It's funny to think that Clay Aiken is only one town over in Raliegh, NC. (Yes I am out if town for the weekend). Would I want to attend his speech I am wondering? Or would I rather read about it tomorrow? I think the times are changing for the gays on American idol no longer staying in the closet in exchange for hopes of an equal chance. No I dint think I will go listen to Aiken's words of...? Not quite sure what he is planning for a speech but I hope he gets a bigger applause from the gay community than he got from the music industry.
2.27.2010
2.25.2010
Race, Gender, and Old Navy Commercials
I have recently seen an Old Navy commercial on T.V. and after watching it I could not believe the evidence of racism and sexism. These thoughts took the back burner until I decided to do a simple Google search 'old navy commercial'. Scrolling down a little ways, I saw a website page titled "Is the new Old Navy commercial racist?". I was partly excited and relieved that I wasn't the only one with these thoughts, but mostly upset that I might be right. This is 2010 right?
Then I did some investigating and analyzing. In the two commercials (scroll down) there were some blatant themes. In the "Mid-Town Flash" there is a Black family in an otherwise white populated environment. The husband of the family asks "Doesn't Mommy look pretty in her new Mid-Town gown?" The reply is "Go Mom". The notion of the black mother being beautiful does not step beyond the bounds of the family. As if these notions of beauty differ for the black family and the other white women. After the father asks his son "Doesn't Mommy look pretty in her new Mid-Town gown?", one of the women expresses envy for the white Mannequin Kelly's legs. ("These gowns are so cute" "Especially if I had your legs".) The black woman gets the attention when a young white shopper rips the black woman's gown off her body, leaving her naked. A white male mannequin stares at her naked body remarking "sweet" and his dog barks. The now naked woman acts as if this is no big deal saying "Oh, what? Like you've never seen plastic before".
The only lines the white man has is "sweet" and the dog only barks once. Revealing a dark line that creates the difference between beauty and sexualization. The black woman is considered beautiful to her black family, and only when naked does she strike the attention of the white man and dog. And the dog. Really?! Do we really have to go back to social darwinism? Comparing Blacks to animals...?
The other commercial does not have any dogs but there is still the same sexualization. The "Too Many Diva's" Commercial (scroll down) is based on America's next top model. Watching the commercial in its' entirety, there are two black women still in the competition and nine white women. Already on a bad start....so who gets voted off? Yes one of the black girls.
Vanessa gets called forward and the commentator says "Here you rocked the new skinny jeans look". A shot of Vanessa's (not a mannequin) butt in the skinny jeans takes the screen. So Vanessa looks pretty good in skinny jeans, at least her but does. The commentator goes on to bring the bad news..."But you also rocked on your mannequin stand. Please hand in your stand" Vanessa wearily hands her stand over with tears, as a white man interjects "Call me". Lets tally things up. Vanessa has a nice butt in skinny jeans, she can not make it on the SuperModelquin Search supposedly because there are "Too Many Diva's" (total of 2), and even though Vanessa is not model material (not beautiful enough?) the white guy is willing to take his chances with the "call me". Again with the black woman does not fit into the norms of (white) beauty, but fits in perfectly to white man's sexual desires.
Old Navy Commercial "Mid-Town Flash"
Another Old Navy Commercial "Super Modelquin Super Search: Too Many Divas"
Then I did some investigating and analyzing. In the two commercials (scroll down) there were some blatant themes. In the "Mid-Town Flash" there is a Black family in an otherwise white populated environment. The husband of the family asks "Doesn't Mommy look pretty in her new Mid-Town gown?" The reply is "Go Mom". The notion of the black mother being beautiful does not step beyond the bounds of the family. As if these notions of beauty differ for the black family and the other white women. After the father asks his son "Doesn't Mommy look pretty in her new Mid-Town gown?", one of the women expresses envy for the white Mannequin Kelly's legs. ("These gowns are so cute" "Especially if I had your legs".) The black woman gets the attention when a young white shopper rips the black woman's gown off her body, leaving her naked. A white male mannequin stares at her naked body remarking "sweet" and his dog barks. The now naked woman acts as if this is no big deal saying "Oh, what? Like you've never seen plastic before".
