Hateful Rhetoric's Effect On Planned Parenthood

It was this pasted Friday, November 27^th that a man identified as Robert Lewis Dear infiltrated a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During this attack Dear was armed and evidently wounded 9 people and killed 3. It has also been said by investigators that Dear mentioned something about “no more baby parts” and later expressed anti-abortion views.

Planned Parenthood is an organization that provides a place for women to seek help whether it is for contraception, cancer screening and prevention, abortion services, or other health services women could need. Planned Parenthood has become an asylum for women in need and have provided helpful services for them since 1921.

Recently, many rumors have been spread about this non-profit organization. Some Conservatives have accused this organization for illegally selling baby parts, which has been publicly denied numerous times by Planned Parenthood. Although there has not been any confirmed link to this rumor and the shooting done by Robert Lewis Dear, it appears there might be a connection.

With the negative imagine Planned Parenthood has been given by rumors or even voiced opinions, it has now evolved this safe asylum for women into a high risk environment. Some could argue that this hateful rhetoric in the media has created a platform for acts of violence. After this incident it seems like a more believable argument.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on the services that Planned Parenthood has to offer but for those who are demonizing this organization have helped escalate matters to a drastic high. The ruthless image that has been tagged onto Planned Parenthood has now become pivotal to recent attacks. Not only are extremist’s feeling comfortable to take action on this organization after the negative talk in the media, but it now been a place taken from women. 

It is shameful that such a beneficial non-profit organization is now leaving women scared and hesitant. Hopefully this incident that has occurred in Colorado will open the eyes to those who negatively depict Planned Parenthood in the media, and perhaps prevent radical attacks like this from happening again.

Not the Average

Men shouldn’t have hair. . . Women should have hair. . . Says who? Thankfully people are more daring today with taking risks on going against stereotypical gender looks. Confidence is the key word, women who go bald and men who have length are confident individuals.

And although there are a lot of people who dare to be different, there are still the stereotypes that buzz around society. We blindly live to the expectations of society without knowing it. We abide the stereotypes given in the world, without meaning too. A bald woman is not seen every day, what does that mean to you? Is it because women prefer to have hair on their heads, or is it because that is just the way things normally are.

This is the same for men. Men are described as well groomed. The average business man will not have hair on his head; rather, the ideal business man has a shaved head. But, why not have a nice pulled back ponytail and a tuxedo? 

I see no problem with the average man having hair down his back and the average woman being bald. As long as we keep clean and feel comfortable within our skin, then what is the problem?

Oh yea, we are brain washed and immune to the gender roles among society.

Starting today, I advocate for different; by breaking the stereotypical looks. Ladies and gentlemen, please be yourself and don’t only live by what you think is right or in the norm within society; instead, do what makes you happy and free. Men, if hair was ever a thought, it is time to consider growing out a ponytail. Ladies, if hair is too much for you then change the look by going bald. 

Dress Codes Message To Young Women

Dress codes are established in a variety of settings and schools are one of the most popular. Typically, these regulations are put in place to help keep a respectful and appropriate environment for students. These regulations usually are focused on clothing that could be considered revealing and/or a distraction for other students. Keeping a safe and comfortable school environment is what administrator’s desire for their students, but dress codes have been used to target young women more so often than men.

These codes generally focus on things such as: short skirts, revealing shorts, tube tops, halters, backless tops, spaghetti straps that are less than one inch, and exposed undergarments or midriffs. Almost all of these regulations are focused on the apparel of women and deemed inappropriate for a school setting.

It’s regularly when these codes are broken, young women are told to change or they are removed from class to find extra clothing from the school’s nurse’s office. These steps are usually taken so that these young women’s apparel isn’t distracting to other students.

How distracting can a spaghetti strap top be in a class where everyone is doing their work?

How can we tell young women to ‘cover up’ parts of their bodies that aren’t actually considered inappropriate in other public settings?

How is it that the only students who are being distracted are those being pulled from their class rooms in order to change?

By teaching these young women that their bodies are a distraction and should be covered is cultivating harmful lessons. These dress codes are telling young women that their bodies are dangerous and sexualized, even when they aren’t trying to be. It also is sending a message that since their clothing can be distracting, that their male counterparts aren’t capable of restricting themselves from objectifying women’s bodies. Not only does that send the message to young women but it is also allowing young men to think that doing these things are acceptable.

School’s should have more lenient dress codes and provide a safe haven for all students and their chosen forms of expression. Yes, that means the way they dress! 

