tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64784141312527578762024-03-05T14:28:01.770-08:00Little Provocateurinstigating change through knowledgeLittle Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-56359568743898507172010-07-15T15:18:00.000-07:002010-07-15T15:21:23.665-07:00Project<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">This is one of my recent projects for my Feminist Though class that I took last semester.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Just thought it may be of interest for some...</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" href="http://opensourceforwomen.com/">opensourceforwomen.com</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-77954018959792437222010-03-10T14:33:00.001-08:002010-03-10T14:37:46.131-08:00National Abortion DayMarch 10th is the National appreciation abortion day. It is celebrated (or better put, remembered) in honour of Dr. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/abortviolence/stories/gunn.htm">David Gunn</a>, the first doctor that was killed in the US because of his profession as an abortion provider. <br />As part of your support, you can send an appreciation note to the national abortion federation. Please click <a href="http://naf.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Ab_prov_appreciation">here</a>.Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-75537510300509557672010-01-15T14:51:00.000-08:002010-01-15T14:53:28.002-08:00Feminine sexuality- a symbolic space for political struggleWomen's bodily integrity has been contested for a long time. The debate over reproductive rights, forced sterilization, domestic violence, wartime rape and forced marriage have reflected a political struggle over a woman's autonomy of her body. Bodily integrity can be, and has been, defined in many ways. Particularly in this essay I will discuss how women's bodies are used as a weapon during war (or civil conflict) by expanding on Castillo's proposition that “feminine sexuality tends to become a symbolic space for political struggle” (p. 153). Although it is not the only way to define a woman's violation of bodily integrity it certainly is one way that has been used for countless years yet it has been disregarded as a war crime by international justice bodies. I will further discuss how the state can impose or ignore rights that result in the violation of women's bodily integrity as well as the advantage of using capabilities approach to measure women's access to such rights.<br /><br />In her essay, Aida Hernandez Castillo explains that indigenous women in Mexico have been targets of Mexico's militarized regime. She points out that Mexico's racist powers silence acts of rape of indigenous women that have been committed by the military. She further explains that women's bodies are particularly targeted by the militarized forces during such conflict in order to weaken not only the the women who were raped but also but also to weaken the men as well as the rest of the community. She explains that rape strips women of their autonomy. Rape, according to Castillo, is an act that violates bodily integrity by invading the most intimate part of a human. She also attributes the use of women's body to weaken men in the indigenous communities to the traditional believes of patriarchy. She explains that traditional beliefs of patriarchal systems consider men as 'protectors' and 'guards' of women and children. Therefore, by raping an indigenous woman (or child), indigenous men are seen as 'unable to protect' a women in need and therefore the men of that community are feminized. By feminizing the men of the indigenous communities, indigenous communities as a whole are then feminized, they are seen as superior to the Mexican dominance that is imposed through the masculinized militarized regime. The second role of rape, according to Castillo, is to silence women. Rape is a form of control whether it is used during a conflict, or absence of. It is used as a warning to other women who speak up in public. This is better described by Castillo as she notes that rape “is a message for all women” (p. 153). A message of control and power that could be exercised by Mexican authorities when they think is needed.<br /><br />As Castillo demonstrates power relations between indigenous groups and Mexican authorities, Binaifer Noworojee extends similar bodily integrity violations to the conflict of Sierra Leone. Unlike in the case of Castillo where indigenous women were the target of the Mexican government, the women of Sierra Leone were a target of a different number of opposing groups. According to Nowrojee, women in Sierra Leone were targets for the “rebel forces of the RUF, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the West Side Boys.” (p. 90). Women's bodies were literally serving as, what Castillo defined as, a “battleground” of political struggle between the government's militarized groups as well as different counter-military groups (Castillo, p. 154). Like Castillo, Nowrojee also recognizes that women's bodies were particularly targeted to devastate not only the women but also to devastate communities by feminizing the men as they were forced to watch the victim while she was being raped. However, Nowrojee further points out that in Sierre Leone, the rape of pregnant women were disturbingly high. Particularly she notes that 23% of all women who were raped, were pregnant (p. 90). The staggering number of pregnant women who were raped in Sierra Leone clearly indicates that those women were particularly targeted during the conflict. The perpetrators marked their culture by “planting a seen” in the woman and her potential child as they violated and degraded her body (Petchesky, p. 312). A woman who is pregnant is also presumed to be the sole protector of her child while it is still in the womb. Therefore her rape also sent a clear message of weakening the woman's role as a mother of being a 'protector of her child' and therefore discredit her position as a woman in her own culture.<br /><br />Just like pregnant women were targeted in order to symbolize a victory, according to Nowrojee, raping virgin women also served a way to declare dominance. Unlike the rape of a woman, rape of a virgin was “perceived as a serious crime” by the international justice bodies (p. 88). The notion of who is a victim of rape during a conflict was therefore framed by the international justice bodies through imposing a set of values regarding women's bodies as well as measuring the worth of a body according to previous sexual activity of a woman: “the rape of married women or a non-virgin is often not considered a crime at all” (p. 88). Also the rape of a virgin, perhaps created a competition; whichever group was able to reach the 'target' first would win. Although one may not agree with the particular attention that the international justice bodies stigmatized virgin women as 'worthy' of trial, nevertheless, the rape of a virgin within many cultures themselves is characterized as the only sexual crime that could be committed towards a woman. Although I would argue that the reason for rape of a virgin is often punished in a community not because of the personal violation of the woman (or the girl) but because of its larger disturbance of the community as a whole- this was clearly illustrated by Castillo. Nonetheless, the value of a woman's body as it was perceived by the community on the grassroots level was therefore reflected on an international level.