the National Association of Working Women have taken up this position. They claim, with the support of other feminists, that Obama's focus on domestic

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-36644670990885333012008-02-12T18:52:00.001-08:002008-02-12T18:58:38.344-08:00

This would be hilarious, and is, but the prospect of President Johnny McCain is so frightening.

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-6963027882946618072008-02-05T16:42:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:25.336-08:00

Now marks the start of Super Tuesday vote counting; 24 states get to decide their preferred party and presidential nominee. Obama started off the night with a sweeping win in Georgia, but with many more votes to be tallied, it's doubtful the Democratic nominee will be determined tonight. As for the GOP, Mike Huckabee started off his morning by nabbing West Virginia. McCain isn't doing as well in

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-48109312143675285812008-01-31T20:00:00.000-08:002008-01-31T20:02:22.295-08:00

At risk of skirting the issue or twisting your words, I think Obama and Clinton both did incredibly well tonight (well, of course I think Clinton did just a tad better, but that's my bias.).Your thoughts?

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-51663683996887483502008-01-30T20:14:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:30:37.004-07:00

Now that John Edwards has officially dropped out of the presidential race, white males with a yearning to vote blue will face a terrible dilemma: vote for their race, or their genderSound silly? That's because it is. Yet CNN still thought it was incredibly ingenious to publish a story about the "dilemma" black women face in the voting booth, since, obviously neither blacks nor women ever consider

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-18213370533736062722008-01-22T18:17:00.001-08:002008-01-22T18:44:11.325-08:00

(This post is in conjunction with "Blog For Choice", which commemorates the 35th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.)Why am I pro-choice?When an inalienable matter of bodily integrity is called into question, I can't be passive.When the opposition dismisses me simply because I am a "heathen murderer", without listening to my opinions, I can't be passive.When sexism is rampant and manifested in the law,

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-15913642823741006442008-01-21T18:33:00.000-08:002008-01-21T22:54:26.295-08:00

The Congressional Black Caucus Institute Democratic debate was last night, so it is time for a feminist-slanted commentary! Hooray!As always, Clinton and Obama were neck and neck throughout, but Clinton deftly managed to pursue the issues that mattered and was able to deflect the more ridiculous ones. She persistently kept coming back to her views on the key issues, her goals, her plans on how

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-57572097030087049312008-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:002008-01-17T19:05:55.496-08:00

In her serialized advice column, "Miss Manners" peddles her antiquated advice on matters of money, marriage, and restaurant etiquette. In today's set, a letter-writer wondered whether she was "too conservative in [her] fashion tastes when [she saw] women [her] own age dressed in the revealing styles that younger women have adopted." She explains that the particular fashion that bothers her is the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-72453492627220470912008-01-12T10:21:00.000-08:002008-01-12T10:32:11.739-08:00

Indiana lawmakers are proposing a bill that require doctors to tell women considering abortions that "Life begins at conception, and a fetus could feel pain during an abortion.""This decision is a life decision, and many people who have abortions never forget they had an abortion...So I think we ought to help them as much as we can before as opposed to afterward.""Help" them? Help them do what?

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-23446708369261044262008-01-08T21:26:00.000-08:002008-01-08T21:39:00.084-08:00

Despite a sorry 3rd place loss in Iowa, Clinton managed to win over New Hampshire in their caucus election today. After being critisized for being too "cold," "unfriendly," or "bitchy" as some will say for years, Clinton seems to have listened. In an interview after the Iowa nightmare, Clinton gave an emotional speech, pleading for the people of America to vote for her. Was it the emotional

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-193267217919882292008-01-08T18:11:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:25.683-08:00

The Question (from Facebook "Debate Groups", where users can vote in polls about the presidential nominees and the election:Can a woman president be as effective as a man?The Answer:

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-67358902911227520852008-01-08T18:02:00.001-08:002008-04-08T14:17:17.764-07:00

Gloria Steinem rocks the opinion page of the New York Times with her snappy editorial about the "sexual caste system" in American politics and how it relates to both Hillary and Barack. (re: Please excuse the bad JFK pun.)

