nextgenfemme

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it sounds so fucking arrogant when you call yourself pretty like that lmao

But I am pretty look at me im so pretty it’s not arrogance when it’s literally just a fact im so pretty

SO PRETTY!!!!! ME!!! IM PRETTY!!! IM A PRETTY PRETTY GIRL!!!! 

[nextgenfemme]

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Meet the Republican lawmaker who wants to make “being transgender” a crime 

It’s apparently not enough for some Kentucky Republicans that transgender people are discriminated against by ignorant private citizens. So one brave bigot has decided to take the fight against social progress to a dehumanizing low by imposing $2,500 fines on schools that allow transgender students to select which gender bathroom they’ll use.

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The Essence of Feminism

So here's my problem: girls (and guys) keep telling me how to be feminist. 

I'll start off this post on the basis that I became interested in women's rights and feminism when I realized the overwhelming amount of sexism forced upon me. Surrounding me on a daily basis are advertisements, magazines, TV shows, movies, tweets, etc. making me feel bad about either my gender or myself. Nothing boils my blood like a class-A anti-feminist talking about how rape isn't real (cue the British anti-feminist political party). However, I will admit that even though I consider myself a feminist, I do fall to certain female stereotypes. Let's be honest- we can't all be 100% politically correct 100% of the time. 

The problem I continually see in the feminist movement is the notion that one type of feminist is greater than another. Here's an example: Some women don't shave because they think that shaving conforms to arbitrary beauty standards set by men. Personally, I don't think that shaving my legs has anything to do with a man or with the standard of beauty I am expected to follow, and I simply prefer them to be kept soft and sleek. Are either of these ideologies wrong? No!  Let's get to the point here ladies- the feminist movement is trying to achieve acceptance, so isn't that what we should be practicing amongst ourselves? I hope that some day "my body, my choice" will be paired with "my movement, my choice". So the next time someone's definition of the word feminist doesn't exactly match up with yours, remember to think twice about whether it really is your place to impose. 

[nextgenfemme]

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The Princess Problem

From dolls, to dress-up, to Disney, a typical girl’s childhood is utterly dominated by princess culture. Through their constant exposure to the concept, young girls’ developing and impressionable minds are imprinted by narrow and unachievable ideals of femininity, and they begin to idealize sparkly, “girly” princesses.

At its basis, princess culture give girls the wrong impression about what it means to be a girl. Princesses are usually portrayed as helpless and delicate, completely reliant on their knight in shining armor to rescue them. In absorbing this notion, girls’ perception of their own worth is skewed. They learn to define themselves through their beauty and shape their lives around finding their Prince Charming.

Through princess culture, society lays an unfair and disproportionate amount of emphasis on women’s quest to be the “fairest of them all." It's just toxic.

[nextgenfemme]

Meet the 19 countries ahead of the United States on gender equality.

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Snicker's Australia Makes Cat Calling the Norm in an Advertisement Entitled "Aussie Builders surprise public with loud empowering statements"

Let's all take a moment to watch this  video, published by Snickers Australia as an advertisement on their Youtube channel. As we all probably know, Snickers commercials follow one central theme- when you're hungry you aren't yourself, so therefore eat a Snickers to remedy your attitude. This is followed by the slogan 'you're not you when you're hungry'. If you're not familiar with this model, watch this Betty White commercial aired in 2012 that launched the 'You're not you when you're hungry' campaign. In all of these Snickers commercials, the 'pre-snickers' individual is acting abnormally and is shown in a negative fashion. The 'post-snickers' individual acts happier and more themselves.

This specific advertisement is prefaced with "What happens when builder's aren't themselves?" and continues to several clips of construction workers calling out empowering statements towards women on the streets. The hungry 'pre-snickers' construction workers are not cat-calling and not being sexist. Should this be abnormal and negative? There's no doubt that there is a stereotype of construction workers cat-calling women, although this 'pre-snickers' model is saying that cat-calling construction workers should be the norm. What is this telling viewers who may be young boys or girls? Should cat-calling be expected or considered normal? Unfortunately, many women experience this as a norm, and Snickers is perpetuating the acceptance of this 'boys will be boys' behavior. This commercial is implying that Men's involvement in empowering women and the gender equality movement should be remedied with a Snickers. 

If you think this advertisement should be removed from youtube and that Snickers should stop promoting the perpetuation of rape culture, join us in tweeting @SNICKERS with this article! 

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Emma Watson, Beyoncé, and the F-word: Is feminism going mainstream?

Emma Watson’s recent speech at the UN HeForShe event was eye-opening and empowering, but most importantly, it was popular. A YouTube clip of her speech became a roaring sensation, garnering millions of hits in just a few days. That means millions of people listened to her break down the misguided negativity that surrounds feminism and argue for a better future for women. The words of such an icon bear a lot of influence, and Watson made quite an impact.

Other public figures, such as Beyoncé, have helped to revamp the movement. At last August’s VMAs, Beyoncé closed her fierce performance in a blaze of feminist glory, with a large sign blaring the word “FEMINIST” gleaming behind her flawless silhouette. In this epic gesture, Beyoncé challenged the millions of people viewing the VMAs to view feminism in a powerful, positive light.

By taking a bold stand for women’s rights, Emma Watson and Beyonce Carter are revolutionizing the feminist movement. Not only has their influence helped to wipe away the negative connotation that the word “feminism” bears to some people, but it has also launched the movement into the mainstream with enough momentum to actually make a difference.

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"I decided that I was a feminist. This seemed uncomplicated to me. But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word. Women are choosing not to identify as feminists. Apparently, [women’s expression is] seen as too strong, too aggressive, anti-men, unattractive."

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Why Articles Like "Emma Watson has the wrong idea about feminism" Need To Stop

This article, entitled "Emma Watson has the wrong idea about feminism" was recently posted on the New York Post. The article, written by conservative columnist Andrea Peyser, is a response to the beautifully moving speech Emma Watson delivered to the UN on September 21st. At the beginning of this article, Peyser states that she "believe[s] gals should be paid the same as guys for doing the same work" and that she "believe[s] women should enjoy equal rights as men while...bearing equal responsibilities". According to the definition of the word feminism, Peyser would fit the mold. However, she concludes this piece saying that Watson will "never get [her] to declare [her]self a feminist". 

Never mind the jabs taken at the feminist movement as well as at Watson herself, this article, and countless others of it's kind, are exactly what are keeping women from "enjoy[ing] equal rights as men while...bearing equal responsibilities". How can women unite as one powerful force and act as an agent of change together if we keep pulling others back every time they take a step forward? In every other rights movement it has proved beneficial to work together, to find common ground, and to help each other reach a common goal. This is not the case with the feminist movement, and it has to stop. Remember that women make up 51% of the population, and, therefore, united, make up a majority. The larger the numbers, the harder it will be to silence the movement. Movements counteracting the progress the feminists have made, especially led by other women, prove to be counteractive in efficiency. Many of these countermovements, like that of Peyser, are focused on the same goal as the rest of us, but are caught up in the semantics of it. If we all hope to reach the same type of equality, there is no reason to look for flaws in those plans of other people. The only way to make a difference is to make one together, united as one gender.

-Sabina xx