<br /><br />Nowrojee admits that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Special Court had some negative ramifications, but she explains that through the establishment of both courts, the case of Sierra Leone was able to re-frame the concept of women's bodily integrity at the international level. All women that were raped during the Sierra Leone war were recognized as victims, and for the first time the “invisible war crimes [became] visible” (p. 85). It was no longer that virgin women or pregnant women were the only ones that were considered as victims of politicized rape, but women of different sexual backgrounds were now 'worthy' of trial. Nowrojee demonstrates that “the experience of the Special Court illustrates that sexual crimes can be effectively addressed if the appropriate political will exists” (p. 99). Therefore, as Castillo writes in her piece, bodily integrity of indigenous women will be attained partly when the Mexican powers will cease using indigenous women's bodies as a political tool of the civil conflict. Although women's mass rape was recognized by the international justice bodies as a war crime, it may still be disregarded at the national- domestic level. Nevertheless, Nowrojee acknowledges that the top down process is important as it provides local grassroots organizations with tools to pressure their governments and bring public awareness to the crimes committed.<br />Like Nowrojee, Rosalind Petchesky also thinks that law, in particular human rights law, provides local movements with tools for “holding governments, private corporations, and international agencies accountable” for violations against women (as well as against men) (p. 303). Petchesky notes that rights come in two different forms, negative and affirmative. Negative rights, according to Petchesky, are a “duty to avoid needless inflicting of harm” while affirmative rights are a “duty to provide essential care and services” (p. 303). She points out that both types of rights are needed for women to achieve bodily integrity. For example, a woman should be protected by the government against rape (this can be through laws), and also the government should provide services for victims to recover, including abortion and health clinics for women affected by rape (p. 303). Additionally, Petchesky points out the importance of the recognition of rape as a “crime against humanity” at the international level. She says that it is a necessary step “toward incorporation of sexuality as a basic domain of human ethics and affirmative rights” through which women can come a step closer to achieve full autonomy by recognizing the devastating effects on the woman herself (p. 304).<br /><br />Martha Nussbaum also acknowledges the different types of rights that can be either enforced or ignored by the state. She discusses human rights (such as bodily integrity) as capabilities. She explains that capabilities and human rights “have a very close relationship” because rights should be measured as capabilities rather then as transcendent entity (p. 239). The capabilities approach literally measures a woman's capability to access resources that are basic necessities of life as well as necessities for intellectual and spiritual growth. Nussbaum explains that instead of asking “how much in the way of resources is she able to command” the capabilities approach asks “what is she actually able to do and be” with both resources and rights that she is able to access (p. 233). Nussbaum explains the capabilities approach is divided into two categories. Basic capabilities are the ones that are necessary to meet basic needs of a person, such as food, clothing and shelter, those serve as a base for internal capabilities. Internal capabilities are ones that allow “the exercise of requisite function” (p. 237). Together the two different kinds of capabilities are called combined capabilities. Those provide an environment in which a person can achieve and exercise her rights.<br />Capabilities approach provides a better measure for the rights that women are able to access. For Example, Castillo points out in her piece the irony with regards to indigenous women's rights. Castillo explains that while the Mexican powers were signing the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Mexican leader, Felipe Calderon also increased the militarized regime against indigenous people in which, like previously explained, women were particular targets of rape. By understanding the woman's ability to access rights, rather than measure according to promised rights, provides a better understanding of the status of women in that country.<br /><br />When discussing women's integrity through negative and affirmative rights as well as through the capabilities approach, it becomes clear that rape violates a woman's autonomy based on all those aspects. Castillo and Nowrojee have demonstrated how women's bodies have been used as a political weapon in patriarchal societies through systematized rape. Therefore, because a woman's body is shaped through both law and politics, the recognition of rape as a war crime is an important step at the international level in order to eliminate the use of rape of women as a weapon to devastate a community. Consequently, the recognition of rape as a war crime at the international level will provide a language of local grassroots organizations to pressure governments for the recognition of rape as a war crime.<br /><br />Women's bodily integrity has been contested for a long time. The debate over reproductive rights, forced sterilization, domestic violence, wartime rape and forced marriage have reflected a political struggle over a woman's autonomy of her body. Bodily integrity can be, and has been, defined in many ways. Particularly in this essay I will discuss how women's bodies are used as a weapon during war (or civil conflict) by expanding on Castillo's proposition that “feminine sexuality tends to become a symbolic space for political struggle” (p. 153). Although it is not the only way to define a woman's violation of bodily integrity it certainly is one way that has been used for countless years yet it has been disregarded as a war crime by international justice bodies. I will further discuss how the state can impose or ignore rights that result in the violation of women's bodily integrity as well as the advantage of using capabilities approach to measure women's access to such rights. <br /><br />In her essay, Aida Hernandez Castillo explains that indigenous women in Mexico have been targets of Mexico's militarized regime. She points out that Mexico's racist powers silence acts of rape of indigenous women that have been