Sunday 27 November 2011

Against the norm: debunking feminist stereotypes

With starting this blog I have been trying to advertise to some of my friends and family. Mostly put the word out on the street that it does exist in cyberland. In the process of doing so I have found myself faced with the question of what is feminism? Or, you cannot be a feminist you don’t look like a *fill in every feminist stereotype here*.
            Yes some feminists do conform to one or several stereotypes associated with the earlier movements (particularly the second movement) but those stereotypes are not what defines us. A non-feminist does not enjoy being defined by one aspect of their being, so I never understand what gives them the right to place giant, exaggerated labels over the name feminist and define us all for the actions of some. Stereotyping is easy, it gives us as humans comfort to know what is expected in the unknown. I understand that. But on such large scales, stereotyping does more damage that it does good. I hate to break your illusions but not all Canadians live in igloos and not all feminists hate men, in fact I have not met a Canadian who lives in an igloo or a feminist who hates men. Neither stereotype is correct and neither provides much comfort to those assuming, yet they still exist.
Feminists are not our stereotype. Yes, dimensions of our stereotypes are true and they help to differentiate us from other movements, but there is nothing wrong with that either. Yes there are LGBTQ feminists but there are also straight feminists. Yes there are feminist that choose not to wear makeup or shave their legs or armpits, but there are also feminists that do wear makeup and do shave. Being feminist is being open to the realm of possibilities of human existence, and accepting that as human. People come fat, queer, trans, black, white, red, yellow and possibly orange. Being a feminist is to acknowledge unjust societal difference and to actively seek to eliminate it. People are people, all people should have equal rights and freedom of belief and speech. Feminism is this fight.
So to answer the world, I may not fit your specific stereotype of feminist, however my beliefs make me feminist. It is my belief not my assimilation to the stereotypes that make me feminist. Please remember that. So next time someone tells you aren’t a feminist, tell them to think again.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

The Cost of Beauty

It has always amazed me how much some people, particularly women are willing to sacrifice in the “name of beauty”. For centuries women have been primping and plucking to make themselves more appealing, prettier and “all around” beautiful. However beauty, like anything in our consumerist society, comes at a cost. While generally it’s a financial cost, which is not always the case. Two recent incidents in the media have shown that some women are willing to pay for the cost of beauty with their life.
            Julie McCabe, a 38-year-old, British mother, recently collapsed from an allergic reaction after using L’Oreal Preference hair dye. McCabe is now is a coma with a slim projected chance of recovery.  According to her family, McCabe has been dying her hair every couple months within incident for years. Doctors state that her allergic reaction was to a chemical called phenylenediamine (PPD), found in the hair dye. It is expected that a build-up of PPD within her system caused the severe allergic reaction. While L’Oreal is offering to provide samples for testing, that won’t bring McCabe back to health. This woman is risking her life, just to alter the colour of her hair.
            Another recently documented event is the emergence of Butt Plumping Parties in the USA. Move over Tupperware, butt injections are moving in! At these parties, a “doctor”  injects the participants butts with a combination solvent that was claimed to make you more like JLo. However these injections are composed of a mixture of cement (presumably rubber variety), mineral oil and Fix-A-Flat sealant (what you use to fix flat tires). All really good things to put in your butt, right?... WRONG! One participant is reported to have come down with pneumonia and MRSA as a result of the injections.
            A 30-year-old transsexual woman, has been arrested and is accused of posing as a doctor (she doesn’t have a medical license), and injecting unsuspecting women, with the promise of their dream ass. 
            In both of these cases, it isn’t beauty on the line, but rather these women’s lives. Beauty shouldn’t be this valuable. More importantly we shouldn’t being human and alive be the fact of beautiful? But that only makes sense to me.
            Makes me wonder how much I am putting myself in danger everyday for the cost of beauty. While I don’t dye my hair or plump my butt with injections, I do wear make-up (aka my war paint), bathe, do my hair, etc. It makes me wonder what is in these products. What am I using on my body, to make myself presentable and beautiful? How am I sacrificing myself in the name of beauty.

