I WILL Protect this House

This is an Under Armour commercial featuring female athletes. It parallels a similar campaign for men's clothing and sport accessories. It would be interesting to analyze the two aids side by side for nuances of gender; however, I find this be a compelling tribute to feminine physical strength and athleticism.

Watch Me Burn

Eminem and Rihanna recently released a video to their song "Love the Way You Lie." The video portrays a violative relationship played by Megan Fox and Dominique Monaghan. The characters vacillate between yelling and punching each other and kissing and caressing. Rihanna and Eminem tell the characters' story while a house burns as a backdrop.

The video seems to avoid making commentary on ending abuse. Rather, it simply states the complicated nature of love and physical pain in abusive relationships. Megan Fox donated her salary for the video to an organization seeking to end domestic violence.

Even though the video seeks to display an artistic interpretation of violent relationship, I am concerned that the video glamorizes violence, sex, and love as symbiotic interrelationships. So often narratives in film, television, and music videos show men aggressively and even violently forcing themselves on women. At first the woman resists and attempt to dissuade the man, and then at some point she gives into the man and an passionate love scene ensues.

This narrative greatly concerns me because it makes a woman's "no" negotiable. It is depicted that the woman is turned on by the man who is either physically or verbally aggressive with her. What are the implications of this for women's lives? How does this effect women in abusive relationships? Does this tell her she should stay in the relationship because love can be shown through violence?

Sometimes the narrative does not show violence, but it does depict a man who is very persistent with a woman who resists his advances at first. I watched the film "The Last Song" recently. In that narrative, the love story ensues from a teenage guy who continues to pursue a young woman who repeatedly tells him she is uninterested. He wears down her resolve slowly and their first kiss happens after an argument. While she is telling him her annoyances, he grabs her face and begins kissing her. She gives in and appears to have wanted his advance.

The two narrative examples--the music video and the movie--both depict similar trends in entertainment. They show women resisting a man and then giving into him. They make "no" not to mean "no." This depicts a dangerous misconception that could have severe implications for men and women. Men are taught that a woman's will is negotiable and women are taught that romance occurs out of a dynamic of male strength and female weakness.

From “Edwin” to “Evelyn”: Angelina Jolie Switches Gender Roles in Salt

From “Edwin” to “Evelyn”: Angelina Jolie Switches Gender Roles in Salt

A Woman's World

Katie Couric, Gloria Steinem, Jehrmu Greene

Much Ado About Fabric

It appears that France has followed Spain's lead and banned the burka. The penalty for wearing the full-faced veil is approximately $200 and/or a rehabilitation program. According to the rhetoric on Salon.com, if a man is found guilty of forcing a woman to veil, he could be fined $40,000 and spend a year in jail. (Salon.com Photo)



As I stated last week, I find this sort of legal action a violation of women's rights rather than a protection of them. Granted, the veil's origins are rooted in a desire to protect men from being tempted by female sexuality. The very fact that women are physically hidden is representative of their social status. Moroccan author Fatima Mernissi discusses the origins of veiling at length in her book Beyond the Veil. However, this doesn't change the fact that many women choose to wear the veil of their own accord. Some Muslim women simply view it as religious or cultural devotion. If you strip the veil from them, then it does not mean they are liberated or their status is elevated. We should be focusing on empowering women to make their own choices, not in forcing them to interpret feminism as the West does.

In the end, the veil is a symbol with different meanings for those who are interpreting it. Western lawmakers see it as oppression. Advocates for veiling see the ban as oppression. I say anything that restricts a woman's choice is oppression--be it cultural or legal.

Is Sexual Violence Cultural?

It is interesting to note the number of times that I have heard sexual violence labeled as a cultural phenomenon . In an age where cultural sensitivity is politically correct, it seems that some groups use the word "culture" as a way to downplay sexual violence against women. Is sexual violence against children also cultural? Is genocide cultural?


My culturally relativistic inclination is often dissuaded when it comes to issues of social justice. If sexual violence is cultural, then it shouldn't be.

Hip-Hop and Homophobia

An interesting article on hip hop and homophobia.

Trading One Form of Patriarchy for Another

(Photo by David Dennis)

Spain's senate recently decided to ban Muslim women from wearing the burka--a full-faced veil that covers everything except the eyes. They outlawed "any usage, custom, or discriminatory practice that limits the freedom of women." I applaud Spain on their progressive efforts. I would suggest the following also be banned in order to prevent the limiting of women's freedoms:

1. High heels. High heels make it difficult to walk and run freely. Flats are much easier to catch a bus in.


2. Skinny jeans. Skinny jeans are often tight and uncomfortable and make it difficult to sit easily at work. More work can be done if one is comfortable.
   

All joking aside, I would argue that Spain has actually taken a step backwards in women's rights. Women wear the burka for a variety of reasons and personal choice is one. Assuming that all Muslim women wear the veil by force is a gross overgeneralization of a much more complex cultural practice. Legally banning a woman from wearing the burka denies her the right to chose. In this way, legal patriarchy has replaced religious and cultural patriarchy.