More Spooky Stereotypes

So it's old news that Halloween costumes for women and girls keep getting "sexier" and more stereotypical. Not to mention all the racist "ethnic" costumes. And then there's the "sexy," "ethnic" costumes. Those really take the cake.

But apparently there's a new fad for men and boys. Move over scary costumes, this year "muscle" costumes are all the rage. From "Mini Muscle Man Infant" to "Macho Biker Man Adult" costumes, there's no scarcity of stereotypes for guys either.


Tolerance.org has a list of questions to help identify stereotypes in costumes:

WEARING A FUNNY COSTUME?
Ask yourself: Is the humor based on "making fun" of real people, real human traits or cultures?

Though intended to be funny, last season’s "Mental Patient" costume by Disguise was considered demeaning, dehumanizing, and humiliating to individuals struggling with a mental illness and their families. Complete with a "Hannibal" type mask and a straightjacket, the costume reinforced stereotypes and fears about persons with mental illness.


WEARING A SCARY COSTUME?
Ask yourself: Is the "fear factor" based on real forms of violence or grotesque depictions of human traits?

"This scary stud can empty out a full house just by walking through the door," touts the tag line for Fright Catalog’s "Vato Loco" mask. The bandana clad, tattooed, brown-skinned vinyl creation makes light of gang violence, which takes a serious toll on families and neighborhoods across the country. The costume also sends the message that Latinos are violent.


WEARING A HISTORICAL COSTUME?
Ask yourself: If the costume is meant to be historical, does it further misinformation or historical and cultural inaccuracies?

The "Indian" get-up prevails each year as culture-turned-costume. But did you know few Native Americans wore buckskin and headbands and even fewer wore them together? Did you know "war paint" and feathers carry religious meaning and were never worn by Native American children?


WEARING A "BEAUTIFUL" COSTUME?
Ask yourself: If the costume is meant to be beautiful, are these characteristics drawn from commercial references, such as movie characters?

Too often, beautiful at Halloween means white, blonde, princess masks. What statement does your Halloween costume make about what constitutes beauty -- and about who is beautiful and who isn't?


WEARING A "CULTURAL" COSTUME?
Ask yourself: Does the costume reduce cultural differences to jokes?

People like Leigha Baugham, a former communications student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, believe when it comes to picking Halloween costumes, we should "keep our hands out of the melting pot."

There are a zillion great things to dress up as that don't promote stereotypes. My favorite costumes have been a tube of toothpaste, a jellyfish, a gecko, a teabag, and a picnic. What great costumes have you worn or seen?

Love Your Body Day Recap

Hollywood NOW's Love Your Body Day celebration was really cool. I can't believe I forgot to bring a camera though! If anyone has pictures, I'd love to post some.

I think the highlight of the event for me was getting to see Joy Nash perform her "Fat Rant" live.

If you haven't seen her video yet, check it out...


What did you do for Love Your Body Day?

P.S. Everyday should be Love Your Body Day. So what did you do today?

10 Ways to Celebrate Your Body Sticker Sisters Style

October 18, 2007 is the National Organization for Women Foundation’s tenth annual Love Your Body Day.

To celebrate, all orders $35 or more ship free this week. Enter the code “loveyourbody” when you checkout. But hurry and get your gear because the free shipping expires 10/22/07.

10 Ways to Celebrate Love Your Body Day:
(adapted from the NOW Foundation's suggestion list with a little Sticker Sisters twist)

1. Go to a Love Your Body Day event or create your own. Sticker Sisters will be taking part in Hollywood NOW’s event.

Hollywood NOW presents
LOVE YOUR BODY DAY!
Sunday, October 21st, 2007
12-4pm
Plummer Park – Fiesta Hall
1200 N. Vista Street
West Hollywood, CA

2. Get some blank t-shirts and decorate them with body positive messages. Or proclaim Action Not Glamour or Girls Rock with a Sticker Sisters tee.

3. Don’t buy products from companies that use negative images of women in their ads. Send them letters letting them know how you feel about their ads.

