tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76575139767736102432024-03-13T13:37:01.215-04:00FOCUS MAGAZINEFOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-36449356758805897012010-05-03T12:52:00.004-04:002010-05-03T12:56:04.492-04:00Little Red Woman Hood<div style="text-align: left;"><object height="405" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S6p8lxghOCQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S6p8lxghOCQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object></div><br />
Here is a short fictional film written, directed and edited by our Web Assistant, <a href="http://focusmagazinesbu.blogspot.com/p/meet-e-board.html">Krystle DeSantos</a>. The film uses the underlying question, "What does it mean to be a woman?" combined with the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The true meaning goes beyond the literal message portrayed in the film. Enjoy the humor as well!FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-10646651077238502472010-04-29T14:34:00.002-04:002010-04-30T07:31:57.285-04:00FOCUS FISTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FFu1HzEocloWlovgXQo_uU4I1Z7OpWrM9gP97zuzqoDK9WhsVlGGReAlnnmWZECxm2LDV6KudjEjWsHnIpqPMGxvhkycj6mQgRMaZZi7P2736EAzPB8oH4u-FQh1Wfq5h6x_zapmK8Tm/s1600/14994_408047058124_561723124_5111896_3537042_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FFu1HzEocloWlovgXQo_uU4I1Z7OpWrM9gP97zuzqoDK9WhsVlGGReAlnnmWZECxm2LDV6KudjEjWsHnIpqPMGxvhkycj6mQgRMaZZi7P2736EAzPB8oH4u-FQh1Wfq5h6x_zapmK8Tm/s320/14994_408047058124_561723124_5111896_3537042_n.jpg" /></a></div>The Focus Team, held it's FOCUS FISTS table during campus lifetime at Stony Brook a few weeks back. Students who passed by the table were encouraged to make fists out of craft paper, writing whatever they wanted to change in society on their fist. The Focus Team had a great time and missed Krystle, who was unable to attend. Here are some pictures from the event. Enjoy! Be sure to keep an eye out for this semester's publication.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHupx6wOHFQAhUM8eNH61RWsQePcNMz38WnkyIL0Kpr7fqlEdVnuSCAsI0J_3Lx3kUIO75F1c9iIT2D6R12L51hndVxpUNJs1MxYEC9IgdgY5piF8hxT00jttVOcjWzV6v5WLn84WdFmu/s1600/14994_408047118124_561723124_5111905_1704985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHupx6wOHFQAhUM8eNH61RWsQePcNMz38WnkyIL0Kpr7fqlEdVnuSCAsI0J_3Lx3kUIO75F1c9iIT2D6R12L51hndVxpUNJs1MxYEC9IgdgY5piF8hxT00jttVOcjWzV6v5WLn84WdFmu/s320/14994_408047118124_561723124_5111905_1704985_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GTEYa44ibSKue_36heatMHsubE77WQfu-6-FXHkR1E2atWkOuNR1JtArOSIllCY2TfAmehehcb7rFXrNHBeFaRO0dd3qM8RcAj2d0fU4WAebwAyuTNINw4Lf9zvHyEMhoM06SrJCWEtu/s1600/14994_408047133124_561723124_5111907_458654_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GTEYa44ibSKue_36heatMHsubE77WQfu-6-FXHkR1E2atWkOuNR1JtArOSIllCY2TfAmehehcb7rFXrNHBeFaRO0dd3qM8RcAj2d0fU4WAebwAyuTNINw4Lf9zvHyEMhoM06SrJCWEtu/s320/14994_408047133124_561723124_5111907_458654_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #ff0080; font-family: LuzSans-Medium; font-size: small; line-height: 15px;"> </span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-62480050537542451352010-03-21T17:23:00.002-04:002010-03-21T17:24:22.784-04:00The Female Advocate<a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?PS_CPS_CD6_080" title="The female advocate; or An att... Digital ID: PS_CPS_CD6_080. New York Public Library"><img alt="The female advocate; or An att... Digital ID: PS_CPS_CD6_080. New York Public Library" height="331" src="http://images.nypl.org/index.php?id=PS_CPS_CD6_080&t=r" title="The female advocate; or An att... Digital ID: PS_CPS_CD6_080. New York Public Library" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
This was found in a digital gallery of the New York Public Library.FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-15676336816025236782010-03-18T15:27:00.002-04:002010-03-18T15:29:39.815-04:00“We Will No Longer Be Seen and Not Heard”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt-qWmJxQkzgLyVIYYRrMDFDLSUINEqFnIRQWDsqYVk8CUG33XaGlXw9DuKcskR11Tk6mGnNuTU5bq61kiMBbLuaIQwgGomJBlOW0jmHzpan0EmKH7SfyM_oqoDTpArQL8yq_eKvsU6YE/s1600-h/Spring+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxt-qWmJxQkzgLyVIYYRrMDFDLSUINEqFnIRQWDsqYVk8CUG33XaGlXw9DuKcskR11Tk6mGnNuTU5bq61kiMBbLuaIQwgGomJBlOW0jmHzpan0EmKH7SfyM_oqoDTpArQL8yq_eKvsU6YE/s400/Spring+2009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>By Erin GlasspooleFOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-83626835413957621712010-03-18T15:10:00.001-04:002010-03-18T15:33:03.260-04:00With Liberty and Reproductive Justice for All<div style="text-align: justify;">By Meghan Shalvoy</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I believe reproductive justice is a very important term to understand if you believe in real change for women’s rights.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The term “reproductive justice” is defined by the organizations SisterSong and Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ) as “the complete physical, mental, spiritual, political, economic, and social well-being of women and girls, and will be achieved when women and girls have the economic, social, and political power and resources to make healthy decisions about our bodies, sexuality and reproduction for ourselves, our families and our communities in all areas of our lives.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me, the term represents not only the obstacles that many women face because of their gender, but also how these obstacles are compounded for many women by their race, socio-economic status or sexuality. When women don’t have access to basic reproductive health care, it is impossible for them to have complete control over their bodies and their choices for reproduction and personal health. </div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">These services can start as early as elementary, middle, and high school by providing age-appropriate and comprehensive sex education in our public schools. Beyond school, we need to make the resources that all women need available, like contraception, HIV and STI testing, family planning, abortion services, prenatal care, as well as support to care for the families they have. Access to these services cannot continue to be limited by age, race, financial status, or insurance coverage. In order to support working families, we need to work to strengthen the laws and regulations that affect families and ensure that families are represented properly in our legislative bodies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many additional issues that fall under reproductive justice. These issues range from poverty to worker’s rights, immigration, fair pay, race/racism, violence and the environment. Part of the concept of reproductive justice encompasses the idea that in order to allow all women full freedom over their bodies and reproductive health and choices, we must work towards many issues of social justice. Many women and men advocate for issues that can greatly affect reproductive justice without that explicit intention. For example, if we can achieve fair pay for people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, etc., then an individual woman can worry less about how to afford contraception until she decides to have children, and also have the means to support her family if she does choose to have children. This is why the term reproductive justice incorporates more than just issues of reproductive health and services, but all the social factors that may affect or dictate women’s abilities to control their own bodies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The concept of reproductive justice is especially true not only for American women, but also for women across the world. We need to exercise the rights and privileges that we have as Americans to advocate on behalf of women all over the world, while staying mindful of the principle of reproductive justice: not all women experience oppression equally, and because of this, we have to always consider the needs of different cultures and communities who are affected differently by race, gender, class and sexuality.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The need for all women to control their bodies is too basic to be reserved for those who have the privilege to access and afford reproductive health services, or for those communities that have historically benefitted disproportionately from social change.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Illustration By: Sabba Hussain</div><div style="text-align: justify;">13X 9”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">oil pastel, ink</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Made in 12/07</div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-46139548233014500782010-03-18T15:07:00.000-04:002010-03-18T15:28:12.169-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB-6hZ_ATp3S9Wjd5MGHoVz8aFIWR9_M1-eiCjW3XNpoiPf6sk2QAhGbcX4R1gFCIpbjIvCisvuNvvaAgM5fL7C9_IYdqmqexC03UOSY_szJ2wSpjBHs_RAFVRNNsnmMDdh59mBjYV89u/s1600-h/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPB-6hZ_ATp3S9Wjd5MGHoVz8aFIWR9_M1-eiCjW3XNpoiPf6sk2QAhGbcX4R1gFCIpbjIvCisvuNvvaAgM5fL7C9_IYdqmqexC03UOSY_szJ2wSpjBHs_RAFVRNNsnmMDdh59mBjYV89u/s640/Untitled.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-5878261296309731102010-03-18T15:06:00.001-04:002010-03-18T15:06:28.335-04:00“The Breaking Point”You decoded my password...<br />
My self.<br />
My soul.<br />
You stole my identity.<br />
And for how long? Months at a time?<br />
And I hadn’t even seen it.<br />
I would have never believed it even if I had seen it -<br />
But how could I know?<br />
Why would I blame you in all of your manipulation?<br />
How could I have ever come to realize?<br />
...it was you all along.<br />
Daddy’s out of the picture now, and you knew that!<br />
He was the only one that had ever warned me about you.<br />
He would have gotten to you.<br />
He would have made you pay for all of my suffering...<br />
one way or another.<br />
He told me to get away from you,<br />
“You broke up with him for a reason.<br />
Don’t get back together with him.”<br />
The only advice he’d ever given to me about a<br />
relationship of mine which he otherwise allowed me to make my own decisions for.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
…He’s gone now.<br />
And you knew that.<br />
You used it to your own advantage!<br />
And then there’s Mom and my brother.<br />
Mom and Anthony both love you.<br />
They always have.<br />
They always will.<br />
And why?<br />
Why do they love you so much, I have been trying to figure out?<br />
They love you because you’re going to Medical School!<br />
You’re going to be a doctor and make money.<br />
You’re going to support me so<br />
THEY WON’T HAVE TO!<br />
<br />
And whenever we break up?<br />
What do they say?<br />
“What did you do this time, Alexandria?”<br />
WHAT THE FUCK?!<br />
I broke up with you because I deserve better.<br />