The Best Menstrual Product, Period

Alternative menstrual products, especially those that are re-usable, have been gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason. The menstrual cup in particular is one of the best re-usable alternatives to tampons available due to its sexual and reproductive health, financial and environmental benefits.

Women need to look beyond the blatantly false 'clean and fresh' style of marketing employed by tampon companies. The menstrual cup is made of a soft medical-grade silicone, which is significantly safer than tampons as it cannot grow bacteria or yeast, reducing the likelihood of irritation and infection. It is this bacteria and yeast that accumulates on the tampon that actually causes the unpleasant scent often associated with menstruation. There is also a highly reduced chance of the wearer contracting toxic shock syndrome, a syndrome which has been linked to the bleaching of tampons. This means that it is not harmful to leave the cup in overnight, something not advised with tampon use which dictates a maximum of eight hours of wear. In contrast, the cup is worn throughout your period and removed and emptied every six to 12 hours depending on the heaviness of flow. It can be used for a light or heavy flow but emptied more often during heavier days.

There are practical benefits with choosing the menstrual cup over tampons (don't forget, ladies, unlike the menstrual cup, tampons weren't invented for women, they originated during wartime as a means to absorb the internal bleeding of wounded male soldiers). When inserted properly, the cup suctions to the vaginal walls and therefore should not leak. This means you don't have to worry about any unexpected leaks to ruin your day! Additionally, many women using this product feel comfortable partaking in some sex acts while menstruating. Clitoral stimulation may be more easily performed because there is no tampon string or mess to worry about due to the dependable suction of the cup.

Instead of buying multiple cartons of tampons for different levels of protection, you only buy one menstrual cup. The cost benefit here is quite outstanding as most cups cost between $35-45 and provide years of use. A friend of mine has been using her European version of the menstrual cup successfully for seven years. When you empty your cup, you wash it out with clean water and unscented soap then re-insert it. At the end of your period, you boil the cup to sterilize it and then store it in a carry case. The impact a woman can have on the environment is also drastically reduced this way. For instance, the average woman will dispose of 17 shopping carts worth of feminine hygiene products in her life-time when using products like tampons or pads. By choosing a re-usable option like the menstrual cup, a woman can reduce this number because there is less packaging, less tossing, less toilet paper used to wrap your products, and less trips to the store to pick up another box of tampons.

Many health food stores and even Brentwood London Drugs carry alternative menstrual products like the menstrual cup, such as the "DivaCup." Other brands of the menstrual cup may be found online and shipped in from other countries (but remember, shipping does contribute to more waste). I am a strong advocate for re-usable products like the menstrual cup but I must warn you to be patient. Many women find the first few cycles frustrating as the cup takes a certain technique to insert properly. I know my cup is secured in place when it hits my G-spot, resulting in the feeling of needing to pee, which on my first insertion was a somewhat strange experience (that said, the feeling does not remain and, like a tampon, the product cannot be felt). If you can get past the initial frustration I promise you will be satisfied with your decision to make the switch. The benefits are numerous.

Given the multiple benefits the menstrual cup has -- benefits like reproductive and sexual health, financial and environmental -- it is hard to see why anyone would choose traditional (and possibly dangerous) menstrual products like tampons.

Written by Laura Shiels

Monday 21 November 2011

Music Monday: Songs of Inspiration

Recently I have faced some hard decisions and life situations in a short period of time. It's made me realize that when times get tough, you need to rely on close-friends, family and yourself to pull you through. You need faith in the future and need to believe it will get better. For this reason it's important to remember a couple things:

1. Don't change who you are for anyone else. You are you, and that's what makes you perfect.
2. Always strive for your dreams. Don't settle for anything less that your best. And don't let anyone else tell you that you can't do something.
3. Enjoy the simple beauties in life. Don't be afraid to dance along the way.

