tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-178474662024-03-07T04:45:37.067+00:00Fate is Chance. Destiny is Choice.Feminism, cats, ableism, the arts and deafness and lots of meme's is what this blog is about at the moment!
I've developed my feminist ideology since the beginning of 2006 so earlier posts are more towards a personal theme!Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-79868752308864452452007-05-15T20:14:00.000+01:002007-05-15T21:05:50.621+01:00I've moved<span style="color:#663366;">Hi all...I've decided to move my blog over to Wordpress for numerous reasons - mostly because I'm fed up with Blogger (and it's many problems) and think it's time for a fresh start blogwise. I've managed to import my blog over to Wordpress so it's all there - including my cat pictures! I'm still updating the new blog domain so sorry if it's a bit rough and ready at the moment.</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">My new domain name is: <a href="http://destinyischoice.wordpress.com/">http://destinyischoice.wordpress.com/</a> - I couldn't use fateischance as someone's already got it!!</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">Anyway, if anyone's around - thats my new address and hopefully you'll find a bit of time to update your blogrolls etc :)</span><br /><span style="color:#663366;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663366;">Liz xxx</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-68041341562210997512007-05-10T08:28:00.001+01:002007-05-10T19:27:11.693+01:00Feminism<object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/74KINorHCe0"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/74KINorHCe0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><p><span style="color:#663366;">From <a href="http://graceneedshelp.wordpress.com/">Brand New Feminist </a>(Grace).</span></p>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-57172361148485469962007-05-06T16:43:00.000+01:002007-05-06T17:30:14.902+01:00Body and Image - Woman's Survey<span style="color:#6600cc;">This survey is from</span> <a href="http://newtinateacup.wordpress.com/">Newt in a Teacup</a>:<br /><br /><span style="color:#993399;">"Inspired by a comment or two in a previous post I’ve decided that it would be a great idea to compare our experiences in an honest, straightforward way. I’m not quite sure what the best way to start a discussion is so I’ve set up a few survey-style questions.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;">One thing I’ve noticed, especially from personal experience, is that it’s very hard to talk to someone else, a friend or family member for instance, who does have really bad body image/ health issues to do with body image. And it’s pretty clear that all of us will most probably meet at least someone with those issues; we can’t avoid it.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;">So let’s start talking to each other at least.</span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;">Copy and paste the questionnaire to your own blog, fill out what you want to fill out, and link it back here in the comments. If you don’t have a blog just do it straight into a comment.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;">Please do not refer to just yourself but to your friends and family as well - i.e. the environment you live in, or anything else you want to share. Add or remove questions if you want! </span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;">Remember this is a loose questionnaire, intended to start an honest discussion not solve the worlds problems."<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Name: <span style="color:#993399;">Liz<br /></span></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Age: <span style="color:#993399;">22<br /></span></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Height: </span><span style="color:#993399;">5'3<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#993399;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">Weight: <span style="color:#993399;">Not exactly sure, but last time I checked I think it was about 15 stone</span>.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Do you consider yourself attractive? <span style="color:#993399;">Yes - most of the time. I've come to terms with my own body, but at times old insecurities return.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">Do others consider you attractive? <span style="color:#993399;">Yes - my manfriend does at least! Also, my Mum and Sis sometimes give me confidence boosting compliments.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">What is your biggest insecurity and why? </span><span style="color:#993399;">The hair on my chin. Also, my upper arms and my excess weight do make me insecure at times but I always tell myself that it doesn't matter what other people think.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#993399;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">Have you/Would you consider using plastic surgery? Why or why not? <span style="color:#993399;">No. I would consider it if I had to have reconstructive surgery, but that's it. Its expensive and major surgery and can go wrong. I think it's very difficult for women not to be seduced by the claims the industry makes, especially when the beauty/porn/plastic surgery industry preys on women's insecurities.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">What is your relationship with make-up? </span><span style="color:#993399;">I wear it quite a lot because I like experimenting with colours and different looks. I don't think it makes me look 'better' but I use it as a creative tool, part of my outfit etc. I don't wear it on 'off days' when I'm just lounging around or going down to the corner shop etc.<br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;">How much money do you/think is reasonable to spend on your appearance? <span style="color:#993399;">Well..I do tend to overdo it with shopping. I don't buy as much as I used to but I do ocassionally go on shopping sprees when I have money to spare - I would guess around £50-£70 on these occasions.<br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">What is your experience of dieting? </span><span style="color:#993399;">My experiences have been frustrating. I have PCOS so I do actually need to lose weight for my health (no other reason as I'm happy with the way I look). It's 10 times harder for someone with PCOS to lose weight than a normal overweight person so it has been difficult, as I have a very slow metabolism. The doc has said exercise is the key and it isn't dependent on a 'diet' as such, just exercise.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Have you/ anyone you know tried any specific diet programs i.e. Lighter Life? How did that affect your health? your moods? your relationships? </span><span style="color:#993399;">Yes, I tried The South Beach Diet. It was short lived, horrible and did work but then I put it all back on. It is a crash diet and the food is AWFUL (days and days of eating bacon and tomato for breakfast? Yuk. and tomato juice, which I HATE). I got quite moody because I was basically starving my body of stuff that it needed.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Do you have any experiences of eating disorders i.e. either yourself or someone you know? </span><span style="color:#993399;">Not personally but I do know that some people my family know have had eating disorders.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">How did other people react to this; what was the fallout? </span><span style="color:#993399;">N/A.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;">Have you had negative experiences relating to your appearance and people’s reactions to it? </span><span style="color:#993399;">Yes. When I was younger I got some cruel comments about my weight even though I didn't weight much more than a healthy child. I think people always look for a scapegoat to deflect away from their own problems. Some of my insecurities do pop up every now and again but I have a more balanced attitude towards my body. I loathe people that think being fat or overweight is the worst thing in the world because I think everyone has something beautiful about them. It just doesn't measure up to society's fascist standards.</span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><br />What about positive reactions to your body? <span style="color:#993399;">People comment on my style more than my body - I get positive comments about my clothes etc. I'd rather have those comments than people saying stuff about my body as it is MY body - it doesn't belong to the public.<br /></span><br />How has your body image and attitude changed over the years? <span style="color:#993399;">I used to be quite hard on myself - very critical about the way I look and critical about other women's bodies. But now I have learnt to love my body because there are many things I like about it, and the fact that it is mine, the only one I have. I've stopped feeling critical about other people's bodies, and I admit it is because I've grown up and have stopped listening to the media and dictates about what is 'supposed' to be attractive.<br /></span><br />What do you love about your body? <span style="color:#993399;">My face, particularly my green eyes. My skin. I also like my curves, my hands and my feet (because they carry me everywhere). </span><br /><br />What is your opinion on the media portrayal of women’s bodies? <span style="color:#993399;">It's horrendous, fascist and distorted. It's not real, its a distortion of reality. It has no room for the reality of women's bodies.</span><br /><br />What would you change about the way you/ your friends/ your family/ general people see their bodies? <span style="color:#993399;">That we are all seen as individuals, first. That the body isn't the most important thing about women. That looks come after all the other things in life, especially for women, who always appear to be judged first by their looks and everything else second. And also that we should accept other people's bodies and not be critical.<br /></span><br />What makes you feel beautiful? <span style="color:#993399;">Wearing the colour purple or teal/sea green.</span> <span style="color:#993399;">Being with people I love makes me feel beautiful. I think having love is something that should make people feel at peace with themselves, and also learning to love ourselves.</span><br /><br />and just for fun… Do you shave legs/pits/upper lip</span> <span style="color:#6600cc;">moustache? </span><span style="color:#993399;">Well, I 'trim' my chin hair and upper lip moustache. I ocassionally shave my legs and pits (normally only if I'm wearing sleeveless tops or have a night out) - because when I wear skirts I feel self conscious if I haven't shaved my legs - and agree that I shouldn't feel that way. I don't shave anywhere else, and wouldn't want to. </span><br /></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1695287266193164202007-05-03T16:29:00.000+01:002007-05-03T17:18:34.978+01:00Blogging Against Disablism<span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I've just missed blogging against disablism day via <a href="http://blobolobolob.blogspot.com/">diary of a goldfish </a>(again) but I thought I would do a post anyway.