Because you are obsessed.<br />
And because I believe that you will either commit suicide or kill me instead!<br />
You cannot bear us not being together!<br />
And this used to scare me -<br />
Scare me so much that I would start dating you again even though I had no emotions left towards you -<br />
Another fault of mine, which you so often loved to criticize me for!<br />
You took advantage!<br />
You knew they loved you!<br />
You knew Daddy didn’t!<br />
You’re happy Daddy died,<br />
“Because you’re the one that caused my father’s death.”<br />
REMEMBER?!<br />
It’s over now.<br />
Everything.<br />
You are not a part of me.<br />
With or without my mother and brother,<br />
I am still Daddy’s Little Girl.<br />
And<br />
YOU<br />
will NOT<br />
disrespect ME<br />
ever<br />
again.<br />
By Alexandria LanzaFOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-72635963642806836612010-03-18T15:03:00.000-04:002010-03-18T15:03:24.850-04:00“Eres Mas” (You Are More)You are more than what you think you put yourself out there to be. On your productive days, you walk with your head held up high and realize how you can, indeed, make mountains move. You are amazing, it’s true, for you have the ability to look past you and see what you have accomplished, despite the hardships, obstacles and extraordinary experiences. You are a scholar, an activist, a voice; the change; the epitome of a daughter; the<br />
backbone to many; a sister; a leader; and most of all, you’re your ultimate driving force. You are the outsider looking in and it is not easily done, to walk in your shoes. So, in those moments, when you feel at your lowest, it’s hard to fade the blurriness surrounding you, everyone looks and admires you. But at these moments, tell yourself it’s okay. It is okay. It is alright for you to not feel the empowerment you have worked so hard for. And it is perfectly fine to cry. It may take a few minutes, hours, days, weeks; a few months; time after time; hit you at several points during the day, but it is okay. You deserve this break, this time to reflect. You have it within yourself, just like every other time, to pick yourself up again. Yes, you didn’t get that job you wanted; you didn’t get that call you knew not to wait for; you didn’t get those five minutes to yourself that day; you didn’t make the best decision; you felt like you let that person down; you let yourself down; you didn’t get the least bit of appreciation or recognition; but it is okay. You’ll get a<br />
better job; someone else will have the courage to call you and you’ll know they sincerely love you; you will have that day to pamper yourself; you’ll make the best decision and maybe even the best one ever; you put a smile on that person’s face, and a stranger complimented you on how great a person you are.<br />
So it is okay, because <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">tu eres mas</span></b> (you are more).<br />
By Veronica SaraviaFOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-66936529351187488472010-03-18T15:02:00.005-04:002010-03-18T15:13:15.713-04:00Let me Dream<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74yq21ZUCmHAj03PoXlwYoQPmDJQ3iuUk4SxhB7jCa_C9z5SObA2kvA8CKBkUqxq2i2tQaboSzwrYlpubQUwdCcu8AouMIS0vCP14swp3pXi1j0ShVqMghE_qJTDQihM-64Z9uzhLzsnq/s1600-h/midnight_dreams1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74yq21ZUCmHAj03PoXlwYoQPmDJQ3iuUk4SxhB7jCa_C9z5SObA2kvA8CKBkUqxq2i2tQaboSzwrYlpubQUwdCcu8AouMIS0vCP14swp3pXi1j0ShVqMghE_qJTDQihM-64Z9uzhLzsnq/s320/midnight_dreams1.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Edwardian Script ITC'; font-size: 56px;">Let me Dream</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because your skin complexion and mine are not the same,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I cannot, I may not, take your last name.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because your eyes are slightly smaller, or take a different shape,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our love cannot exist, our connection was a mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because your hair and mine do not have the same texture, the same feel,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We must dismiss our feelings, they </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cannot</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> be real.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The feeling that follows your embrace,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The smile, the eyes, that make my heart race,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You mean to tell me, it is all make believe?</span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The fusion of our thoughts, our minds, our ideas, over time,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have dreamt it all?<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well then please</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, let me sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I need not wake to a world where our race, our religion, your upbringing, and mine,<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Desire to control our emotions, our feelings, and the thoughts in our minds<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If this is the world I must wake to, then please, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">let me sleep, let me dream.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- Rachel Chinapen<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Image from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://bluenred.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/midnight_dreams1.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://bluenred.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/midnight_dreams1.jpg</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">)</span></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</div></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-87313117794515935292010-03-18T15:00:00.002-04:002010-03-18T15:17:03.486-04:00Women and the Convention Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2f_2fv5sdH5JaUGZb_r-3Mh1F6aSFroZ2TowvTyz8mw_PuYDCRGduQNMxd2bwWf6niVO986H5kZ2pBS-V6f4Lc1RlUTjWTDiSYb_OIsVVakBM50QFAMbFuK_NIOwlFOign_rUcH0Hj11/s1600-h/JG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2f_2fv5sdH5JaUGZb_r-3Mh1F6aSFroZ2TowvTyz8mw_PuYDCRGduQNMxd2bwWf6niVO986H5kZ2pBS-V6f4Lc1RlUTjWTDiSYb_OIsVVakBM50QFAMbFuK_NIOwlFOign_rUcH0Hj11/s200/JG.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By John Giordano</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the world of nerd-fandom, women are always considered welcome to take part in the odd, yet intriguing ritual that is convention-going. Visiting these conventions has always been associated with males, for conventions enable the media industry to exhibit the latest in comic books, horror, anime, manga, animation, toys, collectible card games, video games, web-comics, science fiction, fantasy, and pop culture (Reid 4). Though there are females who enjoy their video games, the gaming industry is still seen as a male dominated market. Because of the negative stigma still somewhat attached to those passionate in the aforementioned items, women who display interest are appreciated and encouraged to take part in this new commercial, nerd culture. In other words: being a nerd is cool now.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I entered the doors of my first convention back in 2006, I was somewhat shocked at the number of women, for the idea I had was that only virginal male troglodytes, such as myself, were expected to attend. After years of appearing at multi-genre conventions, such as Comic-Con International, I-Con, and New York Comic Con, I noticed that females at these events were becoming more numerous and passionate. Actually, this is true, for the most recent Comic-Con in San Diego had around 40% female attendance (Bowles). Considering this particular event attracted an estimated 130,000 individuals, I’d say a crowd of 52,000 women is a respectable amount for a gathering of any kind (Collins). Comic-Con has come a long way since its inception in the mid-1970s, originating as a get together in a hotel showcasing a few comics and some science-fiction oriented artwork attended by a mere few hundred people (Lowry).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There is no one single target audience in these conventions; the beauty of this being that most items found within a convention are gender-neutral and can be enjoyed by anyone. I compare it to surfing the internet, except in reality. One can find any number of items from a wide variety of entertainment, ranging from samurai swords to Pokémon to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If none of these really pique your interest, many celebrities and artists frequent</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">these conventions and are eager to greet their fans. Artists are literally lined up in special booths, both male and female; ready to sketch their work for you. Many talented female stars were in attendance at Comic-Con International last year as well, including Mila Kunis, Katie Sagal (voice of Leela in Futarama), Felicia Day, Hayden Panettiere, and Stephenie Meyer (comic-con.com). These conventions can be a bit crowded at peak hours, but literally anyone can visit the ‘con and find something that interests them.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Though their meetings are friendly and social, the nerd culture as a whole still has some work to do regarding gender in the work they produce. Females are appreciated in whole, with great artists and writers dreaming up inspirational and entertaining stories involving strong, independent female protagonists, like Samus Aran from the Metroid series and Captain Kathryn Janeway from Star Trek Voyager. Despite these major leaps forward in terms of how females are portrayed in fiction, female characters are still being used more as non-serious playthings for males to gawk at. In one of the most widely-played video games of all time, World of Warcraft, there is a large difference between how males and females are displayed on-screen.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The Vanguard Armor from World of Warcraft on male avatar (left) as opposed to the female version (right).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Though many female characters are put in places of high regard in the fictional universe, the character avatars still display exaggerated sexual dimorphism. In World of Warcraft (or WoW for short), a player can create an avatar that represents themselves in-game. The male avatars are commonly large and muscular, almost a cliché for a fantasy hero, but the females are almost always scantily clad and petit, whether they like it or not. A piece of armor may look bulky and protective on a male avatar, but that same exact armor piece may mysteriously shrink to bra-size, baring the midriff of a female. This kind of exploitation is common in the gaming world, with the most notable offender being that of the game Bloodrayne, in which the main character, Rayne, is highly sexual in nature, wearing revealing clothing more reminiscent of a dominatrix than a vampire. Unfortunately, female protagonists are often used as devices to target the “horny man” demographic, filling a void where the story lacks in order to sell more games.