Pretty Little Things

Gems amongst free e-books from Barnes and Noble

2011-01-07T18:06:00.002-05:00

If you are an owner of the Nook by Barnes and Noble, you may want to take advantage of their special offer going on through January 17. Barnes and Noble is offering several titles from Kaplan Publishing for free! Go here to check out the books.

Most of the books seem academic in nature; there are, after all, nearly 3 pages of AP, SAT, and ACT test prep books. But, the special is offering a handful of gems too. Here are a few titles that piqued my interest and made it into my e-book library:

Before Roe V. Wade: Voices that Shaped the Abortion Debate Before the Supreme Court Ruling by Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegal

History in Blue: 160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers by Allan T. Duffin

Angel of Death Row by Andrea D. Lyon

Reaching the Bar: Women in All Stages of their Law Career by Robin Sax

Stumbling Along the Beat: A Policewoman's Uncensored Story from the World of Law Enforcement by Stacie Dittrich

The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole and Harriet Washington

Reviews to come!

Gifts with a conscience

2010-11-30T21:43:00.012-05:00

Change.org has put together a Holiday Gift Guide featuring a variety of creative and thoughtful gifts that "advance the causes you and those close to you are passionate about."

Here are three of my favorite ideas from the gift guide:

For Human Rights Activists: Artsy designs and compelling causes make Rosa Loves t-shirts great gift ideas. Each design is tied to a specific story and human rights-related need, and the profits go toward meeting that need. Once the goal has been met, the shirt goes out of production, making each design a limited edition.

For the Sustainable Foodie: Sign up for a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership. A CSA entitles members to a regular delivery or pick-up of fresh, seasonal produce from a farm near them – a healthy choice for consumers and for the planet. To find a CSA near you or your loved ones, use LocalHarvest’s online CSA locator.

For LGBT Equality: Your purchases can count toward LGBT equality, not just more airline miles. Over at LoveandPride, you can pick up an Erase the Hate pendant, with a portion of proceeds going to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. And if that’s not enough love, you can pick up an Erase the Hate T-Shirt, too.

Click here to check out the rest of the guide.

Stay tuned for PLT's own personal holiday gift guide!

11 yr old activist: What's wrong with our food system

2010-11-29T19:32:00.003-05:00

Little kids like this make me feel so unaccomplished. Still, watch the video, because it's really impressive.

Yeah, that about sums it up

2010-11-03T08:03:00.000-04:00

Via Gabby's Playhouse:

How every single discussion about sexism and woman-type stuff on the internet (and real life) has ever happened and ever will happen, always, forever, until the earth finally falls into the sun. (Or until the patriarchy is dismantled.)

Click to see the whole thing full-size.

Vote 2010

2010-11-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

All pessimism about this midterm election aside, go vote! Seriously!

SNL Throwback: Bitch is the new Black

2010-11-01T22:05:00.004-04:00

I'm sitting here watching the TV Special "Women of SNL" (Check it out if you're not!) They just aired this clip. This was a special edition of Weekend Update - "Women's News."

Amen, Tina. Amen.

NYC considers public awareness campaign, legislation to discourage catcalling

2010-11-01T21:16:00.004-04:00

New York City councilmembers are considering enacting legislation to help eliminate catcalling in the city.

Recently, some ladies from Hollaback NYC gave testimony to the Council about their experiences with catcalling and harassment. The group is pushing the city to commission a study, a public awareness campaign and maybe even legislation, including "no-harassment zones" around schools, according to NBC New York.

This has spurred some controversy for a few years. There are questions of legislation potentially interfering with First Amendment rights and there is concern over whether this is the wisest way to use lawmakers' time as well as taxpayer dollars.

Fair points. However, as one Hollaback speaker said,

"Because of street harassment, from a young age women learn that public spaces are male territory," Kearl said. "They learn to limit the places they go, they try not to be in public alone — especially at night — and when they are alone, they stay on guard."

Street harassment is a systemic problem that is way too normalized in our culture. I remember the first time I was catcalled, back when I was in high school. I was embarrassed but otherwise didn't think much of it. I thought it was just a part of being a female, but that's an attitude that should no longer be tolerated.

If using taxpayer dollars is not the way to deal with this problem, what is? We should be teaching children from a young age to respect other people as well as respect others' personal space - that way we can get at the root of the problem. But for now, a public awareness campaign and legislation to protect school kids seems like the best solution we've got.

Either way, here's to the Hollaback ladies for taking such a strong stand on the issue.

High school cheerleaders want less skimpy uniforms

2010-10-05T18:11:00.004-04:00

A group of high school cheerleaders in Connecticut has garnered national media attention because they want new uniforms that are less revealing.

As one student says:

"It really hurts our self esteem," Bridgeport Central senior Ariana Mesaros told the Board of Education, according to the Post. "I am embarrassed to stand up here dressed like this. Is this really how you want Bridgeport to be represented?"

The girls took their concerns all the way to the Board of Education, which is now working on making changes to the uniform.

I tip my hat to these girls for taking a stand about something they care so much about. Good job, ladies!

I thought I was the only one turned off by Cosmo...

2010-10-03T14:46:00.000-04:00

from PostSecret

My Thoughts Exactly!

How not to advertise to girl gamers

2010-09-23T22:27:00.002-04:00

I've spent the past 10 minutes trying to come up with some witty response to this ad, but it seems I've been left speechless. Way to enforce gender stereotypes, gaming industry.

Don't Get Fat, Thin is In

2010-09-09T13:36:00.001-04:00

I've been a subscriber to Food Network Magazine for a while now, and I've always been impressed with the publication. That is until I read one of their most recent magazines. In their 10 Things You Should Know About article, the magazine recently featured Slim Chips, the brain child of Icelandic-Italian design firm Hafsteinn Juliusson. Slim Chips is edible paper with organic flavoring. Peppermint, sweet potato, and blueberry, anyone?. The tag line on the bag says, "Instead of getting fat you can now eat paper with flavor. It's like eating tasty air".

