Where are the fat females in cartoons?

The other night I was watching TV when I saw an ad for a new adult cartoon show called The Cleveland Show. Normally I wouldn’t pay much attention to this type of thing, but something caught my attention and I couldn’t stop thinking about it: The male characters in this show are really fat, and the female characters are slim to average. It got me thinking about other adult cartoon shows like The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Family Guy, and I realized that in all these shows there are some seriously fat male characters, and little-to-no fat female characters.

To prove my point, I came up with this nifty little list.

The Simpsons
Fat male characters: Homer, Bart, Chief Wiggum, Dr. Hibbert, Nelson, Comic Shop Guy and Barney.
Fat female characters: Patty and Selma


Family Guy
Fat male characters: Peter Griffin and Chris Griffin
Fat female characters: none

King of the Hill
Fat male characters: Hank Hill, Bobby Hill and Bill Dautrieve
Fat female characters: none

The Cleveland Show
Fat male characters: Cleveland and Cleveland Jr.
Fat female characters: none

So, a quick tally shows that on these four shows there are 14 fat male characters and two fat female characters. Why the discrepancy?

We all know there are serious double standards in our society when it comes to fat.
We fear female fat and forgive male fat. Fat men can easily get married, find a good job, and generally be successful in life, but the same isn’t true for fat women.

It seems that the cartoon world is simply portraying how we think about fatness in the real world: essentially, that it doesn’t really matter if a man is fat, and fat women are… well… invisible. And when they do exist, as in the case with Patty and Selma, they are single, lonely, childless and unsuccessful.

Highlights (and Lowlights) 2009! Your Thoughts!

What were the most notable feminist events/headlines of 2009? Next week's show is a look back at the year's highlights (and lowlights). Your input is crucial! Tell us about which matters stood out for you or women in general... locally, nationally and globally.

We want you to a.) leave a comment below, b.) post your thoughts on the Yeah, What She Said Facebook Page or c.) send an e-mail to yeahwhatshesaid@gmail.com.

Be sure to tune in this coming Monday, 8:30pm MST on CJSW 90.9 FM in Calgary or www.cjsw.com elsewhere for the Yeah, What She Said Retrospective Edition: 2009!

Shouts-out to contributors will be in full effect:)

2010 in a castle

looking forward to my flight home tomorrow...home as in toronto. weird to say i've lived longer in toronto than in my old hometown saskatoon.

this year me and my loves will be celebrating 2010 in a castle!!! yes a castle folks! Toronto's one and only Casa Loma....built by a man back in the day who wanted to impress his wife... now he can impress us all this year and hopefully help us find some love of our own. Can't wait for this night to come! Still unsure of what I want to wear... I will probably find something in my own closet because this holiday season has given my wallet a beating. Here's one of style.com's top 2009 dresses worn here by Mary Kate Olsen. I love it, especially her hair.

what's everyone else's new years plans? and outfits? any new years resolutions out there besides trying to burn off all those calories from mashed potatoes and stuffing? i haven't given much thought to my resolution...

Fashion & Feminism: Will They Be Friends?

This article on feminism and fashion is a bit old but very relevant for me these days. It briefly discusses Fresh Lipstick: Redressing Fashion and Feminism, a book by University of Illinois professor Linda M. Scott. A woman's interest in the way she looks and the possibility that this interest can be used to question her integrity as a feminist is a fascinating investigation, I find. I've been musing over this subject a lot and I want to know what other women's thoughts are. In a previous post observing riot grrl Tobi Vail's thoughts on the matter, I alluded to my personal battles with fashion and feminism wondering, at points, if the battle was fictitious; forged within myself in order to convince my inner monologue that I was indeed only a real feminist if I neglected the oppressive culture purportedly established by the fashion industry.
However, I still don't really think I've talked that much about it with other women, nor have I heard many firsthand opinions on the matter being voiced by my fellow feminists. I adore dressing up. I have time and time again come to realizations on how what we wear speaks wild volumes about our identities... sexually, intellectually, and influencially. I can't help but see "fashion" as a mysterious and very beautiful artform - a documentation of human history as with body modification, paintings and photographs. Are these not things that feminists have the freedom to enjoy and acknowledge unforgivingly? Where do we stand in this whole thing?

fashion week

now that i have so much time on my hands with relaxing at my parents house i am just pooping out posts hahaha...
here are some pictures from earlier this fall during the LG Toronto Fashion Week.
here's some from the men's GOTSTYLE show...



got a vip pass during the show and was able to hit up the free bar...and hit on models. it was glorious until i found out he was not interested...and 18. HAHAHA

here

pink champagne

at home for the holidays. wanting to scratch out my eyeballs with boredom. there's only so many nights to drink with vodka and get carried away with high school friends. looking forward to partying in a castle for new years...casa loma 2010!
here's a cute outfit i bought from urbanoutfitters its a onesie...! happy holidays.

