Kiera Knightley Commercial

Kiera Knightley has made a disturbing TV commercial to spread awareness about domestic abuse. It's getting some really powerful reactions on the internet. There's no doubt that this commercial successfully captures people's attention and teaches them about the reality of violence against women. But I can't help but wonder...why do people only care when a celebrity is talking about the issue.

This commercial is another example about my previous post about the Rihanna and Chris Brown scandal. There have been many other commercials about domestic abuse, but none of them received nearly as much public reaction as the one Knightley stars in.

I'm still not sure whether or not I like this commercial. I'm glad it is opening people's eyes....but there's really nothing new here!

If celebrities continue to dictate which social issues are important to the public, then what happens to all the other important causes that aren't represented? Why can't people make their own decisions and think for themselves?

The Chick Flick: Romance Killer

Photo of "Mary" courtesy of accesshollywood.com

I'm so sick of the new chick flicks that are contaminating my movie theatre. I don't even want to go see them. They are all the same: degrading and an insult to women. The women in these movies are concerned about one thing: finding love. Why does this have to be the only problem a middle-aged woman faces?

Sure, women love hearing romantic stories with happy endings. But it seems all the great classic love stories are about a man chasing after a woman, wooing her heart with love songs and poetry. The new chick flicks seem to revolve around desperate and somewhat neurotic women chasing uninterested men who they obsess over. How is this romantic?

Some obsessed, pathetic characters in recent chick flicks:
GiGi- He's Just Not That Into You (This chick flick s great...but this particular character annoyed me)
Mary- All About Steve
Abby-The Ugly Truth

Photo of "GiGi" courtesy of nwanews.com





These characters are all trying to find love. But they are so desperate, men perceive them as a little psycho. (*For the record, I love that women are the ones making the first move. I just don't approve of the way they are doing it in these movies). So what happens? The man finally gets to know the "true person" behind the psycho and falls in love. The end! Wow...so unrealistic!


But my friend and film geek begs to differ. She is a bit of a hopeless romantic and assures me that modern chick flicks are still very much romantic. I disagreed and so I challenged her to a chick flick faceoff! Check out Podcast 3 for our debate on this heated topic! Then, tell me what you think. Are modern chick flicks romantic?

In the Motherhood: A good idea falls flat

Photo courtesy of lilsugar.com

The Good:
In the Motherhood is a new comedy series that premiered on ABC last Thursday. It's getting some pretty bad reviews. Which is too bad. I think the entire idea for the show is great! A show about mom's who aren't rich, beautiful, and having affairs with the pool boy (Desperate Housewives style). And one of the women has a MANNY! That's right, a male nanny. I can hear the double standards starting to crack!

The show is based on the online series Motherhood (which has since been discontinued). Episodes were inspired by stories sent in by single moms. I LOVE this idea. The show becomes realistic. Mom's can totally relate. They don't feel they are the only ones failing at motherhood. This interactive web show gave women a voice. I was happy to see this concept transcend into the television show.

The Bad:
But the Writers Guild of America is pissed off. Women are basically writing the show through their story submissions, but are receiving no compensation. ABC says they will receive a screen credit. But according to the WGA, that's not enough. These women deserve at least $7, 000 for each story that makes it to air.

Instead of paying these women, ABC has decided to just scrap the whole idea altogether. Women can still submit their stories on the show's website, but they won't be used on the show.

The Ugly:
So what's left? A television show that is written by people who probably don't know anything about being a single mom and yet another online community for single moms.

I think ABC should hire a few of these women that submitted stories as consultants. At least there will still be a real mom's voice somewhere in the show. I also think they should fire the three actresses that are starring in this show (Cheryl Hines, Megan Mullally and Jessica St. Clair). Why don't they hire the original two women from the Web series (Leah Remini and Chelsea Handler)? There is already a big fan base for the old web series. Maybe people will watch if they see the actors they know are funny in this context.

But if this doesn't happen, I'd say ABC will probably cancel In the Motherhood after six episodes (which is all they have been signed to produce). How long would you give it?

America's Next Top Model (aka: The Machine of Conformity)

Photo courtesy of netmen

Tyra Banks is such a hypocrite.

On The Tyra Banks Show, she talks about accepting your body the way it is and encourages women to look past the stereotype of conventional beauty. This conversation continues on her website where women discuss their struggles with self-confidence.

Switch the channel to America's Next Top Model, and Tyra's preaching a whole different philosophy. The contestants are a direct reflection of the conventional beauty standards. Skinny, tall, perfect skin, etc. Auditions for the new season is already causing controversy. Tyra says she wants to see more diversity and will make the height and weight requirement flexible. The official ANTM application says that "Producers reserve the right to make case-by-case exceptions...[and] are looking for a variety of models, including plus size models."

