Spectrum

SPECTRUM THE HIJAB'S MANY MEANINGS Are we doing the Islam discussion properly?

FEMINISM – THE NEW F-WORD A good cause with a bad reputation

STEREOTYPES AND GENDER EXPRESSION The link between preconceptions and the way we choose to dress

GENDER PAY-GAPS IN SPORT Are they justified?

KIDS NEED DADS TOO The harsh reality of bias in custody battles

Contents: Opinion Pieces CASUAL ABUSE pg. 1 LOVE SHOULDN'T HURT pg. 2

Interviews ADRIAN ADO pg. 3 PROF. JORDAN B. PETERSON pg. 5

Articles FEMINISM – THE NEW 'F-WORD' pg. 6 THE SOCIETAL STITCH BETWEEN FASHION AND HOMOPHOBIA pg. 8 EQUAL PAY IN SPORTS pg. 10 THE CONFUSING SYMBOLISM OF THE HIJAB pg. 12 KIDS NEED DADS, TOO pg. 14 THE MALE FEMINIST pg. 15

Reviews

ALIEN pg. 17 AUTHORS' NOTES ON PURPLE HIBISCUS pg. 19

CARRIE FISHER pg. 22

Resources

REFERENCE LIST pg. 23

SPECTRUM | CONTENTS

Obituary

CASUAL ABUSE

by Sinead Hook Equality between the sexes is increasing more and more by the day. Violence against women is becoming increasingly taboo and long-held traditions of marital abuse are fought against on a daily basis.

Or so it seems.

It is true that violence against women often causes disgust amongst most, however, it seems that violence against men does not get quite the same reaction. Now I am not saying that people are chanting that beating men is completely acceptable, but social media seems to indicate that violence against men is not as wrong as it is the other way around.

"If you can't handle a feisty woman throwing glassware at your head without hitting her maybe you aren't the man you think you are," - Billionaire B @FLOCKAfierce

While scrolling through Instagram, I have often seen posts of men that have been physically abused by their partner with captions like: “When they don’t like it when you end things”, or “When she takes the breakup hard.” These pictures are of real men that have been battered, scratched, and bruised.

One would never see these types of posts from women who have been abused, and the responses would not be as casual as “me too bro”.

Why does this double standard exist? Well, it seems that if society does not deem you as ‘weak’, then you should take the abuse like a man. It is disgusting that these “psycho girlfriends” as they are called, have become a fairly casual occurrence to joke or post memes about. I have seen posts of girls saying that they have gotten their nails done to better scratch their boyfriend when he ‘likes’ another girl’s picture.

Abuse is never okay.

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The intentions behind the posts may not be to cause harm, but men being abused should never be made to feel like what is happening to them is okay.

LOVE SHOULDN'T HURT

by Lisa Courtnadge

As unfortunate as it is, we are not where we should be regarding gender equality. The world has made good progress in the last few decades but unfortunately, not everyone shares the same vision. Domestic violence has not been outlawed in about twenty countries; including Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, and Iran. In other words, some people still do not see the problem with beating their partner.

Not only is this crime legal and tolerated, but it is even expected in certain countries. It is seen as a way to “punish” women. This should never be the norm, and the fact that it is will never cease to disgust me. When someone gets treated in this kind of way, it strips them of their dignity. Not only does it violate their right to security of person, but also can affect their self-esteem and self-worth: The after effects are endless.

Refusing to acknowledge that domestic violence is wrong means that younger generations will most likely suffer the same fate. It will continue to be a part of life, and girls will grow up accepting this abuse because they know no better. It is what they have grown up with; what they have witnessed: It is all they know.

About half of all women who were victims of homicide in 2012 were killed by their partners or family members. In the countries that have available data, it is estimated that about 40% of women who were abused asked for help of any kind.

Only about 10% of these women went to the police, showing the low confidence levels they have in the people who are meant to protect them. So for anyone who says that we do not need feminism, I ask you to open your eyes a little wider.

It brings hope to see the many organisations and programs designed to stop and prevent violence. There are various groups all over the world; such as the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence, Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence, Battered Women’s Justice Project, Futures Without Violence, and hundreds more. They all aim to raise awareness and educate people on their rights.

Violence should never be accepted under any circumstances.

Unfortunately, sometimes the value of a human’s safety and well-being is not always recognised or acknowledged by others. And that is the root of the problem: A lack of humanity, decency, and respect.

As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie once said: “Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture.”

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Domestic violence affects women more than men, although there are many cases of men being abused too. Worldwide, about 1 in 3 women have experienced either physical and/or violence committed

by their sexual partner. This is 35% of all women. Physical and sexual abuse doubles the chances of abortion, depression, and in some countries, the chances of catching HIV.

GENDER REPRESENTATION IN SWEDEN An interview with Adrian Aho

by Lisa Courtnadge LISA: Are there any restrictions for the different

different for girls versus guys. However, some schools some may not. Some people think that the school uniforms in certain schools may be demeaning to girls as they have to wear skirts.

Another point is that the skirts are really short and a lot of the girls feel uncomfortable wearing them. However, it's illegal in Sweden to force any student to wear a special kind of uniform and schools that have uniforms are frowned upon by the government.

