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Author Archives: Karlyn
The Feminine Feminist: Strong, Successful and Stylish with Sparkle
We can’t be feminine and be feminist and be successful?
Zooey Deschanel begs to differ:
“I want to be a f‑-king feminist and wear a f–king Peter Pan collar. So f–king what?”
Does any one else see the irony of telling a magazine like Glamour that you’re a feminist when you’re surround by these other topics?
My thoughts exactly. In an interview with Glamour magazine she not only told them that she was a feminist but an effing feminist. Does any one else see the irony of telling a magazine like Glamour that you’re a feminist? But thatttt’s a whole different blog post.
In today’s culture women are supposed to be sweet, coy and passive. PROBLEM. Especially for me. I am an independent, strong, successful woman but also stylish. I love fashion. Truth. Does that make me any less of a feminist? No. I know there are different degrees of feminism but one thing I think they all have in common is shattering the limits that society has set for women. And by limits I mean stereotypes. And by society I mean the media. As Salon’s Mary Elizabeth Williams wrote in referring to Zooey’s statement, “This is exactly what feminism looks like. It’s not frightened or demure; it’s unconditional. And it wears a tiara if is wants to.” Hell yes it does.
Why is it that culture slaps a strong woman in the face, figuratively for the most part, for being “slutty,” “bitchy,” or “mannish.”
A perfect example of media abuse is Hillary Rodham Clinton. In case you’ve been living Continue reading
Reblog: A Letter to Victoria’s Secret From a Father
I became aware of this amazing letter from a friend who saw the link to my post How Young is Too Young to be Shopping at Victoria’s Secret on Facebook, he admitted he didn’t actually read my blog (thanks, btw…) but he had a feeling it was centered around the absurdity of Victoria’s Secret marketing ploys. And well, he would be correct. Way to know me.
So here it is from Rev. Evan Dolive—An open letter to Victoria’s Secret regarding their choice to make an underwear line aimed at young teenagers. (Read about it here)
Dear Victoria’s Secret,
I am a father of a three year old girl. She loves princesses, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins and drawing pictures for people. Her favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pistachios.
Even though she is only three, as a parent I have had those thoughts of my daughter growing up and not being the little girl she is now. It is true what they say about kids, they grow up fast. No matter how hard I try I know that she will not be the little ball of energy she is now; one day she will be a rebellious teenager that will more than likely think her dad is a total goof ball and would want to distance herself from my embarrassing presence.
I know that this is far down the line and I try to spend as much time as I can with her making memories of this special time.
But as I read an article today posted on The Black Sphere, it really got me thinking that maybe the culture that we currently find ourselves in is not helping the cause.
Recently I read an article that Victoria’s Secret is launching a line of underwear and bras aimed at middle school aged children. The line will be called “Bright Young Things” and will feature ” lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on them, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.”
How Young is too Young to be Shopping at Victoria’s Secret?
There’s been a lot of mention of unmentionables in the media lately. The most disturbing—a mother saying on national television that it’s OK for her nine-year-old daughter to shop at Victoria’s Secret for undies. I’m sorry… WHAT?!?!
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having cute panties and bras from the big girl store,” said Jenny Erikson, the mother.
At the age of nine, I was still wearing underwear with the days of the week and they had an elastic band all the way around with my staple brand at the time, Limited Too (now Justice). No “sling shot” style for this girl… well until the summer before I started freshman year in high school. I bought my first “sling shot” from Wet Seal while at the mall with my friend. Sorry mom. I have to admit I was really uncomfortable and embarrassed about the whole purchasing process because I knew I was too young and I was fourteen!
Hitting the fast forward button on little girls’ childhoods is far too common and when it’s the girls’ parents who are at fault, like Erikson, I get irritated because parents are supposed to be the protectors not the instigators. One day your little girl is just shopping at the “big girl” store and the next day they are buying make up and comparing shades during recess.
Support Systems Lead To “Girl Rising”
Last Thursday my friend Jill and I went to a screening of the documentary, Girl Rising, a film by 10×10 productions telling the stories of nine girls from nine different countries and the strength they inhabit while overcoming challenges they face to get an education.
“When girls go to school and get an education, they stay healthy. They save money. They speak up. They build businesses. Then they pass it all on…and poverty declines. Challenges become opportunities; progress happens”
-Richard Robbins, the Girl Rising Director
Between Jill and I playing “name that narrator,” I found myself questioning the predefined theme of the film—“one girl with courage is a revolution.”
I’m not sure that’s quite right.
Photo-shop or Drop?
Dove Canada’s recent ad campaign by Ogilvy Toronto used reverse psychology of sorts to inform those graphic designers, photo editors and art directors, who are responsible for copying, pasting, shrinking, deforming, whitening images what Real Beauty really is. In order to get straight to the source of the problem, said editors, Dove packaged their message to in the form of a Photoshop Action, a downloadable file that applies an effect with a single click. They created their “Beautify” Action that appeared to add a skin glow effect and planted it on websites that these creatives already visit. However, it reverted the image they were applying this “glow” to back to its original pre-altered state. Genius….though I suppose a bit misleading. Ok, ok a lot misleading.
