Give us a fighting chance, an image we can be proud of

Michael Farmer
Jeannina Perez
WST 3015 (Introduction to Women’s Studies)
17 February 2010

The Film Hairspray though based on civil rights and social justice is full of false generalizations and stereotypes. I’ll focus on the false generalizations and stereotypes made about women’s sexuality in the film and the idea’s about plus sized women.
Plus sized women in the film are constantly shown as outcast individuals with little or low self-esteem, they’re portrayed as matronly and un attractive. The contrast becomes very clear when Tracy Turnblad tries out to be on the Corny Collins show and is denied, among other things because of her size. The message is thin is normal, thin is good, thin is beauty. Look at Tracy’s mother, she stays shut in the house, buries her poor self esteem in housework and boring matronly clothes. Tracy’s mother is not portrayed as pretty or sexual, she’s fat, old, sad and asexual in the film. She’s also portrayed as weak, she takes the path of least resistance, she has a hard time making declarative statements. “We ignore the societal and institutional reasons that contribute to obesity; instead we perpetuate cultural sizeism by pointing fingers at those who overweight reinforcing the idea that thinner is better.” (Seely 131)
Somewhat conversely women who are portrayed as sexual are portrayed as evil, calculating, slutty, diseased ect. “Sexuality can be restriction and vulnerability for women Especially for those who repudiate societal norms.” (Kirk, and Okazawa-Rey 149) We see this in the character of Velma Von Tussel. One of Velma’s spotlight moments it’s a song entitled “Ms. Baltimore Crabs”, she sings about how she slept with entire panel of judges to in order to be crowned a beauty queen. It’s implied that because of her sexual freedom, she’s contracted crabs. Later in the film she tried to seduce Mrs. Turnblad husband to turn them against each other with the promise of sex.
Even though the film Hairspray was mostly mocking these stereotypes and bringing their falsehoods into the sunshine it does shed light on the way many of the people we see everyday actually feel. The reality is that big women are beautiful, sexual, strong willed and any other personality type they want to take on. But, when we tell them from a young age as a collective society they cannot be these things, they must be less than, we set them up for failure. The same goes for women who are blossoming sexually. Women should be empowered to explore sex and be armed with the sense of seld and knowledge needed to be safe. If we send them into the sexual world with one hand tied behind their back because of stereotypes in films, We all lose.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Womens Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5th. New York, NY: Mcgraw Hill, 2010. 149. Print.
Seely, Megan. Fight Like A Girl. New York, NY: NYU Press, 2007. 131. Print.

Activist Log

This week was spent largely getting the wheels turning. Our group previously spent time polishing our proposal. My tasks this week have been to research venues for a possible fundraiser for the Animal Safe House, locations for donation drops offs and also ways we might be able to spread the word about our work. I also signed up to be a foster parent.

Project Proposal

February 2, 2010

Jeannina Perez

WST 3015

Community Partner: Animal Safe House of Brevard

Address: animalsafehouse@gmail.com

Contact: Arielle Schwartz

954-401-4901

Community Partner Profile:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard was formed in summer 2008 as a network of individuals committed to helping both women and pets who are victims of domestic violence. Animal Safehouse recently became a registered Florida non-profit agency which relies heavily on donations and volunteers and is in need of assistance to help as many women and pets possible.

Community Partner Mission Statement:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard is a not-for-profit effort geared towards providing temporary safe placement of pets that, like their owners, need to flee from domestic violence situations. The mission of Animal Safehouse Campus Action Network is a commitment to encouraging women to escape domestic violence by fostering and providing for their pets while they are in shelters; to raise community awareness about domestic violence and about the links between domestic violence and animal abuse.

Political and/or Social Basis for Organization:

Animal Safehouse of Brevard appeals to the desperate need for a safe place for pets who are subjected to abuse while their owners seek shelter and rehabilitation. Domestic violence can sometimes also involve animal abuse; both of these violate women’s rights and animal rights.

Community Partner Needs:

In order to be productive and to continue helping animals, this organization needs constant help from the community. Transporters, foster parents, volunteers, and vets are needed. Animal Safehouse of Brevard relies heavily on donations to keep our program running. Items needed are unopened food, collars, leashes, bowls, flea treatment, heartworm treatment, veterinary care, crates, pillows, toys, and blankets.

