Likha

Likha ISSUE 001

“A magazine designed to question everything you thought you knew about gender.”

CONTENTS Mia

3 Let’s Talk About The “F” Word Opinion Piece: Long Hair For Boys Purple Hibiscus Book Review

Adam 11 The Nature Of Sexism In Video Games and The General Technological Community The Impact Of Extremism On Modern Feminist Portrayal Within The Media Purple Hibiscus Book Review Ashley 17 Body Image In The Media Advice Column: Ask Ashley Purple Hibiscus Book Review Dylan 23 Society Needs A Change Wonder Woman Film Review Purple Hibiscus Book Review Cecilia 29 Interview with Marciel Hopkins It’s A Girl Guy Thing Purple Hibiscus Book Review

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MEET THE TEAM What does Likha mean? (v.) To create something through intelligence and skill.

Origin: Filipino

CECILIA VAN DER WALT

MIA LAUBENHEIMER

ADAM KNOESEN

@LIKHA_MAGAZINE

ASHLEY SUTTON

DYLAN VAN HEERDEN

The views and opinions found within this magazine are those of the individual journalists and not necessarily of the whole Likha team.

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LET’S TALK ABOUT THE “F” WORD MIA LAUBENHEIMER

There is a lot of confusion about what it truly means to be a feminist. The Oxford Dictionary d e fi n e s f e m i n i s m a s t h e “advocacy of women's rights on the ground of equality of sexes”.

What this means is that feminism aims to uphold and fight for the rights of women in an attempt to make them equal to men. If this is the case then why do feminists repeatedly have to insist that their goal is gender equality while critics in the media continue throwing around accusations of misandry and reinforcement of the gender binary? These are all things that feminism ultimately does not stand for. The movement is not about placing women above men, but rather about achieving equality for all genders and sexes through acts of equity.

The way feminism is displayed in

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the media, may make it seem as though the notion exists only to benefit women, but this is simply not the case. Feminism advocates equality between the sexes, even if this equality is not “beneficial” to women. For example, female perpetrators should be held at the same level as male perpetrators who committed the same crime, and male rape victims should be treated with the same amount of attention and understanding as female rape victims. Feminism does not only exist to fight for the rights and liberation of women, but rather all genders. Equality means equality in every aspect and the only reason that the movement is called “feminism” instead of “equalism” or “humanism” is because it is generally feminine traits that men and women are shamed for having.

It is also important to remember that not all feminists are the same. Feminists can be sexually attracted to men, women, both, or neither. They come in all genders, races, religions, and nationalities. Feminists do not have to give up their dreams of being a stay-at-home-parent, or refrain from wearing makeup and dressing modestly. While s o m e m a y fi n d n o t h i n g liberating in shaving their legs or not shaving their legs, the liberation actually lies within the choice and feminism is about giving women that choice. It is about liberation from the stereotypes and expectations that have chased them and held

them back throughout the decades.

In conclusion, feminism and feminists are still widely misunderstood and misrepresented in all aspects of today's society, including in the media. Many people are still under the impression that the feminist notion is a discriminating movement that exists only to benefit women, but in actual fact, feminism seeks to uphold women’s rights on the same level as men’s rights. It means the needs of women and men are equally valued and favoured.

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OPINION PIECE: LONG HAIR FOR BOYS MIA LAUBENHEIMER Hair fashion may change from season to season, but it would appear that there has been one very constant and peculiar trend: men with short hair. This has not always been the case, especially more recently as a significant amount of men and women are willing to break the socially constructed gender stereotypes.

However, in the majority of schools and work places in South Africa, men are still expected to cut their hair above the collar.

At first glance it may seem as though women have the upper hand because both short and long hairstyles are generally accepted on women. Take almost any school in South Africa for example: the girls may have their hair any length as long as it is tied back if the style’s length reaches below their collar.

The boys, on the

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other hand, are not given this choice. They are prohibited from allowing their hair to grow longer than their collars. This is not just a rule in schools either. Many professional work places also require their male employees to abide by strict hair regulations.

This problem does not just concern men though. In fact, if one looks a little closer, it can actually be observed that misogyny is what lies at the core of this issue.

Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. It can take many forms and this includes genderbased violence, social exclusion, sexual harassment, or even the hatred of feminine qualities. The thing about the hatred of feminine qualities is that it affects everyone.

During the Victorian Era in the 1800s, women barely cut

their hair because long hair was seen as a symbol of beauty and femininity.

Shortly after that in the 1900s, men cut their hair short in provision of the safety and health regulations of World War I and World War II. This led to short hair being considered a masculine quality. Although many years have passed since then, society has not let go of the idea that long hair represents femininity and short hair represents masculinity.

Modern society also shames men for having feminine traits. It is not satisfactory for a male to grow his hair long because it is not considered appropriate for a man to posses these traits. This is seen, not only through hair regulations, but also through many other things such as the clothes that men and women are expected

to wear. For example, long trousers are considered masculine while skirts and dresses are considered feminine. However, a man wearing a dress to his work place will be treated differently to a women wearing trousers to her work place.

To conclude, the fact that males are ridiculed for growing their hair past their collars is due to the fact that long hair is considered feminine and society shames men for having feminine qualities. This does not only concern hair length, but also many other things such as clothing. Many of these traits were proclaimed feminine or masculine many years ago, and it is time that we, the new generation, move away from these socially constructed gender stereotypes.

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MEN WITH LONG HAIR? FEMALES WITH SHORT HAIR?

We asked 112 people if the stereotype of men having short hair and females having long hair should exist. These were their responses:

Why do you think females are expected to have long hair?

Why do you think males are expected to have short hair?

