Issue 68, March 2014
BROAD A Feminist & Social Justice Magazine
Artist: Mary Ellen Croteau
Feminisms: Theirstory, Activism, & Academia
BROAD A Feminist & Social Justice Magazine
Seeking submissions on the topics of: bodies, government, politics, control, how legislation polices bodies, how society polices bodies, autonomy, self-worth, societal pressure and how these and others interact with feminism, social justice, and systems of oppression and power. Send your artwork, poetry, and writing to
broad.luc@gmail.com by April 28th
April
The Body Politic April
2014-15 BROAD Team Application & Interviews May
The Issue of Men
A feminist is a person who answers “yes” to the question, “Are women human?” Feminism is not about whether women are better than, worse than or identical with men. And it’s certainly not about trading personal liberty--abortion, divorce, sexual self-expression-for social protection as wives and mothers, as pro-life feminists propose. It’s about justice, fairness, and access to the
BROAD
range of human experience. It’s about women consulting their own well-being and being judged as individuals rather than as members of a class with one personality, one social function, one road to happiness. It’s about women having intrinsic value as persons rather than contingent value as a means to an end for others: fetuses, children, the “family,” men. ~ Katha Pollitt
broad | brÔd |
adjective 1 having an ample distance from side to side; wide 2 covering a large number and wide scope of subjects or areas: a broad range of experience 3 having or incorporating a wide range of meanings 4 including or coming from many people of many kinds 5 general without detail 6 (of a regional accent) very noticeable and strong 7 full, complete, clear, bright; she was attacked in broad daylight noun (informal) a woman.
broad | brÔd |
slang a promiscuous woman
phrases broad in the beam: with wide hips or large buttocks in broad daylight: during the day, when it is light, and surprising for this reason have broad shoulders: ability to cope with unpleasant responsibilities or to accept criticism City of broad shoulders: Chicago synonyms see: wide, extensive, ample, vast, liberal, open, all-embracing antonyms see: narrow, constricted, limited, subtle, slight, closed see also broadside (n.) historical: a common form of printed material, especially for poetry
BROAD Mission: Broad’s mission is to connect the WSGS program with communities of students, faculty, and staff at Loyola and beyond, continuing and extending the program’s mission. We provide space and support for a variety of voices while bridging communities of scholars, artists, and activists. Our editorial mission is to provoke thought and debate in an open forum characterized by respect and civility.
WSGS Mission: Founded in 1979, Loyola’s Women’s Studies Program is the first women’s studies program at a Jesuit institution and has served as a model for women’s studies programs at other Jesuit and Catholic universities. Our mission is to introduce students to feminist scholarship across the disciplines and the professional schools; to provide innovative, challenging, and thoughtful approaches to learning; and to promote social justice.
Feminisms Welcome to our Feminisms: Theirstory, Activism, and Academia issue! We had a bunch of topics that we wanted to cover in terms of feminism and activism in general, so here comes this issue, with a myriad of topics. Read on to see pieces on the feminist movement, mothers, daughters, women of color, double standards, and activists. We also welcome Julia DeLuca and her new column “Manga Addict.” Thanks for your continued support!
BROAD Team
Gaby Ortiz Flores
Diversity and Outreach Editor
Katie Klingel Editor In-Chief
Emma Steiber
Contetnt and Section Editor
J. Curtis Main Consulting Editor
Cont tell-a-vision
Oppressed Majority Pantene Commercial
Ad(vance)
U by Kotex
Articles
Media /Art broadside
Mujer, the Struggle, Gaby Ortiz Flores
bookmark here
Feminism and Pop Culture, Andi Zeisler
FROM YOUR EDITOR Emma Steiber
The Body Politic Ad Call for Editors
BRO
tents career call Program Coordinator, Natalie Moretti
Message Me
Girl Gang conspiracy
Girl Gang Conspiracy Gets Schooled, Nina Berman
How does the feminist movement apply to you? What would you like to see from the feminist movement in the future?
wla (re)animated
New Levels
The Feminist Voice Vol 1 No 1
Over the Rainbow
Microagresshuns
Ready for Spring, Nichole F. Smith Why We Should All Be Activists, Patrick Fina
ALTSTYLE
The Selfie Generation, Katie Klingel
&
Columns Manga addict
Review: Red River, Julia DeLuca
feminist fires
middle eastern musings
Mia McKenzie Betty Friedan
radical (self) love
quote corner
FGM - Do Not Take Away My Identity, Abeer Allan A Family of Warrior Women, Gaby Ortiz Flores
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Suey Park Kate Bornstein Nikki Giovanni
BROAD Schedule 2013-2014 CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES BROAD MISSION AND PEOPLE
From Your Editor
Dear Readers,
“Simply put, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression…By naming sexism as the problem it went directly to the heart of the matter. Practically, it is a definition which implies that all sexist thinking and action is the problem, whether those who perpetuate it are female or male, child or adult…As a definition it is open-ended.” Feminism is a movement to end sexism, a form of oppression that anyone can perpetuate. Feminism is open-ended. It includes all sub-categories and includes all who fight to end sexism, to end gendered oppression, and to promote a plurality of voices. The reason for why the BROAD staff titled this issue “Feminisms” is exactly because of this. Why describe multiple movements and multiple voices under a singular “Feminism?” It is not just a “herstory;” feminisms comprise of diverse stories, experiences, events, activisms, and more. You can see that these words are all in plural form. Even more so, feminisms encompass more than just females, it comprises men, LGBTQIA communities, and multiple cultures and societies. In truth, I am not just speaking this from my own personal beliefs, but I believe that I am speaking for the entire staff when I say, as bell hooks states, a feminist is a plural and intersectional voice. When I began getting interested in women and gender studies, I wanted to change the coffee industry and its prevalent forms of sexism. I wanted to prove the male coffee roasters wrong; I wanted to show them that I could lift beans off of a cart, that the coffee industry was not inherently a “boys’ club,” and that women could work outside of the service sector (and are not the “pretty faces” at the counter) of the coffee industry. Now, I have multiple directions I want to go down. I have seen sexism happen to both men and women in the industry and it has made me look again at what it means to be a feminist. I have also realized that, based off of my time at Loyola University and in doing my own research, the problem of sexism is much bigger than its presence in the coffee industry-- it is a global and widespread issue. And I am only one experience out of many people’s own experiences.
Take a look at the history of the feminist(s) movement and you will also see why BROAD has titled this issue “Feminisms.” From first-wave, to second-wave, to third-wave feminisms. From global feminism and postcolonial feminism to LGBTQIA feminism and transfeminism. This is only the top, general layer of feminisms. I have barely reached the sunlight zone of feminisms’ ocean. This further proves that there are multiple voices, some overlapping, but each with his/her/their/z’s own distinct direction. The history of the feminist(s) movement will always be critical to history, but what I find to be important is moving forward in the direction of this plurality of feminisms. Going in this direction, we must also understand that feminisms is not only for Academia and higher education. We cannot forget that feminisms also includes activism, advocacy, teaching, transgression, community, and much more. BROAD Magazine, for example, is not just for Loyola University—it is for the public and for anyone who wants to write for BROAD. However, the key is not to exclude one over the other, such as putting Academia above feminist praxis and activism. It must be understood that “feminism(s) is for everybody.” Let’s all keep on moving, Emma Steiber
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I want to start off with a statement by bell hooks in her work, Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics, because, personally, I resonate with her belief in teaching as the way to “transgress” and in her restructuring of the feminist movement into a plural and inclusive feminism:
WANTED YOu l .!
