The Macho Complex

Feminists take a lot of shit for demanding equality for women and wanting to break free from the bimbo mold; however, when I say gender roles I also mean that male macho shit that men get forced into by society.

For the most part men and women are told how to act, and dress, what to like and dislike almost from the moment they are conceived. Pink if it's a girl and blue if it's a boy. As we develop into toddlers girls play with Barbie and boys get fake tools and cars. Even the toy store is seperated into boys' and girls' sections. But what would children individually choose to play with if they weren't told that girls play with dolls and boys play with tools?

This dilemma is the beginning of the torture society puts little boys through. They are taught to be strong and tough, leaving quieter, brainier men to feel less adequate. I mean what mental image do you get when you hear the word "man?" Something similar to the Brawny Paper Towel Guy perhaps? I am sure the image of, let's say, Bill Gates wasn't anywhere close to the image. But should he be considered any less of a "man" than the Brawny dude?

There are alot of men who are the typical jock type and there are alot of men who are not. There is a sad dynamic between the macho and the not so macho. One group making the other group feel bad for not being physically powerful and unappreciative of the others' mental power.

Men fight daily to live up to some Bruce Willis image of being a man. They are taught that they need to love action movies, watch sports and not act like "pussies." If they are are not Macho men and they are not gay then they are stuck in some in between area. And even if they are macho or gay then they are still victims of the macho society.

This is clearly a topic too broad for a few paragraphs. But the bottom line is feminism is Not just a movement that will benefit women. It's a movement that needs to benefit gender period. Another aspect of being a feminist is not just to benefit women but to benefit all of us from being victims of what society dictates we should be as men and women and impede us from being what we are as individual human beings.

What does Feminism Mean Anyway?

I know I have been using the word feminist like crazy but I thought maybe it was time I write about what I feel being a feminist means. Feminists are anyone who think that both sexes should have the same opportunities and the same choices despite their biological differences. Their humanists who want to break gender roles! Humanists is probably a better word because feminists not only worry about what gender roles do to women but what they do to men as well. But that's a topic for another day.

What is most shocking to me when I go back into the limited documented history of women is how women always seperated amongst themselves, choosing class, religion and race over their own fellow women. The only way I see rights and equality coming together for our sex is if we come together.

Let me clear this up now; its not that I hate men or blame all of them for the acts of others. Of course not! That would be sexist and narrow minded of me and only put me on the same platform as those of our species who already are sexist and by all means sexism is what I think should be erased from the minds of future generations. Participating in it will benefit NO ONE!

What has recently become the problem is not how men exploit women but lately how women are exploiting themselves and each other. Wake up women! Why must we worry everyday about how attractive or sexy we are in comparison to hollywood standards? We have choices now and women are still worried about their weight and thier make-up! This has always been the problem, women have been in competiiton with one another and for what? For the desire of a man? Is being desired really that important to a woman's existence or has man helped make it so?

What is the purpose of this writing? It is to wake some people up; we need to fight together to rid the world of all the acts of brutality and oppression that exist- equality for the sexes! It is only less than one hundred years ago that women have won the right to vote in this country and less than that in other countries- there is still much work to do.

Why should I have a choice what to wear each day when my a woman in the middle east must cover her body from head to toe because she has breasts and a vagina? Why is having a vagina such a disaster?! Personally I have always wanted the freedom of choices that i have watched men in my family have. Fathers your daughters can do more than be wives, mothers, and objects of sex! Your daughters want to do more! and why shouldn't you let them??!

I dont mean that men and women should take no pride in their own personal hygiene but once we go though extreme measures such as cosmetic surgery or be in the constant quest to be beautiful or what hollywood labels as perfect female form? We are all different and will NEVER look the same! So stop destroying your body and take care of it!

I write because I do not want my daughter to feel limited and hindered because she's a "girl."

Feminist Gaga?

Something definately needs to be said about pop sensation Lady Gaga. She is by far taking over the charts and has the world going goo goo for GaGa songs. However, I think it is more important to talk about what she is doing, not just for feminism, but for civil rights as a whole. Not only are her songs and music videos multi-dimensional but she is vocal about her opinions on issues like gay rights.

I don't think there has ever been a female pop star who exhudes real talent like Gaga does, from her songs, videos, voice, and of course her fashion. If we look just a little bit deeper than the weird outfits and "provocative" lyrics; there is definately some feminist ideologies pouring out of her work. Her video for "Bad Romance" poked fun at the prostitution business all the while empowering women in that position, a power symbolized by the GaGa call girl setting fire to her client and enjoying a cigarette next to his torched corpse.

This amazing video is rampant with these types of controversies, depicting taboo social issues that involve women's rights. The lyrics of the songs portray her definition of love which is one that encompasses loving both the good and the bad in a person. The songs tells us that love is about the good and the bad romance all the while displaying pictures of women being sold to men because of their physical attributes. These images against the lyrics of the song really criticize the contemporary ideas on love- in a world that is obsessed with physical appearances and plastic surgery and men who want to balance high paying careers and wives and high priced prostitutes without getting caught- to me this video shows exactly what has gone wrong with love nowadays.

In addition, it is no secret that GaGa openly supports gay rights or civil rights and I think she is a fantatic role model for young people today, giving them a sense of standing up for the things that they believe in, caring about and taking a stand while actively doing something to change what is wrong with the world. I think if more famous people wore their hearts on their sleeves than those of us who looked up to them wouldn't be so chicken shit about sharing civil liberties with their brothers and sisters.

GaGa's lyrics and ease with her body and sexuality are also very feminist. GaGa does nothing different than any other male artists who rap or sing about sex; it's only a problem when a woman does it. Because face it, gender stereotypes still dictate that women should be angelic virgins and there are plenty of us who are tired of being told that we as women have to be taboo about sex. I think GaGa will help more young women be more vocal about their sexuality and more comfortable being sexual women.

Not thinking so profoundly for a minute, GaGa's music is just upbeat and happy and times suck these days. It's not easy finding something to keep us from getting depressed. In fact, before GaGa I can't even remember the last time I listened to the radio without getting frustrated! So thank you Lady GaGa...proud to be a Little Monster...