Advertisements, magazines, “get skinny” websites, and social media networks like Pinterest are often the sources of what we as females, and males for that matter, view as beautiful. It’s everywhere! We are suffocated daily by these images and sure, we understand this celebrity or that model are apart of this fantasy world when we’re flipping the pages of a magazine or scrolling endlessly on our computers. But we are often left standing in front of the mirror naked going “wait, where did that dimple come from and when did that zit decide to rent space on my face?” It’s bonkers, and it makes me mad. Hmph.
Celebrating International Women’s Day!
Happy International Women’s Day to my friends and family for being strong women out to make a difference in the world and giving me the strength and courage to do the same! www.shatterslipper.com
Between the Google doodle and the trending hashtags #womensday and #IWD2013 on social media lies this blog post about a day dedicated to women. Happy International Women’s Day, Ladies!
Yes, I realize I’m celebrating a day early but people are already celebrating across the pond!
Some men would argue that everyday is women’s day and they would be half right, however don’t worry men you have your own day too. I digress. In some countries this is an official holiday where the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong in honor of women’s causes and achievements politically, economically and culturally. In Russia, for example, men are expected to give flowers to their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers as a way to show appreciation. It’s like Valentine’s Day goes on a date with Mother’s Day escalating to a steamy affair resulting in a Birthday. Soooo, Birthentiner’s Day?
This year’s U.N. theme is “A promise is a promise: time for action to end violence against women.”
Facts & Figures from http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/
“Safe Space”: the REAL social network
Last week I wrote about the seminar on girl education and empowerment that was hosted by BRAC , the world’s largest non-government development organization. A take away that I failed to mention was this idea of providing “safe spaces.” Think of it as a real life social network or a girls only club. Sorry boys.
Former BRAC Bangladesh senior manager in the education program, Farzana Kashfi, turned this idea on its head. In most developing countries women don’t have spaces to themselves where men aren’t allow. Often times boys will hang out in public roadside or at the shops in town, but you would hardly see girls gathering. By providing women with a “safe space” in the form of these “girl empowerment clubs,” they can escape the pressures of family life and pressures of a male-centrist society to focus inward and share their story in this real life social network. There are about 10,000 of these clubs worldwide with about 275,000 members who gather to sing, dance, learn and thrive. Peer mentors, who are trained by BRAC teach the girls life skills, health awareness, financial independence with access to micro-loans and ways to reach their fullest potential.
To watch Kashfi describe more on “Safe Spaces” watch the clip here.time stamp: [40:00-44:55]
The End.
Who’s the First? She’s the First!
Earlier this week I attended a seminar via webcast on Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment in Real World Social Networks as part of Social Media Week in NY.
The speakers were from BRAC USA and Bangladesh, Pro Mujer, and She’s the First.
The organizations focus on helping girls who live in developing countries succeed and develop life skills through education, During the event the panel of development practitioners discussed how building real social networks through education both inside and outside the classroom, particularly for women and girls, leads to both social and financial empowerment.
I’m the first…to graduate college. Photo by Jessica Dodds http://jessicasheaphotography.com/
Out of all the organizations that participated in the event, She’s the First I really felt connected with because I am the first of my family to graduate college. Founded by Tammy Tibbetts in Nov. 2009, She’s the First is a not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in the developing world, helping them be the first in their families to graduate, not just college but high school. In the process, STF fosters leadership and global awareness in young Americans, by inspiring them to lead creative fundraisers and correspond with sponsored students throughout the world. Pretty cool stuff. Their efforts shape a rising generation of well-educated global leaders, future philanthropists and cross-cultural communicators.
Bringing Healthy Back!
Who says healthy women can’t be sexy? Fashion Runways. With far-too-skinny models stomping the runways of London’s and New York’s fashion week last week, the discussions of body image and “what is too skinny?” surfaced.
Sure, there have been other efforts from several fashion organizations around the world, but most emphasize age minimums and healthy working environments, whatever that means. I want numbers people!
For the country of Israel, enough was enough.
Adi Barkan, an iconic fashion photographer was the one who spearheaded the efforts to bring the image of the healthy model back after one of his models died in his arms from anorexia. Barkan told NBC News, “When a child looks at the TV and they want to be skinny not for any reason just because they saw beautiful and skinny girls, that, we can change.” And change he did. Barkan pressed Israeli politicians to draw up and pass a law that bans models from working who have a lower body mass index (BMI) than 18.5, or less than 118 pounds if you’re 5’7’’. Wowzah. The law also enforces clear written disclaimers in magazines and newspapers advertisements that have digitally enhanced images.