committed by the military. She further explains that women's bodies are particularly targeted by the militarized forces during such conflict in order to weaken not only the the women who were raped but also but also to weaken the men as well as the rest of the community. She explains that rape strips women of their autonomy. Rape, according to Castillo, is an act that violates bodily integrity by invading the most intimate part of a human. She also attributes the use of women's body to weaken men in the indigenous communities to the traditional believes of patriarchy. She explains that traditional beliefs of patriarchal systems consider men as 'protectors' and 'guards' of women and children. Therefore, by raping an indigenous woman (or child), indigenous men are seen as 'unable to protect' a women in need and therefore the men of that community are feminized. By feminizing the men of the indigenous communities, indigenous communities as a whole are then feminized, they are seen as superior to the Mexican dominance that is imposed through the masculinized militarized regime. The second role of rape, according to Castillo, is to silence women. Rape is a form of control whether it is used during a conflict, or absence of. It is used as a warning to other women who speak up in public. This is better described by Castillo as she notes that rape “is a message for all women” (p. 153). A message of control and power that could be exercised by Mexican authorities when they think is needed. <br /><br />As Castillo demonstrates power relations between indigenous groups and Mexican authorities, Binaifer Noworojee extends similar bodily integrity violations to the conflict of Sierra Leone. Unlike in the case of Castillo where indigenous women were the target of the Mexican government, the women of Sierra Leone were a target of a different number of opposing groups. According to Nowrojee, women in Sierra Leone were targets for the “rebel forces of the RUF, the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the West Side Boys.” (p. 90). Women's bodies were literally serving as, what Castillo defined as, a “battleground” of political struggle between the government's militarized groups as well as different counter-military groups (Castillo, p. 154). Like Castillo, Nowrojee also recognizes that women's bodies were particularly targeted to devastate not only the women but also to devastate communities by feminizing the men as they were forced to watch the victim while she was being raped. However, Nowrojee further points out that in Sierre Leone, the rape of pregnant women were disturbingly high. Particularly she notes that 23% of all women who were raped, were pregnant (p. 90). The staggering number of pregnant women who were raped in Sierra Leone clearly indicates that those women were particularly targeted during the conflict. The perpetrators marked their culture by “planting a seen” in the woman and her potential child as they violated and degraded her body (Petchesky, p. 312). A woman who is pregnant is also presumed to be the sole protector of her child while it is still in the womb. Therefore her rape also sent a clear message of weakening the woman's role as a mother of being a 'protector of her child' and therefore discredit her position as a woman in her own culture. <br /><br />Just like pregnant women were targeted in order to symbolize a victory, according to Nowrojee, raping virgin women also served a way to declare dominance. Unlike the rape of a woman, rape of a virgin was “perceived as a serious crime” by the international justice bodies (p. 88). The notion of who is a victim of rape during a conflict was therefore framed by the international justice bodies through imposing a set of values regarding women's bodies as well as measuring the worth of a body according to previous sexual activity of a woman: “the rape of married women or a non-virgin is often not considered a crime at all” (p. 88). Also the rape of a virgin, perhaps created a competition; whichever group was able to reach the 'target' first would win. Although one may not agree with the particular attention that the international justice bodies stigmatized virgin women as 'worthy' of trial, nevertheless, the rape of a virgin within many cultures themselves is characterized as the only sexual crime that could be committed towards a woman. Although I would argue that the reason for rape of a virgin is often punished in a community not because of the personal violation of the woman (or the girl) but because of its larger disturbance of the community as a whole- this was clearly illustrated by Castillo. Nonetheless, the value of a woman's body as it was perceived by the community on the grassroots level was therefore reflected on an international level. <br /><br />Nowrojee admits that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the Special Court had some negative ramifications, but she explains that through the establishment of both courts, the case of Sierra Leone was able to re-frame the concept of women's bodily integrity at the international level. All women that were raped during the Sierra Leone war were recognized as victims, and for the first time the “invisible war crimes [became] visible” (p. 85). It was no longer that virgin women or pregnant women were the only ones that were considered as victims of politicized rape, but women of different sexual backgrounds were now 'worthy' of trial. Nowrojee demonstrates that “the experience of the Special Court illustrates that sexual crimes can be effectively addressed if the appropriate political will exists” (p. 99). Therefore, as Castillo writes in her piece, bodily integrity of indigenous women will be attained partly when the Mexican powers will cease using indigenous women's bodies as a political tool of the civil conflict. Although women's mass rape was recognized by the international justice bodies as a war crime, it may still be disregarded at the national- domestic level. Nevertheless, Nowrojee acknowledges that the top down process is important as it provides local grassroots organizations with tools to pressure their governments and bring public awareness to the crimes committed.