Women Undefined

Gov. Ed Rendell: "Non-Serious" Shows Like The View Are "Not Worthy of the Presidency"

2010-07-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

More unnecessary and annoying outrage from the left over President Obama's upcoming seat on The View's panel on Thursday.

One leading Democrat Ed Rendell, the Governor of Pennsylvania had quite a bit to say about Obama going on The View.

On why the President should not go on The View:

the talk show did not have the required stature to host the president

On why the show isn't worthy of the President's status:

I think the president of the United States has to go on serious shows

For anyone wondering what exactly The View is, I'll run down the basics. It is a show featuring an all-female panel targeted towards women . The issues discussed range from politics, to current events, and the economy. Most importantly however, is the show garners an enormous audience, most of which are women.

And the show is serious. Because it isn't "Jerry Springer" , as Rendell opined. The View discusses topics relevant to many people's lives, mostly topics that are interesting and relevant to women's lives. This of course includes political issues. In fact, in the past week The View has made headlines for the discussions surrounding domestic violence and Shirley Sherrod.

Not only is the show serious but it is important and relevant.

So first, my issue with Rendell's comments is that Rendell comes off totally ignorant of the obvious political move this is by President Obama . Polls show that white, suburban women are trending back to favoring Republicans after supporting Democrats and Obama in 2008. This is concerning, to say the least. Appearing before this very demographic to talk candidly about what he has accomplished in office and what he still plans to do, is at the very base just good politics.

The second and most important issue with Rendell's reaction is that he's essentially saying The View is not a serious show because it is hosted by and aimed toward women. The topics are no different on The View than those featured on shows the President and many other politicians have readily appeared on. The only clear difference is The View is a bunch of women sitting around having the politics conversation, as opposed to the group being comprised of men. It makes sense, given that Rendell thinks Obama should do "serious" shows, presumably morning interviews that are overwhelmingly hosted by men, and targeted to men.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

From The Onion: Trojan Introduces 'No One's Pleasure' Condoms for Bitter and Resentful Couples

2010-07-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

HAHHAHAHAHAH- Brilliant.

Trojan confirmed that No One’s Pleasure condoms will be available in “Frigid Touch,” “Extremely Oversensitive,” and “Ultra-Chafe: Super Dry,” and will cost $20 for a three-pack, a price researchers found perfect for instigating squabbles over who has to pay.

Read the entire article, it is hilarious. Happy Monday !

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

The Outrage Over Kendall Jenner is So Annoying

2010-07-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

What is she doing that is different from the rest of the fashion world? Models now days start working at 14 or 15, and no one- when talking about Adriana Lima or some other SUPER HOT, exotic model-seems to care when they blast onto the scene. No one cares when under-age, gorgeous, models strut their stuff in front of millions wearing bikinis and thongs. No one wonders about the extreme conditions these women are subjected to: the photoshopping, the makeup, the work hours, the demanding public, the pressure to be thin. No is asking questions about the fashion world's youth -fetish, the demand for young, skinny girls; the stringent diet guidelines that seem to be correlated with models' deaths. No one is saying, "you know, that model there is too young, her parents shouldn't be allowing that type of stuff and shame on them".

When the majority of pop culture considers models, they reduce that model's worth down to the way she looks - "She is Hot". There is no thought about who her parents are or whether she should be wearing a string bikini.

So what is with the outrage over Jenner? She seemingly meets all the topical requirements to becoming a successful model: tall, skinny, photogenic, exotic, white looking- but not too white- and she's well connected (thanks to her mother ). Suddenly there are comments popping up all over the net asking if her cleavage is too much in these pictures and if she's too young and too sexy. Why does everyone suddenly care?

Oh, I know. Because Jenner "grew up before our very eyes". She started out on TV as a young woman , and you know, viewers feel somehow connected and emotionally invested in this young girl turned woman. Suddenly they are seeing her posing half naked, photo shopped up and with heavy, street walking (their words, not mine) makeup and think "that's not okay".

Its not okay because Jenner is not supposed to be degraded and sexualized in such a way, according to how those who have spoken out perceive it. She's too young to be an object of anyone's attention , subject to society's base sexual desires. Not Jenner, not our little girl.

The truth is that were she some unknown girl from Paraguay, most of the same people standing up in protest of Jenner's sexy photos , would be slobbering all over them and wondering where they can sign up for automatic monthly catalogs so they can beat off to the pictures.

So save the faux outrage, its overdone and no one would give a shit if she weren't famous and linked to other famous people.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

From BuzzFeed: NSFW Priests Filmed At Gay Clubs

2010-07-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

But let's not forget about the ROGUE NUNS PUSHING A LEFTIST, FEMINIST AGENDA Catholic Church!

I don't think being Gay or attending Gay clubs are bad things, quite the contrary. But I think this video is hilarious because it makes the Catholic Church look so bad to all the bigots who follow/support it. (Wait, that sounds bad. No , I don't think ALL Catholics are bigots, but um, most of the jack ass Catholic leaders are and that is what I meant.)

In Cameroon, Breast Ironing On the Rise to Stem Sexual Assault and Pregnancy

2010-07-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Warning: Graphic images and triggering language .

In response to the growing number of rape, sexual assault, un-planned pregnancies and contraction of HIV and other STI's, the practice of breast ironing is now on the rise, particularly in rural areas, of the African country of Cameroon.

Breast ironing is performed when a girl reaches puberty, the average age in Cameroon is 9. According to the BBC: "[breast ironing] involves pounding and massaging the developing breasts of young girls with hot objects to try to make them disappear". Hot rocks, hot shells and large, heated stones are among the tools used for this heinous practice. As the BBC article notes, international organizations are starting to take notice and of late, an concerted effort to stop the practice is now underway.

Video on breast ironing is posted within this article from HuffingtonPost.Com.

It is disappointing to know that the response to increased incidences of teen-pregnancy and sexual assault, is to physically alter young girls in order to dissuade the actions of men. It is as if these girls are responsible for the actions of men. Blaming girls' appearance for the increase of assault and unwanted pregnancy is something Western cultures regularly partake in. The next step of actually performing painful and life-altering procedures on young girls, is sad and very sick. It comes close to the practice of genital cutting, although not as graphic and painful. I sincerely hope to see the efforts of the organizations fighting to stop this practice, prove successful.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

The Portland Trail Blazers Organization is Blatantly Sexist

2010-07-21T00:39:00.000-07:00

A Black Eyed Peas song is bumping and a group of girls swing their heads from side to side while they perch their hands on their knees. No one pays much attention, except maybe to glance the girls’ way while getting up to refill their micro-brew. The gyrating continues, going from hair swings, to hip thrusts, to a roll on the floor. The clothing comes off, shirts are thrown and a mascot saunters through the all girl orgy, his phallic tail bouncing. The women peer into the camera with pouty lips and coy , come-hither smiles. Some attempt their best sexy-face and boob shake for the Comcast NW spotlight. From a 300 level rafter seat, their attempts to appear sexy may succeed, but upon closer perusal, the desperate sexy-face looks and overdone, sexualized routines resemble an SE 82nd hooker approaching a potential customer after a slow night. The routine ends and the girls race off to the sidelines. A meek applause ripples through the 20,000+, Rose Garden Crowd.

On Monday the Portland Trail Blazers announced their next general manager will be Rich Cho, the first Asian American general manager in the NBA. Fans, internet posters and beat writers reported this fact with pride, some even applauding the organization for breaking down barriers and upholding Portland, Oregon’s rep as a diverse and liberal city. When it comes to the treatment of women however, the Portland Trail Blazers are as sexist and non-progressive as an organization can get. If the hiring of Cho is the Blazer equivalent to the American Public electing President Barack Obama, then the Blazers are on the same level as Republican David Vitter when it comes to the treatment and representation of women.

What exactly has me so up in arms over the BlazerDancers this time? The team has recently added a “vote” feature on its BlazerDancer page, allowing fans to vote on who is most attractive. With the help of an aggressive but ultimately futile attempt at creating a fan-geared site called Iamatrailblazerfan.com, fans are now able to “connect” with the BlazerDancers much like they do in posting congratulatory messages on player's respective pages. Unlike the players however, the fans connect with the BlazerDancers by voting on their appearance.

Who are the women that make up the Blazer Dancers? To this question there is no answer, as the details don’t matter. These women are not prostitutes but are used to sell sex; the women themselves are not the problem, rather it is an institutional issue that says training women to perform sexualized routines for men under the guise of “cheer leading”is perfectly okay. The women who make up this year’s squad were picked based upon their physical appearance and although they may alight from collegiate or high school dance/cheer squads, those skills are not required for this job. As detailed on the Blazers’ own website, hopeful BlazerDancers attending tryouts must provide a full body photograph and show up with midriff and legs showing. Preliminary rules are outlined that state all potential BlazerDancers must consent to maintaining mandatory appearance and fitness guidelines. In essence, the tryouts have become nothing more than a debauched beauty contest in which the talent portion includes women doing the splits as team photographers snap away.

The 2010-2011 tryouts were judged by the Oregonian’s Blazer beat writer Jason Quick and Brian Grant, among others. The qualification that places these men at the judging table is the ability to assess female attractiveness as red-blooded men, nothing more, nothing less. Perhaps the team considered Quick a good guest-judge candidate because he’s representative of the white, male, demographic in Portland. Or maybe he’s just that desperate for a close up view of half-naked women. Regardless, the presence of two, non-dance professionals, upon the judging panel of the BlazerDancer tryouts sends a blatant message that this isn’t about whether the women can dance, its about how pretty they are.

Corporations and other male-driven institutions have long used sex to attract male (and female) consumers. The Portland Trail Blazers are certainly no exception as they are part of an institution that perpetuates severe beauty, gender, race, and socioeconomic stereotypes and norms. While sexy women are not the main product, they are part of an overall package that in part promises sex ( in the form of women reenacting sexual acts) as a perk or byproduct of attending an NBA game. The dancers are not supposed to dance, they are selling sex and in this, the BlazerDancers are nothing more than an extremely cheap commodity.

And each year, NBA organizations push the envelope a little more by upping the ante on the commodification of women's bodies. The clothes cover less, the routines are more sexual and the women are marketed less as humans and more as a group of sex pots created just for us. I am sure the women on the BlazerDancer squad have great personal histories and have achieved many things that have nothing to do with the way they look, but the Blazers’ organization renders all of that irrelevant, cutting away everything except what the NBA deems the most important-their bodies.

Naomi Wolf says in The Beauty Myth, “images that flatten sex into “beauty“ and flatten the beauty into something inhuman... Are politically and socioeconomically welcome”. Reinforcing Wolf’s theory, the NBA portrays the dance squads to be legitimate and appropriate forms of entertainment, all the while knowing the sex is what matters, not the dancing. And in this, women are relegated to one of the three stereotypical roles as child bearer, sex-pot for men, and a slave to beauty- all of which are means to control women and maintain patriarchy. While some NBA organizations are still trying to front with the excuse that the dance squads are indeed just that, the Trail Blazers don’t even pretend anymore, allowing fans to vote on the appearance of the cheer squad and thus completely dehumanizing women.

I love basketball and feel the sport has taken many great steps in trying to improve its public image. The NBACares campaign and Basketball Without Borders have no doubt helped many communities. Even as the two programs are obvious PR stunts to shore up fan approval, there is some good that comes of them. But the rampant sexism displayed by my favorite sport team never ceases to enrage me and completely negates any strides the league has made in their NBACares campaign. The sexist and degrading displays, which commodify and fetishize women continue every year, each season getting more and more egregious. This is in spite of the fact that the NBA tries to make itself out to be a family activity, that the NBA spends billions on PR campaigns and that over 50% of the fan base is comprised of women.

