http://chattahbox.com/images/2009/02/rapelay.jpg
Yesterday, a member of the Fword, Dalila, sent a link on a CNN article about a new video game called RapeLay. The objective of this game is to sexually harass and abuse a young woman, by lifting up her dress, groping her, raping her, and even, impregnating her. The game recently went viral and has been causing quite a stir in feminist communities who are outraged that such a game even exists. However, at the same time, the attention that the game is gaining causes more people to want to see the game and play it. For me, the concept of the game stems from people’s need to control something or someone. People that play the game want to dominate another person and cause pain in order to show they are in control. It makes me sick to think that people can be playing this game with the sole objective being to demean a woman because if they are willing to play this game on a video, how long will it take for them to consider the real world a “game” and continue with the idea that women are meant to be dominated and controlled. Even the name of the game, RapeLay, talks about rape, a violent act, as if it is a joke, when it is a serious issue. The CNN article talks about child pornography, which connects with the idea of the game because in both cases an innocent girl is abused. The innocence of the girl is being torn away; she no longer has control over her own body, but in the game, and in child pornography, is under the control of the player or the watcher. I do not understand why it is legal to show these images or to watch them. Which makes me ask which one is worse: creating it or playing/watching it?
Posted in Feminism in the wider world | 1 Comment »
So, I meant to write this blog last week but lost track of time. I was in class (I won’t tell which one since I do not want to get anyone in trouble!) and the professor had a problem that the class had to solve. The answer was a cooking oven, and when a female answered the question, the professor said that she knew a female would answer the question. Everyone laughed (especially after the professor was embarrassed by the comment), but I sat there in shock thinking why we must associate household appliances with women. Then again the times that my professor grew up in were not conducive to women being away from home. I am not sure what to say about the situation because I can understand where the professor was coming from, though I do not respect her comments.
Posted in Feminism @ Penn | No Comments »
Read the link below for more information:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/12/12/uganda.genital.mutilation/index.html?iref=allsearch
One of many steps that need to be taken to prevent genital mutilation from occurring any longer.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Some issues transcend color, social and economic barriers. One of those issues is the tragedy of rape. Both women and men of all backgrounds are affected by the physical and psychological effects of rape in communities.
There will be a reception followed by a performance by SOARS or the Story of a Rape Survivor – a project by UPenn Professor Salamishah Tillet.
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time: 7-9PM
Place: Houston Hall of Flags
This collaborative event is sponsored by:
The Beta Epsilon Chapter of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
The Gamma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The Lovely Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Gamma Epsilon Philadelphia City Chapter
The Mu Iota Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
Penn One in Four
The Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority Inc.
United Minorities Council
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Yesterday, while I was skimming through the November 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan, I noticed a few things. Though the magazine is catered towards women, four out of 10 of the headlines had to do with pleasing men or figuring out how their minds worked. As I researched further, 17 of the 58 articles in the issue concerned men in someway. This may not seem like a lot, but after I read those articles (and the 18 other articles about fashion), I noticed that they were all trying to create the perfect woman for a man. Despite the magazine’s tagline of “Fun. Fearless. Female,” the magazine is garnered toward making the reader “better” but for a man, not necessarily for herself.
The November 2009 magazine them was “Bad Girl Issue: For Sexy Bitches Only.” Who would want a bad girl, you ask? According to Cosmopolitan, every single guy out there. In the “Bad Girl” section of this issue, we see famous bad girls, like Kate Moss and Lil’Kim. We also learn how to “Collect as Many Men as You Can Handle,” “Tell a White Lie,” and “Turn Him Into Your Love Slave.”
There’s even a pull-out section where women can “Size Him Up in a Single Glance.” In this handy little pullout, women learn how to “Spot a Man Who Want to Be Approached,” “Decode How He Handles His Drink,” “Read His Lips,” and “His Secret Sign Language.” The magazine, consistently I might add, has only one “important” article per issue. For this issue, it was “Killer Cocktail: How a Popular Drink Could Kill You in Your Sleep,” which is an issue that we should be made aware of, but to only have one per issue, while having several pages of fashion and men, is something that should be changed.
I use the word “learn” on purpose. The magazine is literally teaching women how to act and behave. Some women probably consider this magazine the guide to life in the “real world” where guys and fashion are the focus. The magazine offers an unrealistic view of what women and men want, and even though the view is unrealistic, it gradually becomes real because of all the people reading this magazine. It is a feedback loop: as the magazine offers an idea, the people see it as truth (not realizing that the people behind the magazine are simply people like them and not gods), and begin to act and dress the way the magazine told them to. This then encourages the magazine to start from the beginning. The cycle is never-ending, and none of us are above it. As I sit here with my “Tousled Hair,” wearing my “Hot New Party Dress,” trying to discover what “Men Crave.”
