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(03/31/15 3:35am)
“That’s not very ladylike” is a phrase I have heard used to scold young women dozens of times. Immediately, the sentence places unreasonable expectations on girls to behave in a specific manner according to their gender. Be it sitting with closed legs, ignoring bodily functions or keeping quiet about topics that make others uncomfortable, girls are expected to adhere to the invisible guidelines of politeness.
(03/24/15 1:57am)
Spoiler alert, I wasn’t the only one crying during Disney’s new Cinderella movie — so did Prince Charming.
(03/23/15 10:57pm)
Spoiler alert, I wasn't the only one crying during Disney’s new Cinderella movie — so did Prince Charming.
(03/17/15 12:49am)
Sexuality and religion tend to be puzzle pieces that never quite fit together.
Sexuality as sin is a common theme in many religions across the globe, and has been for centuries. Abstinence is often the preferred topic of lecture in sexual education classes and Catholicism calls on young members to make pledges to stay chaste until marriage.
A Christian blogger published an article called “Girl Talk: What Losing My Virginity Taught Me About Faith” that was a wild read, let me tell you. Now, the article itself was well-written and ended on a positive note, providing insight and a reasoned argument to support the claim she was trying to make. But it was the dreaded comment section where things got interesting. A few observations I made were to be expected — there were a few who thanked the author for her honesty, bravery and relativity, while the rest used a comment as a soapbox to wag a finger for rationalizing sin. Let’s just say, I reacted to two of the most popular comments with the distinct recollection of a certain movie scene.
However, the funniest trend I found in the comments was what was so specifically left out. Not one commenter dared to type the (apparently) two scariest words in the English language: vagina or penis. Yes, the anatomical body parts were referred to several times throughout — as the “P” or the “V.” I cannot even imagine what a nightmare biology classes must have been for them. Rather than focusing on the comments I disagreed with most, I think the simple lack of maturity in this conversation is evident enough in this omission.
Regardless of faith and beliefs, women should be respected as individuals capable of making decisions and subsequently respected for their ability to do so. It makes no difference the gender of the individual as to their rights.
Catholicism, for those who choose to participate in it, can be a wonderful thing, I’m sure. I have witnessed teachers, mentors and peers who take their faith very seriously and are more than content in their ways. This does not make them misogynists in the exact same way that being a feminist makes you a “man-hater.” It simply does not. Having an opinion or a system of beliefs does not instantly make you one way or another. People are able to interpret ideas and texts in different ways, meaning that my version of faith could be completely different from yours despite growing up in the same household.
That said, Catholicism relies on a heavily patriarchal system where men have always been much more in control than women. Women have extremely limited roles within the Church, and cannot actually hold major positions in the administration. Catholicism has never been especially keen on full female control of their bodies, in a culture where the bodies and decisions of women are litigated by a court of men. This sets up an interesting scenario when women who align with the Church also identify as feminists. However, if feminism is equality, then it is not impossible.
Feminism is the movement toward gender equality. The standards that exist where women are more harshly judged for sexual endeavors than their male peers are outdated and clearly unfair. It is far rarer to encounter an uproar against a man who partakes in premarital fooling around, than to find a woman who is harassed for “compromising her purity.”
The association between promiscuity and feminism is blown out of proportion through misunderstanding and over-generalization. Simply, allowing an individual to be in control of their own physical body, regardless of gender, is common sense. What a woman chooses to do or not to do does not diminish her worth as an individual, just as what a man chooses to do or not to do does not diminish his. As humans, it is to be expected that at some point, urges arise. No one should be crucified in the comments for it.Reach the columnist at smmaki@asu.edu or follow @Syd_neym on Twitter.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
(03/03/15 1:18am)
I have yet to recognize an obvious correlation between my gender, my relationship status and my name. Although many of us were raised to call our friend’s mother Mrs. So-and-so and their father Mr. So-and-so, the world is changing faster than the language.
(02/24/15 12:20am)
As an 18-year-old living on a college campus, I am constantly reminded to be careful. Be careful when I take the light rail train, be careful when I walk to the gym, be careful when I visit friends across town.
From those two sentences, almost anyone could probably assume my gender. And that is the fundamental problem we are facing when it comes to promoting awareness about sexual assault.
