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By zhyenshshina • 16 years ago

Shout Out to The Women’s Collective

I’ve been getting worn down spending my summer in an environment ignorant of and often downright hostile to feminist perspectives and dialogue.  On top of that, I’ve been struggling to find a place where I could receive a (free or low-cost) HIV test.  In this midst of this quest, I came across one of those incredible organizations that totally renewed my faith in humanity and exhibits the power of feminist values in action.

The Women’s Collective (TWC) is located in Washington, D.C., and not only offers free HIV tests, but focuses on the HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS care management with an emphasis on addressing the needs of women and girls of color.

The environment of this place was incredibly welcoming.  The test and associated counseling was straight-forward, relevant and extremely educational.  There was no judging, no preaching and yet no clinical aloofness; my counselor was personable, sincere, and honest.

So thank you to the TWC and all similar HIV/AIDS organizations like it across the country that provide meaningful and necessary information and services for those who need it.

P.S.(A.)  Know your HIV status.  Get tested.
By zhyenshshina • 17 years ago

The Gender Test

I’m not particularly proud to admit that I visit Sparknotes occasionally (and would like to blame the poor quality of some college courses for inspiring me to do so).  In any case, imagine my suprise when today, on the front page of this website aimed at high school (and yes, college) students I see: "Confused? The gender test will help you sort it out."

I’m not particularly proud to admit that I visit Sparknotes occasionally (and would like to blame the poor quality of some college courses for inspiring me to do so).  In any case, imagine my suprise when ...
By zhyenshshina • 17 years ago

Miss America FAIL

At the Miss America pageant last night, Miss California was asked a question about gay marriage:

“Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?”

To which she responded:

“Well I think its great that Americans are able to choose one or the other,” she said. “We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and ...

At the Miss America pageant last night, Miss California was asked a question about gay marriage:

“Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?”

To ...
By zhyenshshina • 17 years ago

“A part of me wished I was raped”!?!?

The supposedly popular site, CollegeHumor.com is full of troubling content, but this video is downright upsetting.  The caption: "Jamie Lee finds a way to make sexual harassment fun again."  (What could they possibly mean by again ?!)

This female comedian suggests that women have some kind of desire to be sexually assaulted. Excuse me?!  Women do not want to be raped.

I realize that she is attempting to be humorous.  It seems to me that she is using one of two approaches to solicit laughs:

A) The idea that a woman somehow wants to be raped is entirely absurd, and therefore, comical. 

B) There is some sort of truth to her claim, and it is her presentation of this truth that is comical.

If ...

The supposedly popular site, CollegeHumor.com is full of troubling content, but this video is downright upsetting.  The caption: "Jamie Lee finds a way to make sexual harassment fun again."  (What could they possibly mean by again ...
By zhyenshshina • 17 years ago

Seperate but Equal?

A New York Times article features a New York school that is separating its students based on gender.

There are so many things that rub me the wrong way.  First of all, it adheres to a strict gender binary.  Secondly, it is suggesting that women have a detrimental effect on the ability of a male to learn, and vice versa.  Thirdly, the article starts right off by suggesting that girls respond better to a more "motherly" approach, where as boys respond to a competitive, coach-like rhetoric.

Most alarmingly, I see a precedent set for a "seperate but equal" policy.  Imagine: equal funding, but girls are more successful in art and music and boys in math and science, so their studies should ...

A New York Times article features a New York school that is separating its students based on gender.

There are so many things that rub me the wrong way.  First of all, it adheres to a strict ...
By zhyenshshina • 17 years ago

Barbie, the “Career Girl”

Barbie is turning 50.  Yes, she is an instrument of gender stereotype enforcement; she is almost exclusively marketed toward girls, and for these same girls Barbie is an unrealistic standard of beauty.  Nevertheless, there are a plethora of tributes to Barbie’s fiftieth, most of them revolving around fashion.  In an slightly unique approach, an MSN Lifestyle page takes a “nostalgic look back at some of the many careers Barbie has held — and remember how she helped us dream of the time when we would be ‘all grown up’ and leading exciting lives of our own.”[1]   Apparently, Barbie is a role model for life beyond fashion.

The page takes the ...

Barbie is turning 50.  Yes, she is an instrument of gender stereotype enforcement; she is almost exclusively marketed toward girls, and for these same girls Barbie is an unrealistic standard of beauty.  Nevertheless, there ...