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.

Hip Hop Divas Dissin' the Double Standard

Photo Courtesy of netmen

Props to some hip hop divas who are challenging gender roles in society. I've seen an increase in hip hop songs that address the double standard women face when it comes to cheating on your partner. A woman is expected to look away or tolerate it more when a man cheats on her. Here are some of my favorite hip hop songs that refuse to stay silent in the face of infidelity:

1. Ciara's video "Like a Boy" looks at this issue. Ciara actually dresses like a man and wonders whether the "rules would change up or would they still apply" when it comes to love.

2.Beyonce's "If I were a boy" takes a different approach. Here, Beyonce actually becomes her cheating boyfriend by taking on his role in society. She acts like a man but looks like a woman. It perfectly demonstrates this double standard!

3.Rihanna's "Breaking Dishes" smashes the double standard. Here, Rihanna doesn't tolerate her boyfriend's mysterious behavior. She becomes violent! Not the typical response one would expect from a woman.

4. The Pussycat Dolls (feat Missy Elliott) make an attempt at attacking this issue in "Whatcha Think About That". They talk about gender reversal, but unfortunately they reinforce traditional gender roles in their video. My favorite part is when Missy Elliott says, "You wear that dress and I'll put on your slacks." But the Pussycat Dolls are dancing around in their underwear grinding polls and swinging on swings. What?!

Update on Rihanna Post

Photo Courtesy of Eka Eka Eka Eka

Just a quick update since my post about Rihanna and how the media wasn't talking about the bigger issue. It's been about two weeks since TMZ broke the story, but one show has finally taken the opportunity to discuss domestic violence.

Oprah dedicated an entire show today on this very important topic. Tyra Banks co-hosted the show. I was surprised to hear Tyra recount her own experiences with domestic abuse and violent relationships. The show included several tips for women suffering from this issue and personal stories from women from all across the US. Oprah echoed my thoughts on the issue: "It's not about attacking anyone. It's about taking the moment for us to grow."

Has anyone seen anything else in the media addressing this issue? Is the media finally looking past the scandal and starting to take action?

Health Knows No Gender

Photo courtesy of The Sun

According to a CNN report, women choose how 88% of every disposable dollar is spent. It's obvious. Women love to shop.

But the report also found that 65% of women between the ages of 35 and 40 felt ads were patronizing and 50% felt they were old-fashioned. So why are advertisers offending their best customers by reinforcing gender stereotypes?

Many of these ads depict women as a version of the "hot babe". This has obviously created pressure for women to be thin...which is is great news for low-calorie food companies. Ads for one company actually help other companies sell their product. Since women think they need to lose weight in order to meet the media's standards, they turn to healthier foods. So it's no surprise that ads for this type of food targets women. But everyone should eat healthy. Why is steak and fries seen more as a "man's meal" and a salad as more of a "woman's meal".

Check out my podcast that includes a few examples and my "commercial remix".

International Women's Day in Montreal

Photo Courtesy of Immer_Lebend

Happy International Women's Day everyone! This year's theme: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls. (Apparently Rihanna will not be participating).

But it seems this important day is losing popularity in Quebec. About 250 people participated in the IWD march today in Montreal. That's about half the number of people who participated in last year's events (which took place in the middle of a snowstorm). But there was a lot more children attending this year's march. Many mothers brought their daughters to encourage a new generation to fight for gender rights as well. Although some seemed too young to understand most of the heated issues that were discussed such as the Tamils' situation in Sri Lanka.

Other political issues managed to infiltrate the women's march. In addition to speaking out against gender inequality, some women (including the organizers of the march) chose to speak out against the government's attempt to ban masked protests. I suppose masked protests could be viewed as a violation of women's rights, but the ban applies to both genders. So it seems like the march may have been an excuse to preach other political issues that are only somewhat related to this event.

For others, IWD is going commercial. In some countries, men honor women by giving them presents. (Although in China, women usually receive aprons, detergent and brooms as gifts). Some Montreal businesses are trying to promote this gift-giving tradition. Some florists are advertising beautiful bouquets especially for IWD. But women don't want flowers, they want equality!