“It is more masculine”

“It is seen as more beautiful”

“Long hair is associated with beauty rather than being handsome”

“To look more attractive for men”

“They cannot look after long hair” “Associated with men who fought in the army and being stronger” “So that they are not mistaken for a girl”

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“They cannot look after long hair”

“A preconceived idea of beauty”

“Woman feel that their beauty is measure by their hair “Long hair looks beautiful and can be a sign of beauty for girl to have”

Answer from someone under the age of 10: “I think it is because they were told that a boy should have short hair and not long hair or else you will be teased that you (the boy) look like a girl”

BOOK REVIEW: PURPLE HIBISCUS MIA LAUBENHEIMER P u r p l e H i b i s c u s i s a fi c t i o n a l bildungsroman written by a Nigerian author: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It was first published by Algonquin Books in October 2003. The novel is set in postcolonial Nigeria, a country struck with political instability and economic difficulties, and is narrated by fifteen-yearold Kambili Achike.

Kambili lives in fear of disappointing her father, a charismatic yet violent Catholic patriarch who is generous and highly respected in the community, but is also harsh and fanatically religious at home.

Kambili is introduced to a new way of life during her stay in Nsukka by her liberal aunt, three cousins, and a young missionary priest. She finds her own voice. She learns to laugh and

sing. She learns to run and play in a place where she finds self-acceptance. This is the place where purple hibiscuses grow and a silence is lifted.

I really enjoyed this book and I think it was excellently written! It was just over 300 pages long, but it feels like Adichie covered so much more. Her writing was precise and to the point. There was no point at which I thought she was dragging out a specific part and I felt as though every sentence was carefully planned and structured to ensure that it flowed. The style was also something new to me. The way she writes is so different to anything I have read before. It’s refreshing and liberating!

I would recommend this novel to anyone over the age of thirteen. It deals with quite a few sensitive topics, but this is conducted in a very mature way.

Overall, it is easy to understand and if you like the idea of being exposed to new cultures, viewpoints, and ideas then P u r p l e Hibiscus is definitely for you.

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SWEDISH INTERVIEW: GENDER OVERSEAS As a part of making international collaborations to find out more about gender overseas we sent a questionnaire about gender to a high school student from Rudbeck Gymnasium in Stockholm, Sweden.

An introduction to our Swedish friend: “My name is Grace Hanna, I am 16 years old and I have my roots in Syria. My hobbies are to read books, hang out with my friends and work out sometimes. I am also interested in travelling and exploring different and unique places around the world. My aim is to become a pharmacist since I think It is the job that fits me the most.”

Do you find that advertisements around you represent genders equally?

No. How would you say men are usually represented in the media?

In advertisements, the male character usually gets featured as powerful, brave and adventurous.

To be perceived as more masculine, you have to show the ability to think rationally and independently as well.

The man also has to be the one who takes the initiative.

How would you say women are usually represented in the media?

The way female characters get

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presented in media varies a lot. Unlike men, women are supposed to create sexual temptation and be attractive.

Besides when one male and one female character participate in an advertisement for a certain company, it is always the man who gets the main and the dominant role where he gets more place to show his best sides and properties than the women.

Do you think that genders are represented the same throughout the world?

No, actually not. The societies in countries that have not progressed by making their cultures change for the better and thereby become more

modern, such as Saudi Arabia, are more likely to be unequal. The reason for this is that most people are very conservative and believe certain things because of their religion. On the other hand, people in the western world tend to be more openminded and liberal. Both the government and the citizens of the country try to collaborate in order to change the policy in order to create equality between sexes in all parts of life.

How do you think the representation of genders differs in Sweden compared to places like South Africa?

It may differ, since I assume that women in South Africa do not get the same chances to be seen and express themselves in the media as men in comparison to Sweden.

Do you think that stereotypes are often used when representing different genders?

Yes I do. Since we usually get very affected and controlled by these highly regulated structures that our social life is based on. Those who break these stereotypes can be treated with very harsh criticism.

Do you agree with these stereotypes?

No, absolutely not. We should all

collaborate and support each other to change these stereotypes so that no one will need to live under the pressure of following them and get treated in an unfair way.

Do you think that it is okay for people to be using stereotypes?

No. Do you think that there are people/ companies trying to fight gender inequality in the media?

Yes. Why do you think males are expected to have short hair?

Since our mind-sets have been built up in this way from childhood. We have been raised with the thought that boys are supposed to have short hair because it is the thing to do to get perceived as masculine and tough.

Why do you think females are expected to have long hair?

As I wrote earlier, this is the type of thinking that we have grown up with and that has surrounded us our whole lives. Apparently, long hair is a feminine thing that makes girls look more attractive.

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THE NATURE OF SEXISM WITHIN VIDEO GAMES AND THE GENERAL TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY ADAM KNOESEN Ever since the extreme increase in popularity of technology within modern culture, specifically video games, one cannot help but notice the fact that there is an extremely large imbalance in the distribution of males versus females. Not only do males dominate within the working field, but also in the representations of characters within video games.

This issue garnered a lot of interest in mid 2014 when the “Gamergate” movement became prominent within social media. This movement, with no clear defined leaders, goals or purposes, has been noted to put a lot of focus on the male dominated

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nature of the gaming field. If you were to look at the history of the field it becomes evident that, within a short period of time, females do not receive a fraction of the amount of representation which males do.

The means to go about fixing this however, are not easily defined.

Many companies have begun to rectify this predicament to the best of their abilities by providing more and more female characters within video games as well as increasing the employment rates of females within their ranks.

However, males, who are still the largest consuming demographic of v i d e o g a m e s , fi n d t h a t m a l e characters are more relatable and they have criticised many “bigname” companies for “selling-out” to the interests of Gamergate activists by creating female characters and hiring female PRpersonalities for no reason other than to display a sense of gender equality within their company.

This issue is not one that can be easily addressed or solved, however, the way forward would inevitably involve a rework of the current video game industry to some degree.

 

THE IMPACT OF EXTREMISM ON THE MODERN FEMINIST PORTRAYAL WITHIN THE MEDIA ADAM KNOESEN Feminism, at its core, is a belief system based upon the fundamentals of rectifying the injustice upon females within the past and today. However, there are more prevailing extremists who would partake in behaviour that is not feminist in nature. They state that they do these acts in the name of feminism and unfortunately the media has taken these actions to heart and are portraying the entirety of feminism is a negative light.

