Women's Football

I watched the world cup final, USA vs Japan. I had been following the rest of the tournament via an ipod app. The first half was boring, but when they started scoring goals I was hooked. Anyway, congrats to Japan.

The thing is, I find it great that women's football is being broadcast on BBC3, because funnily enough women playing football can be seen as a feminist thing.

There are those that are against it. The final overran so some people were annoyed that they had to wait for Family Guy. One person I know put as her facebook status "It's not even real! Just flip a coin!". Yes that person was a girl, and yes she got a lot of likes for it. But women's football isn't "real"? The rules are the same, you kick a ball about, and it gets taken far too seriously. Sounds like football to me.

And besides, women's football has it's benefits. The goalkeepers can be smaller, so more goals are scored. More exciting for the audience. And the players don't have their personal lives the focus of "Heat" and "O.K." magazines. So they earn respect by being good players, such as Abbie Wambach and Hope Solo of the USA team and in my picture.



Then when Japan won they fell to the ground hugging each other. So my mother calls out to the TV "lesbians!" So my dad and I gang up on her to tell her off. Because she was being ridiculous, they are women playing sport professionally. There are heaps of women doing this. But football is a "men's sport" so when women try it out their sexuality is automatically assumed, as though it even matters.

It wouldn't surprise me if men face this too. If a man is a skilled gymnast, I bet he wouldn't be a "real man", and people would automatically assume he's gay.

My point is, let people play any sport they want, because gender should not restrict. The presence of restriction is why I became a feminist.

Mooky Chick

This is an amazing website if you're like me and love learning about all things "alternative". It's got everything from "How to" guides to reviews. In fact they kind published a review I did: http://www.mookychick.co.uk/books/fiction/how-to-be-a-woman-review.php

They support women in how I think women should be: feminine but in a good way, encouraged to be different but most importantly to be how we want ourselves to be- free from judgement.


http://www.mookychick.co.uk/

Action for Amnesty

I've been a member of Amnesty since last September and I felt this campaign links to this blog I've decided to resurrect. In Nicaragua rape and sexual abuse is shockingly common, especially against girls under 17. Worse still, the justice system is almost no help, and the attacker walks free and the victim is blamed.

And, abortion is illegal even if it is the result of a rape, even incestuous rape.

So on 28th September this year women's organisations, women, men and children will march to demand the repeal of total abortion ban and march to end sexual violence to women and girls.

Anyone can use Amnesty to show their support (free!) by designing a butterfly with a message of solidarity that will be part of the demonstrations.

http://amnesty.org.uk/podcasts/butterfly.html?utm_source=aiuk&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=WHR&utm_content=butterfly_nib

Disgusted

I don't post at all these days. Ah well, no one cares. But my friend told me about a horrible site she found, a site run by a man who is so sexist it doesn't seem real. And what I mean by that is this: http://www.menarebetterthanwomen.com/

The name of the site is somehting you'd expect a primary school boy to come up with. The whole "boys are better than girls!" "No, girls are better than boys!" I heard while under the age of ten. But the content is appalling. I wont go into detail, but it's everything any woman who is sane would object to. I'm also shocked he has a book published and for sale. A book of the narrow minded, idiotic ramblings his site contains.

I'm not going to give a detailed review of his site, but i shall copy a quote from his blog.

"I was getting so many text messages from hot babes on New Year's Eve that my phone overloaded and permanently shut down."

Yes, and I can see a pig flying pass my window.

feminist sites...

Sites I like to go on that make a good point....

http://www.pinkstinks.co.uk/ (UK)
http://www.thefword.org.uk/ (UK)
http://www.feminist.com/ (USA)

Pink Stinks has a sister site made for kids, and it is raises awareness on good role models or girls and the mass marketing of pink, fairies and princesses aimed at young girls.

thefword is more for adults.

feminist is for all ages, and has an agony aunt, which is nice :D

The Donnas

Boy, I got your number. But that doesn't mean I have to call you"

That was the first lyrics of the first song by The Donnas I ever heard. And I thought it sucked. Still do actually, but the rest of the song is okay. However I think to two lines have a good point. And they basically explain themselves; no one owes anyone anything if the anything is small and petty. Like a phone call.