The Rose Garden should not be a gentlemen’s club and as the shiteous teams of the mid 2000’s here in Portland proved, if the team on the court is bad, no amount of sex routines will get people into the Rose Garden. There simply is no need for the sport to maintain the male-dominated sex atmosphere, because what fans in Portland ultimately care about is whether Greg Oden is healthy and the Blazers can get to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Is True Blood Really Reinforcing Violence Against Women and Please Stop Talking About Skinny Girls

2010-07-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Last week , a particular blog that I happen to read almost every day linked to a photo of a mannequin that is skinny. The usual comments ensued, the gist of them going something like this: the skinny mannequin is reaffirming beauty norms; reinforcing the notion that in order to be beautiful, women must be skinny; there are no realistic sized mannequins anymore; and the mannequin is portraying an unnatural and unrealistic form of woman. This type of thing isn't new and I will consent that a conversation about the apparent size of mannequins displaying clothes to be sold to women is necessary. Critique of the fashion world, the media and our society is fruitful when we begin to realize that beauty norms are a form of control and many people, myself included, feel deconstructing and challenging beauty norms is valid and entirely necessary.

But the constant reiteration that somehow skinny is not natural or realistic is offensive to say the least and extremely counterproductive.

For instance, it is socially unacceptable to walk on the street and say to a person you think is obese, "you're fucking fat, go lose some weight". Yet, it is entirely socially acceptable to say, "that chick needs to eat, she's skinny". Or worse, "she's got to be anorexic, or something". I don't blame the women's rights movement for this, but recently I have seen a prevalent negative portrayal of women who are skinny, which suggests skinny women are somehow less real or less valid because they are perceived and conveyed to be conforming to "constricting beauty norms" or are sick with anorexia or another degenerative disease. In essence, women (and some good men) have been fighting the good fight, trying to deconstruct centuries old beauty norms that harm all women, yet are simultaneously stigmatizing women who may be skinny.

Whether we are musing that a person should lose weight or gain it all back, judging a woman's worth in whole or part upon her physical appearance is not helpful. The fashions world and our mainstream media outlets reaffirm beauty norms that harm women, but saying skinny women are less real than normal sized women (whatever that means) harms women just the same. The mannequin in question is a disturbing display and the company(ies) that use them deserve to be criticized, but do so without tearing other women down. Why can't we just accept people come in all shapes and sizes and leave it at that? I guess I'm feeling particularly optimistic today .

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Change.org's Women's Rights blog posted a reaction to last week's True Blood episode, concluding that the show has become to violent and portrays too much violence against women all in the name of a shock factor. I think there is some truth to this, the episode in question features a scene in which the main character, Vampire Bill, has very rough sex with another vampire woman and during the act he twists her neck around and causes blood to spurt from her mouth. It was difficult to watch, yes but it was not a rape scene. The female vampire was more than willing and voiced her pleasure with the act on more than one occasion.

The author of the Change.org piece contends that the display of rough sex that includes violence mirrors rape and blurs the line between rough sex, consent and rape . She also contends that the scene perpetuates television's wont to portray sexually submissive women, which reinforces sexuality constructs. This is fair and there is indeed some correlation between sexualized violence against women on tv and real life violence against women, but what happened on True Blood episode 3 was consensual, rough, sex. That's it.

There is also some commentary about characters on the show being punched in the face and physically assaulted, kidnapped or help captive. This is indeed depiction of sick violence against women, I find it troubling but actually don't want to stop watching. The reasons are many, but foremost among them is the fact that beginning a public conversation about domestic/partner violence is so necessary. These type of issues are concealed, considered private and are rarely talked about in the mainstream. Victims are still extremely stigmatized and statistics show rising cases of violence. Showing this type of material, even on HBO, I believe de-stigmatizes victims rather than encourages violence.

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It looks like a positive breakthrough has been made with the preliminary results of a new HIV prevention gel, which was shown to decrease infection. Awesome.

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LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

The Correct Age to Start Enforcing Mainstream Beauty Standards Is.... ?

2010-07-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

The Show: Toddlers and Tiaras.

Offending Network: TLC (of course)

Gist: Little Girls Are Televised ~~Being Forced Into~~ Competing in Beauty Pageants.

Headline: "Just another day in the life of a toddler princess!"

Is this show terrible? No doubt. For the sake of this blog I will risk typing what is glaring obvious. A show following stage-moms (its always mothers who seemingly have no employment beside being stay-at-home moms- not that this is bad) force their 3 and 4 year old daughters to perform in pageants while dressed in full makeup, hair, and other adult grooming measures, can't possibly be anything other than sociologically offensive and wholly sexist. What I saw today has finally convinced me to say something about this terrible show.

The following clip is of a 10 year old girl getting her eye brows waxed. She's so terrified that she is seen clutching onto the chair arms and her mother's hand; its as if she's in labor.

The first question I ask myself : " how old was I when I started shaving my legs and tweezing my eyebrows?". I was 14 before I was allowed to shave or pluck. I tried once to use my mother's razor and failed miserably, coming out of the bathroom with nicks bleeding all over my legs. My mother was pissed and I was terrified- nothing was worth having disgusting cuts and band aids all over my legs.

Shaving, grooming and wearing makeup are ways that women (and men) change their physical appearance to conform to beauty norms, yet there is something important about having a care-free childhood, one I was fortunate to have. With the prevalence of mass media and increased availability to sources of information that perpetuate beauty and other gender-biased social norms, the "age of innocence" is becoming almost non-existent. Parents should be encouraging their kids to find interest in many things and develop confidence based upon stuff more substantive than the way they look.

Beauty is fleeting and ever changing, starting kids on a path to attempting to fulfill all beauty standards at such a young age is extremely damaging and makes me sad. Beyond the little toddlers playing dress up and strutting their stuff on a stage in front of ~~their peers~~ adults who judge them, this show is illustrating how much pressure we put on young girls to fit a pre-determined mold of beauty.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Summer Reading

2010-07-13T23:56:00.000-07:00

A little break from annoying sports figures that get weird hair cuts and all the crap that has been going down on the woman's rights front. I have been doing a massive amount of pleasure reading this summer, even though I should most certainly be studying (like right now, literally).

The first series that I'm sure we have all heard of is the Millenium Trilogy, which includes The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. All three were non-stop, page turning, reads. Not exactly "easy" reads per-se, but since they are fiction and have no scholastic value pertaining to my life, I will consider the three books to be "breezy summer novels" .

Always good for a nice, relaxing Saturday night read are romance novels. I know, I know, why would anyone , especially a raging feminist such as myself ever subject themselves to reading such nonsense? Well, because the collective plight of a beautiful but destitute virginal damnsel in search of a husband and her soon-to-be soul mate who happens to be The Sexiest Creature Alive, is too entertaining and far-fetched to not read. Am I a bit of a romantic at heart? Hell, fucking, yes. Would I ever get married (again) or submit myself to the power of some guy just because he's good in bed, wealthy and extremely handsome? Oh no, no matter how dark and brooding (or Blonde and God Like) he may be. Nevertheless, I love romance novels if not for the sheer entertainment of them. Here is my current favorite series: The Hathaways. Eldest sister Amelia falls in love with a GASP gypsy and they get married and live happily ever after, with no small measure of hilarious mishaps and problems that crop while they are on their way. Next is the story of pseudo -non-abled , middle sister, Win. Repeat process of first sister Amelia's story but add the heartbreaking reality that she may not actually want children (imagine THAT ). The remaining books (3 ) follow the marriage and subsequent happily-ever-after for the rest of Amelia and Win's siblings.

Nothing is better though, than a riveting, completely outlandish, sci-fi series. JR Ward fills that need brilliantly , my only objection is she takes years to publish one book (tome really) and I am so tired of waiting for the next installment. The best sci-fi series that everyone should be running to their local book store for is the Charlotte Harris series that inspires the HBO hit show "True Blood". The books are like 200 pages (max) and are fun , easy reads. Sex, love, drama, death, life, vampires, telepathy, etc.. you name it, its probably in this series. At least read a couple, I promise you it is worth your while. Lastly, the most epic Sci Fi series is the Foundation Trilogy. I wouldn't recommend starting this if you have 400 other things going on, as the 3 book series is lengthy and pretty complex .

So folks, that is what I have been reading these last few months. I have a lot of extra time on my hands and find it easy (and fun!) to lose myself in a good fiction. Let's hope for a return of the hot, sunny, weather we were spoiled with last weekend!

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Why Mel Gibson's Latest Scandal Is Important

2010-07-12T21:39:00.000-07:00

Trigger Warning: Some of this post and linked audio are very graphic and triggering.

So, I don't mean I actually like (alleged) verbal and physical abuse, I abhor it with all of my being. Abuse in all of its forms hurt women and children and scar generations leaving dire social consequences and years long ramifications that take a toll in every aspect of our lives.

The images on television of partner abuse is usually of some woman trudging into a shelter bloody and bruised , having just run from an abusive husband/boyfriend. When politicians stand up and speak out against partner abuse they often point to lack of funds for battered women shelters and want to increase aid for women who have left an (physically) abusive relationship. But no one talks about emotional, verbal and mental abuse. Stalking, rampant possessiveness, jealousy, consistent anger , manipulation, financial abuse, and constantly attacking a partner's self esteem with perpetual put downs and insults - all of this is considered emotional or verbal abuse. But hardly anyone seems willing to acknowledge this publicly; there is little to no media attention paid to verbal and emotional abuse.

So when Mel Gibson is heard (allegedly) cursing out, screaming at, intimidating, insulting, and threatening the life of his partner on tape, the media takes notice and suddenly this type of abuse is at the forefront of America's pop-culture consciousness.

There are those who wonder whether Gibson's partner was making up accusations about abuse and using the "doctored" tape to exhort money from Gibson, but the more vehemently he denied the accusations, the number of vile tapes and real evidence released from his former partner just continued to rise. Mel Gibson is innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence is extremely damning.

Suppose Gibson's ex partner did indeed doctor tapes and hire someone that sounds like Gibson to verbally assault her on numerous occasions and use references to highly personal information? Gibson would be exonerated and go back to living a carefree life of luxury, but we'll still be talking about verbal and emotional abuse long after. Indeed, the way problems such as this can begin to be dealt with is complex but must start with the conversation. The heretofore socially-deemed "private" must be considered "public" in order for our society to deal with it.

So while I know in my heart that Gibson's (alleged) verbal and emotional assault(s) on his former partner were wrong; that no woman or man should ever have to be a victim of such violent hatred and emotional stress, I am in some ways relieved that we are now talking about verbal and emotional abuse. Yet, it is a sad state of the world that someone had to be humiliated and was made to (allegedly) suffer so profoundly in order for us to begin the conversation.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Verbal Abuse Resources

Oregon Abuse Resources

Gibson's Alleged Taped Conversation With Ex Girlfriend -1

Gibson's Alleged Taped Conversation With Ex Girlfriend- 2

Contraceptives At No Cost? Yes Please

2010-07-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Places like Portland have an abundance of Planned Parenthood clinics, which provide low to no cost contraceptives and other health care services to women(and men), specifically those that reside deeply below the federal poverty level. A person such as myself, without health insurance and inevitably needing an annual exam and birth control RX, is able to schedule an appointment at one of several metro PP locations and get both for really cheap (or free). Many however, are not as fortunate as I.

Those who live in rural areas where jobs, money making opportunities and affordable health care are scarce, are specifically impacted when Congress, State law makers and insurance companies restrict access (in whichever capacity they can) to contraceptive and sexual health services. If some do get insurance, in many instances they do not have coverage for contraception, which means they'll be paying for their birth control out of pocket.

Since The Pill was approved for RX by the the FDA roughly 50 years ago, women have spent billions of dollars on contraception. Studies show that women spend upwards of 30 years paying heavily to avoid pregnancy and the cost to society is no doubt equally as expensive. This cost doesn't include the billions in tax payer dollars that have specifically been allocated to fight sex education and access to contraceptives.

Thus, reading this news- health insurers may cover contraceptives at 100%- makes me feel very overjoyed. Will it be an intense fight to get this instituted? Of course, but nothing worthwhile is rarely easy. More women will be able to attain affordable contraceptives and will have ultimately more control over their own reproductive decisions. This move could potentially save consumers and insurers a lot of moola.

It is a win-win for everyone, but will be a fight to do the death as there will surely be ridiculous opposition from conservatives and those who think women shouldn't be able to chose when/if/how they want children.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

World Cup Places Ornamental Women at Medal/Trophy Ceremony

2010-07-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

I should be studying, but I can't focus. I watched the World Cup final today and as I'm sure everyone is very aware , Spain has taken the world title. Cool.

I noticed that during the medal/trophy ceremony there stood behind the row of national dignitaries who actually present the medals to the 3rd and 2nd place teams, a row of identically dressed, tall, women. Most of them were white. What the fuck? They were placed like ornaments. I can't remember if they actually carried medals or the trophy onto the stage, but there they stood still as statues behind a row of dudes. Pretty annoying how this is so blatantly sexist and no one seems to care? Sort of like the women who carried the medals on stage during the Olympics. So sexist, so tired.

In other news, this picture made me laugh. Where's a tazer when you really need one? (kidding)

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

The Guy Who Played Urkel is Suspected of Beating On His Girlfriend

2010-07-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

:(

Steve Urkel was the lovable character on a favorite childhood show of mine, Family Matters. That is why I was so sad to see this news. Our favorite stars usually disappoint because we are all in fact human, but every time I see a public (semi-public in this case) figure allegedly attack a woman , I die a little inside. There is never ever an excuse to be violent and the increasing rate of domestic violence occurrences in the US is very disturbing.

With more and more celebrities becoming involved in domestic violence/partner violence situations, is there something to be said for the nature of actors in particular? Or is this simply a reflection of the larger trend that sees increased domestic violence accross the country? I don't know, nevertheless, it is still wrong and very sad.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Year of Women in Labor... Or something like that

2010-07-09T06:30:00.000-07:00

Laura Flanders of The Nation ponders upon the media-proclaimed "year of the woman" that proclaims that feminism has been seized by the wonderful and surprising GOP women who have done a lot of things to get themselves noticed but have yet to do well, anything. What everyone has missed, Flanders argues, is that this year has been the year of the working woman- but the media can't talk about that.

With unions pouring support into primary challenges for centrist Democrats, you'd think the media would've noticed this storyline as well. If Nikki Haley is a new face for the Republican Party, certainly Mary Kay Henry is a new face for organized labor. So if novelty's not the reason for the love for the new generation of Bushwomen, what is?

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

GameBoy Condoms

2010-07-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the Condoms themselves aren't actually Nintendo themed - or sized- but the boxes are and its all to raise awareness for sexual health and safety! Basically, these condom packets/holders/boxes are awesome, what a cool design. - Via BuzzFeed.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Federal Judge Says Law Barring Federal Govt. From Acknowledging Same Sex Couples is Unconstitutional.

2010-07-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Judge Joseph L. Tauro of United States District Court in Boston sided with the plaintiffs in two separate cases brought by the state attorney general and a gay rights group.

Although legal experts disagreed over how the rulings would fare on appeal, the judge’s decisions were nonetheless sure to further inflame the nationwide debate over same-sex marriage and gay rights.

...

Tracy Schmaler, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, said federal officials were reviewing the decision and had no further comment. But lawyers for the plaintiffs said they fully expected the Obama administration to appeal. An appeal would be heard by the First Circuit, which also includes Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire and Puerto Rico.

In the case brought by Attorney General Martha Coakley, Judge Tauro found that the 1996 law, known as the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, compels Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens in order to receive federal money for certain programs.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Rant Post From An Angry Bitch

2010-07-07T21:10:00.000-07:00

First of all, as a woman I don't think I am a "novelty" as a sports fan. That tired stereotype about women "hating sports" applies to such an egregious minority of females that I think it is time for men and women alike, especially those in the media, the shut the fuck up already about how "awesome" it is that women are watching the World Cup . Newsflash you tone deaf morons: women have been into sports for years and years.

I am a femi-womanist. I like the colors purple and pink. These two facts are not mutually exclusive. I don't have to reject every gender stereotype , I simply have to acknowledge their existence . Fuck, I don't even have to do that. No apologies: I like the color pink and fuck you if you think that makes me less of a feminist.

Greg Oden's hair is really ugly. He grows it out and styles it in these absurd designs that will always look funny on a 7 foot brick wall of a man. He's turning into a characature of himself. I think it is a type of defense mechanism of his, like his way of saying, "look everyone I'm really happy and ready to get healthy and play." The problem is Greg, we all know you are a complete head case. You spend your time kicking it in Vegas instead of dedicating your re-hab time, you know, fucking re-habbing. So no, your new, ugly, and absurdly garish hairstyle isn't convincing me that you are in high spirits, quite the contrary. It is clear you still aren't approaching your life as it is with maturity, focus and drive. As a Blazer fan, my response is still : FML.

Twitter is so jenxie. It breaks every day. On one of my most stressful days in recent memory, twitter wasn't working and so I was forced to bottle my rage until I sat at my kitchen counter balling my eyes out and wondering where the fuck I can buy a bottle of Jack. Good thing twitter started working and I had an opportunity to vent, but still.. Twitter, get your shit together! I need you!

BluRay movies are 2 x as expensive as regular dvd. This makes me upset.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Halftime: No Time to Quit - South Africa, HIV and How the World Cup has Hidden an Epidemic.

2010-07-05T11:53:00.000-07:00

Jamele Hill of ESPN writes one of the most poignent pieces on the HIV crisis in South Africa. With the World Cup as the backdrop and considering the continents economic and health crises , Hill shows how the world's biggest spectacle has worked to hide the rampant HIV epidemic. Because the piece is so excellent, I am going to repost it in its entirety here.

JOHANNESBURG -- In Newtown, where railways and trading companies once thrived, an old problem was confronted with a new twist.

If you happened to be walking past Newtown Park, where you could get a clear view of the towering spectacle known as the Nelson Mandela Bridge, the soccer game being played on a dusty field probably didn't look like anything special.

Until you saw the players' jerseys.

In bold, black letters, they all read: HIV Positive.

Pickup soccer games in South Africa happen with the same frequency as a hoops game in the inner city, but this wasn't just any pickup soccer game. It was a five-a-side, all-women tournament featuring six teams -- all with HIV-positive footballers.

The crowd, which was primarily composed of HIV patients, blew their vuvuzelas like the South African national team was playing. But when they jogged around the park and sang a shosoloza -- a traditional African folk song -- the improvised lyrics carried a far different message.

Put on the condom! Put on the condom!

If only their song wasn't being drowned out by the World Cup.

We've seen sports destroy countless barriers, but it has a way of erecting them, too, keeping us from reality at the wrong moments.

As South Africa continues to draw worldwide praise for how it has hosted the World Cup, South African AIDS activists worry that their own government, along with others around the world, is becoming complacent when it comes to battling the HIV epidemic, which has terrorized the African continent.

The "Halftime: No Time To Quit" tournament on Friday, put on by the international aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres -- also known as Doctors Without Borders -- was a way to remind the world that as glorious matches are being played, people in Africa are continuing to die at an alarming rate from AIDS. In fact, during the 31 days of the World Cup, experts predict 22,000 people will die of AIDS in South Africa.

"We acknowledge that the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime mission for the continent," said Nokhwezi Hoboyi, a 30-year-old AIDS activist who has been living with HIV for 12 years, "but HIV is here for the next five to 10 years. Millions and billions of dollars have been spent in preparation for the World Cup. If we could have the donors and governments who could provide such enormous amount of money to the HIV program, I'm sure many lives would be saved."

South Africa poured billions to host the World Cup, building lavish stadiums in a number of cities, many in impoverished communities. As people question what kind of legacy the World Cup will leave in this country, there is no question about how South Africa handles its HIV crisis is a significant part of the equation.

HIV/AIDS in Africa
The African AIDS epidemic, by the numbers:
22,000: People expected to die from AIDS in South Africa during the 31-day World Cup
160,000: People expected to die of AIDS worldwide during the World Cup
1.4 million: People in sub-Saharan Africa dying of AIDS each year
22.4 million: People living with HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
33.4 million: People living with HIV and AIDS globally

--Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders
South African AIDS activists are pleased with the way the current South African administration has responded in terms of implementing AIDS prevention programs, building treatment centers and helping combat the numerous stigmas about HIV that exist in South Africa.

But the activists also note that funding has slowed, both in South Africa and outside of it. They say funds that were earmarked to help confront the looming issue were diverted to help the country undergo a facelift for the World Cup. The larger economic crisis many countries are facing has made international donations harder to come by. President Barack Obama pledged $50 billion to AIDS relief over five years as a presidential candidate but reportedly has funneled only $7 billion toward the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a program created by former President George W. Bush in 2003.

At Friday's tournament, organizers placed cardboard cutouts of Obama and other world leaders in a "quitters box," putting scarves around their eyes to indicate how they are willingly blinding themselves to the HIV epidemic.

In South Africa, looking away from HIV problem is impossible. Only three countries have a higher HIV infection rate than South Africa; officials estimate that 18 percent of the adult population in South Africa is infected with HIV. According to local activists, many of those infected don't receive the proper treatment. Four million people worldwide have received antiretroviral treatment and led improved lives, but there are still 9 million more who don't have access to the medicine.

Despite the mammoth strides that have been made in recent years, the lack of quality HIV education is still a major problem. Activists worry that the World Cup will lead to a spike in new HIV infection cases considering the amount of alcohol consumed at the matches and the booming interest in the sex trade caused by increased tourism. According to FIFA, millions of condoms have been distributed during the World Cup and the organization has strongly supported the South African government's national testing campaign.

"There is much more to be done," said Dr. Gilles van Cutsem, who treats HIV and AIDS patients in Cape Town and came to Newtown Park to watch some of his patients play in the soccer tournament. "It's a global program. Treatment. Prevention. Treatment as prevention. The global package must be put in place."

As Hoboyi knows personally, awareness of HIV and AIDS can be the difference between life and death. Hoboyi, who works closely with the AIDS activist group Treatment Action Campaign, lost two children to the disease before realizing she was infected. Hoboyi contracted HIV from a boyfriend, but doctors told her after the death of her first child that she had a rare disease, not HIV. It wasn't until she was living in a hospice and suffering from dementia as a 20-something that a doctor finally explained what HIV was and that she had to be treated with antiretroviral drugs the rest of her life in order to survive.

"I told myself I'm going to find out as much as I can about the virus that I have in order for me to be able to live with it, to deal with it, and to educate myself and my community about it and change the myths or the statements that were being made about people who are living with HIV," said Hoboyi, who has a HIV-negative son who will turn 3 in October.

As much as South African activists would have liked for some of the funding to be sent in their direction instead of invested in million-dollar stadiums that could go unused after the World Cup is done, there is no question soccer has made a huge difference in the lives of the HIV patients who came to play in Newtown.

There are numerous HIV-positive soccer teams throughout the African continent. Some teams are more skilled than others, but the HIV-positive soccer community is vibrant and helps those who still are subject to widespread discrimination and ignorance.

For Nandipha Makhele, who was the goalkeeper for the South African team Siyaphila (meaning "We are alive, we are well" in the African language Xhosa), playing soccer with other HIV patients is an escape from a turbulent home life.

Makhele tested positive for HIV two years ago after being raped by two men in Cape Town. Makhele lives with her father and two brothers there, and even though antiretroviral therapy has allowed her to be a normal, healthy 25-year-old, she receives little family support. She said her brother will sometimes throw away drinking glasses after she's used them, and her relationship with her father is awkward. When she's done volunteering for Treatment Action Campaign, she goes home and stays in her room.

Makhele said it's a painful existence sometimes, so much so that she developed sores on her hands and arms from stress. For an afternoon, soccer alleviates the stress.

"HIV is nothing," Makhele said. "It's a virus. You can't say, 'Oh, I have HIV. I can't play.' You've got to play."

Makhele belted out a laugh, as if it were a comedic irony that, if not for HIV, Makhele probably would have never thought about learning how to play soccer.

"Today," she exclaimed, "I kick a virus!"

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Huffington Post Asks: Who is the Hottest Woman at Wimbledon?

2010-07-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

Because female athletes apparently have nothing else to offer , have no way to contribute to the sports world, without being sexy or hot.

At least this is the message HuffPost sends by asking such a degrading and sexist question.

The headline story should be about the winner, Serena Williams, who positively dominated to grab her fourth Wimbledon title and 13th Grand Slam.

The top-ranked and defending champion American overwhelmed the 21st-seeded Russian 6-3, 6-2 in a one-sided final that lasted just 67 minutes and showed why Williams is considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Williams served nine aces, broke three times and never faced a break point in nine service games. She finished the tournament without dropping a set

But no, Williams' emphatic and dominating victory is overshadowed by The Huffington Post's other main-page story asking who's "hottest". Such a disservice to women's sports and female athletes.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Serena Williams Wins Wimbledon
Wimbledon Hotties 2010

Beaverton Police Officer Caught Sexually Abusing Prostitutes

2010-06-30T21:54:00.000-07:00

Emily Smith of the Oregonian writes of Beaverton, Oregon police officer, Joshua Jensen, who was convicted of two counts of prostitution, coercion, and two counts of official misconduct. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail- a sentence I feel is not long enough. As the comments on this story clearly show, there are those who think that people that sell sex are less than human; not worthy of respect; incapable of being victims. I could not disagree with that line of thinking more, and this story embodies exactly why.

"When he first took me back behind the Dumpster ... my hands were shaking," one of the victims told The Oregonian Wednesday.

"I was scared – his whole demeanor was very intimidating," she said. "I really didn't know what to expect or what would happen."

In the first incident, Jensen told the woman what she was doing as a prostitute was wrong. Then he asked for oral sex. She asked if she had to, and he said she didn't. Afterward, he paid her $40.

But with the second woman, Jensen asked her why he shouldn't arrest her. She replied that she wouldn't do it anymore.

He said, "Well, if there's something I want out of it," then unzipped his pants, reports show.

The woman told investigators and The Oregonian that Jensen then "grabbed me by the back of the head and forced my head down, and I really didn't have a choice."

Consider this, an officer of the law- tough on crime and all that jazz- forced two women to perform oral sex. It was forced sex- assault. Although Jensen visited these women before and paid for sexual favors during previous encounters, in this instance he forced them to comply and then veritably threw money at them.

Jensen's explanation for the reason he had prostitute's phone numbers:

Jensen told detectives he spoke with prostitutes by phone and in person to counsel them because "he was trying to help them out."

This single line is what enrages me. This isn't just his pathetic attempt to appear not guilty, he is actually shifting blame. It is implicit in this one line with all that dripping condescension, that prostitutes are not able to be sexually assaulted because they aren't worthy of full protection of the law. In this case and in this state Mr. Jensen, they indeed are.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Former Beaverton Police Officer Joshua Jensen Pleads Guilty -Beaverton Police Department (PDF)

Prostitutes say they were afraid to refuse sex acts with Beaverton Officer- Oregonian

Dove Real Women Campaign Casting for Real "Perfect" Women

2010-06-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

Duh.

Not exactly a surprise that Dove didn't really mean "normal" or "average" when they introduced the world to the ground breaking media campaign to sell their beauty products (smelly soap is not a necessity, sorry). All Dove did was find the best, politically correct and non-conformative way to tap into the fastest growing demographic of beauty product consumers- women between 35 and 65 that are buying "anti aging" products and the like- by appealing to "real women" like me and you, because we aren't super model thin and will better relate with women that look more like ourselves.

This advertisement, which is selling a shaping/sculpting/anti-cellulite cream-basically a product to thin your thighs without exercise- on "real curves", is just rich. Using "real women" to say, "Yeah you got cottage cheese thighs just like this one did, but if you buy our cream and rub it on your ass every day, the cellulite will go away , bringing you closer to that thin , super model ideal ! "

Real Women, Psh.

"grey? or gorgeous? "

FUCK YOU, SHE'S BOTH.

This discovery that Dove is still casting for models to be in their "real women" campaign shouldn't surprise anyone; it shouldn't disappoint someone who thought maybe, just maybe, the beauty product industry was shifting beauty norms to better resemble the majority of those to which they market their products. No, Dove and the beauty industry at large have not changed. Their media campaigns may shift to compete with other brands and their models may differ in size but they aren't featuring real women in their ads, they are featuring models who still adher to carefully constructed and maintained beauty constructs.

Not buying Dove products, that's for damned sure.
-Sophia

Why Title IX Matters

2010-06-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

So many reasons to complain that Title IX isn't good enough, so many instances in which segregation of sports based upon gender and continued unequal funding have hurt young, female athletes. But today isn't about that. I wanted to list out plainly why Title IX is awesome.

Because women and girls deserve equal access to sports and sports education.

Because women are physically , mentally and emotionally capable to compete in athletics, just like men.

Because girls deserve to learn they truly can do anything a man does.

Because athletics promote health and enhance learning.

Because athletics provide confidence- women and girls deserve access to confidence building activities.

Because women and girls can make friendships or connections to lead them to successful career paths.

Because college and high school scholarships should be equally available to girls and boys.

Because taking interest in things other than what society deems "girly" is necessary for gender equity.

Because women and girls deserve money for college .

Because equality in sports , at least the inklings of it, lead to great social gender equity.

Because sports and athletics are fun and exciting.

Because gender norms and stereotypes can be dispelled when more girls and women become involved in traditionally male activities.

Because even those who don't excel physically at athletics (me!) , can learn an appreciation and love for sports .