This is in part due to the fact that, within social media, the most widely spread content is often the most controversial and by following this train of thought one can come to see how extremism is the prevailing method of

representation of feminist ideals within popular media.

The only real way to rectify a situation such as this is to establish a thorough understanding of what the actual ideals and beliefs of feminism are, and more importantly why extremists do not fall under the category of feminists.

Gender inequality still exists to a large degree within the world, that fact is undeniable. However, the sad truth is that all of that inequality is clouded by the fact that we, as the general population, have a relatively contorted point of view on what feminism actually entails in modern times.

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A REVIEW OF PURPLE HIBISCUS ADAM KNOESEN

The novel contains extremely prominent commentary and criticism on many socio-economic issues which exist universally and have existed universally for hundreds of years. The novel specifically covers issues which are in relation to patriarchal abuse of power within a household and the nature of the influence of Western culture upon traditional African.

The book focuses on Kambili, a young Nigerian girl, who lives in a household with a tyrannical father and sorely abused mother and brother. Eugene, the head of the household, displays a severe amount of hypocrisy in his displayed ideas of morals versus how h e acts within

his household as he severely dictates the lives of his wife and children.

It is later revealed in the story that Eugene was abused growing up in the catholic school which he attended, which causes a moral dilemma as Eugene is arguably only able to raise his family the same way which he himself was raised and the crimes he is committing are not necessarily due to malicious intent.

The story embodies modern ideas of feminism and conflict of cultures by conveying strong female characters who go through large amounts of change through the story. The novel also covers the display of conflict within the Catholic church, which Eugene and his family attend, wherein the locals are not allowed to preach in their local dialect within the church.

All in all I would recommend the book as it allows the reader some insight in regards to universal issues of sexism and cultural misassociation within societies.

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THE GENDER SEARCH

ASEXUAL BISEXUAL BOY CIS CONFORMITY FEMININITY GENDER GENDERQUEER GIRL

HERMAPHRODITE HETEROSEXUAL HOMOSEXUAL INTERSEX MASCULINITY MEDIA PANSEXUAL TRANS UNI

DO YOU KNOW WHAT ALL OF THESE

WORDS MEAN?

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BOTSWANA OPINIONS: BRUSHING AWAY REALITY

As a part of our international collaborations we have included the opinions of two students from Maru-a-Pula School in Gaborone, Botswana. The following article was written by Soraya Dereige.

What you see in the media is an illusion. What you see on the glossy pages of Vogue or on your luminescent screen is just a façade.When will we see the truth?

As women, society dictates that we must always be perfect and attractive in order to achieve anything in life.

Society focuses too much on the appearance of women and less on their intellectual capabilities.

Although this idea is absurd, it has followed mankind through the ages.

The unrealistic body image of women is twisted by Photoshop.

Photoshop has gone too far. It’s everywhere; it is encased behind the glass screen of your phone and it lurks in the pages of magazines.

Every time you log into Instagram or pick up a magazine, you are bombarded with advertisements on how to be the better or more attractive version of yourself. No wonder women are so hard on themselves. As they scroll or flip through, they are faced with countless images which are airbrushed and warped showing unattainable beauty standards. We are constantly being sold a fake image of perfection. This is seen in many celebrities such as the Kardashians as they use Photoshop

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to enhance their photos and are continuously regarded as sex symbols and “#bodygoals”. Whilst some celebrities, like Kim, embrace the modifications, others, such as actress Zendaya Coleman, are rightfully against any touch ups.

Despite Zendaya’s efforts, the virus still looms in the media. The effect which Photoshop has and continues to have is sickening. Millions seek the fictitious images presented by Photoshop which has opened the floodgates to business ventures for those who prey on their vulnerability.

The idea that corporations are benefiting from the insecurities of women is ludicrous.

This idea of woman being “perfect” seems to be as old as time and have no expiration date. But who really defines “perfect”, is it women themselves, men or was this image sent down from some ‘god of perfection’? The truth is that this concept was formulated by men and is as old as time, back then women were told what to do by their fathers,

brothers, and husbands. The times have changed but this body conscious trait is still instilled into females from a young age today. A part of the root of this problem is the plastic dolls little girls get. All the while their picture perfect faces and slender figures entice the next young victim. Eternal youth is what many women seek. Age is an inevitable result of nature, yet it is so taboo according to the society’s beauty standards. This sees some women as young as thirty already on the quest for this elixir.

If it is not losing weight, it is staying young. Women cannot seem to catch a break. Why do women need validation from the mirror hanging on the wall? Adverts for anti-ageing serums dominate the TV. Women are constantly trying to win a race with Time’s compass. The whole concept of owning millions of serums and rushing to iron out any crinkle that

emerges on their faces is unfathomable. What happened to ageing with dignity, or has societal expectations erased that out of the world too?

The idea that women are not “allowed” to age is ridiculous. How can other mortals forbid a natural process to take place? I would say that the media is to blame for all of this, while it stems from centuries ago, the media has built on this.

Next time you scroll through Instagram or flip through a magazine and gawk over the images of a beautiful women, just think about the vile processes she has undergone to look the way she does. This has gone on for too long. Society should no longer be able to dictate what women can and cannot do. We, the youth, have to take a stand and end this or this tedious cycle will never end.

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BODY IMAGE IN THE MEDIA ASHLEY SUTTON There is a huge problem today in the media that is causing distorted body images not only for women but also men and all other gender identities.

Body image is one’s individual picture of yourself, this has been changed by the media and others who have simplified genders to being only male and female and no other options such as homosexuals and transgenders. In terms of the media both sexes especially females, are affected by what is being portrayed which is this ‘illusion of beauty’ and ‘being a man’.

The media sets unrealistic bodies standards for both genders which lead to a closed mind set as well as limit a person's perception. The media is promoting females to be skinny and sexy whilst males in the media are ripped, muscular and fit.

