(More Than) Grrrl Power! Girls Studies at UCF

The Zebra Coalition is going to start a hotline for GLBTQ youth in the Central Florida area. They would like it to be run 24/7 and are looking for volunteers who can donatate just an hour a week to the cause. I belive you will even be able to answer calls from your cell phone!!! There is a mandatory training session on Sept 25 from 9am-3pm at the Center for Drug Free Living. Click here for more information.

I found this article from the Media Awareness Network. I thought it goes great with Week Twelves discussion and other discussions in the past. How does the media effect girls and their body image? Does it lower their self-esteem? This is a great resource for answers to those questions and many more. Enjoy! http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm

This site was created to educate the public about sex trafficking through education and creative media (this problem affects over one million people--girls being the most vulnerable). ~Anj

This is an article from USA today looking at how young girls are bombarded with the message that they need to be super-skinny in order to be sexy (what of young girls feeling the need to be sexy?). ~Anj

I came across this golden nugget of a site while doing research for a sociology course regarding gender. This site was created by graduate students of Columbia University, for their masters project in journalism: " We set out to interview a diverse group of women and experts to give us an up-to-the-minute report. Here, we provide an insightful look at the private and pervasive issues surrounding our bodies." I have spent hours on this site--it is fantastic. I ha

This website is basically the YouTube of feminism. It's great. It has all sorts of videos, commercials, PSAs, previews for feminist documentaries, lectures, and more thing relevant to feminism. I've spent hours and hours on here already. It is truly a wonderful resource.

This is a very comprehensive website that is quite interesting. It began as a power point and now has over 25oo images that can be accessed as learning tool for gender studies by anyone. Check out the section entitled "kids and ads" and tell me what you think (a little disturbing?). ~Anj

I thought this was a fabulous site, there is a lot to explore (something for everyone), I hope that you will enjoy! ~Anj

The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl." ~Shirley Chisholm I came across this quote and thought it was so true. I remember as we talked about this at the beginning of the class this summer. Just thought I'd share!

I'm sure you've all seen this commercial before, but I love it, and the others like it. I love that a tampon company finally realized that they were insulting our intelligence by thinking that seeing a woman in white pants, dancing, would convince us that their tampon was the best. I don't care what tampon I'm wearing. I am NOT wearing white pants on my period! Anyway, I find this to be a step in the right direction when it comes to treating women like humans, treating their problems frankly, and not being afraid to be honest about menstruation.

When I was working on my service learning, I was helping out on the Hidden Treasure Farm. Because there were no women or children to work with at the time, I was set to doing farm tasks. At one point, I was cleaning chairs in an area that turned out to be full of wasps and ran away. After getting a class of water and calming down, I headed back to set aright the cleaning supplies, which were now strewn everywhere. As I did so, I gave myself a pep talk, which consisted of "Okay. Time to grow a pair and pick up the buckets." And then, of course, I was appalled at myself. Grow a pair? Of testicles? Because I needed testicles to go be around wasps. As the girlfriend of man who is afraid of bugs and runs away screaming (like a girl?) every time he sees a tiny spider, I know that being man does not make one brave or able to handle little stinging things. I even know that having testicles does not make a man. But phrases like "ran away like a girl" and "gro

Heard an interview with Danica McKellar (Winnie from the Wonder Years) on NPR's Science Friday last night. McKellar is a math wiz and has finished her third book Hot X: Algebra Exposed! which combines math equations and personal stories about getting through middle and high school for girls. There is relationship advice and even an excerpt about domestic violence and the rise of dating violence among young people. This is from McKellar's website: Straight from Hollywood, two-time New York Times bestselling author Danica McKellar delivers Hot X: Algebra Exposed! With Math Doesn't Suck and Kiss My Math, actress and math genius Danica McKellar shattered the "math nerd" stereotype by showing students how to ace middle school math and pre-algebra in her unique, just-us-girls style. Now Danica takes on the most feared of all math classes: algebra! Sizzling with Danica's trademark sass and style, Hot X: Algebra Exposed puts math-phobic students at ease, showing a

I came across this thing on my best friend's page on Facebook and shared it with everyone on there ( I didn't seem to get much response). But i personally was very outraged at the extent that women need to work to protect themselves. This is an article of a new type of condom that was made for women just in case they are raped there are some special teeth on it and it grips onto.... well you get the idea. The article is that link. Unfortunely the extent of the violence on women that is endured in Africa has resulted in women resorting to this. Enjoy!