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-23195832542645367542008-01-07T18:01:00.001-08:002008-04-08T14:31:40.312-07:00

Conservative pundit personality and foe of feminists Bill O'Reilly stormed a recent Obama rally, harassing the senator and socking it to a Secret Service agent. And although O'Reilly claims there was no Secret Service involvement or physical violence, you can see for yourself that he did indeed get physical.Even if Obama can't save America from foreign threats and a falling economy (I have faith

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-38521066873976863442008-01-06T20:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:25.941-08:00

Before Christian groups were out on the sidewalk protesting The Golden Compass, they were inside the theatres watching Bella.Meet Nina. After being late to work multiple times, she's been fired from her job bussing tables a Mexican restaurant. As she walks away from the establishment, looking incredibly upset, head chef Jose follows her to the subway (at the expense of his job) in an attempt to

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-14511488034917283272008-01-06T14:48:00.001-08:002008-04-08T14:34:04.082-07:00

According to a service I use to see how people come across our humble blog, a recent visitor was directed to Emily's A Shot at Change with Tila Tequila post after he/she typed in "tila tequila porn" in a MySpace search engine.Isn't that just precious?

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-35095768786491418332008-01-04T14:53:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:26.174-08:00

The Iowa caucus is all said and done, and it's time to examine the results. Obama won over the Democratic set with 38% percent of the vote, and Republican voters selected Huckabee by a near landslide. I don't love Barack Obama (I'm a Clinton girl), but I do like him. I understand why people are crazy in love with Obama, and I do think he'd make a good President. I agree with him on many of the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-6799865717377712592008-01-02T10:43:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:26:09.106-07:00

New Hampshire law has just legalized civil unions for same sex couples, becoming the fourth US state to do so (Vermont, Connecticut, and New Jersey are the other three; Massachusetts allows same sex marriage). Civil unions give couples "the same rights, responsibilities and obligations of marriage" without violating the "sanctity of marriage" [re: making the religious right get all pissy]. While

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-62538074010091307032008-01-01T16:52:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:26:55.510-07:00

In a TV ad campaign for the Subway sandwich franchise, people unperturbedly refer to hamburgers and fries using the effects that eating these foods frequently may cause, such as "thunder thighs" and "blubber".In one ad [not the one above], a 30-something woman asks what toppings are included with her hamburger. On the list? "Loss of self esteem" and "loss of boyfriend". The pound-packing effects

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-57091817328558344062008-01-01T12:32:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:21:08.590-07:00

Feministing.com has a great retrospective of 2007 from a feminist perspective. It contains blurbs detailing 2007's most terrifying, titillating, and terrific events, just in case it's old acquaintance and events you've forgotten.Here's to a great 2008!

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-19273128970587241252007-12-30T17:25:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:19:45.751-07:00

The recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, calls the attention of feminists around the globe and urges them to mourn. Bhutto was the first female prime minister of any Muslim nation and had huge plans for change. She urged moderation in a time of extremist views and was determined bring equality to women in Pakistan. She was, and still is, a role model

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-59951838522659479532007-12-24T09:59:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:26.416-08:00

And my present to you is a Catholicised controversy that doesn't involve little boys.Apparently, former Brit prime-minister Tony Blair has converted to Catholicism. He's being welcomed with open arms by the pontiff himself, but other Catholics are challenging Blair's past voting record, a generally liberal stance punctuated with "Blair government’s support for stem cell research, gay adoptions

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-16510927895735937332007-12-23T09:47:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:26.603-08:00

I noticed, as I collapsed on the couch watching a TV marathon, that the Game Show Network (all game shows, all the time) was going to air a marathon celebrating male game show hosts: recognizable names like Bob Barker (The Price is Right) and Alex Trebek (Jeopardy!). I could list more male game show gurus, from the hosts of contemporary contests to obscure 80's programs, but, the fact is, my list

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-53797496760188646802007-12-19T20:08:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:26.754-08:00

Britney Spears' kid sister and Nickelodeon's Zoey 101 star, 16-year-old Jamie Lynn, is pregnant. She told the press, "I definitely don't think [premarital sex]'s something you should do; it's better to wait...but I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in." She's choosing to keep the baby; the child's father is 19 years old and may be charged with statutory rape, yet so far the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-63512663849617931892007-12-17T20:36:00.000-08:002007-12-17T20:44:23.873-08:00

Saudi Arabian King Abdullah lifted the "punishment" of the young woman sentenced to 200 lashes after being raped.

