Wayfarer

WAYFARER SEPTEMBER 2017 | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1

TRADITIONAL NIGERIAN RECIPE

WHY ISN'T IT CALLED EQUALISM? AND MANY MORE ARTICLES TO OPEN YOUR EYES TO HOW GENDER IS PORTRAYED IN THE MEDIA

HOW MEN AND WOMEN ARE TREATED IN SWEDEN

SEPTEMBER 2017

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MUSIC AND THE MIND

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By Jade Simoen

IN THIS ISSUE

THROUGH THE EYES OF A FEMINIST

By Justin Coburn

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BEAUTY STANDARDS

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By Daniel Robinson

SHE'S ALL THAT - FILM REVIEW

By Nina Rossouw

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JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK - FILM REVIEW

By Daniel Robinson

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THE RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT ROMCOM

By Jade Simoen

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THE SWEDISH PERSPECTIVE

IS THE OLD DISNEY SEXIST?

An interview with two Swedish students from Rudbeck Gymnasium about gender equality in Sweden.

By Robyn Karsten

SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH SWEDISH

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TRADITIONAL FUFU RECIPE

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ART: THE MEDIA BEFORE MEDIA

By Robyn Karsten

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WE ARE WAYFARER.

THE MALE FEMINIST

A traveller. Someone who creates new pathways and discovers new ideas.

PINK TAX: A WOMAN NEEDS A MAN, LIKE A FISH NEEDS A BICYCLE.

This is just like how our team here at Wayfarer have been uncovering gender inequalities in the media.

We challenge gender norms in all forms of the media and strive to make the public more aware of how simple changes in our mindsets can slowly change the world for all genders.

By Craig Nondo

By Nina Rossouw

WHY ISN'T IT CALLED EQUALISM?

By Justin Coburn

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PURPLE HIBISCUS BOOK REVIEWS Jade Simoen

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Justin Coburn

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Nina Rossouw

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Daniel Robinson

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Robyn Karsten

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MUSIC AND THE MIND We have all had the words of a song stuck in our minds, but do you ever actually think about the words you are singing? When you sing a song, you may subconsciously start to believe what you are singing. We do not even realise we are singing about these stereotypes and how normalised they have become in our society.

what men “should” be like. The name of the song makes it seem that if a man shows emotion and weakness, he is not manly. This makes men believe they may not be sad or sensitive. Do we really want to live in a world where if men do feel sad, it is wrong? This could create a nation of numb, emotionless men.

Many of you would have heard the song “Work from Home” by Fifth Harmony. however, you would not have payed close attention to the lyrics which include: “ And I don’t need no explanation ‘cause baby, you’re the boss at home”.These lyrics insinuate that men are supposed to be in charge and that a women should just listen to a man and be subdued.

Male stereotypes are found throughout the song, “If I were a Boy” by Beyonce . The lyrics make it seem that all men are selfish and that the only thing on a man’s mind is flirting with women. This makes them seem simple and cold. This is not true for all men.

Another example of gender stereotypes used in songs is from the song, “Hey Mama” by David Guetta featuring Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack. This song contains the lyrics: “Yes I do the cooking, yes I do the cleaning”. These lyrics plays on the old stereotype that women are only good at domestic tasks and should not aim to be educated and have a job. This has lead to many girls not going to school and hindering their learning (especially in science and maths).

Woman stereotypes are not the only ones in songs.

The song, “Boys don’t Cry” by the Cure stereotypes

There are, however, songs that challenge stereotypes. This includes the song “Most Girls” by Hailee Steinfeld. The lyrics, “Most girls are smart and strong and beautiful” are heard in the song.

This goes against the stereotype that women are weak and need men to protect them. The lyrics say women are smart and can do anything a man can do. They are equal to men. This is a message that I believe should be in more songs.

We cannot control what is said in songs, however we can control what we listen to and how we react to it. My challenge to you, is not just to hear a song, but to listen to it.

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BY JADE SIMOEN

In this interview, I decided to interview a selfproclaimed feminist, Leslie Shires. I was interested in her perspective on feminism and her thoughts on gender inequality in the media.

Justin: What is feminism?

Leslie: The pursuit of equality for women. It’s that simple.

Justin: Why are you a feminist?

Leslie: I believe that women are still on the receiving end of prejudice.

Justin: What is the end goal of feminism?

Leslie: People are not judged on their gender. Job opportunities are not based on gender. Pay is based on performance and ability. Women are respected and are not treated like inferiors. Women are not regarded as the weaker sex.

Justin: So you feel that women in today's society are still respected less than men?

Leslie: Yes, we are still not being taken seriously.

Justin: Do you think feminism is perceived in a positive or negative way?