The Abortion Monologues

In these dramatic monologues, twenty-three women reveal the details of their lives, families and relationships as they tell the stories of their abortions. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always thought provoking, The Abortion Monologues exist in stark contrast to the real world in which women seldom publicly discuss this choice.

Date: Thursday, February 4, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 10:00pm
Location: The Leacock Theatre, Mount Royal University (4825 Mount Royal Gate SW)

Tickets at Mount Royal Conservatory Box Office
403.440.7770
General $25
Students $15

For more information visit abortionmonologues.com

Monday's Show - Baby Fever

Join us on Monday night for our show on Baby Fever, which is an overwhelming feeling or desire to have children that many women experience. If your womb has ever ached upon holding a baby or playing with young children, then you know all about Baby Fever. Most women get it at some point in their lives - usually the feelings grow stronger as a women ages from her early twenties to mid thirties. However, women can experience Baby Fever at any time: some women know from a very young age that they want to be mothers, and others don't realize it until they're in their 40's - or later. Of course, it is also completely natural for some women to never experience this feeling or have a desire to procreate.

We'll be discussing some of the reasons why most women experience Baby Fever, the big decision that many women struggle with (to have children or not?), and one of the most challenging questions for feminists: can women really have it all (a partner, a fabulous career and children)?

Tune in on Monday December 14 from 8:30 to 9:00 pm (MST) on CJSW 90.9 fm. You can also listen to our program online at www.cjsw.com.

Disney's first Black Princess - with curly hair!

The Princess and the Frog - a new movie opening December 11 - features Disney's first Black princess! And what makes this even more interesting is that Tiana the princess has a fairly natural Black 'do: curls and a coif!

This is big news. If you've been following us at Yeah What She Said for a while, you'll know that Black women's hair is a hot topic right now. First Mattell made new Black Barbies, some featuring more "natural" hair styles. Then Chris Rock released Good Hair - a documentary that explores Black women's hair and the reasons why they relax it, straighten it, buy weaves and generally spend tons of money and time on their hair. Then we did a show on Black women's hair a few weeks ago... and now this, a Black princess with curly hair!

This weekend little Black girls all over North America will watch The Princess and the Frog. They may be too young to understand the cultural implications of it all, but the importance is not lost on their Moms. One mom says, "I'm probably more excited about this than my daughter… she doesn't realize the history of it." Another writes: "…It would be a mistake to overlook the significance of [Princess Tiana's] coif."

If anyone sees the movie, let us know what you think of it.

Lilith Fair Announces Artists

Remember... Lilith Fair is BACK, and coming to Calgary this summer!

Mary J. Blige, Sheryl Crow, Colbie Caillat, Erykah Badu, Ke$ha, Tegan and Sara, Miranda Lambert and Metric are among the first artists announced to join Sarah McLachlan on the 2010 Lilith Fair tour.

Read the full press release from Lilith Fair.

Tonight's Show: Camera, Woman!

On tonight's program, Geea and I will be joined by Jessica Dollard and Michelle Kneale of Urban Curvz Theatre Society. We are thrilled to have our guests tell us all about the upcoming Urban Curvz presentation of Camera, Woman! starring the award-winning Denise Clark as Golden Era filmmaker Dorothy Arzner.

Be sure to watch for a plethora of forthcoming projects courtesy of Urban Curvz, a company dedicated to exploring the trials and tribulations of women with theatre as its medium. Really, what could be more inspiring?! A full run-down of upcoming events, community information and details regarding Camera, Woman! are available from the lovely Urban Curvz website.

Tune in to hear the interview live tonight at 8:30pm (MST) on CJSW 90.9 FM and if you are outside of the Calgary area, you can stream it live from CJSW.com.

Podcast will be back soon!

Christmas Gift Ideas for Feminists

Wondering what to get the feminist on your list for Christmas? Here are a few of my humble suggestions.

1. Female symbol necklace
I actually own this fabulous little necklace! I got it on Ebay for only $4.99 (US) plus shipping. Not too shabby at all! As a bonus, it's kinda "bling, bling!"



2. T-shirt: What Would Joan Jett Do?
Get it at the BUST Boobtique for $22.95 (US)




3. Tickets to an Urban Curvz play
Urban Curvz is an award-winning feminist theatre company whose work reflects the wit and intelligence of the women in Calgary. Take your feminist lady friend to any of their plays and I guarantee she'll love it!


4. Fair trade items
The best place in Calgary to find wonderful and unique Fair Trade items is Ten Thousand Villages. In particular, I really enjoy the Fair Trade jewelery. These hand-woven cuffs are made by women in Peru and cost $18.



5. All-natural soaps, skin care 'n stuff
Two all-natural companies that make fabulous soaps, creams, bath bombs and more are Lush and the Rocky Mountain Soap Co. Freshen up her stocking with some of these delights! This Avocado Facial Bar is $4.99.




6. Uterus earrings
These are so darn cute! I found them on Etsy for $6.50 (US).



7. Feminist book
Just go to the Women's Studies or Cultural Studies section of your favourite book store, and you're sure to find books that will delight feminists. The book that I've put on my Christmas list this year is: When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins. $21.94 at Amazon.ca.