For my service learning I had the opportunity to share with a group called Las Princesitas~~~ translation The Princesses. I just wanted to share their pictures and share how close i got to these young girls and hope that I somewhat helped or impacted their lives with what I had to share with them. On the top left is Jenny she's 13 and my little sister (literally), then theirs estrella and lorena. She's the leader of the group and thats her daughter she's 13.And they have the most amazing relationship. Then at the bottom left is Paola she's 12 and then Bryana who's 13. All these girls are very beauttiful on both the inside and out and best of all they know it and are not ashamed. Just thought i should share!

The Girl Power! A Healthy Woman Event connects parents and their daughters in an afternoon filled with laughter, learning and listening. The event includes: •Engaging certified experts in the fields of nutrition, self-esteem, safety and communication •Interactive, fun exhibits •Delicious treats •Fantastic Prizes •A gift bag to be filled with goodies The 2010 Girl Power! A Healthy Woman Event will be held Saturday, August 28, 2010 Orange County Convention Center South Concourse 12:30 - 5:30 p.m Here are a few of the speakers for the one day event: •Nurse practitioner with Dr. Catherine Zelner, GYN •Co-founder, Parents Everywhere •Columnist, Moms Like Me •Parenting Educator (teaches workshops in town) •Reiki & Qigong Practitioner •UCF College of Nursing Adjunct Faculty

I am across this website/blog about this cool girl Julie. This is from her cite: "I live in Chicago. I am in the gifted program at school. I love playing music, dancing, and drawing. I am in Girl Scouts." "I have a lot of pets:3 dogs ( Lilly, Laui, and Cocoa)2 cats (Winnie, and Buddy) 1 Beta Fish (Swimmy)1 Guinea Pig (Lucky)" She reviews music, has her own videos and sells merchandise.

What do you think of Urban Outfitters campaign and collection of t-shirts that encourage eating disorders?  

A few months ago, I spotted Eve Ensler's new book in Borders. I didn't have the money to buy it, so I sat down and read the entire thing in an hour. I Am An Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World is said, by Ensler, "a literary text inspired by traveling the world, by witnessing events, by listening to real and imagined conversations. On occasion a monologue was inspired by an article, an experience, a memory, a dream, a wish, an image, or a moment of grief or rage." The monologues inside made me laugh, made me cry, made me question, made me angry, etc. Much like the The Vagina Monologues , it is empowering and sad and rage-inducing and beautiful. I urge all of you to check it out, to buy it for yourself or for a teenage girl in your life, and to share the stories with others. I wanted to post Eve's "introduction"/letter to girls/readers in the beginning. This was posted in a magazine a few months ago (Glamour, I believe) and it&#

Changing Bodies, Changing Lives A Book for Teens on Sex and Relationships An essential road map through the difficult terrain of adolescence, Changing Bodies, Changing Lives gives teens a thoughtful, empathetic and personal look at the issues that affect them daily. Teenagers need a place to find factual, straightforward, and thorough information on sex and on the many ways puberty affects their emotional and physical health. Since 1981, Changing Bodies, Changing Lives has been the source for teens who want facts and confirmation that they're not alone in what they're feeling and doing. In this newly revised and expanded edition, reputed by clinic directors, sex educators, parents and teenagers to be "the best in its field," Ruth Bell and her co-authors continue to offer nonjudgmental advice on every issue confronting adolescents today. Not only has each chapter been fully updated, but there are four new chapters addressing issues of today's teens. Based on quotes