Photo Credit: Jordan B. Peterson genders in schools? For example, is everyone allowed may be for having uniforms and URL: https://i1.wp.com/jordanbpeterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/jordan-smaller-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683

to choose the same subjects or do the same sports, regardless of their sex?

ADRIAN: In the normal Swedish public schools everyone is allowed to take any class they want to, but if you don't have the qualifications, meaning not having as good grades as you need, then it will not be possible for you to take that class.

LISA: Are there any gender-specific dressing regulations in place at your school? Are males allowed long hair/earrings?

ADRIAN: In my school at least, everyone is allowed to dress as they wish. Having long hair and earrings as a guy is totally allowed. But, in some privates schools, students have to wear school uniforms which are

LISA: Is it seen as socially acceptable for young boys to play with dolls and young girls to play with footballs?

ADRIAN: In the normal Swedish home it's acceptable, but in some families with a foreign background they aren't as accepting towards the idea of allowing their kid to play with dolls if the kid is a boy, although they don't usually say anything when girls play football; unless they are really traditional.

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Photo Credit: Jordan B. Peterson URL: https://i1.wp.com/jordanbpeterson.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/jordan-smaller-1024x683.jpg?resize=1024%2C683

Above: Mora, Sweden.

LISA: What is your social group’s stance on transgenders and similar LGBTQ people?

ADRIAN: I guess that my social group is not really so pro transgender, maybe because they usually prioritise science and understand that feelings are just chemical reactions in the brain. If you think that you're like an Apollo gender you are most likely just mentally ill and need to be treated. But, if there's any new scientific evidence that can back that there are around 70 different genders, I will change my mind.

LISA: What are your parents’ opinions on Sweden’s laws for maternity and paternity leave that have been introduced in the past decade? Do they think it is necessary?

LISA: Are domestic abuse, sexual harassment, and rape often discussed in schools and on the news?

LISA: Are people accepting of boys dressing ‘feminine’ and girls dressing ‘masculine?’

ADRIAN: I think that they are accepting, at least in my school, but they still talk behind their backs.

LISA: Do most of your peers from school consider themselves a feminist?

ADRIAN: I would say that almost none of my guy friends would identify themselves as one, but almost every girl would. I do consider myself a feminist, but I don't go out in public saying it because between most guys it's sort of girly to call yourself a feminist. Besides, almost all girls and boys who hear a guy calling themselves a feminist will immediately think that they are calling themselves that to impress the ladies.

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ADRIAN: I think having equal maternity and paternity leave is really important for the development of the child, and it also breaks down the old gender norms where women were most likely to stay home and take care of the child. This will make it more equal at the workplace, where women don't have to stay home and fall behind on their career goals.

ADRIAN: I know that rape and sexual harassment is usually spoken about on the news, mostly in the summer when a lot of rape accusations are filed. But I don't hear a lot of it in school at all, which makes me kind of sad that we don't discuss it because I think being afraid of being raped is like the corset of the 1800s. So to clarify what I'm trying to say is, if there is a bit less rape, women won't be as afraid go out at night or as afraid in general.

Above: Professor Jordan B. Peterson.

PROFESSOR JORDAN B. PETERSON A fictional interview conducted by Stephan Cilliers STEPHAN: Good day Professor Peterson, thank you for allowing Spectrum Magazine to conduct this interview.

PETERSON: Hi Stephan, thank you for having me.

STEPHAN: Let us get right into the questions. Tell us a bit about what you do.

PETERSON: I am a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto where I teach three classes: namely “Personality and its Transformations”, “SelfDeception” and “Maps of Meaning”. I also have a personal YouTube channel with which I deliver lectures about opinionated topics such as political correctness.

STEPHAN: Recently Bill C-16 was passed in Canada. What is your take on the amendments to the human rights bill to enforce calling someone by their preferred gender pronouns?

PETERSON: Just to be clear. I do not have a problem with using alternate pronouns. The problem lies in the legislation of the words that I am required to utter. This is less of a protection of human rights than it is an infringement of freedom of speech.

STEPHAN: Thank you for your time and insight!

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STEPHAN: Your YouTube account was suspended recently… Can you give us some insight as to why/how this happened?

PETERSON: It happened without notice.

Regardless of whether it was an administrative error or not, whatever political ideology Google is pushing is very likely to be enforced in their code to filter our communications, which presents a very scary situation considering Google is more powerful most governments. They are building an unconscious mind on the internet without us even realising.

FEMINISM – THE NEW 'F-WORD'

by Louis Bosch Feminism today is both the strongest and the weakest it has been in decades: Gender roles are challenged in the media far more often and women are more able to pursue empowerment.

However, at the same time,

"If feminism isn't about freedom, then it's just a lobby group for pet grievances and low-rent political pointscoring."

-Janet Albrechtsen

feminism is experiencing a growing crisis.

In earlier years feminism was largely seen as a liberating movement, but today even calling yourself a feminist often results in people looking at you strangely and asking something along the lines of; “but why, do you hate men?”, or “you’re not one of those feminists are you?”.

But what exactly has caused this twist in the public image of the feminist movement?