Leslie: Negative, it is portrayed in a militant fashion that appears to encourages an anti-men movement.

Justin: What are specific areas of society that need attention regarding equality?

Leslie: Employment, job opportunities and pay are still huge issues that are impacting women and their career paths.

Justin: Why are women better than men?

Leslie: Women are not better than men, we are equal. I want to be judged on what i do and what i say, not based on the fact that i’m a female.

Justin: What needs to happen next?

Leslie: Equal pay for the same job, that’s not happening at the moment. Women being considered for all jobs based on their abilities. Stereotypes need to fall away.

They are slowing us down.

It is clear to see that contrary to many people's beliefs, feminism is not what the media portrays it to be. It is not women wanting to be superior, it is women demanding the same treatment as men regarding respect,pay and opportunities. Another clear apparent issue is the extent of gender bias within the workplace that i was not actually aware of until it was brought to my attention. It is a much deeper issue than I originally thought and is clearly one of the big underlying issues causing this tension between men and women. To move forward we have to remove all judgement based on gender and of course that will only come with time. It is of human nature to make immediate assumptions based on your judgment of a person so it will take time but it needs to happen in order to progress.

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THROUGH THE EYES OF A FEMINIST

WAYFARER

BEAUTY STANDARDS

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BY DANIEL ROBINSON

Men are told they have to have a muscular build with abs and toned arms, In the past, men that were heavier were seen as wealthy. However, this has changed, with overweight men being seen as lazy. Men must also be well groomed and tall. This is due to the thought that men that are shorter than women are not perceived as ‘manly’. Where do you think Women sacrifice many things to try and become the “ideal” this thought came from? The movies, contanly telling us women. Women are expected to have a slim, toned body, men have to look a certain way to be seen as manly. Good clean skin and good physical features. This is what the looking, muscular men in movies are payed to eat healthy. movies say is beautiful and slowly it is what we have begun They create an unrealistic view on what a man “should” look to see as beautiful. To achieve this women must stick to like. A male who is working 7-8 hours a day can hardly find very strict diets, to either lose or to stay the same weight the time to gym regularly and achieve this image.

Women spend a lot of money to achieve the ‘perfect’ body.

As well as needing the perfect body to feel welcome, The ideal image of what beauty looks like for each gender is women are expected to be soft spoken, pure and innocent. unrealistic and can have many negative effects on an In all of the older movies or movies about the past, women individual’s self-esteem. Do you really want to live in a were seen as these perfect innocent souls that looked after world where what you find as beautiful is determined by the her children and her husband. media?

Men are also expected to live up to western cultural standards to feel like they have a chance in the ‘dating pool’.

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Being who you want to be is slowly starting to become integrated into our ever stereotypical society, however, this society still has influential beauty standards many people abide by. This article will look at the different expectations of beauty for both the female and male genders.

SHE'S ALL THAT

BY NINA ROSSOUW

- FILM REVIEW

Laney is a complex, introverted high school girl who does not easily open up to people. She feels most comfortable painting and practicing the theatrical arts. She falls victim to a stupid bet made

by Zack Siler and his friend Dean Sampson. Zach, played by Freddie Prinze Jr, is a smart, popular jock who was dumped by his self absorbed, equally popular girlfriend, Taylor Vaun, after Spring Break, and shortly afterwards took it upon himself to turn the most “nerdy” girl in school into the next Prom Queen.

At first Laney turned down every opportunity to spend time with Zack, but the more she refused, the more he persisted. This is considered, by society, as being romantic, showing determination and masculinity. This could, however, have serious implications and promotes abuse. After being sceptical, Laney realised that Zack might not be the narrow minded jerk she assumed he was and they started spending more time together and soon became friends.

He invited her to a party and after some persuading she agreed to go, but not before she received a complete makeover from Mac, his sister. This appearance transformation did not only make her more appealing to Zack, but also moved her significantly higher up the social hierarchy as she suddenly got plenty of attention and got nominated for Prom Queen.

After being humiliated by, now jealous, Taylor at the party, Laney responded with this iconic quote, “Thank you. For a minute there, I forgot why I avoided places like this and people like you.” This shows just how authentic and true to herself Laney is. Even though she was open to experimenting with her appearance and personally made the choice to do so, she simply took it as a lesson learnt and returned to looking like her old self the very next day.

Dean, having ulterior motives of increasing his popularity and persuading Laney for himself, informed her about the ongoing bet and that it was the only reason Zack was interested in her, although Zach’s feelings were genuine. Although Laney was hurt by hearing this, confronted him personally and did not go to prom with him, she still went home the night of prom to find an apologetic Zack waiting for her return to make up for hurting her. Although Laney was an early feminist heroin, she had a forgiving nature and gets her happy ending after all.