From a young age boys and girls have been brainwashed to buy into certain cultural ideas of what it is like to be a ‘woman’ or a ‘man’.

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The body images and stereotypes presented in the media have led to detrimental effects in people of all ages. Poor body image can lead to depression, anxiety, body-hatred, or eating disorders such as anorexia, orthorexia, and bulimia. Distorted body image is a very real problem in this modern era as society promotes unrealistic body standards that people strive to be like. Body image dissatisfaction in males has tripled in the last 25 years. This problem of body dissatisfaction is seen as a ‘women’ problem, which is incorrect as males can feel this way too. We must encourage males to talk about it and to not be ashamed.

An example of photoshopping. This model was photoshopped into having a lighter skin tone, her arms became thinner as well as her shoulders, legs, and shape of her body became much smaller.

In the following picture of Justin Bieber, we can see that he was photoshopped with bigger muscles, accentuating his abs and bulking up his chest.

The media should control what is allowed into the media and think about the effects it has on others, even unintentionally. Why have we just let the media define gender and their roles? Why have we accepted the ‘perfect’ body of males and females and excluded the body of transgenders and people who express other gender identities?

The media needs to change and everyone should realize that what the media is feeding us is lies, it’s the ‘perfect world’ scenario, but the

fact is that everyone is different and we will never achieve what someone else has achieved with your body.

I want to encourage all the sexes and genders out there to love your body, I want them to know that the media has lied to them about what real bodies look like and it is not how we simply look.

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ADVICE COLUMN: ASK ASHLEY ASHLEY SUTTON

Hello Ashley I would love advice on this issue I am having at the moment. I am a 15 - year old girl and all my friends are very into fashion, fitness, and celebrities. I have been feeling really down about my body image recently and my self-esteem has taken a knock. I hate the way my body looks and I hate that I cannot look like the models in the media even though I have tried dieting. Do you have any tips on body positivity for me, my friends, and my brother? What can we do to stop body shaming?

Many thanks, Kate

Hi there Kate Thanks for your question! Body positivity is a journey but definitely one worth traveling on. It is so difficult to know how and where to start with body positivity because the media has twisted the truth of what a normal body looks like. The truth is that there is no such thing as a “normal” body and an “abnormal” body. Bodies come in a variety of shapes and sizes and they are all perfect because everyone is different, however, this is not what the media portrays. The media has tried to normalise one ideal body type and this is why girls and boys of all ages think something is wrong with their bodies. So here are my top tips:

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1. Do not compare yourself to others.

This can be quite hard but you must remember that everyone is different and that everyone goes through different circumstances in life. We all have our own struggles. This is key to accepting yourself and moving towards body positivity and body acceptance. Next time you compare yourself to a pretty girl at school (let’s say that you like her hair), make sure you don’t criticise your own hair. Instead, find something you like about yourself too. It can even be the smallest thing about yourself such as that you are a kind person or that you like your hands, this makes you appreciate yourself.

2. Accept your body as it is.

Your body can do amazing things; the fact that you are alive right now is incredible. When we accept who we are and accept that we will never look like that ‘model’ or person, we take a big step towards body positivity and body love.

3. Educate yourself and others whilst surrounding yourself with body positive things and people.

Do some research about the process of a model getting into a magazine. He or she goes through a lot of editing, once we understand this we can stop thinking about how that person in the media has a ‘normal’ body or body ‘goals’ because it is fake. Be sure to tell your friends about this. You and your friends can start talking about how to surround yourself with people and things that are body positive.

4. Lastly, take care of your body.

It can be hard in this era to take care of your body when many people, especially young teens, have a goal in life to look a certain way. Take care of yourself both mentally and physically. Give yourself a welldeserved break when you need it; eat nutritious foods, get enough sleep and exercise at least once a week. If you think you might have a problem such as an eating disorder or depression, seek help by talking to a trusted adult or calling a helpline.

Much love, Ashley xxx

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BOOK REVIEW OF CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE'S PURPLE HIBISCUS

ASHLEY SUTTON Purple Hibiscus written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is about a 15-year old, Nigerian girl named Kambili. It is real life fiction and is a bildungsroman novel. This novel delves into traditions, religion, identity, colonialism, colonial consciousness and domestic violence. It has a strong focus on the danger of a single story and the dangers of having a single perspective about a warped version of religion and justifying one's actions via dubious ways.

The novel begins with a climax, when Kambili’s father, Eugene throws a missile at his son, Jaja after he disobeys him when he misses Church.

Immediately in this scene we find out that Eugene is a dictator of his household and is violent towards his family, leading to the eventual falling apart of their family.

The main part of this novel takes place when Kambili and Jaja go to their Aunty Ifeoma’s house. Jaja and Kambili’s whole perspective changes and they learn that the life they are living with their father is not right.

Kambili experiences a different

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version of faith and family life. A big topic is when Kambili comes of age as she creates and forms her own identity, opinions and finds her own voice.

The single dangerous story is that not all good people do good things and vice versa. Eugene seems to be a good person as he donates to charity and is portrayed as a good person but he does bad things that are kept a secret. The other single dangerous story is Kambili and Jaja story who believed their whole childhood that abuse from Eugene normal and acceptable which in the end of the novel they learn to be untrue.

This book was excellent and I would definitely recommend this novel to all young adults and teenagers as it opens people's minds and breaks stereotypes. There are many climaxes and plot twists in this book which keep you on your toes as you get to know Kambili and you want the best for her.

I would rate this book 8 stars out of 10.

The answer is that one of the two people was the father and the other was the mother. It is an interesting question because our gender stereotypes at first make us assume that all plumbers and all electricians are male. The principle of the equality of women and men may have assisted your respondents in correctly answering that question.

2 nuts taken away: one strawberry taken away on the right side; one strawberry taken away on left side; one strawberry placed on the plate; spoon removed; the cup handle has been moved.

SPOT 6 DIFFERENCES A plumber and an electrician were waiting in line for the International Contractors Convention. One of them was the father of the other's son. How was this possible?  