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-31327400470140090022007-12-16T20:05:00.000-08:002007-12-18T19:25:18.841-08:00

With "A Shot at Love's" first season winding down and having just watched the all-day marathon, I was inspired to write a post.This show has gotten a lot of flack for being yet another show that exhibits the slut culture that America loves, and for good reason. The girls wear shirts that display their Vaseline shined cleavage and the guys' lack of shirts displays their Vaseline shined abs of

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-7702844442665229502007-12-14T21:34:00.000-08:002007-12-14T21:43:50.569-08:00

In a recent JC Penny television ad [sorry, no vid.], a child goes to a garage scale, wobbles across the sidewalk with a wagon full of spare parts, and builds "North Pole Explorer". As the kid zooms up into the sky, the screen reads something along the lines of, "This is the time to believe." Normally, I wouldn't look twice, but this ad stood out among all the crafy-kid gimmicks because the child

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-61349624757561803842007-12-13T19:44:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:20:23.455-07:00

'Twas a bit before Christmas, Wal-Mart heads got antsy,So they decided to deshelve some sexist panties.The underpants [which aren't even red and green] were pulled from shelves due to a deluge of complaints, yet still I am quite concerned for anyone who unwraps a pair of these Christmas morning. The vagina = money philosophy is incredibly chauvinistic [the part of the slogan written on the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-40744577256116460042007-12-12T18:39:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:23:11.407-07:00

Sherri Shepherd, conservative du jour on television's The View, may just be a little confused. Known for her Christ-o-centric claims that "the world is flat" and "nothing came before Jesus," she one-ups herself with her latest homophobic rants. Apparently, she doesn't want her son to wear dresses. To show her conviction in Biblical gender roles, she never wears pants. Especially not in this

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-2750099212155660882007-12-10T19:45:00.000-08:002007-12-11T15:57:30.987-08:00

Those of you who are TV junkies such as myself may have seen a promotion for the "Billy Graham Story". The promo starts by showing some lovely pictures of a woman from the 40's saying, "She was destined to travel to Vietnam, serving the people of that country and making the world a better place," something along those lines. Then it goes on to say, "But then she met a man who won her heart.

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-72569380294828782872007-12-09T12:00:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:23:38.562-07:00

A California Boy Scout leader, who has campaigned to ban gays, atheists, and other assorted heathens from the organization, has been accused of sexually-assaulting some of the young men in his troop. Quoth The New York Times, "Mr. Evans’s [the troop master in question's] lawyer, Philip Schnayerson, said Thursday that “hundreds” of former scouts and friends had called to voice support." (That's

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-63972492871944392672007-12-07T16:23:00.000-08:002007-12-08T22:46:06.123-08:00

Now, I wouldn't consider myself a very politically correct or incorrect person, I'm pretty neutral. But I can call BS out when I see it, and this article from Psychology Today, "Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature," clearly constitutes as such. The piece justifies the (largely false) claims "...women want to look like [blond, blue-eyed, busty, blonds]" and that "men sexually

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-16799949509621494252007-12-06T17:47:00.000-08:002007-12-06T14:30:27.204-08:00

Today is the bitter 18th anniversary of "the Montreal massacre", when Marc Lépine open-fired at a class of female engineering students at the École Polytechnique in Montreal. Lépine killed 14 of the students as he yelled out "I hate feminists!" among other spurts of anti-women banter. December 6th is now Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, but that doesn't

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-84865748778738570372007-12-01T11:56:00.000-08:002007-12-08T22:46:50.988-08:00

My good friend Sam has gotten into the feminist spirit! His guest post, "Two Cunts in A Kitchen," is well-written and intriguing, and I hope he writes more for us soon!Two Cunts in a Kitchen:The phrase mentioned above is advertising industry slang for the standard kitchenware commercial. We’ve all seen the premise. Two women of different races stand in a immaculate kitchen discussing the

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-678056093200804052007-12-01T11:28:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:26.954-08:00

Today, December first, is World AIDS Day. Spreading awareness of the HIV/AIDS crisis and informing people of prevention methods, facts, and the dire immediacy of this pandemic is key if this international effort is to be a success.As this year's theme is leadership, it is important to remember that AIDS is not only a threat to one cultural group, a solution will require a variety of leaders from

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-73104012715985439392007-11-27T14:16:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:14:49.653-07:00

Be sure to glance at a copy of The Chicago Tribune tomorrow. A letter to the editor written by yours truly will be in the "Voice of the People" section! For those of you who might not know me personally, this will be my second editorial.Admittedly, I deleted the file with my editorial on it, so I can't sneak you a peak and tell you what I said verbatim. I can tell you, however, that my piece was

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-59810814009986050422007-11-25T19:31:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:28:11.444-07:00

You'd better put that sexy Mrs. Claus costume back in the closet because you better dress up in a burqa for your holiday office party unless you want your rights taken away.I'm not a fan of Fox News, but in a recent interview Marc Rudov (anti-women swine extraordinaire) suggested that "between the EEOC rules and the Violence Against Women Act, the workplace has become a dangerous place for men."

