I love her rant. She's fun, witty, and intelligent! Not to mention cute as a button. I have already started stalking her on Myspace. Ok, I kid. But in all seriousness, I love how she tells people to just stop worrying about negative stereotypes, ridiculous beauty standards and insecurities and just LIVE life. She is ranting, yes, but she is not bashing others (thin people) she tells it like it is and is full to the rim with positivity. I love her because she is doing something, she is saying ENOUGH! Action over words, baby.

She makes me want to make a video right now composing of all kinds of women, with different skin tones, hair textures, weight, height, different ages, eye color, etc. Just to show that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes and it's about time women stop getting so hung up on what the media and society tells us is "beautiful." I want to make so many videos with this subject that there will be a public outrage at my spamming the internet but somehow manage to create enough followers to create a "Kiss My Ass Cosmo" revolution. Ahem...

I have learned that if you are persistent enough, you will realize that you are not a lone voice. It's amazing, but most views that alter society are carried by the minority. The rest are just silent because they think that they are are the minority, they think that whatever they have to say does not carry weight, they just don't care, or they are afraid to raise up. I was surprised at the reactions she recieved, though there were those who bashed her,and of course those who just hide behind their own insecurities by following whatever the "trend was" (fat bashing), there was a significant number of supporters.

Women in general, I have found see themselves in worst lighting than others, we internalize so much negativity that we spend most of our lives uncomfortable with who we are, instead of saying fuck it, who are you tell me I am not good enough?! You can't please everyone! And why should you?

There is more to a woman than her shape, size, or color. We have religious and political views, we love and hate, cry and laugh, we have ambitions, dreams, aspirations, we have histories, we have PERSONALITY. We have so much more than just the way we look, our worth should not be narrowed down to just how we look.

That is all.

Posted by Dalu at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

First of all, I would like to apologize with how this entry will splash all over the place. I have been sitting on it for a while, also it took me over three hours just to put this thing together. I'm link illiterate. :(

I know this is a lot of reading, a lot to watch with a heavy subject matter, that is why I have tried to somehow condense content. Yet, I felt them all to be relevant enough to shed light on the wide division there is amongst white and WOC feminists that I have brought up in the past (which can be found here and here).

I am posting this video because of the mind numbing atrocity that took place, but this also triggered a chain reaction of sorts as I visited different feminist blogs that I usually frequent, apparently there's a war that I have been missing out on (Even LJ's Feminist picked up on it, they tend to be kind of slow). I came upon Vox ex machina's outrage first with her article called "Sisterhood, My Ass."

She opens with sentiments that I found myself nodding profusely along with, she says:

Most of the blogs I watch (outside of those belonging to my IRL friends, who are, naturally, exempt from the following or they would not still be my friends) tend to fall into three categories: anti-racist blogs, white feminist blogs, and radical women of color blogs. And I’ve noticed something a little strange lately. While many of the anti-racist blogs I watch tend to give support to many feminist issues, even when written by men, I have not once seen the white feminist blogs give any support to issues affecting women of color, even when those issues should have been feminist issues, period, and not just “women of color issues.”

And she slams the ending with.

Until the “feminist majority” is willing to fight for the rights of all women, and not just worry over the issues that affect white middle-class women, then I’m through. This is me turning in my feminist badge. I have no use for a movement that doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “sisterhood.”

There had been countless times in the past that I wanted to hand in my "badge" I just never knew where the Feminist Headquarters is located. :( Thankfully such sentiments have passed over.

Anyway, feeling quiet frightened and schooled by her, I felt the need to obediently visit other WOC blogs (or suffer unknown dire consequences) that she had linked to.

My next click was anAn Open Letter to Feminists of Paler Persuasion Wow, is all I can say.

However, Inertia takes a more down to earth approach.