BROAD EDiTORs 14-15 WANTED fOR sOciAl jusTicE AND fEmiNism lAsT sEEN mAkiNg pOsiTivE chANgE
Apps DuE mONDAY,ApRil.28.2014 ApplY NOW. luc.EDu Wsgs
run a digial magazine make an impact as a leader
REWARDs
become an adobe indesign expert for free ... develop website and graphic design skills ... empower your resume and job skills ... publish your expression and art ...
broadside Expressions in poetry via street literature style
Mujer, the Struggle Mujer Such trouble that word so very GROWN I am grown grown? Such responsibility and beauty So much light blinding compressed into one word Mujer I’m not ready for it all the power one word contains.
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Gaby Ortiz Flores
Katie Klingel
AltStyle Musings of a Non-Normative Narcissist
The Selfie Generation I made a New Year’s Resolution this year, something that I rarely do. In general, I find the entire idea meaningless, as I think a single date on a calendar is an arbitrary reason to start improving your life. But, I understand the reasoning behind it, and I decided to try it out. This year, I said that I was going to take more selfies. Looking at my twitter, I found that most of my photos were of the food I was eating, a funny sign, or a photo of the place I was at. I asked myself, does this really reflect me? Do I want to be someone who is hidden behind dumb jokes and good food? Is this all I feel I have to offer?
I’ve always had body issues, and, like many other women, have never felt comfortable calling myself “beautiful.” I had been very careful about what photos were posted on twitter and facebook, deleting them if they were in the least bit “unflattering.” In a gesture of self-acceptance, I decided I was going to put myself out there, present myself as the beautiful woman that I am, and that THAT WAS OKAY. It is okay to believe in yourself as a beautiful human being, it’s okay to want to present yourself that way, it’s okay to be self-confident.
While Dove has been criticized for their “Real Beauty” project, I came across this video after I started taking more selfies, and suddenly understood why I had needed this New Year’s resolution. The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFkm1Hg4dTI#t=193 The video brings together a group of teenage girls in a self-portrait project, a workshop where they take selfies, show their mothers how to take selfies, and then put these photos up in a group art exhibit. At that exhibit, attendees wrote compliments on the photos, speaking about each individual’s personal beauty. The video interviews these women throughout the entire process, touching on topics of self image, selfie stigma, and the bond between mother and daughter. The first time I saw this video, I cried. Seeing so many beautiful mothers and daughters realizing their own beauty, and their own self-worth, was absolutely inspiring. If you have the time, definitely take a look at this video for yourself, you won’t regret it. Here I have included some quotes that definitely stuck out to me. “I’m scared, I’m scared of putting myself out there” I definitely was able to relate to this, and I’m sure many other people can too. This was a big part of my own selfie project, forcing myself to accept that what other people think, or say, or ciriticize does not change how beautiful I am. It’s definitely a scary thing, and it’s not easy. But it’s empowering, and exhilirating, and there’s nothing wrong with that. “I think my mom’s insecurities affect me a lot; when you hear her talk about her insecurities, you start to focus on your own” A big part of this project was the relationship between mothers and daughters, and how these bonds affect both women and their ideas of beauty. For many of us (at least for me), we grew up with our mom’s saying that we were beautiful, no matter what. But on the other hand, our mothers would talk about things they wanted to change about themselves, be it weight, grey hair, wrinkles, face shape. I hadn’t really thought about this effect until one of the girls in this video mentioned it, but it is clear how this double-sided view of things
can majorly affect young women and girls. “In the workshop, I was surprised when I heard the girls talking about their insecurities. When they said that they were insecure about things, those were things that made them different. But the things that made them different, made them unique, and that made them beautiful” It’s so great to see women and girls not only accepting their own beauty, but also supporting their peers in accepting their own beauty. This is the key to “redefining beauty.” It’s not just about finding yourself beautiful, but encouraging every individual to find and accept their own beauty. “I want my mom to know that she’s beautiful, that she doesn’t have to change for anyone” We see a lot of mothers wanting their daughters to feel beautiful, encouraging them to be more self-confident, self-accepting, and to believe in their own beauty. But this goes both ways, daughters want the same for their mothers. We would all like the people that we love to realize how beautiful they really are, inside and out. “Taking a selfie is really not the worst thing that could happen. Did the world combust into a million little pieces because I put a selfie up there?” Yes, yes, yes! There is nothing wrong with taking selfies. Firstly, don’t be afraid of what others will think of you and the way you look. These women put themselves out there, and were surprised but delighted by the results. Secondly, taking selfies is not this “symbol of a narcissistic generation,” like a lot of the media would like us to believe. It’s just that we live in a society that suppresses us from fully recognizing our own beauty and self-worth, and so any reflection of this recognition is vain, and egotistical. As seen in this video, this is just not the case. “You have the power to change and redefine beauty... we can take selfies” As strange as it is to believe, it’s true. We can flood social media with photos of all types of beauty, especially those that have been untouched by photoshop and professional stylists. As the woman who led this project stated, “the power is in our hands.” So get out your cellphones, your cameras, your drawing supplies. Self-portraiture can be incredibly powerful, as well as an agent for change. Our beauty may not look like what we see in magazines, movies, and other media, and that’s okay! Let’s embrace it, fight the societal idea that selfies are narcissistic, and flood society with images of all kinds of beautiful people.
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We live in a society that silences women from accepting their own beauty, a society that polices women for being “vain.” This society has also called out selfies as examples of this vanity, and that the more selfies a woman has, the more self-involved and narcissistic she is. Yet selfies have a special power, the power to realize one’s own beauty.
U By K
Ad(vance) Advancements toward Positive media Inclusion
• Kotex’s “U by Kotex” campaign has targeted the stigma of menstruation and related products. • How do these advertisements challenge preconceived notions about periods? • Do you think this is an effective campaign? Why or why not?
Link: https://www.youtube.com
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJj1LSQlR4A
Kotex
Link:http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7wzA/u-bykotex-horror-stories
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m/watch?v=FRf35wCmzWw
Only those with presumed safety in dominant society fear losing their privilege of comfort, along with possession and control over discourse in online spaces….The reaction white feminists are having to women of color feminists entering Twitter tends to problematize those who point out racism rather than question the integrity of the framework being critiqued.
I didn’t want a generation of high school girls to go through what I went through. You’re allowed to fight back. And you are allowed to play the violin or not to play the violin. There is no model for what an Asian American is.
