California NOW

Let's Teach Kids that Beauty is only Skin-Deep!

Yes, that's sarcasm you hear. 

A new children's book, My Beautiful Mommy, is scheduled to be released on Mother's Day (reminder, it's May 11th).  The book allows you to "join a young girl as her Mommy goes through her plastic surgery experience, and learn how the whole family pitches in to help Mommy achieves her beautiful results."

Hooray!  Now young girls can start dreaming early about they day that they can become even more beautiful!  After all, that's what we truly value in our society, right?

Girls Rock --The Movie!

Wondering what movie you should watch Friday night? Go see Girls Rock! and get ready to be inspired. Girls Rock! is a documentary about adolescent girls who attend a week long rock and roll camp where they form a band, write a song and perform for hundreds of people. However, this is no ordinary music camp. Girls are also taught to express themselves, celebrate their unique qualities and given tips on self-defense. The movie shows how the camp empowers girls to speak up for themselves and gain self esteem in a world that pressures girls to conform to stereotypical standards. We need more outlets like this for adolescent girls to encourage individuality and diversification from mainstream messages. What is even more exciting about this movies is that the makers of Girls Rock! are two guys, who say they learned a great deal about the challenges of being an adolescent female through the making of this movie. Although the original focus of the movie was Rock and Roll music and girls, it quickly became apparent to the creators that a deeper story needed to be told. Well, we always knew Girls Rock!

The Princess Dilemma

My daughter just turned five years old. She loves dinosaurs, cats and recently... princesses. We had a great family birthday party with a dinosaur cake and party favors. I have been doing my best to handle the princess dilemma as a feminist. I feel bombarded by Disney. Fortunately, the moms and dads I know and love all have disdain for Disney. I just bought "Do Princeses Wear Hiking Boots", and a few more gems to reframe the issue. I had my version of a princess tea party with her girlfriends and their great moms.

Here's the deal...Snow White, Ariel and Aurora have made it into my daughter's world. I'm working full-time to ensure women's and girl's equality and Disney got through the gates. There oughta be a law... Then today I read Resist the Princesses by Rosa Brooks from the LA Times and I had to share it. She says it all! I think we owe her a round of applause.

Support Feminist Films - They ROCK!

Last night I found myself all alone in a movie theater. Normally, I would be excited to have my own screening, but on this occasion it made me sad because it really brought home how under appreciated feminist film making is in our society. I went to see the absolutely wonderful film Girls Rock. At times it was a relief that I was alone in my enormous individual screening, that way no one could hear me crying my eyes out as I relived my teen years as the odd girl in black that listened to the music that no one else at school understood.

But there was also no body around to join me as I continued to cry (this time tears of joy) and laugh as these young women found their inner rockers. It's not everyday we get to watch young women empower themselves on the big screen and I hate the fact that this film was going to close its run early because not enough people had come out to see it. So the moral of this story is: Please don't put off seeing that amazing feminist film you've been thinking of seeing. I know we all do it. It does matter that you get out there and see them in the theaters. If we don't do it they won't stay in the theaters for long, they won't make money, and the next one won't get funded and made. And if that happens, what will we have to cry and laugh about when we go to the movies next time?

Miss Alameda Pageant Revived: Creates Scholarships or Sick Role Models?

The Miss Alameda Pageant, suddenly revitalized after 20 years by Barbara Walsh, is facing harsh criticism. Mary Jane Casper of County Tri-Valley chapter of the National Organization for Women was quoted in the Contra Costa Times "This is a bathing suit, evening gown competition held under the guise of a scholarship opportunity for young women. Why should these women sacrifice their dignity and self-respect by offering their bodies for judgment by some panel?"

"It's easy to point your finger and say this is demeaning to women," said Scott Walsh. "But I've met these women and I've heard from them how expensive college is."

I agree, college is expensive, but as a former Miss Colleen, Corona, CA 1989, I can tell you that there are much more valuable ways to earn money for college than to parade around on a stage competing against other women for respect and admiration based on appearance. The negative competition and divisiveness as well the negative body image issues are reasons enough for this pageant to die off 20 years ago.

