SHEmazing!
follow us
more
 
HomeTagsPosts tagged with "feminism"

feminism

by

A number of schools in the Chicago area have come under fire after it was revealed that female students are bleeding through their clothes because of the strict bathroom rules the charter schools put in place.

The NPR revealed the school’s controversial rules, where students must be brought to the bathroom by an escort.

However, one student explained to NPR that the escorts are rarely ever available.

The students are not allowed to go to the bathroom alone and face punishment if they are caught walking outside of the classroom.

An anonymous student shared, “Who wants to walk around knowing there’s blood on them? It can still stain the seats. They just need to be more understanding."

Female students who are menstruating explained that they have leaked through their clothes because they can’t go to the bathroom to change their pads or tampons.

It has been reported that some schools have introduced a dress code where female students can cover up blood stains by tying jumpers around their waists, but this step is not good enough.

“If a menstruating student has bled through her clothing, she can inform a teacher who will send an email to staff announcing the name of the girl who has permission to wear her sweater tied around her waist, so she doesn’t receive demerits for violating the dress code,” NPR reported.

People have expressed their horror at the treatment of the female students, who are being stripped of their dignity.

Pads and tampons need to be changed every few hours to avoid leaking and discomfort, as well as odours, and in severe cases toxic shock syndrome.

Female students are at risk of toxic shock syndrome if they don't change their tampons regularly. 

As well as health complications, the girls are being stripped of respect and comfort.

Trending

by

The Women’s Empowerment Summit 2018 will take place on Saturday May 12th from 8:30am till 6pm in The Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.

The Summit aims to help to empower modern women as they juggle family, career, relationships, debates and ultimatums and how to set, reach and achieve goals.

Speakers will include bestselling author and inspirational Irish woman Donna Kennedy, Comedian Deirdre O’Kane, Broadcaster Yemi Adenuga and many more. The day event will be MC’d by Dublin City presenter Kelly K. 

The speakers at the Women's Empowerment Summit will share their personal stories of how they have overcome obstacles in life to achieve their goals in their personal and professional lives and give advice to attendees on how they can achieve the same.

It will be a day for networking and opportunity where attendees will get to meet like-minded women who support and encourage each other. 

Author Donna Kennedy said “The Women’s Empowerment Summit is all about empowering women to be the best we can, in today’s world women are expected to be super human. Most women that I have spoken to have expressed a feeling of anxiety based on peer pressure and living life by comparison.

"They often look at the high powered woman and feel that in order to succeed they too have to be high powered. To quote award-winning humanitarian Christina Noble who spoke at last years event "Never give up. The only way is up!"

Image result for deirdre o'kane

On the day there will be fun, laughter and sharing of stories, but most importantly attendees will be empowered by the speakers sharing tips, tools and strategies on how to manage a career and enjoy the journey of life – in a no nonsense way! 

Tickets are priced at €97 per person and include tea/ coffee on arrival, lunch and goodie bag.

Speakers at the event:

  • Deirdre O'Kane (Comedian, IFTA award winning actress and DWTS finalist)
  • Bibi Baskin (TV and Radio broadcaster)
  • Donna Kennedy (3 time best-selling author, psychologist and confidence expert)
  • Joanne Byrne (Director of one of Ireland’s leading PR agency, Presence PR)
  • Yemi Adenuga (2 time bestselling author, TV personality and relationship expert)
  • Clara Halpin (lead fashion expert at ARNOTTS)
Trending

by

To be a woman in Ireland is to constantly feel like your body is a battleground. From the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment to the larger discussion around consent, it's clear we have a long way to go in terms of equal rights.

And let's be honest – it's exhausting combatting misogyny day in and day out. However, we have to keep fighting the good fight, and this playlist is here to keep you going.

These songs are for you to listen to while smashing the patriarchy – whether it's at protests, as the only woman working in your office, or while teaching your younger siblings that things can change.

It's comforting to hear the voices of these women who are still rocking, or who have come before us to pave the way for bad bitches like ourselves. 

Without further ado, here are the songs that will make you feel like you can kick ass, or simply help you remember you are not alone:

Dream Wife – 'Somebody'

This trio, originally formed in Brighton, is the coolest thing on six legs. Rakel Mjöll (lead vocals), Alice Go (guitar and vocals), and Bella Podpadec (bass and vocals) met in art school and have been making sweet, sweet music together ever since. 

