LOG IN   JOIN   BLOG SEARCH   ALL DIARIES

Website Blog
Blog
Issues
Take Action
Videos
Donate
About
Youth Resources
My Sistahs
Advocates For Youth
 
Blog - Amplify your voice
About Me:
reading, blogging, women's rights, children, traveling, speaking spanish, hanging with friends, art and crafts, photography, snow, God, posters, pillows, hot chocolate, great movies, surfing the internet, working, and playing with my dog Nicki!

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 11:20:00 AM EDT

 
Pro-choice. Keep Your Hands off My Body. My Body, My Choice.
Does this apply to men as well?

 According to Salon.com, " In a complicated, fascinating and refreshingly balanced story for the June issue of Elle called "The Parent Trap," writer Stephanie Fairyington explores the case of Greg Bruell, a divorced, stay-at-home father of two who, when confronted with an unwanted pregnancy, just said no. Bruell and his girlfriend had already gone through one abortion when, just months later, she found herself pregnant again. He says they'd agreed ahead of time that if she conceived again, "she'd abort without waffling." Instead, she not only had the baby, she sued him for child support. What may have been a messy private situation for a man, a woman and a child soon became a golden opportunity for the National Center for Men, an advocacy group devoted to "assertively addressing all legitimate men's concerns."

So, what's the decision? Does the women get to make the choice because it's her body or is it the man's decision because it was discussed prior to the pregnancy?

More...

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 11:15:00 AM EDT

According to Salon.com, "There is My Single Ring, which is advertised as a ring for a "single person who is happy with who they are."

It features images of interlocking male and female symbols and is meant to send the message: "I am an intelligent, empowered individual and available to meet the same."

The rings have been created to signify to the general public that I'm happy and independent and I don't need a mate to buy me jewelery, I can do that myself. According to Salon.com, "Along the same lines, there is the $350 diamond-heavy Ah Ring, which is meant to communicate that the wearer is "available" and "happy"

According to The New York Times, "Della Beaver, who lives outside Philadelphia and manages operations for a medical referral service, bought herself an Ah Ring for her 50th birthday last June. She has never been married."

More...

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Friday, May 7, 2010 at 9:44:00 AM EDT

Disturbing reports surfaced today after the American Academy of Pediatrics endorsed "female genital cutting." According to Salon.com, "The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested a new way to fight female genital mutilation in the United States: Allow doctors to give girls a "nick" down there. In a policy statement titled "Ritual Genital Cutting of Female Minors," the Academy suggests that allowing such a ritual could serve as a way to "build trust" with immigrant families and prevent parents from sending their girls overseas for far more extensive, and potentially life-threatening, procedures. It's a "possible compromise to avoid greater harm," the statement says."

More...

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Thursday, May 6, 2010 at 10:44:00 AM EDT

In the new video "Why Don't you Love Me" Beyonce is seen cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, and scrubbing the floor as an unhappy housewife "BB Homemaker." Her retro style is incredible and the lyrical and musical uniqueness of the song is not only enchanting, but catchy. "Why Don't You Love Me" was co-written by Solange Knowles, beyonce's younger sister whose style and musical choices are always interesting and unique and you can definitely see that in her new video.

The video has recently garnered attention from feminist blog sites such as Jezebel and Feministe, where women have both praised the video and questioned some of the themes hidden inside the lyrics. In the video "BB Homemaker" refuses to let her man make her feel less of a person because she knows she deserves a lot more. Is B a Feminist or a Independent Sister with a Knack for Girl Power? What are your thoughts?

According to Jezebel.com, "While using a retro concept for the clip could be just a style choice, it does force you to think about a different era, one less about "all the ladies who are independent, throw your hands up at me" and more about disenfranchised, frustrated and lonely housewives, a la Betty Draper."

Framing a woman trying so hard — cooking, cleaning, wearing lingerie and still not feeling loved — with all the props of a bygone era is fun. But it also acknowledges the struggles women have overcome (and the battles still waged). And maybe even suggests that the concept of thinking this way — "why don't you love me?" — is old fashioned."

B doesn't forget to add the extra "Girl Power" Line (For the Ladies)

Maybe you're just not the one Or maybe you're just plain....... DUMB.

What are your thoughts? Do you like "BB homemaker" and What are you thoughts about the video and the slight feminist themes?

FYI: The Video was directed by a woman...

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 3:31:00 PM EDT
Comments Add Comment
Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

According to Jezebel, "Dr. Sonette Ehlers, inventor of the Rape-aXe condom (formally known as Rape-X), wants to distribute 30,000 of the barbed devices to women in South Africa in advance of the World Cup. Not everyone is in support."

The dangerous-sounding invention is a direct response to a very real problem in South Africa; in a country where a woman is raped every 26 seconds, and gang rape is often considered a "legitimate" form of male bonding, something like the Rape-aXe has the potential to save more than a few women from vicious attacks. However, it also runs the risk of infuriating the rapist, and bringing more violence upon the victim (especially if there are multiple attackers). Furthermore, the condom only serves to remind women that they're in danger of being raped every minute of every day

According to Jezebel, "Lisa Vetten of the Centre of Violence and Reconciliation said in 2007,

"This is like going back to the days where women were forced to wear chastity belts. It is a terrifying thought that women are being made to adapt to rape."
Dr. Elhers made sure that the hooks could cut deep, but not enough to draw blood due to the consideration of a country with a HIV infection rate of 18%.
The rapist] cannot run after you... [the Rape-aXe] attached to the penis during erection, and the penis wants to go back to normal and it can't... And he can't even get his manhood back into his trousers. He can't urinate because if he pulls the tip to cut it off... he pulls the hooks deeper into his body.

 
To Learn more about Rape-AXe, please click here and visit the official website.