Even if the representation of women is changing in mainstream America, it’s not changing for Asian-American women.
No matter how much we diversify these tables and how many different kinds of women are sitting at that table, it was never built for and by any of us
As an Asian American woman you’re told that you have to be smart and pretty to be heard. And you have to be exceptional, and of course people want us to be exceptional, so it was hard for me because I did struggle with math and science and I couldn’t live up to the ideals of what my sister could. So then I internalized that I had to be the pretty one and that I had to be the thin one and that became extra hard for me as I hit puberty and I wanted to hold onto it.
- Suey Park
We Asked, You Answered
BROAD People
Message Me
Why/how does the feminist movement apply to you?
Because people still listen to Anne Coulter
It helps me find my voice and empower me
It helps me thrive in my work environment (which is mostly women) and be an advocate
It’s my life.
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It helps me recognize that I hold male privilege, and I know about the impact and destructive nature of that. It states that no privilege goes unchecked.
Patrick Fina
Over the Rainbow Exploring a rich and diverse q-munity
Why We Should All Be Activists
Before coming to Loyola University Chicago, to put it in the words of my last roommate, she thought I was just ‘trendy.’ Since being here, though, I’ve realized that while I may identify as a cisgender man, my appearance gets read as something different. After lots of soul searching and conversations (both with friends, as well as internally with myself), I’ve begun describing myself as a queer, gender variant cisgender man. Lots of words, I know, but each word is basically in response to an experience that I’ve had with LUC – and why the importance of advocating and being an activist for the tenets and beliefs behind feminism is something we can all get behind. I finally admitted that it was time to address my feelings about this manner when in a class a few weeks ago, were many discussed how they always ensure to use the words ‘partner’ and ‘gender pronouns’ – all great things, absolutely, but there also wasn’t a day that went by without someone from the pool of students asking about some piece of clothing I was wearing – and putting in conjunction with other experiences, I found myself embracing the notion of being the queer activist in the classroom faster than I had ever anticipated. Granted, it wasn’t all because of my classmates – it also seemed to be about a lot of other things that were happening.
such a ‘man.’ While I felt myself fuming over these experiences, I felt myself wondering where they stemmed from. The best guess I can give is that the binary, as rigid as it is at LUC, plays a role in how I get read and perceived - by not being masculine enough, I’m viewed as feminine, hence the constant looks, awkward addresses, and invasive questions about my view of dominant partners in sexual relationships. I’d be lying if I said those things didn’t hurt me, but have realized that as much as they hurt me, I still have the privilege of being able to mask as an incredibly butch, masculine man – something that I try to resist every morning, especially when I don’t feel like dealing with the comments and stares. But this is why we all need feminism and its ideals – regardless of our genders (or absence of genders), the blatant stereotyping and invasive assumptions that are applied to folks that identify as women trickle down and hurt all of us in our own, unique ways. I’m not sure what difference I can make, but I do know that my gold meggings are a small activist statement, as I try to reclaim my gender for myself and the rest of us here.
Secondly, let’s talk about eye contact. I’ll be the first to admit that my first semester at LUC, I was as butch as could be – however, embracing bright colors, fun sweaters, printed pants, and tall boots has left me ogled by more administrators and higher level university officials than I had ever imagined. Thirdly, let’s mention gender roles – when describing my orientation as queer, someone asked me if I would ever be ‘okay with someone putting something in me’ – even though I’m pretty inexperienced in the romantic sense, I replied that I would not say no to anything, as it would be a process for my partner and I to figured out. The response from this individual was shock and surprise that I wouldn’t be
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First, let’s chat about phone calls – I wish I had a dollar for every time I was called ‘ma’am’ on the phone this year. Even after saying, “I wish to be addressed as ______,” I still received the ‘ma’am’ clause, and folks defaulted to calling me Pat rather than Patrick in what I perceive to be a half assed attempt to exist in the grey area of gender unknowing rather than gender affirming.
Nina Berman
Girl Gang Conspiracy Sounds of the Grrrrrl Underground
Girl Gang Conspiracy Gets Schooled
1. Unlearn--Shannon and the Clams Bay-Area scumbag cutie pies, Shannon and the Clams are the kind of people who would be smoking cigarettes and lickin ring pops in the alley behind your high school. They would have combs tucked into their socks like switchblades. This song is about a couple promising not to sulk in their rooms because they know that summer is coming EVENTUALLY and then they won’t have to be in school. And so they promise to do their chores in the meantime. 2. Mathematique Elementaire--Arlette Zola Killer diller ye-ye French teen girl pop number. If I had paid more attention in French class I could probably tell you what all the lyrics mean. 3. It Might As Well Rain Until September--Carol King Here’s another song about how young loves works on a school schedule. If your crush goes out of town during summer vacation, it might as well just rain until September in this 1960s girl group moody teen drama song. 4. Science vs. Romance--Rilo Kiley Rilo Kiley, crown royalty of teen feelings and for sure on lots of high school mixtapes, take on science! Robots, binary code, cell division. Mellow mid-2000s indie goodness. Get mad at yr parents, have an unrequited crush and throw this tune on. 5. History Eraser--Courtney Barnett Australian slacker-singing-songwriting babe of all seasons is just starting to make waves in the States. “History Eraser” combines Barnett’s signature speak-singing style and really wordy lyrics. In the song, she goes on a tipsy adventure, going to a party thrown by people who go to “arty school,” jokingly promises marriage because of Ezra Pound and rearranges words on a page to spell the name of her crushlove. All of this feels very college when nights are long and winding and full of hope and wild promises, drinking till the moon becomes the sun. 6, Mary Goes To Law School--Hollows Local fuzzy band totally mastered the combination of the spooky synth and bratty snotty-sounding vocals. All while managing to encourage women to pursue higher education even though it’s a man’s world. Unfortunately, Mary is a total know it all and Hollows is annoyed with her like all the time but still would
totally call her if they got arrested. 7. Late for School--Ponytail Yalping, squeaking, yowling artpop! Sounds of ghosts and goats and possibly ghost goats. The song moves from abstract animal noises to a sonic dance liberation party. Like you just realized that you don’t have to be late for school. You can just ditch the whole day. 8. Big Science--Laurie Anderson Avant-garde musician witch queen of my heart. Literally was the artist in residence at NASA. Held a concert for dogs with sounds designed to be pleasing to dog’s ears. If yr not already sold on Laurie Anderson, this song ought to do it. It starts off slow and rhythmic with her spoken word interspersed with instruments and some dog barking. And as the song progresses, it seems like a great dig at big old scientist professor guys. 9. IMA READ--Azealia Banks New York’s baddest b, Azealia Banks takes a cue from Zebra Katz and Njena Reddd Foxxx, ripping a bit from their cult/runway/discoklub hit “Imma Read” and does a baby cover of it. It’s an homage to the culture of reading that we all saw in WSGS 101 when we watched Paris is Burning. But I also like to think that it’s about me doing my homework. Top billing lyrics in the original include, “School’s in imma read that bitch/ Imma write a dissertation to excuse my shit.” I’d like to take that attitude to all my classes.