Their 'bad bitches to the front' policy at their shows harkens back to the days of riot grrrl, when Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and others would invite girls to come closest to the stage. And I'm not going to lie – at their latest gig in Dublin, I felt like I could dance freer than ever before knowing that there wasn't potentially a creepy dude trying to grind up behind me.

The song 'Somebody' in particular is near and dear to the hearts of the members of Dream Wife, and the words in it will resonate with many women. The lyrics 'You were a cute girl standing backstage/It was bound to happen' echo sentiments we've heard far too often in the news. One line stands out because of its simple truth. It should be painted on banners, written on toilet walls, and passed in every covert classroom note: 'I am not my body/I am somebody'.

Chastity Belt – 'Cool Slut'

Sexists often toss around the word 'slut' to degrade women, while praising men who sleep with multiple partners. In fact, when a man is referred to as a slut, people often tack on 'man' in front of it because we so strongly relate the term to women.

Well, Chastity Belt, an all-female indie rock band from Walla Walla, Washington, is taking back the term, à la the LGBT community's reclamation of 'queer'. The music video for the song shows band members Julia Shapiro, Lydia Lund, Annie Truscott, and Gretchen Grimm doing everyday things that sluts do – drink wine with their friends, hang out in the park, play instruments. Doing the actual slutty part takes up only a fraction of our days.

So here's to sluts everywhere – let's sing along together: 'To all the girls in the world/Trying to take off their shirts/Ladies it's okay to be/It's okay to be slutty'.

The Tuts – 'Dump Your Boyfriend'

A self-described 'three-tone girl band', these women are the best thing you've never heard of. Nadia Javed, Beverley Ishmael, and Harriet Doveton are vegans, feminists, and yes, we would like to be their best friends.Their bubblegum pop-punk sound is sure to get you singing into your hairbrush or moving on the dance floor.

To be honest, it was hard just picking one girl power song by them because their music is so imbued with feminism. Both 'Tut Tut Tut' and 'What's On The Radio?' voice their frustrations as female artists often passed over in favour of their mediocre male counterparts. 'Dump Your Boyfriend' is an absolute choon though, because we all know that one friend who needs to ditch the guy holding her back.

Anna Wise – 'BitchSlut'

This R&B artist is well known for her collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, and we can't help but love her after hearing her song 'BitchSlut'.

The lyrics capture how as women we can never get it right in the eyes of certain people – we are either too friendly or too cold. What we wear, the simple fact that we're sitting alone – a**holes will use any excuse to say we were asking for it. And if we say no? Well, we're automatically labelled a frigid bitch, obviously. Wise's dulcet tones perfect convey this catch-22 every woman finds herself in at some point in her life.

Mommy Long Legs – 'Cat Callers'

Like I said before, it can be exhausting battling sexism day in and day out. The members of Mommy Long Legs have their own wonderful antidote for this: humour.

Lilly Morlock (vocal and guitar), Cory Budden (drums), Melissa Kagerer (vocals and guitar), and Leah Miller (vocals and bass) wear wigs while they play what they have hilariously dubbed 'barf-core/fart-core/vomit garage'. 

In an interview with The Le Sigh, the band said of their music: "We are naturally silly people. That’s why our music is funny. We also think that humour is a good way of addressing and coping with topics that are, a lot of times, hard to talk about… There is a feeling of reclamation, or power, in being able to turn a difficult situation into something humorous."

Indeed, 'Cat Callers' is about something serious – being yelled at on the street by creeps – but the band manages to poke fun at the topic while also not belittling the experience of the women being catcalled.

Princess Nokia – 'Tomboy'

Princess Nokia, a.k.a. Destiny Frasqueri, takes back her sexuality and flips the typical script of the male gaze in this powerful rap.

Frasqueri, who is of Afro-Puerto Rican and Taíno descent, spoke about the song with Djali of Mass Appeal, saying:

"Both of us being women (of colour), we understand the extent to which our image has been moulded by patriarchy—and colonialism, for that matter—forcing us to conform to archaic notions of 'beauty', and 'sex appeal' to please the male gaze. This song dismantles that entirely."

