After completing the novel, watch it on Hulu!!
Sunday, April 30, 2017
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale written by Margret Atwood tells the story of a dystopian society in which gender roles are rolled back, stripping women of their rights. In the Republic of Gilead, Offred must figure out a way to continue living despite the hardships she has faced and continues to face. Women in this society are split among, the Wives, the Martha's, the Aunts, the Handmaids, the Econowives, and the Unwomen. Within each rank comes a differing level of oppression. Written in present time with flashbacks to the past, The Handmaid's Tale reveals an extreme society that captivates the reader. Infuriating, tragic, and frightening, The Handmaid's Tale is a must read!
After completing the novel, watch it on Hulu!!
After completing the novel, watch it on Hulu!!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Satan's Trifecta: Three women on their Period.
Claire, Hailey, and Alex linked cycles = Worst day for Phil and Luke.
Modern Family Clip
Claire, Hailey, and Alex linked cycles = Worst day for Phil and Luke.
Modern Family Clip
Absolutely hilarious SNL skit mimicking modern day birth control commercials.
SNL Birth Control Commercial
SNL Birth Control Commercial
Lindy West, author of Shill, writes about her experience of maturation. While reading her chapter Are You There, Margaret? It's Me, a Person Who Is Not a Complete Freak, I could not help myself from belly roaring my way through to the end. Her experience was typical to many women's experience and therefore very relatable. The reason I found the chapter to be so hilarious is probably because I had never discussed periods in the way West did. She is real and truthful, she says what I had been thinking as a young woman who just got her period.
When young girls get their periods for the first time, there is a lack of acknowledgment as to what it really means. The focus is on sanitation and hiding maturation rather than embracing it. There is rarely a conversation or form of education on sex and reproduction. Menstruation becomes a hush, hush topic that needs to be contained.
This SNL skit is a very funny play on the old menstrual pad belts. The skit is exactly the same in the way modern commercials are framed for feminine products. Tina Fey and her posse are happy, laughing, and sexy with their Kotex pads!
SNL skit on Kotex Pads
When young girls get their periods for the first time, there is a lack of acknowledgment as to what it really means. The focus is on sanitation and hiding maturation rather than embracing it. There is rarely a conversation or form of education on sex and reproduction. Menstruation becomes a hush, hush topic that needs to be contained.
This SNL skit is a very funny play on the old menstrual pad belts. The skit is exactly the same in the way modern commercials are framed for feminine products. Tina Fey and her posse are happy, laughing, and sexy with their Kotex pads!
SNL skit on Kotex Pads
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
The other day I read a chapter from the novel, The Politics of Behavior, Chapter 21, Hijab and American Muslim Women: Creating the Space for Autonomous Selves by Williams and Vahsi. The chapter discussed the ongoing debate of the meaning behind the hijab. They defined the hijab as, "a headscarf that covers a woman's head, hair, neck, and ears, but leaves the face uncovered." The debate behind the hijab is whether or not it is a symbol of oppression or a symbol of resistance against Western ideals.
Many Westerners have trouble understanding why women choose to voluntarily wear the hijab because we have different ideas of what equality means and is. The American idea of equal rights is different than the Muslim idea of equal rights. Muslims argue that difference does not equal inequality whereas American's believe that equality is treating all people the same. There is yet another misunderstanding in the relationship between culture and religion; the fact that they are two separate things. The Muslim faith doesn't match with Western culture. For instance, Americans have a much more relaxed and open view of sexuality whereas Muslims focus on the ability to control sexual impulses. Through the hijab, women are able to show that they don't abide by the typical view of Western ideals.
American Muslim women wear the hijab for a number of reasons. They feel that they gain more respect from the men within their community and that it levels out the playing field. The hijab also instantly shows what group they belong to while also allowing them to gain more social mobility; they can identify with a number of groups. Many Muslim women begin to wear the hijab in their college years as a way to separate themselves from their parents. Young Muslim women are wearing the hijab even if their mothers and grandmothers did not veil. They choose to veil to identify with a larger group or the bring back their religion. The hijab has also become a fashion statement in recent years.
On the flip side, the reason there is a debate about the hijab is because it can be seen as a form of oppression. Only Muslim women cover themselves but Muslim men do not. The purpose of the veil is also to advert the gaze of men outside the home in order to protect both men and women from sexual impulses. This again can be viewed as an oppressive act because it makes the women out to be temptresses. It also lends itself to the argument that if Muslim women didn't veil then men and women wouldn't be able to control themselves around one another; it removes responsibility from both parties to act as civilized human beings.
Bottom line is that some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab and others do not. They choose to veil or not veil for numerous reasons. As the authors said, "As with any social practice of embodied symbol, different people had different rationales for its use, and any given person often had more than one reason." Hijab or no hijab there should not be judgement.
Many Westerners have trouble understanding why women choose to voluntarily wear the hijab because we have different ideas of what equality means and is. The American idea of equal rights is different than the Muslim idea of equal rights. Muslims argue that difference does not equal inequality whereas American's believe that equality is treating all people the same. There is yet another misunderstanding in the relationship between culture and religion; the fact that they are two separate things. The Muslim faith doesn't match with Western culture. For instance, Americans have a much more relaxed and open view of sexuality whereas Muslims focus on the ability to control sexual impulses. Through the hijab, women are able to show that they don't abide by the typical view of Western ideals.
American Muslim women wear the hijab for a number of reasons. They feel that they gain more respect from the men within their community and that it levels out the playing field. The hijab also instantly shows what group they belong to while also allowing them to gain more social mobility; they can identify with a number of groups. Many Muslim women begin to wear the hijab in their college years as a way to separate themselves from their parents. Young Muslim women are wearing the hijab even if their mothers and grandmothers did not veil. They choose to veil to identify with a larger group or the bring back their religion. The hijab has also become a fashion statement in recent years.
On the flip side, the reason there is a debate about the hijab is because it can be seen as a form of oppression. Only Muslim women cover themselves but Muslim men do not. The purpose of the veil is also to advert the gaze of men outside the home in order to protect both men and women from sexual impulses. This again can be viewed as an oppressive act because it makes the women out to be temptresses. It also lends itself to the argument that if Muslim women didn't veil then men and women wouldn't be able to control themselves around one another; it removes responsibility from both parties to act as civilized human beings.
Bottom line is that some Muslim women choose to wear the hijab and others do not. They choose to veil or not veil for numerous reasons. As the authors said, "As with any social practice of embodied symbol, different people had different rationales for its use, and any given person often had more than one reason." Hijab or no hijab there should not be judgement.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
After reading a few chapters of Phoebe Robinson's book, You Can't Touch My Hair, I decided to check out her podcasts, 2 Dope Queens. I listened to her podcast about the Women's March in January. Phoebe's podcast co-host, Jessica, spoke at one of the March's. She compared the new presidency to a new show that has on-going seasons for the next four years (clever). She talks about her experience going to the march. Multiple speakers came on to discuss the women's march and tell jokes. It is was cool to listen to this podcast and hear that people can make jokes out of the experiences positive and negative that they had at the march. My favorite was, "Hands too small can't build a wall". Check out 2 Dope Queens!!!
https://www.blogher.com/files/dopequeens.jpg
Thursday, February 9, 2017
BOOK ALERT!!
Here is a link to purchase Chuck Palahniuk's, Invisible Monster's Remix. This book plays with typical gender roles and beauty expectations in a twisted, mysterious way. Warning: While this novel is extremely captivating, it is also gut wrenching.
Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invisible-monsters-remix-chuck-palahniuk/1106502049
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71qd9mG0bTL.jpg
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