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I've been thinking about my general ideas of what disability means to me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">The word itself seems negative (to me anyway) - and I feel that the ways in which society labels different groups is generally a negative thing. But I generally subscribe to the social model of disability and at the same time believe that we shouldn't ignore the realities of disability either. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">It is obvious that society is set up for people who can walk, hear, see and are able to be completely independent. For me, announcements, people talking behind me, people not facing me or covering their mouths when talking or mumbling, really affect my ability to be able to know what is happening around me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I rely on using my eyes and what hearing I have (amplified with digital hearing aids) to be able to see what is happening around me. Even family and friends sometimes forget to be inclusive for me - and turn away, cover their mouths or talk to quickly (or when trying TOO hard, too slowly). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">Its a constant source of frustration when I can't express my opinions about things because the conversation is moving too fast. I feel much more comfortable in one to one conversations than with quick banter or chat between three or more people. Sometimes I wish that everyone I know knew at least a basic knowledge of sign language, which sometimes really helps me to relax and rest my eyes (as lipreading is very tiring). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">My manfriend knows some signs and the alphabet, which has been very helpful for me, and when with my friends Lucy and Charlene (who are also deaf), we use sign language as well as speech (Charlene is completely BSL so doesn't use speech but slows things down for me). I can't follow fast BSL (British Sign Language) but I have picked up a lot of signs and have taken my Stage 1 BSL exam.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I was a member of <a href="http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/">Chickenshed Theatre Company </a>for 11 years up until I did my second year of A-Levels. They are the most inclusive microcosm of society that I have ever experienced. Their policy is that theatre, dance and music should be accessible to everyone. My longing (and their longing) is that society itself should be inclusive and accepting, no matter anyone's ability, race, gender, whatever. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">They refuse to use the word 'disability' because it causes divisions and distinctions and prefer to work with what abilities and strengths people have, rather than excluding people 'because they can't do something' - if that makes sense? I WISH society would do that. Not exclude people but work with their strengths and develop people's skills rather than believing that an individual CAN'T do something because, for example, doctors and popular opinion says they can't. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I've seen first hand what people can do if they are given the tools to do it. I've seen wonders at Chickenshed and many of the people there feel that Chickenshed is the only place they can be themselves, gain confidence and achieve whatever they want. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I think I owe a lot to Chickenshed - especially in terms of my sister who is now doing the BTEC there (she's deaf too), and has gained so much confidence. I feel that having been there, I've seen what it is possible, maybe, for society to be if it was accepting and inclusive. I know, people may think I'm being a 'cheerleader', especially if they haven't experienced a Chickenshed show or been to the theatre.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">The Arts council have been particularly galling with Chickenshed - they refuse to fund or support them because they don't see the company as a professional, inclusive theatre. They want Chickenshed to call itself, or see themselves as a 'disabled' theatre! They've been doing what they do for many years, which is include everyone, like I've said. This doesn't just apply to people that society see as 'disabled'. It means everyone - regardless of background and so on. The Arts Council like to 'label' everything into their neat little boxes - exactly like society likes to do.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">I think feminism and disability rights/inclusivity are important for me, because I've always had to be a strong woman, a strong person, to cope with what society throws at you, both as a 'disabled' person and as a woman. I feel that the important causes in life are ones that put fire in your belly, that enrage you and make you feel that change is needed. I think I'm very idealistic - but I think this is positive as you always need to be able to see beyond reality and be optimistic. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6600cc;">It makes me feel that there is some hope in the world - especially with places like Chicken Shed existing; no matter what the rest of the world believe about you, there are always people out there that give a damn.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-69278538612887909562007-04-24T18:50:00.000+01:002007-04-24T19:54:42.367+01:00I've been Tagged...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">I've been tagged by </span><a href="http://scorpiogrrl.blogspot.com/index.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">Amy</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">..so here's more time wasting fun:</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">A - Available or Single?</span> I've been unavailable for 6 years (yes, since I was 16), so neither!! </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">B - Best Friend.</span> Lucy in the sky with diamonds ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">C - Cake or Pie</span>. Pie I would have to say..especially the pies you find at Borough Market in London (foodie paradise..)! I find cake a bit to dry for my liking.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">D - Drink of Choice</span>. Chai Tea Latte..perfect combination of tea and milk and perhaps coffee (and spices)!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">E - Essential Item</span>. My bottomless bag (that carries within it any number of items, including my sony walkman mp3, mobile, various items of vanity, a book, etc etc) </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">F - Favorite Color</span>. PURPLE!!! All shades of purple. In fact, my bedroom wall is purple!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">G - Gummi Bears or Worms.</span> Bears. Gives me a sort of twisted satisfaction (and guilt) to bite their heads off :-D</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">H - Hometown.</span> Barnet. Not much happens here.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">I - Indulgence</span>. Wahh...lots of things. Mostly of the shopping kind - DVDs, CDs, books, shoes etc. Also...chocolate, yum. Can't beat sitting back with a large bar of Green and Blacks Hazelnut and Raisin milk chocolate :-)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">J - January or February</span>. February. I find January very depressing - after all the festivities of the holiday season. Also all that new years resolution stuff, that just makes people feel insecure - blah.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">K - Kids</span>. Well, depends what they're like. Don't really like them if they're all annoying and noisy (which is most of the time). I like the ones that are curious and eager to find things out and learn about the world around them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">L - Life is incomplete without…</span> Chocolate, my lovely manfriend, friends, my sis and parents, books, music and quirky films (howls moving castle, volver, pans labyrinth etc).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">M - Marriage Date.</span> I'm too young to think about marriage dates!! I prefer to think about moving in first (which has yet to happen cos of money and both of us going back to Uni this year)!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">N - Number of Siblings?</span> One wild crazy indie younger sister (she's not that wild but close enough).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">O - Oranges or Apples?</span> Oranges...especially Satsumas and Clementines.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">P - Phobias/Fears.</span> Quite a few things but I think some of my worst are losing someone close to me or being in the midst of a war (which due to globalization is happening already).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Q - Favorite Quote.</span> "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." Yoda, StarWars. Hehe, only joking (although I think they are wise words!). I've got a few but one of my favourites is 'Life is much too important to be taken seriously' - Oscar Wilde.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">R - Reasons to smile.</span> Being able to learn, Love, Feminism and Sisterhood, Being able to escape through reading and music and the arts, sign-language, many many things.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">S - Season.</span> Spring - it feels like a time for renewal and fresh starts. I feel at my most creative and inspired during the Spring months.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">T - Tag Three.</span> Witchy Woo, Michelle (Lonergrrl), Laurelin. (anyone else who wants to take the Meme!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">U - Unknown Fact About Me.</span> I'm incredibly shy and get very nervous before meeting new people.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">V – Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals.</span> Oppressor of Animals...erk. I suppose I like my meat. I do feel guilty quite a bit sometimes, especially as I did a course in 'Humans and Other Animals' at Uni and have studied the way humans treat animals. They share this planet with us and we treat them like subordinates :-(</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">W - Worst Habit.</span> I've got a lot of bad habits - among them is a tendency to be lazy, sleep in, take ages getting ready (I like to take my time), not bother to tidy up when I would rather be doing other things, waste time just mooching around.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">X – X-rays or Ultrasounds</span>. X-rays. Ultrasounds are horrible - I've had to do a few because of my PCOS. Don't like the jelly and the prodding and poking.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Y - Your Favorite Foods.</span> Chocolate (yum), Chinese, Indian, Spaghetti carbonara, dried mango, cherries, satsumas, pizza express pizza, raspberry and mandarin sorbet (have gone off ice-cream a bit lately). I love my foooood!