The only lines the white man has is "sweet" and the dog only barks once. Revealing a dark line that creates the difference between beauty and sexualization. The black woman is considered beautiful to her black family, and only when naked does she strike the attention of the white man and dog. And the dog. Really?! Do we really have to go back to social darwinism? Comparing Blacks to animals...?
The other commercial does not have any dogs but there is still the same sexualization. The "Too Many Diva's" Commercial (scroll down) is based on America's next top model. Watching the commercial in its' entirety, there are two black women still in the competition and nine white women. Already on a bad start....so who gets voted off? Yes one of the black girls.
Vanessa gets called forward and the commentator says "Here you rocked the new skinny jeans look". A shot of Vanessa's (not a mannequin) butt in the skinny jeans takes the screen. So Vanessa looks pretty good in skinny jeans, at least her but does. The commentator goes on to bring the bad news..."But you also rocked on your mannequin stand. Please hand in your stand" Vanessa wearily hands her stand over with tears, as a white man interjects "Call me". Lets tally things up. Vanessa has a nice butt in skinny jeans, she can not make it on the SuperModelquin Search supposedly because there are "Too Many Diva's" (total of 2), and even though Vanessa is not model material (not beautiful enough?) the white guy is willing to take his chances with the "call me". Again with the black woman does not fit into the norms of (white) beauty, but fits in perfectly to white man's sexual desires.
Old Navy Commercial "Mid-Town Flash"
Another Old Navy Commercial "Super Modelquin Super Search: Too Many Divas"
2.24.2010
Tegan And Sara New Alligator Video
Is it weird for anyone else to see Tegan and Sara partake in a choreographed dance...? Nonetheless, it's a great video for a great song (available on itunes).
Gay Discrimination Bill Will Hinder Free Speech....
In case you haven't heard, there is a bill going through Congress that would end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Fox News reported this which can be read here. Coming from Fox News it's no surprise that Neal McCluskey was quoted saying, "The definition of harassment could be broadly interpreted that anybody who expressed a totally legitimate opinion about homosexual behavior could be made illegal." McCluskey seems worried that hate might be made illegal.
It is very important that this bill be passed. In the Civil Rights arena, gay and lesbian issues have always been left behind. Always the longest to have to fight, the last to access rights. So many LGBTQ students fear going to school because of other students taunting, and sometimes committing violent acts against LGBTQ students. This causes many LGBTQ students to miss more school days than the average student. This bill would help ensure a safer environment where all can thrive, and hate will finally see its' end. McCluskey believed that the main supporter of this bill was trying to indoctrinate homosexuality, and believed that the administration is pushing a radical social agenda by allowing this bill into Congress. This is about equality, and so that all students feel safe and have a fair chance of succeeding. The bill was made in hopes of promoting equality, not sexuality. McCluskey is wanting free hate, not free speech...
It is very important that this bill be passed. In the Civil Rights arena, gay and lesbian issues have always been left behind. Always the longest to have to fight, the last to access rights. So many LGBTQ students fear going to school because of other students taunting, and sometimes committing violent acts against LGBTQ students. This causes many LGBTQ students to miss more school days than the average student. This bill would help ensure a safer environment where all can thrive, and hate will finally see its' end. McCluskey believed that the main supporter of this bill was trying to indoctrinate homosexuality, and believed that the administration is pushing a radical social agenda by allowing this bill into Congress. This is about equality, and so that all students feel safe and have a fair chance of succeeding. The bill was made in hopes of promoting equality, not sexuality. McCluskey is wanting free hate, not free speech...
2.23.2010
Gay and Lesbian Data Collecting, For the Best? Or just Scary?
California is creating a bill that would add questions on government forms that will include the LGBTQ community (sexual orientation, domestic partnership status, and gender identity) . It would help California provide needed services to our community. This is good. But I couldn't help but be daunted by every dystopian novel I have ever read. Call me pessimistic, but I don't have very much faith in our society to believe that the information collected will always be used for our benefit. I begin to conjure the image of all the collected data being used to round up the gays and lesbians for some awful horrible atrocity. Why? Mostly because of the Republican party and the extreme Christians. And because of this poll that was conducted. If there were teachers that worked in the public school system, that were documented as being gay, lesbian and/or trans, are they more able or more likely to try to prevent them from keeping their jobs? 73% of republicans that took the poll believe that gays and lesbians shouldn't be allowed to teach and another 19% were "not sure". Really?! Only 8% voted "yes" we should be able to teach in public schools. Until that "yes" number sky rockets up, I think if I had the decision I would want to be "undocumented"...right?!