This zero calorie treat is meant to be ironic, but the "humorous jab" is lost on me considering the fat-phobic society we live in. "Thin is In," says the article. Food Network Magazine, is this really a message you want to convey to your readers?

[Alternative blog title: Food Network Magazine Needs to Learn a Thing or Two About Fat Positivity]

Words of Wisdom: Clare Boothe Luce

2010-08-28T19:01:00.003-04:00

Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, "She doesn't have what it takes." They will say, "Women don't have what it takes."

- Clare Boothe Luce

In honor of a true Civil Rights Activist

2010-08-28T18:47:00.003-04:00

Here's video from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s history "I Have a Dream" Speech.

Words of Wisom: Sarah Silverman

2010-08-20T22:37:00.004-04:00

Reading List: Holy Skirts by Rene Steinke

2010-08-20T18:02:00.004-04:00

Holy Skirts: A Novel of a Flamboyant Woman Who Risked it All for Art

If the title doesn't already convince you to pick up the book...

Holy Skirts is a fictionalized life story about a very real and very awesome woman, Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven. She is a woman who is determined to live her life according to her own rules despite growing up with the pressures of being a young woman at the turn of the 20th century. She hung out with the likes of Man Ray and Djuna Barnes. She created clothing from various items she found dumpster diving, and she protested the war by reciting a poem and holding a giant phallus.

Holy Skirts explores the beginning of Elsa's life in Germany where she is a sexually liberated young women to her rise as an influential avante-garde and dadaist figure in Greenwich, New York.

This novel was quite the page-turner-- so much so, I often got caught reading it when I should have been working

Net Neutrality Public Hearing

2010-08-19T20:49:00.003-04:00

The first public hearing over net neutrality is currently under way. Watch a live broadcast below:

theuptake on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free

90 years of women's suffrage

2010-08-18T17:40:00.004-04:00

Today is the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment. Here's a big THANK YOU to all the people who made it happen!

Sheryl WuDunn, author of Half the Sky, on TED Talks

2010-08-17T21:10:00.005-04:00

Sheryl WuDunn on the global oppression of women: "The central moral challenge of this century is gender inequity."

I plan to check out Sheryl WuDunn's new book Half the Sky.

Making your hair shinier and bouncier...while simultaneously giving you cancer

2010-08-15T23:48:00.008-04:00

Feminist debates over unrealistic standards of the beauty industry set aside, people like to use beauty products. And these products should be unquestionably safe.

Annie Leonard, the creator of the well-known video the Story of Stuff, recently released the Story of Cosmetics which reveals that most of the beauty products available on supermarket shelves are loaded with cancer-causing chemicals. The video was released on the heels of the introduction of the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, a bill which aims to update the regulations of the cosmetics industry.

Leonard provides some suggestions for giving the cosmetics industry a "make-over" (such as supporting the bill), but it got me thinking about what sorts of products to use in the meantime.

Recently I went to Target to buy a few personal care items. As usual, I deliberated over which items to purchase. I went with the most eco-friendly items that were available:

Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
Target is now carrying Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. I'd seen the Dr. Bronner's website before but didn't want to pay shipping and handling for a bottle of soap, so I decided to buy it in the store when I found it. At nearly $10 a bottle, it's not exactly affordable, but it is efficient. It can be used for almost anything - as a body wash, shampoo and as face wash. According to the bottle, it doesn't contain foaming agents, but it's just as lather-y as other soaps. What's even better is that it's certified fair trade. It looks like more local stores are carrying Dr. Bronner's soaps, but, of course, you can always order them from the website.

Yes to Carrots
I bought my first Yes To Carrots product a couple of months ago, also at Target. I bought the Soothing Eye Gel to remedy the many stressful, sleepless nights of my last semester in college. At $14.99 for a 30ml bottle this also was expensive. But I've been using it regularly and I have noticed a difference (and I honestly don't believe that's just a result of me trying to catch up on sleep). According to the website, "Yes To combines high-quality organic fruits and vegetables with a special mineral elixir derived from the Dead Sea to nourish and hydrate naturally." I also purchased the berry Yes To Carrots lip balm. I'm a BIG fan of lip balm (I have at least one stick in my pocket at all times) and I only buy certain brands. But I really liked this one and at $2.99, I think the price was comparable to other major brands like Chapstick. I'm actually at the very end of my stick and will probably buy a new one this week.

But, anyway, on this particular visit, I purchased Yes To Tomatoes facial wash. It doesn't irritate my skin like other facial soaps. My face really does feel smooth and clean when I use it. However, one container costs $9.99, so my wallet certainly wasn't as happy as my face afterward.

evolution of smooth
Lastly, I purchased evolution of smooth shaving cream for the second time. To be honest, I purchased my first bottle awhile back on a whim when the bottle's design caught my attention. Generally I try not to buy things because of packaging, but the front of the bottle also boasts that it's paraben-free and it wasn't much more expensive than other shaving creams. Later on, my roommate asked me about it after she read about the shaving cream in Bust magazine. That's when I started to pay attention. eos seems to be really into the whole image/marketing image thing, but if the products are paraben-free and use natural ingredients, then that's fine by me.

After buying and using these products, I came to two (probably obvious) conclusions:

1. Organic/natural/whatever ingredients are healthier for us and work better
2. but they're damn expensive.

Currently I am so unemployed and so broke that I'm living with my parents again. But I justified buying these products because I thought of them as an investment in my health. I might be a little more broke now, but if I don't have to pay for chemotherapy treatments in a few years, I'll be better off in the long run. And I'd much rather give my money to a company like Dr. Bronner rather than a mega-corp. like Procter & Gamble.

