ISS
ER ND GE
TITLE S UE
ITI ED
ON
MAGAZINE September 2016
Do we NEED new ways to identify gender and sexuality?
HALSEY talks to us about
gender expression
+
Find out which type of
feminist you are
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
on why he’s a feminist
WOMEN’S
CRICKET
Let’s talk about it
Gender Issues edition Letter from the Editor in Chief, Brittany Orlik:
In this issue, we decided to make it all about gender roles and how they are portrayed through media. Since TITLE magazine is a form of media, we decided to tackle all the different ways in which gender roles are portrayed in all forms of media with an unbiased point of view. As Editor in Chief, I am proud to say that this edition was one of our favourite issues we have worked on yet. A huge congratulations to the TITLE team for producing this ground-breaking publication.
Copy Editors
Niamh Moriarty
Ariane Essop
Researcher
Laura Wolvaardt Art Director
Thandi Colley 1
What to expect What are we talking about?
What about women’s cricket? Commercials and their idealistic gender roles Brock Turner, and why we should still be talking about him The Friend Zone and how it contributes to Rape Culture Do we need new ways to identify gender and sexuality?
Who are we talking to?
Ellen Degeneres: on feminism Halsey: on gender expression and sexuality Joseph Gordon-Levitt: on being a feminist Rolene Strauss: on life after being Miss World
What are we doing?
Grease is still the word Queen of the Desert - Juicy or Dry? The Imitation Game - In the Closet Why I would fight against Fight Club The Hunger Games - Gender Equality in the novel
What else?
this month in TITLE
3-5 6-8 11 - 12 15 - 16 17 - 18
9 - 10 13 - 14 21 - 22 23 - 24
25 - 26 27 - 28 29 - 30 31 - 32 33 - 34
19 - 20 35 36 37 - 39 40
Captured by Ă…sa Johannesson Perfect in Every Way - L. Wolvaardt Expectations - T. Colley Which Feminist Are You? Quiz Gender Equality Buzzword Search
2
What about
WOMEN’S CRICKET?
Laura Wolvaardt
Over the past century, women’s cricket has been living in the shadow of the ‘ever progressing’ men’s game. Women’s cricket gets extremely limited television coverage and endless scrutiny over every shot played. The salary gap between the genders is profound (to put it mildly), and with continuous technical and technological advancements in the men’s game, women’s cricket is seen as ‘boring.’
men’s match. However, television channels will never be, or become, interested unless there’s money or exposure in it for them! A single male player earns more money than all of the Momentum Proteas (our national women’s cricket team) combined. As a result, women are not able to pursue cricket as a proper career and they are not able to dedicate the time needed to improve their standard and increase their skills.
Currently, women’s cricket is trapped in a vicious cycle. Salaries remain low as there is no television coverage, so there is no sponsorship money to complement these measly salaries. The deciding match of a women’s cricket series is often just the curtain raiser for a meaningless
The extreme lack of ‘female exposure’ in the cricket media creates gender stereotypes. Cricket is mainly seen as a male sport. From a young age, boys are encouraged to play this wonderful sport. In mixed-gender schools, one will only find cricket under the boys’ signup list. Girls wanting to take up the sport are often seen as ‘butch’ or ‘manly’. Girls are thus encouraged to stay away from cricket. For example, when the captain of the Pakistani men’s cricket side, Afridi, was asked what he thinks of women’s cricket, he replied, “Our women have great taste in their hands and they cook very tasty food.”
Momentum Proteas celebrate a wicket against West Indies - February 2016 3
There are two main reasons why the media does not seem to promote female cricket as s u c h . F i r s t l y, w o m e n ’s cricket is constantly being
compared to the men’s game. Every step that women’s cricket takes forward, exposes comments like, “With these shortened boundaries, AB de Villiers could hit that for a six.” What people don’t understand is that it’s a little like comparing synchronized swimming with weightlifting. Both genders play a different game, based on very different sets of talents – so one cannot even begin to compare them.
pened to grit, determination or accuracy? These have all been key aspects in cricket for centuries; qualities that women possess endless amounts of. What women lack in power, they make up for in timing, refined skill work and elegance, which is something that the IPL-male dominated game, lacks. What women’s cricket needs, is for people to look at it with ‘new eyes’. With proper funding and exposure, the possibilities are endless. Women are tough enough to throw a ball at an amazing speed, with extreme accuracy. Women are strong enough to dive across a field and put their bodies on the line. Women are fit, athletic and competitive enough to make for very entertaining TV-coverage.
Secondly, there is a preconceived idea that women’s cricket is ‘boring.’ ‘Boring’ in the sense that the average lady does not possess the physical strength to hit a ball 100 meters. The men’s Indian Premier League (IPL) has not helped either. This competition is dedicated to making matches as ‘entertaining’ as possible, creating the mentality that if the audience doesn’t see a six in every over, the game is considered ‘slow.’
Let’s just say that it is time for both the spectators and the media as a whole to realize that women’s cricket is not a boring copy of the men’s game, it’s just different!