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Though there is still work to be done to clean up the image of females in the world of fandom, those who follow conventions are eager to befriend anyone who joins in on this quirky subculture. The world of nerds is becoming more female-friendly and hopefully within the next few years, high-attendance conventions may see a fifty-fifty ratio of males to females, with equal entertainment for all who seek it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Works cited:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“A Look Back on Comic Con 2008.” San Diego Comic-Con. (2008).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Comic-Con International. 9 Apr 2009 <http://www.comic-></http://www.comic-></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">con.org/cci2008/index.php>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bowles, Scott. “Comic-Con wrap-up: Are superheroes done for?.” USA</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today 28 Jul 2008 Web.12 Apr 2009. <http://www.usatoday.com></http://www.usatoday.com></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">/life/2008-07-27-comic-con-wrapup_N.htm>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Collins, Sean T.. “San Diego Comic-Con 2008.” All too Flat</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">28 Jul 2008 Web.9 Apr 2009. <http://www.alltooflat.com/about></http://www.alltooflat.com/about></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">/personal/sean/2008/07/san_diego_comiccon_2008.html>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lowry, Brian. “The early days of Comic-Con.” Variety 07 Jul 2008</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Web.9 Apr 2009. <http://www.variety.com/article></http://www.variety.com/article></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">/VR1117988845.html?categoryid=1019&cs=1&nid=2562></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Reid, Calvin. “Publishers Find Fans and Trends at Comic-Con.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Publisher’s Weekly 255(2008): 4. Print.</span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-45147673248664639242010-03-18T14:57:00.000-04:002010-03-18T15:23:46.078-04:00National Organization for Women’s High School Art Contest<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">The women of FOCUS magazine and the wonderful ladies of NOW got together in honor of Women’s History Month and assembled a great contest for high school students. We held a reception for the best five finalists who created the most innovative and fun artwork. NOW and FOCUS felt that these five finalists really explained the women of today and were very impressed with their artwork.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
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1st place winner<br />
“Speak”<br />
By Stephanie Cunningham<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2nd place winner</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Future Techno Girl”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Alex Chisolm</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3rd place winner</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Self- Portrait”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Zoe Kazzaz</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“1950’s Housewife Renewed”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Bo-Ashley Brindley</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5th place winner</div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Mother Earth Collage”</div><div style="text-align: justify;">By Brian Riggs</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The winner’s received giftcards and a free subscription to Ms. Magazine. The FOCUS girl’s are very proud of these students and are happy that they, even as young high school students are a part of the movement!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">THANKS GUYS!</div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-84716503632864403242010-03-18T14:49:00.002-04:002010-03-18T14:49:47.047-04:00Reflection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE-aZpjUeMPqclVq4elkQFEs9jUDk7bsIK8Lb1YObH9TQERRt1dLkTk79UFvmIm5ljdOhJE7IE_UQJHTjQJPOdo9Oe5HgFkWE9yBnJLEigiuuRBQAFgVgVyht9Nrv1cN8ICzlTpxOaF0n/s1600-h/BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyE-aZpjUeMPqclVq4elkQFEs9jUDk7bsIK8Lb1YObH9TQERRt1dLkTk79UFvmIm5ljdOhJE7IE_UQJHTjQJPOdo9Oe5HgFkWE9yBnJLEigiuuRBQAFgVgVyht9Nrv1cN8ICzlTpxOaF0n/s400/BL.jpg" width="276" /></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">THE HARDEST FEELING IN THE WORLD IS LOOKING AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR AND NEVER REALLY SEEING YOUR OWN BODY...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Britnay Leydon</span></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-36875970633310903882010-03-18T14:34:00.005-04:002010-03-18T14:38:15.442-04:00“The Mane”<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Black power my sister!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Black power!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The words echo over and over,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Black BLACK black BlAcK.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">POWER power Power PoWeR.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The meaning has become empty to me,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a phrase you see,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To define, minimize, and categorize the woman I’m destined to be,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’ve never been one to fall into a niche,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Which to me in essence is a disease-filled, poison-infested,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and unkept ditch,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Grab the switch”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They assumed my mother beat Me</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To teach me</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The real me</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To help me gain an appreciation of the simple things</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The wiser things</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and the kinder things</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They assume I light incense while listening to that conscious music and quoting black heroes,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Little do they know that I’m a dedicated Lost, Heroes,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and Desperate Housewives junkie,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That I don’t just listen to Barrington Levy but I dabble in a little Britney you see,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I find meaning in all things,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That life brings,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In the music that I sing,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And in the church bells that ring,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">DING DING!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The timer goes off,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Time to stop the treatment of my devilish perm,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blowing out the new growth is the way to go,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">GASP!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Little do they know,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My hair did not always grow,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Into this dynamic fro,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That makes me shimmer and glow,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just remember it doesn’t define me, yuh know…</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Zola Kai Pollard</span></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-63457553749038241322010-03-18T14:33:00.004-04:002010-03-18T14:38:31.123-04:00?????<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“WHY?”</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I want to scream out!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I want the world to know!</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I told you both that he threatened me.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I told you he wants my life.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But not even you two,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My own flesh and blood -</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My only brother left,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and my only parent for my future -</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Not even you have been concerned.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For if you cared for me,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There’s one word you would have asked,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The only word I’d prayed that you’d say...</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why couldn’t you see it?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why couldn’t you care?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why couldn’t you ask me...</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why? Why?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Why?</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’d wished you had asked me,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The reason for this threat.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wished I could have told you,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was his rape that caused my death.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Alexandria Lanza</span></div></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-56906667184143136252010-03-18T14:24:00.007-04:002010-03-18T20:43:32.324-04:00Stop Domestic Vioence!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1mw29hRb1dYwzwZgs089cdfdMZdSbStLI_diJZwSIwuxFidwGbDtZkoWxoKd9IvAQQvBzqMUmBcXl81nMUeNHRd1uQFolGwiwcqneWGQh5y5vUpox2LVAp1vijrV2mBGIzRM6JheuaO6/s1600-h/Vest2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1mw29hRb1dYwzwZgs089cdfdMZdSbStLI_diJZwSIwuxFidwGbDtZkoWxoKd9IvAQQvBzqMUmBcXl81nMUeNHRd1uQFolGwiwcqneWGQh5y5vUpox2LVAp1vijrV2mBGIzRM6JheuaO6/s320/Vest2.