Apr 15, 2007

Killing Us Softly 3

Below is Jean Kilbourne's latest video "Killing Us Softly 3" which exposes how advertising represents and influences women.

This half hour video is something you need to see for yourself. Some of us don't realize how much we are affected by the media until we see something like this. Have a look!

Apr 12, 2007

Hijras, Berdaches, Fa'afafine and more...

Did you ever wonder what "third sex" means?
The social roles and social positions of the third sex vary across cultures.
Lets take a look at a few examples:
+ Hijras (India) - those are often males who take female names, wear women's clothing
- they are much more sexually overt in their behavior than Indian women
- they are considered to incorporate the divine powers of the goddess; they sing and dance at weddings and birth celebrations, and were traditionally they were asked to bless new born babies
+ Kathoyes (Thailand)- also knows as ''lady-boys''
- also wear women's clothing, and violate the norms of femininity in Thai culture
+ Fa'afafine (South Pacific)- typically biological males who take up women's wear and characteristics such as caretaking and teaching
- also take upon some male characteristics like dirty dancing, baseball play, tell bawdy jokes
- they are highly valued as dancers and entertainers who are also typically respected
Berdaches (North American Indian Cultures)- also knows as "two-spirits"
- the characteristics allowed for those vary across Native societies; however,
- they are biological males who wear women's clothing and take up some feminine roles and tasks
- they can also adopt men's customs and clothing
- are often seen as creative and artistic
Pledged Virgins (Balkans)- is a woman who takes up man's role because there is no man available
- no longer thought of as a woman
- she wears men's clothes, does heavy work, and serves as a man in the military

unfortunately today, because of the wide spread of globalization, the "third sex" is associated with prostitution.

So,
HOW MANY SEXES ARE THERE???

Apr 9, 2007

A Little Time To Relax Ladies....

I would recommend to all of you girls (women) out there to get a yoni massage...
click here for the procedures

Also, for the interest of some, there's similar massage for men, called Lingam Massage.

-Enjoy

Blue Collar Gals

Women entering the blue collar force are more assertive, less gender typed and have a strong sense of self and desire for independence. Many of the blue collar women report high level of satisfaction with their jobs, party because they are well paid. Those women, indeed, challenge traditional gender roles and provider other women with strong role models. Blue Collar women describe themselves and by their coworkers as:
*brave

*rough
*aggressive

*confident

*willi
ng to take risks

HOWEVER,

the world is not so pink after all, those women often face disadvantages in their workplace: *they may be taunted or ridiculed
*they are subjected to hazing, threatened with physical injury (they may intentionally be given unsafe equipment)
*they may be exposed to hostile, violent pornography and sexual harassment
as a result they may be faced with on the job stress- creating psychological symptoms So those women, who challenge society and traditional gender roles, unfortunately face self sacrifice....

I was trying to find some support groups for those women but unfortunately I couldn't find any. Hopefully one day, just like the wide spread feminist networks today, one day those women will have a whole network supporting their career choices.

Apr 2, 2007

Human Trafficking

A new concept of slavery is human trafficking.
Currently it is on a rise because of globalization and its 'free trade' concept (perhaps it is not such a great idea after all). Also, because of globalization not only one country, or even one region is effected, but rather it is the whole world. Just like the developing countries are promoting human trafficking, the developed countries are just as responsible for the brutal acts of slavery. United States alone is annually trafficking 30-40,000 women and children in the purpose of exploitation such as domestic work, sex work, and organ transplant. It is unfortunate to say but our countries, promoting peace, human rights, freedom of speech are responsible for such cruel act.
Lets do something, the power is in each one of us.