Hillary Clinton – A blessing or a disappointment?

Please read the article written about Hillary Clinton on Vox.com first:

http://www.vox.com/2015/4/20/8458001/hillary-clinton-women

Hillary Clinton seems to be the front-runner for the democratic presidential nomination and will be the first woman to do so. While her potential presidency paves the way for many women to attain higher positions of power and gain another step towards equality, it also sheds light on some of the great hardship faced by women in positions of authority in today’s society:

“The problem, of course, is that women face a dilemma: being ambitious and successful are not characteristics that are traditionally associated with femininity, but challenging those traditional gender roles often provokes a backlash. Either way, there’s a risk that it will be a barrier to success.”

Hillary Clinton’s campaign will change this way that women in power are viewed, according to the article. This campaign will not be the shining example of the perfect female leader or the “golden child” of feminism, but rather a display of how ridiculous the pressures placed on women are. Clinton will inevitably face massive amounts of criticism, verbal abuse and standards set to inhuman levels. If she makes it to office and quite obviously can’t live up to these standards, will she break the mold and show the world that the standards are unreasonable, or will she give anti-feminists more fodder in the argument that women can’t do what they’re expected to?

What do you think is going to be the benefit of Hillary’s campaign and what would be the harm?

Would it be better for the feminist movement if Hillary made it to office, or is Hillary not the woman that should be the first to this position?

What implications does her campaign hold for feminism and society in general?

76/100

READ THIS BEFORE: http://www.huhmagazine.co.uk/9297/a-pop-up-shop-is-charging-women-76-cents-for-every-mans-dollar

This article for HUH Magazine’s website speaks of a store in Pittsburg known as 76<100. The graphic designer Alana Schlenker created this retail store recently that charges females only 76% of the retail price while men pay a full 100%. Schlenker made this store in honor of National Equal Pay Day, to acknowledge and emphasize how out of date and offensive it is that women who work full time jobs in Pennsylvania only earn 76 cents for every full dollar a male earns.

The concept of the store, as well as the forward and clear décor of the window display is a clever way of simply writing out the unfair and corrupt pay wages. Schlenker investigates this issue further as she compares the pay wages to society’s value system of gender. She is also humble with her work as she believes it is a “small way that I can do something about it” but the store 76<100 is hardly a small statement, in fact it is a very bold one. It is also one that could have a huge impact on the equal pay rights of many other city as it speaks of branching out, and labeling the other fronts with that cities ratio of women’s cents to the male dollar.

It would seems old fashion that these stores’ erection even be necessary because equal pay should most definitely be a issue of the past, one that has already been established as completely sexist and unjust. But no, it is still present and extremely concerning that females are still not being recognized equally in the workplace.

How can this impactful discrimination against females in the workforce have lasted this long?

Do you think that men will change their opinions of this unfairness when they feel the same rejection and bias within the store 76<100?

What are other ways females can fight the huge issue that is unfair pay?

Blurred lines and Feminist Shirts

READ THIS FIRST :

http://www.buzzfeed.com/rossalynwarren/feminism-t-shirt

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3044450/Ohio-school-removes-word-feminist-girl-s-T-shirt-class-photo-offensive-unflattering.html

The feminist movement is starting to affect people younger and young nowadays. Eighth grader Sophie Thomas wanted to make a statement when she decided to wear a black t-shirt with the word feminist in bold white letters on class picture day. Her Ohio middle school and photographer thought the shirt was “unflattering” and “offensive ” to some people and decided to photoshop the word out. The school then claimed that they notified Sophie’s mother and she said it was okay. When asked, Sophie’s mom said she agreed to no such thing and the school finally apologized.

Although Sophie is very young, She has strong thoughts on feminism. She was quoted saying,

‘People around here misconstrue the word [feminism].’

‘Like, ‘Oh, you’re a feminist so you hate men.’

‘I just want to spread equality, and a lot of people here don’t agree with me.’

To spread the word Sophie started a twitter instagram movement using the hashtag #Ideservefreedomofexpression. On April 17th, thousands of teens and adults around the world wore feminist t-shirts and posted photos online in support.