The reputation of modern feminism is not one of equality, but rather one of hatred and disdain towards men. Because of the more subtle nature of feminist issues today many people don’t take their struggle seriously and view it

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Feminism in the past has had clear and defined goals. It concerned itself with problems that were obvious and prevalent in society; such as voting and property rights, as well as bringing to light things like marital rape and domestic violence against women. In contrast to the big inequalities previous waves dealt with; modern feminism deals with more subtle, yet still relevant issues. Modern-day feminism concerns itself mostly with the micropolitics of gender; such as its portrayal in the media and societal stereotypes.

This has led them to a disdain for the male sex, who they see as an oppressor in all situations. This is certainly a small fringe group of feminism, yet the vocality of their movement has led to people associating this with feminism as a whole; and who would want to be associated with something like that?

However, the blame can also be partially placed on the feminist movement itself. Because of the subtle nature of the issues, it is more difficult to find an answer to them. This has caused divides within the movement itself, which has led to the formation of extremist fringe groups who see sexism and discrimination where there is seemingly none to be found.

The reputation of, and divide within feminism is certainly unfortunate as at its core feminism is, by definition, the belief that women and men deserve equal rights and opportunities. It is important for us to remember what feminism truly is and to see why it is still relevant and necessary.

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as a way to “get back” at men, the argument is that the previous waves of feminism had already brought equal rights to women and that there is therefore no more reasons for feminists to fight for equality. The negative reputation of modern feminism is therefore partially routed in the ignorant dismissal of modern feminist struggles.

THE SOCIETAL STITCH BETWEEN FASHION AND HOMOPHOBIA

by Sinead Hook

Androgynous fashion is taking the runway by storm and is. considered the new ‘in thing’ in terms of magazines and high-end fashion. The reaction to famous models and designers sporting this look may be a flood of positive feedback, but unfortunately, this often does not extend to the streets of the everyday person. In fact, people, especially men, who choose to dress in a way that is considered by many to be “not of their gender”, are met with slanderous comments. Sometimes, they are met with violence.

At least twenty-one murders of transgender persons have been recorded In America alone since the beginning of 2017.

Above: Live Journal Singles for Korean Boy Band "Beyond the Scenes" .

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These name-callers regularly use words like “faggot”, and “homo” when bullying men who wear apparel such as skirts. This is clearly homophobic behaviour; but what is the link between homosexuality and genderless fashion, previously known as cross-dressing?

This is largely due to the portrayal of gay characters in movies and television. Throughout television history, homosexual men have been predominantly portrayed as very feminine and flamboyant whereas lesbians are masculine and ‘butch’.

According to a thesis written by Mabokela Sedibu Evelyn at the University of Limpopo, “A gay equality charity criticized the BBC for its lack of a realistic portrayal of gays on television. It stated that throughout the 39 hours of television examined on BBC One, only about 44 seconds showed a positive and realistic portrayal of gays and lesbians.”

When a gay male character is portrayed as masculine, they are usually looking for love with a man with feminine or flamboyant qualities.

This creates a stigma that a man dressing in traditionally feminine clothing is seen as homosexual. This would not seem like such a bad thing, but it has made men afraid of wearing what they wish to wear, out of fear of homophobic bigots. It also makes men afraid of expanding their fashion boundaries because of a still fairly homophobic society that believes that being gay jeopardises their masculinity.

In an interview with i-D, a Japanese student who considers his fashion to be genderless, stated: “When I wear tight trousers, they [classmates] sometimes call me ‘faggot’ or they say ‘isn’t he gross?’ as I walk by.”

Above: David Bowie - a pioneer of genderless clothing.

The portrayal of gay characters in television and movies as well as a long-held legal stigma, with ‘cross-dressing’ only becoming legal in New York in 2011, has led to negative reactions towards those who wish to express themselves beyond gender boundaries.

However, depictions of homosexuals in television seem to be moving towards portrayals of more human individuals and not only a stereotypical shell whose character contains nothing but flamboyance and negative aspects. Examples of this are the relationship between characters Connor and Oliver in How to Get Away With Murder and bisexual character Clarke in The 100.

This brings hope: Hope that in the future, androgynous fashion will not only take the runway by storm, but also make its way into the acceptable fashions of the average joe. Hope that society will embrace it and leave their umbrella at home.

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"The problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.

They make one story become the only story."

-Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie

EQUAL PAY IN SPORTS

by Stephan Cilliers After winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the German men’s team was awarded a whopping $35 million in prize money. In comparison: after winning the 2015 Women’s FIFA World Cup, the USA women’s team was awarded a meager $2 million. Tennis associations have done a brilliant job narrowing the gap with Wimbledon offering equal prize money for both men’s and women’s singles.

This leaves a question begging for an answer: Why do men earn more than women in most popular sports?

Even with a large following, a sport’s viewership is spread across a very small amount of high-caliber leagues and matches. The majority of people who watch a sports game will mostly be interested in seeing the best of the best compete. This is evident in matches between less successful teams even in the popular leagues in most sports e.g. a match between the two worst teams in the English Premier League will attract far fewer viewers than a match between the two best teams.

One user commented on an article by The Atlantic titled ‘Women's Soccer Is a Feminist Issue’ (Bodenner, 2015) saying:

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In order to answer this question, one must ask where the source of this money lies. The answer is advertising and sponsorships.