<br /><br />Like Nowrojee, Rosalind Petchesky also thinks that law, in particular human rights law, provides local movements with tools for “holding governments, private corporations, and international agencies accountable” for violations against women (as well as against men) (p. 303). Petchesky notes that rights come in two different forms, negative and affirmative. Negative rights, according to Petchesky, are a “duty to avoid needless inflicting of harm” while affirmative rights are a “duty to provide essential care and services” (p. 303). She points out that both types of rights are needed for women to achieve bodily integrity. For example, a woman should be protected by the government against rape (this can be through laws), and also the government should provide services for victims to recover, including abortion and health clinics for women affected by rape (p. 303). Additionally, Petchesky points out the importance of the recognition of rape as a “crime against humanity” at the international level. She says that it is a necessary step “toward incorporation of sexuality as a basic domain of human ethics and affirmative rights” through which women can come a step closer to achieve full autonomy by recognizing the devastating effects on the woman herself (p. 304). <br /><br />Martha Nussbaum also acknowledges the different types of rights that can be either enforced or ignored by the state. She discusses human rights (such as bodily integrity) as capabilities. She explains that capabilities and human rights “have a very close relationship” because rights should be measured as capabilities rather then as transcendent entity (p. 239). The capabilities approach literally measures a woman's capability to access resources that are basic necessities of life as well as necessities for intellectual and spiritual growth. Nussbaum explains that instead of asking “how much in the way of resources is she able to command” the capabilities approach asks “what is she actually able to do and be” with both resources and rights that she is able to access (p. 233). Nussbaum explains the capabilities approach is divided into two categories. Basic capabilities are the ones that are necessary to meet basic needs of a person, such as food, clothing and shelter, those serve as a base for internal capabilities. Internal capabilities are ones that allow “the exercise of requisite function” (p. 237). Together the two different kinds of capabilities are called combined capabilities. Those provide an environment in which a person can achieve and exercise her rights.<br /><br />Capabilities approach provides a better measure for the rights that women are able to access. For Example, Castillo points out in her piece the irony with regards to indigenous women's rights. Castillo explains that while the Mexican powers were signing the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Mexican leader, Felipe Calderon also increased the militarized regime against indigenous people in which, like previously explained, women were particular targets of rape. By understanding the woman's ability to access rights, rather than measure according to promised rights, provides a better understanding of the status of women in that country. <br /><br />When discussing women's integrity through negative and affirmative rights as well as through the capabilities approach, it becomes clear that rape violates a woman's autonomy based on all those aspects. Castillo and Nowrojee have demonstrated how women's bodies have been used as a political weapon in patriarchal societies through systematized rape. Therefore, because a woman's body is shaped through both law and politics, the recognition of rape as a war crime is an important step at the international level in order to eliminate the use of rape of women as a weapon to devastate a community. Consequently, the recognition of rape as a war crime at the international level will provide a language of local grassroots organizations to pressure governments for the recognition of rape as a war crime. <br /><br /><br />References<br /><br />Castillo Hernandez, A. (2008). Gendered violence and Neocolonialism: Indigenous women confronting counterinsurgency violence. Latin American perspectives. 35, 151-154<br /><br />Nowrojee, B. (2005). Making invisible war crimes visible: Post conflict justice for Sierra Leone's rape victims. Harvard human rights journal. 18, 85-105<br /><br />Nussbaum, M. (1999). Women and equality: The capabilities approach. International labour review. 138.3, 227-243<br /><br />Petchesky, R. (2005). Rights of the body and perversions of war: Sexual rights and wrongs ten years past Beijing. International social science journal. 57.22,301-318.Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-85598013108970994022010-01-12T15:40:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:42:23.994-08:00Are Women Human?<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#333333;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If women were human, would we be a cash crop shipped from Thailand in containers into New York's brothels? Would we have our genitals sliced out to purify us (of what?) and to bid and define our cultures? Would we be used as breeders, made to work without pay our whole lives, burned when our dowry money wasn't enough or when men tired of us, starved as widows when our husbands died if we survived his funeral pyre, forced to sell ourselves sexually because men won't value us for anything else? Would we be sold into marriage to priests to atone for our family's sins or to improve our family's earthly prospects? Would be we sexually and reproductively enslaved? Would we, when allowed to work for pay, be made to work at the most menial jobs and exploited at barely starvation level? Would we be trafficked for sexual use and entertainment worldwide in whatever form current technology makes possible? Would we be kept from learning to read and write?"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Catherine MacKinnon</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">excerpt from her book. Here's the </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);" href="http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/mackinnon/mackin1.html">link</a><br /></span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-43421570418237827672009-04-13T11:36:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:39:21.201-07:00Feminazi<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">In one of our recent conversations, my mother used the body metaphor to describe gender relations. She said that women are the neck and men are the head of the body. When I tried to resist bringing in my Third Wave feminist views, she shut me down by saying “the feminists are pushing too hard, and this is why the divorce rates are so high.” I choked. This was coming from my own mother, who I never considered would have such conservative views about gender relations and the negative perception of the feminist movement fed by the media. Why you ask? Because my mother is an educated female in the medical practice, a divorced single mother who supports abortion and of course, choice.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> I came to realize after that incident that generally there are two types of anti- feminists. The first type are generally the conservative religious people who discard all feminist achievements because those are against the patriarchal structure within and outside the family that remained somewhat static over more than 2000 years of its existence. These women I excuse for expressing negativity towards the feminist movement because they take on the traditional values and roles within the family and generally do not poke around outside their preset boundaries. The wife, in many instances is a stay at home mother, or if working, she is in peace being on the bottom of the hierarchy because she agrees that she is a secondary income- extra pocket money come Christmas time. But this is another story in itself saved for some other time. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> The second type is my mother. Those women do not have any excuse to be anti-feminist because they are the ones who take the advantage of all our fights and battles yet they disapprove our existence. Perhaps once Second Waivers themselves without knowing it, they take advantage and scratch on the surface of our achievements but do not realize there's a whole other “behind the scene” world... just like back in the day.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who go to vote but don't thank a feminist named Dr. Emily Stowe who started a long lasting campaign that would take a fundamental step in 1878 towards a progress in a woman's world1. Women's vote perhaps could be considered the most important step towards independence in the long lasting patriarchal society. From the time the idea was accepted and implemented by each Canadian province, it lasted from 1916 starting with the province of Manitoba by giving a vote to the white middle class women, and recently ending with indigenous women who (not surprisingly) were the last ones to gain the right to vote in 1967. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Those are the women who pursue secondary education and (to some extent) enjoy their right for a stable workplace as well as their wages. Yet no gratitude for for this feminist achievement over the last 50 years. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who have the accessibility to birth control and do not deny it. They do not think twice of the feminist advocacy group in 1923 who pushed the right for birth control and 9 years later started the first legal clinic. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who take the advantage of the long fought Morgantaler decision4 that legalized abortion on January 28th 1988; and come the time these women experience an unplanned pregnancy they are privileged for choice; yet no drop of appreciation for those 12 long years. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women that know if their husband is abusive (of any degree) they have the Women's Shelter to fall back on. They do not consider the struggles two feminists underwent in order to start the first Women's Shelter in 1973.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who take advantage of the divorce when are miserable in their marriage. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who know if are raped, even by their husbands, they have legislation to protect them. They do not remember the case of Ewanchuk that changed the faulty perception of consent6 because of the feminist push.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> Those are the women who do not remember Persons case of the famous five who challenged the Canadian legislation, yet there's always a Palin who will stab us once reached to the top in favour of votes. Hey, here's an idea, how about you gain the votes of the very own who paved your way to the top?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> It is those “shameless radical” ideas that feminists proposed such as laws against gender and race discrimination which are now a nice and solid foundation for basic human rights in the country we live in; and if violated, there's somewhere to go. Those are the women who do not see past their fogged up windshields, driving.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> This is why I carry the title of “a feminist, a Third Waivest” with a small victory flag, so I can point the finger and say “fuck you,” without us you would not be celebrating your sexuality and your proud existence as a woman, transsexual, transgendered and other categories yet to be titled. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"> But is there a reason for us to solely blame these women? Is it another trap for the fooled Second Waivers to fall into? To turn their backs onto us and even go against what they fought for? Is it just lack of knowledge, appreciation? Or perhaps avoiding the negative stigmatization of our very own culture? Is it being old, and compensating for the shattered self esteem promoted by the media? Of course as an “old, lonely” single mother, who is to blame for her doubt? Who is to blame for her regression and answer seeking in the bible? Is she “too old” to fight ageism or is she just tired of all the fights she experienced throughout her younger years? Does she simply not fit amongst the Third Wavers? Can the Third Wavers please stand up and make some room for the aging Second Waivers?</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Perhaps this time it's a backlash from within we have to withstand. Riding our boogie boards onto the Fourth Wave, those are some thoughts to consider. However, they don't have an excuse to disregard us, we should have a unity within diversity.</span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-71107811938427894972008-10-29T18:11:00.001-07:002008-11-02T17:59:44.559-08:00Message to Sarah Palin<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKj4tq0kC_I&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKj4tq0kC_I&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />It's been said time and time again, but this is such a strong video! Hopefully people will listen.Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-60112494186321067182008-10-21T15:04:00.000-07:002010-03-02T21:14:41.089-08:00Marking 20th Anniversary<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">On January 28th 1988 the Supreme Court of Canada has made an important decision that would change the lives of many females in the Canadian Society. On that important day, the Morgentler Decision was passes and abortion in Canada was legalized thanks to one (ironically) man, Henry Morgentaler. Giving up his family practice, he decided to openly perform safe abortions in his existing clinic at the time when those were still illegal in Canada. He was arrested by the Canadian government in 1970 after the two years of such practice</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">This is when the long battle began</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">..<br /><br />It is important to give credit to the people who fought a long battle. It is not a matter of right or wrong but a matter of choice. Another step for the feminist movement which, ironically, was started by one man- supporting women.