Ladies (and Gentlemen): Please Watch Your Drinks

While this may be somewhat out of the ordinary for this blog, I feel that this is a very important subject to discuss. I’d like to take a moment to discuss the problem with date-rape drugs occurring in and around Moscow and to talk about how to protect one’s self. This weekend, I was drugged while dancing with some friends at a bar downtown. For the first time since moving here three years ago, I feel afraid to go out. I am scared for other women (and men) in our community and urge everyone to please be careful when going out drinking, be it at a party or at a bar, because even though, as feminists, we fight for the need not to have to be constantly vigilant, there are certain situations where we need to be.

Last Friday, I went out to the Moscow bars to celebrate a couple of friends’ visiting town and to help console another about her impending breakup. For the most part, it was as normal as a night out can be. No one, myself included, drank more than average or to the point of excess. We remained as a group, even after some people left or splintered off to go different places. Not once did I feel alone, unsafe, or in danger of any kind. But, after a few hours out, I made a mistake – I went to the bathroom and left my drink unattended on the table by which my friends were dancing. When I came back, I finished it and that’s where my memories end.

I have always felt incredibly safe in Moscow. This is the kind of town that it’s generally safe to walk home alone even after the sun has set. However, it’s easy to get caught up in the relative safety of our small town and get lazy. My mistake was leaving my drink alone, even with others I knew mere feet away. The consequence was ingesting a serious dose of Rohypnol (also known as rufinol, or roofies), completely blacking out, losing my ability to walk or communicate fully, and becoming violently and uncontrollably ill.

I got incredibly lucky. I was with a group of people who were willing and able to make sure I got back to a safe place, and a boyfriend willing to stay up all night cleaning up my mess, making sure that I kept breathing and woke up in a warm bed, and willing to explain what happened. Not everyone is afforded this. Rohypnol is called the date-rape drug for a reason, as its most common use is to incapacitate unsuspecting women (and men) to facilitate non-consensual sex. My experience has made me feel unsafe and uncomfortable, but beyond that it shouldn’t have any lasting effects. Yet, if this kind of thing is happening, as it clearly is, I implore you to please be careful when you go out.

Always keep your eye on your drink or have someone you truly trust do so when you can’t. Go out in groups with people you know and trust. Be wary of strangers who want to give you drinks and be careful of how much you ingest regardless. Alcohol, without the aid of other drugs or substances, can still lead to confusion, lack of coordination, memory loss, and poor judgment. Don’t drink too much or too fast, and never try to drive after drinking or accept a ride from someone who has.

The last thing I’m trying to do is fear monger. I honestly believe that most people have only the best of intentions when it comes to going out and having fun, but it is important to remember that small percent with ulterior motives. This definitely isn’t an issue that applies only to women – it can happen to anyone who, like me, makes the mistake of not paying enough attention at the wrong time. It is important to fight for gender equality and the right to personal safety, and, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to constantly be on alert. Still, I wouldn’t wish my experience on anyone.

Ladies and gentlemen, please watch your drinks. It’s a good habit to be in regardless and, on the off chance there is someone lurking about, you’ll save yourself a lot of fear, pain, and embarrassment.

The Most Disposable Members of Society

Angela Monteith

I’m always looking for a good documentary to watch on Netflix, especially when trying to curb the guilt I feel after a three-day binge of Breaking Bad. On such a day, I came across National Geographic: China’s Lost Girls. I had heard very little of China’s One Child Policy (OCP) and knew only some of its effect on the country since being established thirty-three years ago, but I hadn’t considered it as being a current feminist concern.

Much of the critique of OCP has to do with the gender imbalance and its effect on China’s society. Like something out of a bad sci-fi fantasy, it is predicted that in the next few decades, men who come of age will not be able to find a wife or start a family, since boys currently outnumber girls by 50%. A shortage of women is not just an inconvenience, but a direct influence on the social stability of China, which could potentially result in violence. As recent as 2005, women were reported as being abducted from other provinces and sold to men in areas where there were no women to marry. While China’s government is currently trying to figure out how to lift this law without enabling a population surge, critics are voicing their concerns about what will unfold in the near future. All of this talk of gender imbalance begs a question: what’s up with all these boys?

Today, it is still illegal for families to get an ultrasound that will reveal the sex of their child, since it is likely that many of the female babies will be aborted. Part of family planning in rural villages in China involves classes where parents are presented with a case as to why females are just as valuable as males. Until people are truly convinced of that, however, thousands of girls will continue to be abandoned and discarded and those who are left will be valued as a mere commodity.

