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Sexism, Lies and Nailpolish

Recently I went to Sephora with a friend. It wasn’t pleasent. There were earsplitting Christmas carols, weird lighting (everything was dark except the products), and a store layout that made me feel trapped no matter where I went. The whole effect put me in a semi-narcotic daze, and just wanted to leave.

At one point I looked at some of the nailpolishes. Most of the names were cutesy, e.g. “Madame President,” “Ocean Love Potion,” “In the Shadows” and so on. But some of the names were downright disturbing. Here are a few examples:

-Arm Candy
-What A Broad
-Social Climber
-Mermaid To Order
-Charge It!
-How Many Carats?
-“What’s a Tire Jack?”

Eurgh!

All of the customers and attendants in the store, save one, were women. I would guess, though I can’t prove, that the people who came up with these names were largely female as well. And I’m sure they mean “What a Broad” to be tongue in cheek. But this only adds to the idea that makeup, and thus female beauty, is tied in to sexual submissiveness and cluelessness (“What’s a Tire Jack?”), not to mention a heterosexual one (“I’m With Brad”). Which only pulls women away from feminism and the women’s movement (“aren’t they all frumpy and grumpy?”).

I don’t think the beauty industry is really a feminist ally. But to see this agenda in even the minutest details is…disconcerting, to say the least.

20 Things That Taste Better Than Skinny Feels

This is a response to Kate Moss’s motto. Feel free to add your own suggestions below.

 

20. Blueberry Muffins

19. Key Lime PIe

18. Avocado slices on toasted bread

17. Robert Pattinson’s skin post-shower (feels good, too!)

16. Sundried tomatoes

15. Angel food cake

14. Green tea

13. Animal crackers

12. Raspberry flavored ice cream

11. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

10. Grapes

9. Sushi (with or without fish, depending on your tastes)

8. Cheddar beer chips with hummus

7. Celery with nutella

6. Fried tofu with sweet and sour sauce

5. Salad with balsamic vinaigrette

4. Macaroons

3. Pizza with olives and mushrooms

2. Scrambled eggs

1. Mangos

This is a response to Kate Moss’s motto. Feel free to add your own suggestions below.

 

20. Blueberry Muffins

19. Key Lime PIe

18. Avocado slices on toasted bread

17. Robert Pattinson’s skin post-shower (feels good, too!)

16. Sundried tomatoes

15. Angel food ...

Is Mother Nature Sexist?

Women suffer more from climate change than men, according to a recent report . Because they take care of family, and make up the majority of the agricultural workforce (the sector hardest hit by climate change), women in developing nations suffer much more than men. From the article :

<quote>Women make up a large share of the agricultural work force, which is directly impacted by the effects of climate change. They also manage households and care for family members — which restricts their mobility — and often lack the social capital necessary to deal effectively with climate change.</quote>

However, women are an important part of climate change. Through education, birth control, and voluntary population reduction, women can prepare their communities ...

Women suffer more from climate change than men, according to a recent report . Because they take care of family, and make up the majority of the agricultural workforce (the sector hardest hit by climate change), ...

Roman Polanski and the Benefit of Clergy

This was originally posted at minervana . In the ensuing month nothing has really changed; Polanski is still in jail, and Geimer (the victim) is still in hiding.

There are two competing narratives about Roman Polanski and his subsequent arrest. In one, a genius committed a crime long time ago, which his victim has since recovered from. In the other, a wealthy and powerful man violated an innocent child, then absconded from justice when it looked like he might have to face the music.

What does one narrative have to do with the other?

What Polanski’s supporters are asking for is a sort of "benefit of clergy," as described by George Orwell in his excellent essay on Salvador Dali. The phrase ...

This was originally posted at minervana . In the ensuing month nothing has really changed; Polanski is still in jail, and Geimer (the victim) is still in hiding.

There are two competing narratives about Roman Polanski and ...

“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” – Kate Moss

Yes, yes, Moss’s motto is all over the news. When asked by a magazine what her motto in life was, she said the above quote.

Before we jump down her throat, though, I have to ask: why do "millions of girls aspire to be like Kate Moss," as Katie Green pointed out? Sure, she’s attractive. So what? Nobody chooses to have great bone structure, or flawless skin–if you could choose, everyone would choose it. Does that really make her a role model?

As I’ve discussed elsewhere , the "ugly business of beautiful women" is really nothing to snort at. The subconscious and unconscious effect of seeing glossy beauties, airbrushed within an inch of their life, is socially corrosive. We really ...

Yes, yes, Moss’s motto is all over the news. When asked by a magazine what her motto in life was, she said the above quote.

Before we jump down her throat, though, I have to ask: why ...

Princess Hijab

Princess Hijab, an apparently atheist 21-year-old street artist, has gained notoriety and some acclaim for "hijabizing" advertisements on the streets of Paris. Via Muslimah Media Watch :

I would say my work is inspired from the anti-consumerist movements. I’m an advertising hijabist. In other words, I cover all advertising with a black veil, which is a dark symbol, a reference on pop culture, and a way to hide elegantly advertising. It is also a study on territories and identities.–Princess Hijab

Princess Hijab (not her real name; she’s remained anonymous) has disappeared as of late; her website, princesshijab.org, appears to be deserted. However, her art raises some interesting questions. If Princess Hijab is doing this out of religious conviction (which seems unlikely, ...

Princess Hijab, an apparently atheist 21-year-old street artist, has gained notoriety and some acclaim for "hijabizing" advertisements on the streets of Paris. Via Muslimah Media Watch :

I would say my work is inspired from the anti-consumerist ...

What Is a Feminist Issue?

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about the differences between first, second and third wave feminism, and how now, the third wave has branched out and become interconnected with other social movements, such as anti-globalization, third world representation and solidarity, gay rights, et cetera.

My friend raised an interesting question which I was at pains to answer. She asked: "So when is something a feminist issue, and when is it not?" There are plenty of issues which, while important, have little to do with women’s rights, or affect women about the same as they affect men. Below is a partial list of issues, so you can see what I mean:

-Animal Rights

-Anti-Scientology

-Atheist / Humanist / Nonreligious Activism

-Activism for ...

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about the differences between first, second and third wave feminism, and how now, the third wave has branched out and become interconnected with other social movements, such ...

How Many Feminists Does It Take to Change a Lightbulb?

Exposure to sexist jokes can lead to hostility towards women, according to a recent study . In one experiment, a group of male participants were more likely to cut funding for a (hypothetical) women’s center after viewing a sexist comedy clip, than a control group, whose comedy clip was neutral. Thomas E. Ford, who conducted the experiment, explained:

Sexist humor…can affect men’s perceptions of their immediate social surroundings and allow them to feel comfortable with behavioral expressions of sexism without the fear of disapproval of their peers. Specifically, we propose that sexist humor acts as a ‘releaser’ of prejudice.

In other words, men with a high level of sexism are more likely to see their views as socially acceptable, if they’re ...

Exposure to sexist jokes can lead to hostility towards women, according to a recent study . In one experiment, a group of male participants were more likely to cut funding for a (hypothetical) women’s center after ...

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