</span><br /><br />Here is some Morgentaler's thoughts 20 years after. <a href="http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/interview/2008/5_interview_01.html">Click here for the interview</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-1661098326535735602008-10-16T14:58:00.000-07:002008-10-16T15:08:09.381-07:00Caramel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WaqHHNwGsczRUqg1Zy_sBRBU-qy9NnPtijZNhIbb7cgIyf9k6z631RrsmTnE5jx2fF8qH5roCmCbWjBIG-yZR4pMdgXMCT6YIIbxjZRwNRUR7v3clQbvYzDsHrsNxkD2nbUEfHq6cik/s1600-h/caramel+snapshot+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WaqHHNwGsczRUqg1Zy_sBRBU-qy9NnPtijZNhIbb7cgIyf9k6z631RrsmTnE5jx2fF8qH5roCmCbWjBIG-yZR4pMdgXMCT6YIIbxjZRwNRUR7v3clQbvYzDsHrsNxkD2nbUEfHq6cik/s200/caramel+snapshot+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257876799391808834" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqt6nP3_fC0">Caramel</a> <span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">is a film directed by Nadine Labaki who is also one of the central characters in the movie. The movie is set in Beirut Lebanon. it does not touch on the politics of the country, but rather It touches on the issues of 'modern women' in that society. It is great movie that is not directed by Hollywood... (that speaks for itself).</span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-31692426493317964862008-10-09T20:40:00.000-07:002010-03-02T21:20:28.933-08:00EGALE Canada<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">For all of you who don't know, one of our very local organizations is asking for help in the upcoming elections. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">This is the very own Egale Canada. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Egale Canada</span> is a "national organization committed to advancing equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people, and their families, across Canada." They have been threatened with the gradual public regression and the dropping public awareness and support. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">You can fill up a survey they have online regarding your safety as a gay/lesbian/bi/trans sexualetc... and those are always helpful for NGOs. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">For the survey and to show your support you are welcome to visit their website, </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);" href="http://http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E">www.egale.ca</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-1435122377574509802007-12-01T20:08:00.000-08:002007-12-01T20:19:28.251-08:00Canada's Most Volnerable Group<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcty7fCyzavkCD_bl0B-DI3wudMCiTDsEQWhDx_kcoTo5-MraRaEHseZksX_vEvGefpiPbryxHmeDpYbcreAiUmVoYPlnw5iL6me9BR5VI17MqAlcfLJsxS1HMzKwFUg8qnUPtfFTsNKA/s1600-r/mrp_en.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyXtJmXbGrj-CCazef86znYnvejmFtNPY4QvV2mTS_V4fP-mW-s5XT5H08o9uGgrZpWKtaRoyln-guEsLqz4H2prdmdpgdrIyvM26jsU5e9thWi_oNOEX8r1xN6HIAGX1ocKpDT-89K3M/s200/mrp_en.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139225030210148802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Canada's most volnerable group is Native women on reserves. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The issue was brought 20 years ago to the Canadian government, but until this day not much has been done. The federal laws that exist to protect women when they get divorced, such as the right for property and land ownership, do not apply to Native women living on reserves. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Let alone that Natives are at a much higher risk for divorce and substance abuse. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Here's the </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://www.nwac-hq.org/en/index.html">Native Women's Association</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"> website for those of you who are interested. </span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The website frequently has updates on many issues Native women face today such as the Pickton trial. </span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-88561720009626604302007-11-30T23:56:00.000-08:002007-12-01T00:06:37.210-08:00Dana International<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRADnbUraEBj6UzIL7QbV01GhK1Ngk98yn7GYEhJetmfL2gDP_HDiIgFBs05Z04h3HSwMJkDP4XSspim0RFQqOVV8h50CsHO1mOJGTYq8FMtYWTcCTNx5wb6K9dZ4ToOmZvO2B36rIvu8/s1600-r/200px-DanaInternational.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqZGMqlPHBEUJTNmrl3-eLtBdJxbyF3c59YwObvKiMEso5XlW7PWqSmiL14s0gIFY0qbBBqa_4gd3ujrLlAMDTdCOudx6HXfzH5uMc6l6UvTP8_E-lMO-GuTziG7I92ACHytgEvhEZqY/s200/200px-DanaInternational.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138912854807206322" border="0" /></a><br />Dana International is one of the most famous transsexual Israeli singers. She grew up in the city of Tel-Aviv. Her original name is Yaron Cohen. She won the Eurovision contest in 1998 with the song "Diva".Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-15640352223262885422007-09-27T23:21:00.000-07:002007-09-27T23:24:26.321-07:00Women and Philosophy<span style="color:#ff99ff;">For those of you interested in philosophy, here's a website with a list of women who contributed to the field of philosophy</span><br /><a href="http://bailiwick.lib.uiowa.edu/wstudies/gallery.html"><span style="color:#3366ff;">click here</span> </a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-58253293649519595172007-09-27T22:52:00.000-07:002007-09-27T23:10:08.890-07:00PMDD<span style="color:#ffcc66;">Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder used to be in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual because it was concidered as a mental disorder. Thankfully with the rise of the feminnist movement we were able to pressure the Psychological asoociation to remove it. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffcc66;">However, PMDD is still appearing in the index of the most recent DSM-IV-TR .. we need to work on that now!</span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-40228392341025161142007-09-25T22:08:00.001-07:002007-09-25T22:18:32.926-07:00No to AnorexiaItalian photographer Oliviero Toscani photographed an anorexic woman for No-l-ita's sponsored campaign "No" to Anorexia. The billboard will be seen in Italian cities, and is being backed by the health ministry.<br /><br />I sincerely hope this campaign makes an impact on many people. Toscani's photos have left me in awe as they are so dramatic and to the point.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzR4QanOxU4JLopNdgfjR4s8losH3_K5cDnh9keF3uYAt22m2NwsIbx1lz5PUUK5Nb0JlB_JDBOlAbcbazfHjzGhyphenhyphenCQi-Qybi1nhkGaLgS1R9FztBhuF6yJzFS9SPd1Lu7b5a0eZaJ3A/s1600-h/ESP326345RO.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzR4QanOxU4JLopNdgfjR4s8losH3_K5cDnh9keF3uYAt22m2NwsIbx1lz5PUUK5Nb0JlB_JDBOlAbcbazfHjzGhyphenhyphenCQi-Qybi1nhkGaLgS1R9FztBhuF6yJzFS9SPd1Lu7b5a0eZaJ3A/s200/ESP326345RO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114377596597651922" border="0" /></a><a href="http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iTHb11_pR_wDt4zhK27ipeIeLDtA">article</a><br /><a href="http://www.nolita.it/">No-l-ita website</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-39345605633077202472007-07-21T19:19:00.000-07:002007-07-21T19:22:53.824-07:00India Elects First Female President<span style="font-size:100%;">After 60 years of independance, "Pratibha Patil is to become India's first woman president after winning a comprehensive election victory...</span><span style="font-size:100%;">Patil, 72, won nearly two-thirds of votes cast in state assemblies and in India's parliament, they said."