Creepy Child in the City

I went out dancing last night at a party thrown by the local queer collective. Cold beers, hot queers, and booty shaking – now that’s MY idea of a good time.
Victoria is an amazing city. It’s not too big – a population of about 350,000 – and luckily for me, the queer community is about 60% women. So, it shouldn’t have been a surprise to me when I knew several women at this dance.

FROM THE INTERNET.

That’s right, friends. I am an internet dating star.

And not one, not two, but THREE of the women from last night I knew from online.

I’ve had an online dating profile for about a year now, and I have to admit, I feel totally awkward about it. I try to reclaim it – it seems like such a powerful act, going out and actively searching rather than being passive about meeting new people. I’m making connections! I’m using advanced technology! I’m a child of this new information age!
…But truth be told, all my experiences have been totally awks. Flirty online messages don’t always translate to real life chemistry. It’s just the way it is.

However, this being said, the masochist in me totally gets off on how making such socially awkward situations. I have cringe worthy stories out the ying-yang. What a geeky little kink.

So, I apologize to these three ladies if I put them in an uncomfortable situation.
… Especially last night where I creepily stared at them from across the dance floor. That’s what you get for putting yourself out there.

Dentist Office Blues

Now I love the dentist just as much as everyone else.
...that being, not at all.
But the one saving grace of visits to the dental office is reading the trashiest celebrity gossip magazines known to man. They're all there in a neat little pile, just waiting to distract you from the $1800 you're about to throw down on getting those wisdom teeth "tickled out" (yeah, right, Dr. M.)

Aside from a short article about Michelle Obama (it makes me feel like I'm keeping up on politics when I read about her fashion choices), there was an interesting article on Cat Cora, winner of the "Iron Chef" reality show.

So here's the story. Cat Cora and her partner, Jen, already have two (super cute) sons, and they are currently both pregnant with another two (four kids, yikes!) They've divulged quite a bit of personal information on their blog, and to OK Magazine - the Cora is carrying an embryo generated from Jen's egg, and their last son was from Cora's egg, carried by Jen. Jen's current pregnancy happened after she was implanted with two embryos - one from herself, and one from Cora. All children came from the same sperm. Technicalities.

Technicalities that blow the mind of conservative America.

The most interesting part of this story, for me, is the varied coverage by different news agencies. Some reports use the term "partner," some use "wife", some use "lesbian lover" (for serious? They're married). Some are congratulatory, some read like the description of a freak show. This article from Fox News was one of the worst of the bunch. It puts a huge focus on the biological connections, like some confused conservative is breathlessly trying to make sense of the whole thing, wrapping it up with "and you thought your family was complicated!"

... totes lame.

However, most of the coverage I read was awesome. I'm really interested in how GLBT people create families, and I think good press around this issue (tabloids love baby-making, and people love tabloids) could do a lot to normalize these families to the larger society.

And did I mention, both Cat and Jen are totally hot?

[Update- as dentist office literature is usually old, I just read that Jen actually gave birth a few weeks ago, and Cat is due in July. Yay babies!]

Tits Off To You!

Speaking of boobs...

Yesterday, a transgendered friend of mine underwent top surgery (bilateral mastectomy/breast reduction/male chest construction... take your pick) to get that super hot male bod they deserve. After just a few hours, not only was he awake, he was HOME, walking around, and chatting with the crew back home via webcam. So rad!

Since moving to Victoria, I have been lucky enough to get to know many transgendered (and androgynous, and gender queer) people. Having these people in my life has really opened my eyes to examining constructions of gender - as any good feminist should.

I know there is a division between many feminists and the transgendered community. So much of feminism is built upon the idea that gender is in itself a construction, and there is a level of defensiveness when a biological woman identifies as a man, or seeks sexual reassignment surgery. After all, doesn't that just perpetuate the notion of the gender binary, something feminism seeks to eliminate? This argument has meant the exclusion of transgendered people from women's groups, centers, and festivals across the country.

I don't (in ANY way) consider myself an expert on trans issues/identity politics, nor do I have the lived experience of a trans person. But as a feminist (or should we say, a participant in a feminism;) ) I feel there must be spaces made within feminism for ALL people who experience oppression. In addition, I think we need to validate the fact that transgendered people have lived experience on both sides of the gender binary, and that needs to be honoured as well.

Perhaps it's the fact that all my trans friends happen to be some of the raddest, staunchest, most well spoken feminists I've ever met.

Wedding Bras are Ringing

Stumbling around the internet, I found this little gem.
Basically, Triumph bras have created the ultimate support needed to "land a man" - the konkatsu bra has "nuptial time piece" that counts down towards the marriage goal date, putting women "on the clock" to find a husband.

*barf*

Pap day!!

Pap Day!
It is so important to make that annual visit, and get yourself checked out. Especially in women, lots of STIs can go undetected until someone gets down and dirty with the speculum and takes a good hard look at your cervix.
From my own experience, which I'm sure extends to many youth, it's difficult to find a safe space to talk about issues of sexual health (and identity). Luckily, at least within all the different cities I've lived in, there have been clinics specially targeted to youth and/or sexual health. For me, these clinics have been central to obtaining contraception, information, and a open, confidential space to talk about my concerns.
Big holla to the doctors, nurses, and staff that help create these spaces for that reach out to youth!

I decided, after this visit to the clinic, that I'd love to do the practicum for my Women's Studies degree at this particular Sexual Health clinic. I'll keep you posted.

Body Image 101

While feminist concerns are ever evolving, one of issues feminists are best known for (holla!) is the arguments over woman's objectification in advertising, and how this can lead to poor body image in women and girls.

I figure I'll get the ball rolling in this bloggy-blog by re-capping some of my (least) favorite feminist triggering internet finds.

Faith Hill's airbrushing in redbook - As beautiful as the lady is, these before and after shots are always a shock to me.

Tom Ford's Perfume Ads (there are a few here) -
ob·jec·ti·fy

tr.v. ob·jec·ti·fied, ob·jec·ti·fy·ing, ob·jec·ti·fies To present or regard as an object: "Because we have objectified animals, we are able to treat them impersonally"

It's unclear what the message in these ads are. Is the bottle/perfume itself being likened to a piece of female anatomy? Is the woman receiving sexual pleasure from this perfume? In any case, these close cropped shots of women's bodies put them on par with the object (perfume) that they're selling.

...although I have to admit, I do the exact same thing every time I bring home a container of Island Farms Double Churned french vanilla. Mmm...

...more to come!

What's this all about?

So, why a blog?

Construct a community - In the beginnings of my feminist consciousness, some of the best informative resources I found were in the form of blogs (like Feministing, Jezebel, or Feministe) By providing links and resources, these bloggers were providing real time feminist analysis on the news and issues of the day. By having this feminist lens through which to view these events, I was well on my way to being the razor tongued feminist that I am today (ha!).
Information technology has done wonders for making information and resources available to all who seek them. Communities can be created in a space where geography, gender, sexuality, race, and class don't come into play. It's totally hot. And I want to be part of it.

Actively use my own feminist analysis - Despite my love for these blogging communities, it's now time to "big girl panties" (as problematic as that may be), take off the training wheels, and put my own analysis into action. What do I think is important, and for whom? How does this information speak to me?
...this is really just a way for me to stay sharp while my Women's Studies classes are out of session.

Share my famously witty banter - Yes, the banter queen wants to share her gifts with the masses. Consider yourself blessed.