ARTEMIS
Fall 2OO6
Editor’s Letter
Contents
Sure, we women can raise babies, rock the vacuum cleaner and make one helluva jello mold. But that’s not all we can do. We can also build skyscrapers, fix ’52 Chevies and fight forest fires better than Smokey Bear. The problem is, we grew up with pretty pink Barbie doll dresses and Easy Bake Ovens instead of tough G.I. Joes and wrench sets. As girls, many of us thought there was a limited set of skills we could have and occupations we could perform. This simply is not true.
2 6
Re-inventing the T A new wardrobe is just a snip away
Controlling Birth Control From pills to patches, learning to avoid pregnancy
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Do-it-YourSelf Defense
Being a feminist doesn’t mean we still can’t enjoy doing all those fun womanly things, however. I happen to knit awesome scarves. People also tell me my 99 cent spaghetti noodles with Chunky Garden Ragu sauce is heavenly. But, I also like to rock out on my guitar like Ace Frehley. They even call me Dr. Love.
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Ghostbusting 101
Let’s not be afraid to get dirty and feel grease under our nails. It’s nothing some pumice stones and a good manicure can’t take care of. While we’re at it, let’s smash those stereotypes, too.
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Credibility, Cupcakes and Costello
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Home Healing
Move over, June Cleaver! Today’s women can do anything!
With this issue of Artemis, we hope to provide readers with knowledge you can use in your everyday lives. Here you will find a set of “do-it-yourself ” articles that will teach you everything from fun fashion tips to selfCheck out the web site for Artemis at defense techniques everyone, http://artemis.kent.edu even men, should know. Enjoy! Erin Roof
On the cover: Jackie Mantey, Kelli Ciola Back cover: Emily Costa Photo by Jill Kinkus
Never be afraid to walk home alone again
Getting rid of those things that go bump in the night
A self-proclaimed indie kid explains how to be hip
Natural remedies for those pesky health issues
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Perfecting the Interview
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How to be a Feminist
Step one to getting that dream job
It’s not about hairy armpits
T
Re-inventing the
S
o is there anything to do with these T-shirts that don’t fit? Is there any way to make them trendy? The answer is yes, and you don’t have to be a fashion major to make modifications. Here are three easy ways to revamp your wardrobe:
Scoop necks Scoop necks are perfect for adding an alternative edge to T-shirts with tiny necklines you can barely squeeze your head through. They are also great for giving that ’80s off-theshoulder edge to any sweatshirt. • Lay the shirt or sweatshirt flat on a table. • Cut from one shoulder seam to anywhere on the other shoulder seam. • Try the shirt on. If the scoop is not what you like, cut off more until you get the look you want.
Story by Lisa Malanij Photos by Danielle Seidita
T-shirts are standard to any foxy girl’s wardrobe. There are so many styles, colors and screen prints to choose from! But various thrifting adventures can leave your closet filled with too many little kid Pokémon shirts or too many XL concert tees that are absurdly too large to wear. Artemis
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Skeleton Spine Tee This alteration will give any T-shirt a punk rock feel. Wear this look alone or layer over a long sleeve shirt. • Lay the T-shirt flat on a table. Insert a square piece of cardboard between the front and back layers of the T-shirt. • Mark a 2-inch thick line from the middle of the top of the shirt to the bottom. You will leave this 2-inch strip alone for now. • Mark an even number of horizontal cuts from the side of the T-shirt to the 2-inch line in the middle. Make the strips 1-inch apart from each other. • At the sides of the shirt, snip through every other strip made in the previous step, starting with the top strip. • Down the center margin, mark and cut 2-inch horizontal slits between the strips you snipped through in the previous step. • Take one of the snipped strips and thread it through the slit you made in the middle, drawing it up through the hole from inside the shirt. Without twisting the strip, pin it to the side of the shirt it was originally cut from. Repeat the process to all the strips. • Using a whipstitch, sew the strips to where they were pinned. You can also use safety pins instead of stitches for a no sew version.