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She’s all That is a comedy/drama teen film that was released in 1999 by Filmcolony. During the 90’s it was very popular for teen films to be based on classic literature, She's all That is a modern adaption of 1964 American music film, My Fair Lady, and is based on the 1913 play, Pygmalion. It was also a trend to incorporate the cliche of female characters undergoing complete makeovers.

However, it is arguable that She’s all That is a subtle satire of this trend that is guilty of promoting gender stereotypes to vulnerable teenage girls about their roles and identities as females. It is thus suggested that the protagonist, Laney Boggs played

by Rachael Leigh Cook, is portrayed to be a protofeminist foreshadowing modern feminism in an era when the concept of feminism was still unknown.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK Even with gender equality on the rise, sometimes Movies just don't obey society. Many movies still have a hint of gender inequality in them but the annoying thing is that many people seem not to notice.

- FILM REVIEW

BY DANIEL ROBINSON

At the beginning of the movie to about half way, many gender stereotypes are integrated. An example of this is that Jack is surprised that there was a women (Major Susan Turner) with such a high ranking in the army but what stood out most for me was when they were at the hotel scene and he told her to stay with the child (Samantha) whilst he went out and fought with the bad guys. Susan then asked if it was because she was a woman that she should stay with the kid to “babysit”. Jack said that it wasn't the reason. He then went on to say how it was because he felt she wasn't actually capable of fighting with all the men due to her being a woman Towards the end of the movie his perceptions of her as women being less powerful and capable than men started to alter. This movie showed me that gender roles in movies may be changing and giving each gender equal rank and power. While this is not the case for all movies. it is a step in the right direction.

Rating: 8/10

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“Jack Reacher- Never go back” (October 21, 2016,Paramount Pictures) sequel starring Tom Cruise as the main character, Jack Reacher, shows obvious signs of gender inequality. However the next two main characters are both women, which may come as a surprise; Cobie Smulders as Major Susan Turner and Danika Yarosh as Samantha, but in the end Tom cruise still manages to come out on top, acting in more scenes than both the actresses.

THE RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT ROMCOM

BY JADE SIMOEN

How can we teach girls that they should stay in school and work hard when movies only focus on a girl’s beauty and looks? We live in a world where many young girls are uneducated and where very few women work in the field of maths and science. Could that not be due to the movies they grew up watching, telling them that while men can be anything, girls should just be beautiful?

Being a girl in this age is hard. While women’s rights have improved, there is still inequality seen in all aspects of media. These movies make it seem that in order to be loved, I need to be beautiful. A man can be handsome, smart, funny etc. but I must just be good looking. I don’t believe that looks are everything. I do not want to be seen as a painting, something to just be looked at. I want to be smart, funny, independent, kind and strong.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t believe that all these movies are evil and that they alone are the reason for the inequality in the world. I am also not saying that this applies to all movies, just a vast majority of them. I do, however believe that it could play a part in creating gender stereotypes and script writers and production companies should be more conscious of what they produce. We should aim to show all types of women that they are so much more than just beautiful.

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We have all seen the movies. The romantic comedy where the guy gets the girl. Have you ever noticed that these movies all have one thing in common? While the man may not be stereotypically good looking, he always gets the girl due to his humour, personality, brains etc.

However, the girl is always beautiful and that’s about it.

That is all we know about her.

IS THE OLD DISNEY SEXIST?

BY ROBYN KARSTEN

Snow White is a classic example of a damsel in distress. She is so soft-spoken and gentle, she even completes all the domestic chores in the house while all the dwarfs are in the mine.

This encourages young children to believe that women must take care off domestic jobs and look after their men, meanwhile men do all the “real” work and bring home the bacon.

Disney didn't stop there. Moving onto the next princess, we have Cinderella. The whole movie basically revolves around a ball that all the single ladies of the land must attend so that the prince can pick a bride. When things take a bad turn and Cinderella’s dress is ruined, she runs and throws herself onto the floor crying.

This perpetuates the stereotype that women are all emotional wrecks. Not cool Disney. Her Fairy-Godmother arrives and saves the day by giving her a beautiful ball gown. At the ball all heads turn when they see Cinderella and the prince decides she is "the one" almost immediately.

The key word here being “see”; none of the people there knew her. Yet she was still the one that stole the prince’s heart. This teaches young children that to find love, they have to look beautiful instead of them just being themselves.

The most unsettling part about all these movies is the villains. The only strong, independent women in these movies were almost always depicted as the villain. Why? Well, I can only assume it’s because when a woman refuses to be passive and taken care of by a man it just has to be because she's evil.

