“Once there was a girl named Mathangi, let’s call her Maya. Maya grew up on Temple Road in a tough town called Jaffna, where she learned to sing and dodge the bullets of soldiers who sometimes shot out the windows of her school. She knew her father was a freedom fighter for people who could […]
Read More M.I.A. Goes Straight for the JugularThere’s been a recent female uproar over a survey that was given by a dating app called Lovoo that revealed what 2,000 British men believe the traits of their ideal woman would be. It turns out that most men want their girlfriends to look like Kelly Brook, meaning a 5ft 5in brunette weighing in at 128 […]
Read More British Men’s “Perfect Girlfriend” Survey… Innocent Fantasy? or Feminist Nightmare?For my post this week I want to share with you a letter, written by a daughter to her mother. The letter, a chapter from Julia Morris’ book “Dear Mum,” intimately reveals what many young women have gone through in their relationships with their own mothers. It boldly opens, “Dear Mum, I was seven when I […]
Read More “Dear Mum:” A Letter You Need to ReadThis week, I am going to dedicate my quick hit to a truly inspiring individual. The person (who I will keep anonymous) sent me this message three days ago:
Read More Quick Hit: Female Empowerment: Paying it Forward**TRIGGER WARNING** – Subject of rape and it’s discourse in politics (specifically in India) As I write this, I’m sick to my stomach. This is mostly because I thoroughly did my research on this blog- topic, and I’m sad to say I really can’t stomach any more. In terms of why I did this horrific […]
Read More The Indian Politician Who Blames Female Victims for Rape …is a woman?Lately I’ve been coming across many op-ed pieces and conversations debating the question of whether or not you can call yourself a feminist if you shave “down there.” Or, if you’re a feminist either way, perhaps having pubic hair means you’re waaay radical, butch, or ant-feminine. All of these arguments really frustrate and confuse me.
Read More Time to Get Educated about Pubic HairYesterday, my roommate and I went to a local church here in Harrisonburg. All the people were super nice and it was great, but I found myself questioning or not agreeing with what was being said. So, I’m thinking there has to be some kind of medium for me. I would like to believe I […]
Read More Struggle with Faith and Feminism“It is sites like Grindr that are the reason people don’t take us seriously.” The words slide off his tongue smooth like whiskey and he doesn’t give a second thought. This gay boy just sits in all his outrage waiting for everyone to agree. “If these young, black boys would start pulling their pants up […]
Read More On Being Respectable: the Violent Nature of AcceptanceThe rise of social media has quickly become the principle means of infiltrating our consciousness with masses of viral messages, images, and social critiques. As such, we’ve no doubt been inundated with countless videos, memes, and blog posts that discuss the juxtaposition of reality and ideal, the very crux of which has infamously taken on […]
Read More Photoshopping Chronicles: An Exercise in Self-AcceptanceLet me just first say, that picking up the Women and Gender Studies minor was one of the best things to ever happen to me at JMU. It opened my eyes and taught me more about privilege and discrimination than 19 years of existing. It’s shaped who I am today, and built my critical eye […]
Read More Role Reversal – Crying wolf a little early? Preference vs. Understanding
ShoutOut! James Madison University 