In all honesty, women do not hit the ball out of the stadium like the men. But what ever hap-
Momentum Proteas celebrate a wicket during the series against England - February 2016 4
Marizanne Kapp batting for the Momentum Proteas
5
Commercials and their idealistic
GENDER
ROLES Brittany Orlik For centuries, advertisements have been a major part of the everyday lives of humans. It all started back in 4000BC, an era when Indian rock art was used as a form of commercial advertising. Since then, advertising has revolutionised to a point where it exists in any place and form, such as in magazines, newspapers, television commercials and more. Along this long road of history, there have been many times that advertisements infringed on human rights and falsified what was publicised, leading to many laws having been put in place for companies to follow. Although, with that being said, are advertisements still sending a negative message by creating single idealistic roles of the different genders?
in current times, many women's’ rights have been put in place, leading to a dramatic change in the restrictions that women were, for centuries, held under. Women can now aspire to any job or role in society that was previously seen only as a job or role for a man. What still remains the question, is why commercials are still promoting men as the ultimate money bearers and business owners. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting that only women should act as business owners within advertisements, because studies still show that 64% of new companies started up in the year 2012 were by men, according to Zervant.com. Nevertheless, the number of women entrepreneurs are, in essence, growing dramatically every year. So why aren’t more female actresses playing these roles as business women in advertisements increasing too?
Over recent years, the breadwinner of a family is no longer viewed as a male role, but can be acknowledged as a female role too. Women were the “stay-at-home” moms who cooked, cleaned and prepared meals for their husbands when they returned home from work. However,
Advertisements that are selling a product often have a famous women or model to gain an audience. These advertisements often portray and 6
Wentworth Miller’s advert enforces the ‘successful businessman accompanied by sexually appealing female’ stereotype
display women to be very skinny, have a big bust and naturally tanned skin as well as having other body features that are near impossible for most average women to reach and maintain, in order to sell their product. These same adverts also portray women to constantly need a man’s help or approval in situations as well be seen as vulnerable and inferior in comparison.
On the contrary, men are objectified within commercials too. They are seen to have extremely muscular bodies with a six-pack, no body hair and a perfect smile. They have been brought up being taught that they cannot handle their sexual desires, and that they can only fix a situation and show their ‘manliness’ through violence.
Protein World’s advert caused plenty of controversy for imposing a harsh body image ideal on women 7
years watching TV commercials in their lifetime and at the center of many of these ads is an image of idealized female beauty.” Said the pioneering author and ad critic Jean Kilbourne, who is best known for her documentary, Killing Us Softly. “The American ideal of beauty has become so pervasive that 50% of three- to sixyear-old girls worry about their weight.” Commercials aren’t the only ones to blame for constantly creating a gender idealistic and sexist environment. We have all just been accepting, and watching as commercials subtly tell us that we are not good enough and perfect in our own skin. Because no matter how much we recognize the problems commercials represent, majority of us still secretly aim to be everything that advertisements tell us to be. That’s what we were raised watching, it would take years to The objectification of men in advertisements causes a phenomena called hyper change the very foundamasculinity, which creates negative body image and insecurity amongst men of tions of what we were all ages brought up to believe. Although having or working towards these certain body features is not entirely wrong, it is unacceptable to commercialize these body ideals to such extent that kids are growing up thinking that that is how you have to look in order to be desirable and happy.
But we can start somewhere. We can stand against and point out advertisements that are not completely true or fair. We can all, male or female, start to re-mold how advertisements portray and idealize the genders to create a better world free of discrimination. We can start our own revolution that we will be able to show all kids of the future.
“The average American encounters 3,000 advertisements every day, and spends a total of two 8
Ellen
talks feminism with TITLE magazine’s Brittany Orlik
9
Good morning Ellen, thank you for joining us here today. Hi Brittany, thank you so much for having me, I am really excited to be here.
should know that they are perfect just the way they are Exactly. What’s great is that you love to tackle these gender related issues especially gender stereotypes using humour on your show. Why do you use this method when addressing this topic? I have grown up and overcome many difficult times in my life, and I think the main thing that made me overcome these challenges was using humour. I explained my feelings and thoughts using comedy and to my surprise, I gained a large audience who wanted to listen and somehow related to what I had to say. So when I wanted to speak out about gender roles and stereotypes that are objectifying not only women but men too, the best way that I thought I could connect with the audience was through comedy. It makes them want to listen, it makes them become aware that, yes it may be funny, but at the end of the day it is a serious issue we all need to address.
So, the reason why we are here today is to talk about feminism. Now tell me Ellen, do you consider yourself a feminist? Of course, I think any women will consider herself a feminist. I believe that women deserve equal rights and I believe that sometimes the media doesn’t quite portray that and get it wrong. How so? Well, for example, just the other day, while I was planning my topics for my show, I came across an online dating website called www.whatsyourprice.com. They claimed to know what made the ‘perfect woman’ through surveying thousands of men. The results included things such as blonde hair, blue eyes and a slender body. None of the traits included anything to do with the personality. Now, if you want to suppress women and marginalise them to one another, tell them they are not good enough, lovable or perfect in their own skin.
That’s exactly right. Thank you so much for joining us, we loved having you and fully support what you are doing for gender equality. Thank you. I loved being here.
Wow, I was unaware of that article. I absolutely agree with you Ellen, all women
Watch Ellen on MNet: Mondays 17:00 - 18:00
10
Don’t stop the conversation:
Brock Turner
and why we should still be talking about him
Niamh Moriarty 11
By now you should have all heard the story: One night in January 2015, two Stanford University graduate students were biking across campus, and found Brock Turner thrusting his body on top of an unconscious, half-naked woman behind a dumpster.
rapist. This causes controversy as numerous news outlets have been criticised by their readers for failing to identify Turner as someone who has committed sexual assault. Alongside this, a lot of these articles include a nice school photo of Brock, rather than his mugshot.
In March, a jury found Turner guilty of three felony counts: assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person.
People are furious, calling out the justice system and accusing Judge Aaron Persky of special and unfair treatment of Turner’s case evident in his lenient sentencing. As a young and successful white male athlete, Turner benefited from a level of compassion and empathy rarely expressed for any other group of people in America.
