Don't Believe The Hype

Yawn. BORing....

Leave it to a male reporter to lead with an intro like this about actress Salma Hayek:

"Just in case you didn't already hate Salma Hayek for being beautiful and brainy and bodacious as ever in her Oscar gown earlier this month, here's another reason: Even when she's suffering from a bad cold and fever that force her to be interviewed while lying on a hotel-room couch, Hayek still looks glamorous enough to be walking the red carpet."

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...

Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful! But in the meantime, let's reinforce the idea that women should be leery of women who are both smart and pretty.

That, m'friends, is total crap... and it makes me think of the super smart lyrics written by awesome feminist rocker Ani DiFranco in her song "32 Flavors," which goes a little like this:

"God help you if you are an ugly girl
Course too pretty is also your doom
Cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the prettiest girl in the room"

Let's pretend it's 1971 and repeat after me: SISTERHOOD IS POWERFUL!

Message to Wilmer Valderrama: It's time for you to shut it

Have you heard the grossness that this 'actor' (ahem, That '70s Show did well because of Ashton's looks a Topher Grace's wit) has been spewing to Howard Stern? I've read the text of the interchange a bunch of places, but this comes from today's New York Post (Page Six... where else?):

"...claiming he took Mandy Moore's virginity and slept with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Valderrama, who used to date Lindsay Lohan, gushed that, "taking Mandy Moore's virginity was good . . . real good." He rated Hewitt an "8" on a scale of "1 to 10" in bed and boasted about his physical endowment. After he said he would really like to score with Angelina Jolie, too, Stern asked him, "So, of all of these girls we've mentioned . . . did you ever have [a form of kinky] sex with any of them?" To which the gallant and discreet Valderrama replied, "Yes . . . Yes, I told you, Howard, I don't want to lie to my fans."

Now I realize this took place on Howard Stern, where it's cool to be as raunchy as can be. But here's what I want to Mr. Ex-Lindsay Lohan:

"Hey Wilmer, what up dawwwwwwg?!

Just wondering if youve recently joined Sigma Theta Assh*&^e because I can't imagine ANYONE except some neanderthal frat boy thinking that it's OK to make comments like this in public. I mean, I guess you know your market niche better than I do, but last I checked, I didn't really think you were a hero to beer-guzzling-stripper-lovin'-subhumans who talk about women like they are objects to be rated and evaluated. But hey, if things have changed for you since That '70s Show has gone off the air (it has, hasn't it? And if not.. please make it stop) then more power to you. Cause it's not like you are going to survive in Hollywood on your God given talent or looks. Nooooooo sireee! So yeah, I guess you'd have to resort to the age old tactic of associating your lame-ass self with hot chicks, and posturing to make everyone think that you must be REALLY well endowed (wink wink) to get such hot chicks to do you.

But, Dude, lemme ask you a really tired question, though: Haven't you got any sisters, or a mother... or any women in your life that you actually respect? Because I wonder how you would feel if a jackass, like yourself, publicly talked about them like they were interchangable THINGS to be had, done and discarded.

Not so good, I'm guessing...

So for the love of God... please keep your offensive, immature, embarassing comments to yourself. Because before I just thought you were ugly and gross and I had a hard time understanding how Lindsay could date you...but now I realize you're ugly, gross, stupid, misogynist, AND lame (for trying to 'get down' with Howie and his Offensive Crew)..."

Bye for now! Gotta go cancel my membership to the Wilmer Fan Club!

Conference news...and one of the Jessicas crosses over from the dark side

Finally back after the Images of Youth conference (which was en feugo)

A few good resources to list in case you don't know about them:

Need some info about the media and oh, say, commericialism, journalistic standards, body image, state education standards, war reporting or advertising? Then click on the Media Literacy Clearning House, run by Southern gentleman extraordinnaire Frank Baker, for an exhuastive list of links/resources/cirricula/ideas etc.

I met with Mr, Baker at the conference, and he was thrilled about my book and has added it to his recommended reading page. Just scroll down to see it.

In other good news: Hollywood actress Jessica Alba has come out saying that she's through with "slutty" roles and wants to do more serious acting.