Bleached – 'Can You Deal?'

'Can You Deal?' asks the listener to not 'label or package me please'. It's a fitting message considering that Jennifer Clavin, who's on vocals, guitar, and synth in Bleached, compiled a zine with fellow female musicians (also called Can You Deal?) about how they'd like to be known for their talent and who they are, not simply for their gender.

Jennifer is joined by her sister Jessica Clavin on lead guitar and bass, with Micayla Grace also on bass and Nick Pillot on drums. In the zine, Jennifer recalls how she felt uncomfortable with society's expectations of what girls are supposed to be like, so she dressed up like a boy and went to punk shows. Even though she now enjoys expressing her feminine side, she still feels frustrated with how musicians who also happen to be women as well are treated by society.

As she says in Can You Deal?: "Labelling me as a woman puts me in a box and forces me to conform to gender roles. This ignores everything else I am."

Girli – 'Hot Mess'

Hmm, how to describe Girli? Brash, bold, and incredibly fun.

The 20-year-old London native perfectly captures the condescension women are often subjected to by cis straight guys in 'Hot Mess'. Whether it's about our knowledge or our looks, either way, it's annoying and belittling to be talked down to.

Girli always manages to get the upper hand, though, and changes the narrative by the end of the song so it is she instead who puts the puffed-up dude back in his place.

Bikini Kill – 'Rebel Girl'

We've got to include this classic! While the riot grrrl movement was by no means without its problems (intersectionality was not exactly its focus), Bikini Kill remains a watershed band in terms of female empowerment.

Kathleen Hanna (vocals), Tobi Vail (drums), Kathi Wilcox (bass), and Billy Karren (guitar) came together in the town of Olympia, Washington to start a revolution (or Revolution Girl Style Now! as their 1991 demo was called). They wanted to make feminism accessible in a time when people were saying the movement was dead, and they ended up giving hope to teenage girls everywhere who were fed up with the harassment they experienced in school, on the street, and at shows. 

'Rebel Girl' loudly and proudly celebrates women who are unabashedly themselves. It's the ultimate lady love song, and a welcome battle cry in a society that so often pits women against each other. Why give in to tired narratives of jealousy when instead you can sing 'Rebel girl you are the queen of my world'?

Alien She – 'Death Sentence'

Katie O'Neill (vocals and guitar), Aoife McDonagh (bass and vocals), and Darragh McCabe (drums) are a trio of Irish artists who are brilliant on their own, but also shine in their genre-defying band Alien She. Their music proves both intelligent and expressive.

One notable example is 'Death Sentence', which is painfully honest in describing the issue of abortion in Ireland. 'People face this every day/Tell me what's it gonna take?' they sing in an angry plea.

As well, this track can be bought with a print or tote on their Bandcamp page to support the Goodbye 8 Campaign. 

 

Trending

by

Time and time again we read articles about how Disney sets a bad example for young girls, how the notion that we need a Prince Charming to feel happy and fulfilled is outdated and insulting.

But that isn't always so.

I grew up watching Disney princesses, and I credit them for helping shape me into the strong, confident and driven woman that I am. (honest!)

So, let's first shine a light on the Prince Charming anti-feminism theory.

There is no shame in wanting to fall in love, ladies, and that is the premise Disney classics express. The likes of Snow White and Cinderella pursued a great romance, not because they needed a man, but because they wanted to experience true love – plain and simple.

Image result for pocahontas gif

In fact, these famous princesses set an example for little girls everywhere. We all deserve to be loved, unconditionally, and true love does actually exist.

It is worth noting that Disney also tells us that it is actually okay NOT to have a man in your life if the circumstance just doesn’t feel right. Don’t believe me? Take the beautiful and independent Pocahontas.

This Native American princess falls madly in love with the dapper John Smith, who offers to take her home with him, to ‘civilisation.’

A hard pass from Pocahontas, who insists on staying in her home, with her friends and family. Right on, lady – live your truth!

In fact, Disney princesses are ALL considered to be feminists – in their own individual ways, and that’s actually why they wear a lot of blue (yes, I’m serious).

It is no coincidence that Elsa, Jasmine and Belle have all worn gorgeous blue outfits at some stage.