<br /><br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6909979.stm">Link to full article</a><br /></span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-13793736747556811242007-07-11T11:05:00.001-07:002007-07-11T11:08:49.544-07:00Homeless and PregnantCBC recently did a radio show about women who are pregnant, homeless and addicted in Victoria, B.C.<br /><br />You can listen to it here:<br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/media/20070530PREGNANT.ram">Part 1</a><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/media/20070530PREGHOME.ram">Part 2</a><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/media/20070605PREGHOME.ram">Part 3</a><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/ontheisland/features.html"><br />The website.</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-89142493691289357032007-07-11T10:38:00.000-07:002007-07-11T10:47:18.734-07:00British Unveil Campaign Against FGM<!--startclickprintexclude--><!----><!--===========IMAGE============--><!--===========/IMAGE===========--><div style="text-align: left;">"Female genital mutilation, commonly associated with parts of Africa and the Middle East, is becoming a growing problem in Britain despite authorities' efforts to stamp it out.<br /><br /><!--endclickprintexclude-->The Metropolitan Police, Britain's largest police force, hopes a campaign beginning Wednesday will highlight that the practice is a crime here.<br /><br />To make their point, police are offering a 20,000-pound (euro29,500; US$40,000) reward for information leading to Britain's first prosecution for female genital mutilation, Detective Chief Superintendent Alastair Jeffrey said."<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I understand that in these cultures the women are looked down upon if they do not go through with the mutilation, but is it right to continue the practice when these girls do not live in the communities anymore? These girls are being taken on their summer vacation from England to their country of origin to have genital mutilation. Maybe being out of the country (in England) is a chance to change this practice.<br /></div><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/07/10/britain.female.circumcision.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCText"><br />See the article and video here.</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-43759739322758847272007-07-10T17:46:00.000-07:002007-07-10T17:50:56.688-07:00Running of the Cows - A Move Towards Equality?"A group of Spanish women are calling for equality at Pamplona's famed San Fermin running of the bulls festival: they're demanding cow runs. <p>'If the boys run ahead of the bulls, we (women) have to run with the cows. It's pure logic,' said a tongue-in-cheek petition on a Spanish student website, www.estudiln.net."</p><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070710/K071006AU.html">See the full article here. </a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-77393268829653708602007-06-27T14:47:00.000-07:002007-09-25T23:17:31.322-07:00Who's Normal??<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >Your mother probably always told you to be a good girl and "save yourself" or else no one would want to marry you.<br />Imagine the opposite... where your mother stresses that you are still a virgin and soon to </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">marry. I was researching some stuff and and came across this: </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">"</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">There are men in </span><st1:place style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Guam</st1:place><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"> whose full-time job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time. Reason: under </span><st1:place style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Guam</st1:place><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"> law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">!</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">."</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">I guess there's more than just one "norm."</span><br /></span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-7409865607455814492007-06-23T20:01:00.001-07:002007-06-23T20:25:14.084-07:00Sex Sells?<a style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWEueUpZjLDDW_9OdvQNgCaT25gsJxmDqxn5svs11kZbxUpRzPvCjleeEDmdOeCpsRj_hs_8XzAoItPDRWXEr9368PvVZCi_EYDnLe6MyOjQXkq46FcJYbQ_jXigtJFEpQmyYT7pMWLc/s1600-h/sexualviolence3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWEueUpZjLDDW_9OdvQNgCaT25gsJxmDqxn5svs11kZbxUpRzPvCjleeEDmdOeCpsRj_hs_8XzAoItPDRWXEr9368PvVZCi_EYDnLe6MyOjQXkq46FcJYbQ_jXigtJFEpQmyYT7pMWLc/s200/sexualviolence3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079465740031899666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">It is unfortunate that in our society sex is one of the things that s</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">ells the </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">most. Nowadays ads that have naked women are not only targeted at men, but also they are targeted at t</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">heir best girls- women.<br />Perhaps this is why we feels so pressured to look absolutely flawless. </span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">Yes ladies, those shoe</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">s WILL make you look like that, your legs suddenly will elongate from one meter to two and you will lose all your love handles. Thanks to those shoes all you bumps on the skin will disappear, and </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">of course</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> you will find the man of your dreams the first time you wear them.</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);">for more ads of this kind, go to<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span></span><a style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.genderads.com/">this website</a><br /><br />P.S<br />just accept who you are because they look just like us when photoshop fails..Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-68435550144028247142007-06-16T14:42:00.000-07:002007-06-16T14:51:05.527-07:00Guerrilla GirlsI've recently come across the Guerrilla Girls website and like what they're doing. I'm adding a link to their page on our blog, and here's a little info about them:<br /><br />"We're a bunch of anonymous females who take the names of dead women artists as pseudonyms and appear in public wearing gorilla masks. We have produced posters, stickers, books, printed projects, and actions that expose sexism and racism in politics, the art world, film and the culture at large. We use humor to convey information, provoke discussion, and show that feminists can be funny. We wear gorilla masks to focus on the issues rather than our personalities. Dubbing ourselves the conscience of culture, we declare ourselves feminist counterparts to the mostly male tradition of anonymous do-gooders like Robin Hood, Batman, and the Lone Ranger. Our work has been passed around the world by kindred spirits who we are proud to have as supporters. It has also appeared in <cite>The New York Times, The Nation, Bitch</cite> and <cite>Bust;</cite> on TV and radio, including NPR,, the BBC and CBC; and in countless art and feminist texts. The mystery surrounding our identities has attracted attention. We could be anyone; we are everywhere."