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(In which we learn about math, science, going to art school parties, and READING)
Bookmark Here Get Your Read On.
Price:
$11.20 (paperback)
Released:
2008
Pages:
1
Back of Book: ”In Feminism and Pop Culture, author and cofounder of Bitch Magazine Andi Zeisler traces the impact of feminism on pop culture (and vice versa) from the 1940s to the present. With a comprehensive look at representations of women in film, television, music, advertising, and news media, this book is an ideal introduction to discussing feminism and daily life.” *Note: This book focuses on American pop culture.
From “Chapter 1- Pop and Circumstance: Why Pop Culture Matters”: ”The subject of this book is feminism and pop culture, and it tackles two sides of that topic: first, how popular culture has inspired, fueled, and furthered the women’s movement and feminism; and second, how feminism has been depicted in popular culture. In the most general sense, the aim of this book is to provide a survey of the way feminism has interacted with popular culture as both catalyst and subject. In the past decade or two, feminism and pop culture have become more closely entwined than ever before. This can in part be chalked up to the growing interest in cultural studies as an academic discipline and the resulting number of academic papers, conferences, and books devoted to feminist analyses of various facets of pop. (The field of studies devoted to Buffy the Vampire Slayer alone is proof that feminist cultural studies is no passing fad.) But it can also be explained by the fact that, well, there’s a whole lot more popular culture to watch, read, examine, and deconstruct” (pg. 6).
Feminist Fires Mia McKenzie, Writer, Blogger, and Activist
Major Works: The Summer We Got Free Queer Rebels of the Harlem Renaissance Black Girl Dangerous Various short stories and essays Inspires: Queer and trans people of color, feminists, women of color, the queer community, writers, radical hinkers, social justice advocates
Importance to Social Justice: McKenzie regularly addresses issues of racism, homophobia, sexism as well as other issues in social justice in her own work. She is a proud member of the black queer community, and encourages discussion of intersectionalities. Her blog, Black Girl Dangerous, also hosts writing workshops for other queer and trans people of color, promoting more advocacy, discussion, and greater commitments to social justice..
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Personal Life: Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mia McKenzie will always consider herself a West Philly kid. She was brought up in the church, and was amazed at the levels of both queerness and homophobia in the black church. Growing up in this atmosphere, she claims she was a pretty awkward kid, throwing herself into her writing. As a black women, she was very cognizant of people’s perceptions of her, and got tired of modifying herself to accommodate anti-black racism. This fueled her writing, leading her to launch her own blog, Black Girl Dangerous.
Career Call Learn About the Workplace
Natalie Morett Marilyn G Ra Empowermen
1) Describe your job and its duties in one paragraph. -Program Coordinator of The Food Circle: Community Food Rescue and Service Learning Program and WillPower: Teen Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Education Program. Both programs run twice a week, which keeps my work day active and always dynamic. The Food Circle, involves coordinating donations from local grocery stores and operating a community food pantry in the Near North and East Garfield Park communities of Chicago. The Food Circle has a service learning component which gives Chicago Public School students the opportunity to earn volunteer hours while servicing their communities. Coordinating WillPower allows me to use my background in community based theatre as a classroom tool when providing sexual health education to students in the Belmont-Cragin community of Chicago. 2) Why did you get the job? -I began working for MGR Youth Empowerment in Pittsburgh during the summer of 2011 as a Teaching Assistant for our Arts in Action Programming. I stayed with the organization part time, working on various after school and classroom residency projects in Pittsburgh Public Schools. With each new project I was given more responsibility and new titles. When I relocated to Chicago in February 2013, I was fortunate enough to be hired as a full time staff member in the MGR Chicago office. 3) How did you get the job (online app, in person, nomination, etc.)? -While working part time for MGR Youth Empowerment in Pittsburgh, I had expressed my interest in being considered for other opportunities in the organization to my immediate supervisor who helped me set up a meeting with our Executive Director. This meeting gave me an opportunity to present my skills and interest in the organization, while learning about potential opportunities for advancement with MGR in cities outside of Pittsburgh. Once the position in Chicago became available, I had to fill out an application and have an interview, in person. 4) Did you hear about the job through word of mouth? If so, by whom? -I first heard about the position from MGR Staff members. MGR also posts jobs on Idealist.org and our organizational website. 5) Did you have help getting the job by inside recommendations? -I was very fortunate to have had a strong relationship with the MGR Pittsburgh office. The staff in Pittsburgh served as references and provided recommendations for me when I was being considered for this position. 6) Are you using or did you use some of your education for the job? -I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Seton Hill University. My specific studies included Theatre Performance, Community Based Theatre Techniques, and Art for Social Change. The Arts in Action Programs at MGR combine elements
tti - Program Coordinator; abb Foundation Youth nt from each of these topics. Right now I use my education every day while writing and executing lesson plans for MGR’s WillPower Program. WillPower uses a 12 session curriculum that teaches theater games and techniques letting students practice appropriate language and decision-making to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and to encourage healthy relationships. 7) Is this a job for the long-term? Why or why not? -I just completed my first year as Program Coordinator at MGR Youth Empowerment. I feel like I am just getting started on my work with MGR and the youth of Chicago. Right now, this is the work I want to be doing and the people I want to be doing it with. I hope to stay with MGR for a long time.
9) What are the strengths of the job? -This job is always exciting. The best part is the direct service. Each day, I can clearly see the work and impact we are making on the communities we serve. 11) Would you recommend this job to others? -Yes, I would recommend this job to others. This position has taught me a great deal about non-profit work, the city of Chicago, and myself. Each challenge presents a new opportunity to improve myself and my organization. 15) Share your most memorable experience(s) from the position; good, bad, funny, and ugly! -I have had so many memorable and special experiences during my time with MGR. One moment that sticks out in my mind is watching our Team M3 Students run their first Half Marathon this past September. This program pairs students with adult mentors, together the team learns the discipline of training to run a half marathon while exploring the similarities between training for a race and committing to school, work, etc.
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8) Does the job and employer reinforce current social conditions or try to change them? How? Your thoughts? -MGR definitely takes an active approach when it comes to participating in social conditions. Each of our programs approaches a social condition facing youth and apply knowledge, skills, and action. For example in our WillPower Program, Students will learn about preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including the use of condoms and abstinence. Once students have gained knowledge on these topics, we explore opportunities for community outreach. We want to do everything we can to empower our students to become the change makers and the community leaders of the future. I feel that any work that serves the youth is powerful work. Young people are our future leaders, inspiring and educating them is very exciting work.
WLA (Re)Animated From the Women and Leadership Archives
The Feminist Voice Vol 1 No. 1
Commentary: This is the cover for The Feminist Voice’s first issue from August 1971. This document is
within the “Feminism in Chicago” exhibit at the Women and Leadership Archives, which highlights documents from the Connie Kiosse Papers. Kiosse was a part of the Women’s Liberation movement and was one of the founding members of The Feminist Voice. This was one of Chicago’s first feminist newspapers and, according to the WLA website, included articles on socialism, gay rights, the Vietnam War, and other topics relevant to that time and place. The cover portrays a woman with a Superman shirt and includes a quote by Yosano Akiko, who poetically states, “All sleeping women, now will awake and move.” A product of the time, this newspaper is one of the many facets of feminisms’ histories.