Turner faced a maximum of 14 years in state prison, but he was sentenced to a pathetic six-month sentence in county jail with probation. The judge, Aaron P e r s k y, s a i d h e feared a longer sentence would have a “severe impact” on Brock who was a champion swimmer with dreams to compete in the Olympics.
Brock Turner should not have received the short three-month sentence, just because he had such a promising future in swimming, because his decision to sexually assault an unconscious girl altered her future indefinitely.
What is even more pitiful about that six-month sentence, is that he only served three months of it, and the public is not happy. Brock Turner is already out of jail. A stand-out issue is that a large number of the articles written on this major story refer to Brock Turner as a “Stanford Swimmer” rather than a
To read the Brock Turner case victim’s powerful statement, click here 12
HALSEY talks
gender identity
Ashley Frangipane is a 21 year old alternative-pop singer-songwriter from New Jersey. Better known by her stage name, Halsey, her debut album Badlands was released in August 2015 and dominated the charts in the US and Australia. Not only is Halsey an incredible musician, she is also making noise in other areas, being open about her beliefs on some of today’s controversial topics. Here’s what she had to say about expression and gender identity:
Interview by Thandi Colley 13
Welcome to Title Magazine, Halsey! Now that your tour is over it’s great to finally get hold of you.
Why do you think you were inspired by men so much? I think... You know, they just had this swagger, moving so sensually and romantically. I feel like women can’t do that without being objectified or over-sexualised. I’m trying to find the sweet-spot in my performance and expression, but I know there will always be people that don’t understand or accept it.
Thank you so much, it’s lovely to be here. How was it? You toured with The Kooks, correct? Yes, I was the opening act for their shows. It was such an amazing opportunity, being exposed to the life of more experienced performers and getting a feel for being on the road.
Is there anything you would like to say to our readers that may be struggling with their own gender identity and expression?
How did you get into songwriting?
Honestly, just don’t care about what other people have to say. I know it’s easier said than done, but the easiest way to be happy in yourself and the way you carry yourself is just to do what makes you feel comfortable and proud of who you are.
I’ve always loved writing, but it was mostly in the form of poetry. I think one of the biggest struggles of being a writer is when no one wants to actually read what you wrote. So, I started songwriting because by singing what you’ve written, you’re forcing people to listen to your voice and listen to the message you want to get across.
Now that’s something to live by. Thank you so much for joining us, Halsey. Good luck with your new album, we’ll make sure to be first in line when it hits stores.
Is there any specific overall message you try to convey in your songwriting?
Thank you for having me, it was lovely to be here.
I mainly write based on my own experiences and observations. People have told me that I seem to challenge gender barriers in my music and performances, and I quite like that. Do people ever impose certain expectations onto you based on your physical appearance? Yeah, it’s hard because I don’t really know if I fall into any categories myself. I know there’s an innate femininity to me, but there’s also something that’s kind of androgynous. I think a part of that owes to the fact that all the musicians I looked up to were men; Leonard Cohen, Mick Jagger... I loved Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys.
“... there’s an innate femininity to me, but there’s also something that’s kind of androgynous” Halsey performing on tour with The Kooks 14
The
FRIEND
ZONE
o t s e t u b i ntr
E R U T L U C E P RA and
o c t i how
by Thandi Colley
15
The term ‘friend zone’ was coined in a 1994 episode of Friends. In this episode, Joey calls a woeful Ross ‘the mayor of the friend zone’ in response to an unsuccessful romantic pursuit. Since then, the concept has evolved into a description for all unrequited romantic and sexual interest. Typically, the people involved are initially in a platonic friendship and one party wishes to advance the friendship into a romantic relationship while the other wants to remain friends.
Rape culture is a term devised to show the ways in which society blames the victims of sexual abuse and normalises sexual violence, as a result of societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. And it is everywhere, from pop music with lyrics such as ‘you know you want it’, to everyday jokes and dialogue. For example, promiscuous women are referred to as ‘sluts’ whereas men are called ‘studs’, adding to the notion that females exist solely for the purpose of male pleasure. The presence of male entitlement and the existence of rape culture is what makes the ‘friend zone’ phenomena such a poisonous one. By using the term, men prioritise their ego and disregard the mutual interest and consent of their partner. It stems from the mindset of a man who feels he has put adequate effort into a friendship, and in turn deserves to have his sexual desires fulfilled. This can drive women to reluctantly complying out of guilt, or fear of the man’s reaction to being rejected.
The friend zone has become so well-known that MTV has dedicated an entire show to it. However, the stigma that has been built around the phenomena is often accusatory and meant to induce guilt in the non-complaint friend. There are countless articles with titles like ‘How To Escape The Friend Zone’ implying that it is a demeaning and ego-deflating position to be in, and that one should make an effort to get out of it, regardless of the circumstances under which you landed there in the first place.
Such a fear is not unreasonable, as cases of violent actions against women for resisting men are not unheard of. In 2014, a 16-year-old girl in Conneticut was stabbed to death at school for turning down a boy who asked her to prom. Another woman was shot in Detroit earlier this year for saying no to a man’s sexual advances. These murders are the result of a society that leads men to believe that they are entitled to attention from women, and the friend zone is only adding to it.