Because Title IX is a major crack in the glass ceiling.

But Will It Be Covered By Insurance?

2010-06-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an intriguing report about a drug that a German drug company has "stumbled upon" that purportedly will raise a woman's sexual libido. Call it Viagra for women. The FDA has been holding hearings about this new drug and ever since Viagra has been FDA approved, many in the pharmaceutical community have worked to turn low sexual libido in women into a medical pathological condition. Whether you agree with that or not; whether you see this as damaging to women and women's rights world wide or not; there is no doubt that should this new drug pass FDA regulations and hit the market, there will be significant backlash from a variety of communities.

Due to current insurance regulations and laws, the administrator of insurance plans (ie: Blue Cross/Blue Shield or AETNA) usually defer to employers to chose what is and is not covered under insurance plans they provide/offer to employees, after the base plan that is offered for a certain premium. If the company choses a self funded plan, the restrictions on what they do and do not cover are even less. This has in part, created the trend that sees employers creating exemptions that say birth control, abortions and several other women's health services as "medically unnecessary" or simply "not covered" . Yet, there is almost always no restrictions on the coverage of drugs like Levitra, Viagra and Cialis. Now, with the pending approval of a female libido-enhancing drug and the push to create the "low female libido" condition - there is no doubt insurance companies will cover such a drug.

To me, this is tragic. There is no question in my mind that the refusal to cover services to treat/prevent/help women and women's health services , is blatant discrimination. Even with the historical health care insurance reform bill passed earlier this year, there were still provisions-nay an entire debate- over whether the "tax payers would be forced to cover abortion services" . The fact that this was disingenuous and blatantly false; not to mention that tax payers will pay for the unwanted child down the road anyway; created a nasty tone to a debate whose derision for women and women's health was all to obvious. I was very saddened and even quit blogging about the health care bill because I felt it was damaging women's standing in our country.

It turns out that in that light, I was correct. The priorities of the pharmaceutical companies, our Congress and in many way the FDA, are askew. It doesn't matter to these groups of white men in suits, that women are harmed by their actions (and inaction on important shit, like birth control, contraception and abortion services).

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

A Lesson In Epically Bad... and Epically Good. Celtics Turn In Second Worst Finals Loss in NBA History, Kobe Reminds Us How Good He Is.

2010-06-15T21:33:00.000-07:00

Count me in as one who is absolutely stoked there will be a game 7 in the 2010 NBA Finals. This series has been more than I could have asked for; in a post season that has featured more disappointing and boring outcomes than I can remember, game 7 on Thursday feels like a redemption.

The Lakers dominated the Celtics in every conceivable category from almost the opening tip, but the turning point happened when 1/2 of the Celtics' emotional harbinger, Kendrick Perkins went down with a gruesome looking knee injury. As his right knee buckled-backwards- and he went crashing to the floor, rocking unsteadily back and forth, gripping the head of the referee; so too did Boston's emotional stability. From then on, the Celtics' heart took flight from the Staples Center and a halftime deficit of 20 was too much to overcome. In the end, the Celtics could not manage more than 70 points, a bitter reminder that all the firepower from Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo does not a consistent offensive squad make.

Watching Kobe decimate the Celtics' scrubs in garbage time was a reminder that Kobe - and Phil- never forget. This performance was payback, Red Dead Redemption-style revenge against the Boston Celtics and every fan, writer and ESPN analyst who forgot who the Hell Kobe Bryant is. He was gettin' it in from everywhere tonight , particularly from the paint where he helped the Lakers wrack up 40 points, and if he or any of his teammate missed, they weren't giving the Celtics a chance to rebound.

Kobe Bryant ended this series-tying, game 6, with a truly NBA Classic-esque performance reminding everyone watching that right now we are all witnesses. The MVP of these finals will be Kobe Bean Bryant, yet the only question will be whether he can shelve that award next to the Larry O'Brien trophy.

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email

Week 1 World Cup Reaction: Has Your Team Made the Cut?

2010-06-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

We are now well into the first round of the World Cup and many fans' favorite teams have played already. Did your favorite team, your country or adopted country's team live up to the hype ? Or did they fall flat onto their face?

As an American I am duty bound to root for USA , and truly the team has been a gift of late to follow. What used to be a joke on the international circuit, the US team is now considered a force to be reckoned with. We have a lot of young, up and coming, and internationally known/respected players like stud goalie Tim Howard, defender Oguchi Onyewu and of course , Jozy Altidore . I love this squad and will enjoy following.

Yet, I've made no secret of the fact that I'm an Italian National Team Fan Girl. ITALIA! Thus, I was pleased ( read: relieved) they managed to get a draw today against Paraguay; the final is 1-1. Next up, they take on New Zealand on the 20th, a match they should dominate. The problem is the Italians are not as dominating this year and thus have become a bit unpredictable. There is no way to know whether Italia will come into the match ready to play or not.

As the final of today's match was a draw, each team in this instance moves to the next round of play with equal points and although they would be better off with full points for a match victory, a draw isn't half bad. For the Italians however, this was a bit like England's draw with the US over the weekend, in that the ability to avoid an upset is good , but overall a draw is viewed unfavorably only because England is a favorite and the Italians are the reigning World Cup Champs.

So I wait in agony until the 20th for Italia's next match. The wait seems interminable but there will be several other fun and notable matches to watch between now and then. If you are only a casual sports fan the following key matches will be worth the time to sit and watch .

June 15 : (tomorrow) Check out Brazil, the favorite to win the whole shebang. This team is incredibly entertaining to watch and you won't be sorry for following these guys.

June 16 :Spain takes on Switzerland. Not the hottest match yet, but surely entertaining as the Spanish team is one of the favored squads this year. On principle, I always root against the Spanish but they are still fun to watch.

June 25: Portugal and Brazil go head to head in what will be one of the most exciting matches in the opening group play. This match boasts some of the world's most talented footballers, including but not limited to, Christiano Rinaldo(Portugal).

Happy Spectating!

LaPrincipessa | Twitter | Email