RIDDLE TIME

SOCIETY NEEDS A CHANGE DYLAN VAN HEERDEN

Being a single man compared to being a single woman is much easier as things tend to be cheaper and, on average, men are being paid more for the same job. The pay ratio of men to women in South Africa is enormously skewed towards men due to the fact that we are still a third world country where the majority of the women are still cooking and cleaning.

Woman in South Africa earn, on average, 15-17% less than males. So in order for a woman to earn the same as a man, they would have to work two months more than men per year in order to make the same amount of money.

It also does not help that many women have not had the opportunity to study. In the past, families used to only send the men on to complete their tertiary studies, but now more and more households are also sending women to pursue higher levels of education. It is good that we are progressing towards a more equal society, but a massive problem still exists.

Companies tend to charge more for products that are designed for

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women compared to the same products for men. Most of these products are designed for the body.

Examples include deodorant, makeup and body wash. Companies believe that women have this generalised idea that they have to be beautiful to be accepted and respected. To them this justifies charging more for the femalebranded products, thus increasing the prices.

The ‘male’ stereotype is that men do not care what products they use. It is assumed that they do the bare minimum to look neat and tidy, therefore men's products are cheaper compared to the ‘female’ products. Companies are taking advantage of this. They are charging women more for products that are identical to the ‘male’ products. This is immoral and needs to change.

The only way companies are going to stop charging more for products designed for woman is if people start refusing to buy these specific products or the government steps in and stops companies from taking advantage of women who do not even know that they are being taken advantaged of.

WONDER WOMAN FILM REVIEW DYLAN VAN HEERDEN Wonder Woman is an action movie that was released on the 15th of May 2017. Wonder Woman is the first superhero movie of 2017 where the lead character a female. It is based on the comic book series “Wonder Woman”, by William Moulton Marston. The lead actress, named Gal Gadot, is from Israel.

Wonder Woman raises a lot of points on what it meant to be a woman during World War 1.

The movie is based on original story of Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman is raised on an Island full of warrior women who are courageous and full of bravery but they have never seen the world beyond the island. She makes her way to London where she finds out that there are gender stereotypes as she is expected to wear a skirt and “look pretty”. The movie shows you how much worse the gender stereotypes were back then compared to how they are today. It shows how much we have progressed in that sense as men are not seen as the only bread winners and women do not have to be a stay at home mothers.

Their reason for being in England

is to let the British Army commanders know that the enemy had a powerful weapon. Wonder Woman takes charge, barging right into the commander's meeting to let them know of this terrible weapon.

To her dismay, none of the high commanding officials would listen to her as they believed that she had nothing important to say as she was just a woman. Men were seen to be the smart, strong, and overall leaders of the world while women were considered second best.

Even though the movie is meant to show equality between men and women,the movie fails to show any other women,besides Wonder Woman, that show any bravery and strength.There is nothing to prove that the stereotypes are not true and woman can be considered brave, strong and equal to men.

Overall the movie was very interesting and fun to watch. I would recommend this movie to anyone above the age of twelve.

Considering the above critique I would give the movie an 8/10 as it always had my attention with its thrilling story.

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PURPLE HIBISCUS REVIEW DYLAN VAN HEERDEN Purple Hibiscus is a popular novel written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The book is about a young girl named Kambili who is being brought up by a very strict Catholic father Eugene,who enforces his own beliefs on his family. The book follows Kambili as she starts to learn to express herself and understand that there is more to her life than what her father has to say.

The book has a strong element of feminism as it describes the struggles of a woman in an abusive patriarchal marriage. This novel promotes women to speak for themselves by showing the two styles of living, as shown

by Aunt Ifeoma where anyone can speak and the family is portrayed as a happy and lively household. Then on the other end of the spectrum, Kambili's household, where they are abused and live in a strict silence enforced by Eugene’s rule of law.

My favourite part of the book was when Kambili stayed with her Aunt Ifeoma. Kambili goes through character development and realises that women can be happy and fulfilled with her life and be a strong individual without having to obey everything a man says. This was an important moment in the book as Kambili started to realize that her father was actually a controlling and cruel man. She saw the possibilities she could have if her father was not in her life.

I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 15 as they would also be going through some of the things Kambili was going through in terms of starting to realize what is happening in the outside world and how their family is different, good or bad.

A POEM: UNIQUE CECILIA VAN DER WALT

this is my home not my only one but it means something very special to me i love the way the mountain greets me in the morning with its blanket of mist and trees when i lie in bed at night i can see the stars glistening the days are a bit unusual but it fills me with glee when i see the different parts of cape town and the different parts of me the dictionary tells us that unique means being unlike anything else but with 7 billion people in the world, people are having to do more to be rare Different it is something that we are told we should be we all want a unique name, unique style something to make people remember you for a while Remarkable Spectacular adding the extra to ordinary they want to stand out so their name can be recalled but is it even worth it if what they see isn't really yours what is in the mirror no longer looks familiar and if you're struggling with your identity just know that it's okay ‘cause 7 billion people can't all be the same we are all very special in each and every way and i wish that i could tell you that every single day you see you can't be Unique without 'U' and nothing should stop you from showing your true identity, style, favourite colour, smile…

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BOTSWANA OPINIONS: THE “SEX SELLS” MANIFESTO The following article was written by Saira Desai and is the second article written by a student from Maru-a-Pula School in Gaborone, Botswana.

How the media has exploited female empowerment She is sweaty, with her red-painted mouth wide open and a bottle of perfume resting between her large breasts. No, this is not a crude scene from cheap online porn, but a 2007 advert for Tom Ford’s fragrance for men.

Before being banned, this advertisement, along with an even more vulgar one of a naked woman lying with the bottle now placed between her legs, appeared on the pages of elite magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair to promote the perfume. Though extreme, its portrayal of women being used as sexual objects is just one of many.

