Tag Archive for "Consumerism"

Posts Tagged Consumerism

Feministing Jamz: Listen to this awesome cover of Lorde’s “Royals”

If you remember, Vero’s post about the Grammy award-winning song “Royals” kinda blew up the Interwebs by pointing out the cognitive flaw in Lorde’s cultural critique of music, youth, and consumer culture.

Vero rightly pointed out something that didn’t sit well with me either. The concern I shared with Vero was that while the lyrics serve as a valid critique of the excessive consumerism in hip hop (and the entire music industry, really), for casual listeners, they run the danger of becoming just a racialized backhanded indictment. Lorde’s “Royals” definitely made me wince in places even though I kind of liked the song in a fairly meh music season of 2013 (before King Bey blew everything up and ...

Vero

By Chloe Angyal • 10 years ago

Pantene says you can wash that sexism right out of your hair

Don’t you hate it how people are labelled differently for engaging in the same behaviour? What’s “persuasive” in a man is labelled “pushy” in a woman. A father who stays up all night working is “dedicated,” but a woman who does that is “selfish.” That is, like, so unfair. Luckily, that problem has a solution. And I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that the solution to that problem, which uptight complainy feminists might call “sexism” but that this ad calls “labels,” isn’t “collective political action and widespread cultural change.” The solution is shampoo.

By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Ellen Degeneres endorses Bic For Her pens

You probably saw the Amazon reviews of Bic For Her pens, which went viral a few weeks back. Ellen Degeneres is a bit late to the party, but oh, am I glad she showed up. “They come in both lady colours: pink and purple, and they’re just like regular pens except they’re pink, so they cost twice as much.” It’s moments like this I remember that Degeneres is a really good at stand up, and here, she really brings the gender politics. “So, when we’re taking down dictation from our bosses, we’ll feel comfortable, and we’ll forget we’re not getting paid as much?”

It’s solid gold. “When you have an opinion, write it down on a piece of paper, and ...

You probably saw the Amazon reviews of Bic For Her pens, which went viral a few weeks back. Ellen Degeneres is a bit late to the party, but oh, am I glad she showed up. “They ...

By Courtney • 13 years ago

The personal is political: princess parties

As we wound round and round in circles, nice little breaks from the monotony of the chicken dance, my goddaughter, R., stared up at the “real live princess” with big, serious eyes. Every move the princess made–whether twisting a pink balloon into a phallic sword for her male cousin, or painting a butterfly on her tiny hand, R. studied.

Yesterday was my goddaughter’s sixth birthday. She loves princesses and her favorite color is pink. She alternated between a princess dress and a swimming suit with princesses on it. Even her stuffed animal kitty was dressed up like a princess, tiara and all. There was a princess pinata. You can imagine the ways in which these realities provoked some major gender analysis ...

By Courtney • 13 years ago

Guest post: consciously clothed

This guest post on fashion, among other things, comes to us from Jessi Arrington, a designer, creative philanthropist, and as our mutual friend Chris described her, an “outfit scientist.” Her full bio is after the jump.

Raise your hand if you think what you wear matters! I’d like to make the case that it does, and perhaps in ways we’re not really paying attention to.

We can probably all agree that what we put on our bodies on a daily basis impacts the way we perceive each other and ourselves. (Deny this if you like, but listen to Courtney Martin tell the story of how she realized feminism might be for her before you dismiss the idea.) What is ...

By Chloe Angyal • 14 years ago

Modern Lady v. “Pinktober”

Last week on Infomania, Erin Gibson took a critical look at the corporate-sponsored pink-ribbon madness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

http://current.com/shows/infomania/92725542_pinktoberbest-modern-lady-shows-some-pink.htm

Gibson, who is clearly all for awareness and research funding, is nonetheless skeptical of companies that slap a pink ribbon on their products for the month of October, and of people who buy those products and consider their part done. “These products are magic!” Gibson says, “They make consumers and corporations feel like they’re actually doing something good, even if they’re not sure what that is!”

Last week on Infomania, Erin Gibson took a critical look at the corporate-sponsored pink-ribbon madness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

http://current.com/shows/infomania/92725542_pinktoberbest-modern-lady-shows-some-pink.htm

Gibson, who is clearly all for awareness and research funding, is nonetheless skeptical of companies that slap ...

By Chloe Angyal • 14 years ago

Modern Lady v. “Pinktober”

Last week on Infomania, Erin Gibson took a critical look at the corporate-sponsored pink-ribbon madness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Gibson, who is clearly all for awareness and research funding, is nonetheless skeptical of companies that slap ...

By Jessica • 14 years ago

Girly Consumerism

Via Sociological Images comes this heinous credit card teether. It’s pink and the name on the card is “Ima Spender.” Gross. Though I suppose we shouldn’t expect better from the creator of baby high heels.
This reminds me of the Barbie “Fashion Fever Shopping Boutique” that came out a couple of years ago. The toy featured a built-in credit card swiper and a pink credit card that never ran out of money. The commercial is especially disturbing, with a chorus that sings “Buy It!” over and over again.

Transcript (of which I’m sure someone could write a whole thesis on) after the jump
Awesome…a toy that will ensure little girls grow ...

Via Sociological Images comes this heinous credit card teether. It’s pink and the name on the card is “Ima Spender.” Gross. Though I suppose we shouldn’t expect better from the creator ...