http://reproductiverights.org/

Everyone should take a look at this.

women of color and the media

As everyone is already aware racism is very much so still a prominent part of our society, it's something that's been heavily ingrained in us since childhood. Even in feminism race is still a giant issue, the "feminist" is a middle aged white woman.

 There is a giant contradiction in a movement that is willing to acknowledge that gender is important and a giant barrier but is somehow unwilling to acknowledge that race also plays a large role in it as well.

As a woman of color myself I can tell you from first hand experience that there is definitely a large gap between how a white woman is seen versus a woman of color.I think as any breathing person has noticed when in general are sexualized in the media and are often used as advertising tools but in particular woman of color are exploited. even more so then their white counterparts.  In most movies and media you see the classic stereotype of the lustful Latina who is concerned only about sex and exist to please men and the loud black woman who is also usually barely dressed. It's disappointing that a woman would chose to insult herself and perpetuate those representations but whats worse is that people are believing them. The majority of time when a woman of color is presented in a more respectable role it is only because she is lighter skinned and less "ethnic" and can therefore be presented a different way.

The formula is simple, if you are not a white male in a heteronormative relationship than you are not a worthy member of a our society and that is such a disappointing idea that society as a whole can't seem to shake.

Marvel at it.

It never fails to amaze me how there are men that are in the media spotlight and continue to be in the media spotlight even after they commit crimes against women. Take for example photographer Terry Richardson who has been subject to accusations of sexual abuse and of overall being a sleazeball yet agencies still send young women there. Why? Because it's a part of life.

The normalization and the trivialization of these acts is appalling. Model Coco Rocha took a stand and clearly stated that he made her uncomfortable and that she refused to work with him again and I applaud her for that.

One of the main issues with cases like this is that the abuser is usually in a position of power and uses their status to keep people intimidated and quiet. The biggest barrier between reporting sexual assault is the fact that often times the victim has more to lose then the assailant.

Simplicity of thought

It isn't a man's fault that they inherently give privilege at birth. They do not ask for it. The same way a colored woman doesn't ask to be less valuable then a white woman. What makes this unacceptable is the refusal to accept and acknowledge it, the refusal to help your fellow human out.

“If any female feels she need anything beyond herself to legitimate and validate her existence, she is already giving away her power to be self-defining, her agency.”

—	bell hooks, Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics

Why women's issues matter or should matter to you

I've noticed that people have a hard time feeling the pain that they don't literally feel. Maybe trying empathize with others is too abstract a concept, but if it takes a personal level to understand then maybe I can break this down into simple terms.

Try to picture a woman you care about, it could be anyone. Now keeping that person in mind I'd like to relate a personal story, a male that I used to be close with once told me about how he was at a party and this girl had too much to drink and passed out. His friend was already dragging her to the nearest empty room. Now this guy, he wasn't what you would say looked like a horrible person, he wasnt a giant scary monster, and really he was just a guy. My old friend intervened and ensured that she woke up at home and not in confusion and distress. Now I've heard this story before with different endings, some of those endings are incredibly upsetting and have brought me to tears. If you kept that woman you care about in mind I'd like for you to think of her, think of her vulnerable and broken. Spending the rest of her life in fear of the shadow looming in the distance.

If you've kept up with the statistics concerning rape/sexual abuse at all then you already know the state of things if you haven't let me fill you in with the basics.

• Physical abuse in relationships has been on the rise lately
• Sexual abuse is more commonly committed by people who the victim knows
• 54% of rapes aren't reported to the police and 97% of rapists will never even receive jail time 

If this isn't horrifying then I don't know what is. Most people aren't aware of how hard it is to prosecute someone for rape. In order to collect evidence the police/medical personal compile what is called a "rape kit",  this process is invasive and time is of the essence. For someone who has just been raped this isn't a walk in the park and prosecution and things like that aren't the first things that come to mind.

Most women don't press charges against their rapist because that means facing their rapist and relaying their private hurtful experiences in front of others. 

In the U.S. we have a tendency to teach women to avoid dressing a certain way, to avoid certain streets, to avoid , to avoid and to avoid. We don't teach men that rape is wrong, and our society has a way of encouraging the cult of masculinity. We don't teach people to empathize with the pain of others or to be in touch with their more "feminine" qualities.Qualities which include a more empathetic approach to the pain of others. A mentality that doesn't encourage violence and doesn't prove it's worth through sheer brute strength.  

There is more to men then society gives them credit for and forcing them to ignore their feelings is unhealthy for them and dangerous for women.

"Show a little class"

A personal pet peeve of mine that I've never understood why event to this day women bow their heads down and avoid confrontation.A confrontational strong woman is an undesirable woman, which should deter a woman from being how she wants to be only if she's pathetic enough to live her entire life trying to be desirable to men. Society enjoys pushing the idea that a woman should be meek and mild, this tiresome attitude is shown constantly in ads where models are posed in the canting position. With their heads down and tilted looking so powerless while some beef head towers over them.

I mean how many times do women hear that "cursing is unladylike, that smoking is unladylike, and that tattoos are unladylike", that's all a person to person choice and your personal choices (within the bounds of reason i.e. not harming other) should not be up for debate. To put it bluntly; be who you fucking want to be and don't think that because you're a woman you should be any fucking less.

And I leave you with some punk music from the quintessential band Bikini Kill from the riot grrrl movement.