8. Classic Feminist Flick
No DVD collection is complete without one or two classic feminist flicks. Here are a few that come to mind:
Thelma and Louise - $13.32 at Amazon.ca
Carrie - $13.99 at Amazon.ca


9. Something hand made
If anyone appreciates home-made gifts, it's feminists. We love that stuff! So, knit us a toque or a pair of socks, bake us a pie or cookies, or make a cute pencil holder out of an old soup can.

The Montreal Massacre – 20 Year Anniversary

Sunday marks the 20 year anniversary of the Montreal Massacre – the worst school shooting in Canadian history. On December 6, 1989, an armed man entered an engineering classroom at the École Polytechnique, separated the 50 men from the nine women, and ordered the men to leave. He then opened fire on the women, killing six and wounding three. Before opening fire, he told the women he was “fighting feminism” and accused the women of being “a bunch of feminists” because they were entering the field of engineering – a traditionally male occupation.

When he came out of that classroom, he continued through hallways and other rooms, opening fire on more innocent people. In the end, fourteen women were killed (twelve engineering students, one nursing student and one university employee), and fourteen others were injured, including four men. The killing spree ended with the gunman shooting himself in the head, twenty minutes after his “war on feminism” began.

This weekend, we remember the 14 women who were senselessly murdered simply because of their gender, and we reflect on the issue of violence against women in our society.

Please join us in remembering these fourteen women.
Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte.

Podcasts Temporarily on Hiatus

Some of you may have noticed that our weekly feminist podcasts haven’t been appearing in your iTunes lately. We apologize for this.

The lack of new podcasts has been a result of CJSW’s move to our new studio location. As you can imagine, moving all the equipment at a radio station is quite an undertaking, and it’s taking longer than expected for our production rooms and equipment to be set up. So, until this is all ready, it is very difficult to prepare our podcasts.

Fear not our feminist friends… the podcasts will return! We hope they’ll be up and running again right after Christmas.

December 6th Memorial Events in Calgary

Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is held on December 6th every year. On December 6, 1989, 14 female students were killed at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, simply because of their gender. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “Montreal Massacre.”

A number of events are scheduled to happen in Calgary to recognize and remember this important day. Below is a list of the various events. Please leave a comment below if you know of other events that we have not mentioned.

Memorial ceremony at the University of Calgary
Tuesday, December 1
Noon to 1:00 pm in the Rozsa Centre

Film screening at the University of Calgary
“Polytechnique” will be screened with a discussion following
Wednesday, December 2
6:00 pm in “That Empty Space” (located in MacEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary)
Free admission with food bank donation

Film screening, live music and keynote speaker
Sunday, December 6th - 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Temple B’nai Tikvah (900 47th Avenue SW)
Film: “December 6: A Short Poetry Dance Film” by Cara Mumford
Music: Jadesong Ray Marlin
Keynote Speaker: Marsha Ellen Meidow
Free Admission
*Important* If you plan to attend this event, please RSVP to caramumford@gmail.com to reserve your spot. The temple is very small and has limited seating.

Films & Memorial at Mount Royal University
Monday December 7, 10:30 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Wyckham House, Mount Royal University
From about 10:30 am to 2:00 pm, a biography of each one of the fourteen women will be read every 15 minutes and a rose will be placed. Cara Mumford's short poetry dance film, December 6, will be shown between bio readings throughout the day. Drop in as you please.
The feature-length film, Polytechnique, will screen in the second floor Art Gallery room from 4-6 p.m.
All events are FREE.

My Thoughts on Adam Lambert and Bullshit Double Standards

So, remember when Britney Spears and Madonna kissed at the 2003 MTV awards, and everyone was so freekin' excited about it? Well apparently that doesn't go over so well when it's two men kissing. Adam Lambert (American Idol runner up and openly gay singer) recently pulled a "Madonna and Britney," and received some pretty negative feedback.

Lambert was singing his new song "For Your Entertainment" at the American Music Awards when he kissed a male keyboardist, fondled a dancer and had another dancer briefly stuff his face in Lambert's crotch.

Lambert's actions prompted many complaints to ABC, who then canceled his TV appearance on Good Morning America.

Why are Britney and Madonna allowed - even encouraged - to get away with a very public make-out session, while it's completely unacceptable for two men to do the same thing? Why are homosexual acts between two beautiful women applauded, while homosexual acts between two men are shunned? Double standards surrounding homosexuality are really starting to get on my nerves. You know we live in a fucked up society when we're more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than two men holding hands.

So what did Lambert have to say about all this? "Obviously, I respect [ABC's] decision — they gotta do what they gotta do... It's too bad, I think there were a lot of fans who were excited to come see me. [ABC] probably had a lot of pressure coming at them from certain people who weren't happy about it."

He goes on to comment that "there are a lot of double standards as far as that goes... We've seen female pop and rock performers do that for the last 10 years. They've been very provocative, owning their power and sexuality. You just don't see men doing it very often. And I'm hoping to break down that double standard with this number."