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.guerrillagirls.com">www.guerrillagirls.com</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-68609257948345923712007-05-13T21:30:00.000-07:002007-05-13T21:36:44.326-07:00"Sheter From the Storm" Campaign"<span class="bodyfont">Created in 2005, Shelter from the Storm was borne of a vision to create a n</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdxj9X6ClAVRH_qSoUnTcXO-LfF3RjWX6OPRuLQa7FmXaMKZFYotz7-EzE6YG_hO0QHa3xFAWJIypnn2nSwARjzE_hChGXjb1s3CmLPFqlVSkKeQpgBd34LQ9md3XCKHZODGE3TP19Ew/s1600-h/understand___by_create_illusions.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdxj9X6ClAVRH_qSoUnTcXO-LfF3RjWX6OPRuLQa7FmXaMKZFYotz7-EzE6YG_hO0QHa3xFAWJIypnn2nSwARjzE_hChGXjb1s3CmLPFqlVSkKeQpgBd34LQ9md3XCKHZODGE3TP19Ew/s200/understand___by_create_illusions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064270237696047298" border="0" /></a><span class="bodyfont">ational fundraiser that would benefit every shelter across Canada and mobilize Canadians to help end violence against women. And thanks to thousands of donors across Canada, and the unwavering commitment of our campaign partners (Winners and HomeSense, BMO Financial Group and Rogers Media).<br /><br /></span><span class="bodyfont">Shelter from the Storm is a month-long national campaign dedicated to stopping violence against women. Funds raised support shelters for abused women (and their children) across</span><span class="bodyfont"> Canada and community prevention programs that are breaking the cycle of violence."<br /><br />For more information please visit <a href="http://stopviolence.ca/">stopviolence.ca</a><br /></span>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-22745335450344522642007-05-06T11:43:00.000-07:002007-05-06T15:23:15.422-07:00The Fashion Icon- Lesley Hornby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVhyWltfUhEFOEh08OFl8GCowYUyqVuqgy-Phh1vAOQIeRPoE84L589L9MB7tSBvur4F0-9AV-dTNf99Hjy2bkLaHBEMwGhJr-parM2cR7PLM1d06wWgqlBxC7z1G9MDV9uRKrOg9zEo/s1600-h/kultur0689.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVhyWltfUhEFOEh08OFl8GCowYUyqVuqgy-Phh1vAOQIeRPoE84L589L9MB7tSBvur4F0-9AV-dTNf99Hjy2bkLaHBEMwGhJr-parM2cR7PLM1d06wWgqlBxC7z1G9MDV9uRKrOg9zEo/s200/kultur0689.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5061576812165118130" border="0" /></a><br />The well know British model who conquered the fashion industry in the 60's announces that models these days are too skinny. However, throughout her career she was just as skinny, claiming it was her 'natural' body shape.<br /><a href="http://www.modelsblog.info/index.php/2006/11/30/twiggy-says-models-too-thin-these-days/">Here is the full text</a><br />lets say that this tooth pick <span style="font-style: italic;">is,</span> in fact, her real body type- young girls still look up to her and end up with dieting obsessions. Personally, I don't care if bone-skinny body of a model is 'natural' or if it's achieved through dieting- because such bodies are misrepresented icons for young girls and the rest of the society- such photos are very disturbing, take a look...Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-44304065873498539952007-05-04T12:01:00.000-07:002007-05-04T12:31:10.262-07:00Are We Still Obejectified?<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">What does it tell you when I say "women are objectified"? probably nothing unless you took some women's study course. Objectification of women is a relatively large topic in the feminist network circuit. When a woman is objectified she is being seen as an object rather than an individual, stripping her of her own identity because she is reduced to her body, or more often particular body parts. Unfortunately this happens more often than we think it does. after taking my first feminist course i started noticing this matter. Everywhere I go women are objectified, that is lamps with women's bodies as stands, women's heads as sandwiches, and women's bodies as bottles of perfume. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">One of my most recent incidents which left me pretty astounded (although it shouldn't have because it's everywhere) is when i walked into the kitchen section in the Bay. There's promoting their product, was a woman's naked manikin, with cooking utensils rather than a head.. because all we think about is cooking, of course!</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 204);">I've attached the picture. As my next step i am planning to write to the Bay.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Met6fWQPYSB8Ye5MRSIrgBuBEQmRPpaQ-4KhdjGKsiikpWcXzvodO4guTilvDMiBae-I0Kpru6eStOJoShSZ38fwPfuTAOTlK3_jMHnzjy1a_0MthuLA9TEZGY3fZoOBFd8wG342QI/s1600-h/DSCN2732.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Met6fWQPYSB8Ye5MRSIrgBuBEQmRPpaQ-4KhdjGKsiikpWcXzvodO4guTilvDMiBae-I0Kpru6eStOJoShSZ38fwPfuTAOTlK3_jMHnzjy1a_0MthuLA9TEZGY3fZoOBFd8wG342QI/s200/DSCN2732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060789806652766338" border="0" /></a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6478414131252757876.post-46220284579446183722007-05-02T20:05:00.000-07:002007-05-02T20:36:24.120-07:00Moms Put in About $140,000 of Work Per Year, Salary.comMassachusetts firm Salary.com surveyed 40,000 mothers to determine the worth of their work. Most mothers put in an average of 92 hours of work each week, and their <span style="font-weight: bold;">10 </span>jobs include: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. Survey.com found that a full-time mother's work would be compensated at $138,095 US, which has risen 3% since last year. Those mothers who also work a full-time wage paying job put in $85,939 worth of work as mothers each year.<br /><br />The ability to have an egalitarian marriage would reduce the amount of work and stress as responsibilities would be shared, as well as power and authority. Also, according to author Mary Crawford, "more than any other type of marriage, an egalitarian relationship provides the couple with profound intimacy, intense companionship, and mutual respect" (<span style="font-style: italic;">Transformations</span>, 281). In other words, we should make sure our husbands, boyfriends, and even our sons share in the duties around the home. There's no better time to start than now!<br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/05/02/mothers.worth/index.html?eref=rss_topstories">See CNN's article.</a>Little Provocateurhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15068977581226594408noreply@blogger.com0