However, I realize that that justification certainly will not work for everyone. Especially now, during this economic recession, it's unrealistic to expect most people to pay more for certain products. (Intersectionality alert!) This certainly could inspire a discussion of the injustices surrounding classism, but...I will save that for another day.

That said, today I came across few recipes for DIY products on Rowdy Kitten, like this one for using baking soda as a shampoo and this one for making lip balm and lotion.

Another resource I've found is Make Your Place, a $7 book all about making your own cleaning products, from shampoo (and pet shampoo!) to floor cleaners. The author has also written companion zines such as How To Make Soap Without Burning Your Face Off.

I also found an instructable about DIY mineral make-up, which seems pretty cool.

But for those of us who are not burgeoning chemists or just don't have that much time on our hands, what do we do?

It seems that until cosmetics companies choose to update their standards, we will have to make sacrifices - either money or time - if we want to use safe products.

What kinds of products do you use? Have you ever DIY'd your make-up? Leave any suggestions in the comments!

For more about natural beauty products, check out the following links:
The Thrifty Girl's Guide to Primping
AllNaturalCosmetics.com
Organic Makeup and Skincare

Music Monday: La Roux

2010-08-15T21:50:00.006-04:00

British electro-pop duo La Roux isn't explicitly feminist - they don't sing about social justice issues, unlike other bands.

But besides their catchy single, "Bulletproof," La Roux caught my attention because of vocalist Elly Jackson's androgynous look - which isn't necessarily unique in the grand scheme of things, but it certainly is a unique look among today's biggest pop stars. She's even refused to wear heels during a performance.

I definitely admire her for standing up to stylists and only wearing what she's comfortable in.

Check out the video for "Bulletproof" below and tell me it doesn't make you want to dance:

La Roux - Bulletproof
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Am I blowing this totally out of proportion?

2010-08-03T19:34:00.003-04:00

I know this issue isn't specific to women or feminism, but I felt the need to share as it concerned my most recent purchase of birth control pills...

I'd like to give a big Fuck You to Kelly P., my local Walgreens pharmacist, for failing to alert me she'd changed my birth control prescription to the generic brand.

A week ago, I went in to Walgreens to get my prescription for Yaz filled, and the amount due was only $15. I was elated thinking my Yaz prescription would only cost me $15 since I've been paying a whopping $60 at my university health center. Puh. How foolish was I?

My bag felt weird, so I sneaked a peek before I exited the store. To my surprise I didn't see my usual box of Yaz sitting on the bottom of my bag. I panicked. I thought she'd gotten the wrong prescription from my university health center which would result in not being able to receive my actual prescription for another three days (and I absolutely needed the prescription in two).

The pills in the bag did appear to be birth control pills. Something called Gianvi, which I'd not heard of at the time. So, I wondered if the pharmacist mixed my prescription up with another customer's.

I darted back to the counter to question Ms. P. about my prescription. A line had already built up at the counter in the minute I was away. But, the pharmacist did see me, and she coolly said, "It's a generic," like this was no big deal, and she waved me on.

Perhaps I'm blowing this all out of proportion. Although, the look on my mother's face after I told her this story said otherwise. What really gets to me is this individual is making assumptions about my body and my health. Contrary to popular belief, name brand drugs and generic drugs are not exactly the same. Some people do have adverse reactions to binders in generic drugs that may not appear in the name brand drug, of which I'm sure the pharmacist was fully aware. So, I'm baffled as to why she wouldn't give me even the slightest heads up about the new pills. Adverse reactions aside, this is a powerful, little pill; it alters my body and my hormones. It keeps me from getting pregnant! And this pharmacist had the audacity to let me leave under false pretenses.

-J

Music Monday: Ode to Riot Grrrl

2010-08-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

How can we possibly have a music feature without honoring some of the greatest, most-groundbreaking feminist rock stars of all time?

The Riot Grrrl movement is synonymous with the Third Wave movement of the 1990's. It symbolizes a time when adolescent girls and young women were taking charge of their music - by making it.

Hardcore punk-rock had been mostly a male phenomenon. Girls were excluded from hardcore the same way they were excluded in society from many other male-only rituals, whether street gangs or USA football. The "riot grrrrls" movement of the 1990s changed the sociopolitical landscape of punk-rock by introducing the "girl factor" into the equation of frustration/ depression/ desperation/ anger. - A History of Rock and Dance Music

The artist most frequently associated with the movement is resident badass Kathleen Hanna, who apparently inspired the title for Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. Her band Bikini Kill is iconic of Riot Grrrl.

Hanna, a former exotic dancer and volunteer at a women's shelter, started writing a feminist fanzine called Bikini Kill along with fellow Evergreen College students Tobi Vail and Kathi Wilcox.

Soon they decided to form a band of the same name and enlisted guitarist Billy Boredom. The rest, as they say, is herstory.

The band is most well known for its single, "Rebel Girl":

When she talks, I hear the revolutions
In her hips, there's revolutions
When she walks, the revolution's coming
In her kiss, I taste the revolution

(Ed. note: This is a fan-made video.)

Riot Grrrl is important for many reasons. Women and girls took their place in punk music for the first time. But more significantly, the music was empowering and addressed important social issues such as domestic violence and LGBTQ rights.

Check out the Riot Grrrl manifesto and Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, to be published in October, and, of course, a list of Riot Grrrl bands.

PLT is on Twitter!

2010-07-28T15:36:00.002-04:00

Good news! Pretty Little Things is now on Twitter...finally. Follow us at @lil_things for links to feminist news and commentary as well as updates about new PLT posts.