Athletes’ salaries are ultimately made up of ticket/merchandise sales and sponsorships (with deals worth up to £197 million (Miller and Harris, 2014)). The only reason why a company would invest that much in sponsoring a sports-team would be to gain exposure through advertising, which would ultimately benefit them by improving sales figures.

The fewer eyes on the team, the less a sponsorship of that team would be worth.

Which brings me to my next point: viewership is everything. According to World Atlas, soccer is by far the most popular sport with a global following of 4 billion people (Sawe, 2017). As one goes down the list, one would find that player salaries decrease significantly as there is less money in each respective sport due to the lack of viewership in comparison to the previous.

“Women’s sports that are identical to men’s sports—soccer and basketball, for example— will never be popular, because men are faster, stronger and more athletic. On the other hand, sports that highlight the different strengths of female athletes—tennis, gymnastics, ice skating—are popular.”

(General_Zhukov , 2015) It is important to note that the sports that this commenter suggested women are better at all individual sports. A possible cause for this could be because national teams consist of the best players within a country. If there are more players, the level of competition is higher and therefore, the odds of the national team being better than a national team who has fewer players to choose from are higher. This also applies to gender: if there are more males than females playing a certain sport, the male team is more likely to be better than the female team at the specific sport, biological differences aside. However, with individual sports, the situation is different. If someone is the best in their country at a game, they do not have to rely on worse teammates to do well internationally, so gender participation in a specific sport does not play as big of a role.

"Nobody wants to watch sport that's at such a low level they think: ‘Meh, I could do that.’"

What does this have to do with the gender pay gap in these sports?

As a Reddit comment on an article by The Economist states, “We watch sport to see the pinnacle of human endeavour. Nobody wants to watch sport that's at such a low level they think: ‘Meh, I could do that.’ “ This could explain the lack of viewership for female team sports since it is evident that they do not compete on the same level as men in the most popular team sports worldwide.

Women’s sports teams have proven not to fare very well against even junior male teams and it is not very hard to find evidence. Such as Australia’s national women’s soccer team losing to a team of 15-year-old boys (Prestigiacomo, 2016), USA Women’s hockey team getting mixed results vs pre-varsity teams in pre-season scrims (Goss, 2014), USA women's soccer team losing vs the under 17 male soccer team (BigSoccer Forum, 2005), Sweden women's soccer team losing vs a junior Stockholm football club (Thelocal.se, 2013).

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In the end, sport is a business. If you can sell out stadiums and help companies increase sales by sponsoring you, you will be compensated accordingly. As long as there is someone better than you, you will be paid less. This applies to all teams, regardless of gender.

THE CONFUSING SYMBOLISM OF THE HIJAB

by Frank Smuts It is necessary to provide context for the image.

Between 1925 and 1979, the Shah Government of Iran implemented various progressive laws for women. These include the expanded marriage rights of women in the Family Protection Law of 1967, and a ban on wearing the hijab. The USA responded very positively to the dynasty, which started to resemble a typical Western Country.

Above: Islam women in pre-1979 Iran.

Here, using the hijab as a symbol of oppression seems appropriate, because it correlates with the destruction of human rights. However, an important detail is excluded. Women played a large role in the 1979 Islamic revolution. Many saw the Shah’s ban of the hijab as oppressive, and wore the equally modest chador cloak in protest. This reveals a different perspective.

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Often when Islamic fundamentalism is discussed in the media, the Hijab is used as a symbol of oppression. Frequently, an image pops up from pre1979 Iran, showing muslim women with fully exposed faces and legs. And jeans! This presents a different narrative to the stagnant view of Islam often adopted by the media - it seems to imply that human rights in the Middle East have progressed backwards.

However, in 1979, Iran underwent the Islamic Revolution. The Shah was overthrown in 1979 and replaced by the Islamic Republic. Many progressive laws were repealed - women were forced to wear hijabs, banned from various career options such as engineering and law, and given less marriage and divorce rights. In 2007, hundreds of Iranian women were arrested for “Bad Hijab” - exposing any body parts besides the hands and face. Iran is now ranked 139th out of 144 countries in the UN’s Global Gender Gap Index.

"To many Islamic women, the hijab is a symbol of freedom maybe not freedom of human rights, but definitely freedom of culture."

Right wing groups condemned the poster because it associates America - which traditionally prides itself on freedom - with the oppressive symbolism of the hijab. Left wing groups praised the poster because it promoted the inclusion of Islamic culture in the American identity. Are both of them justified in their stance?

Yes. Unfortunately, this disagreement on the hijab’s symbolism can lead to genuine harm. In 2014, Milo Yiannopoulos denounced activist Malala Yousafzai in an article called “Sorry to Be Rude, But Malala Yousafzai Is Becoming a Bit of a Bore”. Besides accusing her of parroting talking points as a “product of the United Nations”, he criticises her for “dressing in the garb of her oppressors”.

Above: The controversial "We the people" poster, designed by Shepard Fairey.

To many Muslim women, the hijab is a symbol of freedom - maybe not freedom with human rights, but definitely freedom of culture.

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The dichotomous symbolism of the hijab has often caused confusion for the eternally opposed left and right wing media. A good recent example is a “We the People” poster published in 2016, showing a Muslim woman wearing an American flag as a hijab.