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"><span style="color:#9999ff;">Z - Zodiac.</span> Sagittarius (the adventurer of the zodiac). </span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-62627822530348256902007-04-22T19:47:00.000+01:002007-04-25T18:34:06.320+01:00Whiling Time Away...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Just back from being away in Paris (aka Disneyland Paris, lol) with my partner. I'll probably post sometime in the next few days about stuff I've been thinking about..so until then, some time wasting fun (via <a href="http://witchywoo.wordpress.com/">WitchyWoo</a>):</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#eeeeee;"><span style="font-size:14;color:#000000;"><b>You Are a Ring Finger</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/finger-4.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />You are romantic, expressive, and hopeful. You see the best in everything.<br />You are very artistic, and you see the world as your canvas. You are also drawn to the written word.<br />Inventive and unique, you are often away in your own inner world.<br /><br />You get along well with: The Pinky<br /><br />Stay away from: The Index Finger</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatfingerareyouquiz/">What Finger Are You?</a></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-25307441772912898312007-04-04T15:32:00.001+01:002008-11-07T03:58:03.657+00:00Gigi Lady<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteo_Tp6bZw5m7Ztjn1Eodt5jtSM6GZHsampkxRqukEv4RZlhwGogNJXSyPVxklLRZnTomOAxeTs6hrg8-Xwi9BEP_OEbLBm62AohCcsTtBFJ4oyq4JZY63oNZdDXuBCd-FwJD/s1600-h/gigi+lady.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5049606130261212354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteo_Tp6bZw5m7Ztjn1Eodt5jtSM6GZHsampkxRqukEv4RZlhwGogNJXSyPVxklLRZnTomOAxeTs6hrg8-Xwi9BEP_OEbLBm62AohCcsTtBFJ4oyq4JZY63oNZdDXuBCd-FwJD/s400/gigi+lady.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">**</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">The Look Of Love**</span></span><br /><br /></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-28252821411057009362007-04-04T15:32:00.000+01:002007-04-04T16:15:34.608+01:00Language that p**ses me off!<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">I've been thinking about language and the subtle messages that it sends out to people.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">For example, the use of 'girl' instead of 'woman'; the use of 'bitch' and 'ho'; the fact that swear words aimed at women always seem to degrade them to their sex or to animals, therefore less than human; and also the ways in which these words are used.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">Part of the problem with the usage of 'girl' instead of 'woman' is that young men are called exactly that: young MEN. Instead of 'boys', males past a certain age are definitely called 'young men'. I rarely pick up hearing (well, lipreading) the word 'young woman' when a woman reaches 18 and onwards - even into their 20's some young women are called 'girls'. I think this comes from infantilizing and viewing women as non-threatening, a way of "putting them in their place". It slips out of everyone's mouth, often without them thinking about it. Does language subconciously mean anything or is it just subtle unthinking use that filters in from the media or whatever?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">I've found a lot of people, often young women, using the word 'bitch' a lot. I stopped using this word a while ago realising that it degrades women to less than men. I've got nothing against animals (I love them of course!) but degrading women to 'bitch' is like saying "she's inferior, she's animalistic, she's beneath us". Basically, people use the word in terms of a woman being loud or 'bitchy' and so on. But I've noticed young women using the word referring, for example, to their girlfriends as 'my bitch' and so on. I assume this usage comes from rap/hip hop/rnb (its all rubbbish, misogynistic crap) - which is alarming, and also where the words 'pimp' and 'ho' are coming from.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">I also notice that whenever a man/boy is saying someone is 'weak' they call them a 'girl'. I get SO pissed off with the use of 'girl' as implying weak, incapable, etc etc. It just reinforces the whole stereotypical idea that women are weak.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">And women are also cut down to their body parts when swearing about them (for example, c**t, fanny, etc). This pulls women right down to their body parts and nothing but. I, however, object to the idea that women's body parts should be obscene in the first place - the word 'c**t' is just another word for 'vagina' and what is so obscene about a woman's nether regions (especially in its natural, hairy state)? </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">The media acts as though the word c**t is the most obscene word in the world, which implies that they view the female body as obscene (incidentally, I think this is what keeps porn going - the fact that there is that polarity between obscenity and purity - the 'guilt/rush' that goes with porn as viewing something "obscene" may keep men coming back).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">These are just starting thoughts and I will probably come back to this subject when I've thought about it more clearly.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-16609624180563446012007-03-23T12:27:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:15:06.208+01:00What Is Femininity?<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Via <a href="http://witchywoo.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/witchy-woos-wednesday-wow-comes-to-you-this-week-2/">Witchy Woo's Wednesday Wow</a>, comes this comment from Anuna who commented on Twisty's post at <a href="http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2007/03/20/blamer-brain-trust-action-request/">IBTP</a>, which I think is worth a whole post of it's own, because of it's truth.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">"Dear Twisty et alia,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">I’ve been a lurker here for some time, and this assignment inspired me to blame out loud for the first time. I love this place.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">Femininity is the bandage society enjoins us to wear to hide the wound it has made of our womanhood. Woman is what I am. In my woman’s body I find my strength and the expression of my creativity, my sexuality, my dreams and desires. To be a woman is good. It is NORMAL. A woman is not a damaged man, or a lesser form of man, or a creature designed to take second place to man or be a slave to man. Indeed, if “man” supposedly means “human,” then a woman IS a “man.”<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">But this sick, crazy culture tells me that as a woman, I am somehow much less than that. A woman is less than human. My vagina is defined as dark and dirty, my vulva as smelly and messy. My sexuality is either too much or too little, and always to be controlled by men and their definitions and desires. My body is not my own, to do with as I please. It belongs to others, to the hands and eyes of others, who define, defame, deride and detain me. My body is not supposed to be a source of pride or strength for me. Instead, my body becomes an object, not only to others but also to me. It is an animal to be tamed and imprisoned, an artifact to be carved up and operated upon. I’m not allowed to feel my own body. Nor am I allowed to know my own mind. A woman has no self.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">Femininity is what I am issued to replace my woman-self, which has been found dangerous to men and declared non-existent. Femininity tells me what I can like and not like. Femininity tells me what to eat and drink. Femininity tells me what work to do, and how to do it. Femininity tells me how to speak, how to look, how to stand, how to walk, even how to lie down and sleep. Femininity is a muzzle that restricts my food intake. Femininity is a set of handcuffs that restrains me from picking up a gun, or a hammer. Femininity is shackles for my feet, making sure I walk in bondage even when I seem to be free. Femininity is an abuser who crawls into every crack of my body and mind and stalks me mercilessly even in my dreams, even on my deathbed. I can never relax for a moment, because I must maintain my femininity, like a mask that has to be maintained over the hideous scar that, in the minds of the patriarchy, constitutes naked womanhood.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">If I ever stop being feminine for a moment, I will be revealed as nothing but a woman, and that would be so horrible to the patriarchy that they would no longer be able to tolerate me. Femininity makes the world safe for men. It turns a free-striding goddess into a simpering slave. Through femininity, we are forced to bow to the protection racket of the patriarchy. We agree to our own diminishment, hoping that if we don’t defy them, they will pity us and let us live. We agree to divert them and be pleasing to them, hoping to buy some time. We know that time will eventually run out–old women are despised, no matter how many years they’ve spent being feminine–but we don’t know when, so we live in this uneasy pretense of security.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">I say “we,” but I shouldn’t, because I both reject femininity and am excluded from it. Femininity is that which declares me, as a woman, NOT to be a woman. Femininity makes it impossible for me, as a woman, to buy “women’s” clothing or “women’s” shoes. Because, as defined by femininity, no woman could be the shape or size I am. Femininity is that which declares my woman’s arms to be “man arms” and my woman’s walk to be “walking like a man.”<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">Conundrum: Q: What is the only force in the world that can un-woman a woman?</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">A: Femininity.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">If femininity pertained to being a woman, or was relevant to being a woman, then how could it be that a man could conform to its standards better than a woman? </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">My conclusion: Femininity is the anti-womanhood.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc66cc;">Anuna, Pennsylvania."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#cc66cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">I feel, that as Women, we are expected to be Feminine. As Anuna and others have said, Femininity does not mean Woman and neither is Femininity the truth about Women. I think femininity is a mask that Women put are expected to put on, to make us less threatening to the Patriarchy, to men and the rest of the world. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">So, if I were to admit that I get a thrill out of fight scenes (such as in Kill Bill) or that my one true ambition would be to fly a space ship like in StarWars, pushing warp speed, people would say I have ambitions "like a man". Why is that? Because instead of appreciating everyone as individuals with their own kind of ambitions and needs and desires, we are ascribed certain things that strip us to our Gender Roles.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">It's not (just) about having the 'same equality as a man' but its about being commended and recognised as complex individuals who have more to us than our sex or gender. Yes - equality would be good because there is a looong way to go there (pay gap, etc etc) but also, women should be respected and seen as, above all, HUMAN, just like men are seen as HUMAN.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">I am expected to like, say, high heels and shopping and gossiping and women's magazines. Yes, I own some high heels, but I rarely wear them (excruicating pain anyone?)..and I admit that if they didn't exist I couldn't care less. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">I understand if anyone feels they enjoy certain things as mentioned above, but I wish, really wish, that Women were not slapped with labels and shackled and dismissed with such sayings as 'oh, she's just like that because she's a woman' or 'women, eh?' or 'women are so moody' or whatever. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Because, lets face it, when a man's moody, people don't say 'it must be his time of the month'. They take men seriously. Why aren't Women's feelings and emotions and ambitions and happiness taken seriously?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">What happens when Women don't dress, act and look like they are 'feminine'? They are either shunned, ridiculed or called some derogatory term. Assumptions are made about their sexuality, assumptions are made about their state of mind. Women can't win when their every action is scrutinized, or feels like they are scrutinized, by other people, by expectations.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">What would be absolutely fantastic would be for Women to OWN their own sexuality, to OWN their own bodies. To be FREE to be the complex, multi layered people that they are. Not be be stripped down to 'sexy or not sexy', 'feminine or not feminine', 'clever or beautiful', 'blonde or brunette', 'virgin or whore', 'submissive or dominant', 'strong or weak'. I think femininity is a mask, lies that patriarchy wants us to believe about women. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Masculinity and Femininity are seen as polar opposites, and if they weren't ascribed by sex (ie. Men=Masculine, Women=Feminine) then maybe there wouldn't be much of a problem. But when they've been polarised by sex (ie. male/female) and gender (ascribed traits given to male/females at birth), then there is a problem - no room to move, no room to change, to grow, to learn.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Personally, I feel I'm a multi-layered individual. I hate it when people assume things about me based on my sex. I like clothes, and colourful makeup and jewellery, and I make no apologies for that. But I do it for me, to revel in my favourite colours, to express myself, to create moods. What I DON'T do it for is to say something about my sexuality. Which is, after all, what society expects.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Another fantastic post which <a href="http://witchywoo.wordpress.com/2007/03/23/witchy-woos-wednesday-wow-comes-to-you-this-week-2/">Witchy</a> has mentioned is worth a read because it also explains the difference between Womanliness and Femininity: <a href="http://hedonisticpleasureseeker.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/anuna-rocks-her-first-comment-what-is-femininity/">Hedonistic Pleasureseeker</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Have a good weekend - I'm off to Edinburgh tomorrow to see my Manfriend and I'm going to <a href="http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/">Chickenshed</a>'s captioned Vanity Fair tonight!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-90180077296584405672007-03-20T20:27:00.000+00:002008-11-07T03:58:04.137+00:00Beautiful Pics of Beautiful Cats<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcB0WZdIVfWAJG5stUwb7o3_G6KZydFG0Yt3ZmWOujXQnMgJ98Y9oQMJ1EAWyX9Unl8av5uAdK2toiCiBC1H90EPW5TsybOUZLf5bMBq-K6d3VbfJNBvzUxcoUVsbnbWApg3Es/s1600-h/supercat.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044107220124159586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcB0WZdIVfWAJG5stUwb7o3_G6KZydFG0Yt3ZmWOujXQnMgJ98Y9oQMJ1EAWyX9Unl8av5uAdK2toiCiBC1H90EPW5TsybOUZLf5bMBq-K6d3VbfJNBvzUxcoUVsbnbWApg3Es/s320/supercat.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxS2VkLH9FfiNK9pAS3BAIk9135wLfPpQNmiBcWVL9TWslbMCotWixdKGrFehy31jOhhAqdU2yGLt4QGfJmsPla3y7M1FYPfY0yVps287Nh_W5EhUJRV8Y9ywBVjECEMXMEHA/s1600-h/flossy.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5044106751972724306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="222" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxS2VkLH9FfiNK9pAS3BAIk9135wLfPpQNmiBcWVL9TWslbMCotWixdKGrFehy31jOhhAqdU2yGLt4QGfJmsPla3y7M1FYPfY0yVps287Nh_W5EhUJRV8Y9ywBVjECEMXMEHA/s320/flossy.bmp" width="307" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Things have been a little hectic recently and I haven't really felt much like blogging, but I promise I'll be back soon when I've sorted out what I want to say in this cluttered head of mine!<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"> <BR>I started a new volunteer job two weeks ago in a fundraising department at a school for autistic children, I'm enjoying it so far. Obviously don't have any contact with the children but I had a tour around the school and it seems fantastic - they have 'quiet rooms' where kids go when they need to calm down, they have one to one support all the time, and it's a generally very supportive and creative environment.</BR> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><BR>My sis's friend managed to get reading tickets for a bunch of them to go off for the entire weekend (it sounds great - the line up is sooo good! The Gossip, Razorlight, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Kooks, The Killers, etc etc) so am a bit jealous! But I'm thinking of dragging someone along to Glastonbury (just for a day), we'll see. </BR></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><BR>But am starting to wonder if, when I was a teen, I missed out on all that festival fever! Now I'm getting older, I feel that I really want to catch up on things that I missed out on. Okay, I'm only 22 but soon enough I'll be working, with only weekends and holidays for doing stuff I want to do!</BR> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><BR>Considering I'm the quieter, more bookish type (my sis at the moment is a crazy wild indie kid!), I think when I was a teen I sort of felt reluctant to get out there and enjoy myself. Which is why I want to make the most of things now, while I've still got time to do it =) </BR></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><BR>Anyway, I'll be back with more soon..I know I've missed posting for things like International Women's Day (I hope it was good for people) and Blogging Against Sexism day, but I'll definitely post regarding my thoughts in the very near future!</BR> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><BR>I hope you like little supercat (thats Quentin at the top) and sleepy foxy lady (Flossie at the bottom) =D Haven't got round to getting Georgina's photos off my phone yet!</BR><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span></div>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-74673289492260414502007-02-21T14:41:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:18:10.931+01:00Good News...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#3366ff;">So, there's been some good news of late - I got accepted to do an MA in Women's Studies at York Uni, so I'll hopefully be off to study in October, funding permitting (MA funding is a really awkward issue, as there's lots of competition). So I'm really happy about that! </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">And also, I was reading the F-Word blog on Monday (link on the feminist links) - and this is what's happened to the sales figures of lad's mags:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">"Sales of lads’ mags fell a whopping 14.4% in 2006, according to reports in the </span><a href="http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,2015936,00.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Media Guardian</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"> (registration required).</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"><br />FHM’s circulation fell nearly 26%, and Arena 30%, but I take most pleasure from the falling sales of the vile Zoo magazine, down 21.5% to just over 200,000 copies. The equally unpleasant Nuts magazine also saw its circulation decline 3.8%.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that the magazine buying public have been put off by the actual contents of the magazine. Instead, the business has been going online: </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;">"A clue to the reason for the collapse in the market could be the rise in digital publishing. In the ABC Electronic figures, the digital men’s magazine Monkey, the first of its kind, recorded a debut audit of 209,612 for January. The results for Monkey, launched in November by Dennis, are not directly comparable to the measurement for print editions, but Dennis said the ABC result was twice its original target of 100,000 and meant the magazine had a rapidly growing audience of 18- to 30-year-old males. " <span style="font-size:100%;color:#66cccc;">"</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">*From The F-Word Blog 19th February by Jess McCabe*</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">So, although it looks like good news from the outset (yay hopefully the evil mags will be phased out over time?) - we will be still have men reading them online, yuk. Incidentally, I was in Edinburgh this weekend and checked out WHSmith at the station - the Lad's Mags shelves are in full view of anyone who happens to glance their way, and are definitely not 1.2 metres above the ground. I think it's just lip-service to 'appease' the scary feminists ;-) </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">Had a great weekend with my partner - went to see Happy Feet with subtitles and had a chinese meal to celeb Chinese New Year (cliched I know). Also bought Volver, Little Miss Sunshine and Blade Runner. Volver was fantastic, definitely deals with some feminist issues (abuse and women's relationships with each other) and so did Little Miss Sunshine with a highly dysfunctional family on a road trip to the Little Miss Sunshine contest that the daughter wants to take part in. Thought the grandfather was rather a dirty old man though.