All I have to say about this is... You Go, Adam! Own your sexuality and BRING IT! If America ain't ready to handle a gay man spreading some love... fuck 'em.

Tonight's Show - Black / Curly Hair

Tonight we are stoked to be discussing Black hair (and naturally curly hair). In particular, we're digging into the cultural and personal reasons why so many black women spend an enormous amount of time and money relaxing/straightening their hair.

Black hair is a feminist issue because it is inextricably linked to issues of race, privilege, beauty and class. We're gonna get into this tonight, so please tune in from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on CJSW 90.9 fm, or listen via the web at cjsw.com.
And remember... we podcast our shows, so if you miss the live thing, download the podcast!

Here are some articles/websites that will be referenced in our discussion:

The Michelle Obama Hair Challenge
Chris Rock's Good Hair Day - Chris Rock discusses his new documentary about Black hair
Newly Natural - a website for folks with naturally curly hair
Treasured Locks - natural Black hair care
Black British Feminism: A Reader - see pages 114-117

RIP daul kim

i am so sad by this news. a friend of mine showed me your blog when i first started my own. you are funny and precious and hope that you're in a happier place now. you will be missed and remembered.

Next Week's Show, All About Black Hair

This coming week's episode of Yeah, What She Said holds a lot of significance for me personally. We will be discussing black women and their hair, a subject of great intrigue for some and much devastation for others. I won't get into it too much here because I'd like to save all of my thoughts for the show, but there are tons of fascinating, sad and triumphant stories to be told about the complex relationships between black women and their hair (I've been chatting about it with some girlfriends over the last few days). In the past, Jennie and I have posted videos and links to articles regarding this subject on the blog; I've always thought that we should one day use this topic for an episode of the show and that it would be nice to have black women gather 'round and share their thoughts on this particular area of interest.

It looks like the show has been timed perfectly as it has been brought to my attention by a couple of friends that Chris Rock's new comedy/documentary film, Good Hair, is coming out shortly. The trailer tells all and I have posted it below, along with previous posts and clips on black hair from us here on the Yeah, What She Said blog.

Films About Black Women: Kiri Davis' A Girl Like Me

New Black Barbie Dolls: Fab or Flop?

Solange Knowles Chops It: Is She Insane?

Chris Rock's Good Hair (Trailer)


Tune in to CJSW 90.9 FM at 8:30 PM (MST) this coming Monday to catch the show live.

Treat Yourself to Some Feminist Art!

Two art galleries in Calgary's downtown core are featuring exhibits that may be of interest to local feminists! Check them out - you can see both in one day and have yourself a fabulous, fun, feminist day!

If Women Ruled the World: Judy Chicago in Thread
Textiles by Judy Chicago
Art Gallery of Calgary
The exhibit runs until January 23, 2010

War Brides: One-Way Passage
An exhibit that encompasses different formats ranging from paintings and sculpture to multi-dimensional media installations. The exhibit is inspired by the War Brides from WWII.
Glenbow Museum
The exhibit runs until February 14, 2010

Nov. 20 - Transgender Day of Remembrance

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance - an occasion in the GLBTQ community to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice (transphobia).

Tonight we are interviewing three members from the University of Calgary club "Queers on Campus." We will discuss the issues that transgender individuals face, and also talk about the event that Queers on Campus has planned for Friday. Tune in from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on CJSW 90.9 fm, or you can listen online.

What? Transgender day of Remembrance - discussions, vigil and march
When? Nov 20, 2009 5:00 pm
Where? "Bianca" room in MacEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary
Who? The event is hosted by Queers on Campus - everyone is welcome to attend

There will also be a ceremony and film at the old YWCA centre downtown. Details about that event can be found on Gay Calgary's website.

tragic

PierPaolo Ferrari for W magazine.

"I Want To Hear Your Voice" - Help keep young aborigional girls off the street

Come and join us for an incredible, affordable and inspiring night to raise much needed funds for The Stardale Girls. All money raised will help young aboriginal girls (aged 11-17) at risk of sexual exploitation, addiction, homelessness, suicide and death.



Date: Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time: 7:00 - 9:30 pm
Location: The Orpheus Theatre: Inside the Campus Centre at SAIT (1301 16th Ave NW)
Tickets: Blame Betty - 829 17th Ave SW. Pre-buy your tix and be entered to win a $500 shopping spree!

Click here for more details about the event, including the lineup of performers and entertainment.

We Remember

Captain Nichola Goddard was the first female Canadian soldier killed in combat. She was killed on May 17, 2006 during a firefight in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Tonight's Show: The 3 Waves of Feminism

Feminism has a long history in Canada, and tonight we'll give you a brief overview of that history. As most feminists are aware, feminism has come in three "waves." The first wave was our foremothers - those feisty woman who fought for the most basic rights such as the vote. The second wave came along with the civil rights movement in the 1960's. Second wave feminists fought for better child care, reproductive rights, rape crisis centres, equal pay for equal work, and so much more. The third wave of feminism began in the early 1990's and has worked to correct some of the 'mistakes' of second wave feminism. For example, the second wave assumed that the female experience and identity were universal, but third wave feminists embrace diversity, contradictions and conflict.

