taisa_marie

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By taisa_marie • 14 years ago

OTC Birth Control Pills

There have been so many drugs over the years that have started out as prescription only, only to end up over-the-counter after years of use have shown them to be safe, needed and used by a large percentage of the population. Often this means that people who would benefit from the drug but whom would not normally have regular access to a doctor are able to live more comfortably. Some argue that prices may go up because insurance isn’t covering it, but to those who have no insurance it is a pointless arguement. Besides, typically new over-the-counter medications are followed by the equivilant generic version, providing price competition. All of this is summed up in that OTC should equal easier access.

By taisa_marie • 14 years ago

6th graders point out Toys’R’Us “outdated gender roles”

Granted the kids are in Sweden, but it made me smile to see that even kids are recognizing that they don’t have to conform to gender roles/stereotypes about play.

The claim came from Swedish-based consumer advocacy group Reklamombudsmannen, after a sixth grade class in Stockholm appealed to them as part of a project. The class examined the toy catalog, which showed boys playing in "action-filled environments" as superheroes, while girls are shown "sitting or standing in passive poses" dressed up in princess costumes. The kids felt that the scenes depicted reinforced a subjective idea of normal play, and filed a complaint against Toys’R’Us for gender discrimination.

The rest of the article can be found here

I wish this was part of ...

Granted the kids are in Sweden, but it made me smile to see that even kids are recognizing that they don’t have to conform to gender roles/stereotypes about play.

The claim came from Swedish-based consumer advocacy group Reklamombudsmannen, ...

By taisa_marie • 14 years ago

A Heartwarming Article and Disappointing Comments

When I first read the headline, "Lesbian teens named ‘Best Couple’", I honestly expected the article to go on and on about how it created such an uproar or whatknot to have this in a high school yearbook but to my happy surprise, the article writer did no such thing. What was even more heartwarming was to see a prom picture of the teens and seeing not only were they accepted by their classmates for being lesbian, but also for being an interracial couple and not fitting the horrible ‘size norm’ of beauty. Uber kudos for them and espeacilly for their classmates.

The comments on the article (and links to other articles)… well, don’t read if you don’t feel like ...

By taisa_marie • 15 years ago

Women and Anxiety

While bored and rummaging through the blogosphere the other evening I came across this blog . The author talks about her own experiences with anxiety and the extra baggage that comes with being a woman with anxiety.

An excerpt from the post…

There are many things though I hear, even from other women, about anxiety in general. They are stereotypical and completely incorrect. In general, many of them are used as stereotypes against women as ways to dismiss them.

Just the thought made me mad.. not mad at the author but mad at society for finding ways to ‘dismiss’ real problems as just ‘feminine issues’, like PMS (which she talks about).

I’d actually suggest anyone who has anxiety or knows someone with severe ...

By taisa_marie • 15 years ago

Oregon town elects nation’s first Transvestite Mayor

Just another victory for equal rights/recognition from this election.

In Silverton, residents have elected a man who’s believed to be the first ever openly transvestite mayor in the history of the United States. And he won in a 13-point landslide… He says he has no interest in becoming transgendered and undergoing sexual reassignment surgery. He just enjoys dressing up like a woman, and is relieved that townsfolk in Silverton have accepted him.

<a href="http://www.620kpoj.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=&article=4544697">Full Story Here</a>

It just made me smile hearing this, this morning.

Just another victory for equal rights/recognition from this election.

In Silverton, residents have elected a man who’s believed to be the first ever openly transvestite mayor in the history of the United States. And he won in a ...

By taisa_marie • 15 years ago

Update and Thank You

I wanted to thank everyone on here to helped suggest books (original post ) for my students. Not to leave anyone in the dark, the class split into four groups and chose the following books.

He’s a stud, She’s a slut, by Jessica Valenti Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters, by Courney Martin Everyday Courage, by Niobe Way

It was up in the air for a while as to which group Jessica’s book as each group listed it as their first choice. The group who ended up with the book I was a bit surprised about (in a good way). This group has two of the three guys in the class in it and they were just ...

I wanted to thank everyone on here to helped suggest books (original post ) for my students. Not to leave anyone in the dark, the class split into four groups and chose the following books.

He’s a ...

By taisa_marie • 15 years ago

No on Prop 8 commercial

I really, really liked this commercial.

I think it frames the arguement in a way that makes the issue much more sympathetic and family oriented. You know, just another normal family just wanting the same normal things for all of their children.

I really, really liked this commercial.

I think it frames the arguement in a way that makes the issue much more sympathetic and family oriented. You know, just another normal family just wanting the same normal things for ...

By taisa_marie • 15 years ago

Books in the ‘socially responsible’ genre

I teach a Freshmen Seminar course at my university (among other classes) and after a few terms of trying and failing to get the students to choose topics that help them see things from points of views they haven’t heard of before in regards to social conscience issues, I have decided that this semester each of the small groups (3 to 4 students) in the class will pick a book, read it, research topics discussed in the book and use that for their end of semester presentation.