(Trigger warning) I know that Abigail did her Book Review on Speak, and if any of you aren't familiar with the book or the film, you should check it out. I read this book in high school and it was incredibly emotional. Laurie Halse Anderson wrote and read this poem for the 10th anniversary of the book. The poem is composed of lines from emails/letters she's received from people who have read the book. It's incredibly touching, and shows how words on a page can transform, change, and save lives. ... You write to us from Houston, Brooklyn, Peoria, Rye, NY, LA, DC, Everyanywhere USA to my mailbox, My Space Face Book A livejournal of bffs whispering Onehundredthousand whispers to Melinda and Me. You: I was raped, too sexually assaulted in seventh grade, tenth grade, the summer after graduation, at a party i was 16 i was 14 i was 5 and he did it for three years i loved him i didn’t even know him. He was my best friend’s brother, my grandfather, father, mommy’s boyfriend, my date

Animal Safehouse is having a benefit concert at Natura Coffee & Tea on Friday August 6th from 8:30pm-1am. Natura is located 12078 Collegiate WayOrlando, FL (behind Friendly’s and AppleBees on University Blvd.) Please spread the word and come support the cause. Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets who, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations. While there are shelters for women and children, there are currently no facilities for their pets. Most women with pets will not leave their abusive homes if they cannot bring their furry loved ones along in fear of retaliation. Leandra Preston, Professor of Women's Studies at University of Central Florida, has worked closely with the Domestic Violence Task Force of Brevard, the Salvation Army domestic violence program, and Serene Harbor for several years. As an avid animal lover, she recognized the desperate need for a safe place for pe

Synopsis “Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls. “Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another. I am that girl. I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through. I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame. Lia and Cassie were best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies. But now Cassie is dead. Lia’s mother is busy saving other people’s lives. Her father is away on business. Her stepmother is clueless. And the voice inside Lia’s head keeps telling her to remain in control, stay strong, lose more, weigh less. If she keeps on going this way – thin, thinner, thinnest – maybe she’ll disappear altogether. In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the National Book Award finalist Speak, best-selling author Laurie Halse Anderson explores one girl’s chilling descent into the all-consuming vortex of anorexia.

True Blood is an HBO television drama series based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries series of novels by Charlaine Harris. The show is about vampires “coming out” to human society because of a synthetic blood like drink. The story follows Sookie Stackhouse and her vampire partner Bill Compton in Louisiana. The show is very violent but Pema Levy from Women’s Rights points out that the show is taking a dangerous turn and the violence has become increasingly sexual. “It’s not violence per se that is unacceptable, but rather the context in which it is portrayed: showing violence against women without simultaneously condemning that violence. The writers believe that they can justify this by using a theme: vampires are inherently violent, like blood, like violent sex. In doing so, True Blood buys into the same myths about violence and rape that do real harm to women today: that men have more sexual drive, that rape is an act of passion rather than domination, that women mean yes when the

Evertone ought to check out Girls Drawing Girls. This collective of female artists create pin-up drawings which comment on the sexualized art of women made by men. There are a lot of talented women present here. (Some art is a bit NSFW but it's nothing a woman hasn't seen before!)

I'm really posting this about the article that's linked to the "Title," of this post. I ran across it while at work (...yes, I read feminism articles while on the clock, SUE ME). I was pretty mortified by what I read. I'm also mortified by the TLC HIT show: Toddlers & Tiaras. Don't get me started. Enjoy!

Probably if you've taken a psychology class, you've learned about the phenomenon of "feral children". Basically, it is a non-medical term used to describe children who have grown up without any consistent human social interaction. There have been some famous cases, like a boy in France who was apparently raised by wolves, and a girl named Genie, who was found strapped to a potty chair in her adolescence. A few years ago, a case like this surfaced in the Tampa Bay area, and a link to the article is above. A seven-year-old girl named Danielle was found starving, surrounded by bugs, in a locked room, where she 'lived' with her mother and two older brothers. You can find all the information on her progress in the article, and it's pretty inspiring, but I wanted to know what everyone thought of the situation. The mother chose to keep caring for her adult sons, one of whom was mentally handicapped, but never even took her daughter outside. She blamed many