What are your thoughts? Good Idea or Bad?

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 5:55:00 PM EDT

According to the Telegraph, "Brig Hossien Sajedinia, Tehran's police chief, said a national crackdown on opposition sympathizers would be extended to women who have been deemed to be violating the spirit of Islamic laws."

"The public expects us to act firmly and swiftly if we see any social misbehaviour by women, and men, who defy our Islamic values. In some areas of north Tehran we can see many suntanned women and young girls who look like walking mannequins."
We are not going to tolerate this situation and will first warn those found in this manner and then arrest and imprison them."

So women who choose to get a tan will be arrested for violating islamic code, that sounds absurd.
What if the women gets a tan due to contact with the sun, that calls for your arrest and imprisonment.

According to the Telegraph, "The announcement came shortly after Ayatollah Kazim Sadighi, a leading cleric, warned that women who dressed immodestly disturbed young men and the consequent agitation caused earthquakes."

"Go on the streets and repent for your sins," Ayatollah Aziz Khoshvaqt, one of the country's highest clerics, told worshippers during a recent sermon in northern Tehran. "A holy torment is upon us. Leave town."

My Thoughts...

Many women wear their head scarves and cloaks, but they spend heavily on fashion. The government believes that beauty is not necessary, and focuses on religious expectations. Hopefully this new law doesn't pass and women are able to choose freely what they do with their bodies. We should shed light on the religious bondage that women face in these countries, it's extremely sad and unnecessary.

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 3:08:00 PM EDT

According to the Telegraph, "The book, the brainchild of Lisa Murphy and called Tactile Minds, is designed to be 'enjoyed' by the blind and visually impaired - and is on sale for £150."


"We're breaking new ground. Playboy has an edition with Braille wording, but there are no pictures."
 
She said that she made the book after realising that the 'blind have been left out in a culture saturated with sexual images'.

Between 1970 and 1985 Playboy printed copies of its famous magazine in braille - but without raised pictures, reports the Telegraph.

Among the 17 raised images include a naked woman in a 'disco pose', a woman with 'perfect breasts' and a 'male love robot'.

Canadian Lisa says that she made the book to fill a gap in the market, adding: "There are no books of tactile pictures of nudes for adults.

What are your thoughts?

Progress or Problem.


I think it taps into a market that is usually forgotten about when it comes to sexuality. It is interesting that Lisa took it a step further and made sure they could feel the pictures and not just ready the wording. I think it will be interesting to see the comments with this post.

 

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Monday, April 12, 2010 at 12:35:00 PM EDT

Conservative Feminist have ranted and raved about not having appropriate representation when it came to women's rights and health on the conservative end. Either they've had women who are not down-to-earth or non approachable, or they've had women that could not relate to the audience in either their politics or way of getting things done. But, have no fear, conservative women have gained two powerhouse speakers and advocates for both "Anti-Abortion" and "War"... Conservative Girls feel like they are back in the game!

According to the Politics Daily, "The earnest Minnesota governor brought his best zingers and one-liners to the Minneapolis Convention Center on Wednesday, but he got his biggest applause at the GOP fundraiser only when he introduced Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann. The two brightest stars of the conservative movement were headliners for the event to raise cash for Bachmann's re-election campaign. On the charisma scale, he was chalk to their napalm."

More...

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10:11:00 AM EDT
Comments Add Comment
Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

According to Salon.com, "New figures from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that teen birth rates are dropping -- welcome news that seemingly reverses the increase in teen pregnancies that took place between 2005 and 2007. The latest numbers, reflecting the period from 2007 to 2008, show a 2 percent drop in births among U.S. girls 15 to 19. Since numbers from 2009 aren't yet available, it's too soon to tell which fluctuation is the anomaly -- and, regardless, a one- or two-year blip in either direction is not enough to signal a full-blown trend (prior to the 2005-2007 spike, however, teen pregnancy rates had been steadily declining for more than a decade)."




Wow!


A new recent study found that Ab-only programs---WAIT FOR IT--- be effective, but most conveniently overlook the part of that same report indicating that the programs in question only emphasize delaying sex until one is ready, not until marriage.

My Thoughts..

Many are praising the decline because of the recent increase in "teenage pregnancy scare shows" such as: "The Pregnancy Pact" "Secret Life of the American Teenager" "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom", all the shows are displaying cautionary tales of what can happen without the right protection and "moral guidance"

What many fail to realize is teens are still being taught inacurate information in schools and the television has taken the discussion of abortion out all together, which means that students are learning from peers and the glossy versions of ABC Family and MTV teen pregnancy phenomenons.

What do you think?

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 3:40:00 PM EDT
Comments Add Comment
Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This

According to Jezebel.com, "Details writer Jeff Gordinier tells the story of Dr. Andrew Scheinfeld, a "reserved" NYC gynecologist who has officially aligned himself with Lelo, a Swedish company that designs "gorgeous" vibrators, cock rings and butt plugs."

"I went to one of the sex shops in the Village. Here I am, an OB/GYN — I shouldn't be affected by these things — but I felt the embarrassment." Sheepishly he selected a sleek, humming wand, paid, and dashed home. Later, after his wife had returned from Europe, Scheinfeld worked up the courage to suggest that together they give the vibrator a spin. "It was wonderful," he says, a smile breaking through his professional formality. "It just added a nice little spice to the relationship."


According to Details, " He believes that he's the first American in his field to do so, and he feels an evangelical sense of mission about it. The way he sees it, spirited erotic exploration is as crucial to a person's health as nutrition and exercise are. "Sex is a very important part of life," he says. "These products help us find out what we're capable of."

My Thoughts...

Would you buy a Vibrator from your Gyno?

Share this entry:  del.icio.us | Facebook |  MySpace | Digg It! | Tweet This