Image result for elsa gif

Leatrice Eiseman, of the Pantone Colour Institute, told Allure last year that the reason for all of the blue is female empowerment. "You're adding a bit of power to the character by giving her the blue. It's a very subtle way of saying, 'Yeah, but young women, young girls, can be empowered, too.'" Beauty and the Beast costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, said that the shade of blue fits Belle's role as an "active heroine."

“There is a sort of refinement and crispness to light blue, but there's also blue in work wear,” she said. “It is a practical colour and a colour that you can work in. In that sense, it is full of active strength.”

And when you think about it, it makes perfect sense: Princess Jasmine escapes the evil clutches of Jafar, Belle finds adventure in the great wide somewhere, and Cinderella defies her stepmother by attending the ball and meeting her Prince – all while wearing a gorgeous shade of blue.

Plus, it goes against gender conforming colours, establishing that the colour blue isn't just for boys after all (not that we needed reminding!) It's also the colour of the sky, reminding us of positivity and hope.

Image result for jasmine gif

Disney princesses also exude individuality and independence – and serious amounts of bravery.

The amazing Belle from Beauty and The Beast saves her father from imprisonment, by volunteering to take his place. Mulan dresses up as a male soldier and goes to war instead of her elderly father. Ana ventures into the snowy wilderness to save her sister Elsa from banishment, and helps her to control her powers, showing us that a sister’s love is like no other.

Selfless acts like these are a common sight in Disney film and culture – and that is something that should inspire all of us.

It’s not all tiaras and dresses, either. Throughout the years, Disney princesses have been driven and hungry for success, specifically Tiana, from Princess and the Frog. This heroine is almost relentless in accomplishing her goals, working from an early age to save up enough money to open a restaurant.

Her hard work pays off (another brilliant lesson, we might add) and ultimately Tiana becomes a proud business owner.  And yes, she falls in love at the same time, because women can literally do it all.

Image result for princess and the frog gif

Listen, we know that it can be fairly easy to poke holes in Disney films, but we must remember: they are a product of their time. Snow White was released in 1937 – that is EIGHTY YEARS AGO, which was less than 20 years after woman earned the right to vote in the U.S. 

So, in actual fact, you could argue that in many ways Disney princesses were ahead of their time.

Whatever message you choose to take from Disney princesses  – they have been loved by children for almost 100 years and that should count for something. 

Cinderella said it best when she said "the greatest risk any of us will take is to be seen as we are".

So I will continue to be proud of my captivation with the power of the princess.

Trending

by

Let get one thing out of the way – I consider myself a staunch feminist. 

The abortion rights march attending, placard waving, body positivity advocating type of feminist. I even have blue hair if that helps your currently developing impression of me. 

I agree with all of the principles of feminism – it is so necessary to fight to achieve equal rights for both men and women, and there are definitely areas of society that need pruning and re-education do to so.

However, in the vast jungle that is societal issues, I would perceive grid girls to be a rose with thorns rather than a fully fledged venomous tentacula (Harry Potter fans, this reference is for you.)

To me, the removal of grid girls comes from a good place, in that it aims to eliminate the normalisation of objectifying women. 

When a woman is objectified or catcalled, it minimises and depersonalises her to a level that no one should experience – no woman should be seen as a sex object against her will. 

However, if a woman chooses a career path as a grid girl, then who is anyone to say that she cant do that?

The issue with banning grid girls is that the decision is a huge double standard. 

My interpretation of the main principle of feminism is that feminism is an equaliser that gives women the freedom to do what they want to, be that enrolling in a STEM course, choosing to be childless or opting to tackle the difficult and taxing career path that is modelling. 

That freedom, to me, includes the ability to do whatever one pleases with ones own body, be that covering it in tattoos, concealing it with hijab, having  lip fillers, opting for sterilisation, not shaving, or wearing skimpy clothes without being judged. 

I wouldn't stand for anyone judging me for what I wore on any level, and with my experience of associating with fellow feminists, none of them would either.

Yet the ban on grid girls is reflective of a judgement on what these women are seen as based on how they appear – that is, scantily clad and decorative. 

Standing around in two-toned polyester emblazoned with a sponsor's logo is an outdated marketing ploy, but if a women wants to play on her self confidence and gain respectable employment by doing so, then I think that that is completely her business, and no one elses. 

