June 1, 2008

The Feminism at its Finest blog carnival is a day late, so we’re just going to pretend that it’s still May; just for today! Of course, thanks to everyone who submitted their posts and to submit your posts for the June edition, which will be up on June 30, just go here.

I would also like to clarify that in order to submit your blog posts, you do not need your own domain, a Blogspot, Wordpress or whatever else is out there; even if you just wrote something on your MySpace blog and it is feminism-related, please feel free to submit it as well; not enough people give the MySpace bloggers a chance to really take part in the blogosphere happenings, so here it is. And now, on with the carnival…

A. Lee presents American Conceptual Artist & Feminist Barbara Kruger Probes Your Views posted at eArtFair, saying:

“Barbara Kruger juxtaposes mass media photographs with biting slogans. Her art both questions and condemns mass media’s ways of control self-identity, desire, and public opinion. A key aspect of her work centers around the question of what it means to be feminine.”

Amanda Moore presents 106 Organizations That Are Changing the World - Are you helping? posted at VagabondetteVA.

Garry presents Whirled News - President, Candidates Address Gasoline, Climate Crisis posted at Chicks With Guns.

Ian Welsh presents Ok, Enough With the Stupidity About Clinton’s “Kennedy Statement” posted at The Agonist, saying:

“The level of near hysteria, of complete unwillingness to read Hillary Clinton’s words in any context with any good will that is sweeping large portions of the political blogosphere, reflects a deeper pathology.”

Lauren Martin presents Liberty Lowdown: Magic 8-ball, primaries, and you posted at Blog for Choice, the newly improved pro-choice blog from NARAL Pro-Choice America!

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Next, They’ll Claim Obama Inherited Clinton’s Reverend posted at Mad Kane’s Political Madness.

nandita presents Domestic Violence in the Press a Century Ago posted at law Matters.

Nine Deuce presents The First Amendment is only sort of cool. posted at Rage Against the Man-chine.

O. Daille Nation-Ashley presents David vs Female Lawyer (Goliath?) posted at Power Of Attorney: Not Happy Hour At The Bar.

Renee presents I Wish I Was In Dixie posted at Womanist Musings, saying:

“This post is about internalized racism and how it cause some to act in ways that are detrimental to POC. It stands as a legacy of slavery.”

Renee also presents MacFarlanes Babes posted at Womanist Musings, saying:

“I posted on the Family Guy spin off because I believe that people mindless consume pop culture without realizing how damaging the images are that they are consuming. When we internalize without thought we are accepting negative portrayals of others as normal.”

Shaheen Lakhan presents Domestic Violence and Executive Dysfunction posted at GNIF Brain Blogger, saying:

“Executive function has big implications for the design of domestic violence programs. It is important to know the subtypes of batterers because different subtypes have different needs for treatment, and different levels of intervention that are necessary to ensure safety.”

Shaheen Lakhan also presents Democracy vs. Domestic Violence posted at Brain Blogger, saying:

” People are looking at how we are affected by the groups we belong to that are treated unequally and subjected to various kinds of stress and discrimination — a field called intersectionality.

Tali presents 10 Strangest Pinup Artist Quirks | Artists, Cartoons, posted at The Pinup Blog, saying:

“Visual artists can’t hide behind their work, at some point, some one will notice, a fetish, a habit a quirk. Missing belly buttons, fake breasts, detached heads- This is a list of the 10 most fucked up pinups in classic cheesecake history.”

Tracee Sioux presents Empowering Girls - Hillary Clinton posted at Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me, saying:

“Don’t Quit. It’s a good message for all women and girls.”

Tracee Sioux also presents Hillary’s “Feminine Ideal” Sin posted at Blog Fabulous, saying:

“What was Hillary’s big crime in the face of women? She didn’t self-deprecate.”

Tracee Sioux also presents Real Breasts Gallery posted at Blog Fabulous, saying:

“We’re so inundated with images of “perfect” breasts in the media and marketing that most people’s idea of what real women look like has been distorted. Women stand in front of a mirror and compare themselves to the unreal and declare “I just wish mine were normal.” For a better perspective enter the Real Breasts Gallery.”