When the school asked Sophie what she wanted out of all of this media attention she responded with,“I want everyone to realize that we NEED feminism. I want you to have someone come into the school and educate everyone about feminism. I want us to show the people that we are working together the make this school and our community and better place for everyone. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Sophie’s school is proof that people are still not comfortable with the feminist movement. Schools should want to help students perpetuate their beliefs and educate them on the importance of equality not suppress them.

I think Sophie is right. We should educate everyone on feminism and maybe people would feel less “unconfortable” about the whole thing or learn that feminist aren’t man haters. What do you think?

• Do you think schools should have seminars on feminism?
• What are your thoughts on what Sophie’s school did?
• Do you think Sophie is too young to be a feminist?
• Do you think there is an age that one must be to fully understand everything that feminism entails?
• Why do you think the word feminist makes people so uncomfortable?
• Do you think the world needs more young feminist like Sophie?

Women Hunters

Read these before the post:

Why Female Big Game Hunters Often Become The Hunted Online, In A Way Men Don’t

Hunting is for girls

A female hunter has been receiving a lot of negative feedback because she hunts. Her name is Rebecca Francis. She is an avid hunter and co-host of a NBC sports show called “Eye of the Hunter.”

Controversy has been surrounding several images of Rebecca Francis next to a dead giraffe while on an excursion in Africa. The giraffe was old and was kicked out of his heard by the the more powerful giraffe. The locals told her that none of the remains would go to waste, in which they didn’t. Most of the parts of the giraffe were used as food, decor, or jewelry.

This begs the question; How come this has received so much attention when many of the US presidents have been avid hunters and often have pictures of them next to their dead prey? Not many people had a problem with that but now that more female hunters are hunting and becoming good at it, the media has spoken. This brings up the question if she is receiving criticism because of her gender or the act.

There is clearly a double standard in America when it comes to female hunters and this has been a recent issue. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, there has been “a 43.5 percent increase in female hunters from 2003 to 2013, for a total of almost 3.35 million.”

Do you think this is a question of double standard or animal cruelty?

Women Against Feminism Movements

Please read this first: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/07/30/is-this-what-an-anti-feminist-movement-looks-like/

Bethonie Butler writes about an idea that is increasingly controversial in today’s society. The main point of this article is to address anti-feminist movements, what they look like, and the type of people that are involved in anti-feminist movements. According to Butler, a Tumblr page called Women Against Feminism has come to light and has had increasingly more followers as of late. It consists of women holding photos of themselves with captions as to why they don’t believe in feminism, with one woman quoting “I don’t need feminism because my boyfriend treats me right”. I believe this is completely missing the point of feminism and feminist movements in general. While a lot of people feel that the focus of feminism has shifted from gaining more rights for women, to hating on men, I maintain that feminism is still about gaining equality for women. It’s obvious to anyone who pays attention that women are still not held in the same regard as men, and we still have a long way to go, but I disagree with anti-feminist movements because I think it encourages this idea that feminists are too aggressive and have completely evolved to be a man-hating bunch.

As ridiculous as this Women Against Feminist movement is to me, I agree with Emily Shire’s idea that making fun of this campaign may validate their beliefs that they don’t have a place in the feminist movement. Just because someone may not be as much of a feminist as someone else, doesn’t mean they should be excluded from the movement all together. This, I think, is an idea that is trying to escape as a result of this anti-feminist movement.

Another interesting perspective is the difference between women against feminism and men against feminism. Jessica Valenti distinguishes the difference between the different sexes opposing feminism. She said that men against feminism is yes, frustrating, but “predictable”, saying that “groups with power have always been loathe to give it up”. She describes women against feminism, however, as a betrayal, stating that anti-feminist organizing is “based on deep hyprocrisy and selfishness”.

Do you think that the distinction between men and women against feminism makes a difference?

Do you see women against feminism as a betrayal to females everywhere?

What do you think about anti-feminist movements? Are people who support these movements justified in their reasoning?

A Realistic Guide to Life or Our Generations Burn Book?

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/fashion/laughing-all-the-way-to-the-bank.html

Please also check out the blog: http://www.betcheslovethis.com

Betches Love This is a blog that has become overwhelmingly popular as well as profitable in the last couple of year. The blog gives advice and remarks on the lifestyles of mostly college educated, wealthy females. It focuses on Greek life, status symbols, dating, and dieting and emphasizes the cardinal rules to getting ahead in life which include “not being easy, poor, or ugly”. Many people (mostly women between the ages of 18 and 24) find the content to be funny and satirical while others view this blog as downright offensive.