In my opinion, if you support Kim Kardashian's right to free the nipple on Instagram, you should probably consider why you believe that grid girls don't have the same right to financially flourish based on their sexuality. 

 

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on

Is banning grid girls the first step towards banning women from publicly expressing, and getting paid for, their sexuality entirely?

Will models, promotional workers, strippers, glamour models, porn actresses, Ibiza shot girls, ring girls, playboy bunnies, Instagram models – essentially any woman who is comfortable expressing her sexuality – be the next to go?

Backlash has been mounting against the ban since grid girls themselves have been speaking out against it. 

Many feel that they have faced worst treatment from women claiming to be feminists than they have from the racing community. 

If objectification is the issue, then why not tackle the perpetrator rather than the victim?

Why remove women from something they enjoy doing, something that pays the bills for many of them, rather than attempting to re-educate the enforcers of the objectification? 

If grid girls are such an inherent tradition to Formula 1 fans, then why not remind the audience that the women are there to advertise and entertain, not objectify. 

If that's the case, then I would happily retract the ban on grid girls in favour of replacing it with a scheme which encourages men to refrain from objectifying. 

However, I can appreciate that the existence of grid girls and not 'grid boys' is inherently sexist and completely outdated.

Perhaps modernising the tradition (slight oxymoron there) to include male promotional workers posing on Ferraris and entertaining crowds would help to balance the situation. 

Being a professional grid girl is not the same as any illicit industry that actually exploits women – no one is trafficked or forced against their will to become a flag-waving promotional model. 

At the end of the day, I will always defend a women's right to choose over societal expectations and pressures. 

[interaction id=”5a7b3d391e46ae00019d42ee”]

 

Trending

by

Donald Trump has made some controversial statements in his time, and while we've come to expect nothing less from the President of the United States, his latest admission might just be his most unsurprising yet – he is not a feminist. 

Speaking to ITV's Piers Morgan in his first British television interview, Trump said: "I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist."

"I mean, I think that would be, maybe, going too far. I’m for women, I’m for men, I’m for everyone."

"I think people have to go out, they have to go out and really do it, and they have to."

Needless to say, social media users were less than impressed by the President's comments, with many taking to Twitter to express their anger at his blatant admission. 

But of course, the news didn't really come as a surprise. 

President Trump – The Piers Morgan Interview airs on Sunday on ITV at 10pm.

Trending

by

When it comes to public perception, few female artists are as divisive as Taylor Swift.

Some consider her one of the most empowering female voices in the music industry, while others feel 'fairweather feminist' is a more accurate description of the singer .

Taylor, who built an entire brand on the premise of sisterhood, is regularly dragged into conversation regarding the 'authentic feminism' theory.

In recent years, it has been argued that the Swift empire, which ostensibly floats upon a sea of feminist ideals and convictions, has been rendered redundant by Taylor's distinct lack of action on the political front.

And yet, the singer made international headlines in 2016 when she chose to counter-sue radio DJ, David Mueller, for just one dollar after he sued Taylor for defamation on the grounds that sexual assault accusations she levelled against him cost him his job.

Indeed, the 28-year-old singer was recognised by Time magazine as one of their Silence Breakers – women who, last year, spoke out about the culture of sexual harassment and victim blaming

"When the jury found in my favour, the man who sexually assaulted me was court-ordered to give me a symbolic $1. To this day he has not paid me that dollar, and I think that act of defiance is symbolic in itself," Taylor said in the aftermath of the high-profile legal battle.

So, why the constant rolling vitriol against the young female singer?

Well, if the backlash which followed the Women's March on Sunday is anything to go by, It seems the public view Taylor as someone who 'picks and chooses' the elements of feminism which suit her.

Acknowledging the thousands of women which took to streets at the weekend – many of whom were musical peers –  Taylor was the subject of intense criticism for not joining a march herself.

"So much love, pride, and respect for those who marched," she wrote. "I'm proud to be a woman today, and every day."

"As a fan of yours, this is some bullsh*t. You do not get to pick and choose when feminism benefits you," replied one of her followers.

"If you were really for feminism you would have spoken up against Donald Trump instead of just saying to vote on Election Day. But instead you only claim to be a feminist when it benefits you."

