Stay True

     Continuing with the Lady Gaga theme from my last post, this one is a bit less heavy in the emtional department. Here, she is seen talking to a class at Yale University on what fame and society have done to both change and strengthen her character. We can all learn something from her wise words, I know I did.

     If you would like to watch the full hour-long video, you can do so here.

Til It Happens To You

     Sexual assault is a huge issue in the world today. Rape on college campuses makes up for a large amount of these assaults on women. Lady Gaga, a phenomenal advocate for human rights, has created a gut-wrenching video of what sexual assault is really like. Grab the tissues and tune in for this emotional statement on what it's really like to personally experience this type of tragedy on a college campus.

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Everyone's into barely wearing clothes these days huh? Not my style. I like to keep the good stuff covered up for the one who matters 😂😂😂

— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) December 6, 2015

Just looking at the latest fashion trends. I'll take classy over trendy any day of the week. #saturdaynightinsight

— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) December 6, 2015

Regardless of if you like my "style of clothes" or not (which I don't care) please do not tear women down and degrade them... Not cool peeps

— Ayesha Curry (@ayeshacurry) December 6, 2015

      Above are a few tweets shot out by Ayesha Curry, the wife of popular basketball player Steph Curry. Contradictory in nature, this set of shame-filled posts are exactly what's wrong with the way women treat each other nowadays. Instead of criticizing the choices of clothing one makes, we need to respect that person for their choice and not blame them for loss of self-respect or class. Tearing each other down does nothing to help our cause, but this is precisely what Curry is guilty of as she tweets these words. First off, she basically calls women who do not dress in a "classy" way unequal and beneath her. Then, she says it's not cool to degrade women for their style. Excuse me, but is that not what you just did on this same day, just two tweets before? The wording in the first post also suggests her shaming women who bare it all to people who mean nothing to them emotionally, essentiallyone-night-stands. Women and men are equally allowed to express themselves sexually in safe, consentual environments. Saying that she saves her body for "the one who matters" implies that women who do otherwise are, again, beneath her.Let's all agree to leave the way women choose to present themselves through dress out of personality, self-respect, and confidence evaluations. You just need to do you and be comfortable with other women doing the same.

Price of Fame

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The photo on the left of a former Disney star is highly praised, while the one on the right is scrutinized to the extreme. Calling out sexism is the first step to diminishing it.

            As a culture, we are obsessed with celebrities and famous people. Actors, athletes, reality television stars, and socialites. In retrospect, these people are exactly like us. Celebrity personalities have always been put on a pedestal in every culture around the world. Why do we do this? Seeing someone portray a role on the silver screen or score winning games for your favorite team can have an impact on a person. Non-famous people dream of fame and fortune, but many celebrities do not recommend their lifestyle. However rich or publicized someone is, they too can often fall victim to diseases such as alcoholism or detrimental drug use. They also are subject to scrutiny under the eyes of millions, often billions of people. Celebs such as Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Selena Gomez have been overly-criticized, specifically from parents. Coming from Disney Channel fame, these women served as "role-models" for children who watched their shows religiously. Now in their early twenties, these women have shed their Disney-clad skins and developed their own identities. Outraged, parents have called out these former child stars for "corrupting" their children’s' views of them. Can we agree that celebrities are not in charge of raising other people's children to have specific morals and values? These people also ignore male Disney or child stars who have so-called tainted their squeaky-clean reputations, such as the Jonas Brothers. Nick Jonas can pose over half-naked in a magazine spread and is praised for it. But Miley Cyrus does a photoshoot where her back is exposed, and gets criticized and shamed to this day still. We must stop holding celebrities accountable for raising our children and criticizing their personal choices, sexual or not.

Bang Bang

Satire at its finest.

     Domestic terrorism. A phrase not too often heard in the past few years, although there have been plenty of tragedies that fall under this term. Aurora, Santa Barbara, Columbine, Blacksburg, and Wichita are a few of many cities who have experienced domestic acts of terror. Every single one of these horrific incidents were accompanied by guns or semi-automatic weapons, used to inflict fear and pain into the hearts of fellow Americans. These types of events are possible with the low-action stance on mental health in the United States as well as loose gun control laws. Recently, a law allowing citizens to conceal and carry, even on college campuses, passed. I am not a fan of the way gun control is run in this country. Anyone can get their hands on one, or however many their hearts desire. Many oppose the tightening of control because they enjoy owning their guns for personal protection or hunting. While that is all fine and dandy, there are children dying for that right. If we implement strict protocols for the distribution of weaponry, this country will get a much-needed mental makeover. Take Australia, for example, who has a restrictive gun policy. Their total number of gun-related deaths in 2012 was 226 people. In the United States, our 2012 death toll was 33,563 people. There is absolutely no way of justifying this massive amount of loss simply by saying, "It is our constitutional right to go out and shoot stuff!"

