Posts Written by

By elizasren • 16 years ago

Freedom of religion?

This morning the Guardian’s world news page has a big picture of a woman’s face….only her face is covered by niqab and you can only see her eyes.  Apparently the Belgium government has passed legislation that will ban the burqa (full body covering) and the niqab in public, on the grounds that it makes the person unidentifiable.  They seem to be trying to liberate the women of Islam….or something like that.

I have quite a few issues with this development.  For starters, it says mounds about their tolerance of other cultures and religions.  Sure, requiring a woman to cover herself to that extent may be odd, even repulsive, to some of us in the western world.  Also, an argument can be made that the niqab and burqa create a barrier between the woman wearing them and the outside world, making it difficult for her to participate in society.  Plus, quite a few Muslim scholars, adherents and (especially) women do not believe niqab or burqa-donning is required in the Quran.  But what about those that do? Perhaps they are only a handful, but they deserve freedom of religion too. 

I understand that Belgium, and France (Sarkozy has requested similar legislation) feel that women wearing niqab and burqa need liberation.  However, how many women are going to now be kept at home because they cannot fully cover in public? Even if only one woman is kept from leaving her house, this is tragic.

If Belgium and ...
By elizasren • 16 years ago

Difficulty with guilt.

So, I feel guilty.  And I know I shouldn’t, and I don’t want to feel guilty.

I had sex for the first time with my boyfriend, and I enjoyed every second of it. After reading Jessica Valenti’s The Purity Myth last year, any reservations about giving up abstinence until marriage flew out the window: I knew that I didn’t need to wait until I was married, I knew that I wanted to wait until the right moment with the right guy, and it happened. This is my problem: I feel guilty- dirty, like I did something I shouldn’t— even though I definitely am down with the choices I made.  I’m pretty sure the guilt I’m experiencing is leftover from being raised ...

So, I feel guilty.  And I know I shouldn’t, and I don’t want to feel guilty.

I had sex for the first time with my boyfriend, and I enjoyed every second of it. After reading Jessica Valenti’s The ...
By elizasren • 16 years ago

Women in school are quieter?

If you are a student, I’m sure you’re either grindstoning your nose or celebrating because you just finished all your homework (I’m part of the latter group, as of 10 m inutes ago.  I want to have a party).  With the end of semester comes our favorites: presentations!! In 2 of my classes this semester I had to give a presentation within the last two weeks– and I noticed something.  Perhaps I’ve never taken a college class where intellectual presentations we’re required, or perhaps I just wasn’t aware enough of gender construction in the classroom…but:

When the teacher asks for volunteers, females almost never volunteer. As in all situations, there are exeptions (I am one. but I used to not be!) ...

If you are a student, I’m sure you’re either grindstoning your nose or celebrating because you just finished all your homework (I’m part of the latter group, as of 10 m inutes ago.  I want to have ...
By elizasren • 16 years ago

I need a little backup in the retail department!

Hey y’all!

So, I work at Delia’s, which some of you might have heard of (or shop at), which has stores, a catalog (which many of our mother’s shopped at) and an online store.  One of the biggest reasons I have chosen to stay employed with Delia’s is because of their belief in their customer– a bright, independant, happy young woman (or tweener).  Their models aren’t too skinny, the clothes aren’t too sexy and (until recently) I have never had a problem with the "logo tees” that we’re known for.  Delia’s always has somewhere between 40-60 tshirts with various graphics and messages on them avaliable in store.  Right now, however, Delia’s is selling a shirt that says "Trophy Girlfriend." I have ...

Hey y’all!

So, I work at Delia’s, which some of you might have heard of (or shop at), which has stores, a catalog (which many of our mother’s shopped at) and an online store.  One of the biggest ...
By elizasren • 16 years ago

“Ask Amy” has it all wrong?

So every morning I always skim through the Chicago Tribune and I always stop at the comics and the "Ask Amy" advice column that shares a page with the comics.  Today, however, there was some advice given that troubles me. 

A 15 year old female wrote in saying that she was friends with a girl, "Laura," who was her age, AND "Laura’s" mom.  Laura is having sex, her mom doesn’t know and this girl writing in was conflicted as to what to do.  Amy advised that the teenager that wrote in tell Laura’s mom what Laura is up to in her free time.  In this letter there is nothing to suggest that Laura is in a dangerous or abusive ...

So every morning I always skim through the Chicago Tribune and I always stop at the comics and the "Ask Amy" advice column that shares a page with the comics.  Today, however, there was some advice ...
By elizasren • 16 years ago

Feminism with my faith?

So, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately:  I happen to be a christian…and a feminist, and the two tend to clash.  This seems to be a really rare combination of beliefs, and I’m having problems with people doubting me on either side of the spectrum. I was wondering if there are anymore christian feminists out there…and how do you deal with people either doubting your religious views or your feminist views? I also am having trouble finding any books about faith and feminism, and I was wondering if anyone out there has any recommendations?

Thanks guys!

So, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately:  I happen to be a christian…and a feminist, and the two tend to clash.  This seems to be a really rare combination of beliefs, and I’m having problems ...
By elizasren • 17 years ago

Transformers 2….is ridiculous.

Alright, I’m sure tons of you have seen it, or heard your friends rave about it or whine for hours on end about it…Transformers 2. (Don’t read this if you haven’t seen it?)

I’ll admit, I am not necessarily a Transformers person- I’ve never seen the first one, and I only went to see the 2nd one because of the awesome action scenes and graphics and all that jazz. I kind of expected lots of sexist-ish stuff in it- especially the way my friends talked about Megan Fox- let me tell you, I was appalled. And movies don’t usually bother me.

My biggest beefs:

Alright, I’m sure tons of you have seen it, or heard your friends rave about it or whine for hours on end about it…Transformers 2. (Don’t read this if you haven’t seen it?)

I’ll admit, I ...
By elizasren • 17 years ago

Feminism on campus

So, I’ve been thinking recently that my college needs a "student organiziation" that concerns itself with feminism, women’s rights or something in that lovely genre.  However, I really can’t think what I would want to call said group, or what it would focus on.  I was wondering if those of you who were and/or are in a group in college would share about any feminist or women’s rights groups you were active in in college so that I have ideas to start one on my campus!

So, I’ve been thinking recently that my college needs a "student organiziation" that concerns itself with feminism, women’s rights or something in that lovely genre.  However, I really can’t think what I would want to call said ...