"F*ck you," added another. "You stayed quiet all through the election process to ensure your record sales wouldn't fall victim to a divided USA."

Those supporting Taylor argue that it is not an artist's obligation to divulge their political stance, with many referring to the singer's previous responses on the topic.

Speaking to Time magazine six years ago, Taylor said: "I try to keep myself as educated and informed as possible. But I don’t talk about politics because it might influence other people. "

Trending

by

2017 served as a vital turning point in exposing the widespread nature of sexual harassment in society.

The movement had its own hashtag, #MeToo, the iconic two words that helped multitudes to speak out.

It seems that 2018 has already replaced #MeToo with a different, yet still so necessary, rallying cry: #TimesUp.

300 women in the entertainment industry banded together and wrote a letter of solidarity, which was published in the New York Times and Spanish language paper La Opinión.

Among those involved are Reese Witherspoon, America Ferrera and Shonda Rhimes.

Actress Amber Tamblyn described the open letter as a 'call to arms', letting society know that sexual harassment in the workplace will no longer be tolerated.

'To every woman employed in agriculture who has had to fend off unwanted sexual advances from her boss, every housekeeper who has tried to escape an assaultive guest, every janitor trapped nightly in a building with a predatory supervisor….we stand with you.'

'We support you,' the letter reads.

In the open letter, they also thanked the women of the Farm Worker's Union, who reached out to support them in the fight against sexual harassment.

It is a fight that has proven difficult and lengthy.

The piece cites the underrepresentation of women in positions of power for why sexual misconduct has been allowed to continue for such a very long time.

 

A post shared by America Ferrera (@americaferrera) on

'The struggle for women to break in, to rise up the ranks and to simply be heard and acknowledged in male-dominated workplaces must end; time’s up on this impenetrable monopoly,' they wrote.

The Time's Up initiative has its own website, with a 'Know Your Rights' section to help those who find themselves being sexually harassed in the workplace.

Of course, reporting sexual harassment is a legal process, and navigating the legal system can be costly. However, Time's Up are working to help those who are financially disadvantaged.

They have a GoFundMe, which has raised over $13 million (over €10.7 million) so far in order to 'provide subsidized legal support to women and men who have experienced sexual harassment, assault, or abuse in the workplace'.

It is so heartening and empowering to see these privileged women working to help their sisters.

We definitely agree with them: time's up.

Trending

by

Look, Kim Kardashian is no stranger to criticism.

Over the course of her ten-year career, the reality star turned businesswoman has been the subject of intense condemnation from both the press and public alike.

Admirably, the 36-year-old regularly counters it by simply drawing attention to the countless career triumphs and business successes she has enjoyed since her rise to fame in 2007.

We mean, remember when she took aim at her critics after appearing on the cover of Forbes magazine, writing: "Not bad for a girl with no talent".

Having recently borne the brunt of some particularly derogatory comments made by Sharon Osbourne during an interview with The Telegraph, Kim decided to respond, and highlight the inaccuracy of Sharon's comments.

"Kim says she’s doing everything in the name of feminism, but that’s not feminism!" Sharon argued while being interviewed by the British broadsheet.

"Those girls live off their bodies, half of LA has been through them and everything they do from the sex tape to the plastic see-through dresses and the gym wear is about sex, not female progress."

"And listen: God bless them. If Kim wants to show off her body, fine. But that’s not feminism, that’s being a ho. And there’s nothing wrong with being a ho, but always remember what you are."

Instead of taking umbrage over Sharon's indisputable slut-shaming, Kim felt compelled to clarify her stance on the sharing of nude photographs, and called Sharon out on the spin she put on Kim's supposed approach to them.

"I think she said I said a quote about, ‘I post nude photos in the name of feminism.’ Never said that. So I think when people misquote you and then comment, it just sounds ridiculous,” Kim told E Online.

Disputing the notion that she chooses to post intimate photos of herself as some form of feminist message, the mother-of-two explained that her decision boils down to little more than appreciating the aesthetic.

“I post nude photos because I like how I look and I feel proud when I've lost all this baby weight and I post it because I feel like posting it and I feel powerful.If I post a photo," Kim explained. "I post it because I like how I look."