Cut-out backs Cut-out backs make a shirt modest in the front and peek-a-boo in the back. Razor or cut a unique design for your own style and more variations. • • • • • • •
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Make a basic scoop neck T-shirt, as in the first example. Lay the T-shirt flat on a table with the back facing upward. Put a piece of cardboard between the layers of the shirt. Draw a line on the back of the T-shirt, starting 1 inch from the neckline and ending 1 inch above the bottom. Cut down the line. Tie ribbons or small scraps of fabric to the top and bottom of the T-shirt for decoration. (Optional) Snip tiny holes every 2 inches on both sides of the line, transforming the back into a corset. Use ribbon to tie bows or to lace up the back of the T-shirt.
controlling
BIRTH CONTROL Story by Jackie Mantey Photos by Leslie Cusano
A
bstitance encouraged and abstinence-only education programs are on the rise in public education. Legislation is popping up everywhere that could limit a woman’s accessibility to various forms of birth control. Artemis has compiled a list of ways to keep control of that area of your life. Really, that person beside you should be number one on your mind when you’re having a good time, not what pharmacy is closest to home.
Educate Yourself In August, Dawn Kearns received a phone call from a friend who sounded desperate and more than discouraged. As a human sexuality professor at Kent
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State, Kearns has heard her fair share of birth control horror stories. From stories of students trying to use double the condoms for double the protection, to girls thinking it’s not sex if her partner doesn’t ejaculate inside her – Kearns thought she had heard it all. That’s why the phone call from her friend was so surprising. “I know a lot of the textbook statistics and materials, but I’ve never been through the process of an abortion myself,” Kearns says. Her friend was a successful 36-year-old business woman who had just broken up with her boyfriend of four years. It had been a messy breakup, and to make matters worse, the friend became pregnant.
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“They weren’t trying to get pregnant,” Kearns remembers. “She knew an abortion was the best choice for her.” After going to the clinic to learn more about her options and schedule an appointment, Kearns was appalled to hear what her friend had to tell her. As a part of Ohio state law, the abortion clinic made her wait a week and go
through counseling before she could have the procedure. “That decision is not an easy one. When a 36-year-old woman, or any woman for that matter, goes to get an abortion, I guarantee she’s thought long and hard about that decision,” Kearns says. “I find that process patently offensive.” This is Kearns’ fifth semester teaching
Victory for Plan B Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, has been recently approved for overthe-counter use for women over the age of 18. Previously, the Food and Drug Administration approved Plan B, the “morning after pill,” but partisan politics slowed the progress. Politicians debated whether guardians should be notified when a minor wants to use Plan B. For a while, the arguments were centralized on morality and not the health issues involved. There are a lot of misconceptions about the pill. Plan B is not the “abortion pill.” It also is not a replacement for proper birth control. It contains similar ingredients to most birth control pills and is simply an elevated amount of birth control. According to Planned Parenthood’s Web site, www.plannedparenthood.org, emergency contraceptives decreased the need for abortions by 43 percent between 1994 and 2000. It should be taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex and reduces a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant by 89 percent. Plan B is available from Planned Parenthood, most private doctors and women’s clinics for $40 or less. –Jen Steer
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about human sexuality. She says the class is one of many ways people can stay educated about birth control on a college campus – and that education is desperately needed. “Stories I hear from my students, such as wearing two condoms, is alarming to me,” she says. “They are not comfortable with the type of birth control if that’s what they are doing. They need to know that there are different channels and several options — condoms, the pill, diaphragms. There is really no reason for unwanted pregnancies to happen at such an intense rate.” Kearns recommends communication — the holy grail of all things “relationship.” Talking about sexual pasts and what types of birth control each person is comfortable with can help you learn what channels are best for you and your relationship. The Women’s Resource Center and the DeWeese Health Center provide additional information about the specific health affects and effectiveness of different birth control options. Make use of them, Kearns urges. So, is there any one thing that could be done to really improve education about a woman’s body and how to prevent pregnancy? Well, it’s not that easy, but Kearns does have one suggestion.
“We need comprehensive sex education from an early age.” she says. “It would also help if it were backed up in the home with honesty. Ideally, I see a world where parents do the research, talk to the doctors and then openly talk with their children.”
the issue is so overshadowed by the ‘ProChoice’ vs. ‘Pro-Life’ debate, it is easily slipping through the cracks.”