     So, take a second. Is your government-given right to own a firearm really worth the loss of innocent life?

Defunding Our Future

     December 3rd, 2015. This is the day that will live in infamy in the minds of women's rights activists for a long while. On this day, the United States Senate voted to pass a bill to defund one of the most resourceful places for women and families alike, Planned Parenthood. To help raise funding, you can donate to the cause on their official website. This disgraceful ruling also aims to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare. A true tragedy to witness, the bill passed through the Senate on a tight vote of 52-47. An invaluable asset to women and their families, Planned Parenthood is a federally-funded organization that provides excellent services from contraceptives to family planning, and discreetly conducts sensitive procedures. Thankfully, if the bill ever reaches the oval office, President Obama has publicly pronounced his intentions to veto the proposal out of existence.

     To see what impact the organization truly has on cost-effective reproductive healthcare, flip through their colorful annual report given at the top of this article. 

     To check out the location nearest you in the state of Kansas, consult the Google Map embedded below.

Dump Trump

An interesting political experiment conducted by the Huffington Post.

   As many will say, even bad publicity is good publicity. However, in this situation, I simply cannot hold my tongue even if it means giving free online publicity to something I dislike. In the 2016 presidential candidate pool, diversity is key. The most surprising candidate to date, Donald Trump, is surely making waves with his flailing attempt at the next presidency spot. He has proven to not only have ruined his integrity with how he deals with fellow running mates, but also in his sexist, racist, and xenophobic remarks. He has consistently taken unfair shots at those who publicly disagree with him. Living as a grown adult with a toddler's mentality, Trump has been cited for calling his opposition ugly, unattractive, dumb, and even going so far as to cruelly make fun of a disabled writer who called him out.

     No matter where you stand on the political scale, I sincerely hope that Trump is nowhere near your radar. Personally I'm just waiting for 2020 to come around so I can cast my liberal vote for Yeezy. Until then, Bernie Sanders has my support all the way.

Acidic Advertising

I am minoring in Advertising here at Washburn University for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is to hopefully make a positive impact on the way we sell products. We all know that sex sells. But what about those questionable "sexy" advertisements promoting rape culture, body-shaming, and more that we see plastered up on billboards? Let's take a look.

This woman is clearly being held down, her body language and face suggesting that it's against her will. The other men in the shot are lingering over, watching and waiting their turn in this disturbing image.

As seen (and criticized) on New York City subways, this particular body-shaming ad puts a price on "perfection." Basically, according to this company, you should not feel beautiful in a bikini or swimsuit unless you look like this woman. Body-shaming at its worst.

Just think about what these harsh messages are doing to the young, impressionable kids of this country and others alike. Teaching them insecurity and exposing them to sexual violence from the moment their minds process these sort of ideals is unhealthy and wrong. From low self-esteem to unhealthy opinions on reationships and sex, these photos are doing nothing but further corrupting our already-damaged society.

Carol the Cartoonist

Carol Rossetti is an illustrator from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. An avid intersectional feminist, she creates beautiful portraits of unique characters and their stories. She entitles this series "The Women Project." In this series, she uses her colored pencils and talent to combat racism, sexism, transphobia, xenophobia, and more social disorders.

Take a look at some of my favorites below! You can also purchase her works or check out more in her gallery and store.

F.G.C.

Warning: This post contains disturbing medical malpractice information. Not for the faint of heart.

We have acronyms for many phrases within our culture, especially in this technological age (TTYL, OMG, LOL, WTF, and etcetera). These acronyms are harmless abbreviations that many young an old use on the daily. What about the not-so-harmless acronyms? For example, FGC. This is a shortened term for the discriminatory practice of Female Genital Cutting. Thankfully, women in our country have no reason other than protesting the act to know what FGC stands for. As an outdated and disgusting practice that has no medical or religious connotations, the epidemic must end. According to the Orchid Project's website, there are only sinister reasons for the practice. Some cultures believe that by cutting away these female organs, she will be faithful to her husband until death. It is a way of controlling, stealing, and shaming a woman's right to her own sexual discoveries. Here is an explanation of what exactly this malpractice entails and the four gruesome types:

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As you can see, this needs to end. Thankfully, FGC is slowly being outlawed. However, there are still many countries and regions who practice this religiously. We must stand up for those who are trapped without a voice.

