Comments for The New Agenda

Comment on National Girlfriends Networking Day 2013: June 4 Event An Absolute Must by marille

marille — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:35:05 +0000

I will be thinking of you, but can’t follow the event due to work schedule.
just in case you are not aware of the organization, there is a group of business and professional women with similar goals.
here is the link to the Maryland chapter http://www.bpwmaryland.org
they have great events.

Comment on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time by Anita FinlayAnita Finlay

Anita FinlayAnita Finlay — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:03:48 +0000

> Julian, I appreciate that and thank you for writing back. The problem with Beyonce’s outfit, for example, is that you have a woman who sings like angel and I look at that ensemble and all I think is nipple nipple nipple. What do you think boys watching her are thinking? — Wow, great singer? Doubt it. I don’t want to focus on appearance but our culture makes us focus on nothing else. This is particularly devastating to female politicians. Whoever talks about a man’s suit? His ankle size? His cackle? These double standards and methods of objectification are disempowering and affect all of us because we ar e predisposed to get distracted by it rather than looking at the woman’s qualifications or talents first.

Comment on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time by Julian

Julian — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 15:31:59 +0000

> Anita, sorry if i made you feel like i was saying you agree with Kumars every word. I should have been more careful in my phrasing,and i apologize for that.

And in regards to my acknowledging attraction comment, i was speaking more about general culture than day to day interactions. Like, not making a singers appearance such a big factor,or making girls(and boys) feel like there is something wrong with them if they don’t fit into the exact “ideal” look of society.

Comment on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time by Anita Finlay

Anita Finlay — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:08:58 +0000

> Julian, I am quoting from Kumar’s piece but that does not mean I am in agreement with her every contention. I do feel however, that Beyonce is taking away from her own artisty by making so much of her act seem like it is about nothing but sex. If you watched her super bowl performance, it started as a strip tease and continued with so much bumping, grinding, (pardon me) coochie-popping, and hair flipping that I lost most of the music and her voice. Finally her last number, I was able to hear how great a singer she is. This other outfit she is wearing, well, it is hard to see what that is meant to advertise about her as an artist. I think it takes away from her gifts — it does not add to them.
Further, there are certainly ways to pay compliments to women that are courteous — no one is going to tell me they don’t know when they are crossing the line. Big difference between a man saying, “Anita, you look lovely” and some guy letting his eyes wander over my body while he is talking to me.

Comment on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time by marille

marille — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:16:45 +0000

what’s up Julian. I seem not to get your problem. If you find someone attractive you want to get to know them right? there are coffee houses nowadays and places one can talk without making a big deal. to communicate in a respectful way can be learned and is practiced successfully by thousands of people daily. there should be no need for wrong compliments, comments on clothes. after all your not interested in clothing but the person I assume.
regarding the dressing of Beyoncé Anita described very clearly what is wrong with it and much better than I could. my comment would be, if you want to have hordes of men you can’t possibly be interested in, get wild after you, dress like her and pay the bodyguards to protect you.

Comment on Dove’s “Real Beauty Sketches” vs. Beyoncé and Big Media – Objectification Wins Every Time by Julian

Julian — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:10:02 +0000

For a while i’ve felt there has to be a way to acknowledge you find someone attractive without objectifying them(or others), and right now i don’t think society has found a way to do that

Also, on the subject of Kumars letter, i felt like it dipped into slut shaming ville. Also she criticized Beyonce for making songs about being independent, which seems counter to the whole encouraging feminism thing.

Comment on (Poorly) Planned: Birth Control, Disordered Eating, and Feminist Repression through Loss of Menstruation by marille

marille — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:28:54 +0000

well Beth, you had a few babies and wish for more. good for you. I feel blessed with one. and that is plenty for me.
currently reading biographies from early feminists before birth control was available (“SISTERS” by Jean Baker, Founding Mothers by Cookie Roberts). reading about female composers from long ago before birth control was available (case of Clara Schumann). the running theme is that these many kids weren’t enjoyable to most of the women I read about.

Anonymous, loosing the period after gaining the female circle most feel threatening. I remember before doctors prescribed pills with stopped the bleeding because its convenience, there were plenty of pills with still gave a monthly bleeding, although it was controlled by the pill, also called interruption bleeding after a few days with less hormone. I don’t know whether that would be an option.

Comment on (Poorly) Planned: Birth Control, Disordered Eating, and Feminist Repression through Loss of Menstruation by Bes

Bes — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:43:09 +0000

I like your article. I felt much the same way and gave up birth control except for a diaphragm combined with rhythm by the time I was 24. Sure it resulted in a few babies. They are great people and from this perspective in life I wish I had had more kids. My grand mother told me pregnancy takes 9 months because by then you’ve gotten used to the idea. I advise working whatever babies come along into your life, they are true gifts.

Comment on Why President Obama’s Sexist Remark about Kamala Harris Matters by Bes

Bes — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:43:53 +0000

If nothing else Obama’s remark is off topic and shows Obama can’t stick to the topic at hand when in the presence of women. I think calling everyones attention to the physical appearance of a person when a professional topic is being presented is degrading to the person you inappropriately focused everyones attention on. I would be mad, but I’m not an excuse making liberal woman.

Comment on Why President Obama’s Sexist Remark about Kamala Harris Matters by marille

marille — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:37:19 +0000

the term ‘benevolent sexism’ is curious. I think all these cavaliers knew exactly that their old style “politeness” such as holding doors, letting women go first, ever show protectionism and make flattering remarks was devaluing women as the weaker sex. I am the age to have experienced that. it is a show to clarify that a woman can not handle the world around her. the good men have to help. it is not benevolent. it is belittling.