Women's (Sporty) History Month

So ESPN jumped on the Women's History Month bandwagon. But I have to say I learned a few things.

Did you know that girls used to play six-on-six basketball, which had different rules than the game we know today? They played this version because a full court, five-on-five game was considered "too aggressive... inappropriate and too physically demanding" for girls. Unbelievable that some small towns played this unequal game until the 1990s!

Teen Sexual Harrassment at Work

I just finished watching a story on PBS' Now about young women being sexually harassed and even assaulted at their part time jobs. The story starts out a little sensational, but the topic is important so I kept watching.

Anyway I'm glad to hear that this issue is getting investigated more and that some young women are sharing their experiences. I can definitely understand feeling embarrassed, afraid and not having experience with what is and isn't acceptable in a work environment.

In one of my first jobs in college, I had an experience with a guy saying some inappropriate things to me and making me feel uncomfortable. Late one night he cornered me when no one was nearby and started saying some inappropriate things. It was fairly mild, but he had a more superior position than me and it felt intimidating because we were alone in this dark parking lot.

Thankfully I was working with a bunch of really awesome, strong women and I immediately rushed to them and told them how creepy he'd made me feel. Turns out he'd been creeping out a bunch of other women too.

Everyone encouraged me to come forward and talk to the bosses. I worked very closely with the people who hired him and felt confident that they'd believe my story and take it seriously.

It wasn't comfortable, but I came forward and reported his behavior. The bosses were pretty receptive, thanked me for coming forward, and as far as I know he wasn't hired again for any further projects. They did try to assure me that he "didn't mean any harm--he just doesn't have a good sense about what's appropriate behavior." Ummm and why would you hire someone with those qualities!?

I'm really glad I reported the incident, and so thankful that I was working with supportive, encouraging women who I could turn to. Hopefully with these new stories and studies about sexual harassment in the workplace other young women will feel comfortable coming forward.

Reason #3051 to Boycott American Apparel

Not that you need another reason to steer clear of this sexist company.

If you're thinking, "What?! I thought American Apparel was this super cool sweatshop free company," please read my post on finding ethically made t-shirts.

A 2004 quote that American Apparel CEO Dov Charney made to The McGill Daily is getting a lot of attention on blogs today. He's quoted in the article saying:

"Women initiate most domestic violence, yet out of a thousand cases of domestic violence maybe one is involving a man. [And this] has made a victim culture out of women."

This is surfacing right now because there is an ad (which might be fake) floating around that incorporates the quote. I hope the ad is fake, but that doesn't make his very real quote any less appalling. As Womanist Musings writes:

"The list of facts debunking his bull*#@& is a mile long. There has been ample evidence of his hatred of women and the only question that remains is what we are going to do about it."

Well, I know what I'm doing about it. Sticker Sisters will remain committed to using blank shirts that are made by sweatshop free & sexism free companies (you won't find any American Apparel here!). I'll continue to steer clear of American Apparel shirts for my own wardrobe. And I'll keep writing and talking about my dislike for American Apparel and suggesting alternatives every chance I get.

**1/30/2009 Update**
American Apparel responds to Bitch Magazine's blog post. Doesn't change my feelings and I hope it won't change yours!

From Election to Holidays

Now that the election is over, I can finally come up for air! The day job took me to the Democratic National Convention, the Republican National Convention, and all around Southern California doing election-related coverage.

Ariel and her friend Tamika at the Conventions

It was all very exciting, but after the number of sexist comments I heard I’m even more passionate about Sticker Sisters and the work that still needs to be done.

Please consider donating money, time, or even some “Girls Can Do Anything” stickers or school supplies to an organization that does important work with girls. If you want to give people suggestions of organizations please post them in the comments.

And with the upcoming holidays, I hope you’ll give gifts with a message. At Sticker Sisters, of course, you can choose from dozens of stickers, t-shirts and other goodies with celebratory, encouraging messages for girls of all ages.