Leave Women Alone

It happens constantly. Women and underage girls will be minding their own business, doing their own thing. Suddenly, a man is following her down every corner she turns. Unwelcomed stares plague her walk across the parking lot to her car and around her workplace. Calling out for her to show them her smile or displaced "compliments." Terrified of walking home in the dark, even with a few female friends accompanying her. These fears occasionally swallow her into reclusion and loneliness, afraid that anyone she meets comes with bad intentions.

These types of situations have happened to me more times than I can count, most of the time by much older customers in my own workplaces (while hosting at restaurants, being 16-18 years old). Why do a large portion of men on this planet think these behaviors are okay? I will be exploring all aspects of society that promote rape culture in my future posts. Stay tuned.

In the mean time...

Leave women alone.

This article penned by The Guardian is another source to check out if you'd like to read more.

Media Equality

     The Emmys have been around for 67 years. The fact that this is 2015 and Viola Davis is the first black woman to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is ridiculous. White-washing on television, movies, and commercials must come to a screeching halt. 

Representation is important.

Just watch the reactions of Taraji P. Henson (black dress) and Kerry Washington (silver dress) from the audience. 
When an entire group of people is voicing their oppression, who are you as an outsider to deny them?

Distractions

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     Leggings. Yoga pants. Skinny jeans. The most basic items in anyone's closet, great to wear as pants or otherwise. However, for some school districts, they are seen as "a distraction" to the male population of schools, including teachers. Even going so far as to ban these clothing items all together, our education systems are worrying less about education and more about sexualizing the bodies of prepubescent girls and young women.

     The disgusting ruling of a North Dakota high school states that these clothing items are not allowed on the girls of their school. If the rules are violated, these females are forced to wear humiliating suits and signs saying that they broke the dress code. I cannot contain my disdain at these claims that male students and teachers have a hard time controlling themselves or focusing while seeing a girl in leggings or jeans. If that is the case, your son needs counseling. 

     I am through putting up with the blaming of women for the shortcomings of men. Especially at such a young age, the districts and media supporting the new rules are negatively influencing young girls. By mandatory body-shaming girls into wearing baggy clothes, you are telling them that they are at fault for any sexual attack or unwanted advance made towards them. Which, in turn, creates a culture sick with victim-blaming. This wretched ruling must change, or the young women of our nation will never have their freedom.

Body Positivity

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     Lately, there has been an uproar concerning a video called "Dear Fat People." Six whole minutes of a thin woman discussing the existence (or rather lack thereof) of fat-shaming. Nicole Arbour believes that the phenomenon of judging, bullying, and stereotyping people by their weight does not exist. She doesn't know how wrong she is. Putting negative content out into the ether can never end up well. In this case, she was being considered for a choreographer position for a film, but was dismissed after the director of the body-positive flick saw her commentary.

     Stand against bullying. I don't care if they claim comments to be a joke, as the popular YouTuber did in her video above. The reality is, people are judged by their looks over everything else. We must work to change this, overshadow the preconceived notions by getting to know someone before assessing them. 

     Let's get something straight: There is absolutely nothing wrong with any body type. Sure, some that have resulted from eating disorders are unhealthy, but those are special circumstances. Whether you're round, thin, or anything in between, you are perfect. Loving one’s self is the first step to living with a healthy mindset. 

     Ending on a positive note: One of my favorite retaliation videos from the Nicole Arbour fiasco.

Who's to Blame?

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     You feel like watching a romantic comedy. Chances are, at least a third of these plotlines involve a couple falling in love; only to have one partner choose to be with their best friend over their current partner by title's end. Speaking from personal experiences, these types of films instill a quiet insecurity in many budding romances.

     Discovering new love is the purest form of magic that humans can feel. It's all fun and flowers until the first bump comes along. As soon as we see him (or her) smile at a message from a female friend, especially early on in the relationship, the feelings start to slowly emerge. Jealousy. Suspicion. Anger. Insecurity. We are taught by these plots to be upset with the other woman, not our significant others. Situations such as these usually escalate with female name-calling, even heated arguments over the other woman's intentions. This, in turn, causes a strain on the romantic relationship that was never there before.

     So next time you are faced with a situation such as this, calmly confront your significant other to discuss your concerns before feelings build, bottled up inside. We must fight the urge to blame another woman for our partner's mistakes. If someone does not make you feel secure in their arms, maybe that relationship isn't the healthiest option.

   

     

Small Steps

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     Today, many women are judged simply for exercising their rights as human beings. For example: Having sex, not having children, dressing freely, and working in provocative fields (stripping, etcetera). Society has always promoted the ridicule of female freedom, popularizing derogatory terms to describe their behaviors. Recently, a song was released by Usher to sort of soften closed-minded views on this subjects. "I Don't Mind" featuring Juicy J, released earlier this year, surfed radio waves on just about every contemporary channel you chose.