Below is a response to a discussion on the book "Women at Point Zero." I am sharing it becuase it is personal to me and hope it will encourage others to read the novel. Essay Response to a discussion on the novel “Women at Point Zero.” 1. Firdaus states that “I now knew that all of us were prostitutes who sold themselves at varying prices” (76). Explain the import of this statement in the context of the entire novel. I felt almost obligated to write on this topic. It might be because of the glaring instances in the book or the connection that such a topic has with me personally. Whatever the reason, this is what I have chosen and while the examples that I have pick out to discuss are clear to see in the narrated story I find them the most relevant to our lives as women, especially mine. From the beginning of the book our narrating character, Firdaus, has been groomed, blindly by her immediate family in the commodity of human service. Reading through page 16 we see her mother

I was heading to the lake this weekend, listening to XM Radio's "Station 6," which is 60's Music. This song came on and I sent myself an email to post this here. The lyrics say it all...this is our life. It makes no difference if you're rich or poor Or if you're smart or dumb A woman's place in this old world Is under some man's thumb And if you're born a woman You're born to be hurt You're born to be stepped on, lied to, cheated on And treated like dirt Ah if you're born a woman You're born to be hurt A woman's lot is to give and give And go on giving A woman's got to love and lose And go on living Well I was born a woman I didn't have no say And when my man finally comes home He makes me glad it happened that way Because to be his woman No price is too great to pay Yes I was born a woman I'm glad it happened that way Oh I was born a woman I'm glad it happened that way

Operation Beautiful – transforming the way you see yourself one post-it note at a time This blog of people leaving post-it notes all around where they live of messages of inner beauty and self acceptance. There’s an event going on from August 2-7th in which people place notes in women’s bathrooms and other various places saying things like “You=Perfect” and “You are Lovely” trying to bring people smiles and spread the word of loving our bodies and ourselves and rejecting societal standards. National Organization for Women has done this type of Love Your Body campaign in the past and I hope that others at UCF leave these messages of love around campus this week.

So many girls today have so many expectations set on them by society. At times we need to remember that they are just growing up in a crazy world, and need a minute to breathe! I watched this video and immediately thought of sharing this with you all! I think it is a great video for girls and for us women. It is a great reminder that sometimes we need a minute to slow down and just breathe.

Female genital mutilation is classified into four major types. 1.Clitoridectomy: partial or total removal of the clitoris (a small, sensitive and erectile part of the female genitals) and, in very rare cases, only the prepuce (the fold of skin surrounding the clitoris). 2.Excision: partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (the labia are "the lips" that surround the vagina). 3.Infibulation: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is formed by cutting and repositioning the inner, or outer, labia, with or without removal of the clitoris. 4.Other: all other harmful procedures to the female genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area. After discussing Violence Against Women, extensively, I thought I'd share this. I'm just mortified and I feel like I've reopened Pandora's box. I want to sto

I really have no words about this, but wanted to share the link. Hooray for tuition hikes, huh?

If you really knew me just premiered as a reality TV show on MTV. This show is based on an amazing project that is sweeping through schools across the nation. In my opinion this show can be a very positive experience for young girls and boys. This project helps break the Walls of prejudice, discrimination, and hate. Please read this article and check out the show for yourself! Please let mr know what you all think.