No woman in her right mind would not want a man. Right, Disney?

These old school damsel in distress movies teach little girls that in order to be happy, they need a man and that for boys to ‘get the girl’ they have to be strong and brave.

Luckily, this isn’t the case in Disney’s more recent movies.

Films like Moana, Frozen, Brave and Big Hero 6 are teaching important lessons like being true to who you are and loving those around you. I’m not saying that these Disney classics are horrible and should be banned, I am simply stating that as a community we need to be more aware of what we expose the younger generations to and how the smallest things - like a children’s movie - can teach people behaviours and attitudes that are extremely difficult to unlearn later in life.

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I am one of many that grew up watching Disney movies but now, as I look back, I get the feeling that they are not as great as I once may have thought. The movies that I watched as a young child have a distinct sexist feel to them and now as a young adult, in a constantly evolving world where everyone can be anything or anyone that they want to be - I can’t help thinking that these movies are teaching the youth of our world a lesson that will take years to unlearn.

PURPLE HIBISCUS - BOOK REVIEWS

This novel tells the fictional story of young Kambili who lives in Nigeria. The novel follows her as her view on the world changes and evolves (with special regards to her religion). Her father is a strict christian who believes all forms of nigerian culture to be evil and wrong. All that Kambili knows is what her father, Eugene, says and believes. Eugene is overly controlling towards his wife, Beatrice, and his children, Kambili and Jaja. Throughout the novel you see the abuse and pain the family is put through at the hands of Eugene.

This changes however, when Kambili takes a trip with her aunt, Ifeoma, she starts to see Nigerian culture as something beautiful and starts to question everything her father has told her.

In this novel, we see how you can become stronger and how small things that happen in your life, play a huge role in who you become later in life. This novel is beautifully written with a universal message to remember your past and where you have come from.

This is very important when we live in a world like ours, which says everything that is not westernised is wrong.

I believe this is a novel that is well worth a read. It shows how people grow and change. It highlights colonised consciousness and makes you analyse your own thoughts and actions. There is violence in it and so I believe that people should be of the age of 15 before they read this novel.

Rating: 9/10

BY JADE SIMOEN

Purple Hibiscus, originally published in 2003 by Algonquin Books is a fictional novel based in postcolonial Nigeria, where the author herself, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was raised. It follows life of the heavily distressed Achike family. The main character and narrator, Kambili, the daughter of Eugene and Beatrice, takes us on a wild ride through her and her brothers development.

Eugene commands the family with an iron fist, which greatly juxtaposes his social life and involvement with the community and the church. He is not at all shy towards physically disciplining his family and constantly lords over them. He appears godlike to Kambili and she idolises him. The abuse in the family worsens throughout the novel causing the family to break apart. Jaja, Kambili’s brother, and Kambili spend time with their aunt. This is when they begin to discover that there is a life outside of Eugene’s dictatorship. Kambili and Jaja eventually develop into brand new individuals with altered perspectives and opinions and this provides the reader with a sense of hope, in the sense that struggle can breed greatness and we all have control over the person we choose to become.

The conflict is resolved in a finale of love,sacrifice and passion which provides a sense of hope and new beginnings. The novel is elegantly riddled with underlying themes and completely takes control over your thoughts and emotions and I would definitely recommend it. There are, however, a few graphic scenes and it is for that reason that I would recommend it more to a slightly more mature audience.

Rating : 8/10

BY JUSTIN COBURN

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The novel “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which was first published by Algonquin Books in October 2003, has a large focus on gender stereotypes and their roles in a household and so it is only appropriate that it is discussed in this magazine.

Honestly, at first, I was unsure what to expect from the novel and was not sure if I would enjoy it. While it is not the kind of novel that I usually read, it made me think and I am glad to have read it.

Chimamanda starts her novel right in the climax where we see Papa Eugene lashing out at Jaja, Kambili’s brother, because he disobeyed him and did not go to church and take communion on Palm Sunday. We can already recognise signs of patriarchy in how controlling Eugene is towards his family and how severely he punishes them when they do not conform to his strict rules. Eugene is a respected businessman who does a lot for the community, Enugu, where they live and is an extremist regarding Catholicism, looking down on traditional Igbo beliefs and cultures. Kambili, being young and naive, is constantly seeking her father’s hard-earned approval and is infatuated while simultaneously terrified of him.

Chimamanda creates a beautiful contrast between women throughout the novel, exploring various ways women are portrayed in society. Aunty Ifeoma is an outspoken, independent single mother while Kambili’s Mama Beatrice is passive and obedient.

After visiting her aunt, Ifeoma, and her children, Kambili has a newfound self awareness However, Eugene’s rules have not changed. The novel ends on a feeling of hope for what the future holds for Kambili and her newfound freedom.