Just earlier this week I had been thinking again about Malala Yousufzai, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in protest of her blog, where she had been advocating for the public education of girls for the last three years. With Malala still recovering from the heinous violence that was committed against her, I watched this documentary and was reminded again of the tenacious inequality that so many women and girls face today.

I’m continually amazed to hear people talk about how feminism is outdated or how it has gone too far when, in reality, women today are still deemed as unworthy of education in Pakistan and of little value in China. The idea of women being able to vote and own land and be educated still is a relatively new idea; what may seem horrific and foreign to us in the Western world was our own reality up until about a hundred years ago and still influence our culture today. While feminism has expanded to all genders, this issue falls back into the focus of feminism for women.

So have we gone too far? Have these ‘bra-burning’ women gotten away with themselves? No way. Truth is, we still have a long way to go. Until every woman and every girl in every country is seen and valued and praised as a human being above anything else, only then can we say that we have gone far enough. Only then can we rest.

Finding Feminism in Pop Music: The Power of Ke$ha

When it comes to Top 40 music, female artists are generally pigeonholed into two categories: those who function primarily as sexual objects, and those who find their niche in acting wild and crazy. Women who make pop music do it with the intention to sell, be it through their antics or their outfits. Notorious party girl Ke$ha is no exception – her bizarre “Put Your Beard in My Mouth” Tumblr fits into both the oddly sexual and definitely strange categories. However, a deeper look into her lyrics and music videos reveals that Ke$ha is more than just a party girl singing about sex and booze. On the contrary, Ke$ha is a popular example of feminism in action.

Ke$ha not only sings, she writes and co-writes her own songs, as well as those for artists such as Katy Perry. She has been profiled on NPR for both her music and her brains, particularly her economic proficiency, and, just this month, became the first solo female artist to appear on the cover of VIBE magazine. But being intelligent and strong isn’t all it takes to be a feminist. To really understand Ke$ha’s message, it is important to look at her lyrics.

If one can find a continuing theme in Ke$ha’s music (beyond going out and having fun, of course), it’s girl power – but not quite in the way you might expect. She talks about promiscuity as much as she talks about finding love, but always on her own terms. In the song “Cannibal,” she says, “I eat boys up,” in reference to the men who only want her for her fame. In “Kiss-N-Tell,” she discusses infidelity and makes it clear that she will not stand for being used, going so far as to turn the term “slut” on its head to call out a cheating boyfriend. In fact, Ke$ha’s terminology is highly indicative of the power she feels as a woman, avoiding traditionally female adjectives and using blunt, powerful language to describe her emotions. “Blah Blah Blah,” for instance, directly tells a one-night stand, “I don’t really care where you live at,” and to “just shush.” While the morality of such casual sex is debatable, the message of the song is in direct contrast to what typical male/female sexual dynamics usually consist of, and shows the woman, rather than the man, as both the instigator and the power holder.

Ke$ha’s music videos also demonstrate her no-holds-barred attitude and strong, female presence. The video for “Blow” depicts a mythological battle between Ke$ha and notoriously pretty James Van Der Beek. Not only does she display a take-charge attitude in her mythological battle with Van Der Beek, she expresses intellectual strength in her humor and sarcasm in their brief conversation. Rather than playing the typical damsel in distress, or the femme fatale who ultimately requires a man to save or capture her, Ke$ha is something completely different. She calls the boys out on their mistreatment of her and women in general, and takes control of the situations in which she finds herself. While it’s easy to place her in the same category of so many other female stars whose underlying messages boil down to “save me” or “take me home,” Ke$ha makes it clear that she’s the one doing both the saving and the taking, without compromising her femininity, sexuality, or intelligence.

The Black Sheep of Feminism

What sort of connotations does the word feminist conjure up in your mind? Did images of ugly lesbians with no make-up and furry legs, the word man-hater, or a screaming woman with flailing breasts and claws out pop into your head? If so, you have the same association of what a feminist is as many other people in the world. Except that you’re wrong—so very wrong.

A feminist believes in equality. A feminist believes that women and minorities should be afforded the same rights and opportunities as men, especially middle-upper class white men. A feminist can be male, female, transsexual, or hermaphrodite. A feminist can be gay, straight, or bisexual. A feminist can be quiet and shy or loud and opinionated. And yes, a feminist can even be feminine. “In the literal sense, lipstick feminists [feminine feminists] believe that it is possible to wear lipstick and still be called a feminist, since feminism is about much more than how you dress.”

Fellow feminist and French major, Alyssa Schaffer stands behind a strong view of lipstick feminists: “People who say that lipstick, make-up, high-heels, etc. go against feminism are essentially saying that it’s bad because it’s feminine. That is anti-feminist. That is saying, ‘Don’t wear make-up because it makes you weak.’ Why is it weak? Because it isn’t masculine? Because men want us to wear make-up to seem more feminine? Because ‘The Man’ thinks you don’t look good enough?”

I, personally, consider myself a feminist and definitely possess more feminine qualities than masculine. I love dresses, perfume, books, nail polish, and hair dye, and haven’t played any sort of sport, ever. Even though I don’t have the patience to learn to put any makeup on correctly, I do know many feminists who love makeup and can rock the bright red (or any color, for that matter) lipstick.

I decided to find out what they think about feminism, makeup, and gender roles:

If you wear make-up, wear it because you like it, because you like how it makes you look and how it makes you feel, then you are supporting your self-image, your personality, and your beliefs. And that is being a feminist. -Alyssa Schaffer

I don’t think makeup makes anyone more or less beautiful—it’s our personalities that do so. Makeup, however, is just another art form. It’s another venue for self-expression. Makeup doesn’t define us, our actions do. Throughout my insecure teen years, I had MCR’s Gerard Way telling me that so long as I’m a good person, I’m beautiful. He sent messages to fans saying that it doesn’t matter what people think, so long as you stand up for your beliefs. Hearing these types of quotes have created a strong desire to be heard, to be just as good—academically, artfully, etc—as anyone else. It’s helped create the courage to be myself and ignore what people may say about me behind my back, because I know it doesn’t matter.” -Brittany Kienke

Kienke said she wears makeup everyday and sees it as another art form in which she is another character. She can choose to play any part; be anybody.

So next time you hear the descriptor feminist, don’t immediately jump to the idea propagated by the media. Instead, take a second and make an educated judgement on who the person is and why they claim the word as their own.

The Fierce & Fabulous F-words

By Rachelq Harman & Ashley Centers

 

For most, the term “f-word” probably brings to mind an offensive slang term for the act of sexual intercourse. But as attendees of Friday night’s poetry slam were quick to discover, the f-word has another connotation, which to some is equally as menacing. Feminism, a subject often brushed aside for either being too radical or outdated, frequently gets pigeonholed as taboo. The goal of F-Word Live! is to dispute that, and, thanks to the passion and variety that the readers brought to the stage, that was the outcome on Friday.

The energy inside the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre on Friday night was infectious as a full house waited to hear the, often times very personal, poetry and spoken word pieces of several different feminists from Africa to Louisiana to Moscow to Portland and everywhere in between. The poets, spanning all ages, genders, nationalities, and sexual orientations, discussed the goals of feminism and the implications and practices associated with it. Nigerian student Toluwani Adekule’s piece, “Oops, the F-Word Again”, discussed her upbringing in Africa and how it relates to her perspective as a feminist. Syddah Jane’s poem, entitled “My Sister, I am Sorry”, was presented as an apology to a younger sister. It encapsulated the fear and over protectiveness that women in our society feel they must impart upon their female friends and siblings. Preschool teacher and self-proclaimed radical feminist Megan Wilson spoke out against slut-shaming in her call-and-response-esque, “Sandra Fluke, I’m a Slut Too.” Other pieces talked about the stigma attached to being a feminist/feminism and being born a girl-child in a culture where only boy-children are valued; gender inequality and the powerful woman, suicide, an apology to a younger sister, body image and self confidence, sex, an ode to Sandra Fluke and Rush Limbaugh, rebellion, strength, love, and oppression.

Not only did the aspects of feminism discussed vary greatly from poet to poet, but the methods of recitation did as well. Julia Keleher, read shyly, but with such emotional power that much of the audience (myself included) couldn’t help but to tear up. Joseph Melior presented his poem, “Is History Her Story?”, as a freeform rap, while the Fabulous Jakelyne made hir presentation wildly theatrical, yet clearly impassioned, storming across the stage in six-inch heels drinking water from a wine glass.

It was about the time Jakelyne Finan walked on stage in a fabulous heels and drag that I realized, again, that hatred and bigotry don’t just happen in the movies or in big cities. People are discriminated against and made to feel unwanted, unwelcome and uncomfortable in Moscow, Idaho too. Finan and the other artists made it clear that they’re done tolerating anything less than inclusiveness, equality, and love for all people, regardless of sex, gender, etc.