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">I'm a bit annoyed at this film I've been wanting to see for ages - Brick - but it hasn't got subtitles. In fact, it's just been re-issued again without subtitles!! I had a similiar situation a few years ago when Donnie Darko came out on DVD without subtitles and has only recently come out with subtitles. I think it has to do with the companies that release films - and particularly this tends to happen with indie films or non-blockbuster films (which is the genre I find more interesting!). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#3366ff;">One of the reasons I like non-english speaking films is that there are always english subtitles (but also World Cinema tends to be more refreshing and original!). So I'm frustrated because Brick got some great reviews, and I just want to see it as it looks interesting. Maybe someone can let me know that's its actually really bad and to not bother seeing it? :-D</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-21123524339785225472007-02-16T01:12:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:18:44.296+01:00My Complaint re. 'Lad's Mags' in WHSmiths<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">I complained the other day to WHSmith's about Lad's Mags because they refuse to acknowledge the motion Claire Curtis Thomas (MP) and Object put forward about the displaying of the magazine's on the top shelf, away from children and also with their fronts covered so as to just show the title. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">They are the least responsible retailer ever when it comes to this issue - sometimes, pretty much most weeks, they have lads mags right at the front of the shop as they are 'magazine of the week' or some other such flimsy excuse for putting them right at the front of the shop. I find it demoralising to walk into any of their shops and be confronted with racks and racks of objectifying covers and degrading blurbs and captions. <a href="http://charliegrrl.wordpress.com/">Charliegrrl</a> has loads of information about contact details and her own activism (very inspiring stuff, puts fire in the belly!).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">So I decided to complain to WHSmith's with this email:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">To Whom it may concern,<br /><br /><br />I am concerned at WHSmiths inability to understand that ‘Lads Magazines’ and so called ‘men’s lifestyle’ magazines are degrading and objectifying to women. You refuse to implement the changes that explain (Object and Claire Curtis Thomas) that magazines with pornographic content should be, at the very least, on the top shelf. Magazines such as Zoo, Loaded, FHM and Nuts should be on the top shelf. Apart from being degrading and objectifying for women such as myself, my younger sister and my friends (which could be your sister, daughter, mother or female friends), young men and male children will believe that the view of women in these magazines is acceptable.<br /><br />I have been in many of your shops around the country as I regularly travel through London and through to Edinburgh and York. All of your shops display these magazines within easy reach of young children, and within full view of any woman, young or old that happens to be passing your shops and shelves. I find it despicable that your shops do not listen to the complaints that I and many other women have been making over the past year or so. Women are half of the population – listen to them. It’s understandable that you don’t want to push down your sale figures but at the same time, its not likely to push down your sales figures by moving magazines to the top shelf – people can still access them. Be a responsible retailer for once.<br /><br />Yours sincerely,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Elizabeth</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">And I got this reply:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Dear Elizabeth</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><br />Thank you for your email, sharing with us your concerns about the way in which we display certain magazines in our stores.<br /><br />Whilst I appreciate your views, I can confirm that the particular magazines you refer to are part of our Men's Lifestyle range. We reviewed our policy of displaying this range last year, ensuring that all these titles are positioned above 1.2 metres and are not displayed near products aimed at children.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">We do follow strict guidelines about the displaying of these titles and work closely with our publishers. As a retailer, we aim to strike the right balance in meeting the needs of all of our customers, which sometimes inevitably means a compromise.<br /><br />I'm sorry for the continued frustration my response will undoubtedly cause you, however, we do not currently have any plans to change the way we display these titles. Please be assured that we will continue to monitor any similar feedback we receive about this particular matter and if I can help you further, please feel welcome to contact me.<br /><br />Kind regards<br /><br />Sam* last name concealed.<br /><br />Customer Service Coordinator</span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">I dunno...I'm definitely very frustrated. She didn't even acknowledge any of the comments I had made about objectification and degradation of women's bodies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">Okay, so yes, the children part of it is important, but it's also about women feeling respected and not feeling threatened by just walking into a shop. Every single WHSmith I've been to displays lad's mags in an irresponsible way. It's not the only company and newsagent's that displays lads mags like this though, but it's definitely one of the worst.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">If you want to complain by email, here is the address (which I got from <a href="http://charliegrrl.wordpress.com/">Charliegrrl's </a>blog):</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"><a href="mailto:customer.relations@whsmith.co.uk">customer.relations@whsmith.co.uk</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">Let them know that this is not acceptable and makes women feel disempowered.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1171553763973070672007-02-15T15:32:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:19:08.573+01:00Flossie Lady<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/677/1731/1600/507699/Flossy%20Lady.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/677/1731/400/321725/Flossy%20Lady.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Just because....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">"Why are you all up in my face with that thing? Leave now."</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1170857692063920322007-02-07T13:49:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:19:51.500+01:00Day To Blog For The Women Who Support Us<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"><a href="http://pippiblog.wordpress.com/">Bea</a> has suggested that today, 7th February be the day when we write about a woman or a few women who have supported us and played a part in the direction that our lives have taken.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I know this may be cliched, but I would have to blog about my Mum, first and foremost. She has supported me throughout times of happiness, sadness and disappointment. She has coped with my horrendous temper tantrums (which I am ashamed to say I still throw from time to time) and my big and little mistakes, and yet hasn't been judgemental about them. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">My Mum has had an interesting life - she and my Dad were very cool people back then (and mostly still are...) and they have brought the gift of a love of music, the arts and travel into my life. I doubt that I would love music so much without my parent's constant discovery of new music and bringing out the old records (my Dad is presently into the Zutons and The Killers!). Mum has been to many concerts over her lifetime - she was there for a few Beatles concerts! I always find it interesting asking about her life.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Both my parents have supported me and my sister through our difficult times due to our deafness - mostly due to other people's ignorance and the frustration we have felt at people not understanding us. My Mum has always made me feel like being Deaf is not a hindrance or a 'disability' and I think I wouldn't be so positive about being deaf without her (and my Dad's) support. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">She has never been negative or pessimistic about my sister and I (although it must have been very hard to realise your daughters are deaf when first finding out) being Deaf. I worry about parents that feel that deafness is a negative thing that means children will miss out on everything - people develop their own ways of coping and often pick up their attitude about deafness from parents - so if negative, this is likely to be a bad thing for a child. So I feel lucky that my Mum and Dad have been optimistic and positive about deafness.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">And I feel that now, being 22, I can begin to give something more substantial back to her with my support. I feel stronger because I know that my Mum will be there for me when I need her, and that she knows that I and my sister are there when she needs us to be. I think it's important to give back to the people that support us. I just hope my Mum knows how much I appreciate her support and encouragement over the years!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1170688430952515442007-02-05T15:05:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:20:25.028+01:00The Long Goodbye...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Alyx - just to say goodbye and to wish you all the best in whatever you do. It's been wonderful reading your blog :) You will be missed! I couldn't find your email address so I hope this will do. You've inspired me a lot over the past year with your fabby writing and your kick ass attitude. Enjoy what life has to offer and I hope you still keep that kick ass 'tude we all know and love.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">With Love and best wishes,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Liz xxx</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">*ps. I'm ill with the Flu at the moment but I will commence writing again soon!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1169513028920144112007-01-23T00:11:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:21:13.682+01:00Blog For Choice Day<span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I just (barely) missed Blog for Choice day - but I've been reading some fab posts about choice:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://notafeministbut.blogspot.com/2007/01/blogging-for-choice.html">Laura over at I'm Not a Feminist But...</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://salfordfeminist.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-for-choice.html">Pippa at One Salford Feminist</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://shutupsitdown.