In most instances of ‘friend zoning’, a male-tofemale relationship is described, where the male is the friend-zonee and the female is the friendzoner. This is not because women are rejected less frequently, but rather because, to them, it is simply not such a big deal. Women are constantly depicted in the media to be swooning after a man, acting submissive towards his needs and often coming across looking desperate or needy. For men, a romantic or sexual pursuit is viewed as a challenge. Countless movies have a plot revolving around a man setting out to make a woman fall in love with him, ‘just because he can’. These conventions imply that an unsuccessful attempt at initiating a relationship for a woman is normal or expected, whereas for a man, it equals failure and defeat.
The only solution is to adopt the idea that no one owes anyone sex, or mutual romantic interest, and that relationships cannot be bought with compliments and ‘nice-guy’ behaviour. Sometimes she’s just not into you, man.
16
Do
we n
eed
gen new w der ays to an i d en d sex tify ual ity? . The year was 1970 and the first Gay Liberation By Ar Day March was held in ian New York City. The year is now eE sso 2016 and Facebook has announced its p additional 50 permutations of gender identification for those who believe “male or female” are not enough. The generation of today that is searching for something more revolutionary; requires a denouement of gender roles surpassing male checking a box or female. The fundamental question is not for gender, 24-yearwho we love, but who we are. old Ryley Pogensky is a “male.” But to his friends on “Non-binary, intersex, neutrois, androgyne, Facebook, he is now a “trans man.” agender, gender questioning, gender fluid, genThis project was created during an all-night der variant, genderqueer”, these are just 9 out Facebook-hosted event called the “hackathon”. of the 50 additional gender identifications FaceOver the years Facebook has received many book will now add to their drop-down menu. requests from users for additional options. AlAimee Lee Ball writes in a recent article Who though most of these terms are not defined in Are You on Facebook Now?, “On his driver’s standard dictionaries, Facebook realised its nelicense and passport, at his doctor’s office and cessity as the social media platform has ininsurance company, for online dating and socreases its value in people’s lives. cial media, and every application or document 17
Orange is the New Black actress, Ruby Rose, identifies as genderfluid
Sasha Kolodkin, (19-year-old studying at Purchase College in New York City, who identifies as a gender nonconforming transsexual female) states “It is sort of a secret language that not everyone will understand. I was born male and feel that I should have been female, but the use of the words ‘male’ and ‘female’ is very confining.”
rigidly enforced, individuals who subsist outside its standards face innumerable challenges. This although does not have to be the case forever. Through thoughtful consideration of the uniqueness and validity of everyone’s experiences on their individual, we can thrive for greater welcoming for all. Not only will this create greater inclusion for individuals who take exception to the normalities of gender, it will create space for all individuals to more fully explore and honour who they are.
“Gay and lesbian” were once used to fuse together miscellaneous sexual minorities. However, the youth of today do not expound themselves on the scope of L.G.B.T (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender). So what do we call this progression? Perhaps the most foundational facet of a person’s identity, gender deeply governs every part of one’s life. In a society where this pivotal aspect of self has been so narrowly specified and 18
beauty
The of people who do not conform to
gender
stereotypes
CAPTURED by Åsa Johannesson Ariane Essop The beautiful faces in this series of photographs belong to people who are neither male nor female to themselves. The subjects of the Swedish artist Åsa Johannesson’s latest exhibition invite the viewer to reflect on gender, self and otherness because they do not identify as boys or girls. The expression of each portrait provokes the onlooker to try and categorise them. We do not know their names and each photograph is untitled. While we might analyse the plumpness of a lip or the shadows beneath their eyes for hints, Johannesson is intended for the exhibition not just to be a “gender guessing game”.
19
Johannesson’s intentions are to arouse an emotional response in viewers rather than have them plague over what or who exactly it is that they are looking at in terms of conventional gender norms. There is unequivocally much more to be said for providing a more accurate and respectful representation of LGBTQIA identities, the exposure of which is painfully lacking in media not to mention the huge interest in high profile trans individuals such as Caitlyn Jenner. Yet Johannesson is aware it is necessary to be mindful in her approach as not to cause offense. “Non-conforming to gender is so hyped in the media that it is really difficult
to talk about without it becoming a spectacle,” she says. “As an artist, I have to be really careful not to objectify the sitter.” Which partly explains why the gaze of all the subjects is so evidently and challenging directed at the audience and why the photographs are exhibited life-size, so the humanity and rawness of who you are looking at is hard to forget.
For more information on Åsa Johannesson and to view her entire collection, click here 20
Why is
Joseph
Gordon-Levitt a feminist? Niamh Moriarty
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a 35-year-old American actor and filmmaker. He has starred in major Hollywood movies such as ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ (1999), ‘Inception’ (2010), and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012). Whilst some celebs prefer to ardently distance themselves from the word “feminist”, Joseph is one of the few celebrities to embrace label. We sat down with him to find out more about his thoughts on feminism. 21
Watch out for Joseph’s latest movie, Snowden Welcome to Title Magazine Joseph! We’re so excited to have you here with us today. Hi! It’s really great to be here.
I agree. In the media recently a lot of young stars are coming out against being labelled as a feminist, what are your thoughts on this? Coming out against the label? I guess I wasn’t really aware of that until recently when I came across a website called Woman Against Feminism, and I found it very interesting to see what other people had to say who didn’t identify with feminism.
So through the media, it has become clear that you are a proud feminist. What does feminism mean to you? Well to me it means that you don’t let your gender define who you are. You can be whoever you want to be, whether you’re a man, a woman, a boy or a girl.
And what did those other people have to say about feminism? A lot of those people thought of feminism to almost be anti-men, or thought it wasn’t right for a woman to do what was traditionally meant for a man to do. But each to their own I guess.