Some background on Ms. Yousafzai: After surviving a shot to the head from a Taliban terrorist in 2012, starting the Malala fund and writing an international bestseller, she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in history in 2014, at the age of seventeen. Her main goal? Advocating for women’s education in Pakistan’s Swat Valley, where women are banned from school by the Taliban.

Denouncing an activist’s achievements in combating gender discrimination, based on her interpretation of a garment’s meaning, should not be acceptable in a debate with much more pressing issues.

KIDS NEED DADS, TOO

by Lisa Courtnadge

In 2013, 75% of suicides in the UK were committed by men. A study conducted in the US revealed that divorced men were twice as likely to commit suicide than that of married men, while there was almost no statistical difference in married and divorced women.

Across Europe, it was revealed that for every female suicide, there were four men facing the same fate.

overwhelmingly successful”. This was based on the results that 88% of fathers were granted some kind of access to their children: 10% were permitted communication via Skype or phone, 5% were limited to supervised visits, and 23% were only granted afternoons. Is this what you would consider “overwhelmingly successful?” It seems to be a system that restricts and harms a child’s relationship with their father.

Why is it that suicide rates are significantly higher in men than in women?

“Whilst it’s true that mothers were usually the primary caregiver in contact applications, this was simply a reflection of the social reality that women are more likely to take on the role after a relationship breakdown.” This is another quote from Dr. Harding. Does this mean that mothers are sometimes treated more favorably in court because of this accepted ‘social reality?’

One of the main factors is the bias against fathers in family courts. A study by the University of Warwick proved that men are not discriminated against in family courts in the UK and Wales.

The suicide rate among men has risen to the highest it’s ever been since 1981, yet it is rarely ever discussed in the media. Organisations such as ‘Fathers for Justice’ have been initiated to support and protect fathers who are at risk of losing their children. They have also organised protests to raise awareness of this silent epidemic. The aim is to destroy the common ‘deadbeat dad’ misconception, and start giving children what is best for them: Two parents who can love, care for, and support them.

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However, this does not mean that the system is flawless. The study found that in 96% of cases, it is men who go to court to request access to their children. In less than half of these cases, fathers were granted permission to have their child/children stay with them overnight; which usually meant a sleepover every other weekend.

Just under a quarter of fathers were only allowed to see their offspring in the afternoon, while the remaining quarter got very little or no time at all.

The lead researcher, Dr. Maebh Harding, said that this data concluded that: “Contact applications by fathers were in fact

THE MALE FEMINIST

by Craig Nondo

Above: Ryan Reynolds in the 2013 Hugo Boss advertising campaign.

‘Toned, tanned, fit and [not] ready’ - Snoop Dogg has it all wrong. Women are objectified as, and don’t aspire to be, sexual playthings in the media. In millions of clothing and fragrance commercials, female models are scantily clad or nude. A notorious example of such is Tom Ford’s 2007 fragrance campaign, wherein an unclothed woman places a fragrance between her legs. This insinuates that women can be ‘bought’ with the price of a gaudy bottle. Does this not substitute pornography? Do women have a price tag? The media communicates perverse, and worrying, messages about a woman’s value.

In contrast, men are presented as poised and sophisticated individuals in fragrance commercials, as well as car advertisements. From Ryan Reynolds’s Hugo Boss campaign to David

Interestingly, women challenge the media’s conventional interpretation of them as sexual objects. In recent years, numerous TV Series have come to light wherein women possess leading roles as corporate giants. Two notable examples are Viola Davis in ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ and Gina Torres in ‘Suits’. In these shows, these women are depicted as intimidatingly lovable figures that hold immense power and people that command respect.

Studios such as ABC (the producers of the aforementioned shows) are diverting from the media’s perpetual portrayal of women as housewives and are portraying them as independent breadwinners.

Despite this recent trend, women have been constructed and maintained as submissive individuals in TV shows for decades. Even from 20042012, a show entitled ‘Desperate Housewives’ (the title is self-explanatory)

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Moreover, women are objectified as accessories through car advertisements. For instance, in 2016, BMW initiated a campaign for their new M2, in which they enlisted Gigi Hadid to be the ‘face’ of the car. In the ad, Hadid is seen climbing into the passenger seat of the car before it drives off.

Anyone can rightly assume that BMW is implying that ‘if you buy this car, you’ll get Gigi too’. Do women have a price tag? What about the specifications of the car? BMW fans don’t want to see overly tanned calves! It’s clear that women are maintained as sexual objects with a sole purpose of pleasing a man.

Beckham’s Classic Blue promo, men are fully clothed in dapper tuxedos. Rarely, men are presented as sexual objects: it is arguable that Scott Eastwood’s Davidoff campaign (in which he is topless) portrays men as sexual beings. A starker example is Versace’s Eros campaign, in which a nude man poses in a provocative sexual stance. Nonetheless, men are consistently deified and dignified in the media as individuals that command respect, and one will never ever see a woman in a suit promoting a fragrance or automobile.

was aired, and influential women such as Eva Longoria and Marcia Cross acted in this show which is derived from the idea that all women do in their spare time is indulge in neighborhood gossip and moan for their husbands to come home. Thus, the media challenges and maintains the conventions of a woman’s identity as a stay-at-home wife.