One of the very uncomfortable realizations I have come to is exactly how much I can identify with the Sofia Coppola Feminists and their solopsism. It's so easy to center yourself and your own difficulties and grievances, and much more difficult to see others and their suffering, and to do something about it. I won't pat myself on the back that I have taken the one step that so many other Americans can't even manage. I read blogs and read or watch news reports and am cognizant of the actions of our government that negatively affect people within our own population and overseas. The same goes for what other governments or international institutions do that impact people's lives. What distinction or praise do I deserve for sitting back and saying, "Tut tut, that's terribly sad."? What is that but as BlackAmazon describes of Sofia Coppola Feminism, "It is a feminism that demands an emptiness (real or invented) of reflection, instead replacing it with self involvement." How does my momentarily feeling uncomfortable actually help anyone or change anything? It's self involvement, it's a form of self deception if I even for a second believe that my knowledge without action is any better than someone else's ignorance.

The concept of Sofia Coppola Feminism explained by Black Amazon.

There was also the Anti-Racism, not for the faint hearted. This one is a must read (ok, like all the others). The issue of race and privilege is brought up.

I’m sharing this story with you all not to shame this person nor to start any public battles, but to relate an experience shared by too many people of color in the progressive movement. Anytime we try to hold white allies accountable for their actions, we take a huge risk. Whether that is the loss of a personal relationship, a smeared reputation, or simply the wrath of someone whose ego we have bruised, people of color in all strata of the left have an uphill battle in challenging white supremacy. Good people, you and I have seen and experienced many examples of white ally catastrophe.

Finally, if you didn’t read any of the links at all but want to do something about the raids go to: Ways to Helpl

Posted by Dalu at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

During a recent conversation over coffee with some of my favorite women, our topic, once again, strayed to American culture. Most of us count ourselves among the feminist movement, and the others are incredibly pro-women. As we have found out through our coffee dates and in day-to-day life, there are quite a few women in society who are anti-woman. Many feminists, not surprisingly, believe that if you aren't pro-choice, you can't possibly be a feminist. Some go as far as to say that those who aren't pro-choice are anti-woman. I wouldn't go that far, but I detest those who make women feel guilty or bad for exercising their right to choose.

Back to the topic at hand, I move to state that Americans are becoming much more voyeuristic nowadays. Although I can understand some level of voyeurism with movies and television, but when people go to court to watch a rape trial and see the drama, we've gone too far. Why is it that people seem to think that it is perfectly acceptable to involve themselves so deeply in others' lives? When a woman has been raped, that is her life and her pain, not entertainment for the neighbors.

But it becomes more disturbing. Some have even passed the line from voyeur to participant in terrible events and situations. I offer a sobering example: a gang rape in Madison, Wisconsin. Two men drag a woman into an alley where they begin to rape her. Two more unrelated men pass by and ask to get 'in on it' where the first two proceed to pimp the woman out for $20 each. Understandably, this is quite an extreme example, but what I move to question is where do college students get the idea that such actions are acceptable?

There are so many potential answers to such a question, and the answer changes based on the situation or personal experiences of the rapist. I believe that many rapists do not believe that the acts they commit are wrong. Is that where such crimes become acceptable? Suppose then, that what was necessary is a transformation of the societal norms and portrayal of acceptable behavior. Other than the media's interpretation of rape, where do we begin? Then wouldn't changing the media's interpretation need to be changed? And now we are back to the age-old question - what should the media 'look' like?

If you are looking for an interesting read on a feminist perspective of the role of the media, try here.

*This from one of my blogs...thoughts?*

Posted by Jessica Englund at 09:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Here's some films about women of color that the Office for University Women is sponsoring. Free and open to the public + refreshments + good films + great discussion = good times. RSVP to women@umn.edu / 612-625-9837.

Ferry Tales
Thursday, March 29, 6:30 p.m.
Walter Library 402
Staten Island Ferry powder room brings together suburban moms, urbanites, white-collar, blue-collar, sistahs and socialites. In broaching topics as divorce, single motherhood and domestic violence, “Ferry Tales” shows us the realities of life for working women, and provides a rare and honest look at the intersections of race and class. Post-film discussion facilitated by Associate Professor Joanna O’Connell, Spanish & Portuguese Studies.