WLA Mission Statement: Established in 1994, the Women and Leadership Archives (WLA) collects,
preserves, organizes, and makes available the materials of enduring value to researchers (and others) studying women’s contributions to society.
We just want to identify the “real” freaks, so we can feel closer to normal. In reality, not a single one of us is so magically normative as to claim the right to separate out the freaks from everyone else. We are all freaks to someone. Maybe even—if we’re honest—to ourselves
Let’s stop pretending that we have all the answers, because when it comes to gender, none of us is fucking omniscient
I see fashion as a proclamation or manifestation of identity, so, as long as identities are important, fashion will continue to be important. The link between fashion and identity begins to get real interesting, however, in the case of people who don’t fall clearly into a culturally-recognized identity
There’s no such thing as hurting someone for their own good. There’s only hurting someone for your own good
Safe gender is being who and what we want to be when we want to be that, with no threat of censure or violence. Safe gender is going as far in any direction as we wish, With no threat to our health, or anyone else’s. Safe gender is not being pressured into passing, not having to lie, not having to hide
- Kate Bornstein
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It’s easy to fictionalize an issue when you’re not aware of the many ways in which you are privileged by it
Nichole F. Smith
New Levels Building From the Bottom
Ready for Spring 2013 kicked off one of the most transitional and transformative seasons of my life. And I have been through life changes before - graduations, moves, marriage, job changes, and returning to school almost 10 years after completing undergrad. These are some of the most common life changes, but you know, they’re changes that require adjustment and growth,
etc. But the changes that started in January of last year have been the most difficult for me to adjust to. These changes have left me wondering, where the hell did I go? What happened to go with the me that went with the flow and was happy to take on change and transition?
Within 6 months I had given birth, become a working mother, taken on a live-in family member, left my job, moved to a new state, and made the decision to try a new “profession” in the home. It is almost nine full months since the move to from Chicago to Rhode Island and I am straight up struggling. I left Chicago reluctantly and regrettably, even though I had encouraged my husband to pursue the job here. And I never imagined myself as a stay-at-home mom. I feel like I’ve been thrown into the ocean and have been treading water for nine months without moving toward any coast line. My arms are aching, I can barely catch my breath and I have no idea which direction to swim. There are a lot of decisions I need to make about going back to work, caring for and educating Bradleigh, staying connected to my marriage, and building community in our new home. I’m just not sure which to tackle first and I feel stuck. In the past, having a work life lead to me building friendships and a social life. In the past, living in a metropolitan city inspired me to discover myself and chase my dreams. Not having a job and living outside of the city has left me feeling unbalanced. I moved from one of the most diverse cities in the country to a island of a homogeneous population. I can’t say
this island isn’t beautiful, but damn, I literally live on an island and at times it feels isolating. Don’t get me wrong, I love the beaches and the experience of looking out into the vast expanse of the ocean, but I’m content having that experience on vacation. I’m content traveling to islands and beaches and pretending that I’d like to spend the rest of my days with sand between my toes. I love city life. I love skyscrapers. I love giving up having a car to take the train. I love the opportunity to visit many different neighborhoods with rich ethnic culture, and getting to know that culture through friends and food. And I love not sharing a professional football team with however many states make up New England. For the first time, I am having a hard time letting go. And I know it is making my transition to this beautiful state that much more difficult. If I am honest with myself I can admit that the people I’ve met on this island are some of the friendliest I’ve come across, that living on the ocean makes even cloudy days ridiculously beautiful, and that being a stay-at-home mom is teaching me things I need to learn about myself as an individual, a partner, a mother, and a friend. So here I am. I have sulked over this move long enough and am ready to make some moves toward enjoying where I’m at now. I am still not sure which direction is the best to move in so I’m starting with doing those things that creep up in my mind when I have a moment to myself. I guess it’s a little late for New Year’s resolutions, but whatever. It is almost spring time so I guess I’m about to sew some life seeds.
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In January, I became a parent, which is awesome, and exhausting. In March, I became a working mother. On my first day back in the office Bradleigh, my baby (now toddler), rolled over for the first time and I wasn’t there to see it. That first day back at work was an emotional rollercoaster like I had never experienced. While I was fortunate to return to a job that fulfilled me I was also coming to the realization that I was going to spend significantly more hours away from my new love bug than I would spend with her. That same month a family member accepted our urgent and short-noticed plea to live with us and watch Bradleigh because we were unable to find care for her. The next month I struggled to manage the new mommy exhaustion at work as my department was shifting in structure while also putting on some of the largest events of the academic year. In May, my husband interviewed for a job and we accepted. In June, I gave two weeks notice to a job and work community that I loved dearly. In July, I moved with my husband and 5 month old to a state we would never had considered weren’t it for a friend recommending a job to my husband. This move was our biggest yet because it moved us further away from our parents and siblings, and uprooted us from friends, a community, and a city that we loved. This was also the month that I became a stay-at-home mom.
tell-a-vision visions & revisions of our culture(s)
Pantene Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOjNcZvwjxI
Questions: How does this commercial show gender bias and its prevalence in society/societies? How does it use the Pantene product to attack gender bias? In other words, how does the product coincide with the message it is telling? Is the commercial still showing gender performativity and the gender binary? If so, how do you think so? If not, why do you think it does not?
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Middle Eastern Musings Abeer Allan
A Dive Into The Dead Sea
FGM - Do Not Take Away My Identity FGM: Female Genital Mutilation. Words and facts on how FGM started are not clear, but it is assumed that this common inhuman practice could have been started in Australia, Africa and in Egypt.
Although in Ancient Egypt there is no physical evidence in mummies, art or literature, the first mention of male and female circumcision appears in the writings by the Greek geographer Starbo, who visited Egypt around 25 B.C, stated “one of the cus-
And as in England and the United States, the cutting would be practiced to treat various psychological symptom, “The surgeries seen in Victorian England and America were generally based on a now discarded theory called ‘reflex neurosis,’ held that many disorders like depression and neurasthenia originated in genital inflammation,” medical historian David Gollaher, president and CEO of the California Healthcare Institute (CHI), said in an interview with Discovery News. So we all agree now that there is no religious concept behind this, and it is definitely not an Arab thing, regardless of the origins of FGM, which could be ritual or cultural, this vile practice have spread internationally forgetting why it really started in the first place. Do Not Take Away My Identity “I was pinned onto the table by four women. They said “it’s not going to be painful, silly girl”. Apparently they gave me an injection to numb it, but I felt everything, I felt my flesh being cut off. After you’re cut you’re given presents, chocolates, sweets – me and my sister actually got gold watches. You’re abused, but you’re rewarded for it. It leaves you with a massive sense of confusion about people you trust. Years later when I was training to be a therapist I confronted my mother. She had believed it was the right thing to do at the time, but she also protected me. She told everyone that I had gone through Type 3 (the most severe form) rather than Type 2. By having this conversation and receiving her apology, I was freed from this confusion. I knew that I would never let my daughter go through this ordeal. FGM is a form of identity. Women in my community worry that they won’t be considered a good Somali woman if they haven’t undergone FGM. But let’s be clear: this is a practice that controls women’s sexuality, and it continues today because we still live in an environment where women are restricted.”