"I'll leave the slutty girl to other people and I'll play the sweet, moral girlfriend who believes in love - roles that are more interesting than playing a vixen. That's where I want to go next - a romantic comedy or something like that."

Well, I've never seen one of her movies, but hey... I'm all for self-improvement. It'll be even more exciting if she stops accepting offers to be on covers of magazines like Maxim, FHM etc.

Now if we couls juuuust make some progress with Jessica Simpson, Jessica Biel.....

Come by and say hi at the NW Center for Excellence in Media Literacy

Going to be in Seattle on Monday and Tuesday, March 20th and 21st?

Me too! I'll be at the University of Washington for the Images of Youth 2006 Conference put on by the NW Center for Excellence in Media Literacy

Jean Kilbourne, author of Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel, is the keynote speaker, and there are going to be over 200 activists, professionals who work with teens and others in attendance.

I'll have a table someplace that has advance reading copies of All Made Up (sorry! I can't sell any until April 18th, the official release date) so swing by, check it out and say hi....

Mixed Bag

The More things Change... the More They Stay the Same...

So I was looking at an issue of Glamour from last fall. September 2005 (NOT the issue pictured on the left here). Actress Jennifer Connelly is on the cover.

And as I paged through the issue, I couldn't get over the blatant mixes messages on nearly every page.

I know, I know.. this is nothing new. Candy is, by definition, sweet. And women's magazines are, by definition, a reflection of the hodge podge of ideas and expectations thrown at women in our culture.

But indulge me and check this out:

Pg 120: "11 Reasons We'll ALways Love Black

1. It's slimming
2. It goes with everything
3. It doesn't show stains
4. It's chic
5. It makes it easy to get out the door in the morning
6. It's classic
7. It's urband
8. It's slimming
9. It's sophisticated--even when it's cheap
10. It's easy to dress up
11. Did we mention it's slimming?

Pg 140: "Ideas that should be banished from civilization"
1. Corsets
2. Five in heels
3. Hobble-you skirts
4. Holiday sweaters
5. Vinyl mini skirts
6. Giant platforms
7. Mesh anything
8. Pleated, tapered jeans.

Um, I have no idea what a "hobble-you skirt" is.. but my guess is that is has something to do with clinging to the figure in a way to make it look, oh, slim and sexy. As do corsets... and considering black is effing fantastic according to Glamour editors due to it's slimming effects, it's curious that other items that have the same power are so arbitrarily rejected.

Not that I advocate corsets... I'd just like to see a little acknowledgement of the conflict that can appear within the same issue.

But wait! There's more!

on page 172 there was an interview with Ghost Whisperer actress Aisha Tyler that included photos of her before and after retouching.

The title of the piece is "I Don't Want to be Perfect!" and it pretty much trashes airbrushing and digital enhancing for taking away all of her "flaws." However, it doesn't really apologize for all of the changes made (slimming of her jawline, arms, hips, legs; darkening of her jeans to make her legs look leaner; lowering the line on her tank top to give her more cleavage....)

And then on page 301, there's a list titled "We Believe..."

And the first entry is: "That it's better to look like you eat than to look like you don't"

ARRRRGGGH! Really!? So what you're basically saying here is eat what you want, but worry about it and wear only black because it's slimming, and rail against things like corsets or tapered jeans that are just oppressive ploys that make you conform to a beauty ideal based on thinness that should be rejected, and stop complaining about airbrushing etc cause we all agree that everyone looks better and prettier when they are thinner"

Riiiiiight. Great message.

Snark Gone Wild

I admit, I'm a big fan of the Celebrity Gossip Blogs. They're funny.. and I can't get enough of all the "Stars at Their Worst" photos....

But today one of my regulars ran a tasteless item dissing Liv Tyler for not losing her baby fat fast enough.

Apparently, Liv has told British Cosmo in an interview that:

"It’s so hard to lose your baby weight! Everyone makes it look like it just drops off and everyone in magazines is so skinny three weeks later and says ‘Oh, I’m just running around after my kid.’ It’s total [bleep]!"

ROCK ON, Liv for speaking the truth. I APPLAUD you for speaking out about the celeb have-a-baby-be-in-the-Victoria's-Secret-Fashion-show-like-3-weeks-later trend. It's appalling, and it puts unreal pressure on the rest of the world's moms who might not have the luxury of a full time nanny to free up a few hours a day for kick ass training sessions.