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-20772153127116130572007-11-25T16:19:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.128-08:00

Brit publication The Times is noted for it's frequently sexist articles on fashion, dating, and culture, but nothing takes the patriarchal self-serving cake like this little beauty, in which columnist Minette Marrin asks, "Are men really necessary?"Marrin notes the "onslaught against masculinity," how women are becoming more in control of their financial, social, and emotional lives. Many women,

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-64006675009358335982007-11-24T19:05:00.001-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.290-08:00

In Sydney, Australia, "Santas" are no longer permitted to say "Ho, ho, ho!" as this may "be offensive to women." Instead, they must replace the classic cry with "Ha, ha, ha!"As silly as this seems, I'm not laughing.I doubt any women worked to pass this restriction. This faux resolution claims to looks out for women, yet it's only purpose is to further the patriarchal stereotype of the frivolous

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-67800788809755175852007-11-24T08:43:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:34:44.464-07:00

The story is that a sweet forest girl named Giselle (Amy Adams) meets her true love, Prince Edward (James Marsden), while he is taking down a giant. Edward's evil mother, in the form of an old hag, pushes Giselle down a well into "a place of no love and no happy endings." Once in New York City, Giselle is greeted by sarcasm and hate until Robert (Dr. McDreamy) allows her to stay in his house for

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-62503396543929546472007-11-23T19:29:00.000-08:002007-11-23T21:38:40.116-08:00

George Bush likes to pretend he's our friendly neighborhood champion of human rights. "...it is the policy of the United States," he says, "To seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world." And this, arguably like everything else Bush says, is a huge lie. Recently, a 19-year-old Saudi woman

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-35596369366280114302007-11-23T13:46:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.463-08:00

When we immerse ourselves in a mission, like ending sexism, we often forget that there other causes worth fighting for. Just look at PETA. Their valuable message is clouded by their sex-saturated ads and radical scare-tactics.Anarchist values and feminism go hand in hand, even if we aren't passing out "Fight the Power!" buttons at Planned Parenthood rallies. Today in particular is the time to

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-15574054444735304092007-11-22T22:18:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.623-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, readers! No big post on a holiday, but I just wanted to make a point of telling you to be sure to thank your moms, grandmothers, sisters, and aunties today, because without them cooking all day... you'd probably be eating at the Cracker Barrel for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-71316714710185732182007-11-21T21:45:00.000-08:002007-11-21T22:27:58.415-08:00

The glasses of John Lennon and Buddy Holly have become iconic style symbols. Drew Carrey rocks his frames even after receiving correctional eye treatment. But when it’s time for the young Stephanie Tanner to get her glasses, she, like many other little girls, balks at the proposition. Woody Allen has often joked that his thick-rimmed glasses make him look like an intellectual. "Nerds" (I define

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-12434878044952744842007-11-20T15:23:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:29:01.380-07:00

Comedian Sasha Baron Cohen uses his characters to challenge political and social injustice. You probably know him for his incredibly controversial film, Borat, but his other work is equally hilarious and just as politcally-charged. A recent post on Feministing reminded me of how much this old video cracks me up:Very nice, Sasha.

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-19097228293978558662007-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.794-08:00

There is something painfully ironic about a skirt suit being a symbol of power for a working woman. The idea is that it shows how women can be in the workplace, have a position of control, be in charge, yet still showing their femininity. While at a debate tournament last weekend, a debater from Apple Valley, MN, made a comment on how it is virtually mandatory for all girls on the team to wear a

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-88237053808259380612007-11-09T18:18:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:11:27.941-08:00

When I'm not writing amazing blog posts, I do my World History homework! This weekend's assignment was to connect a recent news story to American Culture, and I couldn't help but to inject a little bit of feminism into my analysis of the Aqua Dots scandal: This article introduces an interesting dynamic into American Culture, the growing, impending, and sometimes terrifying Culture of Fear®. To

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-39070691146980446542007-11-08T17:16:00.000-08:002008-04-08T14:29:23.840-07:00

I don't know about you, but my holiday season doesn't being until a major corporation tells me it does! With the annual advent of Starbucks releasing their iconic holiday red cups, I thought I’d share with you the ho-ho-horrible toy that has already hit our shelves: Rose Petal Cottage, where your little girl's imagination can run free as she does the laundry, cooks dinner, shines the floor, and