See Me: Five Young Latinas
Thursday, April 5, 6:30 p.m.
Nicholson Hall 125
Five teen-aged Latinas in San Francisco’s Mission District talk frankly about their lives, from discrimination and school, to friends and family relationships, and plans for the future. Post-film discussion facilitated by Claudia Fuentes, Chicano Studies (formerly).

Mohawk Girls
Thursday, April 19, 6:30 p.m.
Nicholson Hall 125
This film intimately captures the lives of three exuberant and insightful Mohawk teenagers growing up on the Kahnawake Native Reserve. To move away from the reserve means you risk losing your credibility, or worse, your rights as a Mohawk. But to stay is to give up the possibilities offered by the "outside world." Post-film discussion facilitated Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Band of Ojibwe and Mpls. School Board member.

Posted by Office for University Women at 05:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm struck by Daliya's comment on The Third Wave.

Daliya, I'm interested in this especially:

Although I find myself at times reluctant, if only for a moment, to call myself just a “feminist,” Thus, I use the terms womanist or black feminist.

This is the case because I always feel somehow left out and out of place in this “movement.” The term feminist conjures up the image of a white middle class woman, and this is speaking out of experience. There’s this barrier between feminist women of color and white feminists. In a sense, it feels like white feminists are the drivers of the movement and women of color are merely subjects, students, projects...etc, but rarely ever equal members, unless they conform to an imaginary set of rules that I haven’t laid my hands on yet.

and...

That being side, I find many women of color who cringe at the word feminist or see that it has no place for them.

and...

I believe we need feminism more than ever, because women are getting too comfortable (“we have enough rights, what are these other women still complaining about?”…etc) but what they don’t realize is, what we have can just as easily be taken away. If we are not in constant awareness. Just because we have relative equal opportunity does not mean that we are getting it.

OK...now that I've quoted you to death, Daliya, my question for you (and others) is: if we need feminism more than ever, but women of color may feel left out of this movement (whether we want to call the movement the women's movement, a feminist movement, a womanist movement, etc.), how can we get women of color - or anyone who's felt marginalized by the movement, for that matter - involved in it?

I'll ask it another way: as a young woman of color who defines herself as a black feminist or a womanist, what kinds of things/activities/programs would you/do you/would you want to participate in?

Posted by Office for University Women at 04:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

While browsing Feministing this morning, I came across a post by Jessica who linked an article from The Harvard Crimson. The article was "No Need to 'Fuck the Man'" written by Justine Lescroart. She also wrote the article "Beyond a Women's Center". Both of these articles illustrate the beginnings of a feminist attitude, however, some of her sentiments and statements fall a little short. Within "No Need to 'Fuck the Man,'" she discusses an invitation she recieved to a 'Fuck the Man' party hosted by feminists. The invitation states that it is not an anti-male slogan and that 'the Man,' as the author clarifies, is simply a group or individual who had power and oppresses others through that power. What upset me was the authors statement:

Of course, a slogan is just a slogan, but it does represent something about certain aspects of modern feminism that doesn’t quite sit well. After all, in portraying a feminist party as opposed to “the Man,” the slogan, like many strands of feminism, seemed to promote a sense women’s “otherness”—a feel-good approach to feminism that ultimately hurts women more than it helps us.

I don't quite understand how the understanding of the 'otherness' of women is harmful. I have studied Simone de Beauvoir's work and her views on the woman as the 'inessential' or the 'other.' By recognizing the 'otherness' and oppression of half of the population, one can begin to move forward and try to change the the societal norms. Through simple recognition of difference and the treatment of 'others', change can be made or seen possible. Moving forward in the article, Justine states:

...many women accept secondary, passive roles all the time, asking a man to decide things for her, to fix things for her, to tell her who she is. Doing so is often easy because it relieves a woman of the otherwise inevitable weight of making wrong decisions, of not fixing things, of not always being sure of who she is or what she believes in. While that was understandable a hundred years ago (and still is in many less developed parts of the world), modern women have little excuse. We voice awareness of male-female equality, but nonetheless act in ways that perpetuate the conception of a man as “the norm” and a woman as an aberration.