     Throughout the tune, Usher describes his relationship with a stripper whom he met in a nightclub. He croons his approval of her activities, even saying that he doesn't have the right to comment about the profession- since it's the whole reason he met her. While this type of song is a small step towards acceptance of women's rights, it's also a catch-22. By saying that her profession doesn't qualify her as being a "ho," this still negates that certain activities can lead to a woman being branded a "ho." Another thought the song raises is women needing approval from men to exercise their basic rights. "I don't mind," he says. Well, we do not need permission from a significant other or male to continue on with our existence without harmful labels.

     So, while a semi-great achievement for non-bullying, we are not quite there yet. I do appreciate the rise in the male music industry being able to respect women instead of exploiting them in lyrics.

Let's Talk About Meninism

     This is a subject near and dear to my heart. Feminism is what I live and breathe, but this post is about something slightly different. We're talking about the "Meninism" craze today. First of all, that awful name. The pure thought that one cannot support women's rights (or equal rights in general) without putting a male pronoun with it defeats the purpose of feminism. The word's feminine roots are the whole point. If you can't do anything without making it about your male-ness, you probably don't have the best intentions while becoming part of a women's rights movement. 

     Second, that Meninist Twitter account puts all seemingly good intentions to rest. With its tweets making light of domestic violence, sex-shaming, unwarranted sexualization of women's bodies, and just-plain mocking feminists in general, this account and "movement" is poison. We would love for men, women, and others to join up in the feminist cause, but not on their own derogatory terms.

     Third, we had a hashtag starting up not too long ago- after the fatal Santa Barbara university campus shooting, in which a male student shot females for turning him down on dates. This sparked an internet revolution, #YesAllWomen. The hashtag as designed for women to share their stories and bond over our mutual experiences involving male harassment. Fueling the hate-fire against feminism, "meninists" created their own hashtag, #NotAllMen. Which is, again, turning something from being about women into being about men. The truth is, all women have experienced some sort of injustice (catcalling, rape, fear of walking down the street, pay gaps, etcetera) simply for their gender. It was not meant to call all men disgusting pigs, but to show the world how discerning it is to be female in a male-dominated society.

Menial Millennials

   
     Let's take a minute to review all the things that some non-millennial adults in today's world seem to think of us. Impolite, selfish ("The Selfie Generation"), and no respect for authority. I know some of us embody all of these qualities, but certainly not all. The kids of this generation are some of the bravest, hard-working, and intelligent people I have ever encountered. We are strong and don't scare easily.

     Impolite. A word I have heard over and over again spoken about young people these days. However, I have yet to experience more than a handful rude encounters with people my age. I have, however, experienced impolite actions from the Baby Boomers in far more situations. We may have our phones in our faces most of the time, but we never miss a single "Please," "Thank you," or "Pardon me."

     Growing up with technology at your fingertips can change everything about how we view our world. Sure, the invention of Twitter and Facebook may have tweaked up everyone's sense of self-awareness; but it also banded us together, for the first time, people from across the globe could relate to each other in their happiest or most difficult of times. Are you a LGBTQ society member who feels isolated in your hometown? There are people out there who understand and can help you conquer the seemingly everlasting struggles. So yes, we may enjoy taking photos of ourselves more than necessary, but at least we are self-loving as a majority instead of the opposite.

     I personally have a high respect for police officers and other law enforcement agencies, but fight any way I can to diminish the inherently violent and racist system of injustice that many Americans face daily; which includes police force corruption. This "Shoot First, Ask Questions Later" machine the force has become today is not okay. We millennials are tired of facing and witnessing racial and violent injustice, and we're rising up.

Meet the Author

Shelby and Sushi

     Hey everyone, I’m a new transfer student from Wichita. I’m a junior at Washburn University, coming in with an Associates degree in Liberal Arts from Butler Community College. Singing and performing are my life. I was on a full-ride Vocal Music Scholarship at Butler for two years and loved every second of it. Switching gears here at Washburn, I am a Communications major with emphasis in Advertising. I have a pug puppy named Sushi, whom I adore! 

Tired pup after a fun day at the dog park!

 

Check out my professional portfolio to learn more about my professional skills or to contact me via email.

trainshelby.weebly.com

     My blog will be focusing on pop culture and feminism in the world today. Join me in exposing the injustics all around us and doing better by them every day.

"Don't allow the world to define your greatness, for most of this world is blind."

-Unknown