About Face – a body-positivity activism group protested in front of Victoria Secret this weekend. You can read about their protest here I love it when people take action against the powers that oppress them, particularly when their action speaks volumes to a public that might not even realize how they are being oppressed. That’s … Keep reading
How would our tales of the past be different if it was told from women’s perspectives?
Huffington Post is having a good Day as far as I’m concerned – this article covers a new tumblr Smile, Sizest! This site allows you to take a picture of someone who is being obviously rude and cruel to another person because of their fat — or possibly fat body.
While I hate the term ‘plus-size’ because it instinctually implies larger than ‘normal’ – I love that the Huffington Post published and advertised (via an emailed mailer) and article entitled “Best Plus Size Models: Who is Dominating the Industry Right Now” and I love that they included some models who are ‘genuinely’ fitted to larger clothes – versus the more traditional larger sized model who is anyone over a size 6.
It’s also worth noting that two of the mentioned models are on the cover of French Elle and Quebec Elle: Justine LeGault and Tara Lynn. Bravo Elle! How about some of this body positivity on US magazine Covers.
That said, there is a part of me that wonders what impact magazines still have. Do any of you regularly read magazines or has our western media guzzling culture become completely reliant information derived from the internet and other high-tech sources?
Either way – check out the Huffington Post article – I smiled.
Lately, I feel like every time I’ve sat down to write up a little something for the loyal followers of feminist cupcake – my attention is immediately diverted to something more pressing – like my students or my dissertation or the multitude of doctors that help me deal with my Hashimoto’s disease (Bastard! – and also a plague. If you haven’t had your thyroid antibodies checked and you’re feeling a little wonky, I suggest you bully your MD into ordering you some tests. And if you find you have heightened antibody levels see a functional doc – a lot more help there for hasi than an endocrine doctor. Just sayin’ ).
Finally, Summer is here and this cupcake is back! (I have high expectations – expect posts from me every week).
So without futher ado here are the top five feminist moments I would/should have shared with you recently if I had the time:
1. Boycott Abercrombie and Fitch. I don’t know how many, if any of you shop there, but if yo
u do refrain. A&F’s CEO has recently spouted some really ugly comments about fat women. boo-hiss. Check out Virgie Tovar’s interview on CBS NEWS.
2. Some super TED videos out there recently – have you seen Jackson Katz… or Courtney Martin…?
3. Did you run into the images of the real life Barbie and the anime girl? For me, this is a little creepy. Plastic Surgery is one of those issues which feminists from different waves debate ad nauseam. I think these two women ask us to consider this issue just a little deeper or differently. If nothing else, I think you find this unsettling.
4. Licia Ronzulli – the Italian MEP who brings her daughter to work – inspires me. The Guardian wrote a piece recently about her – and if nothing else the mere images of this woman doing her job and being a mother at the same time allow us to recognize that perhaps it is our conceptions of what is acceptable in the workplace that limits all people’s social positions. 
5. The New Dove, “Real Beauty Sketch” videos were highly problematic so much so that I hate to share them – but if you didn’t see it here it is:
The best discussion I saw on the issues with this video was written by Golda Poretsky - “Why Dove’s Latest Real Beauty Video Gets It All Wrong.” – Basically, as Golda points out – this video is racist, sizeist – reliant on the same old beauty ideas and most importantly tells women that they should base their self esteem on how others perceive them. Read Golda’s article – in fact, hang out with Golda for as long as you can. Her work is awesome.
I don't have to tell you that Steubenville is all over the news.
I don't have to tell you that it's a fucking joke that Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond, the two teenagers convicted of raping a sixteen year old girl, were only sentenced to a combined three years in juvenile prison. Each will serve a year for the rape itself; Mays will serve an additional year for "illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material."
Some of you may remember a post of mine about a Swedish preschool that was trying to become gender neutral. Well, this week a Swedish toy company published a gender neutral toy catalogue. Here are some of the images:
All in all I would find this joyful to look at but I seem to be having a gender crisis of sorts — seeing that Nerf gun in the little girls’ hands has my skin crawling — and clearly I should feel that way when I see a little boy playing war too! That said, I cannot believe how jarring it is to my sentiments to? see this gun in the little girls hands. The issue here is that guns in little boys hands are invisible and they shouldn’t be. How did we ever start seeing war and gun violence as a game? Doesn’t that seem a little sick to you? Still – Gotta love the idea of all children being taught to care for their homes and their future children — Rock on Sweden!
Both Bibles are the product of author Sheila Walsh, who writes an ongoing "God's Little Princess" and "God's Mighty Warrior" series. Highlights include: God's Little Princess: Dreaming of a Pink Christmas; Gigi, God's Little Princess 4: The Pink Ballerina; Gigi, God's Little Princess 3: Bursting With Readiness (I'm reasonably sure this one isn't porn - but the title gives me pause);
Any one know about this?