Keep up to date. Speak out! Junior psychology major Amy Bretfelian has spent the past two summers volunteering for Planned Parenthood.
Katie Troha, sophomore applied conflict management major, is on the boards of Kent State’s Feminist Union and ProChoice Kent State. She says the best way for women to stay in control of their birth control is to know where to get it and how to help others.
While most of her work was stuffing envelopes and putting together information packets, Bretfelian says she gained valuable experience. “Even though I wish I could do more, I know that any little bit I can do helps. I like to give my time when I can since I’m not able to give much money as a college student,” she says. “It was just really moving to talk to all of the volunteers and see how dedicated they are and how much they give of themselves.” She says all women should stay educated and educate others on the issues – write letters, attend rallies, send e-mails, vote. “It’s important for all women, not just sexually active women, to stay informed about access to birth control because, like all reproductive rights, access to birth control is gradually being chipped away,” she says. “People become so blinded by the abortion debate that they don’t see that the extremists leading this fight are waging a war on sexuality and, essentially, on women. The majority of Americans support access to birth control but because
Bretfelian is not alone in her thoughts on activism.
The Feminist Union meets at 8 p.m. on Mondays and Pro-Choice meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Both groups meet on the third floor of the Kent State Student Center.
to be aware of what’s going on politically] because it affects both men and women, but each woman needs to have complete control of her own birth control,” Troha says. “She can only know what is best for her, and there’s no reason why politicians should make those choices.”
Know your options The DeWeese Health Center has the following birth control options: • Oral contraceptives • Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injections
In spring, activists opposed to the attack against birth control by the right side of politics initiated the launch of Birth Control Watch. It’s Web site, www. birthcontrol.org, works to monitor actions, policies and statements that threaten American women’s rights and the availability of birth control.
• Condoms
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio Action Fund and the Feminist Majority Foundation also send out weekly e-mails that give information on the latest birth control battles in the courts and the people who are fighting them. Their Web sites allow you to sign up for these weekly e-mails. Let your legislators know what you approve and disprove of.
• Nuva Rings
• Diaphram fittings • Plan B • Intra Uterine Devices • Seasonale • Ortho Evra (the patch)
“I think it’s very important [for women Artemis
self Defense Do-It-Your
Fighting back
The Ears
The Nose • If you thrust the heel of your palm upward into the assailant’s nose, you will effectively throw off his perception and cause his eyes to water. • It is unwise to throw a punch in this situation. The nose is an extremely small target and the hand has fragile bones that can break if the hit misses.
• You can throw off an assailant’s equilibrium and cause him immense pain if you cup your hands and strike his ears. This will blow out his eardrums and give you the opportunity to escape.
Story by ElizabethTussey Photos by David Anthony Ranucci
T
he practice of self-defense spans centuries and cultures. It consists of many different styles and disciplines. Some types of martial arts incorporate weaponry and stylized steps called katas, while others incorporate dance moves. Whatever the structure or intention of the martial arts, they all concentrate on protecting one’s body from attack.
Sensei Frank App, a third Degree Black Belt in Isshinryu, a martial art that stresses the avoidance of attack, says when undertaking self-defense training, attack prevention is the main focus.
Physics graduate student Bilal El Zoghbi, says he has been practicing kickboxing for three years through classes offered at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
App says if escape is impossible, then you have the option of submission or resistance.
“You have to be aware of your surroundings,” he says. “Look around, see what’s there. If you see something that makes you uneasy, get away from it.”
“I train to make my body strong,” El Zoghbi says. “It also trains the person; it teaches you respect.”
“If you do decide that your best avenue is to resist, the key thing is to make a quick, decisive blow in the most vulnerable area that you possibly can,” he says.
Although it can take years to become proficient in a particular martial art, some practical self-defense moves can be learned through a simple seminar.
App and Kent State Karate Club participants Brian Buirge and Jackie Krah demonstrate some of these simple, yet effective, moves. (See right)
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Victims of an assault should file a police report. Alice Ickes, crime prevention officer for the Kent State University Police Department, notes there are many legal and protective resources offered to Kent State students. Ickes also stresses prevention, but says should an incident occur, one should immediately go to where people are.
