Histories of Women...a rant

I was so excited to see the new movie about Amelia Earhart (I know it came out a bit ago but I have a 2 year old so I wait for everything to hit Netflix). I grew up with a passion for flying and travel. I grew up in awe of Amelia.

I shouldn't be surprised. Seems this happens with every mainstream film about women. But there I was last night watching the story of Amelia Earhart unfold before me. And the focus? Her romantic life and managing a jealous and very threatened husband. Blah!

Why must Hollywood "romance-up" nearly every film about women? Do they think that we wouldn't be interested in the telling of a female historic figure unless we also know about the men in her life? Would the accomplishments that made her film worthy not be sufficient enough?

I've heard some argue that the same is done with men...I don't buy it. The first time I see a scene of Nelson Mandela masturbating in his jail cell (see similar story line about Alice Paul in Iron Jawed Angels) then we can talk about whether Hollywood treats the biographies of men in the same manner as those for women!

Shopping...

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

Seriously??

"Dr. Mrs. Potato Head"
Really???

Spring is coming

Abortion and the Super Bowl...hmmm?

Focus on the Family is at it again...getting ready to spend nearly $3 million on an anti-abortion ad during February 7th's Super Bowl. And despite previous decisions not to allow 'issues ads' CBS is planning to air the ad, which tells the tale of Tim Tebow's mother's decision against abortion. So what's the point...I haven't yet seen the ad but isn't abortion rights about choice--the choice to have an abortion or not to? But that is most likely too idealistic of a view, given that it is Focus on the Family who created the ad. Pay attention folks...using popular culture (i.e. media and the super bowl) to target issues like abortion is very intentional. Also interesting is that the super bowl watchers are predominantly male--all of which will never become pregnant. The red flag is up, why this ad, this topic during the Super Bowl??

Here are few articles/commentaries to check out:

Huffington Post
Take action with the Feminist Majority

Seneca Falls Film

Check it out!
Seneca Falls Film

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.

Woke up this morning to my very talkative 2 1/2 year old daughter. We sat together and watched Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous I Have a Dream speech. And we talked. We talked about people and all that we have in common, we talked about freedom and what that means, and we talked about justice and the role she has in living her life for justice. OK she's 2 but I believe that she needs to grow up with an appreciation of history and a consciousness for community. I believe that these conversations, even at 2, inform who she is and who she'll become. And I believe that children are underestimated every day and that they understand far more than adults generally give them credit for. And so we talked. And we will keep talking every day--even when I lose her attention and the pre-teen eye rolls begin, and when she has 'better things to do' than listen to me...we will talk.

Fight Like a Girl...2nd edition!

I'm working on a second edition to Fight Like a Girl and am looking to enlist your help! Send me an email to megan@fightlikeagirl.org and let me know what you'd like me to keep, change, update, and/or get rid of in the next edition of the book. I'm very interested in your feedback. Thanks!!