There is so much pressure out in the world for young girls. Young girls have to be popular, pretty, smart, virginal, sexual, silly, frail,and strong all at the same time! There are so many contradicting messages that are being told to these girls. How do we expect them to love themselves if we live in a so society of contradictions? How do we expect girls to be confident in who they are when there are pressures in the world to look "perfect". I remeber thinking like this poem describes at many points in my youth. I am sure that many of you did too. :(

I'm not quite decided on whether I truly sympathize with Oliva Munn's predicament. Whatever your opinion on the magazine, you have to admit that it's a powerful cultural force in America today. People want to read it to be titillated. Many people want to be famous and read about in publications with the largest circulation possible. I don't believe it's right to want to benefit from the readership of Playboy and expect the sexist rules it applies to all of the other women in its pages not to apply to you. On the other hand, I don't believe it's right to have those sexist rules in the first place, or ignore a contract the way that the crew of the photo shoot did. Another part of me feels that if you're willing to go topless with hair covering your breasts, is it really any less modest, dignified or classy to actually show your breast? Fully nude or not, Munn was apparently encouraged by her publicist to appear in a magazine that is known for objectifying

When it comes to comic books, you may think of them as being particularly male oriented reads. There are plenty of wonderful examples, though, of comics created by females that are more realistic and heartfelt than the rugged late 80s-early 90s norm which is, thankfully, going extinct. Women have been drawing comics for as long as there have been comics, but only comparatively recently has the market for these works been acknowledged, and it's much easier to find graphic novels drawn and/or written by women not just in the underground 'zine section but also on the mainstream shelves. This mainstreaming of feminine comics is a very good thing, bringing a broader range of perspectives to the comics world. There are plenty of great artists you can look up, like Lynda Barry, Colleen Coover or Amanda Conner. But I wanted to write this post because of a surprising read from Eric Powell, known for his watercolored comics about thugs, zombies and women who look like 50s pinups. I'v

I wanted to let everyone know about a great book that I just picked up and can not put down. It is called "In Her Shoes" by the well-known author Jennifer Weiner. The book was also made into a movie in 2005 staring Cameron Diaz. This book relates to all women, but I think its especially great for young women who are currently going through college. It's the story of 2 sisters who go through the lifes struggles growing up in the typical family. I have not finished the book yet, but have heard great things about the book as well as the film. Wanted to recommend it all to you as well. Enjoy!

I just thought I should post this link because of this weeks discussion. In my opinion it is incredibly sad what these girls have to go through!

As some of you may know I work for a local non profit organization that houses foster kids. Thanks to this organization I have learned a great deal from these kids especially from the young girls. There are two very sweet twins that I work with. They are both in high school. They were seperated from their family because their older brother did some inapropriate things to them when they were younger. They have been in foster care for 3 years now. Even though, they have been through horrible things in their short lives they are so strong hearted. They have an unbreakable bond with so much love. They do not wallow in their own sorrow, but they make the best of their situation. They are intelligent, sweet, and strong individuals. I know they have a bright future ahead of them because of their incredible strength and faith in eachother. Just thought I should share this with all of you lovely ladies !

Do you remember when you first got your period? Do you remember having all these questions, but were embarassed to ask your mom or friends? Here is a site I used to use as a young girl, that still exists today. It's a website sponsored by Always and Tampax and answers all questions related to having your menstrual period. I think it is a great resource for "girls" first experiencing puberty. Recommend it to your young sisters, or to use with your own daughter. Enjoy! http://www.beinggirl.com

Found here : Are you a young feminist looking for a vital community, peer and mentor support, energized discussion and a great place to be seen and heard? The All Girl Army wants you! The main part of the All Girl Army site is the individual blogs for no more than 29 girls and women between the ages of 10 and 25 who identify as feminist, and a single, collective blog which highlights entries from the individual blogs, as well as news items pertinent to women and girls and topics given for more writing and discussion. Blogs are expected to represent you and your life, so are personal in some respect, but should address women's and feminist issues en large, evaluated through your own lens. Remember: the personal IS political, so every post needn't be a political screed, but personal entries should have express relevance to feminist/women's issues in some way. You can always evaluate issues in your daily life via a feminist lens in some respects, or share experiences you know

