Author of Article: Meridith A. Love and Brenda M. Helmbrecht
I enjoyed this reading by Love and Helmbrecht. I also enjoyed Kayla’s blog post on this article in particularly. With that being said, I’d like to use her blog as a center for my blog.
I’ve noticed for one, feminism has moved a long way throughout history. But the authors are right, we still have a long way to go. But how do we begin to tell women who are new to this feminist movement what it took to get as far as we’ve came, better yet, how are we going to explain to them what needs to be done to push this movement any further.
This takes me to Kayla’s first point. She brings up the authors points on how women see many ads and different kinds of media that make them realize, yea, I do have the power as a woman. But feeling it is different than being it, Kayla puts in this quote that fits perfectly with her point, “we want women to understand they do have power and agency and that they are strong and capable. Yet we still want students to see a difference between feeling empowered because the media says they are, and actually being empowered...” I feel like this point is very powerful and means a lot. Some women may get told several times over again how beautiful they are and maybe they even use all of these products advertised to feel the agency and the power a woman has, but why don’t they go on to do power filled things. Its time to trust your self, if you feel it, than your right. The stronger the feeling you possess inside, the better you will be able to inspire it on the outside.
I remember when I was going through a really bad break up my counselor always used to tell me to listen to songs like “survivor” by Destiny's Child and “Fucking perfect” by Pink. Singing these songs and listening to them daily really did make me feel better, and gave me the feeling of power and confidence that I have today as a woman. And Yes I do, I express it every day, where ever I am because I don’t want to be one of the girls who stand in corner that worries about what people think. I know I am beautiful and I own up to it. J So with that being said, I agree with Kayla, Love and Helmbrecht. Seeing women role models who are famous and are all over the media really pushing for women’s power and representing women in a forceful way is very motivating and encouraging.
Both the authors and Kayla go on to talk about how the media may be a little phony. How the way these role models publicize themselves may all be an act for the media. Pink gets confronted about this type of “act” by Oprah during an interview and this is what Pink states, “My point is not that sexy is a bad thing; my point is that sexy and smart are not oil and water. You don't have to dumb yourself down to be cute...I think it's and act-it makes [a woman] less challenging as a female”. These celebrities are role models to many girls and if they have the advantage and privilege that they possess, I would hope they would use their power to engage in something trust worthy and true.
My point to share in class tomorrow will be on the point that Love and Helmbrecht bring up about women feeling empowerment rather than being empowered. I feel like this is very common and is true in most situations. So, how do we change this? How do we make these women believe themselves about what they feel inside? What possible programs could make women reach out and become an empowered woman?
I think you bring up good points. But feeding into the notion of being empowered versus feeling empowered, I want to more ads that are traditionally done for men and changed to women. When I see commercials of 'power tools(think drills), I never see a women doing that work because it is labeled as a 'man's work, which also implies that women can't do that kind of work. I think the blue collar notion of a working man is powerful and can be used as an advantage for women to create power, if you get what I mean.
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