Music Monday: Flobots edition

2010-07-26T00:04:00.001-04:00

The Flobots, who hail from Denver, Colorado, found mainstream success with their song, "Handlebars." I've been hooked on the Flobots ever since I learned the meaning behind the hit single:

"The lyrics came to me as I was riding a bike home from work with my hands in the air — I had just learned how to do it — and I felt triumphant, but at the same time, I knew there were people at that moment who were being bombed by our own country. And I thought that was incredibly powerful. We have these little moments of creativity, these bursts of innovation, and every time that happens, that innovation is used to oppress and destroy people. So it struck me as beautiful and tragic at the same time." - Jonny 5, MC

All of the band's songs have a really uplifting message - they all center around a theme of justice and social change. One of my favorite lines is from "The Effect:"

To sit and watch the needle peak with Mario C
Reppin' CO and 303
(Speak up, girl)
Even if it's what they're against
Do the Helen Keller and confront male arrogance

...which, of course, is a jab at fellow Coloradoan "band" 3OH!3's and their song, "Don't Trust Me."

They also have a unique sound; their music is a blend of empowering hip-hop lyrics and traditional rock instruments along with a viola (played by a woman!) and sometimes even a trumpet.

And possibly the coolest thing about the Flobots is the organization the members started, Flobots.org, which "works to create positive social change by harnessing the power of music and those who love it. We view music as a tool for therapy, community building, leadership development and action."

I went to a Flobots show a few months ago when they were on tour, and I even had the opportunity to meet some of the band members. They are some of the nicest, most down-to-earth people ever. And their show - their performance - is among the best live I've ever seen.

I highly recommend both albums, Fight with Tools and Survivor Story. Until then, check out their song, "White Flag Warrior" with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against:

Girl Gamers: What's in a name?

2010-07-01T20:00:00.002-04:00

I have never referred to myself as a "girl gamer". But, I suppose I fit the definition. I am, indeed a woman, and I spend more hours than I care the admit playing video games. I started playing video games at the wee age of five. My mother swore it was just a phase as she sold my Super Nintendo at a garage sale; I cried. I've never fully recovered from the separation. And, much to my mother's dismay, 16 years later, I still haven't grown out of that video game phase.

I spent 80 hours of my Spring Break of '04 playing Final Fantasy VIII, only taking breaks to sleep, use the rest room, and zap the occasional quesadilla in the microwave. I have caused a boy from Hong Kong to skip an entire day of college classes just so he could practice his moves in Soulcalibur to ensure I wouldn't beat him anymore. I have regrettably thrown my controller at my TV screen after getting my rear kicked too many times in a row by a boss. I can get as many head shots as my boyfriend in Resident Evil, and I use less continues in the Metal Slug series than my boyfriend.

But, I'm torn as to whether I should embrace the title "girl gamer" or if I should reject it with every ounce of my existence.

Why is there a need to specify one's sex in the world of video games? Does it suggest gals who play video games are somehow not as good or not as competitive? This is so far from the truth; many girls who dedicate their time to gaming are just as good as their male competitors. And many of these girls would probably prefer to be considered as an equal instead of a rarity as it so often seems to be the case. Why is it hard so believe girls like to kick back and defend their borders from zombies, radiated mutants, and skags?

That being said, part of me wonders if, for the time being, the title is important. Gamer culture is still geared toward a male audience despite the growing population of female gamers. Women (over the age of 18) make up 40% of the gaming population (via ESA). However, female video games characters, if present in a game at all, tend to reflect an image terribly difficult to obtain, not unlike the images our TVs, movies, and magazines portray. My breasts will never be that large, and my waist will never be that small. Nor will I ever wear such little armor if ever forced to fight aliens, ninjas, and other vicious fiends.

Ivy Valentine from Soulcalibur
Really, how will this protect you during a fight to the death?

And, many of the games designed for girl gamers are disappointing to say the least:

There more gender neutral games available-- like the Final Fantasy series or the Kingdom Hearts series. But, rarely do these games have have female lead heroes. Lulu and Rikku of Final Fantasy X may kick more fiend behind than lead-hero Tidus, but Lulu and Rikku are still just sidekicks. And, Rinoa and Kairi need to be protected and saved by their less-than-charming prince.

I wonder if embracing the title of "girl gamer" will eventually, in some way influence game design. In some ways it has-- Zoey and Rachelle from the Left 4 Dead series as well as Faith, from Mirror's Edge are a bit more realistic looking. Their outfits are understated, and they provide characters with sufficient protection (from natural elements that is, like the rain or cold. No matter how thick a track jacket may be or how rad a Depeche Mode shirt may be, these articles of clothing to not protect an individual from a horde of zombies).

Left: Zoey, L4D; Rochelle, L4D 2

Maybe if we embrace the title of "girl gamer" there will be more female oriented games that don't revolve around traditional gender roles, like babysitting, planning weddings, or learning to cook (all of which you can play on a pink Nintendo DS, btw). Instead, I hope for games that have strong female lead roles-- ones who don't need the help of a male companion. I hope for games that present an even more realistic image of women, not just some hyper-sexual object of ogling. And, I hope people, regardless of gender, will appreciate these games.

What do you think? Girl gamer or no?

Whoa...women use computers?

2010-06-25T23:21:00.006-04:00

Via Flowtown.com:

Women use social media.

Damn. Go figure.

I respect that Flowtown wants to bring awareness to the fact that Yes! Women do use computers! but was this necessary? Did anyone think women weren't using the internet? And why are men being held as the standard?

Or as K.A. pointed out, what kind of women are using social media? Upper class women? White or black or Latina women? Lesbians? Some of that information is available via Brian Solis in Revealing the People Defining Social Networks.

Children's books revisited: Putting children's lit theory into practice

2010-06-22T21:46:00.007-04:00

My niece and nephew are visiting for the summer. In an effort to keep them from being bored and to encourage them to participate in educational activities, I brought them to the local library today. I tried looking up books with a feminist message, but had little luck. I tried using Jackie's list of books featuring girls and boys acting in non-traditional gender roles, but none of them were available. I wasn't surprised. My town is a small, conservative one, so I didn't have high expectations. But I kept wandering the aisles and 'lo and behold, I found political books in the Juvenile section.
Jacob, my nephew, and I browsed the books and I encouraged him to check out one about Racism. We are Puerto Rican and "being a little brown boy," as he put it, is something he can understand. I told him to try it out and, if he liked it, we'd check out more political books in the future.

