Barbie: Back to the roots

Invented by a mother to inspire her children, Barbie had somehow lost her original purpose, a lot of inches in the midsection, and her ability to stand up straight as a real-life human given the proportions she developed through the years.  Now, Barbie is going back to the roots, starting with the way that we perceive women.  Barbie's new campaign asks us to "imagine the possibilities."  It hopes to inspire young girls and women to reach for their dreams, whatever they may be, and to dream big.  Bravo, Barbie!  You're becoming a woman of the 21st century! ...now if only you could get your proportions back to normal...

Change Comes to Those Who Work for It

It may come slower than they'd hope for, but women around the world - victims of rape, domestic violence, communal violence, and oppression by their traditional communities for the sole fact that they were born females - are making big changes.

I read an uplifting post about women who were beaten for selling goods in their towns where this was considered acceptable only for men.  After being beaten, and finding that her husband had done nothing to defend her honor or life during her hospital stay, she decided along with some other women to start a village FOR women and led BY women.  While disturbing to note that men had gone so far as to blockade the entry to the female-only towns and even to beat the women in front of tourists who give them their livelihood through visits and the buying of traditional jewelry and crafts, it is incredibly invigorating to hear that the women persevered, bought land where blockades had occurred, and have continued to fight for their rights to life free of violence and oppression, both as women and as human beings.

While destroying traditional patriarchal norms of their people, they are creating new traditions that accept women of all ages and their children.  They accept male visitors who are invited in but they are not allowed to stay.  Other similar communities are cropping up nearby, with different rules and regulations and hierarchies, but all with the same goal in mind: to change the world for women, to make it a better place where they have voices and power over themselves.

You can check out the full story and some gorgeous images of these world-changing women by clicking here.

True Entertainers...musicians with gusto!

Nothing like getting super creative with your instrument!!

You will be TOTALLY amazed at this video!!

Posted by Brandon Williams on Sábado, 12 de abril de 2014

Holy Powerful Woman, Batman!

...or should I say batwoman?!

Prepare yourself.  It is not about whether each statement is wrong or right, it's about women having the power to make those choices for themselves.  It is a reminder to men that we ALL can make these choices.  It is a reminder to elders that we are not all traditional, but we can choose to be if we'd like to.  It's a reminder to young women that their choices are their power and that they can use them to do good or to do harm; choose wisely.  It is also a reminder to all that we are each our own person.  Being a woman means having the choice to be an individual.

Making the choices that make us unique.

Choosing.

Women. Menstruation. Read it.

Read this article then come back.

Her words are awesome because, even though I admittedly am not generally thinking about what she is mentioning, she's TOTALLY right!! And when I actually DO think about it, it IS offensive and wrong that women are treated as dirty and unclean when they have their periods. Even the word makes people angry sometimes and sparks remarks like "gross" and "I don't need to hear about this... LALALA" (and by "people, I generally mean men, because the other half of the planet is USED to it). But the media hypes over-sexualized versions of women (and men) half naked (FULLY naked)...and while that's natural, too, so is a period.  

period. period. period. menstruation.  

GOSH. Now go check out the site for that girl's project and share this post.

This is real life. And it's natural. And it is why human LIFE can exist (unless you don't believe in the science of procreation in which case you have some other major issue which you should probably come back to my blog for some help on).  

Science exists. Women exist. Periods exist...

all of these things so that humanity can exist.  

Deal with it.

*drops mic*

Little Polka Dot Bikinis...and the cultural norm

I couldn't have said it better! I just saw this incredible blog post by a girl named Jenny Trout basically taking on whatever came her way as a heavy woman who wanted to (and DID) wear a bikini to the beach (albeit freezing cold at a lake)! She's to the point, hilarious, and completely honest. I love it because it translates beyond the "fat vs. skinny" societal crazy and really attacks the cultural norms that we've come to accept and even uphold despite the fact that the "cultural norm" actually isn't quite normal at all! As she mentions, we have begun upholding this idea of "this is perfect, and everything else is not" when the reality is most of us don't fit those "standards" that we have been accepting and projecting.

 So, good on you, Jenny Trout! Thanks for reminding us that what's culturally normal is exactly what we are and that being ourselves, and being comfortable in our own skin (and whatever clothes we choose to wear) is of the utmost importance! 

Get inspired, people! Believe in you!