The Eyes
“You’ll have witnesses if the person is brazen enough to follow you,” she says. “All across campus we have the blue light phones. You can call 9-1-1 or any campus number,” she says.
• In a serious situation, you can apply pressure to the assailant’s eyeballs with your thumbs. You can also apply pressure at the corners, which will remove the eyeball from its socket.
Ickes says if an attack happens, seeking legal and emotional help is important. “There is absolutely no reason to sit back and feel that you are stuck or that you can’t address these things,” she says. “It helps you deal with it. It helps you get past it and get on with the rest of your life.”
Jackie Krah and Brian Buirge illustrate self-defense techniques.
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Other Resources If you would like to pursue formal training in Karate, free lessons are offered in the combative room of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center every Monday and Thursday. Aerobic Karate is practiced from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Isshinryu is practiced from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Lessons are open to anyone regardless of age, gender or prior experience. •❏Women’s Resource Center (330) 672-9230 • Judicial Affairs (330) 672-4054 • Escort Service (330) 672-7004 — Elizabeth Tussey
Dos and Don’ts “When walking alone, Do — When walking alone, carry your keys in your hands. Not only does this prevent you from having to fumble with them once you reach your destination, but they can also serve as carry your an effective weapon. Grip the largest key you have and use it as a stabbing instrument. keys in your Don’t — Intertwine the keys between your fingers and punch. This will only injure your hand … they hand. can also serve Do — Make a fist with the thumb on the outside. as an effective Don’t — Tuck the thumb under your fingers. This could potentially break your thumb. Do — Curl your fist into your chest and throw the elbow across. weapon.” Photo by Jill Kinkus
Don’t — Hit with the side of your elbow. — Liz Tussey
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GHOST BUSTING
Dark figures in the corners? Electrical appliances turning on and off when no one is around? Get the how-to’s on ridding your house of those pesky ghosts for good. Story by Brindi Bays Photos by Jessica Naples
“A
hh, what is that?” Julie asks me.
“What?” I ask, turning in my chair. I am sitting at her kitchen table in her fabulous new apartment. We had spent all day moving her furniture around until each piece was in its “destined” spot. When she could not take any more of my complaints, we finally took a break to eat. “That!” Julie says, her mouth open, finger pointing at a silhouette of a woman leaning against the refrigerator. We both sit and stare at this strange figure. And then we freak out. I mean, we really freak out and scream like little girls. I frantically jump up onto my chair, stomping my foot and pointing. She picks up her wooden spoon, covered in macaroni and cheese, and jumps up and down while turning in five circles before waving the spoon, hoping to shoo it away. Yeah, it definitely did not work. Julie and I scramble out of the kitchen into the living
room, where she grabs her cell phone, and I am thinking, “Who’s she gonna call?”
How to ghost bust:
And then I start laughing because the song immediately pops into my head: Ghostbusters!
• Make no deals or negotiations.
But, you know what, that is exactly who to call.
• You must insist through God
I found more than 20 ghostbusters in Ohio alone. Sonya Horstman, psychic and paranormal investigator, works for Haunted Cleveland Tours and ghost busts on the side. Horstman says there are two types of hauntings: • residual energy: This is like an X-ray of something that happened in the past. If you are psychic-sensitive, you can see an image of what happened here, or feel it or possibly hear voices. • actual spirits of ghosts: Despite what people think, these two are the same thing. According to Horstman, “Ghosts are human people who have died, but have not crossed out of the dimension.”
and recite certain prayers. • You can rid ghosts through
smudging, a process of burning sweet grass or a bundle of sage. • You can use sea salt as a
repellent by placing it around your house or in doorways. •You cannot be afraid. —Brindi Bays
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Ghosts can be very manipulative and very attached. Horstman says people become spirits because they are too connected to something, such as houses. They may also need to stay to look after their children. She says when a person crosses into the light, they are stripped of their humanness and become a pure spirit of love. Ghosts, however, still have their humanness—their senses of jealousy, guilt, greed and hate. Horstman offers personal ghost busting.