First Woman to Play Professional Baseball in Japan

16-year-old Eri Yoshida was drafted by the Kobe 9 Cruise--a new profession baseball team in Japan. I was the only girl on my little league team when I was growing up so it's awesome to hear about a woman breaking into this old boys club at the professional level.

Okay so now I'm going to link to (gasp!) Fox Sports. I'm not linking there because they have some fantastic in-depth article. It's more because I want you to share my exasperation over the obnoxious comments:

"As long as she realizes that there is NO CRYING IN BASEBALL I think she'll be fine." -- GiantFanSince1990

"I finally figured out whats wrong with baseball---this" --davesgood2

Thankfully there are some really positive comments to balance out the annoying ones.

Affirmative Action & the Election

Here's a video from my day job that I thought you'd enjoy over here...

UCLA Law Professor Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw addresses the presidential candidates' support of affirmative action programs.



Crenshaw wrote a recent article in Ms. Magazine about deceitful initiatives that are seeking to eliminate affirmative action.

She paints a grim picture saying, "Women and black people were denied the vote in the past; today, they are deceived out of their votes."

Definitely check out the full article.

Marathon winner can't run away from sexism

I was watching the LA marathon on TV last weekend with my girlfriend because she's training for the San Francisco marathon in August. My first time watching a marathon and I got to see a woman win! Very cool.

But it was not cool what William Burke, co-founder and president of the City of Los Angeles Marathon, said about it. We're sitting enjoying the excitement of watching Tatiana Aryasova cross the finish line first and the station goes to Burke for a comment. "You can't keep those women down," he says. "You can't get them back in the kitchen." What?!?

There was so much shrieking coming from my house I didn't even hear the rest of the interview. For a few days I wasn't sure if I had dreamt that moment or if it really happened. Unfortunately, later in the week, Feministing (by way of the LA Times) verified that my ears hadn't deceived me. People commenting on Feministing have asked if maybe he was joking. It's possible, but I definitely didn't get that impression. He didn't smile, or wink, or laugh, or give any other clue that he was attempting to make a joke.

All I can say is keep running and let's leave this sexism in the dust!

Giving Thanks (and not giving thanks)

So I spent yesterday with my mom, grandma, aunt, and cousin. There were moments when they drove me crazy of course, but overall I felt so lucky to be surrounded by such strong, awesome women and one smart, spunky eleven-year-old. This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for all the wonderful people in my life, but especially the amazing, brave girls and women I know.

Hopefully you'll have a chance during the holiday to think about all the awesome girls in your life. And keep in mind that Sticker Sisters has dozens of smart, spunky stickers, t-shirts, and gifts with celebratory, encouraging messages for girls of all ages. And you don't have to wrestle the crowds at the mall to get the goodies!

Okay, well just to round out this little mushy love fest, here are a couple things I won't be giving thanks for this year.

1) Turkeys that look like headless women's bodies (in a bikini no less!) waiting to be carved up. Misogyny on a plate. Ugh just what this holiday needed.

2) The upcoming Spice Girls reunion tour. Really? Oh please please don't say they're back.

But seriously--what are you thankful for and not thankful for today?

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?

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.

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.

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.

Another T-Shirt to Hate

Part of what pushed me to start making t-shirts was because there are so many awful ones out there. Well here’s the latest from Wal-Mart that I hope will make you as angry as it made me.

The t-shirt reads: "Some call it stalking, I call it love."

The Charlotte News&Observer says:

Its message was a slap in the face to the woman who called me Thursday after seeing it in her local Wal-Mart.

"Some say it's stalking, I call it love."

For the past two years, this woman has been stalked until she feels like a prisoner in her own life. She has been spied upon, bullied and threatened with her life..."It's reprehensible," said the woman, whose story is well documented but who asked not to be identified for fear that her stalker might retaliate.

"People don't realize how serious stalking is," she said. "You constantly live in fear, look over your shoulder and suffer from psychological and physical symptoms due to the stress of the stalker."