Warnings are used as commonplace remarks every day — don’t go anywhere by yourself, have your pepper spray with you, hold your key like a weapon, wear shoes that you can run in, don’t wear a skirt, lipstick is practically an invitation for trouble. And, now, make sure you tuck some extra ammunition into your Kate Spade purse.
Going out to buy paper towels and grab a smoothie should not sound like prepping for a coup d’état.
Gun rights activists are pushing for the legalization of guns on college campuses across the U.S. Their reasoning revolves around arming young women in order to deter sexual assault.
“If these young, hot little girls on campus have a firearm, I wonder how many men will want to assault them. The sexual assaults that are occurring would go down once these sexual predators get a bullet in their head,” Assemblywoman Michele Fiore said.
What if the "young, hot little girls on campus" do not want to shoot anyone in the head? What if they just simply do not want to be harassed? Why are they being militarized for a war they do not participate in? Going out on a weekend requires a laundry list of safety precautions for about half of campus, but I have yet to meet one of my male peers with pepper spray clipped to his keychain.
In a frenzied state of fear and drunkenness, with someone you trusted ignoring the lack of consent and restraining you, you would be terrified and overwhelmed. Trying to find your gun and properly following the steps to fire it would be nearly impossible for the average college-aged girl. After all, most of us have not had years of training as members of the armed forces would have. I would have trouble using a gun sober, in a safe, well-lit room with professional assistance walking me through it. But more than that, I would never really want to. I have no desire to learn how to use a gun, and I doubt I will I ever own one. I personally do not want to hurt or kill anything, so I see no reason to own a weapon capable of that. This is the case for many Millennial females.
However, the reality of shooting and potentially killing the perpetrator needs to be considered as well. About 90 percent of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knows, often meaning a friend, acquaintance or boyfriend. It is not usually a creepy, old rapist lurking in an alley; it is a drunk classmate who decides that “no” is a suggestion. This is in no way protecting or justifying their actions. They are as guilty as a predator in an episode of “Law & Order.” Many instances of sexual assault also involve alcohol, insinuating impaired judgement.
Unfortunately, many victims choose not to come forward in fear of repercussions. Legal action for underage drinking could hurt their future, and runs alongside the terror of not being believed, being blamed and being ostracized. If this fear already exists for simply telling someone, imagine what would happen when girls were forced to face the consequences if they did actually shoot someone.
Using sexual assault prevention as a vehicle to allow guns on campus is ridiculous. If sexual assault is going to be brought up in the Legislature, let it be alongside a plan to stop it completely. Instead of militarizing women, why not teach peace to everyone?Legislators could be focusing on ways to standardize the punishments for perpetrators of sexual assault and enforcing them. Too often do people get away sexual assault on and off of college campuses, sometimes only being suspended. People were suspended at my middle school for writing mean notes about each other and sneaking cigarettes into the bathroom during lunch. They reappeared a week later, well rested, and all was forgiven. So, I guess the grown-up version of that is watching Netflix and taking a few zeroes in class when you rape someone. This is what needs to change — it has nothing to do with guns.Reach the columnist at smmaki@asu.edu or follow @Syd_neym on Twitter.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
(02/10/15 12:09am)
It took me four days to listen to the first season of “Serial” in its entirety. The nine hours of investigative journalism by “This American Life” journalists were unexpectedly addictive. A murderous plot, complex characters, a case that was never really solved, theories, interviews, evidence and it was completely non-fictitious — I was hooked.
(02/03/15 12:18am)
Nicknamed the “Day of Dread” and “Abuse Bowl,” Super Bowl Sunday has gained the reputation as an instigator of an outrageous spike in domestic abuse. Domestic violence is an issue easily ignored or inadvertently defended in U.S. culture.
(01/27/15 12:48am)
In a nation that boasts itself on freedom, equality and opportunity, many Americans hold themselves to very specific and varying standards and ideals. Upset has begun to mount about a new ASU English course taught by assistant professor Lee Bebout. As a collegiate level topic class, “U.S. Race Theory and the Problem of Whiteness” presents an issue that requires deeper thought and understanding.
(01/20/15 12:27am)
When tragedy strikes, the world responds — for a while. Immediately following the Peshawar Massacre of Dec. 16, 2014, support flooded to the 145 casualties and their families, peers and the communities who were impacted. For approximately a week, the media was inundated with news, accounts and personal stories of the 132 uniformed students who were brutally executed by members of the Taliban. Slowly, the faces of these children and faculty began to slip from the screens as the tragedy was scribbled into a Wikipedia page and forgotten.