Overall, F-Word Live was a success for many different reasons. Not only did it serve as a venue for both accomplished and aspiring slam poets to share their work with a large, supportive audience, but it featured many different thoughts on feminism that often go undiscussed. From the uncomfortable inequalities that accompany both hetero and homosexual relationships, to the fear that many women feel walking down a dark street, to the pride for one’s physical and mental self, these poets and readers managed not only to make their separate points about the need for feminism, but also to make a strong demonstration of the strength of Moscow’s feminists as a whole.

Check out another of our favorite feminist slam poets, Andrea Gibson, and others promoted on Ms. Magazine’s blog!

F-Word Live!

The f-word has been offending the masses and creating chaos for over a hundred years now. We at the Women’s Center have dedicated a whole night to celebrating it.

This Friday, September 21st (today!) at 7:00pm in the Kenworthy, the Women’s Center is hosting the F-Word Live! Poetry Slam as part of our 40th Anniversary events. That’s “F” for feminism, if you haven’t gotten that already. The event is free, the poetry is original, and the topic is hot!

Please note, performances may contain explicit content. The show is intended for mature audiences, and as such, discretion is advised.

Doors open at 6:30pm. For more information, check out the Women’s Center website or email Dr. Tracy Craig.

See you there!

Myths About Feminism: Busted!

Since the days of Mary Wollstonecraft, rumors and myths about man-hating, unshaven, dirty heathen feminists have been circulating and gathering credence for no good reason other than nobody taking the time to prove them wrong. While many may associate the term “feminist” with bra-burning lesbian hippies, flaunting braided armpit hair and tickets to Lilith Fair, feminists, in reality, come in all shapes, sizes, genders, and sexual orientations.

Myth #1:
Feminists Hate Men & Men Cannot Be Feminists

False! While feminism often is portrayed as a mere outlet for bitter women to bitch about patriarchy, the idea of “women’s rights before men’s” could not be farther from the truth. Feminism is about equality, not just for men and women but for all disenfranchised social groups. Feminists often fight for issues that pertain primarily to women, but also for access to education, health care, and safety for all those who fall into the persecuted minority. For example, here at the Women’s Center, we work on programs to encourage open dialogues about health, sexuality, and creativity. We also endorse the idea that anyone can be a feminist! Men, women, children, babies – anyone who cares enough about freedom, safety, and equality to take the time to speak out is a feminist. Our definition of feminism is “advocating for gender equality in our community” – hardly a man-hating manifesto. Feminism is about respect, not conflict.

Photo from website: socialtheoryinaction.blogspot.com

Kick it Out! Women and Title 9 rock sports.

Check out this week’s episode of Yin Radio. We’re a nationally syndicated broadcast produced by the Women’s Center that explores the issues of the day through a feminist lens. We’re deep into our summer series, “Why Feminism?” Archived broadcasts are available as well.

Twenty lessons in feminism

Hannah Blankenship

As the school year draws to a close and graduation looms, like many of my peers I have reflected about my time at the University of Idaho and about what I’ll take with me when I leave Moscow.

Being a feminist is an important part of who I am and how I identify myself, and many of the lessons I’ve learned revolve around this topic. Here are 20 important lessons or realizations I’ve experienced during my time in college:

1. Women are valued less than men in the workplace, in society, and more.
2. Though we’re valued less, change is possible. We create this change not by telling others about our worth, but by proving our worth in the workplace (or at home, if that’s what we choose).
3. As Mur Lafferty writes, “You show them by being more than your looks, even if that’s all people comment on. You show them by your independence. You show them by being more than they expect to see. You show them by not taking their shit.”
4. Knowing that we’re valued less is not valid reasoning not to work hard or challenge the status quo.
5.  Strong, positive, independent and hardworking female role models and mentors are a must, on a personal and professional level.

Memes Making a Difference

Erin Fenner

Originally published at www.trustwomenpac.org as “Media Tracking: Memes Making a Difference” on April 14, 2012. Cross-posted with permission. 

Memes – images, videos or even ideas that are passed electronically from one Internet user to another – are quick to spread and also quick to fizzle. They inundate social networks. The success of memes can be dependent on timeliness, but  they often seem to drop out of nowhere riding a shifting cultural mood or commenting on an existing one.

Usually memes take the form of an image that rapidly moves through social networks from person to person. Or they are a concept, often a running joke.