Purple hibiscus is so relevant universally as many people experience this overwhelmingly powerless atmosphere we see Kambili in at the start of the novel. This gives people something to relate to and provides them with a feeling of home for a change to come in their circumstances. Although I believe that the novel should have an age restriction of 13 since there are scenes where violence in graphically being explained, it is nonetheless an empowering novel.

Rating: 9/10

BY NINA ROSSOUW

Purple hibiscus was written by the young talent, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was originally published in October 2003 by Chapel Hill. Purple Hibiscus has many references to gender stereotypes and their place within the family roles. I am not the biggest book reader but this book was directly related to the world we live in, which makes the book more captivating.

This book is about the 15 year old Kambili Achike, the narrator. She lives in Enugu, Nigeria with her abusive but yet religious father, Eugene, ,her (Mama) Beatrice, and her older brother Jaja. Her father is completely against his old family traditions and his Nigerian culture, believing that they are evil.

Kambili’s Papa is overly abusive in his punishments towards his children and wife. . This abuse to Beatrice lead many miscarriages within the novel.

Kambili only believes in what her father believes, however after her trip with her Aunt, Ifeoma, and her children she sees a different meaning of the word family.

This book is very well written, showing two realistic sides of many families in the world today. It shows how your childhood can very easily affect your future but also shows how there is not only one idea is right, as seen after her trip to Nsukka. al I would highly recommend this book for a good read.

It really opens you up to the situations of many family and how people can change and grow to adapt to their circumstances. There are, however, some sensitive scenes within the book and is not for the feint hearted.

Rating: 8/10

BY DANIEL ROBINSON

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Chimamanda Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus is a powerful novel that was first released by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill back in 2003. It is written as a fictional novel that deals with various themes such as postcolonialism, religion, oppression of African culture, feminism and domestic abuse. This novel takes you on a journey through Nigeria with the first person narrator: a privileged, fifteen-year-old girl named Kambili Achike. She is introduced to new people and experiences while discovering and developing independence and self awareness.

Purple Hibiscus written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was first published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill in 2003. The novel is a work of fiction set in post-colonial Nigeria. The novel follows young Kambili and her brother Jaja as they begin to see that the world is not as black and white as their father once told them. The novel is told in the first person through Kambili’s eyes.

It begins with Palm Sunday, where we see the Achike family arrive home from church. Adichie wastes no time, diving straight into the action with Eugene, Kambili’s father, throwing an angry fit because Jaja did not go to communion. This is the first time in the novel where we see Eugene’s abusive tendencies.

Kambili spends most of the novel living in her father’s shadow, terrified of what might happen if she disobeys any of his orders. She constantly strives to make her father proud, whether it is because she came first in her class or because she said the right thing. Her constant need for approval is almost obsessive. Eugene’s presence in the rest of the Achike family is suffocating and extremely well written.

Over their Christmas break the family visits Abba; where we meet Eugene’s sister, Ifeoma and her children Amaka, Obiora and Chima. Abba is Eugene’s home town and on one day we see Kambili and Jaja visit Papa Nnukwu. Eugene gives the children strict instructions about what is allowed during the visit as Papa Nnukwu is not catholic.

Eugene’s editor, Ade Coker, gets killed and this takes its toll on him. Soon after he finds his children with a picture of Papa Nnukwu and almost beats Kambili to death. Ifeoma takes Kambili and Jaja back to Nsukka where they find out that Father Amadi is leaving and that Ifeoma and her kids will be moving to America.

Beatrice (Kambili’s mother) phones while the children are with Ifeoma to tell them that Eugene has died. She later admits that she had poisoned him. Jaja takes the blame and goes to jail. The novel ends with him being released and Kambili finally finding herself and feeling truly free.

The characters in the novel show many sides to their personalities and it is extremely well written with it feeling like you are there experiencing it first hand at times. I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants to find out a bit about a culture unlike their own and I definitely suggest reading this if you are a young adult still finding your way in this big bad world. My only concern is how graphic some of the abuse scenes are.

Rating: 9/10

BY ROBYN KARSTEN

Kambili begins to develop new feelings she has never experienced before for Father Amadi, the young priest in Nsukka. He also takes a liking to Kambili as he starts referring to her as his ‘sweetheart’.

Their father finds out about Papa Nnukwu and comes to fetch them only to find out that he has died that night in his sleep. Eugene punishes Kambili and Jaja for living with a heathen.

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While in Abba, Ifeoma persuades Eugene to let the children visit her in Nsukka for a little while. This visit to Nsukka is Kambili and Jaja’s first breathe of freedom as their father is not there to check that they are following his strict schedules. Papa Nnukwu falls ill while they are with Ifeoma and comes to stay with them without Eugene knowing.