That is a fascinating way to look at it. So in your opinion, what makes gender equality so important? If you look at history, women are an oppressed category of people. There’s a long, long history of women suffering abuse, injustice and not having the same opportunities as men, and I think that’s been very detrimental to the human race as a whole. I’m a firm believer that if everyone has a fair chance to be what they want to be and do what they want to do, it’s better for everyone. It benefits society as a whole.
I’ll have to check that website out myself. Any last thoughts on the matter? Just that I think all men should be feminists. If we cared about women’s rights, the world would be a better and fairer place. Thank you so much for joining us today, and good luck with the filming! Thank you for having me. 22
ROLENE STRAUSS South Africa’s
Miss World is more than just
a pretty face L. Wolvaardt Last week, TITLE had the chance to meet with South Africa’s sweetheart, Rolene Strauss, who was crowned Miss World in 2014. After telling us about her busy schedule, medical school and massive future plans, it’s clear Rolene is more than just a pretty face. Good morning Rolene, you look absolutely beautiful, as always! Thank you! Not bad for someone who’s been awake since 4 this morning to go to the gym!
me; on 30 March 2014, I was crowned Miss South Africa and in December I became Miss World. Oh yes, I also married the love of my life in the same year!
You sound extremely busy! Please tell us, what has life been like for you since winning Miss World in 2014?
So many amazing things happened in one year! How did you manage to keep up with your studies after all of that?
Well, my life has been a whirlwind! Up until early 2014, I was just a normal university student. It was always my dream to influence women’s health in South Africa, which is why I started as a medical student at the University of the Free State. On the side, I always had a keen interest interested in beauty, so I competed in many beauty pageants over the years. 2014 was the breakthrough year for
I had to put my studies on hold, as I had so many obligations as a Miss World titleholder. I literally travelled the world. I saw so many different cultures and religions as I visited 16 different countries during the year. Traveling the world opened my eyes to so many new ways of life and just made me even more passionate about women’s health.
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Why women’s health specifically?
The health of women in South Africa has been neglected for too long now. I have launched the Strauss Foundation (a nonprofit entity) to try and give back and make a difference in South Africa’s education and health. Girls and women are my focus here.
During my travels, locally as well as internationally, I realized that women are still at a disadvantage in many countries when it comes to adequate healthcare. I believe that we all have to play our part and use the platforms we were given in order for us to change this and make the world an equal place.
Will the fact that you are becoming a mother yourself change anything?
I definitely agree. So then, after all the glitz and glamour as a beauty princess, it was back to the harsh reality of the hospital world?
Not at all! Just because I’m having a baby, doesn’t mean all of my future plans go down the drain! Being a woman and a soon-to-be mom have been the greatest blessings I could have asked for in life. I also have a loving and caring husband, who is more than willing to help with the baby so that I can continue living my dream and empowering women.
Yes, that was quite a big shock. I went from getting up at 5 am to do hair and makeup, to still getting up at 5 am, but now having to work a 15 hour shift in an understaffed state hospital, followed by a few hours of studying before falling asleep over my desk… Only to do the same thing a few hours later again.
Well we are definitely inspired Rolene! Thank you so much for your time, we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!
Has it ever been tough for you going back to medical school knowing that some people may see you as the ‘dumb pageant girl’? Yes, that stereotype is something that us pageant girls have to deal with. I always feel like I have something to prove and I am afraid that people will not take me seriously. Many people think that all pageants girls do is walk on stage in swimsuits and display some pointless talent like juggling. The competition actually includes many intellectual aspects including interview skills, answering questions with poise and intelligence, coming up with ideas to better communities, as well as writing and delivering speeches. There is also a sporting aspect included.
Rolene Strauss fact sheet:
What does it mean for you, to be a modern woman in South Africa?
Rolene was born on April 22nd, 1992 in Volkrust, South Africa
I aim to always stay true to my roots. Different situations, challenges and opportunities in my life showed me who I wanted to become and what I want to achieve. I will always do everything in my power to use the opportunities I have been given to inspire and give back to the women of South Africa.
Her mother is a nurse and her father is a doctor She is a fourth year medical student at the University of the Free State Married D'Niel Strauss on February 6th, 2016 24
w ie ev R by m
ia N h
is
still the word
Although it is old, Grease is still loved and watched by adults and children alike. Grease will always be the word. With an incredible plot line and the catchiest songs, Directed by Randal Kleiser and produced by Paramount Pictures, Grease is a must see! 25
This musical is about a high school romance in the 1950s. It is the story of a young Danny Zucko and Sandy Olsson, two high school seniors who meet at the beach and fall hopelessly in love over the summer. As the summer comes to an end Sandy is going back to Australia, but Danny reassures her that their love is “only the beginning”. The first day of school arrives and little does Danny know him and Sandy would soon be reunited. But Sandy is shocked to find the nice guy that she met at the beach is the leader of a greaser gang called “The T'birds”. Meanwhile Sandy is trying to fit in with her new "friends", The Pink Ladies. Will Sandy and Danny ever be together again?
cheerleaders at pep rally to the traditional school dance, the all girl sleepover in silk dressing gowns, and of course the milkshake dates at the town diner. After re-watching this classic movie thousands of times, there is just one little issue. Even though Danny and Sandy apparently had a perfect relationship before school started, if she wants to prove she's really deserving of his attention again, all she has to do is change every single thing about herself, from her appearance to her attitude, and take up smoking. Which isn’t the greatest message for anyone really. Nowadays more and more movies project positive messages about loving yourself before allowing someone to love you. But then again, Grease was released in 1978 – a time when gender roles weren’t yet eliminated.