Johnny Weir: Gay V. Gender Bender
I just finished reading an article by Lisa Neff from 365gay.com on Johnny Weir's sexual orientation and gender. Neff had some interesting points and highlighted a predicament that I have come across over and over in the gay community. And that is coming out. It is necessary for the LGBTQ community to "come out" because of the heterosexist culture that assumes that every person is straight unless a coming out statement is made. I remember asking myself if I should even make such a statement? Gay and Lesbian atheletes are in a double bind.
Women athletes often have to fight the "dyke" persona regardless of their sexual identity. Many sports like soccer and basketball are physical contact sports, usually regarded as a masculine trait. Women are stripped of the usual identity markers, made to put on a uniform that is loose fitting, they must take off their gender accessories (earrings, jewelry), and their hair is put up in a pony tail. And then they must be aggressive, which just screams cave man. As a soccer player since preschool, and taking gender identity courses, I have reflected on the masculinization of women in sports. And how sexuality and gender identity are so closely intertwined in our society that women athletes are perceived as dyk-ish lesbians. But Neff brought to light the other side for me. The winter Olympics has been a great way to observe gender in the athletics. Johnny Weir has not spoken the words "I'm gay", but many sports commentators from around the world are saying that words aren't necessary when Weir is wearing pink frills. Every one has their panties in a knot over this. Neff says we should care, that "If we can’t get past the stereotypes in sports within our community, then we likely will never get past homophobia in sports." But it's more than just homophobia, it's the ideals of gender. I think many people have more of an issue with a man wearing pink (willingly...with frills) than a man loving another man. Gender has been ingrained in us for centuries. What happened to Joan of Arc? Oh yes. Burned. For dressing up as a man. We have some sort of inclusiveness of the gay and lesbian community in the media. We have made it to T.V. out and proud. But the gender benders, are still in the dark. When they do make the news everyone is in shock! They say things like 'I get that you were in the wrong body so you became a man, but why are you with men?' The lines of gender identity and sexual orientation are ill defined in our society and culture. Fluidity is something that is not emphasized enough. Hopefully there will be a day where the words: man, pink, frills, and ice skating will not immediately point to flamboyantly gay.
Women athletes often have to fight the "dyke" persona regardless of their sexual identity. Many sports like soccer and basketball are physical contact sports, usually regarded as a masculine trait. Women are stripped of the usual identity markers, made to put on a uniform that is loose fitting, they must take off their gender accessories (earrings, jewelry), and their hair is put up in a pony tail. And then they must be aggressive, which just screams cave man. As a soccer player since preschool, and taking gender identity courses, I have reflected on the masculinization of women in sports. And how sexuality and gender identity are so closely intertwined in our society that women athletes are perceived as dyk-ish lesbians. But Neff brought to light the other side for me. The winter Olympics has been a great way to observe gender in the athletics. Johnny Weir has not spoken the words "I'm gay", but many sports commentators from around the world are saying that words aren't necessary when Weir is wearing pink frills. Every one has their panties in a knot over this. Neff says we should care, that "If we can’t get past the stereotypes in sports within our community, then we likely will never get past homophobia in sports." But it's more than just homophobia, it's the ideals of gender. I think many people have more of an issue with a man wearing pink (willingly...with frills) than a man loving another man. Gender has been ingrained in us for centuries. What happened to Joan of Arc? Oh yes. Burned. For dressing up as a man. We have some sort of inclusiveness of the gay and lesbian community in the media. We have made it to T.V. out and proud. But the gender benders, are still in the dark. When they do make the news everyone is in shock! They say things like 'I get that you were in the wrong body so you became a man, but why are you with men?' The lines of gender identity and sexual orientation are ill defined in our society and culture. Fluidity is something that is not emphasized enough. Hopefully there will be a day where the words: man, pink, frills, and ice skating will not immediately point to flamboyantly gay.
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