TRADITIONAL FUFU RECIPE -ADAPTED FROM WWW.FOOD.COM Serves 2 Ingredients: 900ml boiling water 90g potato flour 200ml water 1 packet potato flakes Method: 1. In a medium saucepan boil 200ml of water.

2. Blend potato flour with part hot and part cold water to form lukewarm water in a jug. Ensure that the water is not boiling water as it will cook the starch to form a creamy mixture.

4. With a wooden spoon, stir potato flour mixture in jug and quickly add to saucepan.

5. With a firm grip on the saucepan, stir the two mixtures together vigorously, pulling dough in from the centre against the inside of the saucepan.

6. When the dough is firm and smooth, moisten a small bowl with little cold water and scoop dough into bowl.

Nigerian culture includes many traditional foods that constitute a huge collaboration of many African countries. The food in their culture often plays a huge role in religious ceremonies or celebrations. The food is rich in carbohydrates; consisting of large amounts of potatoes (yams) and grains. One of the most significant dishes in the food culture is Fufu. It is so symbolic of Nigeria’s culture that it is portrayed in almost all movies pertaining to Nigeria.

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3. Pour potato flakes into saucepan and add remaining boiling water enough to fully cover the flakes.

ART: THE MEDIA BEFORE MEDIA

BY ROBYN KARSTEN

Renaissance art was often commissioned for the church, so the pieces depicted scenes or people from the bible. The women were very often naked and very passive. Men often had what was deemed the ideal body and were almost always depicted with a very confident stance, showing off their strength and power.

If we look at Neo-Classic art then we would observe how the women were always painted to look very soft, gentle and passive with an almost angelic feel to them while men were almost always depicted in a position of power and strength. Take The Oath of the Horatii by Jacques-Louis David for example. The three Horatii brothers are standing tall with their father, swords raised. While their sisters are all slumped over each other, looking completely helpless.

Neo-Classism was followed by Romanticism and then Impressionism. Both of which continued showing woman mostly naked with an angelic-like glow and dominant men. Post-Impressionism was

next with its artwork growing less and less realistic as the first camera had been invented which meant art was no longer a means of documentation and it became more for enjoyment.

The changes in methods of painting were one of the few changes though. Even though more landscapes and still-life’s were now the subject of most artworks the old trend was still evident when people were depicted. ‘media’ of its time.

This trend of art depicting passive women and men in power was one that lasted a long time. The first artwork to challenge this trend was one of Pablo Picasso’s (Les Demoiselles D’Avignon). The piece was a part of the Cubist period and was the first artwork to show women in a more aggressive way. The figures gaze at the viewer in an almost accusatory way. This was the first time women seemed to be depicted in a dominant manner.

This was an empowering moment in art for all women as they could finally see women in a place of more power than they ever had before. The same way that movies, books and social media influence how we see gender now, the same could be said for art back when it was the conventional ‘media’ of its time.

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Long before the internet was invented and before we had TV’s, art was the only ‘media’ people had. It was their only way of seeing society’s already skewed views of what men and women’s roles should be.

THE MALE FEMINIST HOW ARE GENDER IDENTITIES CONSTRUCTED, MAINTAINED OR CHALLENGED IN THE MEDIA?

BY CRAIG NONDO

The media communicates perverse, and worrying, messages about a woman’s value. 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 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? It’s clear that women are maintained as sexual objects with a sole purpose of pleasing a man.

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 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.

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 they are people that command respect. Studios such as ABC (the producers of the shows mentioned above) 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 and so it will take time to fix this injustice. Even from 2004-2012, a show entitled ‘Desperate Housewives’ (the title is selfexplanatory) 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 neighbourhood 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.

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‘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?

In addition to that, women are depicted as politically inept in the media via news outlets such as CNN. A widely known example is Hilary 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 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. If women are such terrible leaders, how could this be so?

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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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.

PINK TAX: A WOMAN NEEDS A MAN, LIKE A FISH NEEDS A BICYCLE.

discrimination adds another layer to the wage inequality women face, making it harder for women to make ends meet.”