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"This was my first sewing project produced after taking a costume class for my Theater Arts minor at Stony Brook. I am a Women'Studies major and used that background as well as personal references to inspire the design of my vest. The colors (gold, white and purple ) of the suffrage movement were used as part of the theme to represent the struggles women face and how they are able to overcome those struggles. The face of a woman crying was painted on the front of the vest to symbolize the pain and embarrassment women deal with when they experience </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268936397_0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">domestic violence</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. This topic is personal to me because I grew up in a household in which domestic violence was present and this has caused me to take a strong stance against it. The back of the vest is black and covered with gold lace to represent the cover up that women often do when they are in violent relationships. A beautiful constructed shield (lace) covers deep dark painful emotions and physical wounds (black fabric underneath).There is also a </span></span><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1268936397_1" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 102, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">purple ribbon</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> that is secured with a custom gold-headed pin to the vest. The purple ribbon is the ribbon that is used to raise awareness of domestic violence." </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Krystle DeSantos</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPh9a2eXtlsVxQC6NB4GBBhlse6PuYc96Z7pSxibEZCePkjgX5ETocBYaNEc0kEQ6PAm9RYznrXFlonHYkqnmQ6XvqNOlVPmyUk0ZU2YYam1PAIn7Jw4Jyu9lfHODxgpGGnxEZDT8OZLik/s1600-h/Vest3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPh9a2eXtlsVxQC6NB4GBBhlse6PuYc96Z7pSxibEZCePkjgX5ETocBYaNEc0kEQ6PAm9RYznrXFlonHYkqnmQ6XvqNOlVPmyUk0ZU2YYam1PAIn7Jw4Jyu9lfHODxgpGGnxEZDT8OZLik/s320/Vest3.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-80478573121315250962010-03-18T14:15:00.003-04:002010-03-18T14:39:10.246-04:00Batata Cafe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx5TIv_moSMzBZBxi-ydXq1LnE2W-FRDUUW4ISccczkOzq5FjEfQuAN882L4nNVxQCDRGkTcu8x8nY_B2OXOvhpP82iOXe6U-DYDsGS9TusW8b0nIFd6QIkHel3kG7kx9QmiyWJZ9_Y9y/s1600-h/batata-cafe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx5TIv_moSMzBZBxi-ydXq1LnE2W-FRDUUW4ISccczkOzq5FjEfQuAN882L4nNVxQCDRGkTcu8x8nY_B2OXOvhpP82iOXe6U-DYDsGS9TusW8b0nIFd6QIkHel3kG7kx9QmiyWJZ9_Y9y/s320/batata-cafe1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An Interview with Nicole Nappy:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A Young Business Owner from Northport</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Among all the businesses in the country, only 30%* of them are owned by women. By that percentage alone, one can safely assume that propelling forward in a male dominated field can be difficult for a woman, especially a young woman. But Nicole Nappy of Northport, Long Island, has done just that. Through her constant ambition, adventurous nature, and personal need to succeed for herself, Ms. Nappy has become the successful owner of </span><a href="http://www.batatacafe.com/index.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Batata Café</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, the eclectic and multi-culturally motivated café in her own (and my own) hometown of Northport.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> First, tell us a little about yourself.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, My name is Nicole. I grew up in Northport; I went to Northport High School. I left Northport after high school and I went to college in Virginia and got a job afterward as a software developer in Northern Virginia. So, I did that for a few years and I ended up getting an opportunity in Europe where I went to for 3 years and did software development there.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was there, I got to travel a lot and I went all over Europe. After the 3 years, I knew I was kind of done with the corporate world, I didn’t really want to pursue it anymore and I always wanted to be in business for myself. So I came back to New York because my family is here, and that is the main reason. But first, I decided to go backpacking through Latin America; I did that for 5 months. I got a lot of inspiration and motivation to do this. And so when I came back, I waitressed, basically; I went from working a desk job in a cooperation to just waitressing. And I actually went to Stony Brook for a semester, just taking a couple of different classes of interest. Now, I don’t know if you know the history of this spot, but my dad had Barrister’s Chocolate, and he had been in the chocolate business for 25 years. So this was his location. He also had a coffee shop. So, he was kind of ready to get out of the business, or tame it down, and I was looking to do something, to pursue something, so we talked about what we were going to do. He helped me with the whole idea and here I am today.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Nice! So you’ve always wanted to be a business owner?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don’t know if I would say “business owner”, but I know I wanted to do something for myself. I don’t know if I initially wanted to be in retail, but some type of entrepreneurial idea had gone through my mind.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> So your father wanted to “tone down” his chocolate and you wanted to do something for yourself…</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to expand it. I expanded to the kitchen, because there was no kitchen before. It was just chocolate and coffee.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What made you come up with the idea of having “actual” food?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Mostly through my travels. When I was travelling, in all the places where I went to, in all these little towns in Latin America, there was always the little café that was owned by a foreigner who just decided to establish this little business in the middle of nowhere, you know? And I found it throughout Latin America. And, ideally, I would have loved to do that in Latin America, but I didn’t have the guts for that. (Ha-ha.) So I think I took a little bit from all of those little places. And I love food, and I was waitressing, and I got inspired just by being in a restaurant atmosphere, and I decided to pursue it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’ve always wanted to go away and find out what I want to do, not many people get to do that. That’s awesome that you had that opportunity. Now, our magazine, FOCUS: On Women & On Diversity, embraces all of people’s differences. From the artwork on the wall and the atmosphere to the items on the menu, it seems that you have something for everyone. What made you take that route and your inspiration…we now know that it was Latin America, but what about the artwork on the walls? It is all local art, isn’t it?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Yea, it’s local people. Well, I am just a big supporter of the arts in general. I’m not an artist, I mean, I love to be creative in my own way, which I think is through the food and the menu and the atmosphere. But as far as the artwork and the music goes, we tried to do open mic nights for a while. I just try to encourage people to be creative and to follow their dreams, in any way that I can help. As well as the fact that I see it as free decor. It’s beautiful décor and if I can help somebody get their name out there and sell something, that’s even better.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> So all of the artwork can be purchased?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Yes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> That’s interesting because whenever I come in here, I would see something and think, “You know, that would go really nice in my room” or “I really like that”.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (Ha-ha.) Yea. When people come in here, it’s not the same thing all the time. The scenery changes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> You mentioned open mic nights. What other events do you have here?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> We tried to have open mic nights and it just didn’t work. I think the musicians, the ones who are really into open mic, they have their own network of people and certain places that they go and this just wasn’t one of those places. So we stopped that. But now, what I’ve done, we started doing a “Tapas Menu”, which is a</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Spanish term for “small plates”, and so its appetizer size dishes, but it’s a sit down dinner. So you come in on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday night and this place looks much different than it does right now. We cover up the chocolate, we cover up the cases, and the lights are dim and there’s linen on the tables and there’s candles. And it’s table servings, we have waiters and busboys and we have a chef. So it’s a little bit different. We’ve already been doing that for about 2 months and it’s really taken off. It’s been more successful than open mic nights were, and it’s fun. It’s another reason for people to come in. The food is excellent, and it follows with the concept of the breakfast and lunch menu at the café. It’s eclectic and fun and casual.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> So it’s a nice balance. At this time, it’s relaxing and chill and café like, and at night it is so much nicer.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Yea, but it’s not like it’s “stuffy” nice. It’s very casual and relax at the same time. And so is the menu. We encourage people to order one thing and hold on to the menu if you want to order something else. It’s not, like, “What do you want to eat, and tell us now.” We aren’t going to push you out of here. We just want it to be, you know, very chill.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Nice. Now, as a young, female business owner, what struggles have you overcome and how have you overcome them?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> What kind of obstacles? Gosh, well, in the beginning, it’s just so overwhelming, everything. And especially being a woman, and going to trade shows, and no matter what anyone says, I’m dealing with mostly men in the industry. Whether it’s my distributers, my sales people, finding</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">equipment; I go to auctions to find equipment that is discounted and it’s all men. So it’s intimidating; it’s definitely intimidating, you know. But I’m totally over it; I just feel like I’ve put my foot in there and I’ve stood up for myself.