Finding a good book for my niece, Ariana, was a little trickier. She's only seven, and not yet at an advanced reading age. But we found a small - very small - section of books in Spanish. Jacob and Ariana both want to learn the language, but she's especially shy about speaking it. But we picked out one called I am Latino: The Beauty in Me and another, an old Cuban story, that was entirely all in Spanish.

We sat down to read I am Latino. She was really hesitant at first, but ended up liking it. There are Spanish words interspersed throughout the book, so she was speaking Spanish without even realizing it. By the end, she decided to check it out. It's frustrating that Latinos even need a book to convince them that they're beautiful, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm still looking for good books for the kids, so if you know of any, please leave your suggestions in the comments. For more information about feminist books for kids, check out The Amelia Bloomer Projec t, Nontraditional Pursuits of Boys and Girls, Veganfamily.co.uk and this list on Amazon.

Music Monday: Hesta Prynn

2010-06-19T15:17:00.008-04:00

I have to admit, finding new artists to listen to and really enjoy is quite a challenge for me. With websites like Last.fm and even a handful of radio stations in my south central area of Michigan that are actually not too shabby, finding new artists should be a breeze, right?

Unfortunately, the last time I really went gaga over an artist was back in February. I was introduced to Hesta Prynn (Julie Potash) of Northern State fame when, by some strange twist of fate, Last.fm actually recommended something worthwhile. And after listening to Seven Sisters, I was absolutely smitten.

And, while you're at it, have a listen to Northern State--slightly more attitude than Hesta Prynn solo. These girls are the epitome of rad!

Happy Juneteenth!

2010-06-19T10:51:00.004-04:00

Today is the 145th anniversary of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It is the oldest known celebration that commemorates the end of slavery and it's a holiday in 36 states. Check out this link for a list of states. Is it celebrated where you live?

Prop 8 closing arguments delivered this week

2010-06-18T21:44:00.005-04:00

Via Mother Jones:

"The central purpose of marriage in virtually all societies and at all times has been to channel potentially procreative sexual relationships into enduring stable unions to increase the likelihood that any offspring will be raised by the man and woman who brought them into the world."

That is a direct quote from Charles Cooper, the attorney defending Proposition 8, from this week's closing arguments.

Read a transcript of the closing arguments here via the Equal Rights Foundation.

The ruling may be delivered as soon as July. This is historic. If the Supreme Court upholds the ruling, it may effect gay marriage laws throughout the country.

Until then, for some Prop 8 fun, watch "Prop 8 - The Musical."

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... from Jack Black

Annnd we're back

2010-06-18T19:21:00.000-04:00

Why hello there! It was a really crazy year for both Jackie and I, which is why we haven't blogged. But never fear! We are back and better than ever. Promise.

$1 a Day Keeps Pregnancy Away?

2009-07-28T19:29:00.005-04:00

In Greensboro, N.C. the College-Bound Sisters program pays teenage girls $1 a day to not get pregnant. The money is saved in a college fund and each girls receives the money upon her enrollment in college. The program, funded by a state grant, requires that the girls attend a weekly meeting in order to receive their incentives. I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's a rather unorthodox system, but it seems to be working. But I wonder if the program leaders teach the girls how to avoid pregnancy. Thoughts?

161 years of fighting for women's rights in America

2009-07-20T16:44:00.005-04:00

Yesterday and today mark 161 years since the Seneca Falls Convention. In honor, we're posting the Declaration of Sentiments:

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one portion of the family of man to assume among the people of the earth a position different from that which they have hitherto occupied, but one to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes that impel them to such a course.

We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of the women under this government, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to demand the equal station to which they are entitled.

The history of mankind is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman, having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

Go out and celebrate!

Who Says Women Aren't Funny?

2009-07-20T16:36:00.003-04:00

The Hollywood Reporter held an Emmy roundtable discussion featuring Amy Poehler, Sarah Silverman, Christina Applegate, Mary-Louise Parker and Jane Krakowski.

Love these women.

You can see the rest of the interview here.

Modern-day Fairy Tales

2009-06-24T19:30:00.006-04:00

Check out the work by Vancouver photographer, Dina Goldstein.

From Goldstein:

The project was inspired by my observation of three-year-old girls, who were developing an interest in Disney's Fairy tales. As a new mother I have been able to get a close up look at the phenomenon of young girls fascinated with Princesses and their desire to dress up like them. The Disney versions almost always have a sad beginning, with an overbearing female villain, and the end is predictably a happy one. The Prince usually saves the day and makes the victimized young beauty into a Princess.

I have never been a fan of Disney. I've certainly never understood the fascination with passive women always needing to be saved. Disney constantly promotes ageism, racism and sexism (Don't believe me? Check out Mickey Mouse Monopoly) and I appreciate the fact that Goldstein has found a smart, creative way to combat useless stereotypes.

See the rest of the series and more on her website.

Axe does it again

2009-06-24T19:11:00.002-04:00

I don't have much to say about this, other than I'm not surprised. But definitely check out the analysis at Sociological Images.

Hooray New Hampshire!

2009-06-04T20:10:00.001-04:00

New Hampshire legalized gay marriage today. Six down, 44 more to go!

Honoring George Tiller

2009-06-01T18:14:00.006-04:00

George Tiller, the abortion provider who was murdered yesterday is being honored this evening in Union Square in New York. Had I known a bit earlier, I would have gone (I'm in NY for the summer), but I was on my way back home by the time I found out.

Feministing has a list of vigils across the country, so if there's one in your area, I hope you have the chance to go. Here's the list and more information about what you can do.

Read more about what's going on at RH Reality Check.

Abortion provider killed

2009-05-31T21:48:00.002-04:00

An abortion provider in Kansas was shot to death right before entering a church.