Today, it has become nearly impossible to casually flip through a magazine without being accosted with images of women dressed scantily to promote some clothing line, designer handbags, new food or weight loss. In addition to it being ironic that these women are basically naked to advertise clothing, these adverts portray the mindset of the media. It shows that the media has developed a way of representing women as only sexy or, at the very least, a socially accepted degree of beautiful.

This has spread from underwear adverts to all brands advertising female clothing or lifestyle products. An example of this is an advertisement in 2013 American Apparel which portrays a woman posing on an unmade bed with her legs in the

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air wearing a sweater and nothing else.

Here, a seemingly innocent item of clothing has been twisted to make it look “hotter” and “sexier”.

The most frequently used counterargument against the media portraying females in a way that is too sexual is that adverts such as these are expressions of the female body or depictions of women embracing their sexuality. While I, of course, believe that women should be able to wear whatever they want to, the media does not, despite their claims. Furthermore, these conventions certainly do not apply to men. While the cover of magazines such as Men’s Health do display young and attractive shirtless men with six-packs and muscles, this is not true for every advert or magazine cover that features a man. For example, David Beckham appears entirely clothed on the covers of Maxwell, Harper’s Bazaar, Time, Vogue, Elle and more than twelve different GQs. Victoria Beckham, David Beckham’s wife, however, is almost always wearing tight clothing or posing in a seductive manner. One cover for Elle goes so far as to have her lying on a sofa wearing lingerie while eating a tray of desserts. This makes it quite evident that men and women are not given the same level of respect preference in the media.

What is perhaps more frightening, particularly for our generation, is the increasing sexualization of teenage girls. A frightening example of this is a Marc Jacobs advertisement from 2011, for the perfume Oh, Lola!. Not only does the name of this perfume have eerily similarities to the novel Lolita, a book which centers on a man infatuated with his twelve-year-old daughter, the advert showed the then-teenage Dakota Fanning wearing a sheer dress with a bottle of the perfume between her legs.

Adverts are now showing young girls in sexual positions and this not only maintains the view that women can only be objects for sex, but it gives other young girls the idea that this is what they should aspire for. I know that personally I once had the misconception that being a “proper” and “sexy” woman could only entail revealing clothing, copious amounts of makeup and six-inch heels. This is not surprising given the number of magazine covers and adverts that had engrained this very idea in me throughout my life.

Women who have tried to break away from normal media depictions have faced sexist and rude comments rather than commendation for promoting the idea that women can be independent and ambitious. Hillary Clinton, the former US Secretary of State, has appeared on the cover of countless magazines throughout her political career and time as America’s First Lady.

However, these covers, which usually show her dressed in suits, have been called “unwomanly” and she herself has been declared a “feminazi” both for her appearance and her desire to continue working instead of becoming a housewife.

Moreover, women are frequently shown to be powerless and submissive in the media which only serves to suggest that women are at the mercy of men. This not only encourages the belief that men are “better” than women, but it also conveys the idea that males have the right to control or dominate women. A 2007 Dolce & Gabbana advert, which showed a woman being held down by a shirtless man while three other men watched, made this degrading notion apparent and was eventually banned for promoting rape culture. While it is satisfying to know that it was quickly removed from the market, the very fact that a group of marketing executives sat down and agreed to such an advert is appalling and shows that the views of women in the media has not really changed in the last fifty years. This absence of progress is even more pathetic when we look back at the feminist movement of the 60’s and 70’s, where a woman’s right to embrace her sexuality was painstakingly fought for by hundreds of thousands of women.

For a boardroom full of men to twist this achievement in order to make money and reassert their power is truly disgusting.

Overall, the crude Tom Ford advert, which was most likely intended to entice men to buy the perfume, stands as a symbol for how the media sees women as being there simply to show off their bodies and pose for the camera with alluring doe eyes. This is an issue which is so ingrained in this business that it will take many decades to fully eradicate. While I am not calling for women around the world to boycott magazines and brands which show women as sexual objects, it is essential for the teenagers and adults alike to strive for change and not support this gender inequality.

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INTERVIEW WITH MARCIEL HOPKINS CECILIA VAN DER WALT Marciel Hopkins was a Miss South Africa finalist in 2016 and is currently an international model, motivational speaker, life coach, and has an Honours in Psychology.

@marcielhopkins How do you think the media expects women to be?

Thin, petite and well behaved.

How do you think the media expects men to be?

Strong, muscular and tall.

Do you think that it affects the way we think?

Absolutely! The media and our society have created certain images that portray the “ideal male or female,” and we are brainwashed to believe that we need to live up to these unrealistic ideals. I mean in what world do women not have cellulite or stretch marks? The images we see in magazines and on billboards are airbrushed to perfection and we sadly believe that we need to be “perfect” like that as well.

Do you think that it affects the way we see others?

Ye s , w e e x p e c t o f m o d e l s a n d T V personalities to be perfect and flawless, even though they are only human as well.

We are very critical about the way that we look at each other and we unfortunately judge a book by its cover before we really get to read it for its true content.

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Do you think that the media encourages or discourages gender stereotypes?

I can’t generalise this answer, because there are certain media publications that are fighting hard to change gender stereotypes, but we still have a long way to go before we will completely neutralise gender roles.

One could say that there is a certain amount of pressure put on women by the media, do you think the same goes for men?

Absolutely, if not more. Men are expected to be tough, successful and hard working.

There’s a big need for platforms where men can express their feelings around the unrealistic expectations and pressure society puts on them.

Would you say that this pressure and the constructed images/stereotypes contribute to gender inequality?

Yes, women are still not earning as much as men are. There is still a massive power imbalance between men and women.

How do you feel about that constructed image?

I feel that it is unfair and it should be challenged to change in every possible way.

Do you think the media/social media affects our relationships with others?

Yes, it can very easily create a false idea or sense of being connected. We replace real life relationships with likes and comments.

Social media is not all bad in the sense that it creates a platform for people so stay in contact, but it can never replace a real life relationship.

Do you think the media/social media affects our relationships with ourselves?

Yes, because we are constantly comparing ourselves to the images we see on social media, which will never be a representation of real life.

