On Language: What is a "Real" Women?

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 to mean things far different.

For example, take the popular phrase "real women have curves." In a world of super-skinny models, the phrase has served as a reaffirming solace to the majority of women who feel less-than-gorgeous because of even narrower standards. But for women who lack the curvy figure, the tables are turned, and the phrase becomes a cause of concern: are they not real women?

The same goes for Dove's Real Beauty campaign, which features average-looking women as models. Above all the companies body-positive ads (which I do support, in spite of all this), the hypocrisy is evident: real, legitimate beauty is only found in a layer of creams and gels, however "Pro-Age" they may be.

For me, a real woman is a woman who is confident and self-affirming, whether curvy, a size 00, or a user of Dove products. What's your definition of a real woman?

Absti-oops

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 sexual pasts and glorifies men for theirs.”

I certainly agree that society devalues sexually active women, just look to Lena Chen, also cited in the article, for evidence! She is a "student sex blogger" who was quoted during a lunchtime debate with Fredell, saying, "being a strong woman means not being ashamed that I like to have sex." Post-debate, campus editorials called her anything from a "slut" to a "whore whore slut," merely for advocating her enjoyment of sex.

The irony in Fredell's argument stems from Chen's example. If society says "don't have sex before marriage because it makes you a whore," then not having sex before marriage is simply living within the confines of society. Fredell claims that being a strong woman is having the power to say no, and that being abstinent is being feminist, but in reality, she is accepting the double standard that society is placing upon her. A true feminist would stand up against these norms and say, "Having conscientious, rational, and consensual sex out of my own free will does not make me a slut!"

*Marissa and I apologize for not posting in over a month and concede that we are "bad bad dogs"*

Juice Box, Pencil Case, Mascara...?

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, and nearly two-thirds said they used nail polish...in 2003, 49 percent of 6- to 9-year-old girls said they used lip gloss or lipstick."

Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabees (re: Mean Girls' inspiration), is admittedly not my favorite apple on the tree when it comes to her commentary of teenaged girls. She says "hyper-sexualization" is the result of this trend of kid cosmetics. And to some extent, I agree, but I think giving a 10-year-old a swipe of Lip Smackers is hardly a sign of the apocalypse.

Rather, I think the key is balance. I wouldn't push makeup on a young girl, but if she wants to experiment with it in a non-Pussycat Dolls way, I wouldn't stop her. But, like interviewed mom Lucy Corrigan, I'd rather "girls try it and decide they don’t need all these products to be beautiful, and then do something more vital with their time and money and efforts, like write a poem or take a walk or save the world.”

Don't Drink or Drive

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 shifter."). (Props where props are due, I found this via Feministing.)

Voting on Issues

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 issues and unwaving thoughts on the Iraq War are more inline with what the feminist community desires. "Choosing to support Senator Obama was not an easy decision for us," they stated, "because electing a woman president would be a cause for celebration in itself," but they stress the importance of the issues being presented rather than the sex of the one presenting.

Marissa posted a rather scathing editorial of CNN's stories about black women having to choose between race and gender, so I wonder which is the best politician to support if we are to vote on issues rather than sex. Is Obama the better canidate for a feminist-minded voter?

Si, se puede!

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

Super Tuesday is a Mega-Newsday

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 the primaries as opinion polls predicted; it's still a three man (unless you want to count Ron Paul) race.