This is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. I wrote this poem because popular media coverage of eating disorders normalizes the behaviors and results without addressing the serious medical consequences and disturbed cognitions underlying a disorder. For more information visit http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/index.php or call the free, confidential Helpline, Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Pacific Standard Time:… Continue Reading →
Rolling Stone magazine considers Justin Bieber an abortion expert
By now, you’ve probably heard that Justin Bieber is an abortion expert. Okay, not really. But that didn’t stop Rolling Stone contributing editor, Vanessa Grigoriadis, from asking the tween heartthrob his thoughts on the issue. “I really don’t believe in abortion,” Bieber said. “It’s like killing a baby?” Perhaps phrasing that as an interrogative sentence doesn’t… Continue Reading →
The issue with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
This piece was written by Lexie Kite and originally posted on beautyredefined.net. Thanks so much to Lexie and her sister Lindsay for allowing us to re-post this, and for doing such a great job with Beauty Redefined! — Michelle On Tuesday, the hotly anticipated 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will hit the mailboxes of 70… Continue Reading →
Everyone’s equal in “Glee.” Or not.
I am a sixteen-year-old girl, and a Gleek. At my school, at least, it almost seems the two are synonymous. The other night, I sat down with my brother to watch the Glee “Thriller” half-time episode. We were so excited about the show and had been living in suspense for days. The too-short ads, blasting… Continue Reading →
Stuff My Dad Says (Female Empowerment/Pre-Oscars Edition)
The other day, my dad (age 71) was telling me (age 35) about his 8 favorite movies of the year, since the Golden Globes and Oscars were coming up, and it occurred to me that most of them (except for #8, Inception) have multidimensional female characters who are mostly strong and empowered. And what’s cool… Continue Reading →
Egyptian women are protesters too
By now, everyone on the Internet has heard of the protests in Egypt. Powerful and moving images saturate the media, bringing us face to face with these brave women and men. The New York Times offers this image on the left. The caption begins, “A protester consoled a woman during a demonstration.” Okay, let’s break… Continue Reading →
Pepsi introduces “the skinny can” for Fashion Week
Skinny sells. Or at least that’s what Pepsi hopes. Perhaps trying to keep up with Super Bowl ad sexism, Pepsi plans to unveil their new “Skinny Can” during New York Fashion Week “in celebration of beautiful, confident women.” Because, you know, beauty and confidence are only found in slim packages.
Why Gender was the third player in the Super Bowl this year.
Well, it has been quite a night. It’s as if gender differences were the third player in the Super Bowl, almost an imaginary push-pull between men and women (usually with women being shown as “in power”). Here’s another one: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N1aOZTTA-c&feature=related[/youtube] Super low-budget, right? Well, it’s part of the theme, though: making characters of both genders… Continue Reading →
Kim Kardashian… further playing into straight male fantasy
Well, hetero male Super Bowl watchers, if you’ve ever fantasized about doing it with Kim Kardashian, there’s this commercial is for you. Look, she’s lying on her back! Oh, but then she’s breaking up with you… I mean her trainer. So she can spend more time with… her shoes? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQWG__N9so0[/youtube] Is it a commercial, or… Continue Reading →