One of the authors explains how the blog, “At its heart, it’s a satire”. The site has received over four million visitors per month and this number continues to grow. Many readers of the blog believe that the writers are just stating what no one will actually say out loud. Articles on the blog include topics from “a recap to last nights The Bachelor episode” to blog posts critiquing the anti-feminist articles posted by magazines like Cosmopolitan. Although most of the articles are intended to be light hearted satires of everyday life the writers of Betches Love This have had to take down certain posts such as “How To: Get People To Accuse You of Having an Eating Disorder” because of the offensive content. On top of this the authors have explored ethnic stereotypes such as posts called “Jewish American Betches” and the “Token Asian Betch”. Some people view the writers as comedians with realistic social commentary but this is not the case for all.

            It is important to note why Betches Love This has become so popular. Readers despite the offensive content find the blog both entertaining and liberating. Betches poke fun of the ridiculous lifestyles of women in expensive colleges much like our own. On top of this they have various articles supporting feminist causes and have been known to ridicule people who claim to support any form of anti-feminist sentiment.

My Questions:

-Do you believe that a blog that satirizes the lifestyle of many women in college recapitulates negative stereotypes about women?

-Does the fact that the Betches Love This blog writes articles in support of feminism change your views on their more contested posts like the one called “Don’t be easy, Don’t be poor, Don’t be ugly”

-Can you make fun of women and still be feminist?

FREE THE NIPPLE!! …Or don’t?

The Free the Nipple campaign, according to their website, is “a film, an equality movement, and a mission to empower women across the world.” Their means of doing so? By protesting so-called “decency” laws that continue to oppress and outlaw topless women, even those who are breastfeeding, in 35 U.S. states.

These sorts of laws are not applicable to male nipples. Nor are those policies from social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, which are both notorious for taking down photos (as discussed in one of our previous Feminism and Women’s Bodies posts) and deleting entire accounts when users post “racy” photos of the female anatomy. Instagram calls this “mature content,” but, naturally, avoids mentioning mature content does not include male nipples.

According to the movement’s founder and film’s director, Lina Esco, Free the Nipple attempts to answer the question “Why is a woman’s nipple so controversial?”

Please read the following two articles for some opinions on this campaign/social movement…

Free the nipple campaign is not empowering to women 

Why Free the Nipple Isn’t About Fixing Tan Lines

The first article, by Tory Shepherd of the Australian Herald Sun, speaks against the Free the Nipple campaign, stating that, among other flaws, “it’s just not clear…how empowering it is for women to get their tits out, when in fact that’s what pervy blokes have been asking us to do for years.” Shepherd contests that there are other, better causes women ought to be involved in.

Do her points have some validity? Is she correct in saying that this movement gives into the desires of “pervy blokes” or, further, supports the patriarchy?

Ms. magazine’s James Hildebrand, in the second piece, is very pro-nipple, so to speak, and points out that other content that would seemingly fall under the realm of “mature” is acceptable on social media, like “public beheadings.” His argument is that movements like Free the Nipple and others rightly seek to end “a culture of sexual assault victim-blaming.”

How might Free the Nipple contribute to the end of rape culture?

Do you think female breasts are inherently sexual body parts? Why/why not? Are women’s bodies in their entirety inherently sexual? What about man boobs?! Do lines need to be drawn in terms of how people should appear in public, and should they apply to one gender and not the other(s)? Is this body shaming?

Don’t feel obligated to answer all of the above questions; I hope they do all get you thinking, though! (Seriously, what about man boobs?!)

Finally, do you think this is an issue of importance? Are there more consequential women’s issues to which Free the Nipple supporters and their resources should be devoted?

___

If you’re still interested in this issue, take to Google and/or read this article (or the others I linked in the post) about censorship and androgynous individuals!

“Tart, Slut, Whore, Bimbo” – Lewinsky, a Feminist With a Lowercase ‘f,’ Is Back

Please, read THIS ARTICLE  and THIS ARTICLE before reading the post.

In her articles Jessica Bennett talks about Monica Lewinsky, and her recent public appearances, including her TED Talk in Vancouver. After a decade of hiding from media and press, Lewinsky finally comes back, addressing issues of cyberbullying, humiliation, and women’s rights.