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Good! Do you feel being a young woman has benefitted you in any way?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Um, maybe. I think it’s benefited me in the fact that I can relate to my employees. I feel like I am one of them.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I mean, right now, when I came in, you were actually working. Not many owners work in their own restaurants.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yea, and we are friends and we have a good time. I am older than everyone that works here, but I don’t feel like I’m older. I just feel like I’m one of them and I’m young at heart. And they can relate to me; I can understand them too. Especially the high school kids that work for me, they don’t have a problem talking to me about things.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> And what advice do you have for other young women who are thinking about exploring and trying to maybe open their own business?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have to go for it. The biggest obstacle was taking that first risk, you know, just plunging head first into it. And if you can get through that, you can get through anything else that comes your way. That was just the hardest part, getting through that first couple of months, I think. And being confident. No matter what, people are going to tell you, people are going to give you their opinion even though you don’t want it; and you just have to learn to take what you want and just go with it. And ignore the things that you don’t really feel are important because if you lose sight of what you have, then it’s not yours anymore.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Do you have any aspirations for the future, either for yourself or for the café?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I’m always looking for the next thing to do, always. We tried the music, it didn’t work. I am now doing the “Tapas Menu.” I’m always looking for things to utilize the space during the time that I have it, to the maximum efficiency that I can. Something else we’ve done - we started to do private parties. We are closed on Sundays, so we will hold private parties for bridal showers or baby showers, just trying to optimize the space. And that’s it for now. I’m still very ambitious. In the future, I definitely want to have a family and stuff, so I’m trying to take advantage of that now while I can before that all happens.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">L: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well, thank you very much. It has been a pleasure.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">N:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Anytime, and thank you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Batata Café is located on Ft. Salonga Road in Northport. Being from Northport, myself, I can assure you that the food is delicious (the California Chicken Wrap with sweet potato fries and a lemonade is my personal favorite). Nicole Nappy, after the recording of the interview ended, expressed again that she is always willing to help out new artists. If you are interested in selling your artwork at The Batata Café, contact for Nicole Nappy is available through the Café.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Lauren La Magna</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*Statistic is from March 2005 National Women’s Business Council. Info was received from http://www.awsystems.com/nwbc/ResearchPublications/documents/key_facts_about_women_business_owners_2005_03-05.pdf</span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-29049122539430983142010-03-18T14:08:00.003-04:002010-03-18T14:39:27.100-04:00Sister<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I am a Sister of Sisters Bred from Greatness”</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am a sister who is successful because of</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Love & Unity.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am part of a legacy that will not be weathered by time...</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am a strong woman derived from strong women.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our bonds lie deep within our hearts and are</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Deeper</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">than Skin color,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">deeper than race,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">deeper than country,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">deeper than beauty.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are bonded by acceptance, love,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">compassion and tolerance.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We will Change the world one heart at a time.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Dedicated we stand against the storm of hate,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">building the stable foundation for the others.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am Better because of them.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I learned a new definition of life and of the word</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sister.</span></div><a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They will look onto us and see tears in our eyes,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">but not from sadness,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from the realization that WE are no longer “I.”</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hand in Hand we march into the world</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fearless.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because we know SHE will catch us when we fall.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SHE will lessen the pain.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SHE will teach us better.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">SHE will open her arms.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She is I; I am Her; and,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are proud, vivacious, magnificent, phenomenal, strong,</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">elegant, sexy, and fierce</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Women of Forest Green and Ivory</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are the Distinguished Sisters of</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Epsilon Sigma Phi.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Ekadasi “Diafora” Drikpalsingh</span></div></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-7758255850004032582010-03-18T13:55:00.004-04:002010-03-18T14:39:39.579-04:00Body Issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBI5DUjs-yExS9E81-O_9MIXt4FM2O-_rjJRyA4GQj8K2FY09GMHjB55FNqJF1H9kG_0QQOosEVrVHPfJXr9XEyKNHNRNnL3Z_ylEKheMlXwPswPQYd9yWQlSj2dYEJLajEIQ4zO55_Up/s1600-h/Do_I_Look_Fat__by_MissShyly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBI5DUjs-yExS9E81-O_9MIXt4FM2O-_rjJRyA4GQj8K2FY09GMHjB55FNqJF1H9kG_0QQOosEVrVHPfJXr9XEyKNHNRNnL3Z_ylEKheMlXwPswPQYd9yWQlSj2dYEJLajEIQ4zO55_Up/s320/Do_I_Look_Fat__by_MissShyly.jpg" /></span></a></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I Look So Fat.”</span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Nicole Zinerco</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When was the last time you heard a friend say that? Maybe you were shopping. Or maybe you were going out. Or maybe you were just walking to class. It has become perfectly acceptable for women to criticize their own bodies every day. Why is that?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So here are the facts. Statistics show that 81% of ten year olds are afraid of becoming “fat”. In high school, 90% of girls think they are overweight. More women battle eating disorders than Breast Cancer. And 51% of women would rather be hit by a truck, yes, hit by a truck, than be “fat”.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scary, huh? Why are so many women uncomfortable with their body image? Where does this need to be thin come from? We are certainly not born with it. Women are constantly bombarded with images of super-skinny celebrities and un-realistic beauty in advertisements. What happened to sexy women? Real women, with real curves like Bettie Paige and Marilyn Monroe?</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sure there’s Scarlett Johansson and Beyonce, who are undoubtedly beautiful, but they are exceptions to this skinny rule. When are real women going to be the norm?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m not saying women should be perusing heavier bodies. Health should be our priority. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Weight bearing exercise as young women is important to create strong bones when we get older. Women like Evangeline Lily, or popularly known as Kate from the ABC series Lost, with toned bodies are great models for a fit and healthy female body. But sometimes women who are toned also pick up the connotation of “fat” because they are bigger than other women. Why is being slender the priority over our health? Where is it that we go wrong?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Let’s start from the beginning. As girls we watch our mother’s worry about their weight. We watch them diet and skip meals to lose those last ten pounds for their cousins’ weddings. We watch them over-eat when they’re stressed. And so we grow up with these food issues. We think that if our tummy was a little flatter that that boy will finally ask us out, or that life would be easier if we were just five pounds lighter. So we diet, as young girls. Food</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">becomes the enemy. This gets passed on through generations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And if its not food issues that distort our body image as we grow, it’s the unrealistic standards of the media. We turn on the television and see celebrities like Paris Hilton, real life Barbie Dolls, who show us girls that we must be tall and thin to be beautiful. We flip open a fashion magazine and see models who are thinner than 98% of women. And in advertising, women are objectified to sell everything from food to cars. The use of Photoshop has totally revolutionized the industry. Now with the ability to create perfect skin and long eyelashes in photos, normal women can be retouched into “perfect women”.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so we learn to be obsessed with body image.