Do you think that it affects people's self confidence and self-acceptance?

Yes, because there will always be someone prettier, smarter and more successful than you. So if you are constantly comparing yourself to others, it will affect your self confidence in a negative way.

Would you say that the media makes people want to change their bodies in order to gain approval?

Yes, we always feel the pressure or need to fit into the latest body trend, whether it is to be stick skinny or to have a Kardashian booty.

How do you think these standards were set? Who do you think set and upheld them?

The irony is the fact that the standards never stay the same.

Body trends “We always feel constantly change as if we the pressure or are cookie need to fit into the cutters who can latest body trend” shape our bodies

differently every few years. So the body trend of a season is set by the celebrities that are the most influential at that time as well as the fashion industry. At the moment it seems as if the Kardashians are the trendsetters.

How have you been influencing people?

I hope to influence people to be body positive and accept their bodies, no matter their shape or size. I always say: Strive towards being the healthiest and happiest version of yourself. Your self worth and value as a person is not determined by your weight or your jean size.

What are you trying to say through your social media accounts?

You are good enough, no matter your shape or size.

Do you wish to change the image the media has created? What is your goal?

If the media makes you feel unworthy because you are not a size 8 or you don’t have a Kardashian booty, then yes, I would love to change that image for you. My goal is to normalise body diversity in the media and fashion industry.

What made you embrace your body? How do you embrace your body?

I embraced my body the moment I realised I can’t make my own flesh an

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enemy for the rest of my life. I will not fight a daily battle with food or my body, it’s just not worth it. I make a daily, deliberate choice to embrace my body and accept myself, even though some days are more difficult than others.

Have you enjoyed your experiences like the one you recently had in Europe and being a finalist for Miss South Africa 2016?

Yes, I believe that life experience that challenges you is the most meaningful. It might not feel like the best moments of your life while you are in that moment, but if you look back at them, they are extremely empowering.

How did it feel to lose 14kg in 4 months?

What made you lose the weight and would you do it again?

I trained 2 to 3 hours a day and I made drastic lifestyle changes to lose 14kg in 4 months. I lost the weight because I wanted to enter Miss South Africa and qualify as a finalist. I knew that the competition had certain “body requirements” and that I would have to be smaller to be chosen as a finalist. No, I won’t put myself through the whole process again.

Do you still watch your weight? Do you find yourself being more comfortable when you weigh a certain amount?

No, I never weigh myself, but I focus on being the healthiest and happiest version of myself. I am happy when I feel strong and healthy in my own body.

Are you happy with your body? Do you think that others should be happy with their bodies?

Yes, I am happy in my own skin, even though some days are more challenging than others. Yes, I would encourage every individual to love and accept the body they were born in. Make your body you best friend and you’ll have a partner for life.

Do you think that people should exercise and diet/eat healthy?

Every individual should find a lifestyle

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that works for them. Healthy looks different on every body.

Do you think people can be fit, healthy and happy without being skinny?

Absolutely! Healthy looks different on every body.

How do you feel about being called a plus size/curve model?

It’s not a term I will use to define myself, but it’s the way I am branded by the industry I work in. You can’t become a hero without engaging in the battle. You have to work in and understand an industry before you can make any changes. Change happens from within.

Why do you think curve models have only started being accepted and shown recently?

We are an informed and well educated society. We are not willing to be brainwashed anymore. We demand to see more realistic body images of women AND men. All bodies deserve representation.

Do you think that there is a greater need and respect for diversity in the last few years?

Yes, there is a massive out cry for more body diversity in the world. We want to see realistic body images that are relatable and airbrush free.

“Healthy looks different on every body” Would you say that recently gender stereotypes have been challenged more in the media?

Yes, the feminist movement is stronger than ever.

There have been some negative comments saying that you are allowing or encouraging people to become unhealthy and overweight, what is your response to them?

They are clearly not reading my captions properly. I always say: Strive towards being the healthiest and happiest version of yourself.

IT’S A GIRL GUY THING CECILIA VAN DER WALT From the day we are all born we are gently placed in a little box that outlines how each of us are expected to act, dress, look, and even feel. The people that place us in these boxes are not doing it to harm us, they are doing it because it is what they have been taught to do.

It is now completely normal, if not expected, that a baby girl’s room is painted pink even before she is born. At the baby shower, the expectant mother will be gifted pink clothes and soft toys from her closest friends and family. When the little girl gets older she will be given plastic high heels to dance around in and a kitchen set to play with. We might not see the harm when we buy her new plastic pots, but this affects what she believes is accepted in terms of gender roles and occupations. It makes her believe that she should become a stay at home mother or is expected to always make food for her family.

The same thing happens with boys. Blue is painted across their bedroom walls, and they are expected to play with toy trucks, tools, and rugby balls. But what happens if they do not enjoy playing with lego or playing ball games?

While it may not seem like it, this idea uses historic stereotypes in order to assume an individual’s dreams, personality, what they enjoy and what bores them purely based on that individual’s sex. This stereotypical prediction rarely ever exists in reality because everyone has a mixture of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ qualities.

However, toy companies are still using these ideas to represent products ‘for boys’ and ‘for girls’ in the media.

While some people argue that the toys are only designated to a specific sex because of what children naturally like to play with, a study conducted by Arizona State University and New York University found that this was not necessarily the case. Out of about 100 two-year-olds, when a randomly selected boy got a choice of toys, one in every three times he would play more with a ‘girl toy’ than a randomly selected girl would and vice versa for toys considered to be ‘boy toys’.

If this is true, then why are we encouraging gender stereotypes in the next generation? We are not only influencing their experiences in the playroom, but also later on in life when what they have learnt results in gender inequality. Clinical research has proven t h a t g e n d e r s p e c i fi c t o y s p l a y a pronounced role in socialisation as well as stereotypical sex roles. Instead we should encourage children to play with a wide variety of toys regardless of their sex. Not only will this enrich their imaginations, which is a very significant part of childhood development, it will also help them feel more comfortable and accepted being themselves.