So far, I haven’t been able to find the amount of the scholarship award for the Miss Alameda County winner, because they are still raising the money. Most local pageant scholarships aren’t even enough to pay for a single semester at a Cal State University. If it were enough to pay for your entire college career, is it really worth the the role model it sets for little girls?

In The Pleasanton Weekly  Barbara Davies Walsh said that she doesn't think the pageant is outdated because the ideals it represents for the young women are timeless. You are right Barbara, sexism is timeless.

Homemade Sex Shirt Makes the News

In Illinois two junior high students were suspended for wearing homemade shirts that read "safe sex or no sex."  They attached packaged condoms to the shirts too.

These girls stated that they were trying to make a point about the unrealistic abstinence-only education they receive at their school, and feel the suspension was unjustified since they were simply exercising the freedom of speech.

I instantly thought of our I Heart Consensual Sex campaign.  I know the shirts have created a lot of conversation among college students and wondered what we may start to see here in California as teens start getting their hands on our shirts and buttons. 

Recent statistics show that most young people have sex for the first time around 17.  Seven in ten teens have sex by age 19.  Shouldn't they start learning and talking about safe, consensual sex prior to this?  Shouldn't high schools foster an environment in which young people can have access to open, honest information about sex?

I Want To Be A Hooter's Girl When I Grow Up.

I couldn't believe it when my favorite feminist from Florida sent me this pic! Can you believe this is real? It's actually available in Toddler Sizes!!! And who would ever buy this for their daughter?

Take action today by writing or emailing Hooters and demand that they stop selling these offensive t-shirts to babies and girls immediately!

Hooter's Headquarters
1815 The Exchange
Atlanta, GA 30339

hooterspr@hooters.com

"Obstinance" Sex Programs Found Ineffective

By Nancy Freedom, ACT NOW

Abstinence-only sex education programs have not been shown to affect sexual  behavior according to a National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy study. They do not delay initiation of sex, hasten return to abstinence, or reduce number of sexual partners, the study concluded. The report was based on a review of research into teen sexual behavior.

On the other hand, two-thirds of comprehensive programs supporting both use of condoms and contraceptives and abstinence had positive behavior effect, the report said.

Debunking the myths that comprehensive sex education promotes promiscuity, hastens the initiation of sex or increases frequency, it was found  instead to improve teens' knowledge of risks and consequences of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases and gave them greater "confidence in their ability to say 'no' to unwanted sex."
                        source--H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press

Guest Blog: Megan Seely

Have you seen this?! 

A friend at work sent me this email from one of his frequented blogs (I think that it originated on feministing).  These are little girl panties for sell at Wal-Mart that say "Who needs credit cards" across the pelvis!  I don't want to take away from feministing who has great comments about the panties and a link to tell Wal-Mart what you think but I figured this was exactly the type of thing that needs shared with as many as possible.  What kind of message does WalMart--our 'family values' store--want to send teen women?  Particularly in light of rampant sexual violence against women and girls, tragically inadequate sex education, and an increasing rate of STDs and teen pregnancy???  Not to mention a culture that readily reinforces the notion that women's physical body is all they have to offer and all they have to gain from.  Let's teach an even younger population now that their vaginas are for sell.

Shocker! Teen pregnancy on the rise.

Statistics just released reflect the first increase in the U.S. teen birth rate in 15 years.  Data shows that the teen birth rate has been declining since 1991, though the decline in recent years (read: Bush years) has been slowing.  Consider also the recent data that showed cases of chlamydia reaching an all time high in 2006 as well as increases in cases of syphilis and gonorrhea. 

Abstinence-only education anyone?  It’s safe to say that we have known all along that not teaching teens how to protect themselves is not going to prevent them from having sex.  Such data provides yet another example of the ways in which the Bush regime has been detrimental to our country.  In this instance young people are suffering because information is being withheld.  Do you think people will finally start connecting the dots?