She wondered aloud: What's next? "Some say it's rape, I call it hot sex"? Or: "Some call it domestic violence, I say I'm just teaching her a lesson"?

The N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence has already sent a letter asking Wal-Mart to remove the t-shirts from stores.

The Charlotte News&Observer goes on to say:

The question now is how the world's largest retailer will respond. Tara Stewart, a spokeswoman for the company, forwarded me information about Wal-Mart partnering with the attorney general's office in South Carolina on a public education campaign to combat domestic violence.

"We work hard on this issue and do a great deal to bring awareness and help families in need," she wrote in an e-mail message.

And the T-shirts fit into that public education campaign how?

Want to let Wal-Mart know what you think?

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716
1-800-WALMART
479-273-4000

Or email them.

Selling Women Short

On Ariel's nightstand:
Selling Women Short
The Landmark Battle for Workers’ Rights at Wal-Mart
by Liza Featherstone

It's been out for a while, but I finally got around to reading Selling Women Short. The stories about women who are battling Wal-Mart's discrimination, sexism, and low-wages read like fiction. I couldn't put the book down. Unfortunately it's not fiction, but that makes it even more important to read.

Whether or not you've read the book, what do you think about Wal-Mart?

“Chaste but Chic?” Gimme a break.

Have you been hearing about this so-called “modesty movement?” Of course I’m all for providing alternatives to Bratz style clothes (have you seen the latest Sticker Sisters t-shirts?), but this “modesty movement” makes me gag.

They’re trying to push a "chaste but chic" dress code on girls. Not surprising that this movement is connected to faith-based organizations and abstinence only advocates. But perhaps the scariest part is that the mother of the modesty movement, Wendy Shalit, is still trying to blame sexual harassment and rape on women’s "lack of modesty." And here I thought we were past that ridiculous idea that a women is "asking for it" if she wears a short skirt. Ugh.

Ann Ream (founder of Voices and Faces Project) says it well in the LA Times:

"Scratch the surface [of the modesty movement], and what's supposed to be good for girls reveals itself to be all about the boys: dressing in a way that doesn't over-excite them, demurring so that their manhood remains intact and holding tight to our sexuality until we find a husband who is worthy of that ultimate 'prize.'"

More
LA Times: "The false modesty movement"
Talk of the Nation: "Modern Girls and the Modesty Movement"

Feminism, Abortion, Stickers

Those topics have all just collided in my mailbox. I got an order and on the front of the envelope is a sticker that says, “Women Do Regret Abortion.” Then on the back there’s another sticker that says, “As a Former Fetus I Oppose Abortion.”

I’d be angry seeing these stickers anywhere. But I’m extra troubled because they’re on an order for “This Insults Women” and “A feminist was here” stickers. There are countless uses for “This Insults Women” stickers, but anti-choice messages like those are something I’d use mine on.

This has all gotten me thinking about who calls themselves feminists, who doesn’t, what feminism means, and how reproductive rights fit in.

At the NOW conference last year I went to a workshop called “I’m Not a Feminist but…” There was a great discussion on why young people with feminist ideals are hesitant or resistant to identify as "feminist." Some see feminism as a movement made up of white women with class privilege. Others prefer Alice Walker’s term “womanist.”

W O M A N I S T
“A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, 'You acting womanish,' i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered 'good' for one. Interested in grown-up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up."

“Womanist is to feminist as purple to lavender."

-Alice Walker
In Search of our Mother’s Gardens: Womanist ProseAnd then there are still those images of feminists (man-hating, bra-burning, hairy, militant, lesbian, the list goes on and on) that some people don’t want to be associated with. It’s funny, but I’ve identified as a feminist for as long as I can remember and for a little while I secretly hoped I wouldn’t be queer because I didn’t want to satisfy people’s assumptions about feminists. I thought it would be so revolutionary to be a straight feminist. Um yeah, glad I didn’t spend too much time working on that campaign. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of straight feminists that I admire. But I don’t find anything revolutionary about it. And the bigger lesson for me was that I was letting these stereotypes control me by trying so hard to be the opposite of them. Better to be a happy queer feminist and try to destroy the whole system of stereotypes.