Memorandum

TO: Jeannina Perez

FROM:J. Audette, M. Farmer, A. Ondina, K. Sanders, S. Stoneburner, K. Temple

DATE: February 2, 2010

RE: Proposal to Write a Feasibility Report for a Service Learning Project

This is a proposal for the services needed for the benefit of the Animal Safehouse of Brevard County. We outline the services we plan to provide to the benefit of this community partner in this proposal. We will also include the connection between the goals of the Animal Safehouse and Women’s Studies.

Need for materials, time and volunteers to assist in raising money, awareness and donations to assist Animal Safe House of Brevard

The mission of the Animal Safehouse is to provide foster care to pets of women who need to leave abusive situations. Many women will not leave because they either have children or pets at home that they do not wish to abandon. By providing the foster care, the pets will be taken care of and the women can feel more confident in leaving.

Plan Proposal

We plan to provide services for our partner by partaking in the activities of the Animal Safehouse. It will benefit their cause and also provide them with extra help. We also are aiming to raise awareness. As a group, we will make flyers, table at local businesses and plan a “signing day” where interested persons will be able to sign up to foster an animal in need. We plan to table with a constant schedule with the hopes that we will also be able to collect donations.

Rationale for women’s studies

This project is relevant to women’s studies because it presents the problem with domestic violence toward women and animals.

Action

We plan to get as much information from the Animal Safehouse as possible before planning any action. We will need to record information of known families and pets in need of the Animal Safehouse’s services. Then we will take this information and use it to create flyers and any other means of spreading the word to people. We also plan to organize a “signing party”.

Timeline

Below is a schedule of events, activities and/or deadlines for our project:

1. Research/interviews – through February 13

2. Begin creating materials to use for spreading the word–through February 20

3. Organize “signing party” for Animal Safehouse – through March 6

4. Flyer – through March 13

5. Finalize “signing day” (event will also be around this date) – through March 25

6. Send thank you letters– April 2

Hypersexul Ads Are Damaging to Women

In 2010 more than ever media is a pervasive in all aspects of our lives. It could be said that media shapes our socialization more than any other factor, even our parents. Because of this unprecedented pervasiveness media has a responsibility to think about the messages it sends to the masses. Unfortunately the media bottom line comes down to making money and has little or no regard for social justice. Take the image from a Dolce and Gabbana ad above.

Everyone who is into fashion and trends knows that D&G sets the standard for whats in style and what's considered beautiful. If this is the case, what does this particular ad mean for girls and women? From the outside it would appear that what D&G is saying is that women must be thin blondes who have large red luscious lips, sexy nails and long legs. In addition it tells women that their only inherent value is in sex appeal. Not just in this ad but it the majority of D&G's ads women are selling products in sexually suggestive poses. One could assume that this message is not lost on girls and women and could mean they might think that their worth to society lies only in sex. Since these are all false generalizations, many women will be left out this idea of beauty devaluing their self worth and esteem.

This ad is not a realistic depiction of women and does damage to the self image of women girls all over the world. What's even more disappointing is that it suggests the only way for you to fulfill this false image and thereby gain self esteem is to sell the product D&G is hawking.

Jews in the US: The Rising Costs of Whiteness

Kaye/Kantrowitz, Melanie. "Jews in the US: The Rising Costs of Whiteness." Womens Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5. (2010 ): 119. Print.

