Lesbians on ABC Family's Lincoln Heights?!?

Its no secret that we form our ideas about the way the world is 'supposed' to work in part by watching and parodying the attitudes and actions of those around us - especially when we're young. For just one little example (and I promise I'll get to the lesbian kiss soon), a recent report on NPR explained that many teens see smoking as relaxing and refreshing because they are "...primed to see smoking as a sort of relief... That's the image television — one of the strongest influences in their lives — portrays." Teens who watch shows like Sex in the City learn to expect a sense of relief when smoking a cigarette because that is what so many of the characters express when they light up. This 'priming' of young people's expectations also influences ideas about gender roles, body satisfaction, and heteronormativity as well.

Where was I? Oh, TV lesbians. TV's ability to prime our expectations about relationships and sexuality is one of the reasons I was so tickled to see this scene from ABC Family's Lincoln Heights. The story line is one that you've probably seen on made-for-teen and family shows before. As StuntDouble of After Ellen explains, the plot of this episode revolves around "...the old "I have this friend" trick. It works so well, until you actually do have this friend who needs you to intervene on her behalf... Cassie and her gay BFF, Stacy, have heard word that Kelly is a lesbian. Cassie thinks Stacy should just ask Kelly to prom, but Stacy doesn't even know if Kelly is actually gay! What to do? Send in your wingwoman, of course."



Oh no! We've got a Cyrano de Bergerac dilemma! For a good guess at what happens next, I'm sure we could refer to at least three Saved By the Bell plot lines. Yet, the predictability of the drama is part of what makes this scene so promising as a social message - it isn't that they're lesbians that complicates the plot, but the mix-up about who's doing the wooing. That its a same-sex love triangle, come on, that's no big deal. And that's a good thing.

I Think The View is a Crappy Show - You?

Feministing beat both me and Petpluto to the latest Sarah Haskins Target Women video (we're really competitive about these things), so no points this round. Still, despite not having gloating rights, I'm posting it anyway - for your viewing enjoyment:

Boobs for Burma: Can Sex Sell Human Rights?

You know, I get it--human beings like nothing more than looking at sexy ladies and thinking about sexy lady boobies. So, naturally, if we want to sell something to other human beings we must first get their attention with boobies and sexy ladies. Apparently we can sell anything this way - masonry drills, information numbers, animal rights, compassion...

Wait - can you really sell people on compassion with sexy ladies? The Human Rights Action Center says, "Yes! With the help of Tila Tequila, we'll save the good people of Myanmar!"



The creepy works on so many levels here. First, high school kids are... kids. That's right, they are too young to legally give consent, so this little 'strip tease for correct answers' is flirting with pedophilia. Then there is the bit where two girls smilingly speak of the murder of thousands of people, happy to report the deaths because they know the news of tragedy will be rewarded with some fresh new view of lady skin.

But it works, right? Viewers will help the Burmese people now that we've gotten their attention! Its cleavage for a cause! Yet, judging from the comments over at YouTube, this video has got people talking - but not about dictatorships or human rights violations. In five pages of comments, there was not a single mention of the cause this video ostensibly promotes.

So, what are we really selling here? Apparently the very real problems of the Burmese people make a nice narrative to go along with a lesson in Nice Guy (TM) syndrome. That's right - if I'm a Nice Guy who cares about the plight of (insert noun), I deserve to have a hot lady falling all over herself to fondle me. Women are the prize for being a decent person; thus, as a good person, you have a right to hot women.

That's what I see, but what do you all think - is this a savvy way to advocate for an end to human rights violations, or a commercial for sexism and male privilege? Or both?

(h/t Sociological Images)

UPDATE: Feminism and Adbusting points to some "Non-sexed up info on the situation," which can be found here.

Blogging Moms and the Boogeyman

I come from an extremely conservative background. I still have a lot of friends that I care about and keep in touch with from that time in my life. Nearly every single one of them has kids, and nearly every single one of them keeps a mommy blog. They post pictures of their kids, their houses, their pets, their cars. But every now and then a wave of these blogs will go private and lock access. Why? Because they're afraid.

