End of the Week Links — 12/14/08
Since I’ve gotten a lot of positive (and some ignorant) responses to the “Why I Became a Feminist” series (check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you haven’t already), I decided to have a feminist blogaround this Sunday instead of my usual miscellaneous links. Here are some passionate yet well-reasoned essays by feminist bloggers and writers. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them, and maybe even learn a few things.
–> This fascinating and timely article entitled “Sexism in the Workplace” by reporter Harriet Rubin explains how women in the United States have made strides in the workplace — but these advances are now in a slow decline. The writer explains that while women now make 70-something cents to men’s dollar, they have plateaued at this figure. I highly recommend this article, not only because it’s an excellent analysis of the subtleties of workplace sexism on the managerial level, but it proves unequivocally that sexism is very much alive in our society and is a problem we must address.
“Heidrick & Struggles is one of the world’s top executive-search firms. Senior chairman and chief headhunter Gerry Roche groaned when I told him why I was calling. “There isn’t sexism anymore,” he said. “Or if there is, you can’t rush things. Maybe it will take another generation to make things right.”
He told me, “Boards are always asking me to bring them women candidates.” But he still places nearly six times as many men as women. Of his top 10 recruiters, five are female. So why only one woman on his nine-person board? “That’s a good question,” he said.
Catalyst calculates that, at this rate, it will take 73 years for women to achieve parity with men at the board level. 2081, here we come!”
–> Are you a feminist? According to this woman you are. Read this powerful but slightly controversial piece about the universality of feminism.
“It is about political, economic, and social equality of the sexes, and it is about claiming that definition on its own terms, instead of qualifying it because you don’t want anyone to think that you don’t shave your pits. It is about saying that you are a feminist and just letting the statement sit there, instead of feeling a compulsion to modify it immediately with “but not, you know, that kind of feminist” because you don’t want to come off all Angry Girl.”
–> You may not realize it, but a woman’s hair is a loaded concept. This article unpacks the argument that women must shave to be beautiful, while this great post over at Womanist Musings discusses the problematic coverage of Michelle Obama’s hair by the mainstream media.
“No matter how brightly colored the ads or how cheerily the model smile while holding a razor to their tanned leg, ads for razors at their most basic telling women there is something wrong with one of their natural functions: hair growth. “Advertising aimed at women works by lowering our self-esteem,” writes Wolf. The bottom line of razor marketing is selling women a product by which they may change themselves.”
…and before someone says “what about the menz?”:
“In the last few years, there has been a rise of a hairless male aesthetic, like Versace models with clean-shaven faces and chests; but, with such high percentages of women shaving, it is clear that the hairless beauty standard applies to women of all classes, whereas male body hairlessness seems to be predominantly at a haute couture level.”
–> Sexual harassment is a pervasive problem in Egypt — take a moment to read one woman’s account of her personal experiences with this problem, and then check out Mona Eltahawy’s other thought-provoking articles, such as “Fear of an Obama Planet” and “A hymen, a veil and France”
“There is no law criminalizing sexual harassment in Egypt, and police often refuse to report women’s complaints. And when it is the police themselves who are harassing women, then clearly women’s safety is far from a priority in Egypt.”
There are plenty more articles that I stumbled across in the past few days, and be sure to check back next week for the next batch of links. Hope you all had a great weekend!
- Dollface
Photo Credits
Thanks so much for the shout out I appreciate it
I remember reading that “Yes You Are” article a month or two; I thought it was really powerful!
I really liked the article on female body hair. I have a love hate relationship with the razor. I admit, I like a smooth leg, but I only shave maybe once or twice a month. I’ve gone…an entire semester of university without shaving my legs. It kind of sucked whenever I wore boot socks though; the socks would pull at my leg hairs, ow!
Now, how one maintains their nether regions isn’t any of my business, and who am I to judge, but one thing I will never understand is the 20 year old with the bald vagina. Since when did pubic hair become so atrocious? I must not have received the memo. My guy friends swear it makes oral sex easier and more enjoyable because they don’t get stray hairs in their mouth.
Sorry, I think that’s a lame excuse for insisting your girlfriend look like a 12 year old. I mean, it’s not like I’ve never gotten a man’s pubic hair in my mouth and pressured him to shave it all off.
These links were great, thanks for sharing!
I suppose I should restate that last sentence. It should have read: “It’s not like I never got a man’s pubic hair in my mouth, but I never pressured him to shave it all off”.
@ Renee — Any time!
@ Jackie — I am in total agreement! My boyfriends/lovers have always used those excuses: “Oh I’ll eat you out more if you shave it” (which never happens, btw!), or “It’s just easier”…Ummm easier to do what? I put up with your man-bush, why can’t you put up with mine?
It’s winter, though, so I’m not shaving anything for anyone. :)
thanks so much for the links – good reads
No problem, RallyGrrrl
I believe many women can relate to your thoughts on why you are a feminist, and I also believe the links you provided are very thought provoking and insightful especially the link to the article by Harriet Rubin. In response to the ever-present sexism and discrimination women face daily I have started a non-profit organization, which focuses on women’s rights in education and employment with an emphasis on sexual harassment. This project is in the beginning stages and I have just created a Facebook page so I invite everyone to come join my group on Facebook (Group Name Speak Up! Speak Out! — http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37558609042). Come be a one of the first members of this admirable group and help support those who have spoken up for their rights and spoken out against those who seek to deny them their constitutional rights!!
I love a good read, and this will surely keep me busy! Thank-you! :)