– BY Leyla Hussein, an anti-FGM activist, psychotherapist, ‘Strong Voice’ of Amnesty International’s END FGM European Campaign and co-founder of Daughters of Eve, a charity dedicated to ending gender-based violence including female genital mutilation. http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/ day-of-the-girl-a-survivors-journey-after-female-genital-mutilation-8874232.html Kindly note that this has been copied exactly the same as I will not be able to describe their experience better than how they did. Sohair al-Bata’a, a 13-year-old Egyptian girl, who was subjected to female genital mutilation. She could not share her story with us as she died in this inhuman, oppressive cultural, ignorant and brutal act. FGM was banned in Egypt in 2008 but still some doctors would do it in private. Dr. Raslan Fadl was one of these doctors, and Sohair was one of his victims of FGM operation carried out at the parents’ request in June 2013. Dr. Fadl got away with this inhuman act when the case was initially dropped after an official medical report claimed that Sohair had been treated for genital warts, and that she died from an allergic reaction to penicillin. But now the case is reopened after the campaigns by local rights groups and the international organization Equality Now. There will be a prosecution of both Fadl and Sohair’s father. And I, as an Arab woman, proud to say that Egypt has launched the first prosecution for female genital mutilation after a girl has died, Sohair. People now are more aware of the dangers of FGM, as many campaigns have been launched to prevent this inhuman oppressive practice, to heal the damaged – not that it can be healed-, and to raise awareness. This is an outrageous act which deprives girls and women of their simplest human rights; pleasure and sexual identity. And it definitely does not give them the right to OWN their bodies, so let’s all be part of the change, let’s all make a difference by talking about this courageously, and by spreading and sharing the real stories of victims. Share their stories as they tell it, no one would describe it better. Share their stories to save the coming generations, and to let everyone know the physical and psychological incurable damage this inhuman act causes.
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toms most zealously observed among the Egyptians is this; that they rear every child that is born, and circumcise the males, and excise the females.” Some theories on why it started state that, as for Egyptians the clitoris was better removed as it was “seen as “a deformity and a source of shame,” the clitoris would produce irritation for its “continual rubbing against the clothes” thus “stimulating the appetite for sexual intercourse”.” Quoting Rossella Lorenzi from her article “How Did Female Genital Mutilation Begin?”
BROAD People
Message Me We Asked, You Answered
What would you like to see from the feminist movement in the future?
Becoming more intersectional, interdisciplinary
Emphasizing global feminism, not just Western white feminism
Saying feminisms instead of one singular feminism
Making the movement more inclusive
Recognize that sex positivity is required for gender equality
I am so perfect so divine so ethereal so surreal I cannot be comprehended except by my permission
My grandmother all of her life wanted a set of sterling silver for six so that she could set her table with sterling silver...She wanted it and it was my responsibility, if I was going to be responsible, to get it, which I did. Feminism says, “Hey, you don’t need it.” I know when I’m talking those ladies that they need it. And I say, “Hey, feminism says you can have it.” That’s the ideological breakdown.
What black women have called drudgery white women are now viewing in terms of liberation. And certainly the issues of f childcare centers...and equal pay are not new ones, and they’re not something we have forgotten. These have been constant problems in our community because our community is a female-based community.
I would like to see more black people, more Hispanics, more women in power. I do not think it works when we exclude people, because then the major force becomes to exclude, instead of to change and improve.
- Nikki Giovanni
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it’s a sex object if you’re pretty and no love or love and no sex if you’re fat get back fat black woman be a mother grandmother strong thing but not woman gameswoman romantic woman love needer man seeker dick eater sweat getter fuck needing love seeking woman
Gaby Ortiz Flores
Radical (Self) Love An act you do for yourself is an act of Love.
A Family of Warrior Women Among poor people, there’s not any question about women being strong--even stronger than men--they work in the field right along with the men. When your survival is at stake, you don’t have these questions about yourself like middle-class women do. --Dolores Huerta
There was never a question in my mother’s head that my grandmother was strong. There was never a question in my grandmother’s head that her mother was strong. I look at my father’s mother and there is no doubt in my mind that she was powerful. There is no question in my mind that my mother is strong.
This is my heritage and one that I love and honor deeply. I was birthed into a family of strong female warriors. Perhaps this is why it is difficult for me to reconcile their strength with their willingness to give in to patriarchal norms. Not always but just enough to confuse me. My great grandmother left her vast ranch and house to her only son, who sold it all and gambled the money way. My grandmother and her sisters who were the ones who worked the field, inherited nothing. My grandmother was uninterested in sending my mother to school because of course she would be married and then what would be the point? She did not mean to be cruel, it was just fact in those days. My father’s mother who had always wanted to go to school but never went, encouraged her eldest daughter to marry a man she did not love. He had money and would of course be able to take care of her. My aunt married that man.
My father is the man who (though he denies this) told me to make sure that I was always on birth control and who also told me to live with a man but to never marry him because then if he misbehaved, I could leave without hesitation. These are not the sort of things that Mexican fathers tell their daughters, let alone their teenage daughters. My father is also the man who encouraged me to travel far and wide and to always try and experience new things. “Always try something so that no one can ever tell you what it’s like because you will already know”, is what he would tell me. He would take my sister and me to fancy restaurants when we were younger (and when we could afford it) because he said he never wanted any man to be able to charm us with his money. He wanted us to feel confident enough to walk away from things and people that did not serve us or tried to to fool us with their flash. It is my mother, however, who taught me how to be a warrior.
I am often torn as to what is most startling about my family--the fact that these warrior women didn’t recognize their strength and power or the fact that in the end it was the men in my family who became feminists.
My cousin and her friend were once pulled over by the highway police. My mother who had been driving behind them pulled up behind the police car, got out, and started questioning the officers. She berated them for their racist tactics of pulling over people of color. Miraculously, they did not throw my mother in jail, instead they let them all go peacefully and without further questioning. I think they were too stunned by a 5’0” Mexican immigrant woman who had no problems insulting them with her imperfect English.
It was my grandfather who decided that my mother would indeed go to school. She wanted to be a doctor but since that option was not open to women at that time in Mexico, he sent her off to nursing school.
There are many other stories like this involving my mother. She always stood up for those in need, those who were being hurt. She never gave up, not even when it would have been easy or safe.