Read the story here.

The first black Disney princess

2009-05-30T17:33:00.002-04:00

So we've all heard about Disney's new movie that's (finally) featuring a black princess. The New York Times has a piece about both the positive reaction and criticism it's gotten so far. I'm not a fan of Disney, but I think I'd be willing to show up to the theater for this one, just to check it out.

Prop 8 upheld

2009-05-26T20:21:00.006-04:00

But unfortunately we're leaving the evening on a sour note.

Today Proposition 8 was upheld in the California Supreme Court.

Here's the explanation:

In a 6-1 ruling, the court followed most of the predictions of legal experts, concluding the judiciary would be overstepping its authority if it overturned a gay marriage ban the voters decided to embed in the California constitution. Chief Justice Ronald George, who authored last year's historic ruling striking down the state's prior ban on gay marriage, wrote Tuesday's majority opinion, stressing that the decision is not based on whether the measure "is wise or sound as a matter of policy,'' but instead "concerns the right of the people ... to change or alter the state Constitution itself."

And as I was typing this, my grandmother started asking my cousin and I how we feel about gay marriage, insisting that "it's just not nice" to see two girls getting married. She's an 85-year-old Hispanic woman, so I can't hold it against her. I just hope that things change soon.

Sotomayor nominated for Supreme Court Justice

2009-05-26T19:51:00.002-04:00

Great news! Today President Obama announced his nomination for the next Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor.

As a fellow Puerto Rican woman from the Bronx, I can't not be excited. Whoop whoop!

There's already been so much debate over her qualifications (Limbaugh: "she's a 'reverse racist'") and it's only been a day. I'm excited to see what will happen, but for now I'm just grateful that a Latina woman has come so far.

However, I am really interested to see what her stance on abortion is. Does anyone know?

Read more here, here and here.

Marriage Hunting Bra in Japan

2009-05-25T02:59:00.000-04:00

Amid Japan's falling marriage rate, Lingerie firm Triumph International has launched a new line of bras to help fix this problem. The lacy and rhinestone studded bra alone may catch the eye of many women. But the countdown clock in the middle is the real catch for marriage-minded women. After punching in the desired marriage deadline, the countdown will begin. After a woman finds her life partner and becomes engaged, the engagement ring is inserted into the slot above the timer. The clock stops and the Wedding March plays. Literally. Also included with this bra is a holder for the family seal and a small pen to be used to sign a pre-nup.

The little heart patches can be removed and worn on the hands. I imagine they're some sort of oven mitt? Pot holders maybe?

~~The rhinestones are what really sold me. My set should be arriving any day now...~~ A little over the top, dontcha think?

-Jackie

Are you sponge-worthy?

2009-05-24T17:21:00.003-04:00

A couple of interesting pieces yesterday in the New York Times:

First: Racially segregated proms still occur in Georgia

Second: The Sponge is returning

I don't know much about the sponge, but I'm glad there are more options available to women.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-11T01:35:00.004-04:00

I intended to post this early on Sunday. So what if I'm a tad bit late. The day after Mother's Day is still a good day to celebrate my mom (and yours)! Here is a top ten list:

10. She used to be able to understand Morse Code 30 words per minute.

9. During summer, she participates in several 5k walks for charity.

8. She was in the U.S. Army twice. First during the mid-1970s. Later during the mid-1980s. And, regardless of other individuals' feelings towards the military, I'm still proud of her.

7. She always knows what's going on in the world. Every little nook and cranny of the world.

6. She pushed me to try things I never would have considered doing. Ever. As a result I have a bunch of first and second place bowling trophies from when I was on a bowling league in 7th grade.

5. She still loves my dad and I even though we do stuff like this:

What? We thought it was funny...

4. She could probably beat you at Scrabble. She can rack up zounds of points with the word "Jo".

3. She went back to school to study accounting while holding a full-time job and helping my dad raise me. Oh, did I mention she was the "bread-winner" of the family at this time?

2. She beat cancer! Liposarcoma-- a malignant tumor that develops in fat cells. She had a tumor the size of a grapefruit in her thigh. She had it removed without going through radiation. A year later she's still cancer free!

1. She's a feminist too! (Need I say more?)

Your turn. Why is your mother awesome?

-Jackie

The Second and Third Waves

2009-05-10T20:53:00.003-04:00

Campus Progress critiques Naomi Wolf's most recent article, "Who Won Feminism?".

Faith 21

2009-05-03T19:44:00.004-04:00

Despite my conscience, I've long been a fan of Forever 21. Recently the store has released its first plus size line, Faith 21.

While I guess it's admirable (that's probably not the right word) that Forever 21 is becoming more inclusive, it's frustrating that the plus size line goes by a different name. Apparently consumers had asked for larger sizes, so it's like they're doing us a favor by granting it. But instead of just creating more clothes in more sizes, the plus size line is treated as if it's a novelty. The clothes, which run from size x-large to 2x, look identical to the clothes for "regular" girls, but are offered only in a few select stores.

What do you think? We should relax and just be grateful that they've created larger sizes?

Gamer Girls

2009-04-29T02:05:00.000-04:00

I have been known to dabble in the world of video games. And by dabble, I mean spending an obscene amount of hours battling monsters and completing side quests. I'm certainly not the only woman in the universe to do this, and finally, gaming companies have caught on to this "new" target audience. Gaming companies have finally started creating video games for girls!

This delightful bundle includes Personal Trainer: Cooking, a green Nintendo DS, and a beautifully designed carrying case. It will be released on May 3, and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com to make sure it arrives just in time for Mother's Day.

Cooking not your thing? Then, be sure to order to check out these superb games from Ubisoft's Imagine series:

Er...not quite what I was hoping for.