“If you call me and explain to me what is going on, I will give you advice and tell you exactly what to do over the phone for free,” she says. When a ghost problem demands Horstman to come out and perform the rituals herself, the sessions range in price from $150 to $300. Ghost busting is based on spiritual belief, and we all have the choice to believe what we want. But just some quick advice: Don’t
start laughing the next time you hear that catchy Ghostbusters song. You might need one someday. For more advice, e-mail Sonya Horstman through www.hauntedclevelandtours.com, or contact her by phone at (440) 775-1217.
findout don’t stay in your room
what’s going on.
Signs your house may be haunted: • Ghosts bother you while you are sleeping, such as sitting on the edge of your bed. • Some ghosts can cause freezing—a state where you cannot move at all. These ghosts are called energy vampires.
what2doatksu.com
• Ghosts cause objects to move or break by themselves. • Lights turn on and off on their own. • Smoke detectors go off when they have no batteries. • Toilets flush all of a sudden. —Brindi Bays
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Swap Anything.
flashswap.com
Credibility, Cupcakes and Costello
A guide to everything indie Story by Ryan deBiase Photos by Leslie Cusano
You can find them browsing used vinyl at Square Records in Akron, sitting in a booth upstairs at the Zephyr Pub in Kent or bopping — legs spread, knees bent, thumbs thrust in jean pockets — to a band at the Grog Shop in Cleveland.
A
hh. . . indie kids.
I’ve been asking myself recently: What makes a person indie? To best extrapolate that question, one must first define the term ‘indie.’ Obviously, music taste jumps out as the first identifier. Specifically, a vast knowledge of underground music is very important to developing hipness. Indie status is exponentially increased when vinyl comes into play. It seems with the popularity of the film Garden State, the idea of possessing a record collection has hit the mainstream. But let’s face it, everyone has Frampton Comes Alive and The Wall. If you’re trying to seriously compile a respectable record collection, you must go deeper. And by deeper, I mean new wave and post punk — anything British from the early ’80s, really. A simple Adam Ant or Thin White Duke-era Bowie record can really boost your indie cred. The rest of the personality is built upward from this foundation of music. A strong interest — or at least a feigned strong interest — in the arts is also important. Of course, the term ‘art’ is mentioned in a postmodern sense. It is art for art’s sake, in which anything goes.
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Allow me to relate a personal example. Over the summer, I attended a birthday party for Turn-up Records, Kent’s independent music store. I was entertained with the promise of experiencing an “interactive cupcake exhibit.” For some reason, I conjured an image of a cupcake the size of a dump truck. Patrons would be able to “experience” the “interactivity” of the “exhibit” by burrowing inside to either rest a bit or consume the thing from the inside out à la James and the Giant Peach. In reality, the interactive cupcake exhibit consisted of black shelves with about two dozen Technicolor tasty treats placed upon them. They were, disappointingly, the size of normal cupcakes. A small card read: “Help yourself, but leave a little leftover.” Patrons could nibble as much or as little as they wanted. They just had to keep a little piece behind for the exhibit. “Interesting,” I thought, not completely dropping the idea of the giant cupcake from my mind. I pulled down a plump white cupcake with green frosting and silver sprinkles. “I want to make this look like the Galapagos Islands,” I said to the cake’s ‘arteeest’ standing next to me. A bitter horseradishy taste struck me immediately. I glanced at the erosion made
by my teeth. In the middle of the cake was a swirl of bright yellow substance.
out of irony, but because it was popular amongst the hipsters.
“What the hell is this?” I asked.
The indie woman is an especially crafty breed, possessing some domestic skills she can exploit to her own fashionable benefit. For instance, the ability to sew is invaluable. Once an indie woman learns how to alter her own outfits, she is unstoppable. Suddenly, an XL Rainbow Bright tee found at the Salvation Army can be hemmed and hawed to fit snugly on even the slenderest XS body. Buttons and patches, all found — or at least all purchased from shows — are necessities, as well.