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last week I read an article online about a Fitness First advertisement in the Netherlands to encourage people to lose weight. This bus-stop advertisement is a bench with a secret scale, so when an innocent person sits down, their weight flashes up in red for all the world to see. This is a cruel way for the media to make women body conscious. What if someone recovering from an eating disorder was to sit on this bench? This kind of advertising has to be stopped. We as a society, need to stop worrying about “being fat”.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But changes are happening. This March, Canadian designer Cheri Milaney presented her Fall/Winter 2009 Collection at LG Toronto Fashion Week. She chose real women from ages 20 to 68, sizes 4 to 16, and of all backgrounds to model in her show. She was the first designer in any fashion week in the world to do so. And look at Dove commercials who show real women, the women who the advertisement is reaching out to.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yes, change is coming, but it’s a slow process.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what’s the solution? My point is that change can start with us. I think its time women start to “feel healthy” rather than worring about “losing weight”. A healthy body looks different for everyone. Next time you hear a friend say they look “fat”, tell them how beautiful they are. Let’s end all the criticism and start to feel good about our bodies. We, as women, need to stand together and tell the world “This is my body, and I’m proud of it!”.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Works Cited:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(2008). The struggle with the “Thin Ideal”. Retrieved 4/2/2009, from http://www.bodyimageprogram.org/issue/</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Image from </span></span><a href="http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/285/1/8/Do_I_Look_Fat__by_MissShyly.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs8/i/2005/285/1/8/Do_I_Look_Fat__by_MissShyly.jpg</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span></span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-25113038508096303242010-03-18T13:51:00.003-04:002010-03-18T14:39:53.229-04:00“FreeFall”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLqyr4-eaO4aRbWB1zSlq0esMOv2MNdm4cLVZqNRpidlIO0GET7X4hTgUGHN3HQxC6o6hQhnYIc0XJKUR1R8Sxk-8XDPhGpf-Hz2ewN0-em9_S6jB8cf4_73I491R05XpjBRIaVd6Zbo3/s1600-h/Freefall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLqyr4-eaO4aRbWB1zSlq0esMOv2MNdm4cLVZqNRpidlIO0GET7X4hTgUGHN3HQxC6o6hQhnYIc0XJKUR1R8Sxk-8XDPhGpf-Hz2ewN0-em9_S6jB8cf4_73I491R05XpjBRIaVd6Zbo3/s400/Freefall.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Nadia Jafari</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Humankind constantly strives to maintain a perfect disposition while the crosswinds of struggle work against us. We find ourselves in a freefall when the struggle becomes overwhelming, like a storm swirling around us. Although the person depicted is falling, his posture is maintained, straight and rigid, as opposed to someone flailing around trying to grasp for support.</span></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-21299527902678546172010-03-18T13:47:00.004-04:002010-03-18T14:40:19.066-04:00“Te Quiero”<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVydOkXENN6HcrrlXfv6jfrG35PJi3SaZUWsNpQ9ZVWw_wviRsUV-ALi_CtOaax5aoCfgC0058huYIxLcSkl6lug8tDX8B42KBmw3qmr7hkkAmNcz36tQWI2LQXQRXmaMvst1AziLNi5FM/s1600-h/xoxo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVydOkXENN6HcrrlXfv6jfrG35PJi3SaZUWsNpQ9ZVWw_wviRsUV-ALi_CtOaax5aoCfgC0058huYIxLcSkl6lug8tDX8B42KBmw3qmr7hkkAmNcz36tQWI2LQXQRXmaMvst1AziLNi5FM/s320/xoxo.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A young girl sits and reflects,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On past loves and heartbreaks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She realizes love was always followed by neglect.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Her heart never stayed open for too long.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So she learned to keep it closed to all,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And to you that was wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You came into her life and made change.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You gave a sense of courage,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To this young, baby bird ready to leave her cage.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have been more than she has ever had.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She finds herself smiling again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because of you she has no reason to be sad.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I sit here and reflect.</span></div><a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kind of scared of what is coming next.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have been so closed, never willing to open.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But now you have me dream again.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You have me hoping.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I’m not going to lie, I have a wall of steel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But you have proven to be like kryptonite.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because, for some reason I have started to feel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A young woman lies on the bed, looking at the ceiling.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Overwhelmed inside, holding back tears,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">trying her hardest to keep from feeling.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But she turns and looks at him while he sleeps.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She prays to God this time it’s for keeps.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I sit here thinking of where these feelings are from.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Should I be happy for what is now,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">or be afraid of what’s to come?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Should I let go and tell you how I feel?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Or should I keep it inside and try to hide from what is real?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A part of me wants to shout out loud,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">telling everyone, everywhere what I have found.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But the part that haunts me is holding back.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It won’t let me be free.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A woman stands with her head held high,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Feeling the pounding in her chest.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She lets out a sigh.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She won’t let her fears get in the way.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No, not this time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finally she will get the courage to say all she has to say.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I stand before you,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Pulling down my walls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Something I thought I would never do.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Though it scares me to death to let you in.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I will try my hardest for you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, happy now? You win.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A shining star,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Shimmering in the night,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And burning from afar.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A butterfly,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Spreading her wings,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ready for the flight,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Closes her eyes and holds on tight.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I look you in the eyes;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Confusion within them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fear in mine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I take that leap,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For it was you,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Who swept me off my feet,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So hear I go.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wanted to tell you something,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think you should know.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From this day forward I will open up to you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Giving you a chance is what I choose.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Remember when I said I will close my heart,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">from ever finding love?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well I was wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Because with you I am no longer numb.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am glad to have found you and to have you in my life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was crippled by the vein that I kept on closing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But your warmth cut me like a knife.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So my feelings have begun to flow.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I care about you deeply,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even if it’s hard for me to show.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don’t know how I feel yet.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All I know is,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You make me smile and I have no regrets.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thank you for being there.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">First as a friend,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then showing me you care.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Like I have said before, most guys are accessories,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But you however,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I believe you are a necessity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So the thing I have been holding back in a way,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Was something I wasn’t ready to tell you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But now have the courage to say.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think my heart has found its calling.