Not Your Grandmother's Breakfast At Tiffany's

I am a big fan of Audrey Hepburn and her work and I went to see Breakfast At Tiffany's live on Broadway with the apprehension that no one could play Holly Golightly the way Audrey portrayed her in the 1961 film. But Emilia Clarke was not Audrey's Holly Golightly; in fact, she recreates the character in a way that 1961 Hollywood could not portray Holly. Holly is a young woman who tries to escape love and the stigmas that are associated with it like marriage and patriarchy by using them to her financial benefit. In other words, she's a hooker. She uses men of course to climb the social ladder but men are disposable and she uses them as she sees fit; yet, they cannot help falling in love with her. We all understand what Holly's profession is in the movie but the rawness of her speech and actions is missing from the film,perhaps because it just wasn't acceptable to portray women with sex and vulgarity in 1961? We can even argue that she was a pioneer for gay rights as well! The film will always be special to me but I do not think I fully understood Holly's complexity until I saw the play nor did I appreciate the effect that Holly has on Fred's sexuality or his climb up the social ladder. Holly, in the play teaches Fred what society is all about and how the game is played. Holly might be, dare I say, a more feminist character than I had originally thought. We see a gender role reversal with Holly and Fred because the woman in this era is not trying to mimic the male work ethic and infringe on his sphere. Instead, Fred is doing what we might originally expect Holly to do and this is to copy male behavior to fit into corporate America. However, Fred is so disappointed with the white collar industry that he begins to copy Holly's tactics to gain higher positions and more money. In the end, Holly becomes almost like a legend who has touched each man's heart (and wallet, of course) but continues to disappear and reappear like a mirage. Holly does not end up happily ever after at the end with her male love interest. She foregoes love, marriage, and motherhood altogether even though she was so close to obtaining the American dream lifestyle for Friedan era women. She not only loses her chance to make that lifestyle a reality but I think she was more content and relieved to give it up and continue her pursuit for freedom. The play ends with Holly running off alone, to freedom perhaps.

Women Through Time

How well does history know women? We have been occupying this Earth for hundreds of years, we are 1/2 the population and yet century after century society enforces new social norms for women, completely neglecting their actual needs and desires.

Slut Walk NYC

If you have a vagina then chances are you have been called a "slut" at least once in your life. But what is worse than being called a "slut" is being told that you ask for certain violent and unwanted sexual behavior.
"Asking for it" is not a new concept, not for women. But when men who are educated with women, living with them, in addition to having sisters, mothers, and daughters, are making comments that victims of rape and sexual assault are dressing or acting like "sluts" and therefore, bringing on themselves this violent behavior,then we, as a society, have a huge problem on our hands.
When someone is mugged in the street do we blame the robber or do we blame the victim? Well if they did not have a purse or a wallet then it would not have happened. Ridiculous concept no? Then why is it ok to blame rape victims?
It's not.
The activity of blaming women for their sexual attraction is also no new concept. Men have always blamed women for their own lack of control of their own bodies. As if it is somone else's fault that they can't keep it in their pants.
That is where the SlutWalk comes in. It is a feminist movement that wants to rectify the connotation of the word "slut." And although some feminists are calling the Slutwalk ridiculous and a joke, well at least these women are standing up and doing something about feminism which is moving backwards again. The Slutwalk has been in many U.S. and Canadian cities and is making its way to NYC on October 1st.
And it is definately needed in this city, especially under the wake of several rapes and assaults that are being dismissed. Remember the 2 NYC police officers who were recently acquitted of raping a drunken woman they were supposed to be helping get home safely? The newspapers mentioned quite often that she was under the influence, insinuating that she brought this type of treatment on herself. And what kind of message are we sending to police officers, that it is ok to rape, especially when the girl is a "slut?" And what message are we sending to young women, that no where is safe?
Recently, another NYC police officer Michael Pena was accused of raping a school teacher at gun point, using the same gun he is supposed to be protecting citizens with. And why shouldnt he? The last two of "New York's Finest" rapists got away with it!
Not to mention, Dominique Strauss Kahn who was just today released of criminal charges for sexual assault. More and more we are sending men the message that it is ok to rape and assault women because well they are "sluts" and "sluts" deserve that type of behavior.
As bizarre and useless as the Slutwalk may seem to other women and feminists, I think its great that someone is going to do something to remind MEN and WOMEN that another wave of feminism needs to begin, that young girls and boys are getting the wrong impression about proper bahavior.
For more info check out the Slutwalk NYC facebook page!

Women's Firsts

1. In Saudi Arabia in 2008, the first women only university was opened.

2. In the year 2000, Ingrid Daubechies is the first woman to win the National Academy of Sciences Medal in Mathematics.

3. 2010, Giorgia Boscolo is the first official woman gondolier in Venice.

4. Astronaut Dr. Peggy Whitson became the commander of the International Space Station in 2007.

5.Senator Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire presidential primary and made history by becoming the first woman to do so.

6. Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin became the first female vice presidential candidate on the Republican ticket.