Gender versus Identity

Gender refers to the cultural impression that society implies based off of one’s biological sex in which a person is born with; male or female. Although that is about accurate, gender identity is more efficient in identifying a person. Gender identity is ones sense of his or herself as male, female or transgender. People use their identities to express who they are opposed to what they were born as. This can be recognized as gender Dysphoria. Dysphoria is a condition describing the conflict between a person’s physical gender and gender they identify as. Dysphoria is NOT a mental illness, it is developed in many ways, some being when one questions their biological sex multiple times, a strong preference to cross dress, and attraction towards the opposite sex. (To learn more about Dysphoria go to http://healthresearchfunding.org/gender-identity-disorder-statistics/)

It is easy for one to be born with a vagina, but feel as equivalent with someone who has a penis, or vice versa. Ideally, identity is what matters most, not gender. A person can identify themselves as a female, male, neither or both. Today, it is very common to see people who identifies and self-expresses themselves differently.

Just because one was born with a specific sex does not mean it must be forced upon their character. Again, the biological sex may not be the self-image that a person reflects as or feels like; that sex is not what they hope for everyone to depict/perceive them as. Respect it.

Others find it difficult to accept those who identify themselves differently from what their biological sex is. Those individuals strive to be as happy and as comfortable as you are when you awake every day within your skin. All they want is to be what they feel is appropriate to their self-being, and live life without any remarks and judgments.

For those who may feel a certain way towards people who do not live by their biological sex or gender, think of it this way. They are just like you when you walk around, they are normal. A person should not be viewed as odd compared to the rest of us in society. Let’s all live freely and fairly. Try getting to know a person before judging their appearance. Some may agree to speak on their gender identity disorder, acknowledging others on their lives, and being open to speak on their personal decisions.

People who live based on the identity that they have created for themselves are living normal; it is when they are perceived by their forced upon biological sex that they feel uncomfortable and abnormal in their own bodies. Society needs to be less judgmental and more accepting of all people. Ever heard the saying, don’t judge a book by its cover? Well, it is time to do so.  

Everyone Is Free Except The Nipple

Up until 1936, it was illegal for both men and women to expose their chests in public. New York being the first state to legalize male nipple exposure. Us women are still waiting for the day to come for us to join our male brethren in these shirtless walks around the beach or other places.

Today a women could be arrested and charged with public indecency, disturbing the peace, or lewd behavior for being topless where it’s considered legal for men. Even though it is legal for women to take off their shirts in 36 states, they would still be flouting the law by being shirtless.

Yes, many could argue that a women’s breasts are “more developed” than men’s and having them exposed would just make everyone “uncomfortable”. But let’s keep something’s in mind shall we:

-          A man or women showing nipples use to be uncomfortable and illegal for everyone prior to 1936

-          Topless men are only sexual when they want to be, but topless women are inherently sexual regardless of their actions due to the sexualization of the female body as a mere object  

-          It is only deemed wrong for women to show breasts because society says so

-          In early stages of life it’s acceptable for males and females to be topless but with age females get that societal right taken away from them

-          Normalizing toplessness would be taking away some of the cultural power that dictates women’s breasts can only be sex symbols

It’s time we get past the societal restrictions that are pushed onto women to stay covered up. It’s time we as a people realize the actuality of this issue. Women are told to cover up a part of themselves that is only OK to expose if you’re a man.

It's time we eradicate the negative connotation of women exposing their breasts in public.

Nipples are like bellybuttons, we all have them.

Her 'Perfect' Body

             Women tend to act as if their bodies are not perfect enough. Today, women strive to begin waist training; and now is the time to face the truth. Women waist train to create a new silhouette of their bodies; obtaining the illusion of a small waist matched with a bigger bust and butt. As great as that may sound, however, waist training is dangerous and harmful. The truth is, what we see on the outside is very attractive, the eye-catching Pepsi bottle shape, although what we do not see is what is within those appealing newly formed bodies.  

             Women are beginning to ruin their bodies and natural beauty by trying to keep up with the perfect 2015 Pepsi bottle body image. Bodies are being harmed through the process of trying to become more than what it is. Women dream for the smallest waist, which is created by wearing a very tight body shaper around the stomach and back area. However, shouldn’t be health be dreamed along the line as well? Ideally, the process of waist training is self-damaging. Waist training ruins the organs within one’s own body by disproportioning them. This occurs after excessive waist training, women squeeze to wear these tight fitted corsets for long periods at a time.

           

            The bigger picture here is that what may appear beautiful, may not be. This blog pushes for beauty and health by beginning to inform those on the damages of waist training itself. Health is essential and as shown through the image above, waist training is not the healthiest way to proceed with enhancing beauty.