It was my paternal grandmother who taught me that girls don’t play with balls, only boys do. This explains my present day aversion to sports and yet it is surprising coming from a woman who pretty much did whatever she wanted in a beautiful fierce and rebellious way, who would climb trees when she was a girl even though it was most improper.
I think I never really thought of feminism as a thing to fear or thing to choose because it was my experience all of my life. I was always surrounded by examples of women warriors and surrounded by men who believed that I was not only just as good as men but greater in many ways.
It was her husband, my abuelito, who taught me how to fix things and garden and get dirty. We would walk down alleys hand in hand picking through garbage to find treasures--broken chairs, cans for recycling, and all kinds of random knick knacks. Also, not a very lady-like thing to do. Again, this explains my fondness for fixing things and also my nonplus attitude about getting dirty. I really don’t mind.
This is not to say that sexism didn’t and doesn’t exist in my family--it so very clearly does and yet with each generation there has been more and more recognition of the women in my family as powerful beings. More importantly, we have started recognizing our own power ourselves. I only hope that I can continue this tradition, that this belief is absorbed into the skins and spirits of my own children.
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My mother had an aunt who lived out in the woods by herself at a time when it was unseemly and dangerous. She wielded a gun at any man who dared to try and dishonor her. It is rumoured that she may have killed one or two. I won’t ever know the truth, nor do I truly wish to--the myth is that much more delicious.
Julia DeLuca
Manga Addict Analyzine Anime and Manga Through a Gendered Lense
Review: Red River (AKA The Kingdom of Anatolia)
or classic anime or manga which pertains to the theme of each issue of BROAD (i.e., disability, environmentalism). Not only do I hope to engage more readers with anime and manga, but to also expand understanding of gender norms expressed in media outside of television and film. For this issue, I will be reviewing Red River, also known as The Kingdom of Anatolia. Synopsis: Red River follows the story of Yuri Suzuki, a fifteen year old junior high school student (in Japan, junior high goes from 7 to 9th grade, with high school going from 10th to 12th grade) in Japan. While on a date with her boyfriend Satoshi, a hand reaches out from a puddle of water and pulls her in. When she emerges on the other side, she finds out she was pulled into the Ancient Middle East, during the reign of King Suppiluliuma I was the ruler of the Hittite Empire. After nearly being executed under a ruse of needing a virgin sacrifice, Yuri is rescued by Prince Kail Mursili by claiming he had taken her virginity without knowing she was to be sacrificed as a gift for their Gods. Afterwards, Kail names Yuri as his concubine as a means to protect her from anyone who wishes to harm her. It turns out Yuri was brought to the Hittite Empire by Kail’s stepmother Queen Nakia. Her wish is to have her son rule the empire after her husband dies in order to have complete control of the Middle East, and needs Yuri’s blood in order to complete the curse.
The anime subculture has been gaining more and more recognition in the world. Bookstores have sections dedicated to manga and western graphic novels. People love to dress up as their favorite characters from anime and manga. Some have even made careers making customized costumes for people, or bookstores which specialize in Japanese graphic novels and series one can’t find in mainstream or most independent bookstores. What drew me to the genre was, in addition to the expression of eyes, was the blending of gender roles for the characters. They had heroines who could look and act feminine, but at the same time be the heroes who save the universe. The men would need to be saved, not just from the demons and monsters but from their own selves. Yes, the heroines of western comics do that do, but the heroines in mangas are more frequent, as it is an outlet for many women manga artists to critique and question the gender norms of their culture. So not only does manga allow the creators to critique and subtly deconstruct the gender norms of their home, but it allows the readers to question those of their own culture as well. It is a genre rich with material to analyze and deconstruct, but so far only a few are aware of it.
Throughout the manga, the story focuses on Yuri trying to survive any attempts on her life from Nakia and those who serve her. In addition, the manga has Yuri adjusting to life in the Hittite Empire: learning about Hittite customs, political alliances, diplomacy, and defending oneself from assassination and rape attempts from Nakia and characters from rival empires. Not long after she is pulled in, Yuri decides to learn archery, horseback riding, and swordsmanship to defend herself from attackers. Because of her determination to defend herself, and others around her, the people of the Hittite Empire proclaim Yuri as Ishtar, the Goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. As the manga progresses, Yuri not only is seen as the reincarnation of the goddess Ishtar, but becomes an important player in Hittite royal politics. As the manga progresses, Yuri displays skills of combat prowess, tactics, and diplomacy which demonstrate her skills as both a warrior and leader.
So I decided for this column to focus on reviews of animes and mangas related to the theme of each issue of BROAD. Every month, I will review a new
My opinion: This is one of the best mangas created. First, we got the heroine Yuri. While she does need to be rescued frequently in the series, she also shows
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Hello everyone. I am Julia DeLuca, graduate of the Loyola University Chicago Women’s Studies and Gender Studies program. I graduated from LUC with both a Masters from the WSGS program, and a Masters in Social Work. While I was doing my graduate studies at Loyola, I noticed a media outlet that has not been talked about in discussing gender norms: Anime and Manga, or Japanese Animation and Comics. I have been an avid anime and manga collector for most of my adolescent and young adult life; in fact, I am more familiar with anime and manga references than western comic books. I remember the names of Japanese comic artists, I still have most of my manga in the shelves of my room, I’m always on the hunt for new animes and mangas that break the mold, I attend anime conventions almost every year, and I make references to anime and manga in real life. So it comes to me as a surprise that most people I know outside of the anime clubs have little to know clue about how influential anime and manga is. Not only does it provide insight on Asian (mostly Japanese) culture, but it is a great medium for discussing gender norms and expectations outside of the Western experience.
she can hold her own. After being trapped in the Hittite Empire and realizing she will be stuck there for an indefinite time period, Yuri doesn’t spend all of the series moping and feeling sorry for herself. Instead, she learns fighting skills: swordsmanship, archery, and horseback riding in order to defend herself and not be completely dependent on Kail and his army. I like this in a heroine: takes it on herself to adjust to a new situation and work to avoid being in the “Damsel in Distress” category. Granted Yuri does still need to be rescued frequently, but the reader needs to keep in mind she is a teenager and her captors/attackers have years of combat experience over her. It is also a great introduction to people about life in the Mesopotamia where the story is set, and a little bit about the Hittite Empire. Most of us do not learn much about the Mesopotamia, or know of many empires in aside from Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. The artwork is also very amazing-the eyes are very expressive. And Kail himself is also an interesting romantic foil-is a powerful sorcerer and handsome prince who is also a brilliant general and fighter. However, he also learns to recognize Yuri as his equal and sees her as more than just his bed partner: a confidant. A lesson women and men can learn in the real world: in order for a home and a country to work, men and women should learn to work side by side instead of seeing each other as competition or accessories to one another. Pros: Great artwork. Strong and capable heroine: has weaknesses, but learns to fend for herself instead of being in need a constant rescue. Villians who have depth and intelligence. The supportive characters also have great personalities. One of the more “gender neutral” and “progressive” mangas created. Cons: Keeping in mind that this takes place in the Ancient Middle East, there are some attempted rape and sexual assault scenes in some of the issues. Women who weren’t royals were treated as trophies of conquest and objects to be controlled, and little else. Not just from the villains-some of the protagonists have attempted rape once or twice. Afterwards, the victim is told “it means he loves you but cannot control it” or “that is how men are”. Granted this takes place in a time where women had no say and rape and consent was never considered, but can rub people the wrong way. The assaulters are also too easily forgiven. It also seems like nearly every guy in the story falls in love with the heroine, aside from the main love interest Kail (read on and you will see-no spoilers allowed!) There are also some parts that were never resolved and left unanswered.
