Blog Archives

Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze

Della Calfee. Ass Like That

Della Calfee. Ass Like That

Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at.

That’s what art critic John Berger famously observed.

But some feminist artists have turned the tables in the exhibit, Man as Object: Reversing the Gaze:

With a gallery filled with men stripped naked this body of work exposes women’s cheeky, provocative and sometimes shocking commentaries on the opposite sex (which) may make the viewer squirm a little. But that is precisely the point.

Read the rest of this entry

Using Racism to Excuse Sexism

You’ve probably seen this anti-street harassment video:

It’s part of Hollaback’s ongoing work to empower women by boosting empathy, understanding and change.

But the video has been called racist for over representing men of color.

Here’s what Dr. Brittany Cooper, a Rutgers University professor of women, gender and Africana studies, had to say about that: Read the rest of this entry

A Sexy Halloween for Grade Schoolers?

Check out the change in Halloween costumes over the years. Girls are learning that a big part of their job is to look sexy. And they’re getting that message at a tender age.

Now that’s scary!

Then and now images, via Sociological Images:

Halloween Costumes, Then and Now 1 Read the rest of this entry

Repression: Not What You Think It Is

A culture of sexual repression

A culture of sexual repression

Misconceptions surround sexual repression. And both women and men can be confused.

Some women feel insulted if anyone suggests they might be repressed.

And conversations with guys have made me realize that plenty of them think that repression means, “I really want to have sex with you but I’m going to consciously repress the idea.”

Repression isn’t quite like that.  Read the rest of this entry

Feminists Must Fight For Men’s Rights?

MRAs blame feminism for problems caused by patriarchy

MRAs blame feminism for problems caused by patriarchy

Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs) frequently say women should fight for men’s rights. Like this guy:

Men face sexism too. Who advocates for us?

Or this:

Why aren’t you mentioning the fact that sexism against men gets ignored?

So I ask this:

Why do MRAs insist that women must fight for them when they feel no obligation to fight for women?

Because they never do. Read the rest of this entry

Short Hair is for Boys 

LGBTBy Trang Le

I am a girl. That is a simple fact.

But six years ago I cut my hair short and everything changed.

I still dressed the same, acted the same, walked and talked the same. (All admittedly tomboyish). But suddenly everyone saw me as a boy.

All because of a haircut. Read the rest of this entry

My Bumpy Trek: From Tomboy to Sex Object to Me

Bullying pretty girls

Bullying pretty girls

By KEG

As a little girl I wanted to be a boy. As a teen I wanted to be a Cosmo Girl.

I got punished either way.

Sometimes so badly that I stopped eating and started hiding and cutting.

Many scrapes and bruises later, I’m glad to be me. Read the rest of this entry

When Sex = Disempowerment 

Leaking selfies

Leaking selfies

Guys post stolen nude photos of famous celebs online, and it’s all about sex, right?

Men stare at women walking down the street. That’s all about sex, too.

Or, a woman is blamed for an attack because a guy can’t resist exposed cleavage — or a bit of hair that has fallen loose from a Saudi veil.

Actually, a lot of things that look like sex are really about power.  Read the rest of this entry

From Blonde to Brunette

Blondes aren't dumb, even if you think so.

Blondes aren’t dumb, even if you think so.

By Erica Dalton

My brunette, Jewish mom was happy to have a blonde, blue-eyed daughter.

But then, she grew up being told that what’s desirable was the opposite of her. Sexy was blonde, from Cinderella to Grace Kelly to Marilyn Monroe.

Even though my mom grew to love herself, I guess she was glad that I would not have to feel unsexy.

Sure, men are privileged by being male, but attractive females are privileged, too. You are noticed more. You’re more popular. You get attractive guys.

If you don’t mind the stigmas attached to “sexy” you can milk it for all it’s worth. Read the rest of this entry

Once Was, Virgins Had A Lot of Sex 

Daddy-Daughter Purity Ball

Daddy-Daughter Purity Ball

In its original meaning, virginity had nothing to do with sex.

Virgins were women who took ownership of themselves.

They were autonomous, complete and holding status in their own right — not bound to any man. So virgins could have a lot of sex, if they wanted to.  Read the rest of this entry