Also, tonight's show is very special for the three hosts, Jennie, Bee and Geea. That's because this will be the last show in our old CJSW studio! Later this week we are moving all our equipment upstairs to our new location! It will be a bittersweet end to the good 'ol CJSW cave!

Riot Grrrl Tobi Vail on Fashion and Feminism

The ideas and activities surrounding fashion have always played a very important role in my own personal journey as a feminist. I was obviously, therefore, intrigued when I came across a blog entry about fashion and feminism by one of my favorite women, legend of the Olympia Riot Grrrl scene, Tobi Vail on her blog Jigsaw Underground.

The post was about being an anti-fashion feminist. When I first discovered feminism, I felt the somewhat natural urge to ditch the kind of fashion sensibility I had been raised on. The transition from being way-too-made-up and wearing shoes-too-tall-for-comfort to eventually basing the majority of my wardrobe on elements of practicality was a steady one although very complex. I have been the kind of person who has drooled over art and all things visual from a very young age. Expression through personal style has always been important to me and I wondered if becoming a feminist meant that I would be stripped of my right to care about being fashionable. I do accept that there is a point where fashion becomes anti-feminist but I don’t think that being a feminist means any person should disregard fashion as a form of personal expression.

Tobi mentions in her blog post that women are still generally way more concerned with the way we dress than men are. I ask the question, should we or should we not be more concerned than men? In many ways, women have an advantage when it comes to personal style; somehow, we have been given a lot more to work with than men when it comes to apparel and we are often encouraged to make bold statements through the clothes we wear. I think that this can be a positive and healthy practice! On the other hand, I fear that men have been conditioned to observe the opposite. Even though we see more men taking interest in personal style than ever before, there is still quite an undeniable double standard. The problem seems to lie mostly in fashion advertising where women are often portrayed in submissive stances. Of course, the images are largely influential in young womens adaptations of what is trendy. What should be vulgar and degrading is taught to be accepted as sexy. I wonder, if we buy into these images genuinely believing that we are doing so in appreciation of someone’s creative expertise, are we simply being naive?


Anyway, Tobi's post was interesting and got me thinking very deeply about my constantly evolving relationship with fashion. Give it a read.

Rihanna: "I was battered, I was bleeding..."

Rihanna speaks out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her boyfriend, Chris Brown.

National Men Make Dinner Day

Did you know that the first Thursday in November is apparently “National Men Make Dinner Day”? (So it was yesterday, November 5th). A friend of mind posted this on her Facebook and I was intrigued so I decided to check it out. It turns out that although it may sound like a progressive idea, the whole thing is pretty backwards.



First of all, the website asks men “Are you a man who makes dinner on a regular or semi-regular basis?” If so, they are instructed to read no further… I suppose if you’re a regular contributor there’s no need to participate in National Men Make Dinner Day.



Then, it goes on to list the top ten reasons why men should participate in this event. Some of the reasons listed really play on stereotypes about men, and I think I’d be insulted if I were a man. Here are a few examples:

#10 – While cooking, you can still wear your tool belt, simply replace the hammer with a whisk.

#9 - Several recipes include beer as a legitimate ingredient.

#3 - Some desserts, such as crème brulee, require the use of a propane torch.

#1 - Participating in National Men Make Dinner Day gives you optimum points with your wife. Use those points wisely!



Ok, so the message is this: We need to bribe men with tool belts, beer, propane torches and “points with your wife” just to get them to cook dinner.

Forget it… I’ll do it myself!

Free/Cheap Feminist Documentary!

"ReBELLEs: Feminism Uncensored" Film Screening; a documentary about Canada's first Young Feminist gathering.
-Admission to this event is on a $0-$7 sliding scale (pay-what-you-can-afford)
-There will be baked goods, t-shirts and buttons for sale
-Half of the proceeds from this event will go to the Calgary Anarchist Bookfair, and the other half will go towards travel subsidies for Calgary Feminists wishing to attend the 2011 Winnipeg RebELLEs gathering.

This event is scheduled to begin @ 7pm on Thursday November 12, 2009 at The Good Life Community Bicycle Shop: 202, 200 Barclay Parade SW (inside Eau Claire Market).

Visit www.goodlifebikes.ca for more information.

post dated thanks. ... giving

ahhhh need to get on the bandwagon and stay on it for once. these are pictures from our "friends thanksgiving" aka my lovers in toronto who also have no family here who decided that wine and pumpkin cake are required !!!! loves it! check out the deco me and little B did....we love entertaining. cool idea: stick xmas lights underneath a transparent/translucent glass table. yowza

heres to you sweetie:
MUAH

Monday's Playlist

As the solo show host this week, I decided to play songs that have inspired me as a woman and a feminist. Here were my picks:

1. Tori Amos - Silent All These Years
2. Alanis Morisette - You Oughta Know (Acousitc)
3. Alix Olsen - Eve's Mouth
4. Macromantics - Scorch
5. Bjork - Big Time Sensuality
6. Sarah Harmer - Lode Star
7. Bic Runga - When I See You Smile

Please note that there is NO PODCAST this week. Due to copywrite issues, we are not allowed to podcast songs.

