A True Hero (and how sexism colors the way her story is told)

This is Patricia Maisch.  She was waiting to meet Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Arizona when the shooting began last week. She is one of the people who tackled the gunman and she is the one who managed to wrestle the magazine away from the gunman as he attempted to reload.  This act undoubtedly saved lives.  She also applied first aid to a person who was shot in the head after the gunman was disarmed.  She is a hero, and a general, all-around bad-ass.

Here is some of the text from today's CNN.com article.

(CNN) -- Within seconds after the shooting began, at least one man who was grazed by a bullet grabbed the gunman, a middle-aged woman snatched ammunition away from him, and a group of people held him down while another man grabbed the gun out of his hand, a man and a woman who helped subdue the shooter told CNN Sunday.
...
"What really scared me," Zamudio said, was seeing a middle-aged, "maybe elderly woman," wrestling the next magazine away from the gunman. "

Can I just ask why the ages of none of the men are identified in your article CNN?  Hmmm?  How old does a woman have to be to get "marked" in this way?  How old would a man have to be for his age to be notable?

Accessorize with a dark-skinned man!

Handbags and jewelry are so passé.  This Spring, Black men are the accessories of choice. 

Okay, so we have all seen these sorts of photos before, with a lily-white woman and a highly sexualized Black man.  But what I find striking in these photos is how the men are being used in these photos in ways that women are typically used.  It's all about status, baby.  If there were White men in these photos, I guarantee the woman would have the leash around her neck.   There is not much subtlety in that theme of sexuality needing to be tamed.  

Here we have both men averting their gaze from the camera, and a huge discrepancy in amount of clothing.  Faux lesbianism is fairly common , but here we've got an analog with men.  That's not the kind of equality most of us are hoping for.  

Again, this is all about power and control.  The higher status person stares into the camera and the lower-status sex objects have gazes averted.  

This is from Numero Tokyo, January/February 2011.  I know, I know, now we all have to cancel our subscriptions.

Uh....Is this part of the stimulus package?

I logged on to facebook and this was one of the ads on my sidebar.  I'm confused...  So, if I want to become a stripper or a hooker, can I get grants, scholarships and student loans to do that?  Or is it that I'm eligible for scholarships, grants and loans if I am already the kind of lady who hangs out in a margarita glass (which clearly I am)? 

Speaking of Toddlers and Tiaras...

 This is fabulous!  Where can you buy these?  My daughter is almost FIVE and doesn't have one.  Mia is only two, and she is rocking it. 

Her mom got her this outfit so she could dance to Like a Virgin.  No, I'm serious.  Isn't that cuuuute?  I'm guessing that Vogue Paris has already placed a call to this family for a photo shoot.

Is it Spring Yet?

I'd like to report that I am gliding around in a horse-drawn carriage enjoying this glorious Winter Wonderland.  But no, I'm freezing my ass off in a ten year old Rav 4, questioning why we moved back to Michigan.  It's not nearly as glamorous as it sounds.

In the Summer I always imagine that I'll actually enjoy the outdoors in the Winter.  Surely I'll get out my skates...

We could go sledding!

Or perhaps I'll just flit around with rosy cheeks in adorable, toasty clothes.

Hell, if I get bored I might become a Rockette.  Oh wait, you have to be at least 5'6" to do that.  Fascists.

Of course around this time of year, all of my delusions about crisp air and sparkling blankets of snow come crashing down, and I'm left feeling like this:

You Reap What You Sow

Oh, polygamy!  

Yesterday, I ran across an article on aol news titled:  "Polygamist Pummeled by First and Second Wives for Planning Fifth Marriage."  How can you not love that?

Apparently, two Pakistani women found out that their husband was planning on getting married again, and they took off their shoes (Jerry Springer style) and kicked his ass.  The women, Mehvish and Uzma (my new heroes) were not feelin' their husbands plans, and decided to show that motherfucker just how many women he can handle at once.  The article reports that "Uzma told the press that her husband deserved to be beaten."   Word.


http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/05/polygamist-pummeled-by-first-and-second-wives-for-planning-fifth/

Vogue Paris...Trying Too Hard or Published by Pedophiles?

I'm pretty sure that this photo spread appearing in the January issue of Vogue Paris was supposed to be controversial.  Epic fail, Vogue Paris.  You waaaaay overshot the mark.  There is nothing provocative, controversial or high-fashion about these photographs.  They are just gross.

Let's ease into this mess with the photo on the left. Here we have six-year olds in couture, looking at themselves in a mirror.  Nothing wrong with a little self-objectification, of course.  It's standard for older women in fashion spreads.  What I find  more troubling is the way the photo is taken from behind them, and one of the girls is turned as if she is just noticing that she is being watched.  Maybe I took too many feminist classes in college, but this reeks of voyeurism and male gaze.

Moving on...

There is no denying that gold lamé is always classy, especially on little girls.  I think that the down-to-there plunging neckline, age-inappropriate heels, and leopard print just take this to a whole new level.  I feel like I'm looking at an ad for a child-prostitution ring run by Donald Trump.

Okay, the photo on the left is a relatively innocuous image, like something from a very special nouveu riche episode of Toddlers and Tiaras.   It's definitely mild in comparison to the doozy on the right. 

Sure there is not much skin showing in this fun Christmas-themed photo, but this one is all about the camera angle and the posing.  It's a very clear (and très lecherous) example of male gaze. There is a whole lot of implied sexuality for a girl who probably spends a lot of time watching Sponge Bob (Bob l'éponge?) and playing with dolls.

Sigh. I don't have much to say about this one.   I love the f-me heels and the come-hither, ruby red parted lips.  What are these little girls learning about themselves by participating in this bullshittery? There are some grown-ups running around who are in severe need of an ass-kicking.

Seriously, who in the hell would let their child pose in this photo spread? 

Blech, blech, blech.   I suppose I should go see if I need to notify my neighbors for having this crap on my hard drive.


Also, what is wrong with me that the little girl above makes me think about this?