Post-lunch "Guess the product" Game!

Talking jealous boobs, creepy voyeurs, pervs with cameras, black and white romance novels-gone wrong: all things that do NOT belong in a sneaker ad. It's just another example of using unnecessary and excessive sexuality in marketing products and normalizing it for the public.

Maybe its just me, but I shouldn't have to hunt around youtube.com in order to find uncensored videos when looking at sportswear.

This post-lunch-break game is because our feminist friend, Angela Lawson, who, after being as weirded out as I hope all of are right now, had to bring these ads to our attention (well played, Angela.)

For more procrastination fun, go youtube/google advertisements for men's sneakers and focus on the type of message given. No talking body parts or gawking girls? Wonder what this says about the way marketing views women and men?

Leave the address and a comment, I'd be interested to see what you find!!

End of Semester Survey Gift-Pack Raffle!

Most of you are probably wrapping up the school year, or in some cases, have already moved on to bigger and better things. Once again, though, we want to remind our feminist campus leaders that it is time to fill out our End of Semester (EOS) Survey if you have not done so already!

EOSes are a great way for us to get in touch with groups, to find out who is taking over if a leadership transition is happening, and to get constructive feedback about our campus program from our student leaders.

We really appreciate those of you who take the time to fill out the survey in a timely manner, and as such, we've decided to raffle off a feminist gift pack to folks that have filled out the survey by Monday, June 1st!

The feminist gift pack includes:

• 1 year's free membership to the Ms. Magazine Community
• 10 "This is what a FEMINIST looks like" buttons
• 1 18x20 poster of the Ms. Inaugural Edition cover

Remember, surveys have to be completed by the Monday, June 1st deadline to be eligible to enter the gift pack raffle. So get in touch with your campus organizer if you haven't already, and get those surveys filled out! Click here to access the survey online.

From the mouth of babes

Perhaps it is because I am the proud "Auntie" of two budding young feminists (and am known to include words like "patriarchy" and "suffrage" into their elementary school vocabulary lists) that I have come to develop a soft spot for feminist kids. I just eat them up.

As my co-workers can tell you, I am no stranger to feminist gear for the younger crowd: coloring books, tees, band aids, books. I can't get enough of it.

So it is no wonder that dear Ruby captured my heart:



As you know, it goes far beyond cheeky T-shirts and books about Alice Paul. This is where the foundation of fairness, right and wrong, and equality is set in motion. Our toys, language, and behavior can all play a role in reinforcing gender stereotypes.

Admittedly, I'm still trying to work on the little things, too. Like saying "you all" instead of "you guys" and referring to my peers as "women" and not "girls." It's a habit I'm trying to break and prevent in my young nieces. What are some of the things you are doing to correct gender stereotypes and promote a feminist environment?