I haven't quite figured out what they're afraid of, and I don't think they know either. In a newspaper article I read on the subject, many women said it's "not safe" but didn't say why or how. (And yet I found blogs linking the article and saying how it convinced them it wasn't safe.) The article said: you put something out there and it's out there. True, this is the internet after all. But there seems to be this growing sense among mommy blogs that the boogeyman is out there just waiting for pictures of their kids. I have yet to find a documented case to support this fear. It also ignores the reality of these safety concerns: posting a picture of your child isn't really that different than taking your child out in public for anyone to see, statistically children are far more likely to encounter danger from people they know than from strangers, and the power of the internet gives nearly anyone the possibility to find out plenty about you whether or not you have a blog.

However, this fear of the boogeyman is getting more attention than the more common problems a blog can create. One blog I read occasionally had a bit of a meltdown. She posted about the birth of her child, which was a crazy story. It would've been no big deal except that they were already in the middle of a medical malpractice lawsuit dealing with that very issue and the lawyers found it along with the blogs of all her friends, and you can bet they'll all be considered as potential evidence. It's not just lawsuits that can lead to blogging trouble. Criticizing a child's teacher could lead to trouble at school. Writing about your job can cause trouble at your current job or your search for a future one. Blogging about parenting may open you up to a mountain of criticism. Applying to adopt or for a job or to attend a school is more and more likely to involve a blog search.

Most mommy blogs are started for the benefit of friends and family. But it's rare that people think through just what it means to start a blog. A mommy blog is no different than any other website. What you post is there for anyone to see. Your pictures can be taken and manipulated, nasty comments can be left, your content can be copied, your name can be googled. Blogging about your work, your friends, or even the school your child attends is something that should be done cautiously. But none of this is any reason to freak. The misguided notion that predators will use your blog as a tool for evil is substituting a serious consideration about how to blog. Just stop and think about what kind of blog you want to have. You should consider whether you post pictures, whether you use names, how searchable your blog is, who you link to and who links to you, the content of your posts, etc. And the same consideration should be given to networking sites like myspace or facebook.

I have no plans to make my blog private, even when I do have kids. It's certainly not a necessity. My personal rule of thumb is not to say anything on my blog that I wouldn't be comfortable saying to a room full of people I don't know, treating it like the public forum it is. There's nothing wrong with going private or staying public, but any blogger should give these matters some serious thought. If you want to know where to start, I'd suggest this BlogHer forum on privacy

Late Night Links

I know, its still not Sunday and I'm all linky again. What can I say - I've gone rogue like an ill-informed Alaskan former Veep candidate, there's no controlling what I'll say next...

1. First off, there was some excellent morning-after blogging that resulted in good round-up posts that cover last night's ballot initiatives and down ballot races. Feminist Law Professors, Feministe, Feministing, and Broadsheet will fill you in on anything you missed during your drunken revelry and subsequent hangover.

2. Don't get too complacent, Bush still has the keys to the White House and plans to trash as much possible on the way out.

3. Science Woman introduces us to Sharon Long, one of Obama's science advisers.

4. The F-Word discusses boob jobs and the economic crisis - not necessarily in that order.

5. Is TV to blame for teen pregnancy? Really, what have kids been doing with those remotes?

6. Broadsheet is secretly glad the election is over so we can all quit talking about politics and start talking about orgasms - are women having enough?

7. The Gender Analyzer thinks Yours Truly (and all the other authors of this blog) must be male... I hope it's not right!

8. Pam's House Blend discusses the challenges that face the LGBT community, and about the next steps for us all to take towards equality.

9. Has this election changed how we see masculinity in the U.S. of A.?

Are You Shitting Me?