Cindy Crawford "Too Healthy" to be a Model in 2009

Cindy Crawford was one of the highest paid supermodels in the 80’s and 90’s, but she recently told a German magazine that she wouldn’t succeed in today’s fashion world where a size zero is the norm. “I would not have become a supermodel in 2009,” she said, “I look too healthy.”

In the 80’s Crawford’s athletic figure was all the rage, but "a body like mine with big breasts, normal thighs and toned upper arms" is no longer what the industry is looking for, she said.

Interestingly, Germany’s most popular women’s magazine, Bunte, recently stopped using professional models completely, saying it was fed up with having to digitally erase their protruding bones. How awesome is that?!

However, many people still defend über-skinny models. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has said that critics of thin models are "fat mummies who sit with bags of potato chips." And Ralph Lauren has twice recently been found to have altered photographs of models to make their waists smaller. In once case, the model's waist ended up smaller than her head.

When is the world going to wake up and stop using emaciated models? More magazines need to follow in the footsteps of Bunte and refuse to use models that look skinnier than starving children in Africa.

Lilith Fair is Back!

Lilith Fair - the concert that celebrates amazing women in music - is BACK! The fair was founded in 1997 by Canadian singer / songwriter Sarah McLachlan and others, and ran for only two years (until 1999).

It was just announced yesterday that Lilith Fair will return in the summer of 2010, and Calgary will be on it's list of stops! We can't wait! Check the Lilith Fair website for details.

Tonight: FUNDING DRIVE!

Our regular feminist programming will be on hiatus tonight as we participate in CJSW's annual funding drive. This is a very important week for the station - we are a listener-supported radio station and we need your love (and money!). In exchange for the love and money you send us, we will give you some sweet swag.

There are the usual CJSW incentives for pledging, including awesome t-shirts, joggers and toques (see the swag page for details). On top of that, Yeah What She Said will have our own give-aways! This year, your hosts (Jennie, Bee & Geea) have each made a mix CD of female artists that have inspired us and delighted our ears. When you pledge $60 or more you can take home a CD of your choice (plus a CJSW T-shirt and Friend's Card). Pledge $120 or more and you can take home all 3 CD's (plus a CJSW T-shirt, CD, tote bag and 2 Friends Cards).

Finally, we will NOT be podcasting this week because of the funding drive. So, instead of enjoying your weekly feminist podcast, pick up the phone, dial 403-220-5000 and pledge your support to the greatest radio station around! With your support, CJSW can continue to provide unique programming including Calgary's only women's radio show!

Track Listings for Mix CD's

Jennie Thunder's "Pop 'n Folk" Mix:

1. Boom – Anjulie
2. Breathe Me – Sia
3. Bunny Club – Polly Scattergood
4. Everyone’s At It – Lily Allen
5. Fire Door – Ani DiFranco
6. Get Some Sleep – Bic Runga
7. I Am Aglow – Sarah Harmer
8. Jailer – Asa
9. Kick this City – Kara Keith
10. Little Bit of Red – Serena Ryder
11. Lovely Irene – Lucie Idlout
12. Morning Break – Jenn Grant
13. My Feet – Rebekah Higgs
14. Tire Swing – Kimya Dawson
15. When Doves Cry – The Be Good Tanyas
16. Worn me Down – Rachael Yamagata
17. 100 Round The Bends – Missy Higgins

Geea's "Mostly Rock" Mix:
1. The Distillers - The Young Crazed Peeling
2. The Distillers - Beat Your Heart Out
3. The Distillers - City of Angels
4. The Dresden Dolls - Girl Anachronism
5. The Dresden Dolls - Half Jack
6. The Dresden Dolls - The Perfect Fit
7. Garbage - Why Do You Love Me
8. Garbage - Only Happy When it Rains
9. Garbage - Run Baby Run
10. Hole - Celebrity Skin
11. Hole - Miss World
12. Hole - Malibu
13. Goldfrapp - A&E
14. Goldfrapp - Ride a White Horse
15. Lily Allen - The Fear
16. Lily Allen - Smile
17. Joan Jett - I Love Rock and Roll
18. Rise Against - Audience of One
19. Lady Marmelade - Lil'Kim, Mya, Pink, and Christina Aguilera

Lady Bee's Eclectic/Electric "Caughing Up Butterflies" Mix:
1.Esthero - We R In Need of a Musical Revolution!
2.Ursula Rucker - Humbled
3.CocoRosie - Promise
4.The Long Lost - Woebegone (Flying Lotus’ Lucky Charm RMX)
5.Gang Gang Dance - Egowar
6.Bjork - It’s In Our Hands
7.Fever Ray - When I Grow Up
8.Telepathe - So Fine
9.SVIIB School of Seven Bells - Iamundernodisguise
10.Cansei de Ser Sexy - Art Bitch
11.Santogold vs. Switch and Freq Nasty - Creator
12.Simian Mobile Disco feat. Beth Ditto - Cruel Intentions
13.Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
14.Monie Love - It’s A Shame(My Sister)
15.Jean Grae - My Crew
16.Jill Scott feat Mos Def - Love Rain “Head Nod RMX”
17.Florence and The Machine - You’ve Got The Love

rawr

ohhhh my lord.