Okay, but back to the whole anti-abortion feminist thing. I’m not one for wanting to exclude people or say someone isn’t really a feminist. But I don’t get people who call themselves feminists and are anti-choice, or anti-gay, or conservative. I don’t get it-- wow that was eloquent. Well bell hooks explains the conflict between feminism and anti-choice better than I can: “If feminism is a movement to end sexist oppression, and depriving females of reproductive rights is a form of sexist oppression, then one cannot be anti-choice and a feminist. A woman can insist she would never choose to have an abortion while affirming her support of the right of women to choose and still be an advocate of feminist politics. She cannot be anti-abortion and an advocate of feminism.”

What do you think?

Q&A

These are some questions I answered for a “Sociology of the Women’s Movement” class. They were doing presentations on alternative cultural productions that have risen out of the women’s movement.

1) What age group are your products geared towards?

I always say I've got stuff for girls of all ages. A lot of my stuff is geared towards young girls (elementary school age), but some things like the "This Insults" stickers are geared towards teenage girls and adults. Sometimes it's difficult to pinpoint the exact age groups though. I made the "Brave girl-aids" for little girls, but I use them and so do many of my friends (I'm 24). And I have a customer in her 50s who's a quilter and constantly nicking her fingers. She buys the "Brave girl-aids" in bulk and is practically always wearing one. So this question is tough!

2) Do you think that youth today are more aware and supportive of feminist
goals? If yes, do you think this is an important step for feminism?

It's hard to generalize young people as a whole. I think people are more aware of the term feminism these days, but don't necessarily know about the goals/movements behind the word. I'd like to think that most people are supportive of the idea that men and women should be equal. But equality is a vague, safe idea. And I see it as only one small part of feminism. I like bell hooks' definition that "feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression." But I don't think that notion is all that popular with youth (or people in general) today.

3) Your products both advocate feminism and are sources for creating feminist activism. Do you see your products more as a tool for advocacy or for activism, or perhaps both?

I definitely see my products as advocating feminism as well as being tools for feminist activism. I think these excerpts from a piece I wrote for the book "We Don't Need Another Wave" give examples of both:

A lot of the time it’s hard to speak up. But you can still say "action not glamour" or "my body is mine" with a well-placed sticker until you work up the courage to yell it in the streets.

Magnets and stickers give big sisters, aunts, and mentors tools to help girls speak up and be strong. One young woman used one of my "A Feminist Was Here" stickers to bring up feminism with her teenage sister. The stickers broke the ice, and led to a long discussion about body image and being a feminist.

There’s a long tradition in political movements of using stickers and buttons to make opinions known and start discussions. Stickers aren’t going to change the world on their own, but when girls feel strong and connected with each other, they’ll make improvements and demand respect.

Health Fair Sexism

You may or may not know that I have a day job besides Sticker Sisters. This is fortunate because it gets me out of the house and keeps me fed. The unfortunate side is that I don’t get to spend as much time as I’d like to on Sticker Sisters or writing blog entries.

So a few days ago I had to go to a health expo for the day job. And even though I was in work mode, my feminist eagle eye is always on. Well boy was it shocked to see all the little boys wearing hats that said “future doctor” and all the little girls wearing hats that said “future nurse.” Uh, what year is it? I couldn’t believe it! I tried to hunt down the booth that was giving the hats away, but I never found them.

Ah well, another day, another reminder that sexism is everywhere.

The other unbelievable thing I spotted was an American Red Cross hummer. Now they can “aid victims of devastating natural disasters” and contribute to man-made disasters at the same time. Great. I’d say there are a few better uses of their money than keeping that atrocity running.