Equal Pay Day 2009

2009-04-28T14:32:00.005-04:00

I still remember the day in high school when I learned that the Equal Rights Amendment had never been passed, and that women still only make about three quarters of what men do. I was pissed. And what was worse was that no one else seemed to care. I realize that that moment, reading those words from an AP Government textbook, is one of the defining moments that made me a feminist.
The ERA has been brought forth to every congress since its creation in the 70s, and still it has not been passed. And still, even with the Equal Pay Act and now the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, there is still clear inequality in wages.
When we finally discussed in that government class, my teacher's answer was that the ERA just wasn't needed anymore, and that women are beginning to receive more equal wages.
I have yet to figure out where he got this information from.
Fair Pay is one feminist issue that is particularly important to me, which is why I'm participating in Blog for Fair Pay today. It's the day in 2009 when the average woman's earnings finally match that of the average man's earnings in 2008.

Check out the National Women's Law Center for more information and do your own blogging!

Japanese Women Fight Back

2009-04-27T14:09:00.006-04:00

I've studied Japanese for the past two and a half years. One of the first kanji I ever learned was the kanji for "woman".

Onna/おんあ

Two semesters ago, I learned the kanji for the word "cheap".

Yasui/やすい

My teacher (a woman) pointed out the kanji for "woman" was part of the kanji for "cheap"

After pointing it out she shook her head and said "dame desu/だめです", or "not good". Unfortunately, to remember this kanji "Women are cheap" pops into my head. I've also grown weary of Japanese women's place in society.

So, of course, I really appreciate this video about domestic abuse in Japan. The statistics are pretty alarming-- "1 in 3 Japanese women have been physically assaulted in a relationship"?

However, I hate how the end sounds so hopeless. The ending really just suggests that despite efforts, women's shelters, domestic abuse laws, and women speaking out nothing is really going to change, women will still remain as second class citizens.

Angie Zapata's killer convicted

2009-04-23T17:40:00.003-04:00

Little bit late on this, but Allen Andrade, the killer of transgendered woman Angie Zapata was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, this is the first time that a state hate crime statute led to a conviction in the murder of a transgendered person.

If you're not familiar with Angie's story, read about it here. (Trigger warning.)

Gender Roles in Children's Books

2009-04-22T21:52:00.000-04:00

This semester, I took a Children's Literature class. It's been an interesting class so far; we've learned about nursery rhymes and picture books and novels. We've discussed illustrations as art. And we've discussed censorship and "different perspectives" (which my teacher defined as, books about individuals who are "different" from us). Two weeks from finals, and we haven't discussed a certain topic, and this really surprises/upsets me.

Gender roles portrayed in children's books!

Traditional gender roles are typically forced onto children from a young age through images they see on TV, the toys they play with, their parents, and yes even children's books.
Girls are typically nurturers and passive. Boys are typically adventurers and independent.
But, let's face it, not every girl wants to play with dolls and restaurant sets, and not every boy wants to play sports or cops and robbers.

I'll bypass fairy tales and tall tales, because I'm sure we all know those are filled to the brim with sexist bull crap. But, several decades after women's rights movements, books portraying traditional gender roles (and occasionally, in the case of Douglas Wood's What Moms Can't Do ans What Dads Can't Do, sexist bull crap) line the shelves of libraries.

Of 35 of these recommended picture books showing girls pursuing non-traditional gender roles I could find only 15 in my university library.
Of 21 of these recommended picture books showing boys pursuing non-traditional gender roles I could only find 6 in my university library.

Strictly considering picture books, of my university's there are about 16 other books portraying non-traditional gender roles. In a library with four long rows of children's book

I'm not saying boycott the rest of the books because many still teach important values. I'm saying add more books that portray non-traditional gender roles. Books are important in helping young readers develop a perception of themselves as well as society. To incorporate most books portraying non-traditional gender roles could help relieve totally preposterous gender stereotypes.

To read more on gender roles in children's books, check out this article.

-Jackie

Plan B now available to 17-year-olds

2009-04-22T18:27:00.004-04:00

Good news! The age at which women (and men) are allowed to buy Plan B has been lowered by a year. This still poses a problem for teens below 17, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Afghan women protest new law that restricts their rights

2009-04-15T12:29:00.004-04:00

From the NY Times:

About 300 Afghan women, facing an angry throng three times that number, walked the streets of the capital on Wednesday to demand that Parliament repeal a new law that introduces a range of Taliban-like restrictions on women, and permits, among other things, marital rape.

It was an extraordinary scene. Women are mostly illiterate in this impoverished country, and they do not, generally speaking, enjoy anything near the freedom accorded to men. But there they were, most of them young, many in jeans, defying a threatening crowd and calling out slogans heavy with meaning.

This new law has three provisions that are especially upsetting: women cannot refuse sexual advances from men, women must have permission from their husbands before they can go to school or work outside the home, and women must dress up and wear make up if her husband wants her to.

President Hamid Karzai, who signed the bill into law, is looking for a way to have these provisions removed.

This is such an incredible example of global feminism and I'm thrilled that it made the front page of the NY Times.

Amazon suspected of homophobia

2009-04-13T10:23:00.004-04:00

Some concern and suspicion rose up this week, especially on Twitter, over Amazon. Books with "adult content," especially those with GLBT themes, have been removed from Amazon's ranking system, making it impossible for these titles to come up unless they are specifically searched for. This even includes titles on best sellers lists. Amazon is saying that it was caused by a glitch, but no one's really buying it. Read the Publisher's Weekly article for more, or follow the discussion on Twitter at #amazonfail.

Viva La Vulva!

2009-03-30T21:25:00.003-04:00

Do you know the difference between the vulva and the vagina? It seems that most people don't. I hadn't really given it much thought until I came across this article posted on the DePaul University website.

The author, founder of the V-Club in NYC, writes:

"Is there a sudden mass feminist amnesia about the difference between a vagina and a vulva?" my dear friend Emily Kofron pondered. "I doubt that men would tolerate a supposed celebration of their sexuality that confused a scrotum or testicle with a penis. Are we women so accustomed to subordination that we remain pathetically grateful for any acknowledgement of our female genitalia no matter how inaccurate?"

