new wave feminism
A quasi-academic look at Feminism, politics & race relations through the lens of a 20-something year old Nigerian American who was born & raised up in the (still) segregated south but has relocated to the "liberal" yet historic & traditional north.
This blog is my space for an interdisciplinary examination of race, gender, class, sexuality - all things intersectional & multi-dimensional.
Feminism the way I see it...
Tip The Blogger?
----------------------------------------------
If you like what you see, and want to support the blog & keep me writing, throw in whatever change you like in the online tip cup. Or send me an ask & tip me in your kind words!
Donations aren't required, but greatly appreciated
Has anyone else been keeping up with Scandal and Deception (both on Hulu)? I have and while I love both shows… they are thought provoking on so many levels. I love that this article has been written:
What stands out about both shows is that aside from having black leading ladies another similarity between the shows is Olivia and Joanna’s relationship with a powerful white male. These relationships are parallel in that they are both extremely flawed and complex. Olivia is essential the president’s mistress and Joanna seems to be just a resurfaced old fling of rich party boy Julian Bowers.In a day where everyone wants to believe that black women aren’t wanted by men of any color, especially white, this is monumental. While these relationships are extremely flawed Scandal and Deception both prove that black women are desirable… within limitations.While having black women star on two prime-time network dramas at the same moment in time is a huge step in elevating black womanhood, the limits on the Olivia’s and Joanna’s relationship with the white men they are involved with can be seen as analogous to black women not being good enough for white men in general.I am not condemning the shows because the black women are not the only objects of affection in their white male significant other’s life. That’s how life goes. Black women in television should not be afforded perfect lives just because they are black. It’s good that these characters have flaws and obstacles in their lives; it gives them more than one dimension and makes for interesting TV. But unfortunately it does cast a negative haze on the progress that these shows are making.
Though Catalogue - 10 Things You Should Never Say To A Woman In Her 20s | http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-a-woman-in-her-20s/
I had to post this. They took the words directly out of my brain. I always have to awkwardly avoid conversations with people who know I’m a feminist who want to immediately talk about 30 rock or parks and rec or the mindy project. Sorry, I can’t keep up with the latest middle class enlightened comedies out there. I respect the fact that women are taking a bigger portion of the comedy pie, but…
Nisha Chittal - A Reaction To The Backlash Against Mindy Kaling | Racialicious
does one exist?
Melissa Harris-Perry on Voter ID laws being a new Poll Tax. Ive been meaning to post about Voter ID because it affects my home state of Texas. Harris-Perry covers it well.
I don’t have a TV or cable so i’m definitely going to be utilizing this website to watch all my favorite MSNBC shows live, but for right now I know y’all want to see that MHP. It comes on at 10AM ET/9c Saturdays and Sundays
According to her twitter, today’s show should be “Discussing the politics of sport, African diaspora & the rise of the black chef.”
Seriously - what happened to the 90s? In the first 5 seconds I see a black man as “superman” someone standing up for the dignity of WOC, and MORE than two young people of color of stage at the same time.
Seriously, WHAT HAPPENED?
The more I see Nickeloeon play 90s favorites, I just lament on how GOOD diversity was done in the 90s and how we *know more* now but are doing so much worse on a larger scale when it comes to representation.
Children were the future and we fucked shit up
Basically white men who go around to random countries and judging their food through the most western lens possible.
Shows like Bizarre Foods (which I’ve watched for years honestly, just because I’m weird and like to watch people eat food…) is actually really condescending. The host, Andrew, just goes around and either mocks the people for the strange food that they eat, or act like him eating the food is the stamp of approval. It doesn’t matter that the fact that an entire country/culture is built off of these food staples - they’re already marked “bizarre” by the show title. Or he’ll go to a family’s house that doesn’t speak English and awkwardly eat their food/have condescending commentary on the food they eat on a daily basis. OR he will literally tell people to their face how foul/disgusting/not good something is. But he’d say “but I defend your right to eat it!” a if that erases the stigma you placed on their way of life.