Olivia Newton-John deserves a standing novation for her role as Sandy, she perfectly portrays the innocent, goody-goody 1950’s teenage girl. But she transforms into this badass sporting a new hairdo, dressed in black leather with a cigarette in hand.
Overall I would recommend this movie to anybody and everybody, any age or gender. Grease is a timeless classic that will have you singing and dancing by the end of the movie.
One thing I loved about the movie was how they portrayed high school life in the 1950s. From the
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R w ie ev by an ri
A
Desert
Juicy or Dry? Feeling bored about the generic action blockbuster films I am constantly being invited to attend with friends at the local movie house, I decided I wanted to view something more “intellectual”. The Cinema Nouveau has always acted as an oasis of cultural and artistic films for me and amongst the smooth jazz playing as I waited for the dimming of the cinema lights I realised that I was the only person under the age of 50 present.
be summed up and understood in just 2 hours and 8 minutes. Although, some director was bound to take it on eventually... Directed by Werner Herzog, who admittedly has not produced anything worth seeing since the 1970s (when he was crowned the reigning visionary of New German Cinema) has yet to stray away from his speciality; making films about obsessive loners, and of course up until now, nearly always male.
Gertrude Bell, an Oxford graduate with a firstclass degree in modern history, scaled the French Alps, translated Persian poetry, and was responsible for dividing up the borders of what is now called Iraq following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I. I find it near impossible to believe that an icon in Middle Eastern history such as herself could
“Queen of the Desert” is undeniably one of Herzog’s most exacting films in a long time. Which makes partial amends to his sexism in the past, introducing Gertrude Bell (Nicole Kidman) as the female equivalent to Lawrence of Arabia - which is not inaccurate but even so, fails to give her due. It is an old-fashioned part, 27
e
Queen of the
and Nicole Kidman portrays it that way, striking poses which are meant to highlight Bell's "spirited" nature, along with her sense of style: reclining on a sun-bed, tilting her head back in laughter, bathing during sunset in a translucent white smock amongst a caravan of camels. Even her tears are wept with a certain je ne sais quoi.
staged in verbose master shots or back and forth panning close-ups. Nonetheless, there is no shortage of conventional romantic atmosphere, supplied by Peter Zeitlinger's cinematography incorporated with its desert vistas and moody gaslit interiors as well as Klaus Badelt's lush orchestral score. I would recommend this film to fantasizers of unconventional love set in a mystical and adventurous land. Having said that, if you are an avid reader and fact checker, my advice would be to steer away from Werner Herzog’s rendition and make a purchase of Georgina Howell’s “Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations” novel where the true character of Gertrude Bell is highlighted by her strong-willed character, uncharted diplomacy and her superior knowledge and love for the history of the Middle East and its people. She is a true inspiration to women, historians, explorers, anthropologists, politicians and poets.
However, there is one looming fault when it comes to the film. While his film is based on a book which happens to be Gertrude Bell’s biography, Herzog’s knowledge of politics and history is negligible. So while the audience is supposed to be seeing an independent heroine’s decisions helping shape the destiny of the Middle East - the script, all credit to Herzog, restricts Bell in relation to a line of Englishmen viewed as possible lovers - somehow undercutting the attempt to portray her as a proudly independent heroine. With regards to the raw elements, Herzog's technique has become more slipshod than ever noted, with dialogue scenes mechanically
My rating:
28
w ie ev R by
Game
a movie just as much
in the closet as Alan Turing was Alan Turing was a brilliant mathematician during World War II. He was part of a team that worked towards breaking German military codes for the British government, and created a blueprint for the modern computer. And he was gay. The Imitation Game is a film based on the real life of Alan Turing, his discoveries, and the consequences of his homosexuality - which, during the era depicted in this movie, was illegal.
of the male-dominated team, however, and Turing marries her so that she can remain working on the project. It is revealed prior to this point that Alan is homosexual, but Joan disregards this fact in order to effectively hide both her and Alan’s secrets and continue their work on the Enigma project. The movie explores several issues relevant to the time. Joan’s presence as the lone female on a team of male intellectuals refers to one such issue. Women were highly restricted by gender roles at the time, confined to doing housework or minor administrative careers. When we meet Clarke, she is mistaken for a secretarial candidate while trying out for a position in the codebreaking team. Taking into account the complete lack of representation of any other women in the film, she is nevertheless an empowering role model for any young girls in the audience.
Benedict Cumberbatch delivers an outstanding portrayal of Alan Turing. Throughout the film, this socially awkward genius battles to collaborate with the team of scientists and linguists he is provided with to complete the task of cracking the German Enigma code. An outspoken mathematics graduate, Joan Clarke (Kiera Knightley), is the only one able to win his fondness with her intellectual skill and interest in his work. She is not welcomed as easily by the rest 29
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a Th
The Imitation
Turing’s homosexuality is also a driving theme for the film. While no sexual or even romantic interaction is shown between him and another man, we see him as a child infatuated with another young boy, and towards the end of the film, his homosexuality is revealed, and the consequences thereof are a major turning point in the plot. While our society has come a long way since the unaccepting WWII Britain, there are still some parallels in the homophobic ways of the world today and those of the era of The Imitation Game.
I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the movie. Trying to understand and figure out the main character is as much of a puzzle as the code which the film revolves around. It does progress a bit slowly at points, but this can be balanced out by the incredible cinematography and performance by the actors. I highly recommend The Imitation Game to those that enjoy intellectual and social puzzles. The film is rated PG-13, and this is appropriate considering the angsty scenes revolving around Turing and his identity crisis, as well as the indirect intolerance and violent response to his homosexuality. However, it is a generally enjoyable and interesting film, and I urge everyone to give it a shot!