(01/14/15 1:54am)
"Boyhood" and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” took home the top film honors at the Golden Globes on Sunday evening, proving that diversity and quirkiness are musts for today’s Hollywood scene.
(12/04/14 11:07pm)
The place of Barrett, The Honors College within ASU is complicated.The scene is set three weeks ago in an ASU class, History and Principles of Journalism. A student who belongs to both the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Barrett, The Honors College stands before the full auditorium to present an additional assignment, an honors contract, which he had researched, written, practiced and would now lecture about in front of almost 130 of his peers. As the professor introduced him and his intent, a cacophony of “boos” erupted from an upsetting majority of his fellow companions in learning. But, why?
According to the Barrett website, it's "a community of high-achieving scholars within Arizona State University who enjoy the considerable resources of a premier Research I university combined with the close, personal attention provided by the staff, faculty, and deans of the highest ranked honors college in the nation.”
Unfortunately, there is a strange rift between Barrett students and the remainder of ASU. Oftentimes, realizing an individual is part of the Honors College is met with a look of distaste and an insipid “Oh. You’re one of them.” An instilled sense of separation ironically exists between the student population of higher education institution that prides itself on being “One University.”Many of the contentions exist simply because other students accept stereotypes about Barrett scholars being pretentious. The resulting defensiveness on the part of Barrett students tends to come across as elitist, expanding the already evident tear in ASU’s fabric.
There are no clearly set minimum requirements to be accepted into Barrett, the Honors College; however, it only encompasses a small percentage of ASU’s greater population. On average, incoming college freshman who are accepted have at least a 3.8 GPA, a 1300 on their SAT and a score of 29 on their ACT. These numbers are not easily achieved, and the students who are accepted into Barrett tend to be hardworking, smart kids.
The odd disconnect between Barrett and the rest of the ASU community could also be due to the many perks associated with the Honors College. With an exclusive miniature campus of their own in Tempe, Barrett students can choose to isolate themselves within their respective quarters. A Hogwarts-esque dining hall of their own, full facilities, excellent dorms and tutors all contribute towards a sense of jealousy and differentiation. Additionally, events and opportunities available only for Barrett students results in many social groups being formed within the honors community. Just as many Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering students know each other through housing, classes and clubs, Barrett students sometimes stick together for the sole fact that their lives intersect more often then not.
In theory, a utopian ASU would have a community of peers who worked together for academic success, regardless of affiliation with Barrett, The Honors College. However, as we all know, our world is far from perfect. Hopefully in the future, the misunderstandings that cause partition between students in Barrett and other scholars at ASU can subside to allow a more understanding and cohesive community.Reach the columnist at smmaki@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @syd_neymEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(11/30/14 11:11pm)
The Territorial Cup is a big deal. In fact, recent research indicates that the ASU vs. UA rivalry is the most intense in the country. For many Arizonans, Thanksgiving usually consists of turkey, family and trash talking whichever university they like least.
The idiocy of the such a hate-filled relationship between the neighbor school lies in the effects it has on the surrounding communities. When people can no longer construct a well-formed opinion of an educational institute due to the sports related stigma, there is a problem. High schoolers should not be dogged by peers, family members, teachers and strangers for their decision to attend the rival school.
Growing up in Tucson and attending schools within walking distance of UA made for an unprecedentedly deep dislike for ASU for no other reason than that everyone else hated them. Being raised in an environment with so much outward aggression towards ASU made it seem as if they were an enemy of Tucson’s greater good. Every year, elementary and middle schools would dress down in red and blue for Fridays, learn the words to “Bear Down” in music class, and come home from Thanksgiving break in an especially chipper or disappointed mood. The ridiculous nature of the clash can be seen in the sad fact that children are fed completely biased information for something as petty as an annual collegiate sporting event.
The degree of passion people have for this rivalry could be directed to much more vital social issues and problems; but instead, it is spent on the silliness of football. If the conflict was perpetrated all in good fun, without the bitterness or aggression, the ASU vs. UA game would be a yearly unification of the state. If everyone was joking when they made derogatory comments to and about the other team, feelings would be spared and tempers left cool.