Do you read The American Virgin ? If not, you should. It's a really great blog with a focus on "virginity" -- both the purity movement, abstinence-only education, and they also do some first person interviews with people who consider themselves "virgins" with questions about their opinions on the topic. The latest post has to do with virginity pledges happening on Facebook . Full disclosure: I find nothing wrong with people abstaining from sex for any particular reason that they choose to. As a sex-positive feminist, who am I to tell people what they should or should not do with their own bodies? Making informed choices about sex -- whether it's having a happy, healthy sex life within a monogamous relationship, or having a happy, healthy sex live with as many partners as you'd like -- also means that you have the option to make informed choices about not having sex. The key word is "informed" -- are you remaining abstinent because it is what *

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/24320935/detail.html This is a news story that I found today on ClickOrlando.com. What struck me about this article is circumstances that surround the 11 year old girl and her parents reaction. I am not going to mention details about the article, because I want you to read it and think about it, and also think about how you use the internet’s blog sites. Do you consider who is really watching your blogs? Have you ever considered that future employers or scholarship awarders might come across your blogs when they research you on the internet? Did it ever occur to you that someone you baby sit for might happen upon what you write on the internet, and that can impact their impression on your ability to care for their children? Blogging is not private, or secure, or even wise. It is no different that leaving your diary on the lunch room table, or even worse, it being read daily over a loud speaker so all can hear. My advice as a 33 year old mother of two wh

Just from reading the postings of my fellow classmates, I have come to realize the variety of experiences women have both in their formal sexual education and the way in which they received "the talk" from their parents. It hit me, though, that most of us represent the same generation of women, learning about sex from pretty much the same generation of adults. If those experiences were so radically different, my mind was abuzz with possibility. When my grandmother was a child, her mother was terrified to discuss with her anything about the changes in her body, so she simply didn't bother. One day, my grandma went to the bathroom to discover that she was bleeding heavily, and she was scared out of her mind. With no information on menstruation, she jumped to the conclusion that she was dying and began sobbing hysterically. She went running to her mother to tell her, and her mother apparently deemed it appropriate to tell her that she had simply gotten her period. As a

Relevant to our discussions, there's a great post up at Feministing about mentions of abstinence in pop culture. As someone who has read all of the Twilight books, it is the one thing that really freaked me out about them. Like the Feministing post states, the messages about sex in the books are incredibly confusing. The worst part, however, is when Bella and Edward do have sex, it is very similar to rape, i.e. she wakes up, has no clue what happens, and is covered in bruises because he can't "control" himself. With regards to Taylor Swift, I know that she is often pitted against Miley Cyrus to further perpetuate the virgin/whore dichotomy we see repeated in society. In her popular song "Fifteen" it's written from the perspective of a girl who watches her friend fall in love with a boy, lose her virginity, and then get dumped. The lyrics in question are: "Abigail gave everything she had to a boy who changed his mind, and we cried." (Everything

I've been watching the new series called HUGE on ABC family for the past couple of weeks. It just started two weeks ago and it stars Nicky Blonski (the girl who played in Hairspray ). It's about this girl, Willamina ( Will for short), who has been sent to fat camp to put it bluntly. There are people at the camp from every shape and size. Their daily tasks consist of exercising, eating healthy, and talking in groups with each other about their struggles with being overweight. I'm overweight myself so I really like the show and can relate to quite a few things that have gone on so far. On last weeks episode a new girl came to camp and her parents and little sister came with her and stayed a few nights even though camp leader was against it. At one point the girls little sister stood in front of the mirror observing herself. She held her shirt up and would suck in her little gut. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her weight. It just killed me to see this young girl

We started to read “The Purity Myth” this week. I do have to say the author Jessica Valenti is a rather angry woman when it comes to the standard of maintaining virginity until marriage. If one can read through her rants on Christian organizations, the real meat of her thoughts comes into view. Her point is that the conservative view of maintaining virginity overshadows the bigger sexual issues that plague our country. Valenti points out the over sexualizing of youth as one of these bigger issues, and she is right, to an extent. This particular issue is addressed by many of the same conservative Christians that promote waiting until marriage to have sex. This is just one of many topics that plagued me while working through the chapters. The other thing that plagued me was the thought of this book actually promoting youth sex. Is it? I really am not sure. Her voice may be intended for the 17 and older reader, and if her statistics are correct, is about the age when teens are having thei