Admittedly, men are presented and maintained as successful and powerful individuals in the testosterone-fuelled media. Over 90% of movies, dating back to the 20th century, feature male actors that hold positions of power in the household and in business. There are countless examples, ranging from James Wan’s ‘Furious 7’ (2015) to Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Breathless’ (1960).

However, the media recently began casting females with major roles in movies. A good example is Priyanka Chopra playing a Drug Queenpin in the movie Baywatch (2017): in it, she is an intimidating and deadly figure (a role that a man typically undertakes).

Regardless, an archetype of a powerful figure in the media mostly takes the form of a man because it has maintained the absurd perception that ‘men are genetically superior to women’. It is very rare that you will see a man subordinated in the media, in any TV Show, commercial, movie or in the music industry.

idea that women cannot be in positions of power.

This claim can easily be rebuked. Fact: Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is a woman. As of 2016, Germany had the world’s largest current account surplus of over $300 billion. Are women terrible leaders after all?

To conclude, the media is guilty of constructing and maintaining degrading perceptions of women, but proudly upholds deifying images of men.

When a man courts three women simultaneously, he is a ‘gangster’. When a woman courts three men at the same time, she is labeled as a ‘slut’. When a man poses in underwear, he is a ‘sex symbol’. When a woman does so, she is ‘shameless’. When a man pursues a career, he is ‘industrious and determined’. When a woman does so, she is ‘veering out of her lane’. Ultimately, the media blindly neglects why women and men look similar: we are supposed to complement and not condescend each other.

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In addition to that, women are depicted as politically inept in the media via news outlets such as CNN. A widely known example is Hillary Clinton of the United States: she aspired to be the President of the United States and challenged Donald Trump in so doing. Clinton has been discredited for involvement in terrorist conspiracies, and Trump has been notorious for making misogynistic comments in the media. In October 2016, a reporter, Carl Unger, stated that her ‘irrational rage hormones from her periods can’t make decisions for the nation’. This is laughable, and we now know that Unger never paid attention in Biology class. Despite the fact that Clinton had more political experience than Trump, Trump still defeated her in the referendums. This is due to the fact that the media painted an image of Clinton as someone incapable of running a country, promoting the

Above: Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany.

Above: Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)

ALIEN - WHY THE 80s WERE MORE PROGRESSIVE

Initially, the film does not indicate the main protagonist of the story, but as each character’s flaws lead to their deaths, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) emerges victorious: a level-headed, yet flawed officer who sticks to protocol without being consumed by emotion. And she happens to be a woman.

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A film review by Frank Smuts

“Alien”, directed by Ridley Scott, is a sci-fi horror. During a return trip to Earth, the crew of the Nostromo spaceship respond to a distress call from planet LV-426 and land on its surface. They find a massive, derelict, alien donut, and investigate. However, when one of the crewmembers inspects an alien egg, a chestburster jumps out and violently impregnates him with the titular Alien.

Following the sci-fi setup is a slow, tense horror offering.

Director Ridley Scott is in his prime here. He ensures that the ensemble cast looks and acts like a working team living in a plausible, gritty environment that gives the horror a familiar context.

The visual effects are sublime: H.R Giger’s unsettling and grotesquely erotic alien designs are appropriately brought to life with plasticine, condoms, and K-Y jelly.

The setting’s inherent tightness is communicated through lighting and cinematography: The wide shots used in the opening scenes are eschewed for close-ups and low-key lighting that shows enough contours to spark the viewer’s imagination, but never spoils the surprise.

The scriptwriting process for this film was notoriously unusual; all the characters were initially written with unisex names, and only assigned genders after the first draft. This brings up an interesting debate in character design – if a character’s gender is not important to the story, why should it influence a writer’s conception of that character? If a writer naturally assigns certain attributes to certain genders, surely putting “Harry” or “Sally” in front of the dialogue has some effect on the characterization?

Recently, there has been a call for putting strong women in film, which makes this idea more relevant. A 2015 study by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film determined that only 13% of films have female leads. The majority of on screen actresses are in their 20s and 30s (53%), with only 30% over 40, while the majority of onscreen actors are in their 40s (53%). There is thus a lack of female authority in film – fewer leads and less older authority figures.

Hollywood studios have responded by showing strong women in film.

However, various studio executives and writers have confused characterization with patronization. We can compare Alien to the post2015 Star Wars series.

In Star Wars Episode VII, we are introduced to a different type of female protagonist: Rey (Daisy Ridley). From the get-go, she is shown as a young, independent woman. Then she shows off her fighting skills with a staff.

She then steers the Millennium Falcon like a professional pilot. Then she learns Jedi mind-tricks in a matter of minutes. Then she learns The Force and outmatches antagonist Kylo Ren – a male Sith with years of experience in The Force.

This is patronizing. Rey is not necessarily a strong character; she is already perfect. She overcomes all her challenges with ease. This starkly contrasts with Ellen Ripley, who fights for survival throughout Alien.

I highly recommend Alien for viewing – a horror masterpiece, and a truly progressive piece of cinema.

Top: The Alien.

Above: Rey (Daisy Ridley) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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What would happen if the genderless approach used in Alien’s script were applied to today’s blockbuster cinema? Would it help writers to successfully balance the line between equal representation, and blatantly pandering to female audiences?

