From Chastity to Chaz

AOLS headlines have been keeping up the recent sex changed of Sonny and Chers daughter. I'm not a very big fan of them but the headline from the article caught my eye.

Here's the link for you to read.

http://www.popeater.com/2009/11/19/chaz-bono-gma-good-morning-america-interview/?icid=main|main|dl2|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.popeater.com%2F2009%2F11%2F19%2Fchaz-bono-gma-good-morning-america-interview%2F

An Unexpected Role Model

With the assignment we are doing in class I decided to fill my little of free time today looking up feminist role models. Pippi Longstocking. Not at all what I would think when I think feminism. Sure I read her when I was little, I may have even dressed up as her for Halloween, but thinking back it was just a character. I didn't believe that she was really a feminist role model until after I read an article about it. Here's a excerpt:

There is a sign in a shop window in the small town where she lives that reads, “DO YOU SUFFER FROM FRECKLES?” Pippi doesn’t. She is not interested in the anti-freckle cream on offer but nevertheless goes into the shop to make her position clear.
“No, I don’t suffer from freckles,” she declares. “But my dear child,” says the startled assistant, “your whole face is covered in them.” “I know,” says Pippi, “but I don’t suffer from them. I like them. Good morning!”

And here's the link.

http://www.sweden.se/pippi

FFF Pop Culture Gone Wild

My conversation with my boyfriend before writing this blog:
Me: Would you say I'm hot?
Him: No
Me (after I gave him the 'oh buddy you just made a big mistake' stare): why not?
Him: You're cute, but that's better than hot.
Me: What do you mean?
Him: Well, cute is datable and hot is hit it and quit it.

If these hot girls are just purely for 'hit it and quit it;' and they know it; what is even the point of the extra make up, the short skirts and breast implants? Women do it because it's horrible to be the 'ugly' girl. Women are trying to be perfect for that one night, to be accessible. Short skirts are accessible and that's just what men are looking for.

Women need to start living for women. I know that I've been in the spot of making myself look better to get a guys attention. But, I've also been in a relationship for three and a half years. I know how amazing it feels to have someone look forward to see you in the morning, so matter if you have bed head and bags under your eyes. I think there's a better chance of a guy being disgusted by the one night stands morning look then the boyfriend of three years. I know it's hard to listen to someone say that you look beautiful when your whole look just doesn't look for you. Pop culture is something that every woman tries to live up to, but it's also something that hinders are ability to love our real self. I real self under the layers of make up and the too short skirts in our closet. The real jeans and t shirts us. We need to look past pop culture and love our true selves.

Designer Vaginas: Worth the Pain?

While I was stumbing around the internet I was brought to a website that I often get sent to, MomLogic. Why i sent to this I don't know, but most of the times I do it works out for the best. Like tonight. The page I was sent to was uninteresting, so I clicked the link to take me to the Love and Relationships page. The title of article caught my; Designer Vaginas: Worth the Pain? My answer: Nope. Plus, it could cause major problems during childbirth, including losing the baby.

Here's the link to the article:

http://www.momlogic.com/2009/11/designer_vaginas_are_dangerous_labioplasty.php

Today sucks.

Last night I was sick and today I woke up feeling worse. The only rooms with mirrors is the bathroom and every time I go in I look at myself and say "Ugh, I look horrible today. I have bags under my eyes and my hairs a mess. Ew." It's not even that I look so bad, I'm just sick. No ones going to see me today except my boyfriend and he's sick too.

I hate this.

Teen Health - Plastic Surgery

I decided to look more into teens and plastic surgery. I googled it and found this website about teen health. I found three and the question 'Is Plastic Surgery the Right Choice?' particularly interesting. It mentions how much the doctors mentor the teens to make sure they are really ready for this big change. But enough, I'll let you read about it by yourself.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/plastic_surgery.html#

Do you feel beautiful today?

I admit it. I have hated my body. I have despised it. I have dreamed and wished and hoped that I looked better. I have also been the person to stand in front of a mirror and vow that I will love my body forever more. But, I've broken it all of those time. I'm very much not alone in this feeling.

I'm not the type of girl that goes through the enormous pain to look beautiful. Sure there are those days that I do a little bit extra. Mascara. That's my secret. I never wear make up, except maybe a little cover up. But, if I slather on mascara I instantly feel more beautiful. I don't suffer for beauty, except for the occasional high heel.

I have three sisters, so I've been through the 'does this make my butt look fat?' and 'oh man, I need to diet now!' things so many times. My younger sister is the worst. She is incredibly skinny and I have been asked numerous amounts of time if she is sick. As far as I know she is not. She eats the most food I have ever seen, but gains no weight. It's incredible really. She also works painstakingly to look good. She is late leaving every morning because she has to add that little bit more make up or correct a loose hair.

I believe the reason for this 'I've got to make myself look amazing' is related a lot to what other people will think of you. I read Full Frontal Feminism, my favorite, on Sunday night. She mentions being called ugly.  This hurts. I've been called ugly and it seriously hurts. What a horrible thing to call anyone. It makes you think about what you've done to deserve that. It also makes you want to change everything about yourself. Jessica Valenti mentions begging her parents for a nose job. In all seriousness this is real now. A lot of younger and younger people are getting "jobs" done to make their self more beautiful. Teenagers are getting these as gifts. It's incredible. I wasn't ever directly told growing up, but I knew that it wasn't how you looked that counted. I feel like that's like getting a gift and being told it's the thought that counts. If it's the inside that counts why are Revlon, Cover Girl and all other make up companies making so much money from women who insist on making the outside look better?

You're all beautiful on the inside and outside. You don't really need make up or high heels. So throw on your favorite sweats and put your feet up. Believe me, you'll feel better than ever.