Cited Source: Peppers, Gia. "Kim Kardashian Waist Training 2014; 7 Things You Need to Know Before You Buy In to Latest Trend." Enstarz. N.p., 31 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.enstarz.com/articles/49972/20141031/kim-kardashian-waist-training-2014-5-things-you-need-to-know-before-you-buy-in-to-latest-trend-video.htm>.

Caitlyn Jenner

      

  

     Everyone seems to have his or her own opinion when discussing the male athlete turned female celebrity. For those who are not familiar with Caitlyn Jenner, she used to go by the name of Bruce Jenner. In 1976 Bruce won the men’s decathlon at the Olympics becoming one of the greatest athletes in the world.  After his marriage to his wife Kris he returned back into the spotlight on the E! Program, Keeping Up With the Kardashians.  After years of marriage and children Bruce came out to his family and to the world that he was making the transition from Bruce to Caitlyn. Caitlyn now has her own reality show called I Am Cait where viewers watch as she makes this transition. 
      Caitlyn lived her entire life feeling trapped in the body of Bruce. She describes this as feeling that she had always been living a lie.  Being transgender is a struggle that many people face.  Although Caitlyn had the advantages of money and support during her transition she also faced a struggle that not many other transgender people face. She went through this transition with everyone watching her. The world watched as she changed into Caitlyn. Not everyone that heard the story was supportive. Everyone I personally talked to had their own opinions about the choices that Caitlyn was making. It may have made the transition easier for her if she did not have the opinions of people that she did not even know. She always knew deep inside that she was supposed to be women and being in the public eye made it hard for her to make the transition because there is always the fear of what are other people going to think. 
     Caitlyn is currently using her show and celebrity status to advocate for people going through the same struggle that she has faced. “If I die, which, I could be diagnosed next week with cancer -- and boom you’re gone,” Was the way Cait described it. In other words be who you want to be because tomorrow is never promised. Hopefully in the near future society will shift even more than it already has and become excepting of people who are considered different from the social norms. This can happen if influential people of all genders and sexualities like Caitlyn Jenner continue to advocate for equality for such people.

10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Feminist

1. Wage gap is a problem and us women should fight to become equal.

2. Sexualization of women is an ongoing issue in our society. We should not be told how we should look and we should never have to live up to any standard of what a woman should or should not present them physically.

3. Women should be the only ones who have an opinion on the way that they choose to present themselves.

4. Catcalling is a way that men attempt to pick up women.  Women should not be expected to find rude behavior flattering, but this has become a norm in society.

5. Women are still viewed as inferior to men in the workplace.  To this day a woman only makes 77 cents to a man’s dollar.

6. Women are often asked not to dress a certain way because their clothes might be a distraction to men.  It should not be a woman’s responsibility to be sure that what they want to wear is not something that might make a man unable to focus on what he is doing.

7. Men are not expected to change their names when they get married.  Women are expected the change the name that they have had their whole life because they chose to spend their life with a significant other.

8. Even as children little girls are taught that if a boy is mean to them they must have a crush on them.  As young girls we are taught that it is ok to be mocked by boys.

9. Sexually active women who are not in committed relationships are often labeled as “thots”, “sluts”, and other negative terms.

10.Throughout our lives we are taught to treat everyone equally but our society overlooks gender equality as being part of the equality that we preach.

Religious Employers Denying Insurance For Women

Many women aren't concerned about the stresses that come from buying prescription contraceptives because their insurance typically covers it, but not all get that opportunity. Many religious employers provide an insurance that doesn’t cover a no-copay birth control that is required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Specific houses of worship are exempt from the Affordable Care Act but there is still ongoing controversy with religious nonprofits and private business owners. Obtaining the pill is a process for women between finding a doctor, getting a prescription, and getting it filed through insurance. There shouldn’t be an individual standing in the way of a women getting a prescription a doctor has approved, especially if it can be free of charge due to the ACA.

Birth control is nearly universal and benefits the health of many women and their families. Without this being covered by insurance prices can range from $15-$50 per month and could inevitably pose a problem for some women financially. By excluding this preventative health care it inhibits some women from being able to take the precautionary measures they desire. Without this opportunity for women the risk for maternal and infant mortality increases.

This isn’t as easy as going down the aisle of your local convenient store to buy necessary contraceptives, but an extra step women are going to ensure there are no unwanted pregnancies. Without this extra contraceptive readily available without charge, many women are discouraged from using it or simply can’t afford the co-pay that is needed.

Employers that refuse to allow insurance to cover this contraceptive are clearly using their power to stand by their own personal beliefs. Business and the insurance of their employees shouldn’t be denied due to an individual’s personal affairs. Making a decision on covering contraceptives based on a person’s own religion isn’t fair or ethical.