"But that's a compliment"

When a woman is walking down the road minding her own business and a car goes past and honks it's horn, or someone wolf whistles at you- its ILLEGAL! I live relatively close to a main road and whenever I am walking down it, I can guarantee there will be at least one offending car. Especially when me and my friends are together, because of course we're practically asking for it if we're all together! My usual reaction to this kind of oppression is 'FUCK YOU, SEXIST TWAT' whilst manically swearing and being generally outraged. However, I have found that I need to focus on the fact that this is actually illegal. Reacting how I do doesn't give any time for taking down number plates for example, so I have decided to make sure that they pay for what they are doing, which is ILLEGAL!   What makes it worse is some people at school actually think that I am over reacting somewhat. I have been told countless times that this is a 'compliment' and i should be grateful to these twats for 'appreciating me'. However this is absolutely untrue, any person who has experienced this type of oppression will know the horrible feeling of worthlessness and objectification that follows. A comforting feeling for me, is knowing that they are breaking the law! If I can build up enough of a case of offenses then maybe, just maybe, I can actually be taken seriously. But probably not...

Feminist role models

So I've been thinking about feminist role models in the media (specifically music and film), that I can look up to for inspiration and support. None immediately came to mind but after doing some research and really thinking about it, I came up with a few but this is by no means all, or even most of the feminist role models available.

There's this song that I came across a while ago written by the wonderful- John Lennon. I wasn't alive when the Beatles were big; I don't know if the song was widely heard or represented, but I think it so should be! The meaning behind the tune still applies today as women are constantly told to 'paint her face and dance' and 'insulted everyday on tv' One verse of the song 'Women is the nigger of the world' goes like this:
 We make her bed and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old Mother HenWe tell her home is the only place she should beThen we complain that she's to unworldly to be our friend

Willow Smith, the daughter of the fresh price of bel air himself- Will Smith, has proved herself to be a fantastic feminist in the making. In light of the KONY 2012 campaign, Willow took it upon herself to research human trafficking and work together with her mum to do all they can to help those who have fallen victim to this. Willow Smith-role model to many- has used her status and influence to inspire young people everywhere to open their minds up to the world around us, and take action just like herself. I also just admire her for her non-conformist idea of beauty- GO WILLOW!


The film 'Blue Valentine', starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams was exposed to a lot of controversy when it came out as there was a scene of oral sex expressing a woman's freedom and sexual pleasure. The film was going to be given a high rating; as it was an Independent film, this would mean low ratings as the already small audience would then be condensed. I must say, I don't know exactly what the film entails as I only heard about this recently- but this quote from Ryan Gosling was well worth mentioning:     You have to question a cinematic culture which preaches artistic expression, and yet would support a decision that is clearly a product of a patriarchy-dominant society, which tries to control how women are depicted on screen. The MPAA is okay supporting scenes that portray women in scenarios of sexual torture and violence for entertainment purposes, but they are trying to force us to look away from a scene that shows a woman in a sexual scenario, which is both complicit and complex. It’s misogynistic in nature to try and control a woman’s sexual presentation of self. I consider this an issue that is bigger than this film.
Well done Ryan Gosling for using your status for feminist good- YOU ROCK!

If you haven't already seen 'Whip it' then I highly recommend that you do. I would definitely describe it as a feminist film, not because it's made by the one and only Drew Barrymore- a feminist in herself and one of the few female directors out there; but because of the representation of strong women and serious female empowerment. I personally relate to this film because the character, Bliss is worried about what her parents will think about her choices to do what she wants to and not care what others think. I think that is a big issue for young feminists like myself- my parents don't understand my choices but I know ultimately they support me if I'm happy. (Much like what happens in the film) So another great feminist role model: Drew Barrymore and all the cast of the amazing film- Whip it!


Judd Apatow is the producer of legendary film 'Bridesmaids'. Originally the film wasn't going to be the same story line by a while off, but Judd suggested the hilariously funny plot and stuck with it as a feminist, while most other people disagreed. It's great because it expresses women's empowerment and generally the fact that they can be funny. Bridesmaids is a film of women being funny; not because they're just being "women" but because they're actually FUNNY and they can prove themselves well, in what otherwise was a male dominated genre. So kudos to Judd Apatow for believing in the amazing women in this film against all odds.






www.thefrisky.com
www.womenandhollywood.com

Sorry I don't stay silent in the kitchen, I am a human being you know!

Some people, once finding out that I'm a feminist- ask me I am a hairy, bra burning, loud, annoying, man hating lesbian. At school I experience this quite often as people aren't familiar with the notion of feminism; and why I don't conform to what everyone else does. I feel the need to clear up the stereotypes that have come to define feminism for some. I have written a previous post on not shaving so you can find out more, in detail why feminists 'feel the need' to be natural. Another point that many don't understand, is bra burning. Nobody that I know actually physically burns their bras, I think that it is shown only to represent feminists not being 'restrained' and 'changed' to suit men's desire in a woman's body. For a lot of people, feminism is defined as gender equality. Some people however decide to interpret that in a sexist way. Some people think that, as women have been oppressed for 2000 years, then for the next 2000 years it is mans turn to face the sexism. I say to these people that they are giving feminism a bad name and should not be associated with a term that fundamentally means equality. When people ask me if I am lesbian because I am a feminist, I tell them that just because I respect women, I don't have to love them. I don't understand how specific characteristics can be associated with a sexual orientation: it is not a choice anyway. But As for being loud and annoying, sorry I don't stay silent in the kitchen, but I am a human being you know! 