Overall: Despite my issues with the attempted rape and assault scenes, Red River is still a great read. The series is 28 volumes. For those who are interested, you can find the series online to read for free. However, I encourage you to purchase the volumes and support the manga creator. Thanks for reading, and see you next month!
Feminist Fires Betty Friedan, American Writer and Activist Major Works: The Feminine Mystique The Second Stage It Changed My Life: Writings on the Women’s Movement Beyond Gender The Fountain Age Life so Far (autobiography) Inspired by: Friedan was influenced by Marxist thought, as well as by her Jewish upbringing. The anti-Semitism present during her early years fostered her feelings against injustice. She also spent a year at the University of California, Berkeley (1943) on a fellowship for her graduate work in psychology with Erik Erikson, a well-known developmental psychologist. Friedan’s major work, The Feminine Mystique (1963), explored the unhappiness of many women, especially housewives, in the 1950s and the 1960s (this pervasive feeling was also known as the “problem that has no name”). The influence of this book came from her fifteenth-year college reunion in 1957, where Friedan conducted surveys of the female college graduates’ experiences post-graduation and thoughts on their current lives. This is where the “problem that has no name” came up. As a result, she attempted to publish an article on the topic of suburban housewives, mixed with psychology, and media and cultural critiques. After this proved difficult, she ended up publishing it as a book. It is her specific chapter “The Sexual Solipsism of Sigmund Freud,” which criticized Sigmund Freud’s outlook on women, that was influenced by Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex.
Importance to Social Justice: Friedan founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) in 1966, which is a feminist organization whose original goals, created by Friedan and Pauli Murray, were to push for women’s equal rights to men in American society. NOW also addressed abortion and reproductive health services, violence against women, and many other issues. Friedan organized the national Women’s Strike for Equality to promote equal job and educational opportunities for women, founded the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws in 1973 and originally promoted abortion as a choice women have the right to make, and protested the Vietnam War through a tax protest. Friedan also had a voice in politics, which included her and many other women’s movement leaders creating the National Women’s Political Caucus. Although Friedan is only one voice/perspective out of many feminists, she was a big member of the second wave feminist movement who promoted a woman’s presence in many areas of activism.
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Inspires: Many people credit her for starting second wave feminism in America. She has also inspired women to further advocate for equality. She, from the start of the 1960s, has influenced homemakers to voice their rights. Many people have written on her, whether it is critiquing her credibility and sources in The Feminine Mystique, criticizing her voice as being limited to middle-class white women, or writing on her significance to feminism. These writers include Judith Hennessee, Daniel Horowitz, Justine Blau, Joanne Meyerowitz, and Janann Sheman.
tell-a-vision visions & revisions of our culture(s)
“Oppressed Majority” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4UWxlVvT1A
Questions: What are the most striking moments of this film? What are the parallels that the film draws between the real world experiences of women and the men in the film? Is the film making a fair commentary about Muslim women and their religion or is it missing the point of feminism and/or religious freedom? Looking at it within the context of a society that bans Muslim women from wearing head scarves, which is more oppressive--being allowed to wear a headscarf or being denied the right to practice one’s religion? Do you think this is an effective way of getting the message across or are there ways the film can be improved?
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Contributor Guidelines Principles: i) Feminist Consciousness:
(a) recognizes all voices and experiences as important, and not in a hierarchical form. (b) takes responsibility for the self and does not assume false objectivity. (c) is not absolutist or detached, but rather, is more inclusive and sensitive to others.
ii) Accessibility:
(a) means utilizing accessible language, theory, knowledge, and structure in your writing. (b) maintains a connection with your diverse audience by not using unfamiliar/obscure words, overly long sentences, or abstraction. (c) does not assume a specific audience, for example, white 20-year-old college students.
iii) Jesuit Social Justice Education & Effort:
(a) promotes justice in openhanded and generous ways to ensure freedom of inquiry, the pursuit of truth and care for others. (b) is made possible through value-based leadership that ensures a consistent focus on personal integrity, ethical behavior, and the appropriate balance between justice and fairness. (c) focuses on global awareness by demonstrating an understanding that the world’s people and societies are interrelated and interdependent.
Expectations and Specifics: • You may request to identify yourself by name, alias, or as “anonymous” for publication in the digest. For reasons of accountability, the staff must know who you are, first and last name plus email address. • We promote accountability of our contributors, and prefer your real name and your preferred title (i.e., Maruka Hernandez, CTA Operations Director, 34 years old, mother of 4; or J. Curtis Main, Loyola graduate student in WSGS, white, 27 years old), but understand, in terms of safety, privacy, and controversy, if you desire limitations. We are happy to publish imagery of you along with your submission, at our discretion. • We gladly accept submission of varying length- from a quick comment to several pages. Comments may be reserved for a special “feedback” section. In order to process and include a submission for a particular issue, please send your submission at least two days prior to the desired publication date. • Please include a short statement of context when submitting imagery, audio, and video. • We appreciate various styles of scholarship; the best work reveals thoughtfulness, insight, and fresh perspectives. • Such submissions should be clear, concise, and impactful. We aim to be socially conscious and inclusive of various cultures, identities, opinions, and lifestyles. • As a product of the support and resources of Loyola University and its Women Studies and Gender Studies department, all contributors must be respectful of the origin of the magazine; this can be accomplished in part by ensuring that each article is part of an open discourse rather than an exclusive manifesto. • All articles must have some clear connection to the mission of the magazine. It may be helpful to provide a sentence or two describing how your article fits into the magazine as a whole. • The writing must be the original work of the author and may be personal, theoretical, or a combination of the two. When quoting or using the ideas of others, it must be properly quoted and annotated. Please fact-check your work and double-check any quotes, allusions and references. When referencing members of Loyola and the surrounding community, an effort should be made to allow each person to review the section of the article that involves them to allow for fairness and accuracy. • Gratuitous use of expletives and other inflammatory or degrading words and imagery may be censored if it does not fit with the overall message of the article or magazine. We do not wish to edit content, but if we feel we must insist on changes other than fixing typos and grammar, we will do so with the intent that it does not compromise the author’s original message. If no compromise can be made, the editor reserves the right not to publish an article. • All articles are assumed to be the opinion of the contributor and not necessarily a reflection of the views of Loyola University Chicago.
We very much look forward to your submissions and your contribution to our overall mission. Please send your submissions with a title and short bio to Broad People through broad.luc@gmail.com.