This effects and ultimately leads to girls and women believing that they need men in their lives to Various platforms of media are used by companies to provide for them and restricts women from being advertise their products. It is quite obvious through financially independent members of society. Some advertisements that women are forced to pay more women take up a role that is powerless and they are than men for EXACTLY the same product. This is completely reliant on a man to provide an income referred to as Pink Tax and is defined as products for them and care for them. marketed specifically towards women and girls which relates to the price difference for female It is important to find a healthy balance between products and services compared to gender-neutral your relationship and your career. Believing that or male products and services. you need a man in your life is a very conservative and narrow-minded way of thinking and could lead The Buzzfeed team, Ladylike, released a YouTube to many women basing important life choices and video in May 2016 where four women traded all their having their happiness depend on their partners. usual toiletries in for similar male products for a Relationships, however, are not permanent and week and compared both their quality and prices. could end. This means that placing all your trust and completely relying on another person limits not They went to Target, where it was found that the only your abilities but also restricts you from taking section dedicated to male products was much responsibility and ownership of your own life. smaller than that of females. This means there is a larger variety of products with specific functions in It is, therefore, fundamental for women to be terms of your skin’s needs for women and that they financially independent and be confident in their are also priced much higher. own abilities in providing for themselves. In doing so, women will not feel the need to stay with their Products being priced in this way supports the partner if they are living under terrible conditions common stereotype that women are expected, by such as being exposed to domestic violence and society, to care more about their physical features being physically or mentally abused. and that they will go to extreme measures like paying more for a product that is advertised to help Truly being in control of your own life and choices you achieve a youthful and feminine appearance. is very empowering. Being financially independent brings about a sense of responsibility and makes This adds to the already existing problem that you feel capable and confident.This allows you to women earn less than men for doing the exact same make your own decisions and grow as a person work. Surina Khan, the CEO of the Women’s when you learn from your mistakes.

Foundation of California said, “Price

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BY NINA ROSSOUW

WHY ISN'T IT CALLED EQUALISM?

BY JUSTIN COBURN

If you think about it, there is one main source responsible for the mass creation of feelings towards a certain topic, media. It is very clear that media has not been friendly towards feminism. They have created a darkness that follows feminism no matter where it goes or what it accomplishes. Many people I have spoken to regarding feminism share the same views as myself. Most people see feminism as a scary force similar to a cult that is aiming not for the equality of men and women, but for the superiority of women.

What has caused these misconceptions?

A quick search on Youtube will answer that question.

Enter the word feminism into the search box and what do you get back: anti-feminism speeches and videos of people explaining why feminism is stupid and should be disregarded. Seeing as this is one of the most accessed sites worldwide, would it not make sense for people to adopt the same views that they are

constantly being exposed to? The problem with this exposure and why it works so well is that those videos pray on the fact that people are willing to blindly believe one story that they hear without researching further. If many people believe something, it must be the right choice.This is where the problems arise because often we associate the behaviour and characteristics of a few people with an entire group or organisation.

All the negative connotations around feminism can be blamed on the extremists or anti-feminists. Now that we have seen what the extremists are hoping to achieve we assume that all feminists must share similar views but in reality, it is the complete opposite. Feminism has become a single women with hairy armpits and ten cats ranting about the fall of men whereas in reality this could not be further from the truth.

Feminism was created to be an empowering motion designed to empower those who were previously disadvantaged or discriminated against because of their sex. This is a battle for rights and should be viewed as nothing less. Media will always portray feminism in a negative way. As long as it can keep moving in the right direction, progress shall be made.

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Feminism carries many harsh stigmas and the “Fword” is often muttered only in faint whispers (Valderrama, 2014). There are many negative views on feminism and people can be intimidated by it but what has caused these negative feelings towards something that is supposedly supporting equality? Only about 26% of people think of feminism in a positive light.

(Wade,2015)

THE SWEDISH PERSPECTIVE Gender is a prevalent topic all over the world at the moment and there are major differences regarding gender throughout the world. There are a variety of a different cultures and communities that will all respond with great variance to gender and the common issues surrounding it. It is therefore essential that we share and understand how gender is represented and communicated in media all across the globe. That is why we shared a set of questions regarding gender, gender inequality, gender stereotypes and common gender roles in society with a few anonymous Swedish students attending Rudbeck Gymnasium in Sollentuna. It will be very interesting to observe how gender and the issues surrounding gender are communicated in a community so different to our own.

What is the name of your school and what is the environment like?

Student 1: Our school is called Rudbeck Gymnasium and it's situated in Sollentuna. It's a rather big school, there is about 2000 students and about 200300 teachers. I believe we have a friendly environment at Rudbeck and everybody that I know are mostly nice towards each other.

Student 1: The workplaces in Sweden are far from being gender equal, but we’re still more equal if you compare it to many other countries. In general, men in Sweden earn more than women in Sweden, and many women feel oppressed by the men at their workplace.

Student 2: Most workplaces are equally divided between the genders, although the people in charge of the companies are often men.

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Student 2: My school is called Rudbeck. It's a really big school with about two thousand students and I know about five people.

Do you feel that the work place in your country is gender equal or is your system still trying to integrate it?

