Gender Identity, Gender Studies

Standing Up for Gender Equality: Not at the Price of Human Rights

I am so grateful to live in a place where my rights, as a woman, are constantly being considered and protected.  I try to regularly participate in the discourse for gender equality in the name of the millions of women around the world who have little to no rights at all.  By pushing forward the… Read More Standing Up for Gender Equality: Not at the Price of Human Rights

Community Building, Community Development, Equality, Gender Identity, Gender Studies

A Four Step Action Plan So That #metoo Can Become #neveragain

The #metoo movement was quite intense, to say the least.  I knew that the prevalence of harassment was high, but some unexpected people in my circle of friends came out with their own #metoo stories that had me shook. It has also been very hard on the men in my circle of friends, who have… Read More A Four Step Action Plan So That #metoo Can Become #neveragain

Family, Gender Identity, Gender Studies, Parenting

Raising Strong Girls in a Princess Obsessed World { Guest Post }

{ This guest post was written by a friend and fellow Star Wars loving mom, Miquela. } Four years ago, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl. My husband and I had decided we did not want to know the sex of the baby beforehand. We enjoyed thinking about our little baby without the… Read More Raising Strong Girls in a Princess Obsessed World { Guest Post }

Gender Studies, Media

Rape Culture: Consent in Movies

I have mentioned before how insidious the negative forces of society can be, and how something that seemed forever innocuous can actually be quite dangerous. I realised today that there is something we as a society seem to accept wholly and fully that could just be a big part of the rape culture problem. Picture… Read More Rape Culture: Consent in Movies

Family, Gender Identity, Gender Studies, Marriage, Pregnancy

More Thoughts on Supporting the Husband of a Pregnant Woman

Nothing about the birth of my child was about the other person that had so much to do with it: my husband.  I have already discussed this matter previously, but I think it’s such an important topic that I have to bring it up again. During labor, no one took care of my husband.  And… Read More More Thoughts on Supporting the Husband of a Pregnant Woman

Gender Identity, Gender Studies

Is it a boy? No? Then why is she wearing blue?

Even before we knew if our child was going to be a girl, her father and I started shopping for clothes.  On the one hand, we were looking for any excuse to get our hands on the ridiculously adorable miniature versions of what we wear that grace the stores (I mean have you seen the… Read More Is it a boy? No? Then why is she wearing blue?

Gender Studies, Media

Becoming Obsessed With Strong Female Characters: My Hopes For a Post-Wonder Woman World

Do you guys remember when Edward Cullen was everywhere?  To call him an obsession is an understatement.  Parallel to this Cullen-mania, I developed an obsession with, well, Edward Cullen obsession. How meta is that? Back in November 2008, I wrote how the only thing that seems to be able to cure this Cullen-mania was to… Read More Becoming Obsessed With Strong Female Characters: My Hopes For a Post-Wonder Woman World

Empowerement, Gender Identity, Gender Studies

Missing the Point: What a Girl’s Anthem Should Not Sound Like

The title seems harsh, doesn’t it?  I know that this the post might get my inbox filled with emails from irate Beyoncé fans, but her song “Run the World (Girls)” still is, in my opinion, part of a series of popular girl’s anthems gone wrong. It doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate the song.  Quite… Read More Missing the Point: What a Girl’s Anthem Should Not Sound Like

Celebrity Culture, Empowerement, Gender Studies

What Empowerment Means and How Kim Kardashian Has It Wrong

Kim Kardashians’ nude selfies has been a trending topic for a few weeks now.  While the pictures themselves are nothing spectacular to warrant the trend, the surrounding conversations about the implications of her posts have been fascinating to me, to say the least.  I am particularly intrigued by the concept of Kim demonstrating a sense… Read More What Empowerment Means and How Kim Kardashian Has It Wrong

Beauty, Gender Identity, Gender Studies

Barbie has Three New Body Shapes: A Step Forward Well Worth Exploring

You might have heard that Barbie now comes in four different body types. On top of the original body type she is known for (tall, thin, busty, and blond), she also comes in tall, curvy, and petite. The top secret project apparently took years to take shape (ha) and even came with a code name.… Read More Barbie has Three New Body Shapes: A Step Forward Well Worth Exploring