March 11, 2016
Blueprint Staff Joe Stellato Editor-in-Chief Print
OPINIONS
Blueprint
5
The fear of sexual assault: growing up a girl By Hannah Maes, Features Editor
sexually assaulted while attending college, which is terrifying enough for me, but then I start think about my sister who will be attending college soon after me. Together we have a forty percent chance of one of us being assaulted, which is sickening. There are a lot of resources to help girls stay safe when entering college, like the self defense class taught here at DGS, and even resources to help after an assault, but I rarely hear about classes for boys about why it’s wrong to sexually assault or what even constitutes as assault. According to nsvrc.org, “63.3% of men at one university who selfreported acts qualifying as rape or attempted rape admitted to committing repeat rapes.” These statistics should be reported just as often as the statistics on how many women are raped because if we are to actually stop sexual assault in colleges we need to target the problems, not the symptoms. Even though the statistics and stories are horrifying, the real tragedy would be if I let it intimidate me
Wes Davenport PR Manager
As a girl growing up I had to learn a lot of scary things, like how to walk in heels and put on makeup, but nothing shook me as much as when I was introduced to the dangers of being a woman in society. I distinctly remember my mom sitting my younger sister and I down for a talk and whipping out a newspaper clipping about a young college student who was date raped. She looked us in the eyes and said that if we didn’t watch out for ourselves that could be us one day, and unfortunately she was right. This was my mother’s way of introducing us to the rape culture that has seeped into our society, and looking back I realize that I was lucky to have someone be honest with me about something not often talked about. Next year I will be going off to college and those words are still ringing in my ears. According to the Huffington Post, one in five females will be
Gina DeCarlis Staff Reporter
The new Barbie: the good and the bad
Kirsten Gard Editor-in-Chief Online Gabrielle Bartkevicuite Entertainment Editor Tessa Brown Co-News Editor Jared Burrow Business Manager Michaela Burton Social Media Director Marcela Calderon Copy Editor Grace Chaplin Opinions Editor
Unna Fernandez Staff Reporter Michelle Hroma Copy Editor Hannah Maes Features Editor Jack McGann Sports Editor Autumn McSwain Staff Reporter Clarissa Moreno Photo Editor Rupa Palla Staff Reporter Eileen Tyrrell Head Copy Editor Asma Zaman Co-News Editor Faculty Advisor: Mary Long Co-Advisors: Kari Alore, Mark Indreika Student Submission: Replies to articles may be emailed to the reporter or submitted in room A310. Letters must be signed, but names can be withheld upon request. E-mails with contact information should be sent to south.blueprint@gmail. com
woman, she would be 5’9”, have a 39” bust, an 18” waist, 33” hips and a size three shoe. This would not only mean that she would be malnourished, but also incapable of basic human functions. Different skin tones and body types are being established in the Barbie world, showing that there are more types than just a skinny white Barbie. With Mattel’s new additions to the Barbie civilization, society is making progress with accepting all women’s appearances. ButMattel is taking a stand against the unrealistic image of women.
Graphic by Grace Chaplin
enough to hold me back. I’m very fortunate that my mother told me about the threat that we all face, but especially for young women entering college life. It’s important to be aware, but not scared, and if we are to make a difference in the number of rapes in college we have to teach that sexual assault of any kind is simply unacceptable. Conact Hannah at hmae1011@csd99.org
age self-esteem. Mattel has created three new body types, 24 different hairstyles, seven skin tones and 22 eye colors. According to Mattel spokesperson Michelle Pro: For generations, Mattel’s Chidoni, the new toys allow the timeless Barbie dolls have had an product line to be a better reflection large influence on little girls, mostly of what girls see around them. negative. Although Barbies bring joy Using a toy as a reflection of what and entertainment to a girl’s life, they women’s bodies should lool like isn’t can also cause detrimental long-term something society should support. effects on a girl’s image. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for posiThis is where the new Barbies come tive body image but I don’t think kids into play. Mattel has created new should feel the need to match the Barbie dolls in three body types and body types of an outdated toy. a variety of skin tones and hairstyles Instead, parents should be the ones in order to reflect real women. They to spread the idea of body positivity aren’t made to look “perfect,” towards their children to let them but more so like a realistic girl, know that they are perfect no in order to adhere to the norms matter what. of women’s bodies. Last year, Mattel introduced By Mattel creating these new new dolls with different skin body types, along with introductones, hairstyles, outfits and ing different skin tones, girls flat feet. As I researched more, will be able to find a doll that I stumbled upon an interesting looks more like them, not some piece of data. An article from “The unattainable standard. This New York Times” stated, “Some way, girls won’t feel so presindustry experts and academics sured to be as perfect as Barbie, have long doubted that cosmetic and they can be more at peace changes -- whether racial or ethwith their bodies. nic or body shapes -- can revive According to rehabs.com, the popularity of the 57-year-old four out of five 10-year-olds say Barbie, whose sales have been that they’re afraid of being fat declining by double-digits in reand 42 percent of girls in first cent years.” This proves that not through third grade wish they many people are going to jump at were thinner. the opportunity of an old toy with They have the dream house, new features. At this point, I can’t dream car and dream guy. help but feel like Mattel is just Barbies are what every little trying to increase sales. girl aspires to be. They have the Orginal Barbie in comparison to the new Barbie that will I think Mattel trying to rebrand soon be released. dream life -- key word: dream. Barbie in an attempt to “accept” all Illustration by Gabrielle Bartkeviciute Since Barbies used to be unrealistitypes of real girls is ridiculous. This cally skinny, tall and beautiful girls only makes people question their own Con: Barbie dolls have been dieted and wished to become as thin insecurities by pointing out that they around for nearly 57 years without and pretty as them. They wanted the are not the “ideal.” It’s too late Barincorporating many changes, so when bie...you’ve done enough damage. dream life that went along with the I heard about the push for new body dream body. types I couldn’t help but cringe at the However, Barbie does not really Contact Michelle at thought. To me it seems as though have a dream body. It’s impossible to mhro1998@csd99.org be like Barbie. According to The Huff- Mattel wants to increase their profits Contact Gina at and will do so by continuing to damington Post, if Barbie were an actual gdec1259@csd99.org By Michelle Hroma, Copy Editor By Gina DeCarlis, Staff Reporter