The artist dabbed her finger into my bite mark and stuck her tongue out. “Mustard,” she said. Suffice it to say, my Galapagos Islands project went unfinished. Damned artists. Irony is paramount to indie hipsters. Why the hell would anyone put mustard in a cupcake? To be ironic. Being characterized as indie is an assertion striving to be wholly unique. It is uniqueness for the sake of being unique, not necessarily out of an antiestablishment set of beliefs. The same goes for fashion. A friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn (arguably the hippest place in the universe) remarked recently on the resurgent trend of wearing fanny packs. She said that the indie kids first sported the oldschool ’80s fanny packs “you know, to be ironic.” Soon enough, real designers were putting out fanny pack lines, not
There are many more variables that allow a woman to be categorized as indie: black hornrimmed Elvis Costello-style glasses, skinny jeans, a side slung messenger bag (full of Sufjan Stevens vinyls, preferably), short-cropped dark hair pulled back into a truncated tail. A loud sport coat, argyle cardigan or polka dot granny dress can also add indie cred to any outfit. Fashion, art and music all have a place in the realm of the independent subculture. While not necessarily outwardly attractive in an aesthetic sense, the indie lifestyle is more intriguing than it is lusty. Just stay away from the baked goods.
Danielle Seidita and Ryan deBiase are too hip to smile. Artemis
Home Healing Story by Erin Roof
Story by Nichole Frye
The next time you have cramps or are feeling a little smelly, don’t run to the drugstore. Mother Nature has provided many natural remedies for our health problems. Here are some recipes for homemade
Bladder Infection
healing.
• Mix one teaspoon of olive oil and
Body Odor
one teaspoon of garlic juice in a glass
• Rub baking soda on armpits. The
of warm water. Drink the mixture
powder absorbs sweat and helps kill stink-causing bacteria. • Add a few cups of tomato juice to bathwater and soak in it for 15 minutes. Menstrual Cramps • Ginger helps ease cramping.
three times a day before meals. This should aid in eliminating the bacteria that causes the infections. • Drinking cranberry juice is also helpful in ridding bladder infections. Discolored Teeth
Take one cup of water and add
• Pour baking soda and a few drops
a fresh piece of ginger. Boil for
of peroxide on a toothbrush. Then
two minutes. Add sugar for taste.
apply toothpaste; brush as usual. Do
Consume the drink three times a
this only two to three times a week,
day while cramps subsist.
as baking soda is abrasive to teeth.
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Perfecting the INTERVIEW
Yeast Infection • Soak a tampon in plain yogurt or curds. Insert and wear the tampon for at least one hour. Repeat up to three times a day while symptoms last. The healthy bacteria from the yogurt or curds will replace the unhealthy bacteria that causes yeast infections. Smelly Feet • Brew tea and let it get cool enough to touch. Pour the tea into a small tub, making sure there will be enough liquid to cover feet. Soak feet in the tub for about 30 minutes to get rid of the smell. These remedies were compiled from the Web sites: www.theherbalman.com, www.iloveindia.com/home-remedies, www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/ emailproject/rem., www.indianchild.com/home_remedies.
F
or the average person, speaking one-on-one with a complete stranger is nerve-racking enough. If a possible job depends on this one conversation, then the pressure can be overwhelming. The most important part of the entire job search process is the interview. It can seem intimidating at first, but with proper preparation it is easy to succeed. Cathy Latou, vice president of business affairs at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, breaks down the interview process. Latou explains the first step to preparing for an interview is researching the company. To have a successful interview, job-hunters should know facts about the staff and what the company is about, she says. The internet makes most of this information easily accessible. After researching the background of the company, write down some questions to ask during the actual interview. The Web site www.CollegeGrad.com provides some sample questions: • Can you tell me more about the position and the type of person you are seeking? • What would you consider to be exceptional performance from someone working in this position during the first 90 days?
• How does my background compare with the others you have interviewed? Latou says prospective employees should also ask about the financial status of the company. It is important to ask what the company’s revenues, profits and losses were over the past year to get a feel of how the company is progressing, she says. Don’t forget to bring paper and a pen to write down any information. First impressions are everything in the business world and appearance is a priority for employers, Latou says. “If you are not dressed appropriately, you won’t get hired,” she says. “If he is male, a suit and tie is a given.” Women, on the other hand, have a few more fashion obstacles, says Laura Crouse, a nurse at Akron Children’s Hospital, says. “Dress professionally and conservatively,” she says.
