Kiera Knightley's stand

One of my first articles for this blog was on Keira Knightley; her dedication to her body and her placement as a role model. She is a beautiful and an impressive woman. She has recently earned even more respect from me.

Publicity photos for her upcoming film The Duchess are being released, but the editors want to digitally enlarge Ms. Knightley's breasts in the posters. Newspapers have reported that "movie bosses wanted the slender actress to appear more curvaceous, but 'she has insisted that her figure stay in its natural state. She is proud of her body and doesn’t want it altered.'" I am impressed that Keira would take this stand, partially because it is not truly that big of a deal and she will not let it slip. She is standing up against the stereotype of beauty, which shifts frequently and violently.

The actress was digitally altered in the advertisements for King Arthur in 2004.

Controversial Argument

Note: In many situations, if I had to admit it, I would consider myself conservative. I believe that people should live with the consequences of their actions. More than that, I believe that as a society we should work to prevent those actions which will require necessary consequences. But even having said all of that, even being pro-life (if I had choose one or the other), I still do not agree wholeheartedly with this law. Make no mistake, I personally feel that is a step in the painfully appropriate direction, but there is a long way to go.

In South Dakota they have passed a law concerning the necessity for informed consent in abortion. Starting now, in order for a woman to obtain an abortion in South Dakota she, and her doctor, must signed a written statement that states (among other things) that:
*the abortion will terminate the life of a whole, separate, unique, living human being;
*the pregnant woman has an existing relationship with the unborn human being and that the relationship enjoys protection under the United States Constitution;
*by having an abortion, her existing relationship and her existing constitutional rights with regards to that relationship will be terminated;
*a description of all known medical risks of the procedure and statistically significant risk factors to which the pregnant woman would be subjected to, including: (i) depression and related psychological distress, and (ii) increased risk of suicide ideation and suicide.

The conservative side of me commends the direct and no-punches-pulled mentality of this law. I can respect that they wont sugar-coat the situation; they wont act like it is easy or healthy. That is a good thing, in my opinion. And hopefully it will cause some women to rethink their decision, especially in the case of those doing it for selfish reasons.

On the other hand, it is a poorly written law with many things left unconsidered. For example, how can you acknowledge that the fetus is a living human being without acknowledging the process as murder? If you believe it is a living human being, and you decide to halt its living, then that is murder. The definition of it, in fact. So that leaves a huge loophole gaping open. Is this a gateway law to considering abortion as murder, or is this a confused halfway attempt?

Many people could argue that this is just a "mean law" to make women feel guilty about doing what they have "the right to do". I want to understand that point of view, but for me personally it would be like saying it was mean to put criminals in jail. An almost arguable point that comes down to this: they made a choice. Consequences must be paid.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me; far from it. I just want to spark debate and conversation. This is an issue that affects women and families everywhere in one way or another. What do you think?

Degrade with the power of a hand grenade

This June the United States held the 'council president' position at the U.N. Council and we brought forth a powerful and devastating theme for debate: the use of sexual violence in war.

The council resolved unanimously that "sexual violence [is] a tactic of war to humiliate, dominate, instill fear in, disperse and/or forcibly relocate civilian members of a community or ethnic group."

Eve Ensler, I pray you were there for this. In discussing such war-torn regions as Yugoslavia, Darfur, Rwanda, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Maj. Gen. Patrick Cammaert theorized that "it has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict".

The more surprising, and optimism-crushing, news is the rise in sexual abuse accusations against peace keepers and aide-workers. People who have been placed in the situation as care givers are taking advantage of the victims. It leaves you with a horrible feeling of "who can be trusted?"

This violence against women is devastating on immeasurable levels. According to Condoleezza Rice "we affirm that sexual violence profoundly affects not only the health and safety of women but the economic and social stability of their nations."

And while I am proud and encouraged that we are finally taking steps against this atrocity, I find myself wondering, "What took so long?"

Two Sides of One Coin: Side B (Babies)

Most stereotypes exist for a reason. Some seem to be maybe 1% true, while others hit the mark more often. One of the many stereotypes surrounding teenagers concerns their developing and rudimentary decision-making skills. I want to explore two ways this can majorly affect the health of young women (in the words of Young Jeezy) "sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally".