We should all be allowed to pursue our dreams regardless of our sex, so let us all stop teaching children what is accepted based on their sex.

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PURPLE HIBISCUS: A PAGE TURNER! CECILIA VAN DER WALT

Purple Hibiscus is a bildungsroman, written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, about a young girl named Kambili. It tells the story of her life in Nigeria before and after Palm Sunday. Throughout the book, we get to know more about Kambili and discover what changed on that specific Sunday.

Before Palm Sunday Kambili is quiet, shy and only does as she is told. We find out that she can not even remember what her laugh sounds like and that she often has moments where she blames herself for not saying what someone else had just said. However, as the book progresses we see her blossom into a more independent young lady that starts enjoying her life a great deal more.

This book explores many universal issues, which help it to be understood world wide. Throughout the book, there is a theme of domestic violence as well as a struggle to mix different cultures and

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beliefs. Adichie is able to capture what many people living in postcolonial Nigeria cannot fully express in a beautiful way. The novel explores how, even within a family, there can be a clash of beliefs in such a way that it affects who they are allowed to spend time with and how they are required to act. We see that Kambili is taught about the Catholic religion that was brought to Africa, but she knows very little about her native Igbo culture. She is often left feeling ashamed because of how different her life is compared to her cousins’ lives.

Kambili must learn to overcome these issues and adapt to her circumstances. She can be described as a purple hibiscus: a blossoming flower made of a fusion of flowers, in a way that makes her extremely unique.

I highly recommend reading Purple Hibiscus, especially for those that want a glimpse at how Kambili grows up and blooms.

BIBLIOGRAPHY WE WOULD LIKE TO SPECIALLY THANK SAXON-LEE FOWLER FOR ALLOWING US TO USE HIS PHOTOS FOR THE OPINION PIECE “LONG HAIR FOR BOYS” WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU MARCIEL HOPKINS FOR ALLOWING US TO INTERVIEW HER AND USE HER PHOTOGRAPHS. Mia Laubenheimer Let’s Talk About The “F” Word Fowler, F., Fowler, H. and Sykes, J. (1978). The Pocket Oxford Dictionary Of Current English. 6th ed. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Clarendon Press, p.314.

Sun, A. (2014). Equality Is Not Enough: What the Classroom Has Taught Me About Justice - Everyday Feminism. [online] Everyday Feminism. Available at: http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/09/equality-is-not-enough/ [Accessed 12 Aug. 2017].

Carrie Hope Fletcher. (2017). As a feminist. [online] Available at: http://carriehopefletcher.com/post/118814253879/as-afeminist [Accessed 12 Aug. 2017].

Enochs, E. (2015). 7 Things Feminists Wish Non-Feminists Understood. [online] Bustle.com. Available at: https:// www.bustle.com/articles/120857-7-things-feminists-wish-non-feminists-understood [Accessed 12 Aug. 2017].

Opinion Piece: Long Hair For Boys HuffPost UK. (2015). Should Schools Dictate Children's Hairstyles?. [online] Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ 2015/03/24/should-schools-dictate-children-s-hairstyles_n_7316654.html [Accessed 7 Sep. 2017].

YouTube. (2017). Why Men Have Short Hair. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yKrzHAGj2c [Accessed 7 Sep. 2017].

YouTube. (2017). Why Women Have Long Hair. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1acEHz7FRM [Accessed 7 Sep. 2017].

Time.com. (2017). Now You Know: How Did Long Hair Become a Thing for Women?. [online] Available at: http://time.com/ 4348252/history-long-hair/ [Accessed 7 Sep. 2017].

Ashley Sutton Body Image In The Media Castlewoodtc.com. (2017). [online] Available at: http://www.castlewoodtc.com/body-image-and-eating-disorders/summer/p5/ [Accessed 8 Aug. 2017].

Cdn.inquisitr.com. (2017). [online] Available at: http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Website-Admits-UnRetouched-Justin-Bieber-Calvin-Klein-Pic-GIF-Was-Photoshopped-After-Lawsuit-Threat.jpg [Accessed 8 Aug. 2017].

DeseretNews.com. (2014). Extreme body image in media impacts males too. [online] Available at: http:// www.deseretnews.com/article/865603259/Body-image-in-media-impacts-males-too.html [Accessed 8 Aug. 2017].

Www1.udel.edu. (2017). [online] Available at: https://www1.udel.edu/comm245/readings/GenderedMedia.pdf [Accessed 8 Aug. 2017].

Beautyredefined.org. (2017). [online] Available at: https://beautyredefined.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Faith-HillPhotoshop.jpg [Accessed 15 Aug. 2017].

Dylan van Heerden Society Needs A Change The Conversation. (2015). Women are still paid less than men in South African companies. [online] Available at: https:// theconversation.com/women-are-still-paid-less-than-men-in-south-african-companies-45782 [Accessed 7 Sep. 2017].

Cecilia van der Walt It’s A Girl Guy Thing Daniel, S. (2012). Gender & Toys: Does It Really Matter?. [online] EverydayFamily. Available at: https:// www.everydayfamily.com/gender-toys-does-it-really-matter/ [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017].

Daniel, S. (2012). Gender & Toys: Does It Really Matter?. [online] EverydayFamily. Available at: https:// www.everydayfamily.com/gender-toys-does-it-really-matter/?pg=2&internallink=gender-toys-does-it-really-matter#post-795 [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017].

Professor Cordelia FineSchool of Historical and Philosophical Studies, U. and Fine, P. (2016). Toys for girls and boys show gender stereotypes at play. [online] Pursuit. Available at: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/toys-for-girls-and-boys-showgender-stereotypes-at-play [Accessed 27 Aug. 2017].

Robb, A. (2015). How gender-specific toys can negatively impact a child’s development. [online] Women in the World in Association with The New York Times - WITW. Available at: http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/08/12/howgender-specific-toys-can-negatively-impact-a-childs-development/?mcubz=1 [Accessed 25 Aug. 2017].

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