And that’s all for this month. Remember to submit your posts for next month’s carnival by going here

May 28, 2008

Many women are all too familiar with being harassed on the street. For some reason, when men get together they exude so much testosterone that they tend to believe that not only is the world their personal playground, but the women living in the world are also purely placed there for their amusement and enjoyment.

While men may think that they are just having fun at the time, their ignorance can go terribly wrong and in some cases, can cause a deadly situation. Of course these men can’t comprehend that such things can happen through their just having fun, trying to pick up some hot chicks, or any other excuse they use trying to cover up that they are blatantly harassing women.

Mildred Beaubrun is an 18 year old woman living in Florida. On the night of May 23, she and two of her girlfriends had stopped at a 7-Eleven. Then, a car full of men pulled up and decided that it was a great night to have some fun.

“Hey, baby, what’s your phone number?” they called out as the cars traveled west through Orlando.

Then the banter grew more aggressive. The men threw a T-shirt, then an AA battery, at the Nissan. One of the women threw a broken cell-phone charger back. At one point, the HHR swerved into the Nissan’s lane and tried to run the car off the road.

When the Nissan turned north on John Young Parkway, the HHR followed. Then, at Princeton Street, a shot rang out. Shrapnel flew as the bullet pierced the door and struck 18-year-old Beaubrun, who was sitting in the back seat.

You can see coverage of the event that appeared on the news here.

This is a tragic story, especially since something like this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. The world and the women in it are not for there simply for your enjoyment and it is never okay to harass women, especially since it turned into something that could be deadly, since it is unknown if Beaubrun will live at all.

May 27, 2008

On May 23, The Women’s Media Center and Media Matters launched the video below as well as an online petition to tell the media to stop treating women like a joke.

All of the ridiculous, sexist comments made by the mainstream media hold absolutely no weight in the newscasts and the reporters who let such disgusting bullshit come out of their mouths should be fucking ashamed of themselves. Sexism not only exists, but it sells and that is the most unfortunate of all.

Sign the ‘Sexism Sells, But I’m Not Buying It!’ online petition and let the mainstream media know that their woman-hating bullshit has to stop.

May 27, 2008

Power to the people. Give peace a chance.

Mike Gravel is a politician who has always known where he stands when it comes to the issues affecting America. He is a politician who has always spoken out and stood up for his beliefs and the hopes of millions of Americans. He is also a politician who because of the political expectations he has had for this country, he never had the chance that he undoubtedly deserved to be a viable presidential candidate.

It is with a deeply sad heart to report that Gravel has recently dropped out of the presidential race as a Libertarian candidate, which occurred after the Libertarian convention.

Although Gravel’s career in active politics is now over, he will continue to put out three books over the summer. These books include The Kingmakers, an analysis and polemic on corporate media and how it distorts our political dialogue, including Mike’s own campaign, A Political Odyssey, an examination of Mike’s career in politics, his personal life, his fight against the Military-Industrial-Complex and the rise of US imperial power, and The Voice of A Maverick, a compilation of Mike’s speeches and writings from his presidential campaign; so definitely be sure to check out those books.

Mike Gravel would have been a refreshing presidential candidate. He is a politician who wants more for this country and a person who has been silenced throughout his campaign because he does speak for the people, no matter how harsh it may come out. Gravel’s message is simple–Power to the people. Give peace a chance. It’s up to us to share it.

May 25, 2008

I saw this vase and immediately thought it was kick ass. After visiting the site it’s offered on, Pure Contemporary, I think it’s even more kick ass, especially with how the description is written:

“Although the shape of the female reproductive organ is known by everyone from illustrations in biology or anatomy books, one rarely speaks about it openly. Even more rare are the occasions to celebrate it. However, the statuary beauty of this smooth porcelain-like vase of pure whiteness gives its dignity back to an intrinsic human topic, that nowadays has become the celebrated theme of over-consumed erotic images. The enigmatic notoriety of its form, as for it, reflects the true depth of a subject respectfully treated by its creators.”

It’s awesome, I want it. Thoughts?