The difference between the vagina and the vulva probably doesn't seem like an issue worth discussing to most people. But when you look at it in a larger context, it's hard to believe that raising "vulva consciousness," as the author calls it, isn't part of our (at least not mine) typical feminist discourse.

I encourage you to read the article. I, for one, will make a conscious effort to use these terms correctly from now on, not interchangeably.

Happy 75th Birthday, Ms. Gloria Steinem

2009-03-25T21:05:00.001-04:00

Here's to many more.

Vermont Senate Votes to Legalize Same Sex Marraige

2009-03-25T11:41:00.002-04:00

Rock on Vermont! Now let's turn that bill into a law.

-Jackie

Women Rule Our Tribe

2009-03-23T10:06:00.003-04:00

I was clicking around Current TV as I do some nights to procrastinate, and I found this interesting video about the Mouso people of China.

The Mouso people are described as a matriarchal society. Women take on an important role in family and property, and family lineage passes through the female side. They practice a "walking marriage" where the woman can choose and change sexual partners, and the partners do not live with each other; however, men may visit a woman's family if invited.

Unfortunately, modernization and tourism have begun to creep into the Mouso way of life, and many think this tarnish the community.

-Jackie

A Night of Female Empowerment

2009-03-22T11:32:00.005-04:00

Last night I went to Rollins College to see a performance of The Vagina Monologues. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go because my school is having one this week, and I didn't know how many Monologues I could take. But I'm glad I went because watching it is always an amazing experience. It's such an incredible feeling to find yourself in such a safe space, where it's okay to be open and honest about domestic and sexual violence. Plus it was great to show some feminist solidarity within the whole community, not just my campus.
After the performance, they held a Take Back the Night rally. It was my first one ever, and it was a great experience. I'm helping organize one that will be this Thursday, so I definitely wanted to see how theirs turned out and pick up any pointers. It was very simple and short, but it was still such an emotional and empowering experience. I've been fortunate enough to have never been a victim of any kind of abuse, but I definitely shed a few tears during the speak-out. If you haven't before, but you ever have the chance to attend either The Vagina Monologues or a Take Back the Night rally, definitely go. You won't regret it.

Here is one of my favorite Monologues. What's yours?

- Bianca

My Little Red Book

2009-03-19T23:01:00.002-04:00

Check out Rachel Kauder Nalebuff's website for more info!

- Bianca

Greetings from the Other Half

2009-03-14T12:44:00.002-04:00

Howdy. I'm the other half of PLT, Jackie. When Bianca asked me to start this blog with her, I was pumped! I was excited by the idea of a forum focusing on feminism. But, I was also nervous.

Despite always considering myself a feminist, I don't think I really knew what it meant to be a feminist until last year when I became a more avid reader of blogs and news articles about women's issues, and when I joined my campus's Womyn's Equality Club. I was nervous because I felt new to feminism, and I didn't feel completely well-versed in the realm of feminism. But, all the more reason to partake in PLT, right?

In case you wanted to learn a little more about me: I'm a 20 year old gal studying English and Japanese (and maybe Marketing) at Western Michigan University. My interests include photography, writing, and playing video games. I also enjoy baking; one summer, I declared to bake one new goodie a week. But this plan quickly fell through because I hated doing all the dishes.

That's all for now. If you have any questions about PLT or the gals behind it, feel free to drop us a line! The e-mail address is in the sidebar to the right. And keep watching this space!

-Jackie

P.S. Happy Pi Day!

Hi! (About Bianca and PLT)

2009-03-13T23:50:00.001-04:00

I approached Jackie with the idea to start a blog a couple of months ago. An avid blog reader myself, I realized how useful blogs are both as social networking tools and also as an information source. I love writing and wanted to share my thoughts and ideas, and also wanted to bring the every day discussions I was having to an online forum. Jackie, also a writer, jumped at the idea.

We're both 20-year-old female college students who identify as feminist. So, naturally, we decided to write from that perspective and discuss our everyday lives and how we try to infuse them with feminism and other progressive values. This won't be all about heavy political jargon and analysis or pushing an agenda - it's really just about two down to earth college gals.

So here we are, the first introductory post. I thought the best way to start would be to tell you a little about myself.

My name is Bianca, I'm 20 and I go to school in Orlando. I'm studying journalism with a minor in women's studies. Besides writing, my interests (hobbies?) include art - specifically photography and design, and sometimes music. As for my feminism? I took an Introduction to Women's Studies course one summer on a whim, and I was hooked. Before fall started, I'd identified as feminist and had become an activist at my university. I'm currently an officer in our chapter of NOW; we formed a coalition of feminist groups and I help manage a radio station that we started. I'm starting my last year of school soon, so I'm slowly turning my activism into writing (like with this blog, for instance). I'm going to be starting a research project that will tell the story of a local toxic lake and the farmworkers that live and work near it.

You might have questions about our site name. We debated the title for a while, and eventually settled on Pretty Little Things. It was inspired by the play I Read About my Death in Vogue Magazine by Lydia Sargent. It's a low-key play, but it was performed at my school, and I fell in love with it. The phrase "pretty little things" was used to describe women throughout the past several decades - in the 50s they were no more than pretty little things, in the 60s they were "radical" pretty little things, then "independent" pretty little things - and so on, and so forth. But they remained and continue to be objectified.

So we chose the title as an homage to the play, and also to be ironic. Jackie and I are both young and petite, but by no means are we simply pretty little things. We're using this site as a means to have our voices heard, to prove that we are thinkers and speakers. Not things.

Oh! And the layout was hand-crafted by Jackie. Isn't it fantastic?

I hope this answered some questions. So welcome to the blog, and we hope you continue to visit.

- Bianca