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-12574197769812998132007-11-06T19:26:00.000-08:002007-11-08T19:15:21.388-08:00

The House is debating a critical gay civil rights bill that would prohibit discrimination of any homosexual in the workplace today. But there's something very wrong with the bill. Democrats have removed transgendered people from the protection of the bill because they are afraid the bill will fail if transgendered people are included. How can a gay civil rights bill NOT include the "T" from

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-46452596977054913782007-11-05T19:36:00.001-08:002008-12-10T10:11:28.274-08:00

Anyone woman who has ever come home from a formal party with aching, swelling feet knows that high-heels hurt. Patriarchal society may scoff at ancient Chinese foot-binding traditions, saying that high-heels are a different ball game entirely and surely not oppressive to such an extreme degree. Back here in the real world, women are dying from restricting trends like these. The stereotypical

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-19780981852291578472007-11-04T00:25:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:28.450-08:00

Most of the time, I really do love Hillary Clinton, but not when she's talking like this:"I don't think they're piling [critiques] on because I'm a woman, I think they're piling on because I'm winning.. I anticipate it's going to get even hotter. And if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen and I'm very much at home in the kitchen."Clinton's remark to reporters interviewing her in New

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-45432140036558659482007-11-03T19:19:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:28.796-08:00

Since comments have been a little iffy lately, I wanted to set up some guidelines. If your comment wasn't posted, now you know why.1. Please comment about the post, not about the poster or topics irrelevant to the topic presented. 2. Do not attack any person or group of people for reasons unrelated to the post. If the topic of the post is, say, current laws pertaining to reproductive rights, feel

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-54304546266092530002007-11-02T19:03:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:28.922-08:00

Hipster clothing store chain Urban Outfitters* is known for stocking provocative tees (The plain-colored controversies that read "Everybody Loves a (insert nationality/religion here) Girl" was all them.). However, their new crop of clothing for guys gets much worse.Ew. Just ew. If I saw a man wearing this, I would slap him. *In all honesty, I don't dislike the store, just this item of clothing. I

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-16738674563759168392007-11-01T18:46:00.000-07:002007-11-03T22:27:55.125-07:00

Conservative pundit Ann Coulter may not be the beacon for female empowerment. The politically-involved woman who believes woman shouldn't be involved in politics, Coulter is rarely logical and always shocking. Saying Jews need to be perfected and calling Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards a “faggot” is one thing. Using Seinfeld (which, by the way, is by-in-large a Jewish comedy) to

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-40502902074832370912007-11-01T18:38:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:29.182-08:00

The zenith of female empowerment, the age of feminism at its best, fashion in all its glory during the hippie age. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best photo of womenkind I've ever seen. Take a minute to study the placement of the models and the poses they are in. It really speaks for itself.*photo from 1977 JCPenney ad

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-38984258870093674952007-10-28T15:22:00.000-07:002007-10-28T17:23:11.702-07:00

Today's issue of The New York Times Magazine contained an article about gender neutral names and there specific connotations. The increasing popularity of these names, the article suggests, is that “it’s not a disgrace to be a girl anymore.”Being a girl is a disgrace if children are being teased for having typically feminine names. As the text points out, it's usually the boys with gender-neutral

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-81299308944452231782007-10-27T11:25:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:29.303-08:00

I first discovered Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth when my eighth grade science teacher handed me a copy to stick under a plank of wood for a project. At the time, I was mildly intrigued, and several weeks ago, I finally bought my own copy and began to read it. The book is divided into chapters with general titles such as Sex or Violence, and with these chapters as her guide, Wolf carefully examines

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-73917988829185616582007-10-22T20:33:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:47:48.831-07:00

WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT AND OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE! Dyke: –noun Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. 1. a female homosexual; lesbian.2. Derogatory term used to refer to a lesbian; commonly towards a lesbian with more masculine physical characteristics/mannerism Origin: 1940–45; earlier in form bulldike (with a variation of bulldagger); of obscure origin; claimed to be a shortening of morphodyke (

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-79140077303986502912007-10-22T17:21:00.000-07:002007-10-27T12:03:33.915-07:00

Although the beauty standard du jour has only recently become blond hair, red lips, big breasts, small waist, shaven va-jay-jay, patriarchal society has long pressured women into giving up time, money, and sanity to conform to bizaire, unhealthy standards. Corsets may seem like a glamorous undergarment of the Victorian era and cabarets, but the phenomenon of tight lacing, or lacing a corset very

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-72918634981908529552007-10-21T14:12:00.000-07:002007-11-23T16:57:11.160-08:00

