Hey, I'm Jess. This tumblr has been made for my 1:00-1:50pm Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies class. Throughout this semester, this blog will document reading responses, interesting quotes, and ideas of how gender/sexuality/women's studies themes still resonate through society today. Enjoy :)
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
The reality is that fat people are often supported in hating their bodies, in starving themselves, in engaging in unsafe exercise, and in seeking out weight loss by any means necessary. A thin person who does these things is considered mentally ill. A fat person who does these things is redeemed by them. This is why our culture has no concept of a fat person who also has an eating disorder. If you’re fat, it’s not an eating disorder — it’s a lifestyle change.
Lesley Kinzel (via curvesahead)
I will always reblog this because it is so so important.
(via infinitetransit)
(Source: xojane.com)
(Source: ohdarefinnick)
(Source: heartismadetobebroken)
(Source: foolmetwice)
Patriarchy is not men. Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it. This abnormal obsession with women’s faces and bodies has become so normal that we (I include myself at times—I absolutely fall for it still) have internalized patriarchy almost seamlessly. We are unable at times to identify ourselves as our own denigrating abusers, or as abusing other girls and women.
Ashley Judd, here. (via thenewwomensmovement)
(Source: lexcanroar)
(Source: whoneedsfeminism)
What Clarence Smith sees as he helps his wife into the front seat of the buggy after church is a woman who in the sight of God is his lawfully wedded wife and owes him love, honor, and obedience. Other people, with nothing at stake, see that there is a look of sadness about her, as if she lives too much in the past or perhaps expects more out of life than is reasonable.
So Long, See You Tomorrow by William Maxwell
(Source: clever4sure)
www.girlfromclasspublications.tumblr.com
From my zine, Girl From Class, Vol I: Self-Kindness
Ending self-blame and refusing to carry guilt that doesn’t belong to me.
Shame
My rapist was told by society
That all of the fault lies on me.
I drank too much, I laughed too loud,
I wore short skirts, I turned him down.
So when I was sober, he held my wrists,
Took off my clothes and kissed my lips.
He said drunk me had teased him so,
That I meant yes when I screamed no.
Afterwards, he just stood up.
He laughed and called me a little slut.
I shouldn’t have flirted, I shouldn’t have drank,
Didn’t I know that my clothes had made me a skank?
My lipstick was too red, my hair too smooth,
My shirt too low just to show off my boobs.
Stupid and useless and worthless and sad,
He took away all of the life that I had.
Despite all that I said and the tears that I cried,
I am still shamed in society’s eyes.
My rapist was told by society
That all of the fault lies on me.
Standing Up for Women: Surprising Displays
Alright, Tumblr world. I’m about to admit one of my biggest guilty pleasures to you right now. I have an obsession with… One Tree Hill. I know, I know. I almost feel like I should have outgrown this show a long time ago but I can’t help it. I’m stuck.
Well I’ve been thinking about this connection for quite a bit, the connection between women’s rights and the perception of women in society and the character of Brooke Davis. In high school, Brooke is promiscuous, drinks insane amounts, and fights with her best friend over boys. Basically, she’s the typical teen portrayal. But as the seasons continue on, Brooke becomes student body president and creates D-W-Not-I, which helps bring home drunk students. She grows up to create and own her own fashion company (Clothes Over Bros), begins “healthier” relationships with men, and yearns for a family to call her own.
Brooke Davis is one of those women who shows confidence, poise, a want for a family, AND the ability to be successful. She is someone I can look up to!
It’s even better when she pulls out quotes like this:
- “So you’re probably looking at this and making fun of my outfit, right? Anyway here’s all you need to know about today; if you’re fat, dumb, sexual and a guy, you’re OK. If you’re a girl, not so much. Please tell me that’s changed in the future.”
- “When you’re passionate about something, you put everything you got into it.”
- “1 out of every 500 people gets assaulted or raped. There were over 30,000 aggravated assaults in our state alone last year. 7,000 robberies, 3,000 murders, 600 rapes.”
My femininity makes me no less intelligent, curious, sassy, political, perceptive, passionate, or just plain full of strength. Judging me for it, though, seems to contradict the work of our mothers and just seems plain petty. I don’t think it’s on my shoulders to change who I inherently am to fit any sort of cultural stereotype; I’m still going to accomplish the things I set out to, it just might surprise a few more people who are still stuck on that whole judging a book by its cover train.
Julia Gazdag (via obliviyawn)
Did Rick Santorum almost call Barack Obama the N-Word?
It appears so. Just when you think you’ve hit bottom…