7. In 2007, Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.

8. Kathryn Bigelow wins the Best Director Oscar in March 2010 becoming the first woman ever to win the award.

9. 2006, Effa Manley becomes the first woman elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

10. November 1, 2010 Dilma Rousseff is elected Brazil's first woman leader.

As long as women are still accomplishing things for the "first" time then women are still not equal to men.

Feminism in the Kitchen

I love the Food Network just as much as the next girl and enjoy experimenting in the kitchen without all of that feminine fuss that is associated with being the perfect hostess and housewife. As much as I enjoy the women chefs on the Food Network I must admit that they seem to all be popped out of the same "Susie Homemaker" mold. But I recently came across a female chef with an in your face personality and just as much creativity with food as any other cook out there.
I accidentally found the show "Bitchin' Kitchen" on the Cooking Channel which airs on Wendesdays at 10:30pm and I can not tell you how refreshing it is to watch a cooking show with a woman chef who does not embrace the stereoptypical female house wife role.
Nadia G is the show's host and she is loud, opinionated,funny,and of course "bitchin.'" Her humour and sarcasm make the show more like a comedy sketch and you learn how to make a few awesome dishes as an added bonus.
You might find Nadia a bit intense or annoying but I think that is part of her charm.
The show is unconvential and features episodes that focus on themes like break up foods, and meals to make when you are angry. Her kitchen set is a sight in itself not to mention her rockin' fashion sense.
I can't help but love that she is a loud mouth italian woman like myself who likes to cook some tradition italian meals with a little twist,

Check out my new favorite chef, Nadia G on the Cooking Channel and let me know what you think!

Witchy Woman

Since Halloween in upon us I thought it would only be necessary to discuss witches, a powerful representation of women. The connotation of the word "witch" can divert into more categories, like an intricate spider's web.
Perhaps the reason I have always loved witches since I was a girl is due to The Wizard of OZ. I never had an affiliation with Glinda or Dorothy; they were both so quiet, and compliant and they never stood out to me. The Wicked Witch on the other hand, she had power; she worked alone (okay, she had the flying monkeys to help) but she went after what she wanted and she put her plans into motion. Granted, she didn't use her power for "good" but unlike Dorothy she was not looking for a man to come and save her i.e. the wizard. The Wicked Witch was never frightened to walk the streets alone, never worried she wouldn't find "prince charming," didn't need anyone to save her. She was completely unlike any of the female characters directed at young girls and I loved her!
Hence began my obsession with witches and perhaps why Halloween is my favorite time of the year. As I got older and began to learn about witches and how their power has marred history forever it is no wonder that these women were feared for the intellect and power they possessed. The fear of powerful women caused the deaths of hundreds of innocent people in Europe and the U.S.
Can you believe that the thought of women being able to cast spells and take control of their own lives scared the shit out of men to that extent??!! If that doesn't display the power women have then I don't know what does!
So if you are not normally a strong and confident woman perhaps you can tap into your inner witch this sunday and do something to exercise some power, even if it's teaching your dog a new trick. (And no, I wasn't referring to your boyfriend).

Happy Halloween!

Cool your JETS

The recent attack on Mexican sports reporter Ines Sainz has brought back to date a very age old idea: that women "ask" for certain negative attention from males based on how they dress.

For some reason, I was under the impression that that school of thought had been dying out; but apparently, I am wrong. Men, especially sports players, are exempt from being held accountable for their own behaviors and actions. Men are portrayed as uncontrollable sex crazed animals and we as women have to walk on egg shells in order not to risk provoking the sex hungry beasts. Instead of portraying men as human beings who have a conscience and a knowledge of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, we point fingers at the females victims.

Sainz has awoken the many terrible aspects that the whore/virgin dichotomy proposes. The "whore" is a "bad" woman and therefore, justifiably subjected to all types of lude male behavior such as harrassment, groping, rape, etc. Had Sainz entered that locker room in a long skirt and turtle neck sweater and possibly been less physically attractive we would know nothing about her. In all honesty, is she dressed any less provocative than the any of the JETS cheerleaders? What is the difference? The difference is sometimes men are intimidated by an attractive woman with power and use lude sexual behavior as a way to intimidate and patronize her in order to feel a sense of power within themselves. And when we as women say that women like Ines Sainz's code of dress gave men the right to condescend her, we are giving men like the Jets players right to treat us all this way.

But what is it about women who are comfortable with their sexuality that scares men and brings out the worst in their behavior? What is it about them that makes men AND women focus the blame entirely on women and not on men? Have we not advanced that much as a species that we still believe men suffer from some primate-like inclination to act like animals? I like to think that we know better and we know that, man or woman, we are human beings with the ability to rationalize better conduct towards the opposite sex.

With this consciousness we know that no one "asks" for negative attention in the same way no one conducts themselves to attract muggers or bullies. The rationalization of an idea like this can not exist; it's impossible. In 2010 I am sorry I even had to hear a phrase of that nature, coming out of the mouths of female news reporters no less!

If you still go around believing that certain girls and women "ask" to be harrassed or raped and somehow deserve to be treated brutally because of how they dress then I am sorry but I have to honestly question your mental capacity to rationalize.

Both women and men need to put an end to this type of mentality so we do not teach our sons that that type of behavior will be excused or teach our daughters that harrassment or rape is something they brought upon themselves.