The sexuality scale

Me and my friends have this theory about sexuality. With the assumption that one falls in love with another because of personality, then nobody can be completely one sexual orientation. For example, if I met another girl that was perfect for me and we started going out, I wouldn't want to class myself as 'gay', just as much as I would no longer feel I should class myself as 'straight'. A lot of people have, before been in this situation. Sometimes the feeling of not understanding or being sure of the one thing that has always been a constant in someones life, can be terrifying. We concluded that it is completely normal to fall in love with someone of the same gender! In fact, we are proposing that it is inside everyone to feel like that. Imagine a scale, homosexual on one side and hetro-sexual on the other: in the middle would be the bisexual category. Imagine just less than a quater on each side and label them 'completely impossible'. If a relationship relies on personality compatibility; gender has no place in the choosing of a partner and so should not define or limit the partner. Yet not labeling everyone as 'bisexual' because the connotations are of a different meaning- attracted to both genders. Whereas I am proposing being attracted to the person, with no attention on the gender. In conclusion; I am proud to call myself  'not fully straight or gay' as I believe in no such thing!

Hairy and I like it

I don't think that this is purely a feminist issue but I do think that it is- for me- because of my feminist view that drives me to do this. I do not shave my hair on my body, anywhere. Some people may say that its 'dirty' or 'disgusting', but I say fuck them! The men that think this, should look down at their own legs or under their arms and tell me, are they hairy? YES because its completely natural and women should not be socialized into thinking that they have to go through pain and time wasting to look 'attractive' for these sorry excuses for men. A common miss-conception is that hair on your armpits makes them smell more. Well I tell you now bloggers- you heard it here first- the hair actually detracts the smell from the skin and it subsequently is less smelly than if the smell follicles clung to the skin! I have also found that, especially since growing my leg hair, the hair is less dense and lighter, making for much better (less itchy) leg hair overall :) So as advice to all of you out there that haven't tried it yet- I challenge you, to a two moth challenge to not shave/hair remove/laser/epilate/wax your hair at all. You will see the difference it makes to your life. By the end you will embrace that part of you're body and your life! (and value the time you now have to spare) Nobody should expect us to change ourselves. Nobody should expect women to look a certain way. Nobody should want anyone to 'self harm' in any way for physical appearance. Unless of course a woman simply wants to shave, I do not object to people plainly preferring to shave because they want to and they think its nicer to do so. In conclusion; the 'hairy and i like it' challenge is on! Good Luck.

feminist graffiti

Recently, around my area there has been an increase in advertisements of the 4 strip clubs I live near. Fortunately someone has taken it into their own hands to vandalize the posters with the word 'SEXIST'. Now I am not condoning the use of illegal means to get the message across but it did work well. The posters, once vandalized, became feminist posters presenting the objectification of women as 'sexist'.

Before I was 'converted' to feminism, I didn't think about society and the stereotypical, objectifying and oppressive way people think and act. Everyone is influenced by others or the media (or both) to think in this way and to not challenge other peoples views. These posters the strip clubs in my area present the image of a very thin white woman with long blonde hair who- because it's for a strip club- is willing to be submissive and be objectified for the man's pleasure. With this image being advertised, women are influenced to think that they should look the way she does, subsequently causing women to diet and remove hair (often classes as self harm) to look like her. Moreover, men who look at these advertisements will come to expect this from women. Men who go to these strip clubs are more likely to want women to play to their needs and to 'dance' for them; as at strip clubs the women are treated as objects and with no sexual needs of their own.

My thoughts on feminist graffiti is positive. I think that, although it is illegal, I do appreciate that it is a form that gets noticed and- much unlike other vandalism for example 'tagging'- is for a good cause! So I am thankful for these militant feminists that do this for the sake of the rest of us!

Photos also include some other amazing feminist graffiti :)

Reclaim the night

I just wanted to introduce you to this amazing march in London! Its called 'Reclaim the night' and is all about women taking back ownership of themselves and no longer hiding from men. They enforce the reasoning that women should not EVER be blamed for their own rape or objectification. They point out that it is categorically wrong that even today some people still use 'well she was wearing a short skirt' as excuses for some men's appalling behavior regarding sexual abuse and or rape cases. The march that is held in November every year presents women taking to the streets demanding to no be blamed for men's violence against women. The march allows women to go out in their town on one night a year without fear of male violence, it also highlights that this is needed as only about 5% of rapists are convicted. Its a great cause and an awesome march! Enjoy :)

http://www.reclaimthenight.org/

An introduction to moi

So I thought, as a new blogger I would introduce myself to you guys a little bit. Well for starters I'm 16 years old and, as you already know, a feminist. I wasn't brought up in a feminist family or anything, it's mainly my friends that introduced the notion to me. My two best friends had very strict feminist parents and connected on a level that I could never compete with because of their strong views. However once introducing me to a book 'Reclaiming the F word', (which you can find in my book list on the right) I realised that I actually agreed with what the book was saying. From reading the book I began to notice things in films and then in person. My mind was opened to challenging the stereotypes and noticing the sexist representation of women everywhere. And so I became, by definition, a feminist! I aim to inspire other young women and men to follow in my footsteps and join the revolution! I promise you- feminism will not disapoint.

Inspiration

So I never thought I would enter into the world of blogging: it seemed a completely diferent universe to me! But just recently I watched an awesome program called 'Cherry Healey: How to get a life' in which Cherry was exploring societies obsession with looks and vanity. On the latest episode this inspiring group of young women: 'Those Pesky Dames' were featured discussing their own feminist views and promoting their tumblr account in which they video themselves discussing feminist topics. You can find it here: http://thosepeskydames.tumblr.com/  So I thought to myself about how there is not enough material out there representing and presenting young feminists today...and here I am! At just 16 years old I already know the problems with our society regarding the way we represent women in the media and subsequently the tretment we recieve because of this. I am here to prove that feminists are fighting back! I am here to show that there are more of us than you may think! I am basically here for feminist rambling. Thanks for having me :)