Though Canada is still one of the top countries who hold the greatest number of events to celebrate this day, I fear the significance of IWD may be dwindling in Quebec. There are so many other political issues going on in this province that sometimes overshadow other issues. Protests and rallies are also very common in Quebec, so the IWD march may have trouble making an impact on a public that is becoming increasingly insensitive to opposition.

Act Helpless and He Will Come

Photo courtesy of kissmestace.com

Comedian Steve Harvey just released his book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What men really think about love, relationships, intimacy, and commitment. Basically he tells women to pretend they are unable to do certain everyday tasks and allow men to do it for them. This allows the men to "feel like a man". Apparently, men need to feel like they are needed. The notion that men are the ones who provide for and protect their woman is deeply engrained in their minds.

But there's a new generation of women who are sick of playing this game. They are strong, smart and independent. They refuse to demean their intelligence to attract men. I am one of them. But let me be clear. I think it is romantic when a man opens the car door for me or gives me his coat when I'm cold. But I never act like I am unable to take care of myself. I'm a grown woman afterall. I see this a lot when I go to parties. A man will hand me a beer and twist it open for me. Is this romantic or is he assuming I am unable to do this on my own, thus fulfilling his need to be needed?

In an interview, Harvey goes further and says women don't have a choice but to act this way if they want to find a man. "It's great that women are upwardly mobile now. I think that a woman would love to have a shoulder to lean on, love to have a strong male figure around, but you've got to allow that to happen in your life. If you're going to portray that you don't need a man, that's not really going to attract any men." Oh really? Well I haven't had any trouble finding men. But maybe I'm an exception.

Are men intimidated by self-sufficient women? I don't think so. Because in the end, a relationship is about fulfilling a need for intimacy with another person. A need to feel like someone cares about you and is there for you no matter what. This doesn't mean being there to change a light bulb or open a jar. This means having someone there to listen to you when you're pissed off or to hold you when you're sad.

I think, above all, MEN are the ones who need this from women. Men don't express their emotions with male friends, but feel more open to this communication with women. I don't think men realize how much emotional support a woman provides a man. And this is far more important than opening a car door!

Comic Book Nerds Come Together

Photo Courtesy of sliceofscifi.com

Comics are making a come-back, but none of them interest me. Something about a strong, mysterious guy perpetually saving a woman in distress just doesn't appeal to me. Where are the comics for women?

The comic book industry is male-dominated. This is because readers are 75-95% male. So the readers eventually become the writers. This circle will never break until comics start attracting more women. This means we need more female superheroes who aren't hyper-sexualized. We need characters that young teen girls can idolize. I love that characters such as Wonder Woman and Catwoman display courage and bravery, but why do they have to fight crime half-naked in heels? You don't have to be a slut to save lives.

Author of DC Comics Covergirls Louise Simons explains in this article that women will eventually get more involved in this industry:

"I know the (mature) Vertigo line has a lot of women as well as men reading it. The editor of that line is a very talented woman named Karen Berger. So I expect over the next 10-15 years there will be an influx of woman writers going towards that end of the market.”

Now I'm not all that familiar with the Vertigo comics but some quick research offered me some promise for the future. This series features a character named Madame Xanadu. The artist for this character is Amy Hadley who echoes my concern for a more female presence in the industry in this article:

"I’m a strong proponent of bringing a female audience to comics, and a typical female audience at that—not just girls who happen to be unique enough to notice that comics are for them, too. I really hope that, one day, comics will be as common as films. You need a female audience to accomplish that. Nobody asks if you watch movies. And although some films bring in more of a female audience and vice versa, it’s not quite so polarized. Vertigo does a good job of publishing intelligent comics, and I think intelligent stories bridge the gap between male and female. That’s the goal, I think—not to alienate either sex."

A non-gendered comic book! Now there's something I'd consider reading....maybe you should to.

FIrst Lady makes more than just a fashion statement

Photo courtesy of danielleking


There has been much buzz in the fashion world about Michelle Obama's wardrobe. At first, I thought this was so stupid. I could care less about Michelle's wardrobe because it has nothing to do with her political views and her position as First Lady. But the more I read about it, the more I began to understand the fascination.

