Hall of Shame - War on Women

So, it has been awhile since I posted but this all out attack on women's rights is unbelievable.  It is like we are back in the early 1900's.  It has been 40 years since the Supreme Court ruled in Eisenstadt v. Baird ruled that unmarried women had the right to use contraceptives.  Are we really still having this fight?!?!  And by "we" I mean MEN.  How many women have you seen arguing about against the use of contraceptive methods.  That is because the vast majority of women ARE USING contraception.  According to Guttmacher Institute:

• Virtually all women (more than 99%) aged 15–44 who have ever had sexual intercourse have used at least one contraceptive method
• Overall, 62% of the 62 million women aged 15–44 are currently using a method

That is why, regardless of your political or personal views, women need to unite and fight against this insane time traveling back to the 1950s.  We have fought for our rights and, while we may think fighting is no longer necessary, it is.  Even if you do not believe in using contraception, think of this as an attack on your rights over your own body.  If this regression happens, then who know what else the white, conservative, men will try to do.  

For a little inspiration, listen to the insane comments that these (mostly) men have made:

Hall of Shame - Angelina Jolie's Leg

I was not one of the many people watching the Oscars on Sunday night, but I have heard about Angelina Jolie's right leg.  

This picture (along with thousands of others of Jolie) is evidence of Jolie's status as a sex icon in our society.  But she is not just a sex icon, she is a loving and caring mother.  There are also thousands of pictures of her with her kids.

Jolie embodies our society's conflicting message about female sexuality.  Women and girls constantly see images of women dressed provocatively.  These images set the standard for what is sexy in our society.  But then women and girls also receive messages about being "good girls" and may be labeled as a slut based on their clothes and/or behavior.  

These conflicting messages - the virgin vs. the whore - are incredibly confusing for women and girls.  It is important for each of us - male or female - to think about how these messages about female sexuality impact us and our own sexuality.  It is also important to continue to have a dialogue about the contradictions and bring light to the fact that women and girls are increasingly sexualized but are not punished and judged when they act on their sexuality.  

Hall of Fame - National Pretty Brown Girl Day

Today is the first National Pretty Brown Girl Day.  The organization Pretty Brown Girl wants brown women and girls around the world to feel empowered and increase their self-esteem.  It is a great cause and I want to bring attention to it.  One day I may have a pretty brown girl and I hope that when that happens some things will have changed and she will feel empowered and able to love her skin, hair, and everything else about here.

In previous posts I have discussed the societal views of women with dark skin.  One article on National Pretty Brown Girl day also featured a trailer for a documentary called Dark Girls.  I think it is important to show it here:

Hall of Fame - Isabel Allende

Much of the posts on this blog have focused more on women in the United States, but it is also important to discuss the disempowered state of women worldwide.  While I wish that things were more equal and women in the US more empowered, the fact remains that women living in other countries have it worse.  In the below video, Isabel Allende speaks about women throughout the world and the need for women to be more empowered.

Allende makes some amazing points about how our world could be if women were more empowered and viewed as equals. 

• Women do two-thirds of the world’s labor but own less than 1% of the world’s assets.  Paid less then men, if they are paid at all.  They remain vulnerable because they have no economic independence and they are constantly threatened by coercion, violence, and abuse.
• If a woman is empowered her children and family will be better off.  If families prosper, the village prospers and eventually the whole society.
• Women are 51% of human kind, empowering them will change everything.
• Men run the world and look at the mess we have.  We want a world where life is preserved and the quality of life is enriched for everybody, not only the privileged.

The statistics that she shared that she me the most was that for every $1 given to a women's program, $20 are given to men's programs.  Allende calls attention to a pressing need for change in our society and our world.  

For real change, we need feminine energy.

Hall of Fame - Obama Administration

About a week ago, there was a victory for women's health.  Obama and Health and Human Services required that the majority of health insurances provide birth control free of cost to women.  While there are a few exemptions for religious organizations, as of August 1 women will be able to get birth control free of deductible or co-pay.  This huge advance for women sends the message that the government cares about and will support a women's reproductive health.  It will also save money because it will help prevent unintended pregnancies for women that are unable to afford birth control.  This is a short post but I think it is important to recognize.  Especially since this decision has received so little attention.

For more information

Hall of Shame - Alcatraz (Fox TV Show)

When I was flying home in December, I saw a preview of Alcatraz - a new show that was coming to Fox in January.  I liked it and decided to watch the full 2-hour premiere that was on last week.  For those of you that don't know it is a show from the creators of Lost and is based around the premise that all the prisoners from Alcatraz disappeared and are beginning to return - one-by-one - and kill again.

One of the main characters in the show is Rebecca Madsen and strong, self-assured female detective that begins investigating these returns.  When I watched it on the plane, I was so happy to see them presenting a very well-rounded female role model.  She was successful in a career that she enjoyed and had a meaningful boyfriend that supported her - even though she was technically his superior at work.  I loved that she had so many dimensions and positively reflected life for many women and showed that you could have a career and a personal life.

Many of you may be reading this and wondering why this post is Hall of Shame. Well... when I watched the episode this past week, all scenes with her and her boyfriend had been cut out.  So instead of presenting a well-rounded female role model, they feel into a stereotype of the heartless woman who has sacrificed her personal life for her career.  This continues to send girls and women the message that you can choose to have a partner/family or a career - but not both.  So much for a positive female role model on TV...

Hall of Fame - Riley on Marketing

As an eternal optimist, I wanted to start off the new year with a Hall of Fame post.  And what better way to start then recognizing this amazing young lady - Riley.

I don't have much to say because she is able to articulate my thoughts on the matter.  Her insightful words show us - again - that even kids recognize the gender stereotypes that our society puts out there.  To me this is further evidence that as adults we need to continuously challenge gender stereotypes that tell girls to like pink and princesses even if we think they are too young to understand.  But even Riley recognizes that some girls really do like pink and princesses.  And we need to be okay with that.