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-for-choice.html">Anji at Shut up Sit Down</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://lonergrrrl.blogspot.com/">Michelle at Lonergrrrl</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://newtinateacup.wordpress.com/2007/01/22/blog-for-choice-day/">Newt In a Teacup</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"><a href="http://ddextra.wordpress.com/2007/01/22/blog-for-choice/">Devious Diva</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Although I think I've only read a few among many, but I think the above posts are definitely worth mentioning and are thought provoking.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">My 2 cents are that yes, I think all women should have the right to an abortion. I feel that although it may be a difficult decision to make for some women, especially considering the pressure they get from religion, partners and family to not have an abortion (and guilt from pro-life groups), I feel that women who choose abortions as a gut reaction are given very bad press. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">They are said to be 'taking the easy way out' - but what, I ask, is wrong with that? The choice is available to us in the West, and if needed, we should take advantage of it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">As <a href="http://notafeministbut.blogspot.com/2007/01/blogging-for-choice.html">Laura</a> said, women should have the freedom to pursue their dreams, get the job they want, travel, study and so on without the hindrance of a child at that period of their life, or when they already feel they have enough children, or when they just don't want children at all. I support women's control of their own bodies and fertility. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I myself have thought long and hard about such a "controversial" subject and I normally come to the conclusion that yes, I would want an abortion because I am not ready at all to have the responsibility of a child. Let alone the fact that I would miss out on a lot of experiences, don't even having a paying job at the moment (I volunteer) and am planning to do an MA this October. I think when I have a child I would rather not be living at home and have completed my studying, travelling and experienced living with my partner for a while. There's nothing wrong with having a child, but I feel that abortion should be thought of as a valid choice for women.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">People don't like it when women say they support abortion. All the old gems come out like 'but its a new life!' and 'you're murdering a child!' and so on. Women fought long and hard to get those rights and we're not giving them up so easily. People think abortion is only okay if the woman has a need to do it. I think it's important that society's perception of abortion is challenged. I also think it's possible to be pro-life AND pro-abortion, just like being anti porn and sex positive. Because I have a genuine respect for life, but not if it means the woman who gives birth to a child really doesn't want it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">So heres to women's right to choose abortion: long may it still be a choice.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1169399571396901902007-01-21T16:10:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:21:46.197+01:00Women and Films<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Inspired by Alyx's post about films that perhaps touch on feminist subjects or show women in all their multi-dimensional splendour - this has made me think about a post I was planning on doing about how women are portrayed in films, particularly films of the action/adventure/thriller type that are mostly occupied by men.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Some of my favourite action/adventure/Sci-Fi films, such as Indiana Jones, StarWars, The Matrix and Lord of the Rings to name a few, put women in fairly stereotypical roles, although the few female characters they do have are interesting: Princess Leia, Senator Amidala, Trinity, Arwen and Eowyn - which are much stronger characters, than for example, in Indiana Jones (where all the the female characters serve as either sexual love interests or are rather wimpy).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Although the characters are interesting and not (extremely) one dimensional - they still serve as the love interest to a male character in the movie. Trinity, for example, although strong and quite kick-ass, still wears the regulation tight PVC outfit and is Neo's love interest. And both Senator Amidala and Princess Leia in StarWars are love interests at some time or another. Arwen is the love interest of Aragorn, despite being a somewhat strong woman. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">It's my feeling that within most hollywood movies, women serve as the element of feeling/compassion - a way of showing us the more emotional side of a male character's personality. As well as being stereotypical, and not showing how strong and tough women can also be, it shows the bias of society in thinking that women are emotional and therefore not rational (as men supposedly are).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">In many action movies, women serve as nothing but the sex object, as decoration showing the status of particular men. Some of the language used to describe women in movies is particularly derogatory and objectifying. It is shown in many movies that pornography, prostitution and strip clubs are 'manly' things to take part in - seeing women as sex objects to be consumed. Rape is depicted in such a way as to seem sexually titillating and not the horrifying abuse of human rights that it is. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">One film I take issue with is Sin City. So many reviewers and men in particular have said it is an 'arty' kind of film, a breakthrough (!) - and although it looks good, it makes me feel uncomfortable because of the depiction of women. The band of prostitutes are oversexualised (thus re-inforcing women as the sex class) and also, despite supposedly being 'strong' women, need the 'help' of men on several occasions. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">The one career woman (lawyer/parole officer?) is shown in a scene as naked and, despite being a lesbian, her body is on display to the male viewers, inviting comment (as the male in the scene with her naturally does - saying something along the lines of 'if you weren't a lesbian I would definitely sleep with you').</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">The women in the film give the impression of empowerment but they can only take action against others with the help of a man (Clive Owen), who has had a previous relationship with one of the prostitutes. This suggests that because he has possessed her body in the past, that it is okay for him to help them (as a rule, the prostitutes don't accept help from men, particularly cops).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">I've had a peek before at Frank Miller's graphic novels in a bookshop, and I have to say that the content is extremely misogynistic and objectifying for women. It seems that a lot of people think that looking at female bodies in this way is appreciation of women (which is the arguement that many pornographers also use) - but it is not, because it encourages the view that women are the sex class, defined by their bodies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Okay, it's just one film, but I hate to think if one film is this misogynistic, and is considered the 'film of the year' (when it was released) - then what will be the 'film of the decade'?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Another particular film - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - the adaptation of the acclaimed game - is also contradictory in that although Lara is, ideally, a strong, inspiring woman, the film played upon her being a woman=sex by showing gratuitious near nudity (which wasn't needed). </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Jolie commented in an interview that the editors of the film also enhanced her bust area to draw in the 'teenage boys': perhaps this was to detract from the fact that the film is kind of crap anyway and that Lara's character doesn't live up to the tough, tombraiding kick-ass legend.<br /><br />There is also a bone to pick with the game itself (although the game being a landmark breakthrough as she is the only female action star among a male dominated genre) because of the inflation and deflation of her bust, and the distortion and manipulation of her figure (which unfortunately, gets mentioned in every article about the game itself as evidenced by my partner's playstation/gaming magazines). </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Articles apertaining to male characters rarely get this scrutiny over the way they look rather than focus on the game (which is supposed to be the point!).<br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">However, taking my cue from Alyx, some of my favourite films (some of them also feature in her list) that touch on feminist subjects and/or show well rounded female characters are:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">1. Kill Bill vol.1&2</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">2. Thelma and Louise</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">3. Lady Vengeance</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">4. The Color Purple</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">5. Frida</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">6. Chocolat</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">7. Amelie</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">8. Children of a Lesser God (because Marlee Matlin is fabulous!)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">9. Princess Mononoke</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">10. Howl's Moving Castle</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">11. Nausicaa: Valley of the Wind</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">12. Rabbit Proof Fence</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">13. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">14. Girl, Interrupted</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">15. Ever After: A Cinderella Story</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">16. V for Vendetta</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">17. Bend It Like Beckham</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">18. The Hours</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">19. Now and Then</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">20. Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">21. Gone with the Wind (both the book and the film - Scarlett is one strong woman)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">22. Spirited Away</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">23. The Miracle Worker (about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">24. The Craft</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">25. Laputa: Castle in the Sky</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">26. 