Previous first ladies have always been judged by their appearance, so it's no surprise Michelle Obama was on the cover of Vogue Magazine. But it seems like Michelle is using that opportunity to make a bigger statement. I came across an article that suggests Michelle's clothing is telling women they can still be taken seriously in feminine fashion. Mandi Norwood, the former editor in chief of Shop Etc. who is now writing a style guide directed to Obama for publisher Avon A, explains:

"Most previous first ladies have appeared to believe that displaying an interest in fashion and style undermines the importance of their role. They've subscribed to the old-fashioned view that a woman should de-sexualize herself or dress like a man if she wants to be regarded as intelligent and of good conscience. Mrs. Obama, however, has a much more modern view, She's demonstrated that it's smart to be stylish; that strong and positive statements can be made through the right choice of outfit."

Some of these statements her fashion has made include:

1. You don't need to break the bank to look professional. Any women can look powerful. Michelle wears clothes from stores with more modest price tags such as H&M, Gap and J. Crew.

2. It's okay for women to wear jeans. There has been some worry from the fashion world that she is projecting too much of a casual image. But the truth is, our generation IS casual. And by reflecting this style, people can relate to her because she looks like everyone else.

3. Wear what makes you feel beautiful, not what trends tell you are beautiful. Michelle's style is always changing. Fashionistas can never pin-point her style. But this is actually ironic because women are now trying to copy Michelle's clothes. I guess this statement didn't come across as well as the others!

4. Practical clothes are smarter than glamourous clothes. Don't sacrifice comfort for beauty. Michelle is quoted in Vogue as saying, "Some will think a sweater is horrible, but I was cold! I needed that sweater."

5.Don't worry about what other people think about your fashion choices. There will always be people who will criticize you. But self-confidence will overshadow them.

Michelle Obama is a great icon for the fashion industry. She has a healthy figure and a style that makes femininity sophisticated....not slutty.

Rihanna: Part of a much bigger problem

Photo courtesy of D.S.B.

50 Cent announced yesterday he is going to start cleaning up his music after hearing about Rihanna's domestic abuse incident. He says, "After I saw the photograph, that wasn't funny anymore." He added: “There will definitely be no more reference to that from me in any way." Millions of women have suffered from domestic abuse, 50 Cent. Are you just realizing this now because it happened to someone close to you?

Why do we need a celebrity to fall victim to abuse before we start talking about the issue? Why do we care more about one celebrity than millions of regular people.

MuchMusic will air a one-hour show to analyze the star duo's relationship and how the incident affects their careers. Foundations that help young teens suffering from domestic abuse "are also on hand". I don't know if this means they will actually go into detail about their services or how this issue affects today's youth. But this part is crucial and the only relevant part of the show. Young girls don't need to hear about what went wrong between Chris Brown and Rihanna. They want to know who to turn to when faced with a similar issue. People need to hear that domestic violence is highest among people between the ages of 15 and 24.

I guess it's inevitable that celebrities will always lead the way when dealing with humanitarian issues. Celebrity activists are everywhere these days. But we must stop making the celebrities bigger than the issues. Anna Hanstra, an international developments graduate student, says "The endorsements of celebrities also oversimplifies complex issues and places the spotlight on the activist, instead of on the people who are being helped."

This is an opportunity to talk about an issue that affects more than just a pop singer. But no one is jumping on it.

Worst Movie Ever

Photo courtesy of Polyvore

I just came back from watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. I want those 2 hours of my life back. Ladies, this may seem like a cute, romantic chick flick. But it's actually quite infuriating. If you still plan on watching this movie, then stop reading. But I strongly suggest you do.

This movie is about a dumb, young New York girl named Rebecca who is trying to be a journalist. Her ultimate goal is to work at this chic Fashion Magazine, so she applies to work at a finance magazine and work her way up. But she knows nothing about finances since she is in massive debt. She gets the job because she writes an article about how shopping for shoes is related to finance when she was drunk. What is this telling young girls? Don't worry about working hard to reach your goal. Just get drunk and the solution will come. Oh, and magazines will hire you even if you've ever only written one decent article.