Graham Moore’s script provides a recurring theme: “Sometimes it is the people whom no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.” This line is delivered by both Joan and Alan several times in alternation, and is an inspiring don’t-give-up type lesson to learn from the film.
My rating:
Kiera Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch both deliver excellent portrayals of their respective characters.
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tt
Why I would fight against Rating: PG 16 Genre: Action/Drama/Suspense Cast: Brad Pitt, Helena Bonham Carter, Jared Leto, Meat Loaf Director: David Fincher (Gone Girl, The Social Network) Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Fight Club is a classic film that is based on the novel written by Chuck Palahniuk in 1996. It is well known among action-loving moviewatchers and being a great lover of action movies as well as Brad Pitt. I recently downloaded the movie and gave it a bash. After hearing many positive reviews about the film I can honestly say I was impressed.
Tyler is portrayed as a strong-headed, masculine and sexual man who has an animal-like nature. He holds power over the other men in the movie because of these qualities. This encourages men to join the fight club in order to break free from the feminine and weak characteristics they are told they possess and can finally be lead back to the ‘dominant’ ideology of a man.
In the film, Edward Norton plays a depressed insomniac who is bored with his life. He eventually finds happiness and relief when he meets a somewhat ‘perfect man’, Tyler Durden, played by Brad Pitt, whom he starts a fight club with.
When I watched the movie, I was on the edge of my seat. It was entertaining, powerful and and a very clever movie that I extremely enjoyed. However, recently having been delving deep into how gender stereotypes are portrayed 31
in films, this film immediately caught my attention.
Although this movie is cleverly made and engages it’s audience until it’s final minutes, the extreme plot-twist-ending may be found to be confusing and sexist. This movie is a must-see film but I personally would not recommend it to anyone who has personally been affected by gender inequality and it should not be shown to anyone who is under the age of 16 or anyone who may be easily influenced.
The movie not only implies that women are the root cause of mankind's new femininity and weakness, but that a man can find their original power and masculinity through violence. The movie encourages men that are going through rough times in their life and who may feel they have nothing to lose to fix their issues by resorting to a life of violence and cruelty. It encourages men to find happiness by hurting others. This movie not only stereotypes ‘the perfect man’ but also portrays men as superior to women and stereotypes women as weak and in need of a man's constant care.
My rating
32
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The
L ra
au
Hunger Games
bringing equality to the genders
Jennifer Lawrence is Katniss Everdeen in the novel’s screen adaptation
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Since 2008, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has challenged nearly all gender stereotypes of modern day society. For the first time ever, the lead role of an action filled storyline is portrayed by a female character. This character, Katniss Everdeen, is tough, cold, lethal and entirely uninterested in an ‘attractive vampire boyfriend’. Not only has this book greatly changed the perceived roles of women in society, but it has also empowered men.
All typical gender stereotypes are reversed in this novel. The boys are emotional and display their affection, while Katniss Everdeen is the athletic heroine. The Hunger Games proves that a story can be popular without the lead female role having to be a sex symbol, which is a rare occasion for any kind of media. Katniss doesn’t care what other people think, she gets the job done and is quite deadly with a bow and arrow. She is the type of character that everyone considers ‘cool’. This book makes it socially acceptable for boys to read something set from a female’s point of view. Before, if a boy was caught reading Twilight, society would be ‘questioning his sexuality’.
The book starts with Katniss being the sole provider for her household. She has to use her archery skills to bring her family food every night. This alone challenges the stereotype where men are typically the ‘breadwinners’. As the book progresses, Katniss single-handedly saves her family, makes two boys swoon over her and wins a competition based on physical ability. If all of that isn’t hard-core enough, she goes on to inspire an entire revolution.
I highly recommend this book. Katniss Everdeen’s story needs to be heard and our society needs to learn from it. This book will forever be iconic in the development of gender equality.
Katniss proves her strength as a character in the way she sacrifices her own life and freedom for her younger sister
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Perfect in every way I’m too sleepy, I’m too big, I’m too lazy, I’m too fat. I’ll never be happy until my stomach is flat. ‘No man will ever love a big waist he cannot hold.’ Yes, these are the stories young girls are told. I’m too sporty, I’m too butch, I’m too manly, I’m too lean. ‘You can tell that he likes me because he’s always mean.’ Oh what a shame that the girl who does well in soccer Always looks sweaty when the boys try talk to her. I’m too skinny, I’m too thin, I look hungry, I look bleak. ‘Get that girl a burger,’ she always looks so weak. ‘You’ll never find a man who likes just skin and bones.’ Yes, these are things we see on TV, laptops and phones. I’m too perfect, I’m too fake, it must be money, you hear them claim. ‘I bet you with no makeup, she’ll never look the same.’ ‘It must be surgery that made her look that way,’ Yes, these are things that all people say. It’s hard to ignore these vicious comments girls hear. And it will take more than just a poem to make them disappear. But with so much negativity in the world every day, It can’t hurt to remind girls that they are perfect, in every way. L. Wolvaardt
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Expectations T. Colley
Your little brother always said That he never really knew Why his favourite colour was firetruck red Yet his toys were always blue
They laughed, told him he got it wrong A guy like him should know “Art is for girls, you don’t belong” His friends all told him so
The girl who lived down the street Didn’t like wearing a dress She didn’t like frills or shoes on her feet But adventures and making a mess
She dreams in colours of the sky She’s aiming for the clouds But the day she decided to fly Down came the rain of doubt
When he grows up they’ll ask him why He grows his hair so long He’ll look back down and deeply sigh Mom was right all along
He never told mother about The thoughts he had at night For a long time, he wanted out Life wasn’t worth the fight
She wants to join the team and play Like she always used to do But now the boys chase her away “Soccer’s for us, not you!”