10 Things I Hate About You (Julia Stiles is great as the Shrew)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">27. Alien (1st film most of all)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Alyx has put down much more films than I have and has asked if anyone can think of any more?</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1169261419377341652007-01-19T10:46:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:23:57.344+01:00Is the BBC turning into Channel 4?**<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">I’ve been keeping informed with emails from London Feminist Network Yahoo group about this programme ‘Consent’ which is being aired this week or next week at 10pm. **Amendment: this is in fact the wrong programme name. The programmed being aired on Channel 4 at 10pm Sunday 21st Jan is called 'Consent' and then the programme I am referring to is called 'The Verdict', which is going to be on BBC2. However, these two programmes seem remarkably similar. I'm wondering if they are linked in some way?<span style="color:#33ff33;">***</span><br /><br />The problem with this programme, apart from the fact that viewers will be drawn in by the ‘cliffhanger’ idea of whether a rape victim is telling the truth or not, is that there has been no indication from the BBC that they have consulted the proper channels – so they have not sought information from rape crisis organisations or police units for rape victims and survivors and so on. AND the jury will be celebrities!!! Add to this mix Jeffrey Archer – who has been in prison himself – and you have a recipe for misinformation and the assertion that women are innate liars, especially when it comes to rape.<br /><br />The entire focus of the programme will be on whether or not a woman who has been raped is telling the truth. Especially since (apparently) the rapist (the accused) will be a “famous” man. This shouldn’t invalidate a woman’s claim that a man raped her. Neither should whether a woman was drunk, wearing a short skirt or low cut top, or what her sexual history is.<br /><br />When a man is raped, I doubt they bring up his sexual history or what he was wearing or how much he had been drinking. The double standard is still very much in evidence in the justice system. Rape conviction statistics are at an all time low – precisely because juries and judges bring bias with them into the courtroom (juries inevitably read about ‘false claims’ of rape in the media – which is much more pervasive than reporting about rapes that HAVE been convicted).<br /><br />It is extremely difficult for a woman to admit that she has been raped, let alone go to a police station and give evidence. I imagine it would be very disempowering – having to be examined and then having to be cross-examined when you are the one that has been raped. Then having to stand up in court and see your rapist get away with it because it’s his word against yours. And women who have been through all that then have to deal with the reaction of society – if the rapist is found ‘innocent’ when he is not – then the woman will no doubt be considered a liar.<br /><br />And the misperception of rapists as ‘monsters; men who are maniacs or psychos’ is rarely the case. Many men who rape are just as normal as any man you see walking past you in the street – granted, they think it’s acceptable to see women as sex objects and think it is acceptable to view women as existing for their gratification and don’t respect them – but they are generally men that have families and friends and have normal lives. The media usually just reports the cases that are viewed as particularly striking for some reason or other (ie. When it’s a case of drunken consent or one person word against another etc).<br /><br />And I refuse to believe that men can’t stop once they’ve started – when a woman says no, she means no, and a man CAN stop. I seriously don’t believe that men are driven by their sex drive, and it’s impossible to stop. Why is man’s sexuality higher and more important and more uncontrollable than a woman’s? The view that men can’t control themselves paints them as uncontrollable, primeval beasts which cannot be trusted at all – and is this a flattering picture? I don’t think so – I think this discriminates against good men.<br /><br />I won’t be watching 'The Verdict' and I will be complaining to the BBC at:<br /><br />Phone: 08700 100 222<br />Textphone/Minicom: 08700 100 212<br />Write: BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Glasgow G2 3WT<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">There doesn’t seem to be an email address on the BBC website but there is an online complaints form at:</span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"> </span><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/make_complaint_step1.shtml</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"><span style="color:#009900;">**</span>This is a reference to the fact that Channel 4 has become extremely mediocre over the past two to three years (Big Brother etc).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"><span style="color:#33ff33;">***</span>If you want to complain about the Channel 4 programme which is on Sunday 21st January at 10pm, the contact details are as follows:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Advertising Standards Authority </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Mid City Place </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">71 High Holborn </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">London </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">WC1V 6QT </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Telephone: 020 7492 2222</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Textphone/Minicom: 020 7242 8159</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">Fax: 020 7242 3696</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I'm not sure whether the Channel 4 programme is the same as the BBC2 one, but people are welcome to watch and critically evaluate the programme or complain.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1168804898744428352007-01-14T19:34:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:24:49.651+01:00Differences<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">It's been a very confusing few days trying to figure out what has been happening within the feminist blogsphere.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">What I have worked out is that: several people whose blogs I read frequently have been, or are, unhappy, and this makes me unhappy too. I've always tried to step back and let things take their course but sometimes I worry that people are going to get badly hurt by something somebody says on a comment thread or in a post. Because no matter who says what or who believes what, we are dealing with heightened feelings because blogs are very personal spaces - which should be respected. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Respect is important - whether or not we agree with somebody, we should sometimes all agree to disagree and just get on with fighting the things that matter. I've been guilty of getting worked up with trolls in comment threads before but I've kind of learnt to take it easy and realise that you can't bend people round to thinking your way if they are determined to stick to their views at any cost.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">I'm not a separatist feminist, neither am I lesbian, but I respect women that are true to themselves. I've always been attracted to men, and my partner is male. I don't think this makes me any less of a feminist, because I care very much about women and their wellbeing. Sexuality is about being what most makes you happy - about attraction and complex layers of what attracts you to a person - whether male or female. I don't believe it's 'biological imperative', and I don't think it's about 'choice' either. I think it's something that draws you to a person, and its not necessarily something anyone can explain. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Everyone comes round to their views in their own particular journey, with nuances and complex twists that not everybody shares - so therefore not everyone will have the same view about the same thing. Agreeing on particular points, and yet not always agreeing with other things - this is what makes life so much more interesting and stimulating. So long as we agree that life needs to be improved for women.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#9999ff;">Radical feminism is a way of seeing the world, it's examining the Patriarchy in all it's forms. Just like noticing when something isn't accessible for a deaf person; seeing the world through the eyes of someone who notices things about the world that could be, and needs to be better or different in order for the world to be a better place. Life is full of different experiences and its important to respect that, no matter how much we disagree with something.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1168015417861050862007-01-05T16:13:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:25:26.322+01:00Happy New Year<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">So..it's 2007 - I hope everybody had a great time welcoming in the New Year whether they were partying the night away or staying in with their family watching TV (which is what I did - albeit in Edinburgh with my partner's family).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I've got a few gripes I'm going to whine about - particularly the rising train fares which is a thing close to my heart considering that my partner is in Edinburgh and we both have to fork out the extortionate prices. I don't understand the reasoning behind the fare hitch because we don't really see any of the so called 'improvements' that they've all been talking about. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Also, considering the fact that I've been travelling on GNER trains for almost 6 years and have seen and experienced first hand the prices raising steadily and the service, dare I say it, getting worse or just staying the same. Consider this - I am deaf and they still use loudspeaker announcements and no text announcements. You would have thought they could afford at least putting up a live text thing in each carriage as I've seen in some buses/bus stops and other trains (although these are few). GNER has a lot to answer for. We pay first class prices for a standard to mediocre service (on more than one occassion my reserved seat has been occupied by someone without a reservation who wouldn't budge and I've also had to stand for 5 hours in a packed train a few times, even with a seat reservation). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">My partner and I travelled on an easyjet flight on Boxing day from Stansted to Edinburgh because there were no trains running - and the fare was much cheaper than a single on the train, even with taxes added (£20ish each - a train fare would likely be around £40 with a young person's railcard). It was a bit of a hassle getting there as its about a 30 minute drive from where I live - and then we had to check in and go through security and then wait around for about an hour, but I have to say it's much more exciting and has better service by far compared to trains, even on a budget airline. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I don't think it would be convenient to fly all the time though - Edinburgh's airport isn't close to my partner's house and Stansted isn't easy to get to without a car (my dad drove us on boxing day). Which is why I feel so angry and frustrated with the rising train fare prices.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">My new year 'resolutions' are just generally to have a good year, much better than last year which was difficult for my family - my sister being unhappy, my dad being unhappy and my mum being unhappy. I just hope they all find some happiness in this coming year. My other main resolution is - yes its cliched - to lose weight and get fit. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Especially considering I have PCOS and a danger of diabetes. Its not to do with my appearance because I am happy with myself and the way I look (most of the time!). I do feel quite unhealthy because I don't exercise regularly enough and love my chocolate! My doctor thinks exercise is the key as I've got a very slow metabolism - and despite eating healthily, exercise is the only thing that will help. So...I'll be getting active this year! :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I think it was quite a good year for me personally as years go - graduating, going on holiday, finding feminism and going on the Reclaim the Night march. And finding more confidence in myself socially towards the end of the year.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">But whatever this year brings, I hope everyone is well and happy.</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1167262535099227182006-12-27T23:31:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:25:53.731+01:00Season's Greetings<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">I hope everyone has had a good Christmas - mine was a chocolate fest :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I'm just checking in to wish everybody a Happy New Year, and best wishes for 2007.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I'm in Edinburgh with my partner's family for Hogmanay - we flew back from London last night as my partner had work today. But I bought The Second Sex with some book tokens today! :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I'll post something more coherent in the New Year :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Best wishes everyone xxx</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1166490276171063312006-12-19T00:13:00.001+00:002007-04-04T16:26:37.974+01:00What I've Been Listening To<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">1. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">2. I Want You - Savage Garden</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">3. Break Me, Shake Me - Savage Garden</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">4. Here With Me - Dido</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">5. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">6. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">7. Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">8. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">9. Come Away With Me - Norah Jones</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">10. Girlfriend - Michael Jackson</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">11. I Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">12. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - Marvin Gaye</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">13. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">14. Back and Forth - Aaliyah</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">15. Are You That Somebody - Aaliyah</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">16. Love Me Do - The Beatles</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">17. When Doves Cry - Prince</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">18. Dangerous - Michael Jackson</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">19. Don't Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">20. To The Moon and Back - Savage Garden</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;">- Top 20 played Tracks on my MP3 at the moment!</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1166487736035271192006-12-19T00:13:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:27:01.421+01:00Midnight Poetry - Distortion<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33ccff;">I still see it</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Everywhere I look</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Everywhere I go</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Posturing, Exposing</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Bodies full of lies</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">On which is written</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Patriarchy</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Contortion</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Women hating crimes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Distortion on the page</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Not appreciation</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">It's objectification</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Torture in disguise</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Fantasies fuelled by hate</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">That nobody should sate</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Violation, pain and rape</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Don't want to see it</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Don't want to know it</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I don't want to hear it</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">It's not 'a bit of fun'</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">We have nowhere left to run</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Nowhere left to hide</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">With this pain eating up inside</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Just fuels more anger</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">More stoking to the fire</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I'll fight and I won't back down</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Though we feel we might drown</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I'm not leaving</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Til it's all away</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">From our eyes</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">I'm not moving</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Til this objectification</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Is where it belongs</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;">Til you've righted your wrongs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#33ccff;"></span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1166192371978758032006-12-15T13:47:00.001+00:002007-04-04T16:27:32.939+01:00Poetry - Revolution<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#9999ff;">Where is the call to arms<br />The shouts of enragement<br />The flaming torches<br />The axes?<br /><br />Where is the passion<br />The incentive to change<br />The autonomous thinking<br />The empowerment?<br /><br />How do we change this<br />This stripping of power<br />The silencing<br />These shouts of fear and anger<br />That go unnoticed?<br /><br />Where is the justice<br />Where are the countless voices<br />Where are our human rights choices<br />Where is our revolution?</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17847466.post-1166192092347888902006-12-15T13:47:00.000+00:002007-04-04T16:28:28.318+01:00Poetry and the News<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#66cccc;">It's been a busy two weeks - what with the rush up to Christmas and all the shopping and card writing and planning...blah. At least it's a nice feeling to see the xmas tree all lit up with lights and the thought that there's going to be a yummy dinner!(its the only time I can overindulge in cranberry sauce and gorgeous chocolate without feeling too naughty, hehe)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">I've had a breakthrough with writing though, my first tentative steps towards writing something that matters to me again and actually makes sense. My poetry and lyric writing has been really sporadic over the past few years and when I actually have written anything, I haven't been confident enough to show anyone or post it on my blog. I bought a lovely new notebook from paperchase to celebrate (doesn't seem like much but its a funky notebook)!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Also, I'm enraged about the way that some media has been talking about the femicide in Ipswich. Prostitutes are women, they deserve exactly the same kind of respect that other women in murder investigations are given. Lots of other bloggers have posted on this and can articulate much more clearly than I can. But it just makes me more concerned about the state of our society - that most of the women prostituting in Ipswich have a drug habit and have children and prostituting themselves is the only way they can survive. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Sure, I'm a university educated, white, privileged woman but I'm hoping I'm awake enough to see that our patriarchal society is pushing women on the margins right to the bottom, and gives them no choice. I don't know enough about prostitution to say what needs to be done, but I can see that that is no way for a person to live, because all they seem to be doing is surviving. And we live in a society that thinks it's acceptable for men to 'buy' women - in prostitution, pornography and lads mags. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">Women are human, they aren't toys to be used whenever someone has the urge or whim. Women's bodies have become commodities, even more so than ever. It scares me how this is allowing women to be pushed into things they think is 'just a harmless bit of fun' when in fact they wouldn't have to do this or think it an option if men and patriarchy didn't demand it. And I feel awful that women have been murdered in Ipswich because they are prostitutes - people don't think prostitutes matter. The person murdering them doesn't just hate prostitutes - they hate women.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#66cccc;">So I'm watching the news with trepidation and hope they find the evil person who did this (I say person because I'm not sure whether they can say this is a male or female).</span>Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13169968845555701460noreply@blogger.com2