What to wear there Cathy Latou offers some tips about what employers want to see in a job candidate: • Wear your hair back, exposing your face. • Don’t wear a lot of make-up or jewelry. • Make sure to keep piercings and tattoos hidden. • Wear closed-toe shoes with a low heel. • Dress modestly, showing little skin.
“If you are not dressed appropriately, you won’t get hired.”
Latou suggests women should not wear jeans or a lot of make-up. Interviewers don’t always care about fashion, she says, but they want to see a clean face. Artemis
How to be a
feminist Story by Erica Strauss
Forget the stereotypes. Being a feminist isn’t about having short hair or hating men. Artemis
Feminism isn’t based on any kinds of strict, crazy principles such as refusing to use a razor blade or protesting pornography. Anyone can deem herself a feminist without giving up her love of makeup, her super long locks or her favorite pair of stilettos.
Love Yourself First things first, a feminist believes that all people, male and female, should be treated equally. This includes you, you savvy college miss! It’s easy to believe women as a whole need fair treatment, but that starts with each of you, individually. Take a look in the mirror. Embrace your womanly curves, your precious derr’iere, your overabundance of freckles, your pale skin — whatever! Forget about fitting into that brand new pair of skinny jeans. Learn to love yourself, regardless of your flaws, because it’s those little things that make you unique as a woman.
Love Your Sisters Women are all in the fight for equality together, from your too-smart-for-her-owngood English professor to that girl you love to hate in your Sociology class. It’s easy to let nasty words (think “slut,” “whore,” etc.) slip into your daily conversations when speaking about other women. If women talk about their own gender this way, what progress is really being made? Make an effort to stop gabbing and tearing down other women with unnecessary gossip.
Be Assertive Imagine the most amazing woman you know. Odds are, she’s bold, but not bossy, calm and collected, but still gets her message across. Being able to speak your mind in a respectable yet dynamic way is one quality no feminist can go without. Take a stand when someone around you demeans women
in any way, especially if that woman is yourself. Make an effort to emulate women in society who have made an impact, like burlesque dancer turned punk rocker Kathleen Hanna. She simultaneously shocked and delighted the world with her involvement in the Riot Grrrl movement and the in-your-face music stylings of her feminist super-groups, Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. Women like Hanna show that it’s important your voice be heard, whether you’re scribbling it on paper in your own homemade ’zines or screaming at the world through lyrics. Don’t let anyone, male or female, degrade you because of your gender or tell you that you can’t make a difference.
Get Involved Move over, Uncle Sam. In such a patriarchal society, the first step toward total equality is making sure women are in positions of power where they can make important decisions. Research candidates in local elections to see if any of them are strongly feminist. Then exercise your right to vote — which women in the past worked very hard for! Show your passion for women’s rights by joining feminist groups on campus, across the nation and across the globe. Surf on over to www.feminist.org to join and support plenty of feminist actions — from projects to empower Afghan women, to resources that teach how to protect your reproductive rights here in the United States. Being a feminist doesn’t mean you have to burn your bra. Just make sure to love yourself, love each other and head out into the world with an attitude that will knock the socks off anybody who tries to stop you. Artemis
Managing Editor: Erica Crist
Artemis staff
Assistant Managing Editor: Jen Steer
Adviser: Jan Leach
Photo Editor: Jill Kinkus
Sales Manager: TJ Salopek
Art Director: Jessica Smiley
Advertising Manager: Michelle Azer
Editor: Erin Roof
Production Manager: Evan Bailey Senior Business Manager: Lori Cantor
Web Designer: Lauren Buckosh Copy Editor: Kate Bigam Main Writers: Brindi Bays Ryan deBiase Nichole Frye Lisa Malanij Jackie Mantey Erica Strauss Elizabeth Tussey Photographers: Leslie Cusano Jessica Naples David Anthony Ranucci Danielle Seidita
Back row: Jessica Smiley, Lauren Buckosh, Jen Steer; Middle row: Kate Bigam, Erica Crist; Front row: Jill Kinkus, Erin Roof Photo by Trudy Cantwell