Ah, 4Parents.gov, the delightful website that instructs parents on how to coerce their little ones into not making that two-backed beast until they strut their stuff down the aisle, get back to the suite, and stare at their crotches, perplexed. 4Parents features a timeline about the development of the fetal goop, more formally called the "unborn child" in anti-choice circles. The most informative

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-5139832299218296782007-10-14T12:50:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:49:24.795-07:00

Friday in English class, my classmates and I were having a discussion on chapter 24 of Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, in which the tomboy protagonist Scout must attend her aunt's tea party.For the most part, the chapter is fairly dull. I commented that it was a highly significant chapter because it illustrates another kind of predjudice in the racially charged community--sexism. My

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-17754509400445212282007-10-11T19:09:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:11:29.391-08:00

Sex sells, and the vast majority of female celebrities (the charming young generation who can't take a few cents out of their extensive paychecks to buy some undies) know; they follow this unwritten creed of the adverstising and beauty industry as a mantra. In a culture where females as young as ten twirl a stripper pole as a baton of empowerment, how thin is the line between women’s liberation

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-74428402814134619902007-10-11T17:20:00.001-07:002007-10-27T10:51:42.842-07:00

Since it's apparent that teens are having sex, they should know how to protect against those unwanted babies and diseases by some way other than abstinence. Write to your congressman, the head of your school district, principal, whoever and tell them how you feel! Request sexual education programs that focus of protection and contraceptions. Only by telling those with authority can things get

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-23135795266765940712007-10-11T17:18:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:51:15.814-07:00

There are obvious and many flaws with abstinence only education.The first one being that it doesn't work. Over 50% of high schoolers have had sexual activity by the time they graduate. 3 million teenagers contract STDs per year. These statistics clearly show that teenagers are still having sex and will continue to have sex regardless of how they are taught. The stats also show that teens are

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-91456963113129153332007-10-11T16:42:00.000-07:002007-10-11T17:18:01.104-07:00

"Sex is bad. You'll get pregnant. You might get an STD...but you'll definitely get pregnant." Who hasn't heard this mantra in every health class or sex ed lecture? Have you ever heard a teacher go in-depth about birth control or protection? Didn't think so. "Sexual 'Education'" will be posted in three installments. One to talk about what the abstinence only education is, one to mention the

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-81675995200914830132007-10-02T20:19:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:54:12.326-07:00

Emily's latest post got me thinking, as she describes a woman who wears sexy, revealing clothing as a "slut." "Slut" is a negative term for a sexually promiscuous woman. In my virginal opinion, there's nothing wrong with having numerous partners as long as one takes the proper precautions against pregnancy and STDs, and accepts the consequences when she is responsible. I also don't think there's

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-77366621731312490412007-10-02T18:47:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:53:53.306-07:00

The American mall is any teenage guy's paradise. All he has to do is pick a spot to sit and he can see all the boobs, butts, and belly button rings he wants.SlutWear is the latest fashion trend. Every American alive who has stepped into any well trafficked public place can recognize it. It is most well known for its wide necklines that swoop from the tip of the shoulder to the lowest point right

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-48486476208503709132007-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:002007-10-27T10:53:08.531-07:00

The Aurora city council has officially decided to let Planned Parenthood open its doors! Huzzah!In other news, I love it when my beverage of choice supports my feminist agendas. (From the back of a bottle of the orange-flavored VitaminWater:)"ah, orange juice commericals. funny stuff. mom cheerily prepares breakfast while the rest of her family sleeps. sure, this could happen. but every morning?

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-45480466494393524012007-09-30T13:39:00.000-07:002007-11-23T16:57:51.592-08:00

According to '08 Presidental candidate and senator (D-IL) Barack Obama, "[Aurora, Illinois] has seen an increase in the uninsured population, as well as an increase in sexually transmitted disease rates."It's only logical that Planned Parenthood would want to open an Aurora Health Center, where residents can learn accurate information on sex and reproductive rights, receive birth control and

Marissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13110181613962810331noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1630224338744381101.post-17127706068518419062007-09-30T09:52:00.000-07:002007-11-03T19:41:49.816-07:00

Welcome to the Blog! Marissa and I will be posting in random intervals to give you, the reader, our views and opinions on modern feminist issues that we think are important to talk about. Don't be surprised if we just rant a lot. Our objective is to inform the public (or how ever many people are too bored to read anything else) about these issues and why it is crucial to know of them. I will

Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09252428985380305178noreply@blogger.com0