There are two parts to this statement. The first that I want to take issue with is that she suggests that women 'inevitably' make wrong decisions without the help of a man. I surely hope that that isn't the way she meant that statement. I also do not quite understand why she added the unnecessary '(and still is in many less developed parts of the world).' Oppression and 'otherness' as the societal norm is not strictly in 'less developed' countries. It is present in many of the more powerful countries as well.

In the second article I mention that Justine wrote, she proposes that Harvard ought to hire a woman president. Although I agree wholeheartedly that it is time for more women leaders, I do not with some of her supporting arguments. Most specifically,

Candidates for any job should always be considered as individuals, and to deny that a person’s sex is a central part of who he or she is would be blatantly false. A 2005 study in the journal Social Behavior & Personality found “a gender bias in hiring and firing decisions…at the final-choice stage.” In today’s gender-conscious world, intentionally or not, an applicant’s gender will be a factor in the hiring process. Why not admit this—and admit that the sex of our president is going to have some obvious side effects?

I do not support using sex or gender as a means to hire someone. Rather than using discrimination in a reverse fashion, why not target those who believe discriminatory behavior is okay? Or, why not try to educate persons of proper behavior during a hiring process? I know that I am probably sounding naive at the moment, but that statement did not sit well with me. I believe that there are better means to accomplish goals. Thoughts?

Posted by Jessica Englund at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

How do young women feel about feminism?

I throw this question out there because I've heard from some young women that they: 1) don't know what feminism is; 2) don't care; 3) don't feel like we need it or offices like The Office for University Women (OUW) anymore.

I'm biased; I've been interested in feminism and women's issues for a long time. But that's just me. So do we need feminism? If so, what does or should it look like?

What is the role of offices like OUW, The Aurora Center for Advocacy & Education Against Sexual Violence, The Center on Women and Public Policy, and The Program for Women in the Institute of Technology? And those are just a few of the offices/departments on campus for whom gender equity is part of their central mission.

Organizations like the Third Wave Foundation are working to evolve feminism, and trying to expand the boundaries of the women's movement.

Third Wave is a feminist, activist foundation that works nationally to support young women and transgender youth ages 15 to 30. Through strategic grantmaking, leadership development, and philanthropic advocacy, we support groups and individuals working towards gender, racial, economic, and social justice. Third Wave is led by a board of young women, men, and transgender activists striving to combat inequalities that we ourselves face as a result of our age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or level of education.

Do we need organizations like the Third Wave Foundation? How do we connect women on campus with organizations like the TWF? Should that even be a goal? The bottom line is: we want to be an office that provides a dynamic and progressive array of resources, programs and opportunities for women. How do we do that?

Thoughts, Feisty Femmes?

Posted by Office for University Women at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Based on size and "Best Week Ever," it must be that I am shallow and have no personality. I do not consider myself thin at a size 6 but I am certainly not "overweight." Regardless of where I am now in my ramen-college days, I will still get flack from family and those who know me to try and regain my prime soccer body. Although I loved playing and being stronger and fitter than I am now, I am so much more comfortable in my skin. I have moved away from the barbie doll look my mother loves and towards a more jeans and t-shirt brunette that fits my style. I have been told that my personality fills up a room and I am quick to agree. I hated being quiet and subdued and have agreed to never be that way again. My friends who have seen my transition love me more now, not because of my looks, but because I am so much more comfortable in my skin. I am not about to believe that I am unfortunate, however, size seems to grasp onto all forms and persons. One of my many heros and also a good friend said to me one day, "I am so glad I'm fat. People actually see me and love me whole-heartedly." She is fabulous and also be-a-utiful. Thanks to Hala for making me smile! Hope to actually meet you soon.

Posted by Jessica Englund at 07:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was wondering when we were going to talk about this.