Is there still a more dominant gender in media such as magazine and adverts? If so, what can we do to change this?

Student 2: Yes, but we don't call ourselves feminists.

We treat boys and girls equal, but we are too lazy to be social activists.

Student 1: It’s not that any gender is more dominant in media, but different genders are represented in different ways. For example, women are only in adverts that are focusing on physical appearance, while men are in adverts for sports, carpentry, and other things that are “typical men things”. I believe that this is so wrong, I haven’t seen one man in an advertising for example makeup, and not one woman in an advertisement for cars. The way different genders are represented in media is something that we really need to change.

Have you ever experienced gender inequality in your community or school?

Student 2: I don't really read magazines but I do see adverts. It really depends on what kind of product the company is trying to sell. If it's an advert for a lawnmower, it's usually a man in the ad.

What are your views on women and men competing in the same categories in sports?

Student 2: A couple of years ago some boys in our school thought it was a good idea to slap girls’ butts.

The teachers put a stop to that rather quick though.

Student 2: Biologically, we are obviously different. A professional man has a really big advantage over a woman. Of course, some sports are not as physical, horse riding for example. I think the problem is that not nearly the same amount of people watches women’s sport.

Are your friends mostly pro gender equality?

Student 1: Most of my friends say they are pro gender equality, and some really are, but sometimes they say something sexist, even though they didn’t mean to. I believe the problem is that everybody has been taught since they were little that there is one superior gender, the male gender. Girls are supposed to lack an opinion, while boys are taught to take charge and be heard. This is why I don’t fully blame my friends, I mainly blame the society.

In your household, are gender stereotypes discussed and are they condoned?

Student 1: In my household, gender stereotypes are never discussed. As the feminist that I am, I’m trying to talk with my parents about it, and educate them, but they’re not interested. I really can’t fully blame them, they have grown up in a house where their father decided everything, while their mother did the dishes, cleaning and cooking. But everybody can learn, and I will make sure they do. It’s easier to teach the younger generations, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t educate the older generations as well.

Student 2: No, but we are pro gender equality. We usually talk about other things like school or basketball.

Are women considered inferior in your community?

Student 1: I would absolutely say that women are seen as inferior in my community, as in many other places in the world.

Student 2: Not on the surface, but as I said earlier, the people in charge of companies are often men. In our parliament, we have a lot of women though, maybe not 50%, but we're getting there.

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Student 1: It’s obvious for me that men and women who are competing in the same categories in sports should be treated as equals, but they’re not. Men are seen as tough, while women are just “trying”. I’ve heard several times how boring it is to watch women's football; how weak female athletes are and that men are so much better in almost every sport. I don’t get how people of a specific gender can see themselves as superior; we are all equals whether you’re female, male, transgender, non-binary or other.

Student 1: I experience gender inequality in my school or in my community every week. For example, a teacher might say: “I need two strong boys to help me carry these books”. It’s like she/he assumes boys are strong and girls aren’t.

Everywhere I go most men and boys just walk around like they are better than everybody else, and I’m sick and tired of it.

Are sexist jokes a common occurrence?

Student 1: I wouldn’t say sexist jokes are common, but I’ve heard quite a lot of them. For example: “How many men does it take to change a light bulb? None, let her cook in the dark”. Or maybe the classic: “Why haven’t there been any female astronauts on the moon? -Because it doesn’t need cleaning yet”. It’s so disgusting that some people find jokes like these funny, but I’m glad they’re not common where I live.

Student 2: They occur sometimes, but not to be mean to girls but to make people laugh. However, to be honest, I don't find them funny.

Do you believe that we could create a world where there is no gender inequality and if so how do you believe we will be able to make it?

Student 1: I have to believe that someday we will live in a world where there is no gender inequality and we all are treated as equals. I simply think that everyone has to see that we are all the same. We are all humans. We all consist of flesh and bone and we all belong here. Apparently, that is very hard for some to understand, but we have to keep on fighting, keep on protesting and remember that every win takes us one step further towards total gender equality.

Student 2: I think so but it's going to take time. Men has been superior for so long. We have come a long way, but there's still work to be done. I do, however, believe it is possible.

Student 1: I believe that gender equality will be integrated, but I can’t say that I think it will be soon.

Gender equality would be one the best thing to ever happen to us. I It is sad that so many people can’t see that. As I said in the previous question, we just have to keep on fighting for it, and eventually, gender equality will become a reality.

Student 2: I definitely think it's a good thing, because all people should be treated with respect, no matter their gender. It will probably take time, but if people work hard to achieve something, I believe it can be done.

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Lastly, do you think that gender equality will be integrated soon and do you think it will be a good thing?

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