“Hello wrinkle-face”? Threats that without this make-up we could look “like an apricot or a prune”? Promises that this make-up will make us look like a baby? Oh, Ellen…why hast thou forsaken us?
Follow Femometer on Twitter
Will the new Hyundai get you a threesome?
Why does Hyundai use this imagery in their new advertisement? You know why.
Posted in Advertisements, Pop Culture
Leave a comment
Why We Should All Care About What Happens in Mississippi
Originally posted by Holly L. Derr on hld6. Reposted with permission of the author.
Today, Mississippi voters will decide whether to add an amendment to their constitution proclaiming that life begins at fertilization “or the equivalent thereof.” It may sound like science fiction, but in reality such an amendment would not only outlaw all abortion but also, potentially, hormonal contraception.
If you think that only women in Mississippi need worry, think again. As it turns out, what happens in Mississippi does not stay in Mississippi. Check out these four reasons why: Continue reading
Shame on Singletons
Tracy McMillan’s article “Why You’re Not Married” caused quite a stir last February. Her conclusion, aimed at unmarried women, was that unmarried women fell into one of six categories: bitch, shallow, slut, liar, selfish, or not good enough. Not surprisingly, the entertainment industry immediately began foaming at the mouth to get the rights to McMillan’s work. Yesterday Deadline Hollywood announced that ABC has purchased rights to turn it into a comedy TV series. Misogyny is hilarious! Continue reading
Posted in Media, Pop Culture
Leave a comment
Womanless Libya?
The news coverage about the capture and killing of Moammar Gadhafi and the future of Libya has been missing a central element: half of the population. We tuned into The Rachel Maddow Show hoping to get a different angle on the story. With all of the footage of Libya in the over 15 minute segment last Thursday, Libyan women were invisible. It was shocking that the segment presented a womanless Libya. When discussing Gadhafi’s atrocities, there was no mention of alleged systematic rape. Nor was there any hint that women had been actively involved in the rebel movement. And we did not see any images of women celebrating the news of Gadhafi’s death. Continue reading
Posted in Global Issues, Media, Politics
Leave a comment
Ass backwards
Yawn. Another attempt to disguise the objectification of the female body as female empowerment. 
These bastions of feminism pictured to the right are the ones bringing you Culo (meaning butt in Spanish slang) a new book picturing women rear-first. Their website proclaims “No matter if you were raised to call it derriere, tush, rear end, or booty, culo is the new epicenter of female sexuality, desire and empowerment.” Female empowerment! As brought to you by these guys. —>
Posted in Books, Media, Pop Culture
1 Comment
Ms. Universe
French women won the right to vote about 25 years after American women. Now, they are trying to get rid of the strict social norm in France that requires women to identify themselves as either “Mademoiselle” or “Madame,” indicating their marriage status. Women in the United States began to push for the term “Ms.” in the 1970s to replace “Mrs.” or “Miss.” What started out as a feminist stance to put women on an equal playing terms with the marriage-neutral term “Mr.” has now become common etiquette. Even the Emily Post Institute now says: “Ms. is the default form of address, unless you know positively that a woman wishes to be addressed as Mrs.” France allows no such neutrality and women are required to disclose their martial status whether applying for a job or a bank account. Continue reading
Posted in Business, Global Issues
Leave a comment
Let’s make some media, ladies!
In case you have missed it, Geena Davis has become a tour de force advocating for better representation of girls and women in Hollywood. She founded the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and has been all over the place working with great organizations like The White House Project, UN Women, and most recently PBS with their new “Girls and Women Lead Campaign” (learn more about what Davis and Executive Director Madeline Di Nonno are doing here). Hear Geena in her own words, being interviewed by the United Nations, and at the Social Good conference.
Davis’ Institute is not the only one to point out that there is great work ahead of us to improve the representation and numbers of women in the media. Women in Media and News Continue reading
Posted in Media, Pop Culture
Leave a comment
Are you hot enough for Virgin?
*please see editorial updates after Virgin’s America’s response to yesterday’s post and change.org petition*
Just in case you haven’t fully internalized the message that women are most valued for their youth and beauty, Virgin Airlines has introduced a new “younger, hotter” advertising campaign with slogans like “Fool around with a younger, hotter airline” (pictured left) and “Dump your old airline for a younger, hotter one.” 61-year old Virgin CEO Richard Branson (pictured left, below, with an employee) has responded to charges of sexist advertising saying “The old-fashioned way of promoting products and businesses has worked for centuries…” 
Touché, Sir Branson. Demeaning women has worked for centuries–good point–so why not bank on it?
[edits in italics] Virgin Airlines was named America’s top airline this past fall and received a top score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. However, Richard Branon’s affiliate Virgin airlines are no stranger to controversy and allegations of sexism. Continue reading
Posted in Advertisements
1 Comment
Sir Gaga and Everything In-Between
Dressing in drag is not new. But there was something about Lady Gaga’s performance as Jo Calderone at the Video Music Awards that was subversively enticing. Some critics have said this was a career-threatening mistake that “confused” fans, some have praised her as “fearless,” and some have simply dismissed the concept as unoriginal. But one thing is for sure: people are talking about it.
In an era when women wearing funny hats is about as boundary-pushing as we get, Gaga’s “Jo” was refreshing. Her “F- You” to the establishment was far more artistic and thought-provoking than the tired, hateful Eminem-esque adolescent male middle-finger “rebellion” as exemplified by the lyrics and behavior of VMA winner Tyler the Creator.
Gaga/Jo Calerone’s performance of “You & I” was pure, free, soulful rock n’ roll. Both while performing the song and interacting with people as Jo, Gaga’s performance showed– rather than explained–that gender is something all of us perform.
Posted in Performance Art, Pop Culture
Leave a comment