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is for you. Love,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I just might be falling.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She sits here,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Happy to have told him,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And also a sense of fear.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How does he take it?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How does he feel?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Yolanda Whitner</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Image From </span></span><a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/xoxo_in_open_heart_sticker-p217599929224753514qjcl_400.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://rlv.zcache.com/xoxo_in_open_heart_sticker-p217599929224753514qjcl_400.jpg</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)</span></span></div></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-68417179880466556302010-03-18T13:46:00.001-04:002010-03-18T14:40:32.463-04:00Divorce...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogvhmp8v8IjwVX7xGibBadUaNndqcSzRXeg71R9a9a3tmM2E2oZ3teKuZDlgMdywtVXtZMXlQ6rdzmSSxfc-Zi4BAUKoD2elBrezOkn7-40S6pJncigQJJ3ykLbd5MxWv3XAeKP2pUFTg/s1600-h/Sabba+Hussain2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogvhmp8v8IjwVX7xGibBadUaNndqcSzRXeg71R9a9a3tmM2E2oZ3teKuZDlgMdywtVXtZMXlQ6rdzmSSxfc-Zi4BAUKoD2elBrezOkn7-40S6pJncigQJJ3ykLbd5MxWv3XAeKP2pUFTg/s320/Sabba+Hussain2.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“If divorce has increased by one thousand percent, don’t blame the women’s movement. Blame the obsolete sex roles on which our</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">marriages were based.” ~Betty Friedan speech,</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">New York City, January 20, 1974</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Sabba Hussain</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">11X8”</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">water color, colored pencil, ink</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Made in 3/08</span></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-77782125082195745942010-03-18T13:35:00.003-04:002010-03-18T14:40:48.326-04:00R-E-S-P-E-C-T<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“We Give Women Respect...”</span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Moiz Khan</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For the majority of my life I was a Muslim, a child of Muslim parents, a nephew of Muslim aunts and uncles, and so on. Most of the people I spent my childhood with were Muslims, and every single one of them repeated a phrase almost verbatim. “Islam is the only religion that gives respect and honor to women.” I personally never really gave the statement much thought; rather, I just accepted it on surface value. So whenever someone from the outside brought up the treatment of women in Islamic cultures, I repeated this mantra like a statement of unquestionable fact. It was not until I looked upon Islam from the outside that I truly grasped just how false that statement was. Islam does not give respect to women, it does the exact opposite. It suppresses and subjugates them. It keeps them down purposely, as Islam truly is a man-made religion. It deprives women of their beauty with veils, their minds with dogma, and their freedom with the law.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the most common replies to the oppressive treatment of women is, “it’s the culture, not religion.” The people who say this, either know nothing of the religion they are speaking of, or are purposely lying. It must be one or the other, there is no middle ground in this matter. The Qur’an clearly outlines what rights women have, and which rights they don’t have. In fact, the 4th chapter of the Qur’an deals directly with women, as it is titled “Al-Nisa” which translates to “The Woman.” If there were ever a place to prove my point, it would be within this chapter of the Qur’an. So, let us explore the claim of whether or not Islam gives respect to women by reading this chapter.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4:3 And if ye fear that ye will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four; and if ye fear that ye cannot do justice (to so many) then one (only) or (the captives) that your right hands possess. Thus it is more likely that ye will not do injustice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This verse is often seen as part of the justification as to why men are given the right to marry multiple women. The first claim it makes is that, it is possible for a man to treat multiple women equally.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">All one needs to evaluate the validity of this claim is to ask any self-respecting woman if such is possible. The next interesting aspect is that, it allows men to marry multiple women, but not women to marry multiple men. Clearly, this verse implies that there is an inherent inequality, as it assumes that only men are in the position to provide for multiple women, but not the other way around.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4:11 Allah chargeth you concerning (the provision for) your children: to the male the equivalent of the portion of two females, and if there be women more than two, then theirs is two- thirds of the inheritance, and if there be one (only) then the half.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Unlike the previous verse that only implies an inherent inequality, this chapter essentially states this supposed inequality outright. Men are given double of what women are given. Again, the Qur’an is creating the justification for inequality and suppression.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4:34 Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them. Lo! Allah is ever High, Exalted, Great.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is a cluster of sexist nonsense. Now, it clearly says, “Men are in charge of women.” Why is this so? Why can’t women be in charge of men? How has god made males better than females? According to any sensible knowledge of modern anatomy, there are negligible differences between the two, so how is a male “made to excel over the female?” Why is a good woman obedient to god and men? Why can’t a woman be simply obedient to god? Why aren’t good males obedient to god and females? If you had any objection to the other verses, surely there cannot be any mistake here. This passage also states the proper punishment for the women who aren’t obedient. First, a male can essentially yell at them; second, send them to another bed; and, then, third you can beat them and not allow them outside the house. This single passage allows men to be in charge of women, and forces women to be obedient or else face harsh consequences. It ends off with a praise of god, surely no person of reasonable, or even mediocre ethics could not praise any god which would give such filthy and disgusting passages to be the final revelation.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">24:31 And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my main grievances with Islam and the Qur’an is that it states that modesty is a virtue for women in relation to god and in relation to men, but modesty is only a virtue for men in relation to god. This passage highlights this grievance of mine. I simply cannot understand the desire to force a woman to wear veils. I also do not see why a woman must lower her gaze, especially in direct submission to men. Surely this passage is convenient for males, as they can continue with their sick desire to subjugate women. However, as a male, I could not participate in any religion which states such blatant falsehoods and obvious sexist non-sense regardless of its convenience to me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What I hope to have established is that, a person cannot consider themselves a feminist if they protect or even worse, follow Islam. The presupposition that men are inherently superior to women (which clearly exists within the passages of the Qur’an) is the antithesis to feminism. For those who are women and also follow the Islamic faith, my question is, why? Why follow a religion which so obviously against you. It is not the culture that allows for males to assume that they can suppress you, but rather, it is the religion itself. For one to consider themselves a Muslim, they must follow every single aspect of the Qur’an. If even a single passage seems wrong, the entire faith falls down. One cannot submit to the word of god and at the same time challenge it. I stand baffled whenever a woman actually allows herself to be suppressed, and even more so, agrees with the logic behind it. For a woman following these filthy Abrahamic religions is similar to a freed slave staying with their owner. To put it as succinctly as possible, the notion of “Islamic Feminism” is essentially a contradiction in terms.</span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-43903995671620579852010-03-18T13:31:00.002-04:002010-03-18T14:41:03.347-04:00Easy?<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Easy is an adjective used to describe a woman who has the sexual morals of a man.” -Nancy Linn-Desmond</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9Fmg_DuNleDAKvCyI6ypSh15QhyfsekSILwmrF3Yl9tydV0mzKKo4j3FzNAm1IKM65o0ta_TiEs8I0WpqjgsLegzA1Czl0ZMXEQ2hgINmnYAMwHjT15TohcZyALsViB1znsMC9iXoggd/s1600-h/Sabba+Hussain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9Fmg_DuNleDAKvCyI6ypSh15QhyfsekSILwmrF3Yl9tydV0mzKKo4j3FzNAm1IKM65o0ta_TiEs8I0WpqjgsLegzA1Czl0ZMXEQ2hgINmnYAMwHjT15TohcZyALsViB1znsMC9iXoggd/s400/Sabba+Hussain.jpg" width="328" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Sabba Hussain</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">16X11”</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">paint, ink, oil pastel</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Made in 4/08</span></div></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-8819004067466028832010-03-18T13:23:00.006-04:002010-03-19T19:30:30.607-04:00Do you fear Feminism?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“The Fear of Feminism”</span></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Sabba Hussain</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is what many people initially think feminists are:</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ugly, Hairy, Angry,Pretentious, Lesbian, Female chauvinist,Man-haters.