So I was watching an interview with The Donnas a while ago that was about their high school when they started the band. Apparently no one took them seriously, because they were girls. Guys didn't think they could play their instruments based on the fact that they are XX not XY. I find this ridiculous. Just simply ridiculous. I could blame it on the guys not being mature ect, buuuuuuuut I don't. They were probably too proud. Of course now they think The Donnas are millionaires, and they try to use it as an insult. Hmmm, I think they are jealous.

Fictional Feminists

So basically this post is womyn in books, on TV or in films that I know quite a bit about, and if they can be seen as feminists.

Hermione Granger
She is the lead girl in the Harry Potter books and films. She is smarter than the other two main roles, who are both boys. Her physical strengh has never been needed, as in Harry Potter it is more about using your brain and magical skills than if you can punch someone, although she did once slap Malfoy. At the beginning of the first book Hermione was seen as a stern, bossy kill joy who was not easily liked. She only became friends with Ron and Harry after they had to save her life-though it was their fault she needed saving.

To be brief, I think she is a fictional feminist icon, as she is known for not being a damsel in distress. She is able to take care of herself, prides herself in being smart not pretty (though she did get her large teeth fixed in the books), and is also a good friend which I personally think is important for anyone. Even better, Emma Watson, the actress who plays her, is a feminist and also sees Hermione as one.

Bella Swan
I've only read Twilight and New Moon, I havn't seen the film (though my friend is dragging me to see New Moon the film when it is out) and what I have read irritates me to the core of my soul. And Bella is one reason why.

She cannot be a feminist icon due to her embarrasing co-dependancy on Edward. This I find is shown in New Moon. For starters, when she suspects something is up with Edward (he is watching the football which apparently is unusual for him) she is so worried she is struggling to eat pizza (a crime I think-pizza is amazing!). Then he dumps her and she is sent in a spiral of depression that cuts her off from everyone. To get out of the horrible state she is in she repeatedly risks her life just to hear his voice. How romantic. And in Twilight she is so obsessed with him the way he runs leaves her breathless and his piano playing leaves her in tears. Though to be honest I dont think it's sexist, just a bit pathetic. As for the other books I don't know if she improves, because those books torture me, though I wouldn't bet on it.

Georgia Nicolson
If you are unaware of her she is the main character in Louise Rennison's books, a diary in Georgia's point of view. Now, these books can leave me laughing so hard I'm choking but Georgia is shocking. Her planned future career is a backing dancer, instead of GCSE's she is more worried what to wear for a party, and she is always worrying about boys and convinces herself she is ugly which makes her so sad she mopes around in her room all day. All of her friends are like this, it is only her best friend who cares about education and sees her boyfriend as a friend, not just a snogging partner. Only her best friend is seen as irritating and boring.

However I have yet to read the final book, and who knows? I have noticed she does well in sports such as tennis and hockey, and she does have creativity. Viking dance anyone?

Abigail Williams
From the play "The Crucible". Now she may be evil, but she taught a man a lesson about cheating on his wife with her, screwing her then dumping her. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned I say. Though she did ruin an entire town because she was obsessed with him. Then became a prostitute. I'm a bit divided when it comes to her.

Grace Tempest
From one of my favourite series of books: Vampirates. Like Herione Granger, she is smart. Very smart. Her twin brother once said she was better than him. And he is quite a proud guy. She also is skilled with a sword, (fitful when you're living a pirate life, which she was for about 5 minutes). I wouldn't call her a fiction feminist icon, but she's not bad at all either. I approve of her. Also in Vampirates there is Cutlass Cate and Cheng Li, two of the most skilled pirates in the books.

Famous Five Girls
What were their names? Anne and George. Pfft. Anne is obsessed with dresses (or frocks as they would say) and dolls. She gets scared easily and is a damsel in distress ALOT. And George? She would be better, more fearless and tougher but wants to be a boy for Christ's sake. Feminists? NO!



So thats's it. And I've just realised I havn't mentioned anyone off TV. Maybe another time. It's late, i'm tired and it's hard to type and eat rice krispies at the same time.


Goodbye and good night :)