Purple Hibiscus Reviews by the authors STEPHAN CILLIERS

‘Purple Hibiscus’ is no stranger to tackling relevant, yet taboo topics in popular culture: Specifically those revolving around spousal abuse and domestic violence, as well as the far from discreet critical discussion sparked around colonialism and the influence of western culture on traditional African ones. All of these issues are embodied by the grossly misinformed Papa Eugene, who is a devout Catholic as well as a somewhat tyrannical dictator within his home.

It is seen within the beginning of the book that this is the treatment his family is used to; one is able to clearly see the denial riddled mindset possessed by the rest of the family. Eugene’s mindset can be traced back to his own childhood wherein he was abused via corporal punishment in a Catholic school, and it can be argued that the only reason that he abuses his family is due to the fact that said abuse is all he knows in regards to the raising of children.

The conflict between traditional African and Western culture can be seen throughout different characters within the book. The establishment of this theme is first seen when Kambili discusses the discontent towards the white pastor within her Catholic church, as well as the fact that it is frowned upon to speak the native language within the church. Papa Eugene embodies the dominance of western mindsets over traditional African ones throughout the higher classes within ex-colonies.

SINEAD HOOK

‘Purple Hibiscus’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie deals with a plethora of social issues; including abuse, religion, and feminism. Kambili is oppressed in every way by her father: she has a strict schedule that she has to keep to, her and her family are abused by him, and she is forced into his religion.

At first in the novel, it is apparent that Kambili does not know she is being oppressed. She reveres her father and always strives to please him, regardless of the pain he puts her through. In fact, she even mentions the ‘love sip’, showing that because of him, she has a dangerous association between love and pain.

This draws a strong link to the attitudes of society towards feminism and how people have been conditioned through many years of inequality to not realise oppression, even when committed against them.

Kambili starts out as a passive character that idly sits by and watches the destructive actions of Papa Eugene. This, however, changes as she grows to realise her father’s tyranny and breaks free of his narrow view of the world; learning more about traditional African cultures and slowly becoming more independent. A similar change happens to Beatrice. She is a passive-turned- active character: oppressed-turned- independent. Beatrice, who grows weary of the constant abuse from Eugene

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However, with the death of Eugene by the hands of his own wife, the constant underlying theme of Freedom vs Tyranny is amplified in significance: The hypocritical tyrant that is Eugene is “overthrown” by the very woman whom he is oppressing. All in all, ‘Purple Hibiscus’ displays very relevant insight and discussion of real issues within countries which have long standing western influence. This novel is a thrill to read and I would recommend picking it up if you are intrigued by a “grabbing the bull by the horns” approach to taboo social topics.

"For anybody who would like to expand their perspective on feminism, tackle seriously controversial topics, or even just experience a thrilling read; ‘Purple Hibiscus’ is a truly wonderful piece."

that even caused two miscarriages, slowly poisons him and begins being the primary shaper of her future. For anybody who would like to expand their perspective on feminism, tackle seriously controversial topics, or even just experience a thrilling read; ‘Purple Hibiscus’ is a truly wonderful piece. ‘ ISA COURTNADGE L Purple Hibiscus’ is a beautiful story written by award-winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

It is told from the perspective of 15-year-old Kambili Achike; a young girl growing up during the political unrest of Nigeria in the 1990’s. Although the main themes are family, colonisation, abuse, and religion, feminism is an underlying theme throughout the novel. The three main examples are the characters of Beatrice, Kambili, and Aunty Ifeoma.

Kambili demonstrates the biggest character development. Comparing her from chapter 1 to the last chapter, one would think that she’s an entirely different person. In the beginning, she is a very quiet, obedient girl, who doesn’t really think for herself. Because of her controlling father, she is used to accepting and believing everything he says. For example, she doesn’t respect or like Pagans.

However, when she goes to stay with her Aunt Ifeoma in Nsukka, readers can see how she changes.

She speaks more, laughs more, learns to stand up for herself, and even develops feelings for Father Amadi.

Above: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Purple Hibiscus.

From the beginning, it was clear that she believes in equal rights for women. This makes her a feminist.

She also encourages the women in her university class to first finish studying before marriage; she thinks that women should be independent. Ifeoma is also one of the only female characters not scared of Eugene.

There is a big contrast between the ways both women incorporated feminism into their lives. Aunty Ifeoma openly rebelled against the country’s gender customs; preaching equality and bringing up her children in a more progressive manner. Beatrice takes on a subtler, more covert approach by poisoning her husband. She takes advantage of her control over the kitchen and makes it work for her.

Towards the end of the story, Beatrice takes on a feminist role. She decides to stand against Eugene by gradually poisoning his food and tea. She finally realises that she does not deserve to be abused, and takes it upon herself to deal with the issue.

Although this does not exactly justify the murder, one can understand her motive. She uses feminism as a weapon to protect herself and her children.

Although the three women use it differently, they are all examples of post-colonial feminism. Readers can see the different struggles that each woman goes through, and how feminism is used in various ways to help them. In the end, it brings them all liberty, and that is the aim.