LOVE everything about this room. came across it on desiretoinspire

maybe i should start paying attention more in class. oops.

Films About Black Women: "A Girl Like Me" and "Say My Name"

"Stop that, you're starting to look African"... A young black woman in Kiri Davis' short documentary A Girl Like Me shares the statement her mother made when she began wearing her hair au naturale instead of perming it, relaxing it or adding extensions. In the film, Kiri speaks with young black women and girls about the dilemmas presented to them through notions of beauty and acceptance in black America. Having kinkier hair or a darker skin tone than others has been the basis of self deprecation among black women for ages; the subjects in A Girl Like Me share their first hand experiences with these things. Many black girls are taught from a young age that being light-skinned and having long, fine hair equates with being pretty. This myth has advocated the use of things like skin bleaching creams and relaxing kits (both tend to contain extremely harmful ingredients) while amplifying self-esteem issues among those with dark skin tones or kinky hair.

At one point in the film, an experiment is conducted asking young black children to choose the better between a white doll and a black doll. The results are alarming and by the end of it, had me caught in a moment of deep questioning. The film confronts stereotypes about black women and asks why it has become acceptable to be shameful or over-critical of something as simple as appearance. A Girl Like Me has been featured on television network, HBO and was recipient of the Diversity Award at the 6th annual Media That Matters Film Festival. Check out the film's profile on their site, watch it (below), and be sure to pass it along!

Another noteworthy film to watch out for is Say My Name by Nirit Peled. The film is a showcase on female hip hop artists and it delves deep into the female presence within hip hop culture. While featuring commentary from veterans like MC Lyte, Rah Digga , Jean Grae and Erykah Badu, the film is in no way shy of also spotlighting a number of up-and-comers. These women share their thoughts on both collective and individual responsibilities of female rap artists and lyricists to change the status quo by defying expectations and challenging the extremely male-dominated rap music industry with nothing but sheer talent and enviable street smarts. Watch the trailer and check out the film's profile on Women Make Movies' website for information on screenings and on how to obtain a copy.

A Girl Like Me - Kiri Davis (full)




Say My Name - Nirit Peled (trailer)

The Sexualization of Youth - A Fabulous Documentary

Sexy Inc. Our Children Under Influence is a fantastic 35 minute documentary from the National Film Board of Canada.

Description: Sophie Bissonnette's documentary analyzes the hypersexualization of our environment and its noxious effects on young people. Psychologists, teachers and school nurses criticize the unhealthy culture surrounding our children, where marketing and advertising are targeting younger and younger audiences and bombarding them with sexual and sexist images. Sexy Inc. suggests various ways of countering hypersexualization and the eroticization of childhood and invites us to rally against this worrying phenomenon.

Tonight's Show - Influential Women in New Media & Literature

On tonight's show, Geea and I will be giving shouts out to women who have influenced media and literature in our world. We'll be sharing some of our favorites, discussing their works, their herstories and why we love them so much. These will include Ophira and Tali Edut, Lynne d. Johnson, Silja Talvi, Michaelle Jean and Jill P.Smith among many others.

As usual, hear it live at 8:30 pm MST on CJSW 90.9 FM and www.cjsw.com.

Feel free to subscribe to the podcast (top, right) if you prefer to listen during your very own free time!

NYS Nurses Protest Mandatory H1N1 Vaccine - Brings New Meaning to "My Body, My Choice."

The State of New York is forcing health care workers to receive a mandatory vaccine against H1N1. Those who do not receive the shot as of November 31 will be considered as "resigned." This violates the rights of an individual to make choices about his/her own body, violates the right to religion (as some religions oppose vaccines), and is in violation of the Bill of Rights.

Protesters carry signs that read "My Body, My Choice." This debate brings a whole new meaning to that slogan, which is always used in Pro-Choice demonstrations.

What the State is trying to do is bullshit. Watch this amazing speech for yourself and see how the rights of these health care workers are being grossly violated.

when love takes over

david guetta. guverment. toronto. 2009.
love took me over

lennon me up...or vodka

shirt: vintage. pants: zara. sunglasses: vintage sidewalk sale find.

last night was very interesting.... found out a lot about myself. while my friend gave the male bartender her number on a napkin i found out that i had told the female one last week that i wanted to get to know her and not the guy she wanted to hook me up with.
oh vodka....you complete me. i think?

finally got a new thingamabobber to add photos to my new macbook. horray to technology!!!!!!!!
more pics to come soon. ciao!