Melanie Kantrowitz is a professor of literature, Women’s Studies, and Jewish studies. She is the founder of Jews for Economic and Racial Justice and the former director of Queens College/CUNY worker education extension center. (Kaye/Kantrowitz 119)
Kantrowitz’s article Jews in the US: The Rising Cost of Whiteness hits hard at many of our traditionally constructed views of Jewish people and who they are. Kantrowitz begins with her recollection of an essay she read by James Baldwin in 1990, in the essay Baldwin asserts that Americans Jews have opted to adopt a white identity. Kantrowitz cites this essay is the basis for the beginning of questioning Jews as a race. Kantrowitz explains that many Jewish Americans have experienced privilege because of their ability to pass, or “whiteness”. She writes, “On the other hand, the last time the cops stopped me. In the car with me were two other white Jews. My heart flew into my throat as always, but they took one look at us and waved us on. I remembered all of the stories from my friends of color who did not receive a friendly apology and wave.” At the same time however, she illuminates instances of discrimination Jewish Americans have endured, like swastikas painted on people’s homes and cross burnings.
This leads her to the question of what being Jewish means. Race or Religion? Kantrowitz says, “Of course Jewish is not a race, for Jews come in all races.” (Kaye/Kantrowitz 120) She explains that Jewish people have been racialized throughout time because of persecution and exile. In American culture with think of Jewish people as white because much of the Jewish people we know in the US moved here from Eastern Europe. When Kantrowitz says that Jews have been racialized she means that as a larger group, Jews have been exiled, hated an discriminated against and thereby developed a distinct culture socio-historically
Kantrowitz goes on to say that there is danger in Jewish people in the US trying to assimilate and pass as “white”. The danger creeps up when Jewish people begin to feel like they are no longer marginalized and therefore don’t feel the need to build bridges with other minority groups, gays, blacks, women, Latinos. Kantrowitz extrapolates that these coalitions of minorities are pivotal to preventing atrocities mass exile and murder of minority groups.
In the end, Kantrowitz seems to come to the realization that the more conscious she became of her Jewish identity the more she felt she was in solidarity with others like herself. This is pivotal she says, because if we don’t all stand together who will stand with us? She points to a powerful testament of solidarity by a Rabbi defending Oregon gays. “The Holocaust began with laws exactly like ballot measure 9. Those laws first declared groups of people to be subhuman, then legalized and finally mandated discrimination against them. Comparisons to the Holocaust must be limited. But clearly, this is the start of hatred and persecution that must stop now. “(Kaye/Kantrowitz 129)

Passive Socialite or Active Soldier?

The characters in "Iron Jawed Angels" made the woman's movement their entire lives, while in “Mary Poppins” the mother seems to do it has a "hobby" or on a part time basis and only seems partially committed to the movement. This is couldn’t have been clearer then in the scene where Alice Paul affirms she has no room for a man in her life as long as she has the woman's movement. In my view “Mary Poppins” portrays suffragists (especially the mother) in a very passive way. On one hand the mother is flying the suffragist flag and then in another scene she's taking notes silently as her husband revels in male dominance. The mother in "Mary Poppins" seems to suggest that the women’s movement is nothing but upper middle class white women with too much time on their hands. (However false this may be)
I think it's clear that the suffragist movement is more accurately portrayed in "Iron Jawed Angels". The film is a very raw depiction of the rough and hard work working for civil rights really is, struggles between the establishment and the younger newer factions, stress surrounding funding, political push back ect. In “Mary Poppins” the movement is portrayed in a more "book club" fashion, more of like a social gathering of women.
I think in both films men underestimate women, but especially in "Mary Poppins" the husband dismisses his wife’s work for the suffragist movement when all the while he has know idea just how successful it will be. In "Iron Jawed Angels" men place much harsher sanctions on the women, especially in the parade scene, men even become violent and bash women implying they "wish to be men".
I think women in both films are doing SOMETHING to disrupt norms about women. Obviously the women in "Iron Jawed Angels" do more because they appear to be farm more out-front on issues regarding the movement. Take for example the women picketing the President in a time of war; these women are willing to be imprisoned for their beliefs. We're not given any indication that the mother in "Mary Poppins" has done anything like this or is willing to be imprisoned for her beliefs.

In my mind these two films are demonstrative of the powerful suggestions of media and it's possibe bias against women and the women's movement as reported in "Fight Like a Girl" (Seely 1). Each of these films portrays suffragists in different ways I would argue that "Mary Poppins" make light of the movement while "Iron Jawed Angels" appropriatly pays it homage.

"Iron Jawe Angels-A Film by Katja Von Garnier". 29 January 2010 .

"Mary Poppins 1964". Answers.com. 29 January 2010 .

Seely, Megan. Fight Like a Girl: How to be a Fearless Feminist. New York and London: New York University Press, 2007.