No reservations with Anthony Bourdain: I’ve actually haven’t seen this for too long, but i still find it interesting. He goes to other countries and comments on their food as if his stamp of approval is needed. Don’t get me wrong, I bet the families, markets, restaurants that feature these shows get much needed exposure and business because of it. I’VE been to a restaurant just because I saw it on travel channel (man vs food) BUUTTT that doesn’t mean I can’t comment on the context. There was one episode where Anthony Bourdain was on Columbia and was amazed at how GREAT the food was. And was telling this one restaurant how their food is so amazing. Maybe it’s because I live on Texas and know Colombians and know S. American food is amazing - but I was just like “well… Duh columbian food is good as hell”. But I couldn’t help but notice how these places aren’t recognized has true culinary hot spots until *certain people* validate their existence.
Man vs. Food: just makes me want to eat everything…
Edit: except when I see him eat peppers. Like, my family keeps habanero peppers in the freezer and he *literally* regards them as grenades … #nigerianproblems
I’m not one of those “these women are shaming the race” people. Cause there are shows that feed on drama and scandal for every race. But when for WOC, there is ONLY these type of shows. So I understand the frustration. But people like watching drama. That why soap operas were in business for DECADES.
But I guess the subject matter of Love & Hip Hop this season hits too close to home for me. It makes me to upset when I watch it. To think that the apex of diversity on TV is concentrated in shows like this and NOTHING ELSE just goes to show that the perceived flaws “endemic” to our community is put on blast while the rest of ‘normal TV’ is extra sanitized?
This trend is nonsense.
its not misogyny that girls is seemingly getting critiqued more than male centric shows that aren’t diverse, even if this is true (cause from where I sit, TV gets critiqued all the damn time…) I would argue that it is male privilege and not misogyny. Because if thats the case you’re telling WOC (and anyone else) that they’re misogynist for being especially upset that a “progressive” show thinks their only progressive just because they ignore every social inequality but OH BUT WE HAVE GENDER.
Its the principle. Can we stop acting like we can only take one step at a time? Progress begets more progress dammit.
From racialicious:
This week,Bunheadscreator Amy Sherman-Palladino, ofGilmore Girlsfame,responded to criticism made by Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimesabout the lack of diversity on Sherman-Palladino’s new series about ballerinas with this exact argument:
“I’ve always felt that women, in a general sense, have never supported other women the way they should…I think it’s a shame, but to me, it is what it is.”
Sherman-Palladino, who says she has never met Rhimes before, went on to say that with the increased demands on showrunners–particularly while getting a new program on the air–there’s no room for criticism among peers. “I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t go after another woman. I, frankly, wouldn’t go after another showrunner,” she said.
Showrunner-to-showrunner professional courtesies aside–think how awkward running into each other in the ladies’ room at the Emmys will be!–Sherman-Palladino’s assessment of the situation, not to mention her assertion of victimhood, is utterly facile and self-serving.
This hits personally for several reasons,
1) I have friends who are WOC (shout out!) and Ballerinas who are constantly being told and made to feel like they dont belong in that feild. STILL. in 2012. Because Ballet is one of THE MOST elitist forms of dance and WOC are either told they don’t have the body, class status or refinement to be considered serious dancers. Her show is an example of the serious prejudice ballet dancers of color face.
2) Why do people who make TV shows act like these choices aren’t CONCIOUS. You know what you’re looking for when you cast actors so don’t act surprised when people notice your deliberate white washing. Just be honest and say how you feel “I didn’t think people would believe a ballet dancer who was a WOC and I wasn’t willing to push that misconception/prejudice”
3) I agree that the victimhood of the creator is disgusting and tired. Notice how its “how dare Shonda not support ME.” When the fact of the matter is she made a conscious choice to alienate non-white audiences by making her cast the ways he did. Even in her BAD choices she feels that she is entitled support from a community that she ignores and alienates. what kind of crack infused recipe of sisterhood is she using? oh wait, the one that most women in her position shove down our throats when we have to hold them accountable.
Its a terrible show but this fucker gets renewed for all these seasons because we have this sick notion that all women need is some tough guy to set them straight and put them in their place so that someone can love them.
The one episode I remember he had the women sit and watch a video of men EVALUATING THEIR PICTURES. They were just like “yeah, this one can lose weight” or “she wears too much makeup.” I remember they were really cruel to the body of the black woman. I think she cried. I’m sure a lot of them did. (i saw it a long time ago) But of course its tough love and she had to suck it up and accept that what men think about them is important and they just need to deal with “the hard truth.”
Just seeing the title of the show makes me angry.