Tonight's Show - Workplace Sexual Harassment

On tonight's program, we will be looking at the issue of sexual harassment in the workplace. The thought that nearly all women have encountered some form of sexual harassment in their professional lives is a startling one and a topic that needs to be explored and shared as much as possible.

Geea and I will talk about some sexual harassment statistics and go over what sexual harassment looks like. More often than not, it can go unreported where a woman convinces herself that a colleague or employer is just being "friendly". We hope to break down that confusion by sharing both legal and social information regarding the matter.

For further reading on what you will hear about tonight, please visit the following links:

-Fact Sheet on Sexual Harassment

-Sexual Harassment in The Workplace - Student Legal Service of Edmonton

Join us live, tonight at 8:30pm MST on CJSW 90.9 FM and www.cjsw.com or subscribe to the Yeah, What She Said podcast to listen to this and other episodes at your convenience.

thats it.

im moving to sweden.

they have much more appetizing food to choose from.

they have sexier men.

sexier women.

more fabulous clothing to shop from.

thats it.

somebody send me a link to a psych program in sweden!!!!

stop it

New Black Barbie Dolls – Fab or Flop?

Mattel has launched a new line of black Barbie dolls with fuller lips, wider noses and more pronounced cheek bones. This is an improvement over the older versions of black Barbie's: Christie, who debuted in the 1960’s, was essentially just a white doll painted dark.

The dolls come in varying skin tones – light brown, chocolate and caramel – and two of them have curlier hair to reflect natural black hair.

Designer Stacey McBride-Irby, who is black and has a six-year-old daughter, said she wanted to create a line of dolls that young black girls can relate to. “I want them to see themselves within these dolls, and let them know that black is beautiful,” she said.

Some folks have welcomed the dolls and are glad to see they are reflecting the unique physical features of black women. Also, the addition of varying shades of skin tone has been applauded by some, as there are many variations of skin colour within the black community.

Others, however, are saying the dolls’ hair is too straight and does not address the hair issues that many black girls struggle with. Concerns still remain about the dolls’ slim bodies, which have long come under fire for promoting an unrealistic body image.

As a child I loved Barbie and I personally think these new dolls are pretty cool. I really like that each doll comes with accessories that reflect their interests - math and music, drill team and science, art and journalism. However, I agree that they could have represented natural black hair more effectively. What do you think about the dolls – are they fab or a flop?

just kiss me.

this is soooo hot. lelove

circa 2006

all photos by melvin sokolsky...

this one reminds me of dita von t.

twilight sorta?

foto decadent

just found an awesome website and don't wanna forget it so im adding it to here.
http://thestreethearts.com/

its a blue day

like i said...at school.
here's some photos of a girls night out with my recently-cut doo

me and charms

me and little B love.

can you believe this dress was only $16.50 (canadian) from none other than forever21.
*in love*

have a great day peeps and make sure to check your email before you head to class and wake up for 630AM. bahhhhh

dear mother of god!!!!

finally back at it. class was cancelled so what better time than to start blogging again...just got a mac computer this fall so need to figure out how to upload my pics on it faster than connecting the usb cable to camera.....any suggestions??? (i have 2 cannons and an hp camera)

check out those SHOES....alexander mcqueen
style.com

Monday's Show - Interviewing Métis Filmmaker Cara Mumford

Please join me on Monday night for a an interview that I am very excited about! I'll be chatting with Métis filmmaker Cara Mumford about her new "short poetry dance film" entitled Echoes.

Echoes was inspired by Cara's response to the events of September 11, 2001. The film incorporates dance, music, Super 8 film, still photography, manipulated found video and animation. It's screening at the imagineNATIVE Film & MEdia Arts Festival in Toronto on October 15, 2009. You can read more about Echoes here: http://echoes-film.blogspot.com/

Cara is now working on a new film, December 6, which commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

To hear this interview, tune in to CJSW 90.9 fm from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on Monday Oct 5. If you miss the live show, download the podcast, which will be available on Wednesday Oct 7.

Hot Chicks Love Smells

If aliens studied our culture by watching our television commercials, they'd be convinced that men can attract 'hot chicks' simply by purchasing deodorant, mints and Febreze. Why? Cos hot chicks love great smells... and if you smell great, chicks will drop what they're doing and flock to you like flies on shit. Yup, this is badvertising at it's best.

Tonight's Show - Female Filmmakers Ponder: To Have a Baby or Not?

Tonight we have the pleasure of interviewing two local filmmakers who are working on a project called The Baby Cliff. Dominique Keller and Smita Acharyya coined the term "the baby cliff" to describe the point in a woman’s life where she needs to decide whether or not to take the plunge into motherhood. The film they are creating is an interactive project: the general public gave input on characters, scripts and actors.

Join us tonight from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on CJSW 90.9 fm to hear this interview. You can also download it as a podcast if you miss the live show (it will be available on Wednesday).

Smita & Dominique on the edge of "the baby cliff"