So she gets the job at the finance magazine. But there are very few women who work there. And those who do are mostly receptionists and assistants. The women are also very boring looking compared to the main character. What's this telling the audience? If you don't dress nicely, no one will notice you and you'll only be an assistant to the successful.

But Rebecca soon becomes very successful at this magazine because she writes articles that are "more accessible" to the people. In other words, she dumbs down finance. And, not surprisingly, she starts to fall in love with her boss. This was the only good part of the movie- the guy who plays her boss is Hugh Dancy who is really hot. But he also symbolizes the ideal journalist. He encourages Rebecca to ask hard-hitting questions and investigate the corruption in American businesses. Which she never really does. The only time she used any kind of critical thinking was when she told a bank owner that his window displays were boring, and could jazz it up with free donuts and colorful signs.

The ending was the worst. Her boss decides to start his own magazine and he hires Rebecca as the lead reporter. What's the moral of this story? Flirt with your boss and you can achieve anything!

This movie is reinforcing the stereotype that women who are beautiful and glamorous achieve success. Intelligence and talent are not important. But the power of the mind is far greater than the power of your clothes. I can only hope young girls are smart enough to see that.

The Beautiful Brunette drinks Beer!

Beer seems to have a reputation of being a man's drink. Some men are surprised when I order a beer. Why? It tastes good and its cheaper than a cocktail. I really hate women who choose not to drink beer just because it hurts their image. It's not served in a fancy glass with lots of lemons or cherries nobody even eats anyways cause it gets stuck between the ice.

If you genuinely don't like the taste of beer, then that's fine. But don't tell me you're not drinking beer because it makes your breath stink or because its fattening. How much sugar do you think is in that dacquiri, sweetheart?! Don't get me wrong. I love crazy mixed drinks. But if I really want to get drunk, it just makes sense to drink beer. I could never drink Blue Lagoons all night. I would puke from the sugar rather than the alcohol. Although the color of my puke would probably make me laugh, but I digress.

Speaking of laughing, check out this beer for women. It's made by the German beer company Karlsberg. Apparently, German women think beer is nasty and bad for your health. So they added vitamins and natural ingredients to the beer. But it's only 1% alcohol. So why are you even drinking beer if you can't get drunk. Are women this stupid?

It seems the only time I see women drink beer is at a hockey game, or whenever they are watching sports. Since they are already doing something masculine, they feel like it's okay to drink beer. But if they are at a chic club downtown, beer just doesn't fit the atmosphere. Who cares where you are or what you're doing. Just drink whatever you like.

Women and War

Photo courtesy of SirKnight#4


***I'd like to preface this blog entry by saying I am against war. I am by no means encouraging women to join the army. I am just pointing out that the women who want to join the army are still not treated as equals.***

Protecting your country and standing up for your rights is a human urge. There is a universal desire in all of us to help your fellow man (or at least I like to think so). For some, signing up for military service allows them to fulfill this desire.

So why must women be prohibited from certain positions in the army? Only 88% of jobs in the American military are open to women, and 70% in the UK! What's up with that?

1. Women aren't strong enough
I'm not so sure about this. Women in the army during the World Wars held positions that were physically demanding. Women would have to haul huge bags of laundry, carry big metal cauldrons and pots full of food, and hauled injured bodies into the nursing stations. And women have proven their strength in numerous preliminary boot camp training.

2.Women are too sensitive to deal with death
The first time someone has to kill another person is always traumatizing. But in war, death becomes common and the shock wears off. Women in the Red Army during WWII were equipped with guns and were not afraid to kill. Reina Pennington interviewed several of these women, including Major Liubov Novik in her book Women in Combat in the Red Army. Novik tells her, "Whenever I recall the past now I am seized with terror, but at that time I could do anything- say, sleep next to a dead person, and I myself fired the rifle and saw blood. I remember only too well the especially strong smell of blood in the snow...but it wasn't that bad and I could go through anything."