This is a huge issue for me, no pun intended. I resent the implication that women of above average, or even literally average size, are lacking sex appeal or are inherently unattractive. As a size 18 who has been told on more than one occasion that "for a big girl, you don't really act like one", this is like my personal crusade. I know you all don't know me, but I'm gorgeous. If I wasn't so short or so, let us say, zaftig, I could be a forties movie heroine. I know, you're not supposed to say that about yourself, it isn't humble, but I really could give a crap. It's taken me a long time to accept that I am beautiful, and I'm not going to apologize for it. I'm beautiful, and in part, it is because of my larger than usual butt, boobs, what have you. I've dieted, I've exercised, I've cried and I've tried to love myself in spite of my weight, but none of it works. You have to just love yourself, and be healthy, which I am, thank God. So what really irritates the hell out of me is when someone, boys, girls, media, parents, whoever, either implies or states outright that I should be unhappy, that I should apologize for my weight. That I have no right being confident and sexy and happy and pretty because I have to shop at Lane Bryant for pants. That there is no room in this culture for a woman who looks like me. What irritates me further is the men I have dated who seem surprised to be attracted to me, as though there are limits to attraction, and I am some horrible perversion of that attraction. Needless to say, I don't date them for much longer. I don't want to be loved in spite of my looks. I want to be loved for them, at least in part. Of course, I also want to love them too, to love even my belly rolls and thigh dimples, but that is going to take some time, and possibly more pilates, because damn, does that make you feel strong.

So, Best Week Ever is a stupid, funny show, that I happen to watch and enjoy. And when they call girls like Jennifer Hudson girls with a "great personality" or "a pretty face" or any other euphemism for overweight, I say that's fine. They are overweight, and so are, what, like 60% of Americans? Why don't we deal with the underlying causes of those weight issues: cheap, overprocessed food; lack of healthy, readily available and affordable meals for underpriviledged families and individuals; body image issues; sedentary lifestyles made worse by computer and car dependence; lack of public transport; an emphasis on the physical over the mental; a sense that the ends always justify the means when it comes to weight loss; the need to conform with traditional and ridiculous standards of beauty; the fact that we keep priviledging models who are skinnier and skinnier while our collective asses grow fatter and fatter? I would much rather discuss any of that then whether or not America Ferrera and Jennifer Hudson can be attractive. They are attractive, why do we need to justify it, to give that attractiveness permission? Just stop it. Pretty is pretty, no matter what size it wears.

Posted by Hala Furst at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Girls with nice personalities" were apparently having the best week ever. Included in the category of "girls with nice personalities" was Jennifer Hudson, Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress from Dreamgirls, the two "plus-sized" contestants on America's Next Top Model (Whitney and Diana), and the young women who were purged from Delta Zeta at DePauw.

Notice a trend here? "Girls with nice personalities" are also "overweight." I put "overweight" in quotation marks, because I'm not buying for one second, that being above a size 10 or 12 or 14 makes a woman overweight. In fact, most of the women I know wear a size 10 or above, and I know that everytime I go to buy clothes, the 12s, 14s, and 16s are always gone, leaving behind the 0s, 2s, 4s, and 6s. Whatever your body type, whatever size jeans you wear is fine, but a 10 or above is hardly cause for alarm.

There's a nasty little implication - actually, "Best Week Ever" came straight out and said it - here that girls who are a size 10 or above are automatically physically unattractive, and therefore, only have their personalities to go on. And because of that, "girls with nice personalities" are supposedly desperate and quicker to "put out."

Now, of course, "Best Week Ever" could have been tongue-in-cheek, but I'm thinking not. And if they were serious about "girls with nice personalities" having the best week ever, what does that say about the progress (or lack thereof) that we've made regarding views on body image and beauty?

Thoughts?

Posted by Office for University Women at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can we talk about this a bit? I'm of two minds about states like Texas trying to pass or passing legislation to make the HPV vaccine required for enrollment in public schools. On the one hand, I LOVE that we have a vaccine and that we are finally making some signifigant strides in cervical cancer prevention. Plus, it is great to see HPV become as preventable as the mumps or measles with these shots. On the other hand, it seems a bit soon to rush into requiring these shots, and it does seem like the choice to get them or not should be with the individual girl and her parents. Why do I feel this way? Am I being sucked into the "reproductive-safety-is-different-from-all-other-medical-safety-issues"? Any thoughts?

Posted by Hala Furst at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)