Posted in Feminism in the wider world | No Comments »
About 6 months ago, the Ralph Lauren model Filippa Hamilton, was fired for being too overweight after working for the clothing line since she was 15. Despite being fired, Hamilton said that she would not have drawn attention to the fact; she had decided to let it go. However, last week, a photo of Hamilton was seen and criticized by many, and Ralph Lauren himself came under attack. Ralph Lauren continued to use Hamilton’s photo even though they had fired her. The photo that they were publicizing showed an extremely skinny, digitally remastered image of a female body. I am not sure if it was Hamilton’s that the company had photoshopped, but the photo was shocking nonetheless. The idea that a fashion company would want their models to be that skinny is nothing new. Most of us know that models are much thinner than the average person. However, firing a woman who is 5′10″ and 120 pounds gives me a more personal view because now I see how skinny these companies want their models to be. 5′10″ and 120 pounds is extremely skinny and practically underweight according to me and the National Health Institute BMI. To want someone even skinnier than that sets a bad precedent for all those young women and girls looking at these models trying to emulate them. If we want to have a healthy society, we need to create a balance between what may look good on TV or in magazines and what is good for you.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
After reading Rachel’s post about “Katerine’s ‘Ayo Technology’” I started looking up other videos with female artists. In this day and age, sex sells. Many videos presently are full of sexual innuendoes and suggestions. However, if this is what sells, can we blame artists for making these videos? Are they just falling into the industry that is making them into what sells? Are they being individuals? To me certain boundaries do exist in the music industry. In Shakira’s video “She Wolf,” she is dancing sensually, which is what she is known for. One of the things that made her famous was her bellydancing skills. So if she is making a video, it would make sense for her to bellydance in the video.
However, in contrast, Britney Spears, who is also known for dancing, is seen as being overly sexual. Two artists both known for dancing, create different reactions in people. With Shakira, it’s sexy, and with Britney, it is seen as trashy. But why? Is it their backgrounds? Is it the fact that one is seen as crazy? **Cough Cough Britney** I’m not sure, but I thought I would share my thoughts.
Posted in Feminism in the wider world, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Vivienne Maricevic, a photographic journalist of “erotica, sexuality and gender,” has photographed naked men since the late 1970’s. Beginning with “Male Burlesk,” which featured male exotic dancers, Maricevic went on to videotape “Live Sex Shows” at clubs around New York City. In 1986 she began to photograph transsexuals, transvestites and drag queens, documenting the transition from male to female.
From October 9-November 7, Maricevic will be exhibiting her art at the AxD Gallery. Her newest works center on the male nude and she captures “moments ranging from pensive introspection to displays of potent virility.” She shows the variations in man – the changes that men can personify.
Interestingly, however, she prescribes her website “For Women By a Woman,” subverting the norm: instead of the female body being revealed for men and art, the male form is being exhibited for us as women. Maricevic photographs these men in precarious positions, with entire exposure. The full exposure of the female has been documented by many artists including John Carroll Doyle, Jens Bruggemann, and Stefan May.
The title “Shooting Men” further points out this reversal: Maricevic literally takes shots of men for her artwork, but she is also “shooting” down the idea that men cannot be photographed as art. In terms of her earlier works with “Male Burlesk” and transvestites, she also shoots down traditional gender roles in art: as a female photographer, she exercises the agency that many female subjects are denied in work by male artists.
Originally, I was going to describe these men as “beautiful objects” instead of “beautiful beings.” I almost fell into the trap of seeing these men as objects for my own visual indulgence, which is what many people tend to do when seeing pictures of the female body. However, when I look at Maricevic’s photos of the naked men, I don’t think she is objectifying them, maybe because for me for something to be made into an object it has to be beautiful in and of itself, not simply because the person shooting the photograph has talent. Granted, the female body is beautiful, but rarely is the male form seen as such. Having Maricevic photograph naked men, of all shapes and sizes, causes me to view men in a different way. Maricevic’s way of photographing helps me to understand that beauty lies in everything and everyone. Although she reverses the gender roles, she doesn’t abuse her position as artist; she beautifies, but not necessarily objectifies her male subjects.
Posted in This is what a feminist looks like | No Comments »
I just recently heard about this website named “collegecandy.com”, which is supposedly targeted to females. Lindsay shared with me an article called “Major in the Man-Hunt: The Perfect Classes to Find Your Perfect Man.” Although this article may have meant to be funny, it was offensive. The idea that we only attend class to meet a man is demeaning, as if we do not wish to learn for ourselves. I understand that one may meet someone while in class, but to take a class specifically because of the men in it…that’s too much. The other article was “Why Every Woman Should Be Having One Night Stands.” Now, I’m a fan of sex just as much as the next person, but the idea that we should all be having one night stands is kind of disgusting. With all the different sexual diseases that are now running rampant, why would someone risk their health for a one night stand with a stranger, when there’s a perfectly good “friend with benefits” right around the corner?
Posted in Feminism in the wider world | No Comments »
I was stunned when I first read the August 26, 2009 article, “Caster Semenya: Is There a Science to Beauty?” posted on The Root. Not only were people questioning Ms. Semenya’s gender to her face, but also to the entire world. Ms. Semenya was forced to take a test to determine whether she was “female” or “male” which was,truthfully,disgusting and totally offensive. No one should be subjected to such scrutiny and blatant rudeness. Everyone looking at her seemed to think themselves an expert on gender studies, because many of the other athletes (who lost I might add) constantly stated that they saw her as a man.
Now Ms. Semenya has gone through a makeover. She accepted the constant cry to makeover herself in order to silence her critics. In her photo, she has makeup, her hair is out, she has a dress and jewelry on, and her nails have been done. But, is that what constitutes a female? I found it particularly interesting that a beauty and life expert, Tai Beauchamp, who saw Ms. Semenya’s face prior to her makeover, stated that she has ”a beautiful and very interesting face.” What really constitutes beauty? What about all those women who don’t wear makeup and have short hair and wear pants and have their nails basically bitten to the quick? Are they not considered “women” according to the “Westernized” ideal of women? What truly constitutes a “female”? Let me know….
Related Link:
“Embattled track star Caster Semenya gets new coach, new look“
Posted in Feminism in the wider world | 2 Comments »