Just due to the one small ASU sticker on my laptop, I have received eight remarks in the time it has taken me to write this article. Of course, sitting in a downtown Tucson coffee shop plastered with UA memorabilia with ASU merchandise is asking for trouble. “Sun Devils? More like Scum Devils.” mumbled an elderly woman who I held the door open for. “Hashtag AYE-ES-WHOOOO?!” was the winning pun for a pair of basketball short and bro tank-wearing young men. In these situations, laughing at their wit and poking fun back is typically the best bet. However, there are always the people who decide to take it further.
The competitiveness between the two universities has unfortunately become definitive of the students and community members who support their local teams. Unfortunately, the rivalry has gone beyond the stadiums and into the homes, streets and classroom of Tusconians and Phoenicians alike. The stigmas of the opposing teams continue to outweigh the academic, social and resourcefulness of the universities.
What I find most ridiculous is that fans of either team will legitimately and passionately believe that their rival is a terrible school. ASU fans often criticize UA for the academic aspects of its University based on the football conflict. Vice versa, UA will never hesitate to tear down the educational side of ASU, completely disregarding Barrett, the Honors College as one of the top honors colleges in the nation and ignoring the amazing programs that have been built there.
Neither side is innocent of over-aggression. Both Phoenix and Tucson continuously take the ASU vs. UA rivalry too far, perpetuating it as an actual hatred instead of a sportsmanlike competitiveness. Reach the columnist at smmaki@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @syd_neymEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.
(11/20/14 12:35am)
For years, the concept of public school terrified me. As I had attended a private, uniformed, Catholic institution from preschool through high-school, the chaos I associated with public school was pretentious to say the least.
(11/13/14 12:39am)
The Huffington Post has become an online news empire. Like most online publishers, The Huffington Post separates its stories under different headings to maintain an organized, user-friendly webpage. However, unlike traditional newspapers, HuffPost titles some of its categories specifically for the demographics it hopes to appeal to, such as “Black Voices,” “Gay Voices,” “Latino Voices” and “Women.”
(11/07/14 1:06am)
The beheadings of two American journalists and a British social worker by ISIS were meant to scare us. These gruesome acts were supposed to invoke shock, panic and fear in Western populations — it worked.But what about the thousands of Iraqi civilians who have been murdered by ISIS?What about the 322 members of a Sunni tribe who were murdered by ISIS militants Monday? Their stories deserve to be addressed by the American public as much as the deaths of Westerners.The public saw a plethora of media coverage about American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, but hardly any substantial accounts of the thousands of Iraqis who have been murdered by ISIS. The killing of three should not shock us more than the murder of thousands.
Personal stories resonate. We tend to remember the shocking stories that evoke a sense of pathos, sympathy or emotion. However, journalists have recently focused only on the effects international issues have on the very specific demographic of Americans. Lack of depth denies readers full perspectives, thus limiting the information circulated, especially about the crisis in Iraq pertaining to the terrorism of ISIS.
Tim Urban, co-founder of waitbutwhy.com, spent the past summer visiting five countries and publishing a blog series about his experiences and observations, “Odd Things in Odd Places.” His fourth stop brought him to Iraq, for his article, “From Muhammad to ISIS: Iraq’s Full Story.” Urban visited the Khazir refugee camp as a journalist looking for the stories of real people who have unfortunately been forced to endure the schisms of the Iraqi government and the advances of the terrorist group ISIS.
Urban found more than 15 people living in a single tent, cooled with just one fan, if that, baking in the 118 degrees summer. No showers, no plumbing, no safety existed for the individuals who were now forced to call this haphazard tent village their home. Shared toilets drained into the pathways where children played with the infants who had been born in the camp, making illness common and often untreated. Food was scarce for the large families who inhabited these makeshift homes, and reminders of the ISIS takeover still affected their lives every day.
Every tent he entered held another dozen stories, perspectives and experiences that deserved to be shared. Individuals whose loved ones had been taken from their homes and executed by ISIS were commonly found, as were injuries from the airstrikes and bombings of the first night of fighting. Entire houses in Mosul were desolated by the bombs dropped during ISIS’s advance and the Iraqi government’s attempts at rebuttal. Urban was handed fragments of the skull of an 8-year-old boy who had been partially blinded and deafened and now suffered from brain damage and digestive problems as a result of ISIS’s takeover.
This is a story that stays with the reader. Firsthand accounts of the people living through the tragedy and pain brought on by ISIS should have just as much power in the media as the beheadings of three Westerners. Reach the columnist at smmaki@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @syd_neymEditor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on Twitter.