Can't argue with that, Sharon.

Trending

by

Emma Watson has been crowned the most influential celebrity by teens who say she inspires them the most.

The actress was picked by both boys and girls from an all-star list of singers, actors and online stars including Ariana Grande, Beyoncé and Zayn Malik.

1,000 young people took part in the survey which was commissioned by youth empowerment programme, National Citizen Service (NCS) and conducted by ICM.

Results from the research suggests that the Harry Potter actress's feminist and forward-thinking views were the main reason young people found her so inspiring.

One participant said: “She’s a big feminist. She frequently speaks out on sexism and other discrimination issues such as racism and homophobia, and what she says really inspires me.”

Another explained: “She uses the power and fame she gained from the Harry Potter series to speak about important issues like feminism.”

What's more, the research found 'feminist' is now the most popular label for teenage girls with 29 per cent identifying as such.

 

A post shared by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on

NCS marketing director Natasha Kizzie said: “The rise of internet feminism and increasingly politically engaged youth has brought these issues to the forefront of the news agenda, and the ‘Emma Watson effect’ has done brilliant things for the cause.

“She inspires young people to never limit their expectations of what they can achieve on the basis on their gender.”

We couldn't agree more.

Trending

by

Dawn Foster is a well known professional journalist, who creates content about politics, social affairs and economics for The Guardian. 

She is also a published author, and although she has numerous professional accolades under her belt, one thing is clearly very distracting about her outward appearance.

It's her nails. 

Well, at least according to the unsolicited opinion of one male viewer. 

The journalist received a piece of modern-day hate mail from an unnamed man, who pointed out that her well taken care of nails were an undermining element of her appearance. 

Because your nails speak volumes about you level of professionalism…right? 

Dawn took to Twitter to share the lengthy email. 

According to the writer of the hate mail, Dawn's manicure speaks volumes about her as a person, and is in complete juxtaposition to her political views. 

Yes people, we have reached peak 'men policing women's appearances' with this one. 

The viewer accused her nails of being distracting, and insinuated that taking care of your appearance doesn't match up to left-wing views. 

If we could just put a row of question marks here, we would. 

'It is clear to me and many other viewers that you are the type of woman who indulges in excessive nail care,' reads the complaint. 

'For all your claims to be "left wing"  and in favour of workers rights, why I ask have you not considered the rights of the nail bars you frequent?'

'How does this square with your childish left wind world view, hmmmm?'

The ridiculous, reaching complaint is gaining attention on social media, and other woman are sharing ways in which they have been shamed for their appearance at work.

One woman described being given out to for wearing large earrings, which apparently meant she wasn't a 'serious person,' while another woman was berated for her natural curly hair.  

Another was shamed for wearing no makeup at all, so it seems that when it comes to expressing (or not expressing) typically feminine beauty ideals, there is no way of winning.

We'll be rocking our French manicures, stiletto nails, bare nails, bitten nails, glitter nails or rainbow-painted digits in style, regardless of anyones' random, unsolicited opinion of what that symbolises in us as women. 

Trending

by

World No.1, Andy Murray, recently dubbed by The Guardian as 'the feminist that tennis needs', has lived up to his female-friendly reputation once again.

The defending champion, who was knocked out of wimbledon yesterday afternoon when he lost to American underdog, Sam Querrey, is being praised after he quickly shut down a reporter who seemingly forget the achievements of a number of female players.

Footage from the post-match press conference shows the tennis star correcting a reporter who claimed Sam Querrey was the first US player to reach a Grand Slam semi-final in eight years.

"Andy, Sam is the first American player to reach the semi-final of a Slam since 2009."

"Male player," Andy interjected.

"I beg your pardon?" the reporter responded.

"Male player, right?" Murray repeated.

"Yes, first male player, that's for sure," the reporter said.

Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Coco Vandeweghe are all American players who have qualified for Grand Slam semi-finals since 2009, with Venus doing so the day before the reporter made the comment.

Andy has been praised on social media for refusing to allow the press to engage in casual sexism, with his mother, Judy, even proudly tweeting: “That's my boy.”

G'wan Andy!

Trending
© Copyright 2012-2024 - Shemazing.net. Déanta in Éirinn - Sheology.