So apparently at Target they have a girls line of clothes called “Cherokee.”
Please tell me I’m not the only one bothered by this.
You aren’t. It’s completely disgusting that an entire race is dehumanized, and turned into a label for clothing in order to make it ‘hip’ and ‘desirable’ by making it ‘exotic’. I hate when exotic is used to describe people. It’s irritating. The sad part is that salnder attempts at recreating Native American culture is packaged, and sold to the masses. and they then use these things to what Native American culture, in this instance it being Cherokee culture really is.
Ah. Racism.
Visible Children: What to do?
A lot of people have been asking what form their action should take, but frankly, I don’t feel that it’s my business to tell you what to do about Joseph Kony. I’d suggest finding an NGO you like, whether it’s IC or not, researching them, and supporting them with your time and/or resources. Unless…
Feminist Disney: Arguement for Disney and our Response to it
Racism is common and accepted in society today, does that make it okay to perpetuate racist stereotypes and caricatures? I would say that “racism is/was common” doesn’t make it okay, because that basically gives it a free pass. If you take any movie in which racism is present, and compare it to the surrounding era, you’ll find that there was always a steady number of people already decrying racism/reacting negatively to the movie, which tends to take the steam out of the argument that they somehow “weren’t aware” that what they were doing was racist/excluded the life experiences of POC. Racism is not eliminated by ignoring it/giving it free passes/coming up for excuses as to why it “doesn’t count.” I’m not saying Disney was deviously conjuring up way to insert racist stereotypes into their movies, but rather that they didn’t feel like the experiences/feelings of POC were important enough to consult them on/consider how these portrayals would make them feel. They were comfortable with making them the butts of jokes in order to give the (majority white) audience a laugh.
Kony 2012
This is some what of a rant, so if my thoughts aren’t perfectly articulate I wish to apologize now.
I am so irritated by the ignorance of those around me who pretend that they are social activists, as well as experts on African Politics after watching Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 video. It was a 30 minute video and you watched it. It in no way makes you a social activist that you reblogged it. If there very well done graphic design is your facebook profile picture that’s great.
I for one am all for spreading awareness. I think it’s a very important action. However don’t act as if you are some enlightened person for doing so. And don’t treat me badly for not doing so. I’m not going to get into the politics of Invisible Children and how dodgy they are, and this cover the night scheme. Just know this. Making your status Stop Kony, or changing your profile picture, or reblogging an out of date video, or putting up Kony posters does NOTHING.
Yes, it’s good if we’re aware, but awareness is only the first step. The second step is action, and no, none of the above is action, and don’t pretend that it is. If you really want to take action pay attention to our government. Your status does SHIT. Pay attention to who you vote for, see if they support what you believe in, if that in fact is social activism. Know where you’re money goes. Don’t just be aware be active in your awareness.
What irritates me the most are the idiots who does this because it’s easy. Because it’s popular. Because it’s in to talk about Kony and know nothing else about Africa, or children’s suffrage, or anything about what’s currently happening.
Today a girl made me sick. She became furious when I talked about Invisible Children’s legitimacy in correlation with her profile picture and responded with ‘at least I’m doing something. Bull shit. She shops at Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, and Anthropology, all stores that profit from child slavery in Uzbekistan. I have stopped shopping at all of said stores because they use child slavery, but she still shops at them. And now 1000s of people say they are activists for children’s suffrage, but none of them take any real action, or withdraw their support from companies who abuse children.
Now I’m glad that people are becoming aware of Kony’s evil, and want to spread awareness, but awareness is only the first step. You have to take action. Know who you vote for. Know who you support. Be aware of more than just what is spoon fed to you.
Sorry, this is so incoherent.
When the Disney Channel was pressed about whether they would address gay relationships on their shows, Gary Marsh, the president of Disney Channel worldwide said, “We don’t deal with sexuality on the Disney Channel in general. That’s just sort of not where our audience’s head’s at. They’re really a pre-sexual audience, for the most part, and so sexuality is not how we look to tell any kind of stories.”
What Disney Channel doesn’t realize is that by taking no stance on what they consider sexuality, they are in fact taking a stance. Disney is largely heteronormative in its portrayal of relationships, with many shows centering on them. While relationships between boys and girls become increasingly sexualized, (without the actual sex) couples of the same sex are not afforded the same treatment.
Television often promotes certain standards of sexuality and on these kid’s shows it is not acceptable to have feelings for someone of the same sex. If there are possible gay characters, there is a denial that the relationships these characters undergo or experience are sexual in any way.
”Disney Channel Refuses to Stray from Stereotypes | SPARK a Movement (via sparkamovement)
Disney, how can you say you don’t deal with sexuality when pretty much every show you has has either someone in a relationship or someone crushing on someone? You do realize “straight” is a sexuality right?
(via fuckyeahsexeducation)
Why All The Girls Have To Buy Pink Stuff And All The Boys Have To Buy Different Color Stuff?
A toy store monologue.
(via davidfuternick.)
This child is my hero.
I love this child. Now can we stop talking about how children are ‘naturally’ attracted to certain things depending on their sex/gender since a child is saying it’s not true?
(Source: samreich)
Nostalgia Chick:Top Ten Worst Disney Sequels
I honestly have a lot of respect for the nostalgia chick, but honestly, I could sit down and watch these films and whine about whats shit about them, of ya’ll can watch this.
And to be honest, it drives home a point I keep trying to make. You can’t just put shit in front of you kid and just be “eh” about it. Their entertainment needs to be solid, or at the very least, not shitty.
Cracked, of all things. Seriously. Cracked is now doing better on gender politics than Tumblr. Just sit with that for a moment.
(NB: The rest of the article contains some of the same problematic stuff that’s in most Cracked columns, and for the love of all that is good, DON’T READ THE COMMENTS!)
(Source: cracked.com)