Bennett seems to be in awe with “the new Monica,” but she seems to be even more fascinated by the reaction of media and general public to Lewinsky’s public appearances. People seem to love her, especially young women and teenagers. They are inspired by Lewinsky’s active stance on the slut-shaming issue. Several journalists who wrote about the scandal back in the 90’s have publicly apologized to Lewinsky. Of course, she has also been criticized for using media to get public attention again. Some people wander why did she choose to talk about her story now, and why did she have troubles finding a job, if she could’ve just changed her name. However, most of the people tend to support Lewinsky.

What do you think of Lewinsky’s public appearances? Do you think that she is being genuine or that she is just trying to get more attention again?

Does this case prove that there has been a cultural shift towards feminism and away from slut-shaming? Or do you think that the public has accepted Lewinsky simply because the scandal is not a hot topic anymore?

Finally, young women and girls seem to look up to Lewinsky. Do you think that Lewinsky is sending a positive message to the new generation?

Don’t Measure a Woman’s Worth By Her Clothes

Please refer to this article before continuing: http://www.bustle.com/articles/70694-these-powerful-ads-depicting-womens-bodies-by-terre-des-femmes-make-a-bold-statement-about-what

As someone who went to a private school with a very strict dress code, I know what it is liked to be judged by the clothes that I wear. Throughout time, women have been put into categories based on the way they dress. The shorter her skirt and the lower her neckline is, the more she is considered promiscuous. If her skirt is longer and her collarbone is covered, she’s a prude. Even now, there is the notion that women who are assaulted are “asking for it” based on how they dress. Women should be allowed to express themselves without fear of being criticized, categorized, or blamed.

This is why the “Don’t Measure a Woman’s Worth By Her Clothes” campaign is so important. The Swedish group Terres Des Femmes’ goal is to strive for gender equality. Advertisements such as these expose the harsh truth that women face everyday. I’m not going to say that men do not experience judgement based on how they dress, but I certainly think it is not to the same degree. Overall, I think these ads and others like this are making pretty big strides for gender equality. Hopefully one day, what we wear won’t matter.

Some questions I have for you are as follows:

• Have you ever personally experienced judgement based on how you dress?
• Have you ever judged someone based on how he/she is dressed?
• Do you think men experience judgement to the same degree as women?
• Do you think ads like this are helping better gender equality or add to a divide some attribute to feminism?

Are Celebrities Ruining the Feminist Movement?

Please read http://www.newsweek.com/problem-making-celebrities-face-feminism-319430 before beginning.

In the Newsweek article Alexandra Kilpatrick argues how celebrities should not be the face of the feminist movement. Kilpatrick describes how actress Patricia Arquette recently used her Oscar acceptance speech for a feminist platform, specifically talking about closing the gender wage gap. The speech itself was not the problem but backstage she made it seem the closing of the wage gap could only be applied to white, straight women, making feminism seem marginalizing.

On the other hand the author describes how there are in fact celebrities who do make a strong case for feminism, like Emma Watson and her efforts with the “He for She” campaign in the United Nations. Kilpatrick believes Watson is an anomaly however and most celebrities do not educate themselves or go deep enough into the issues in order to be positive spokespeople for feminism.

Kilpatrck believes the celebrities oversimplify the issues or contradict themselves when talking about feminism and it is best for them to stay away from the issues all together. Although it is a powerful act to have celebrities identify themselves as feminists and bring the issues to the forefront they should not be the leaders of the movement.

I do not agree that celebrities should not be leaders of the feminist movement. Celebrities already have a fan base and a platform in which they can spread their feminist ideologies and actions. Celebrities cause girls everywhere to want to be just like them, so if they are feminist they are creating a whole new generation of feminists. Singers, actors, and any other celebrity can say their ideas without coming off like they are preaching or stuffing information down your throat. I agree with Kilpatrick that celebrities should educate themselves more on the issues because they are at the forefront of the feminist movement, and these leaders should be the best spokespeople possible.

Do you agree with Kilpatrick that celebrities should not be the leaders of the feminist movement?

If it is not celebrities leading the feminist movement, then who should it be?

How can celebrities be more like Emma Watson and act more like educated leaders of this movement?