What is this mess if photographs I've made into a collage above? It's just images I've found on the internet of women, and men, saying ENOUGH with the negative media. Enough. It's girl power, and it's boy power. We live in a world where we are constantly surrounded by negative media...media telling us who we SHOULD be. What we SHOULD look like. How we SHOULD dress. Who we SHOULD date. How much we SHOULD weigh. Let me touch on this for a moment..How much we SHOULD weigh? What's a good weight? Does wii fit know? Really...does it know what I should weigh, to feel "good about myself," or is it telling me when I get on the scale I need to weigh what it says in order for people to look at my body and not be mortified. Have you ever heard someone say, "She's a butta face." Everything looks good...butta face. That infuriates me....but it's the same thing when someone is viewed for only a face....only her face looks good, her body is despicabl

Ever wonder how tampons have evolved? What did they use back then during the time of BC? I was searching through the gURL.com website and came across this tampon timeline. It is very interesting and gave me a few laughs, but I also learned from it. Just a few I found interesting: During the BC Era: Egypt: disposable plugs from softened papyrus. Ancient Greece: wrapped scraps of lint around a lightweight wooden stick, probably reusing the stick and replacing the lint as needed. Africa: rolled up long blades of grass from the planes to create their tampons and pads. Japanese: molded paper pulp into plugs to wear as tampons. Pacific Island: harvest absorbent sea sponges from the ocean and insert them as tampons. Thought these were interesting, check out the other eras. The link is: http://www.gurl.com/findout/guides/articles/1,,716773,00.html

PRECIOUS- ‘the teenager who made a come-back’. I chose to review the movie Precious starring Gabourey Sidibe, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patterson, and Mo’Nique, written by Geoffrey Fletcher, directed by Lee Daniels based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” In the movie "Precious" Claireece Precious Jones is portrayed as an obese, illiterate, black 16-year-old teen that is pregnant by her father with her second child. Most girls and women have experienced some kind to gender discrimination while growing up, and will acknowledge that this possible took place either at school, our in their community. Precious endures many hardships in her young life such as, constant physical and mental abuse daily by her peers in her neighborhood, her mother, and repeated rapes by her father. The story supposedly took place in 1987 in Harlem, in New York City. I was able to draw a few connections between this story and the narrator of ‘The World and What’s Wrong’, when she says, “You can choose to l

I chose to review the movie Speak which was released in 2004. The movie was directed by Jessica Sharzer and is based on the novel written by Laurie Halse Anderson in 1999. The independent film stares Kristen Stewart, Steve Zahn, and Michael Angarano. It is a story about a high school freshman dealing with the traumatic experience of being raped. Within her school she is known as a snitch because she called 911 at a house party after she was raped. It was the end of eighth grade and she was sexually assaulted by an older high school boy though when the police arrived the rape was not reported. Many of the students who were still at the party got in trouble for underage drinking she began her ninth year being shunned by most of the school. The main characters name is Melinda or Mel for short. Throughout the movie she deals with her suffering by withdrawing and refusing to speak. She is alone and ignored by all of the people around her except a new student and an art teacher who

Andrea Roberts. WST 3020. Film Review I am doing a movie review on the film 10 Things I Hate About You (Touchstone, 1999), directed by Gill Unger and written by Karen Mc Cullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith , based loosely on William Shakespeare’s famous tale, The Taming of the Shrew . In this film, Julia Styles plays Katerina Stratford “Kat,” the protagonist, referred to in the movie as a “heinous bitch.” Here we can see Shakespeare’s shrew appropriated, and updated as a feisty young feminist who defies the stereotypes reinforced by her peers. We have two female voices (the writers of the film) complemented by the “male gaze” (Lipkin 2009) of the director. It makes for a charming story that is both funny and heart wrenching. The story follows Kat who eventually falls in love with tough guy, Patrick (played by Heath Ledger), her formidable, and unexpected love match—who initially pursues her with ulterior motives, but than realizes that she is