3. Women should stay at home to take care of the family
This relates to a whole other debate about the traditional role of women as housewives. Men are equally capable of taking care of a family. Women don't have special powers that make them better at it than men. And I highly doubt that women would miss their kids more than men. I think a mother and a father love their kids equally.

Women Watch Porn

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The First Move

Photo Courtesy of rentarchive






If I see something I like, I go and get it! Men don't always have to make the first move. Women shouldn't feel like they have to hide their desires under discrete flirting and sexy looks. It's such a waste of time. I don't understand how women get excited when men try to win their affection:

Sexuality expert Paul Jackson writes in The Link:
“There is always a tension [in cultures like ours where romance and sexual relations are accepted as important and crucial to our identities] before you make known your interest in someone you’re sweet on. I had an old friend who said that the minute you asked someone out for coffee, the romance was over: it was the tension of not knowing whether you would be accepted that fuelled your passion. Accepted or rejected, the fun was over.”

This is a very bizarre concept for me to grasp. I don't call this romance or fun. If anything, it is frustrating trying to figure out someone feels about you. "Tension" is uncomfortable and awkward.

We need to stop playing these games and cut to the chase. Tell the person how you really feel and ask them out! But relationship correspondent for AskMen.com says being so straightforward with your feelings is dangerous and makes you look weak. She thinks an open heart makes women look vulnerable and weak. It will definitely put you at risk of getting hurt, but an open heart is absolutely essential if you wish to have an emotional connection with someone.

Videojug.com created a video tutorial on how to make the first move. Not surprisingly, the video depicts an awkward looking man trying to pick up a shy woman. Conversely, the site offers a video for shy woman that explains how to get men to approach them. This totally reaffirms the double standard.

But a good example of a woman breaking this double standard is on Sex and the City. Miranda and Steve love each other, but don't have the courage to tell one another. They are both seeing other people, but still go to dinner together and flirt with one another here and there. Finally, Miranda can't take it anymore and confesses her love to Steve. In just three words, Miranda and Steve stopped playing their little games and started dating again. It's so simple!

Miranda tells it like it is:

The Couric Catfight

Photo courtesy of Image Editor

It was a historic moment when Katie Couric was hired to be the first woman to anchor the news solo in 2006. But, as per usual, the media took this opportunity to criticize her rather than praise her. This has caused future female journalists to shy away from following in her footsteps, causing a major backlash.

The editor of Accuracy in the Media Cliff Kincald wrote a nasty article explaining how Couric was just a ploy to boost ratings. "They still don't understand that it is liberal bias that is driving away viewers. Putting a pretty face and a sweet voice on liberal bias won't fool viewers for long."

Most critics felt she could not handle "hard news". She was used to doing the Today Show, which was mostly human interest stories. But not many people realized Couric's great journalism skills. Washington Post reporter Howard Kurtz writes in his book "Reality Show":

"The notion of a woman in a dress would be delivering the news challenged a cultural assumption deeply embedded in the country's psyche. What if there was another terrorist attack? Another killer hurricane? Would America really turn to Katie? ...Yes, Couric had some silly things before morning show audience. But she had also interviewed presidents, and business titans, had interviewed grieving families in times of tragedy, had been on the air at 9/11.Tom Brokaw had endured some of the same razzing when he jumped from Today to Nightly News, but nothing like this. Even in 2006, the country was conflicted over a woman taking a seat that had been long reserved for the other sex" (p.165)

Kurtz explains Couric's achievement turned out to be a detriment for some other female reporters. Diane Sawyer was offered the position as solo anchor for World News Tonight but refused. She knew the media would think she was trying to compete with Katie Couric. They would be viewed as "duelling divas". The media had already created a catfight between Sawyer and Barbara Walters. But in reality, the two had always shown respect and kindness for one another.

Just because two anchors are on competing networks does not mean they must hate one another. In fact, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson are close friends. But the media never depicts them as a duelling duo!

This is one of the double standards I hate the most. There is nothing wrong with having women anchor the news by themselves. We need to get over this!

If you want to take a closer look at what other issues are effecting American television newsrooms, check out Reality Show by Howard Kurtz, It will show you what really goes on behind the camera.