I apologize to our young readers (or our older readers not fond of a potty mouth) for my language. While I am filled with nervous energy and excitement following the amazing historic vote we've witnessed, I am also filled with anger. That tends to seep out into my choice of words. However, in my defense, on a day where Prop8 passed in California I also come across the following petty discourse about Michelle Obama's choice of dress last night.

From the article:

All that said, I think her election-night dress was an odd choice. The cut didn't flatter her figure or work well on camera. The addition of a bolero-like sweater only added to the shapeless silhouette.

It's time to cast your vote. Was the dress a hit or a miss?

You know what? I don't bloody well care what she was wearing. Two of my best friends just had their marriage from last month mocked, thrown under the bus, and right out the window.

Grrr...

UPDATE:
P.S. In case you are wondering how to continue to call attention to this, here are some ideas from my above mentioned friend, "Things to make a difference (if you aren't already doing these things :) Follow NoOnProp8 on Twitter, be a supporter/fan of NoOnProp8 on Facebook, Donate to NCLR (www.nclrights.org) and EQCA (www.eqca.org) since they're funding the lawsuit and continued efforts and they spent most of their money fighting Prop 8".

I Voted for the 1st Black U.S. President

Not much to say right now b/c I'm too busy crying and trying to take it all in. No "I Voted" sticker (DARN!), but here's my proof (at the request of Habladora hehe)

I'm in shock... but so incredibly happy to know that I can look back and say:

YES I DID.

(Cross-posted at Jump off the Bridge)

Can I Vote?

Any voter unsure if she's registered can double-check and find her polling place at canivote.org, as Cara reminds us over at Feministe. Also, Cara writes that "...it never hurts to call up friends and family to double-check that they have voted or are planning on voting. As it turns out, without directly asking you never know."

So, how are you feeling today? How are you spending Election Day?

(image via Eat Our Brains)

Obama's Grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, Has Died

Sad news, via CNN:

Sen. Barack Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died following a bout with cancer, Obama and his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said Monday...

In a statement released Monday afternoon, Obama and his sister said that Dunham was "the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility."

As mentioned over at Art at the Auction, we wish she could have stayed with us for just two more days and seen her grandson elected President of the United States of America.

Toot will be missed.

Voting: What to Pack and What Not to Wear

Voter Suppression Wiki reminds voters about proper voting preparation:



Need more information? Visit Pam's House Blend. Also, don't forget to look up your area's particular ballot measures on Smart Voter.

Late with the Links

I know, I know - links are for Sunday. But we started watching Battlestar Galactica Season 3 on Sunday (yes, we have to get caught up - its very important), so I forgot the internets even existed for awhile. I'm back now, though, so without further ado...

1. New priests will undergo 'sex drive tests' that "aim to vet for those with 'deep-seated homosexual tendencies'"?

2. Light drinking during pregnancy might do some good.

3. The candidates differ a bit on relief for working families.

4. Women pay lots more than men for health insurance, even when childbirth isn't covered.

5. Sam Bee discusses penis babies.

6. Another "health" story in CNN about how women can seem sexier to men. Because that's pressing health issue for us ladies.

7. Univision is working to get out the Latino vote.

8. Vietnam might ban small-chested drivers.

9. A 17-year-old North Korean girl is changing the sport of boxing.

10. Dirty tricks aimed at keeping Virginia Democrats from voting made my mother-in-law, who lives in VA, really mad. UPDATE: The VA State Police have found the crooks responsible, although it is unsure whether or not they'll press charges. Thanks for keeping us in the loop, though, Noticed.

11. Is sex different in red states and blue states?

12. Anti-racist Parent takes on on race and Barbies.

13. November is National Novel Writing month, apparently. Make sure to write some interesting female characters.

14. Sally reminds us that there is more to an election than the national candidates - make sure you understand the issues that will be on your ballot before heading to the polls.

15. The Professor takes issue with the way we use the word tradition.

I'm an early voter!

That's right - I voted today! Yeah!
You?