Her eyes forgot to shine their light Her feet had lost their way But now her hands grip her dreams tight She’ll reach the clouds, one day
The boys are broken, girls are sick The people seem to shout You have two options: take your pick To fit in, or feel out
The broken boys stand up again The girls are stronger, too For after all, he chose the dress And she preferred the blue 36
Which FEM Are
Follow the arrows to find out your feminist alter ego! Solutions on the next page
If someone accidentally uses a sexist term, do you calmly inform him or her?
N Y
N Y
Do you sometimes find sexist jokes funny?
N
START Do you consider yourself an outspoken feminist?
Y
N
The Wise One 37
Oprah Winfrey
Ellen Degeneres
The Joker
Y
N
Do you take stereotypical adverts seriously?
Do you inform or call out advertisement agencies on social media about stereotypical material?
INIST You? By Brittany Orlik
Do you ever find yourself stereotyping gender roles?
Y
Are you scared to correct your friends if they make sexist remarks?
The Powerhouse 38
BeyoncĂŠ Knowles
Emma Watson
The Changer
Y
N
N
N
Do you get angry if someone makes a sexist remark?
Have you ever been afraid to call yourself a feminist?
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Do you constantly notice gender stereotypes within advertisements?
Now that you know which type of feminist you are, here’s what your result means:
The
The
Wise One
Joker Being The Joker feminist, you don’t take life too seriously. You acknowledge sexist or unfair terms that are constantly being said but you try to bring attention to the issue through humour. Being a joker doesn’t make you any less of a feminist, but you just don’t let ignorant people or comments ruin your fun.
If you are The Wise feminist, you are someone people look up to. You always keep a calm persona and ensure that you never make someone feel attacked. However, if someone were to make a comment that may be stereotypical, you are not afraid to calmly correct him or her. People don’t only listen when you speak, but they often take your advice.
The
the
Changer
Powerhouse
The powerhouse is a strong outspoken feminist that isn’t afraid to speak their mind. Just like Beyoncé, you may have been afraid to call yourself a feminist because of the entire load that people associate with it. However, overtime you may have learnt that being a feminist is simple, you are fighting for equal rights and you are not afraid to let anyone know.
The Changer is all about making a change for equal rights. Although you have always seen yourself as a feminist, you may not be as outspoken about it on a day-to-day basis as the other three. You acknowledge that people make mistakes but encourage them to constantly try and make the world a better place.
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Gender equality BUZZWORD SEARCH
N O I T A C I F I T C E J B O
X D X O U S M L P T W N W D W
P G E M P M V S M M H D I D Z
Y Y E W A F D S Q Z H S S L B
X X A N Z P I N R X C E T X W
T T V L D N R V P R K S E P A
A V E Y I E E X I L Z S R R G
F Q W M N V R M G M N P E V E
Z P E K E Z I R F S H Z O W G
G F S C Y N Z N O C E O T L A
T J E Y A K N J C L U V Y F P
L D X T Q H I D R A E P P A O
Z W I F S H Z O B G H S E I I
K O S P I K M F T H V J S H C
N B M T S B E Q U A L I T Y C
By Niamh Moriarty
Can you find all the words in the word bank below?
Now that you’ve read through this month’s issue, you should be familiar with the following terms.
(To find the solution, turn to the last page.)
STEREOTYPES DISCRIMINATION A widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different idea of a particular type of person or thing categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex OBJECTIFICATION The seeing and/or treating a person, usually a EQUALITY woman, as an object The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities WAGE GAP The difference in rates of pay between men and FEMINISM women The advocacy of women's rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes GENDER ROLES A set of societal norms dictating the types of SEXISM behaviors which are generally considered Prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically acceptable, appropriate, for people based on their against women, on the basis of sex sex
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One more thing... From the copy editor:
Our aim with this issue was to address a topic which has been given a bad light and hopefully give our audience a better insight to how gender roles are influenced in the media. With the publication of this specific collection of articles, interviews as well as creative pieces we hope that this will create a trend for other magazines to follow.
SOURCES: Images and facts Image sources Cover image: ELLE.com 3 - Women’s Cricket: sacricketmag.com 6 - Commercials: Wentworth Miller, Protein World 13 - Halsey talks gender identity: Spencer Kohn Photography 11 - Brock Turner: Twitter, heavy.com 15 - The Friend Zone: rooftopantics.com 23 - Rolene Strauss interview: metrosmag.com 25 - Grease is still the word: redbubble.com 35 - Perfect background image: makeupmartini.com 37 - Feminism Quiz: ewatsondaily.tumblr.com Last page image: Bec Parsons Photography Fact sources 3 - Women’s Cricket: dailymaverick.co.za 15 - The Friend Zone: mic.com 23 - Rolene Strauss interview: eyeforbeautyblog.com 29 - The Imitation Game review: thecritique.com 31 - Fight Club review: pluggedin.com 33 - Hunger Games review: Huffington Post Disclaimer: all interviews conducted in the September edition of TITLE are fictional 41
Next
Month
In TITLE: We talk to Ruby
Rose,
everyone’s latest WCW Everything you need to know about
intersectionality
TITLE’s relationship expert,
Miss Moriarty, answers all your dating questions Gender equality buzzword search SOLUTION 42