But a woman who went to the audition says they weren't even going to see people who didn't meet the requirement:

"I PERSONALLY went to the auditions in St. Louis FIVE DAYS AGO. And I am 5'8". They did NOT allow case-by-case exceptions!!!!! After standing in line for an hour looking amazing, a woman with a loud speaker came out and frankly told those who aren't 5'7" and under to, "Get out." and she also said, "Even if you're 5'7" and a half we wont see you so you might as well go home.""

Even the women who do make it on the show are cleansed of anything that makes them look different. It's like the show is a machine they put women through so that they reflect the stereotype of a beautiful woman. Watch my podcast to find out more about ANTM contestants being forced to conform:

Hot Cougars and Ugly Sugar Daddies

Berry/Aubry photo courtesy of candykirby

It seems more and more successful women are dating younger men. Which is fine...but it is generating a new double standard. A rich older woman must look just as hot as her young new boy toy (aka: "the cougar"). Whereas a rich older man can look his age (pot belly, bald spots, wrinkles) and still get a hot, young girl (aka "the sugar daddy").

Some examples of older women dating (or married to) younger men are:
-Madonna (50) and Jesus Luz (22)
-Demi Moore (46) and Ashton Kutcher (30)
-Hallie Berry(43) and Gabriel Aubry (33).

Now compare those couples with older men dating (or married to) younger women:
-James Woods (60) and Ashley Madison (21)
-Rene Angelil (67) and Celine Dion (40)
-Michael Douglas( 63) and Catherine Zeta Jones (39)

The older women are just as hot as the younger men. But the older men are no where near as hot as the younger women. So I ask you: Why is this?

I will dismiss any suggestion that these hot young women date ugly older men only for their money, and therefore do not care about looks. Young men date older women for money as well, yet they do not have to have sex with wrinkly, fat women.

Here's my theory: Women feel they must look young and sexy at every age...even in relationships where looks are of secondary importance (money being the first). Men feel this pressure too- but it is eases the older they get. Men are allowed to age and show their "natural beauty"...even when they are under the media's spotlight.

Angelil/Dion photo courtesy of gaabiiziinhaa

Female Anchors: How they REALLY got to the top

Photo courtesy of KUSI TV


Women are starting to take over the news desk! Hooray! But wait a minute...it's not their excellent journalism skills that got them there!

It seems women are being promoted to anchor because viewers are "more willing to accepts news from a young woman." So the population's mentality about women is starting to change. People are finally taking female journalists seriously....or at least that is what I would like to think. Here are some of the more realistic reasons behind these recent promotions:

1.People probably just prefer looking at a young women than an old man. Even though young women are saying the same thing as the previous anchorman, women can sustain people's attention for a longer period of time. Because even if the news is incredibly slow, at least people have something pretty to look at.

2. News organizations want to differentiate themselves from the competition. They want to stand out from the traditional news format. But what will happen onces almost every news organization has female anchors? Will it become the new tradition and have news agencies reverting back to men in order to be different?

3. News organizations were running out of men. Many of the high-profile male anchors are retiring or being let go. News organizations just can't afford to pay their expensive contracts. And there are plenty of hard-working, (and probably desperate) female journalists waiting in line behind them for a lot less!

But regardless of how these women got promoted, the point is....THEY GOT PROMOTED TO ANCHOR! This is the first step to letting the world see how amazing these women are as journalists. Eventually, they will gain credibility and people will start listening to them rather than criticizing their hairstyles.

Female Role Models are Changing

Photo courtesy of Army.mil

Michelle Obama will be speaking to students at 11 schools in Washington, DC as part of her celebration of Women's History Month. A few celebrities will also be speaking, such as Alicia Keys, Sheryl Crow and (if you can call her a celebrity) Fran Drescher.

The women will encourage the children to stay in school and get excited about their future. Other notable women, such as a famous female astronaut, an ambassador and a general in the US military, will also speak. I'm assuming this is to show the children that a woman's success is not based on the extent of her popularity in the entertainment industry (although the majority of guest speakers are actors, singers, makeup artists and television producers).

I think this event is quite remarkable. Women are represented as a diverse group of people. Women from all different races, ages and religions are taking part. It also makes successful women seem more of a reality rather than just an image they see in magazines. To hear Michelle Obama on television is quite different from hearing Michelle Obama speaking in your auditorium and looking into your eyes.

I hope young girls from these schools will see these women and change their idea of what a good female role model should be. Maybe they'll even start to turn off "Paris Hilton's My New BFF" and start watching CNN to get a glimpse of Michelle Obama.

I also hope the media will report on this event (other than Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood). These women are an inspiration to young girls not only in Washington, but all aorund the world.