"Pop" Goes the Arab World

- I'm guessing this is going to get into the popular culture in the Arab world because it is becoming Westernized.

- Wow, so this American Idol show had amazing voter turnout because most of the govts. over there are not democratic and if they are, the elections are fixed! So this gives them an opportunity to actually voice their opinion about something. I never vote for shows like that because it all just seems so silly, but I never thought if it that way.

- hmm..so is it arguing that this is giving people a sense of power without actually giving them any because it's just a silly pop music show?

- I mean, I think it is kind of too bad that Western culture is turning these female pop stars into sex icons and that they have to look sexy to be popular. It goes against many of their values- they lose some of what makes them different and unique by adopting Western styles.

- I mean, these women should have the right to be sexy if they want without being censored at the same time. But it just seems like they are copying us and not evolving as a culture on their own. It's almost inevitable though with how technology allows communication and transmission of media to be spread all around the world. Cultures are just going to mix I guess and the more powerful culture will be the dominant one.

From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos

- I don't usually listen to the words that closely in rap songs- I just like the beat and how they sound. I realize they usually are very sexist though. geez I never thought about rap this deeply- that it's a reflection of the pain that black men deal with and their self-hatred?

- So is she saying black women need to distance themselves and recognize that the derogatory language isn't personal? That they need to build a close-knit community to heal the pain of racism? I mean, I think this is more of an issue with the men that they need to work on than the women.

- I'm still not sure what exactly she thinks people are supposed to do to improve the situation.

Despartely Debating Housewives

- I never watched this show so I don't really know what they're talking about. I just heard it was about housewives that have affairs so it sounded dumb to me.

- So is this Jessica saying that the show is pro-feminist? Because it involves girl-talk and the females play the lead roles? idk, it seems like she has some good arguments if it really does bring to light the hardships of housewives.

- yea...but Jen's arguments are a lot more convincing. Almost all the writers are male? and yes, it does portray childcare as the woman's responsibility.

- I don't understand this term "camp" that Jess keeps using in her 2nd response. Wow, so this guy wrote Golden Girls too? Why are his shows all about women? GG was a good show! And pro-feminist too I would say.

- This might mean more to me if I knew what they were referring to about the show. I don't think these women would ever come to an agreement about this show.

Pop Culture is Us

- At least on the Swan they give counseling to the women. They don't do that on Extreme Makeover. At least they're recognizing that they need help mentally too for their self-esteem issues.

- This is an interesting connection between the news and TV shows that I've never seen or thought about. I mean, I agree that these shows humiliating people are wrong, but these people volunteered to come on that show. And the torturing of Abu Ghraib was so extreme and inhumane, it's a ton more extreme than any of those TV shows.

- I definitely think that because the photo from Abu Ghraib showed a woman torturing these men, it made people a lot more critical of the events because it showed a women in power position over a man. I myself was slightly ashamed as woman seeing another woman doing something like this. I had hoped women were better than men in this regard to stoop to something so morally wrong. Maybe that was sexist of me to think though.

- I never heard of this show "I want a Famous Face" but it sounds terrible. I mean, men participate in this too right? So not just women are pressured to have this "perfect" look.

- It also reminds me of the analogy of the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly or the ugly duckling in the swan. This theme is really all throughout our history.

The Way it Was

- I thought most people were against partial-birth abortion. Doesn't that outlaw abortion if the baby can survive outside the mother? I mean, a ban against that makes sense I think because it's practically a baby already. The woman needs to get it taken care of before her third trimester and I think has enough time to do that.

- These descriptions are nasty. So other people's definition of partial birth abortion is different than mine. Just because the fetus is whole doesn't mean partial birth, to me at least. And making her give birth to a fetus with anencephaly which will die anyways? That's ridiculous. She should have it aborted if she wants- especially if it's inbred!

- omg, these stories about when trying to get abortions before Roe v. Wade are horrific!

- I can't believe this author woman went to a doctor like that. What did she expect? That place sounds nasty and shadey. I would've never gone there. omg I can't believe she's going to Florida! With $800 and not telling anyone? You'd think she'd learn her lesson the first time someone took advantage of her situation and desperation!

- Thank God she called her mother. That's the smartest thing she's ever done. She could've got off a ton easier if she had just not been so stupid about how she handled it.

- Very good arguments against anti-choicers. People will keep having sex, doh. Why punish these women? They're get an abortion whether it's legal or not. Let's give them a way to do it without risking their lives.

Women of Color and their Struggle for Reproductive Justice

- What is "targeted family planning?"

- So is this saying that poor women of color don't really have a real choice because they can't really afford another child even if they want one?

- Isn't that the same scenario that Sanger's patient was in, except she actually didn't have any choice at all? I mean, at least these women have an option besides what that poor women had and eventually died from. They call BC population control???

- I don't get it! First, they article claims women used to have no choice but to have tons of kids and now that they have a way to prevent that, they're calling it population control??

- I think targeting people on welfare by giving them BC makes logical sense. If they keep having kids, it's going to become a bigger and bigger financial strain on the government and tax payers. Call it what you will, but otherwise it would increase taxes. And the fact that a high proportion of people on welfare are black is another issue on its own.

- And the family caps? They're put in place because some women have more kids simply so they can get more welfare! People shouldn't be having kids that they are not able to provide for and simply expect the government to keep giving them more limitlessly!

- Exactly, that Martha Ward is right! Family planning really is helpful for poor people!

- OK, the part about forced sterilization is a little hard to believe, but shocking. If people really did that, they should be sued or go to jail. I don't understand minorities though. Why them?

- Ok, so why is it bad to stop women addicted to drugs from having kids? I mean, doesn't that seem like a good thing? And if it primarily attacks women of color, why are so many women of color on drugs in the first place?

- I guess because I'm white, I don't understand what minority women have to deal with, but I just disagree with a lot with how they feel about BC. We shouldnt have to be divided about this as women because it makes our fight more difficult when we're not united. A compromise needs to be made or something.

My Fight for BC

- I read about how Margaret Sanger was a nurse to birthing mothers and how she decided to begin telling women about BC after watching many die from abortions. Didn't she get arrested for it something? It takes brave, courageous women like this to make real change for the better.

- I've started a powerpoint presentation about historical feminists to see what their lives were like. I outline their big accomplishments, include a pic, and a quote from each one. I think it's really interesting and enjoy designing powerpoints! I'm just compiling facts I find into a slideshow. I think we don't know enough about the feminists of our past who fought tirelessly for the many rights we have today, nor do we appreciate their efforts enough.