In Gloucester, Massachusetts "a pact [was] made by a group of teens to get pregnant and raise their babies together". None of these girls are over the age of 16. "...students were coming to the school clinic multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and 'seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were.' Some of the girls reacted to the news they were pregnant with high fives and plans for baby showers, Sullivan said. One of the fathers 'is a 24-year-old homeless guy,' Sullivan told the magazine.

Employees at the school categorized these girls as "girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life." These girls, unlike those in Side A, are trying to become pregnant. They are hoping to bring someone into this world who will have no choice but to love them and depend on them. If only they understood just how dependant this person would be and just how much they still depend on their own parents.

These girls represent a large culture of young women who try to force love into their life by dangerous or ill advised means. Think of all of the poor girls who, as a result of sexual abuse, latch on to older men and seedy men or anyone who gives them the time of day. Imagine the underage prostitutes who think of their pimp with adoration because he is a man who feeds them, gives them a home and says he loves them. Think of the young women who grew up with parents who were absent, abusive, emotionally unavailable. We crave love and affection as humans and when we are denied it one place, we will simply find or create it elsewhere, however unhealthy.

What kind of message can we spread to these girls that will keep them from rushing into the harsh reality of adulthood? What can you do in your community?

Two Sides of One Coin: Side A (Abortion)

Most stereotypes exist for a reason. Some seem to be maybe 1% true, while others hit the mark more often. One of the many stereotypes surrounding teenagers concerns their developing and rudimentary decision-making skills. I want to explore two ways this can majorly affect the health of young women (in the words of Young Jeezy) "sexually, mentally, physically, emotionally".

In London the abortion rate for young women has reached a record high. This past year (2007) there were a recorded 163 abortions by girls under the age of 14. This statistic is frightening, but not nearly as terrible as the statistic for girls under the age of 16: 4,376! That means that there were over 4,200 abortions for girls age 14 through 16!

Professors and professionals are churning out ideas to aide this new situation. They are aiming to prevent the pregnancy. I do not wholeheartedly agree with Julie Bentley's statement: "Younger women are making different choices about their lives and choosing abortion over motherhood. But education and contraceptive services will stop them becoming pregnant in the first place." Surely this is oversimplified! While I believe that our youth deserve and need a better sex education program, I do NOT think that we can lie to ourselves and them by suggesting that know-how and a pill will keep them completely from harm. We, as adults, need to be teaching them about consequences, about chances and about "fairness". If a teenager read the statement "education and contraceptives WILL stop you from becoming pregnant" they would be wholly misinformed. Most birth control has a success rate of 99%, which of course means that 1% of the time it is unsuccessful. That doesn't sound like much, it really doesn't, but that is one time out of 100 that someone gets an unpleasant surprise.

We need to teach our youth about the consequences of their actions. We need to be truly honest, even blunt, to get the point across. Too often people of all ages view life with the "it could never happen to me" lens on, and it is truly dangerous. They need to understand cause and effect: pregnancy is a possible effect of sex. Abortion is a possible effect of pregnancy. But how many teenagers have thought ahead to the possibles effect of abortion? On their body? On their spirit? On their friends? On their family?

America's Next Top Model Has Shape!

FINALLY!


Tyra has been chomping at the bit to find a "plus-sized" model that could take home the gold, and she found her. Whitney was named America's Next Top Model for cycle 10!

This girl may be full-figured in the modeling world, but in the real world she is a gorgeous girl with a feminine shape. Curves used to be desirable in a woman and I am loving the return of the trend. Despite popular computer mottos of "You can never be too thin or too powerful" (blech) the pendulum is starting to swing back over to the juicy beauties of yesteryear!

Whitney, and the Plus Sized of ANTM

I have been cheering for Whitney since the beginning; not only because she is the "plus size" girl, but also because she is good at it and has fun! I say "plus size" in quotes because by real world standards she isn't very big. One thing I have come to notice is the difference in that definition. In the fashion world I would be overweight, or at least plus sized. I can handle that; being confident in my own beauty is a blessing and an honor I do not need the fashion industry to validate. However, I do love when they make 'exceptions' like those frequently made on America's next Top Model. It gives me a little faith in humanity and the ever-swinging pendulum of beauty standards.

Whitney has made it to the top four girls, and I am ecstatic! It makes the show that much more suspenseful for me. I believe she has made it farther than any other plus sized model on ANTM. I have only watched devoutly for the past three cycles, but I have seen episodes from almost all cycles. I want to dedicate this success to some other "big girls" and celebrate their beauty: