Swimming in Gendered Waters

Ignorance, awareness, and confrontation

Facing our shortcomings is never easy, nor is acknowledging our ignorances… But it’s only by becoming aware of our own fallibility that we can create the space to hear out others’ feelings and experiences. Today we’re talking about our language, how society conditions our ignorance, and how to avoid letting our egos get in the way of listening.  Sources: “Sexism and the English language: the linguistic implications of being a woman” Karen L. Adams and Norma C. Ware;  “Ouvrir les yeux sur l’ignorance blanche” Vivons heureux avant la fin du monde (Podcast);  “Vivre, libre” Amandine Gay;

The feminine facade: buying beauty to serve gender roles

Another episode on beauty and appearance, but this time we’re looking at how we learn to wear femininity on our bodies, and the high cost of these heavy norms. My hopes? That the stiff corsets we wear will one day help us realize just how TIGHTLY patriarchy has woven together femininity and appearance. Sources:  “Beauté Fatale” Mona Chollet;  “Beauty is the beast: psychological effects of the pursuit of the perfect female body” Elayne Saltzberg and Joan Chrisler [from Women: a feminist perspective, Jo Freeman]; “No validation masculine” Emma Barrabi;  “Seins: En quête d’une libération “ (breasts and bras) Camille Froidevaux-Metterie;  “The body and the representation of femininity” Susan Bordo [from Writing on the body: female embodiment and feminist theory];  “Le mystère Cléopatre” Exhibition at Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris.

Beauty standards and their insidious authority

Ever wondered why you feel imprisoned in the beauty standards that surround you? Why we never reach the ideals society imposes on us? Well, really, it’s because they want us to feel this way, it’s all part of a sexist scheme that will get us to spend all our time on our appearances rather than actually existing. It’s another day !! It’s another episode!! “No validation masculine” Emma Barrabi;  "La chair est triste, hélas" Ovidie; “Le mythe de masculinité” Olivia Gazalé;  “Beauté Fatale” Mona Chollet ;  “Dataclysm” Christian Rudder (attraction and age) ; “Age Limits: Men’s and Women’s Youngest and Oldest Considered and Actual Sex Partners” Jan Antfolk (study available on NIH-National Library of Medicine) Recommendation: Raye - This Music May Contain Hope.

No one cares about your menses

Today we’re dedicating our 20 minutes together to talking about periods, menstrual cycles, cycle syncing, menstrual disorders, birth control and misconceptions about the female reproductive system. This is the talk that schools don’t create the space for, and it’s by normalizing these topics (that impact half the population may I add) that we fight ignorance!! Sources:  “Le mythe de masculinité” Olivia Gazalé;  “No validation masculine” Emma Barrabi;  “Abolishing chhaupadi, breaking the stigma of menstruation in rural Nepal” UNwomen.org [http://unwomen.org] (2017).

Why we say "men are trash", and your responsibility

How to be a good man in a sea of trash… Today we’re talking about this phrase that seems to be everywhere: “men are trash”. We’re looking at why it’s worth putting egos aside for, and instead asking, how have i benefitted from this system? Which voices do I choose to listen to?  big up to the podcast les couilles sur la table for this ep. Sources “Le mythe de masculinité” Olivia Gazalé;  “Guide pour répondre au #NotAllMen” Les couilles sur la table (Podcast);  “Comment érotiser l'égalité sexuelle” Arte documentary.