But the total looooooser who ran Liv's quote framed it this way:

The headline was "Liv Tyler is Still Fat" and the text said:

"In case you're wondering why you haven't seen Liv Tyler in any movies recently, it's because she refuses to diet after having her son Milo in December 2004 and the only role she could get is probably that of "fat lady who used to be pregnant."

What an idiot.... but his (and yes, it is a HE who runs the blog is questions) comments are instructive because they probably reflect what a lot of people think, ie being thin and beautiful should be a top priority.

Whatever... and later fuh you, Mr. Blogger.

Liv is a total fox---and apparently a sane, smart role model---baby fat or not.

Hollywood Star Admits Anorexia!

Not an unusual headline, right?

In fact, you've probably read it a thousand times.....

But it's not often that said star has a 36" waist and 5 o'clock shadow......

That's right. Leading man (and former Mr. Meg Ryan) Dennis Quaid has admitted in a current interview that he battled anorexia.

" For many years I was obsessed about what I was eating, how many calories it had, and how much exercise I'd have to do."

Hmmm.. do you think this will make the cover of the celebrity gossip weeklies any time soon? Or that there will be talk shows dedicated to praising him for coming out and talking about his problem so that young men who look up to him as a role model won't fall into the same traps that he did? Or that people will call on Hollywood and other forms of the mass media to stop exerting such indirect pressure on actors and entertainers?

Sadly, no. I bet most people will never even KNOW that a male Hollywood actor has made such an admission. Which sucks, because it's important to know that even men are feeling the pressure and that we might need to make some adjustments in beauty expectations for both men and women....

Milla is Really Working My Nerves

Ho! I ripped off "Working My Nerves" from the back page of Sassy (RIP)

OK. This poster

pisses me off greatly.

Because when I look into Milla's eyes, I just feel like she's trying to communicate with me from hyper galatic hottie space...like she's screaming:

"Yeahhhhhhh. Ya know I'm cute, but it's really the fact that my stomach is flat that identifies me as HOT. So even though I look like I'm sucking in my gut AND this image has most likely been digitally altered like crazy, see my stomach girls, want to be like me because I am considered HOT... see my stomach boys, pay your money to come to my movie where you can dream of possessing me or someone like me who has all the right assets to be considered HOT by pop culture and your brainwashed friends...."

Are you quite through, Miss Ultraviolet? Cause my peanutbutter sandwhich is waiting....

Hooters....Part Deux

Hawaiian Tropic is opening a theme restaurant in New York City in September.

YAY! More upscale fast food at overinflated prices with long lines a la Planet Hollywood and The Fashion Cafe!

And even better, the wait staff will be Miss Hawaiian Tropic beauty pageant winners who will wear mini-sarongs and bikini tops as they take orders. Hope they didn't waste a lot of time preparing for the "talent" portion of the pageant since this--hawking food more than half naked--is what's in store for them.

Adam Hock, co-owner of the Pure nightclub in Las Vegas, was quoted in the New York Post as saying the sexy servers are actually "table concierges" and that the eatery should be considered a "21st-century version of the Playboy Club--" a concept that he plans to market worldwide.

Now, I might sound like a ranting feminist broken record when I say "That's good old fashioned exploitation and sexual objectifcation!" But hell, it IS... whether or not the women who work there do it out of their own free will and get paid for it. It's called being complicit. And theorists from Antonio Gramsci to Ariel Levy, author of Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and Rise of Raunch Culture, lay out great analyses of it and cases against it. Check 'em out... athough Levy is a lot more fun to read.

What every girl should be doing this summer

In July, girls from grades 7-12 can head to the beautiful campus of Mt. Holyoke college in South Hadley, MA for the Girls Leadership Institute.....

Two weeks of fun in the dorms and on the quad... all while participating in awesome workshops like:
--"Sorry, sorry, sorry..." (How we apologize... or don't)
--"Turn Girls Into Great Leaders"
--"I Didn't Do It"-- Why girls deny everything...

The workshops are led by Rachel Simmons, author of the crtically acclaimed, huge seller Odd Girl Out: THe Hidden Culture of Agression in Girls

Check out the site for more information!