I wish it was always as easy to remeber those three things, but it isn't. But I hope these songs inspire you to do so and have the faith that when times get tough, you cannot lose faith in yourself. Now I just need to remember these messages.



Sunday 20 November 2011

The Fallen Princess

This link was sent to me and I thought it was amazingly hilarious. Make sure to check it out!

Fallen Princess

Thursday 17 November 2011

Distanced from the Cause

Heteronormitivity is assumed, this is a known fact. At first glance we assume that everyone is heterosexual with purely heterosexual instincts and desires. Feminism has done an excellent job debunking the myth of heteronormitivity by making it okay to love who you love. That whether LGBTQ love, is love. This fact is one of my favourite things about being a feminist, that we should celebrate love between consenting individuals rather than just between a man and a woman.
            However, while it is okay to be LGBTQ within the feminist movement, I feel it is has created a stigma towards being a heterosexual feminist. In many ways I feel isolated from the feminist movement, theories and activism because I am a heterosexual woman. I keep looking at other women, and try to see them in sexual ways, but it doesn’t happen for me. But yet when I see men I begin to feel “all excited”. I know I am heterosexual. I will fully admit that I love cock. But does it make me a bad feminist for not opening myself up to love from anyone. In some ways it makes me feel like because I am not a lesbian or bisexual woman that I don’t get to fully experience feminism. That “I’m sleeping with the enemy” in way.
            I cannot speak for other heterosexual feminists but my experiences have left me feeling isolated within the movement. Making wonder why I don’t like women, I’m a feminist, I should like women too right? I should be open to experience love with anyone, including another woman. But yet at the same time, I don’t feel myself attracted to other women. I go to parties and have female friends (who claim heterosexuality) making out with one another and it does nothing for me. I don’t feel any urge to participate.
            Is my heterosexuality bad, is it a result of societies influence on me or is it something that like homosexuality is biologically determined, is biologically engrained in me too? Do other feminists think less of me because I enjoy being intimate with men?
            Maybe it is all in my head. Maybe I am distancing myself within the feminist movement. I don’t know. Has anyone had this experience?

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Knowledge is Power: A Look at Sex Education

I have wondered for quite some time why sex is such a taboo subject. I completely agree with the notion that it is an intimate act between consenting individuals however, sex is a natural process. The majority of society partakes, so why is there such a stigma when it comes to sex knowledge. I truly believe knowledge is power. Knowledge about sex allows people who are and are not sexually active to make informed decisions that are right for their lifestyles. Whether that means, whether or not they want to or are ready for sex, what method of birth control is or would be suitable for them as well as the potential outcomes (pregnancy, STI’s, emotional outcomes, etc.) that are associated with being sexually active.

Sexual Education is vitally important to society. It is especially important for teens. Western society is becoming sexually active at a younger and younger age. It has been shown that the younger you are at first sexual act the less knowledgeable you are about sex, and the greater the risk they are putting themselves in in regards to pregnancy, STI’s and emotional distress. Sex needs to be reclaimed as natural, not taboo. We cannot stop these teens from partaking in sexual acts, to me that seems unrealistic, but we can give them the knowledge make informed decisions.

While society feels we don’t need this education, it is often left up to us to find. However what you hear through the grapevine or find in books or the web is not always creditable. For this reason I have found a couple websites that are creditable. Hope they help you. The first website is Bedsider, which outlines the reasons why birth control can be advantageous as well as provides a chart as to which methods are best for which lifestyle as well as some of the pro’s and con’s associated with each. I would highly recommend this website if you have any questions regard birth control. Another website for a rounded view of sexual health is the Calgary Sexual Health Center. It is a local sexual health center that provides an overview of sexual health from gender identity to what to do if you believe you are pregnant. If society won’t provide you with the knowledge, don’t be afraid to educate yourself. Knowledge is truly power.

Monday 14 November 2011

Introducing Music Monday's

I would like to introduce Music Monday's. I will gladly admit I am addicted to music Music is my voice. It speaks for me when I can't find the words. I have therefore decided to find some songs that I love because I believe they give an amazing message. Maybe you will relate to the song, maybe you wont. Music is a personal medium so who really knows. You wont unless you listen! :)

For today I picked a song by one of my all time favourite artists, Michael Franti and Spearhead. Hope you all enjoy!

Michael Franti and Spearhead - "Hey, Hey, Hey"

Saturday 12 November 2011

New Lows for TV Commercials

I came across these videos on another feminist blog and became appalled. I thought that while by no means perfect our advertising was improving. I guess I was very mistaken. Apparently we are telling women directly they cannot drink Dr. Pepper because it is much a manly drink, and telling young girls that playing with cars and blocks is wrong, let alone her dressing in green. Oh my goodness, the world is going to end because that young girl is dressing in ‘boy’ colours… NOT!!!
            These advertisements are not even have hidden messages, they are overt and in your face. I truly do not understand why we feel advertising companies feel they have any right to make these commercials. People have the right to be themselves, whether that is pink and frilly or green and camouflage. People have the right to drink what they want or what they do not want to, that is their choice.  



Tuesday 8 November 2011

A Life Lesson from the Duggars on Maternal "Sacrifice"

While life is precious I do not believe the human body was designed to reproduce 20 times. The Duggar family announced today they are expecting baby number 20 due in April. So 19 pregnancies and 20 children later, Michelle (Momma Duggar) will have spent approximately 15 years of her life pregnant!!! Attached is a link to a video where they announce they are pregnant. In the video, when asked about her fears regarding the pregnancy (since her last pregnancy was extremely premature and put her life in danger with complications), and she said that sacrifice was the sign of a true mother. That she would sacrifice for all her children include those who have not yet to be conceived. I have to disagree with her. While there is a component of sacrifice with any parental role, I don’t believe that is what solely makes a true or good mother. A mother is so much more. A mother is care, compassion, empathy. They are everything associated with femininity sadly. But yet to be a mother is said to be the most rewarding experience.
            I am not yet a mother, and I don’t plan to be for several years. But yet does that make me a bad feminist for wanting to be a mother; for wanting to be caring and nurturing towards another life. I would have to say it does and it doesn’t. Being a mother helps to enforce the social notion of femininity as caring and nurturing. But at the same time, what is wrong being with caring and nurturing. I would argue that those qualities actually make for a better feminist. It is the ability to be caring and compassionate that allows feminists to see the fundamental differences within society and provide a drive for wanting to create change; for wanting to help the “oppressed” in a positive manner. I believe it helps to add the human aspect back to feminism.
            At the same time that feminism is aided by the qualities of motherhood, I do not think that a mother should have inherently “sacrifice” for her children (living or unborn). By this I mean that women should not be obligated to pregnancy and motherhood. Women should not have to give up their bodies, their careers, their way of life unwillingly. They should have autonomy over their life and their body. One thing I would strongly disagree with Mrs. Duggar about is that women do not have to have 20 children or even a child. It is a personal decision. While I cannot say much that she is pregnant again, I really wish I could tell her that it wouldn’t make her any less of a woman or a mother if she decided not to have number 20 (or even number 21 at the rate they are going).
            I guess Congratulations are in order to baby number 20. All the best to baby, mom and family through this pregnancy.

Monday 7 November 2011

"I Am Naked... So What?!"

I have been researching music with feminist messages for a project in one of my Women’s Studies Classes and came across this song/video by Stereo Total entitled “I Am Naked” on Happy Bodies Blog. I have to say I fell in love with this song! It is not very often that you seen anything in pop culture embracing the naked body in an unsexualized manner. The women and men in this video are just happy to be naked. They are proud of their bodies, how their mother made them. They are dancing around and celebrating their naked bodies.
            One thing I would have enjoyed seeing in this video is people of different sizes, shapes and ethnicities. Any body is beauty, not just Caucasian “athletic” body. I do feel Stereo total has the right idea and it really makes me want to dance around naked right now. J

English Version

The Orignal Version

Saturday 5 November 2011

What The Nipple?!

Today I was having a conversation with a lady about social media. She told me how she is starting an online campaign against a major social media site to reinstate a page in support of a breast cancer beauty reclamation project. In the project a group of breast cancer survivors painted their nude bodies in the hopes of redefining the female body after breast cancer as beautiful. They put all the pictures on a major social media site to show the world their project. When this social media site got word of these pictures they decided to take them down, deeming the images of pornographic. This same social media site refuses to take down other actual pornographic material which depicts women being assaulted and abused but yet they take down pictures of women trying to reclaim their bodies.
            According to the lady I was talking too, the comments on the pictures expressed disgust because nipples where shown within the images. Nipples. They had no problem with the breast, but it was the nipple that was causing people the most issues. It was the presence of the nipple that made the images pornographic. Under the logic that nipples are pornographic, wouldn’t that mean that everyman that walks around with his shirt off giving a live peep show?
I really don’t understand this, can someone please give me some insight why the “female” breasts and nipples are much more sexualized then men’s. I am well aware the role breasts play in pregnancy and motherhood, but why is it that because our breasts have a function that we are told to hide them, be shameful of them. However men, whose breasts do not have a direct function allowed to publically display them?
The women participating in the body painting have the right idea. Whether they have or have not battled cancer, breasts are beautiful; furthermore women’s bodies are beautiful and should be celebrated as such. As for social media, we need to as a society reconsider what is acceptable and what isn’t. If they allow images of abuse and men wearing shirts, should these painted women be allowed to share their artwork with their friends and family? It only makes sense to me.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Disney Pictures Presents... The Menstrual Cycle?


 I never thought I would see the day when I heard the word vagina in a disney pictures production, but they say it... several times. I was actually fairly suprised when I came across this video. I was expecting to watch ten minutes of menstruation myths, but instead they actually presented just the basic facts. While the social stigma around female cycles is still evident within this film, I found it suprising the radicalness that they were actually presenting menstruation to young women in a scientific manner. While the thought of Disney telling me about the inner workings of my reproductive system kinda creeped me out, I do believe that for the time when this was made they did a good. Disney please say vagina more often!

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Halloween Racism...?

I was talking with a friend yesterday as she was browsing her Facebook. As she was searching she found a picture of her friends who dressed up as JayZ and Beyonce (since she was pregnant) for Halloween. However this was a Caucasian couple. They not only dressed in attire like Beyonce and JayZ but they also decided to paint their face black with makeup.
 My friend and I were not sure what to think of this. Is this racist? Or is this just an innocent Halloween costume? I actually don’t think this was racist of this couple, though I do think that it was an inappropriate choice of for a costume.
If racial minority was to dress up as Brittney Spears or Dr. Phil, nobody would take a second look. They would just see an Asian Dr. Phil or a African American Brittney Spears, they would not look far into the issue. However, now that a white couple is dressing up as racial minority that is considered racist? That doesn’t seem right to me.
However, it also raises questions whether different cultures should be acceptable for a costume. I read an article on Jezebel a couple weeks ago; about several Racial Activists are fighting to no longer have their culture as a Halloween costume. They argued that they are a culture not a costume, therefore they felt it was insulting to stereotype all oriental people the dimensions of costume. In order to make a Halloween costume recognizable requires the costume wearer to utilize every stereotype possible about the group of people or individual whom the costume is based upon. The picture below is one of the pictures from the campaign.
I don’t think dressing up as Beyonce and JayZ is any different than dressing up as a Geisha. Whether or it is wrong to dress up as a different race is a completely different question, which I cannot answer.