4. Get a group together and go paste This Insults Women, This insults Girls and This Insults Everyone stickers on everything you find offensive.

5. Listen to positive music that makes you feel good about yourself and your body. Try India.Arie’s “Video,” Northern State’s “Girl For All Seasons ,”and Salt-N-Pepa’s “Ain’t Nothin’ But A She Thing” to get you started.

6. Write down some things you like about yourself. Write yourself a poem or a love letter. If you’re having trouble getting started, our Up Words Girls magnetic poetry kit will inspire your creative juices.

7. Get moving for fun not to fit into a smaller size. Spice up your running shoes with some Girl Power or Action Not Glamour shoelaces and take a long walk, do some bedroom dancing, shoot some hoops, whatever!

8. Throw an indulgence party where everyone wears whatever is most comfortable, eats whatever they want, talks openly, and guilt is left at the door. Pick up some Sticker Sisters party favors for your guests.

9. Don’t talk about your weight or weigh yourself (especially in front of young girls).

10. Spread the word about Love Your Body Day to your family and friends. The NOW Foundation even has some e-cards you can send.

Itty Bitty Titty Committee Movie

Hey, some Sticker Sisters stickers might be coming to the big screen in a town near you!

Our This Insults Women, Action Not Glamour, Defend Yourself, Hello My Name Isn’t Cutie or Honey, It’s…, and A Feminist Was Here stickers decorate the walls in Jamie Babbit’s new movie about a group of feminist activists. These photos from the set are like a treasure hunt for Sticker Sisters stickers. See how many you can count!

The Oct/Nov edition of Bust magazine has a review of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. And they had this to say: "don't be surprised if you find yourself pasting up 'Riots, Not Diets' and 'This Insults Women' stickers all over your cubicle at work the next day."

Stock up on This Insults Women and A Feminist Was Here stickers so you’ll be ready when the mood strikes you.

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but Feminist Review has a good write-up:

Jamie Babbitt’s directorial follow-up to But I’m a Cheerleader was the dark drama The Quiet, starring Elisha Cuthbert as a popular teen that has a secret sexual relationship with her father. There isn’t much happiness or comic relief in the film, making it a stark contrast to her hit indie, quirky comedy about a camp for ex-lesbians (starring Natasha Leonne and Clea Duvall). Lucky for her lesbian following, Babbitt’s new film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee is almost as gay and hilarious — almost.

From the beginning of the film, viewers are trying to figure out Anna (Melonie Diaz), the protagonist. She’s out to her family, who takes no issue with her sexuality, and spends most of their time doting on her older sister, who is getting married. Anna is quiet and dresses for comfort in jeans, long-sleeved T-shirts and hoodies. She works as a receptionist at a plastic surgery office, uninspired, until she catches Sadie (Nicole Vicius) tagging her office with “A Woman is More than Her Parts” late one night. A Joey Lauren Adams look-and-sound-alike, Vicius is certainly a heartbreaker, but her character is emotionally unavailable, as Anna will come to find out the hard way. Sadie (strangely and without much discourse) invites Anna to a meeting of feminist minds, a group called Clits in Action (C.I.A.) and Anna, with nothing to do on her social calendar, accepts.

The C.I.A. is a tamer version of the Guerilla Girls, an activism-meets-feminist-art gaggle, despite their efforts to make change being distorted or ignored, that is unofficially led by Shuli (Carly Pope), who is a walking encyclopedia of feminist facts and theory to back up any comment or idea in question.

Read the rest of the review.

And watch a preview of the movie:

Craft, Inc.

On Ariel’s Nightstand:
Craft, Inc.
Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business
By Meg Mateo Ilasco

Okay, so it’s not entirely true that this book is on my nightstand. I heard about it and knew that it would be the perfect birthday present for a friend. Of course I realized this the night before her birthday and had to call half a dozen bookstores before I found one with a copy. Once I had it in hand, I promptly took it home and read it cover to cover. So I guess you could say it was on my nightstand for one night. It’s well written, extremely practical, and inspiring. The book design is also gorgeous. I highly recommend it and plan on getting another copy for myself.