</span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is because the majority of us were taught this, from an innumerable amount of outlets. So it is not surprising that usually when the ideology of feminism is brought up, I hear different people bring up the same antagonistic comments which they think are edgy and unique, but in reality, are predictable and nonsensical. I find it entertaining when people try to argue against feminism, because those people always exhibit blatant signs of not understanding it. Unless, of course, those people are misanthropes, in which case, congratulations, at least they know what they are arguing against. And I deliberately use the word, “misanthrope” instead of “misogynist” because feminism pertains to women’s and men’s issues alike. I’ve heard the argument, “Maybe, if the title itself did not make it seem so inherently biased towards women, more people would be drawn towards it.” While there is probably truth to that statement, we shouldn’t blame the name of the ideology because that provides a justification for ignorant people to make assumptions about something without learning about it. Do we immediately presume that the Civil War was civil simply because that word is in it? No, but that’s because we are actually educated on the Civil War at some point before college. And no, it’s not like I just took a few women’s studies courses and all of a sudden I felt the right to self-proclaim myself a feminist, I’ve been enthralled with this topic for years before I came to college.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So maybe that’s why I’ve found that, somehow there are people who have taken a gender studies course, which has explained to them the definition of feminism (equal rights and treatment for and of men and women), yet still manage to not get it. And yet, when explained to them again, they still have these inbred negative stereotypes which are ironic and quite humorous. The following are some memorable quotes that people have either said to me or said in general. And I could have gone for the more unabashed anti-feminist statements, but I think there is much more to be said about the comments/questions that first make the claim that they support and/or understand the idea, and then go on to either belittle it or make an inaccurate statement about it.</span><br />
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</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b></b></span></span></span></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are only concerned with women…</span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Included among the endless number of funny things I’ve heard people question about feminism is, “What’s the male equivalent of a feminist?” Well, is it, A) A male chauvinist B) A silly goose or C) A feminist? Believe it or not, the answer is C, because feminists can be females and males! This ideology enlightens people to the negative consequences of gender stereotyping of both sexes and teaches people how to respect and value everyone regardless of their differences. This is far from a female-only relevant theory and the issues that fall under it affect all human beings.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are prudes who abhor sex…</span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Don’t feminists hate sex?” I’m assuming that this one comes from the media-driven perception of feminists being only females who are “butch” ugly, and man-hating. Well, this concept is completely contrary, because this ideology is actually one of the rare bodies of thought that advocates genuine, pleasurable, responsible and healthy female sexuality. Feminism promotes choice, freedom, and equality of treatment towards all people. So how does it possibly make sense for this concept to not allow women the freedom of choice to have or like sex, when in almost all societies it is perfectly acceptable and understood that men will enjoy this freedom without any criticisms?</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We don’t revere the women we came from...</span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“The problem with feminism is; I don’t think there’s anything wrong with housewives. I can’t agree with this ideology because I want to be a homemaker, or I want my wife to stay at home in my future family, or my mother was a homemaker.” This idea probably stems from the perception that brainwashed the majority of us into thinking that feminists are angry, pretentious, female chauvinists. Feminism does not restrict women to only the work field, if that was the case, then it would be just as repressive a principle as the one it was opposing. This, again, is a lack of basic knowledge of this theory. Feminism promotes awareness; awareness of why we make the decisions we make, and whether or not these decisions are socially constructed or actually what we want. Also, this ideology urges respect for all human beings, and it would be pretty damn hypocritical if we did not appreciate stay-at-home moms, or mothers in general, for that matter.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Feminists are all ugly…</span></span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“I don’t know; I just like being a girly-girl. I can’t be a feminist because they are gross, dirty and don’t shave!” Mm… not so much. I guess, this individual was thinking of the stereotypical negative portrayal of “ugly” feminists from the 70’s who refused to shave because they realized that it was just one of those things that was forced upon them and unnecessary. There are innumerable ridiculously-good-looking feminists (wink, wink.) No, but seriously, because feminists are aware of the fact that beauty norms in our society are completely made up and have very little practical or beneficial use, these people tend to be more confident and comfortable with themselves and with their appearances. Also, this ideology does not put down any sort of lifestyle so long as people are knowledgeable of why they are doing what they are doing. You can be a “girly-girl” and be a feminist. This is one of those concepts that many people have trouble grasping. There is such a wide range of appearances of people who claim to be feminists. There is no standard predictable look. And about the shaving, it’s as simple as an individual preference.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have nothing to fight for...</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Isn’t it pretty pointless now, I mean aren’t men and women equal? Women have the exact same rights and are treated the same as men, at least in America, so why are feminists still around?” The problem with people thinking that women and men are equal in America is the fact that- assuming these people actually believe what they’re saying- they are most likely comparing the treatment of women in the US to the treatment of women in Middle Eastern and North African countries. These are not places that we should be comparing ourselves to and then patting ourselves on the back for being so much better than. In the US, women are still not paid the same as men for doing the same job. We are still denied contraception in pharmacies in some states based on our marital status whereas males would never be questioned on this if they were to buy condoms in those same states. We are charged for indecent exposure when being bare-chested in public, whereas men enjoy that freedom; and there are still an insane amount of sexist laws that prohibit us from making decisions regarding our own bodies.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We burn bras…</span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </span></b></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This last quote worries me the most because it came from a feminist article which was written accurately and was thought-provoking, up until the conclusion, which stated something similar to, “we’ve come a long way since the days of bra-burning!” I was dismayed at the writer’s naiveté, because this person did no research regarding the concept of bra-burning, considering… it never happened, ever. Look it up. It’s just a perfect example of a stereotype that portrays feminists as crazy, unorganized savages who don’t know what they’re doing or saying. This just shows how wrong the information that we learn about feminism is; some feminists still believe incorrect information about it.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I originally claimed, the only reason anyone insults feminism is either because they do not fully understand it or because they do hate all human beings. Males are disadvantaged in many aspects of society in America along with women, and if people were just aware of the fact that there are an equal amount of male issues that feminism deals with, people would be much more accepting of this ideology and of all of the positive things that they could be enlightened by, too. Therefore, my main gripe is the fact that there are so many people, who have either made comments directly towards me or just in general, who feel such a blatantly strong contempt towards feminism, and who hold such a belief of entitlement to bash on an idea that they clearly know so very little about. And I could bring up an excessive amount of historical analogies related to my aforementioned affliction, but I’ll let you realize the general problems that arise when people feel the right and even, the need, to trivialize a movement for human rights because of a prevalence of inaccurate information. So, I strongly urge all people, including myself, to not spew their unformulated opinions on subjects in which they have not done enough of their own proper research.</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7657513976773610243.post-70429001898555678052010-03-18T13:05:00.002-04:002010-03-18T14:41:40.911-04:00Identity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t19-RTG6gTD8gFKW7WcK46Qr4XT-Y4KnjCaecsVTzuXRyyu269QrUDbVzhGRndj93C9dNwBRFEsnXQpaIv9c7TeJzjd40EhPoN6BCNXMARZujzbgsPl68JqpU-OiArp_04ifmOYc2p6c/s1600-h/Identity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t19-RTG6gTD8gFKW7WcK46Qr4XT-Y4KnjCaecsVTzuXRyyu269QrUDbVzhGRndj93C9dNwBRFEsnXQpaIv9c7TeJzjd40EhPoN6BCNXMARZujzbgsPl68JqpU-OiArp_04ifmOYc2p6c/s320/Identity.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Insert Identity Here”</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What dictates a woman's identity in today's society? There are women of many races and cultures living in the United States. Different job opportunities are offered to different women depending on their</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">education; however, when race comes into play, some women are unable to afford or obtain a level of education adequate for a certain job. Or, perhaps it is the attractiveness of a woman that determines what jobs are available. Models are paid thousands to look gorgeous, restaurant hostesses are chosen with the intent to have a pretty woman greet customers, and flight attendants are certain to make passengers feel comfortable. Attractiveness, money, race, education, culture; all are factors that come into play to determine a person's identity in society.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">By Nadia Jafari</span>FOCUS Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08596329471826915393noreply@blogger.com0