The babes over at Pamflet zine write in defense of women behaving badly, and the stark difference between Julia Stiles’ snarky, defiant and rabble rousing character in 10 Things I Hate About You, and her Shakespearean predecessor on whom she was based in the Taming of The Shrew.
We demand, we assert, we argue, we’re unruly, we believe our opinions are as valid as our partners. We poke fun at them, boss them about, and it seems they love us for it. Life with a shrew will never be easy – expect tears, shouting, ominous silences, door slamming and probably regular existential crises – but it will never ever be boring. Life with a shrew means impassioned debates (whether about world politics or Mad Men Season 4), adventure, passion, a unique perspective on the world and much more besides. Smart men understand that if you want a quiet life, you go for a nice girl like Bianca, but if you want a roller coaster ride, always opt for a Kate. I’ve written before in Pamflet about how indie boys can be just as sexist as ‘mainstream’ blokes – just because they listen to Belle & Sebastian, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re interested in your opinions, girlie! But there are men out there who are willing to embrace our shrewish tendencies – they’re as feminist as we are. Of course being a shrew shouldn’t mean being cruel, allowing a sharp tongue to wound just because you can, nor should it mean being intolerant of other people’s failings and frailties. It just means not being afraid to use your voice. So on this one, I have to say Mr Shakespeare, I think you got it wrong. Embrace your inner shrew.
Screen cap: Google
Hola Miley! I kid, I kid!
Photo: E! Online
What kind of blogger are you? A savvy networker? A blogger who substitutes their lack of personality or social life with an online persona and e-friends? This is a legit analysis people! They surveyed Myspace users! This is legit!
This kid could have it all. A Swedish couple have decided to keep the sex of their child unknown. Why?
“We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset,” Pop’s mother told the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet last spring. “It’s cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.”
Pop (a name used in the papers to protect the identity of the family) gets to wear both boys and girls clothes and play with both boys and girls toys. This might not sound any different to a normal child hood, and certainly not mine! Pretty sure I have a polaroid of my brother in a dress somewhere. The thing is, only baby Pop’s immediate family know the sex of their child. The Mamma Mia boards have been going crazy with comments, most not in favour of this style of upbringing. Whilst I think that placing equal emphasis on the signifiers of both genders (by giving Pop both boys and girls toys and clothes) and allowing Pop to decide choose what he/she likes best, the parents are taking the power away from gender based stereotypes. The important thing to remember is that Pop’s parents are not denying the sex of their child, but the gender. Society sees these as interchangeable, and I think that’s what the parents are trying to address. What do you guys think? How would you raise your children?
Hollywood’s fake teenagers – I remember watching Dawson’s Creek when I was 10 and thinking how cool and beautiful older people were. And by older, I mean 15-year-old, which is what the 20-something year old cast of DC were portraying. Unfortunately, when I got to 15, I was neither cool nor beautiful. Rebecca Sparrow over at Mama Mia understands me.
So the question is, why aren’t genuine pimply, gangly, awkward teenagers being cast as teenagers? Answer: Because genuine teenagers are often pimply, gangly and awkward. That doesn’t look good on camera. Adults playing teens is commercially a better proposition to TV networks.
When Skins came on Australian television in early 2008, I found it really refreshing to find ACTUAL TEENAGERS playing ACTUAL TEENAGERS. Unfortunately, I think that finding adults to play teenagers has a whole lot more to do with their acting abilities. An adult who’s been in the biz longer will usually have a stronger craft than a teenager who’s just entering Hollywood. Could they not, like, draw on zits or something? Or at least quit washing their hair?
Another score for Generation Y! As a member of the frequently disdained and pigeonholed “me” generation, I can whole heartedly admit to holding on to my job with an iron like grip. I have always been casually employed. Although highly flexible and with a low degree of responsibility, being casually employed is a little unnerving. You walk on egg shells around superiors for fear of getting on their wrong side. I’ve had bosses who’ve for one reason or another (and sometimes no reason at all) cut my shifts. Sometimes because my work wasn’t up to scratch, and being casually employed does not entitle me to any mentorship, and sometimes just because. As a casual worker, you’re replaceable. Which is why I, and many other people of my generation, will strive hard to prove themselves a valuable asset. Calling in sick is taboo. You have to work harder, longer, smarter, if you want to stay in the game. I think it’s a valuable attribute to have, but sometimes I wonder if my family and social life is sacrificed.
Photo: AAP
For those of you who were in awe of the feisty Gail Dines, here is another clarion call for a ‘perp-walk’. I have to admit, when I first heard of the SlutWalks, I was a little confused by the title of the protest. What about the girls who are sexually conservative, or sexually indifferent? Fatima Measham says it a lot better than I do.
The “look at me” strategy again turns attention to women’s behaviour rather than men’s responses to it. If the spotlight of blame has been on women, then the only way to correct the injustice is to turn it away from them and onto men. Get men to say how disgusting they think it is for other men to make excuses for their crime. Get men to say they feel ashamed as men when their fathers, brothers and uncles treat women with contempt. Get men to say that rape lessens you as a man.
FiFi Box and Erica Bartle have a fear of commitment – Don’t we all? I feel that younger generations are taught that not only can they have everything, they must also be everything. We’re also more accustomed to performing more than one task at a time, so when we’re forced to choose just one ting, it’s like our brains are going “Hey! Does not compute!” I know I definitely channel my inner Varuca Salt occasionally. I’m horrible to dine with, I annoy those behind me in the line at the gelato bar, and I probably spend a good 10 minutes stairing into the fridge before I shut the door and continue doing the same with the pantry. Whereas as Erica says her indecision is more to do with her conflict over what is the right or wrong thing to do, I feel that my indecision concerns my chronic FOMO (fear of missing out). Is everyone else the same? Or are most driven more by their morals?
Media Maven and all round Fierce Bitch takes one for the team. This honestly makes me so, so happy that more mainstream figures are coming out to rally for marriage equality. I wonder who’s next?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoTuA_CwuBA]
This week I contributed a story to Rachel Rabbit White’s blog post about Romantic BFF relationships. I won’t tell you which one is mine though! I also love the sweet valley high cards she uses! Too cute!
Oh and by the way – I got into Curtin! I start early July, and I’ve been given a zillion extra credits points to I’ll be starting from second year, second semester. JUMPING UP ON KEYBOARD EXCITEDLY! JFSIFHDFGIOUW9#$T^@#$%YSFNMSDFLKJ!!!%*E$
I’ve also introduced a new section to this blog – Lady Luvva of the Week. Each week I’m going to find a bad-ass blogger and give her a spot on the homepage so everyone can see how killa she is. Sound awesome? This week it’s Jetta from The Radical Uprise. Have a look to your right. Check out her stuff. She’s truly inspiring. And kind of sexy.
Have a rockin’ Sunday party peeps. Peace x
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