Aunty Ifeoma represents feminism in a different way:

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This can be described as feminism as it shows Kambili becoming empowered. She slowly pulls away from her father’s forceful ways and opinions and realizes that she is her own person. By the end of the novel, she believes in herself and her rights as a woman. She has gained independence from Eugene’s death.

FRANK SMUTS

“Purple Hibiscus”, written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is a drama set in a post-colonial Nigeria.

Western influence has shaken the identity of Nigerian culture and the government is in crisis. By the end of the first sentence, we see the book’s main conflicts come to a climax - Papa Eugene throws a missal at his son, Jaja. Eugene is a violent, religious zealot, while Jaja is rebellious. Eugene’s daughter, Kambili, is the passive protagonist who merely observes the scenario.

Above: Soldiers in the Nigerian Civil War (1967 - 1970).

LOUIS BOSCH

‘Purple Hibiscus’ is a novel written by the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Set in post-colonial Nigeria, the author’s home country, the book covers many different issues; such as feminism, religion, domestic abuse etc. These issues are well covered in other novels and movies as well, but seldom are they brought together so brilliantly into one, heartfelt story.

The story is told from the point of view of our protagonist Kambili, and from the first page, the central conflict is made obvious. Kambili’s father, known as Papa Eugene, throws a missal at Kambili’s brother Jaja after he refuses to attend communion at church. The father is in many ways an embodiment of many of the issues dealt with in the story: He is a Catholic with a strange and violent interpretation of his faith and he acts as an authority figure to be feared in his household, all of which ties into his violent treatment of his family; especially his wife Beatrice.

While the content is highly political, the story is very much about Kambili’s personal journey. All the deaths and conspiracies take place in the background, while Adichie focuses primarily on Kambili’s issues: Her struggle to show confidence or her fear of punishment. Thus, the atmosphere never becomes truly grim. The characters suffer major consequences for their actions, but there is always a hope that they will be liberated in the future; whether emotionally or physically.

Adichie creates a very effective antagonist with Papa Eugene. He is not a principally vile character. He is a man who serves the community with extreme passion, has the best intentions for his family and never contradicts his own moral code. However, it is his accompanying position of power and esteem that makes him a villain. When his punishments to his family become violent beyond reason, his victims internally justify it out of respect.

“Purple Hibiscus” does a good job of capturing the sometimes-restrictive nature of religious tradition, and its effect on the youth: Thus, the story should resonate with the readers who have gone through similar problems. Otherwise, the book provides a useful perspective for anyone invested in African venture 29 politics.

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The novel revolves mostly around Kambili and her growth and reaction to surrounding situations such as her father’s treatment of her and her family, and how she finally overcomes her fearful nature instilled in her by her father. Kambili’s personal journey as the centre of the plot progresses as she overcomes her passivity and grows into a more self-confident individual, strongly tying into the feminist theme of the book.

‘Purple Hibiscus’ is a bold novel that does not stray from controversial topics, but rather deals with them head-on. It is a rather effective piece of social commentary and a beautiful story at the same time.

The story chronology breaks the events to detail, leading to this climax. Kambili is initially a repressed individual who strictly abides by her father’s rules: Her daily schedule is set out for her, she has to be the top in her class, and God forbid that she breaks her father’s Catholic traditions. However, when she travels to Nsukka to live with her Aunt, Ifeoma, she becomes exposed to a different world of ideas. Igbo traditions are freely mixed with Catholicism, and Ifeoma’s children are mature and liberated.She starts to come of age, but Papa Eugene’s authority looms over her; frightening and intolerant.

CARRIE FISHER AN OBITUARY

by Louis Bosch

Carrie Fisher, actress and author known primarily for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, passed away on 27 December 2016 at age 60.

Born on 21 October 1951 in California to Singer Eddie Fisher and Actress Debbie Reynolds, Carrie was destined to become a performer of some sort. She had a difficult relationship with her parents, who divorced when she was only 18 months old. Her mother was an alcoholic and they argued often.

Fisher suffered from extended bouts of drug addiction as well as bipolar disorder. She once referred to herself as “Joan of Narc, the patron saint of addicts”.

Although it is her role in the Star Wars movies that she is mostly remembered for. Carrie Fisher also acted in numerous other movies of varying success; for instance “the Blues Brothers” and “Hannah and Her Sisters”. She has also had a successful career as an author, with a lineup of books including her most famous novel “Postcards from the Edge”.

Fisher had few romantic relationships throughout her life. She was briefly married to the musician Paul Simon, although they had been dating for 4 years. She had her only child, a daughter named Billy Catherine Lourd, with her partner Bryan Lourd; to whom she was never married.

She was survived by her aforementioned daughter, Billy Catherine Lourd, as well as her brother, Todd Fisher.

NOMADIC

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She made her first cinematic appearance in the 1975 comedy “shampoo”, but it wasn’t until 1977 when her performance as Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars propelled her to star status. As Princess Leia, Fisher was largely responsible for popularising the heroinetype character, as she played a female lead who wasn’t afraid to fight alongside the male characters.

This also highlights her importance for the feminist movement in cinema.

It is ironically these issues that made her even more revered among fans as she is seen as a survivor and an inspiration to people suffering from similar ailments.

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CARRIE FISHER - AN OBITUARY:

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