Halloween Costumes for Feminists

I was so close to not writing another Halloween costume post this year because the problems I talked about last year with racist and sexist costumes haven’t changed a bit. Saw this “Cheyenne Wig” at Value Village the other week and yesterday I noticed a “Chinese Lady” wig, which looked an awful lot like generic “Geisha” wigs, at London Drugs. It’s gross. In addition to the fact that I’m assuming most actual Cheyenne wouldn’t appreciate being told they all have hair like Morticia Addams, appropriating the identities of racial minorities and perpetuating stereotyping isn’t cool at Halloween or any other time.

And we’re still seeing women’s costumes hypersexualized. Yes, dressing up in a sexy costume can be fun, but it’s not a pre-requisite for a good time. And the trend seems to be pushing the envelope to apply to younger and younger girls. For one costume with both sexist and racist yuck factors, check out this “Harem Girl” costume for kids profiled at the Ms. Blog.

The new weird thing I noticed this year was quite a few people being directed to my blog by Googling how to dress “homeless” for Halloween. Here’s someone’s actual question on Yahoo Questions:

Im going to be a homeless person for Halloween. Any Suggestions on my Poster? Okay, So i have decided to be a homeless person for Halloween. I’m going to get a shopping cart and funny props for it, including a cardboard sign. (you know how hobos stand on the side of the road asking for money with a cardboard sign?) …And im trying to think of sayings to put on it. I would like something common that homeless people say, but also a funny one.

Dressing “homeless” is in really poor taste (as one responder points out before she quickly gets over it and suggests a “Will Work for Treats” sign as a prop). Homelessness isn’t a joke and trivializing the issue and trying to make it funny does absolutely nothing to help stigma against people living in extreme poverty.

Luckily one thing that has changed this year is I’m hearing a lot more good costume ideas for feminists and other people who don’t think that wearing a costume has to reinforce social inequalities. Here are some of the best suggestions I’ve seen this year. Leave yours in the comments below!

1. Member of the Rockford Peaches

Honour the history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League by dressing up as one of the members of the 1943 Rockford Peaches, as profiled in the movie A League of Their Own.

2. Group idea: Beekeepers and Bees

Yesterday at the weekly Twitter She Party (Wednesdays from 3-6 Eastern, hosted by the Women’s Media Center) someone mentioned she and her spouse were going as beekeepers and their kids were dressing up like bees. I thought the idea was really cute and you can find instructions for DIY beekeeper costumes here.

3. “Sexy Nurse”

I read a comment on another blog by a woman who’s an actual nurse planning to go out in scrubs and sneakers with a large name tag reading “Sexy Nurse”.

4. Ellen Ripley from the Alien Movies

From the list of suggestions at Bitch.

My Sculpey tooth necklace

5. Tooth Fairy/Evil Tooth Fairy

This is going to be my costume this year. I made teeth out of polymer clay to make a necklace and headband and will match those with a white shirt, tutu and tights, white store-bought wings and a black wig. To make it an evil tooth fairy costume, make the tooth jewelry more disgusting and slap on some gory makeup. It also might be cool to carry around a pair of large pliers.

6. Add “zombie” in front of any of the following:

Suggestions: Zombie Sarah Palin, Zombie Suffragette, Zombie Margaret Atwood, Zombie Jane Austen character, Zombie Pundit of your Choice.

7. Your Google Alter-Ego

Use Google or Facebook to find someone with the same name as you and dress as them. I borrowed this idea from feminist blogger Shelby Knox, who suggested she might go as Shelby Knox the cheerleader. This works best if you look completely different from the person your imitating. The best would be if you could get them to dress as you too.

8. Safe-Sex Pusher

This is from NOW’s list of feminist costume ideas. Wear sunglasses and a trenchcoat lined with condoms and birth control packets.

9. Carmen Sandiego

Because she’s a woman of mystery.

10. Women’s firefighter costume that includes pants and flat shoes.

I’m talking firefighter hat, jacket and pants with reflective strips. Because, let’s face it, it’s really, really dumb to run into a burning building in fishnet stockings, a miniskirt, and stilettos.

Just a quick follow-up on yesterday’s post about the Canadian Blog Awards. The CBAs have belatedly decided to add the category of Best Feminist Blog just for the final round of voting and we’re nominated with some other fantastic Canadian feminist blogs. You can vote in the Best Feminist Blog category here and remember you can still vote for us in the Culture and Literature category. You can vote once every 24 hours until Tuesday, October 26. Then I will at least temporarily stop annoying you all.

-Jarrah

Posted on October 21, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Feminism, Pop Culture, Racism 5 Comments

Final Voting Round: Canadian Blog Awards

Thanks to your support we’ve made it into the final voting round for the Canadian Blog Awards! This time you really can vote once every 24 hours at:

http://cdnba.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/the-polls-are-open-for-round-2-voting-the-final-round/.

Voting is on until Tuesday, Oct. 26. Gender Focus is nominated in the category of Best Culture and Literature Blog but make sure you check out the other excellent blogs nominated in a range of categories.

Vote early, vote often!

Note (October 21, 2010): The CBAs have belatedly decided to add a category for the Best Feminist Blogs and we’re also nominated there along with some really great other Canadian feminist blogs. You can vote in that category here.

-Jarrah

Posted on October 20, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Can-Con, Feminism Leave a comment

Best Breakup Music

After a breakup it can be really tempting to listen to sad love songs, and while that’s probably a stage you’ll have to go through, eventually you get to the point where you want to remind yourself of how important it is to look out for yourself. Haven’t been through a breakup like this in a couple years, but the songs are good for all times. What are your favourite songs for putting things in perspective? Add in the comments below!

Old School

1. I Will Survive – Aretha Franklin

No explanation necessary.

2. These Boots are Made for Walking – Nancy Sinatra

…although I can’t quite get over the awful lyric “You keep lyin’ when you oughta be truthin’”, this song is a classic.

3. Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles

I guess this song could be interpreted as an anti-breakup song but I always choose to side with the women telling him to hit the road.

Canadian

1. Movin’ On – Po’ Girl

“I think we’ve reached that old movin’ on.”

2. Fuzzy Slippers – Carolyn Mark

The repetition of the line “Somedays it pays to get out of bed” gives it a spot on the list.

3.The Cheapest Key – Kathleen Edwards

“But don’t get me wrong, here comes my softer side…and there it goes/’cause I’ve been on the road too long to sympathize with what you think you’re owed.” FYI the “explicit” in the video title refers to the fact that the word “bullshit” is in the lyrics.

4. All Your Fault – Broken Falls Community Hall Band

Ok, this is shameless self-promotion for my old band. I wrote All Your Fault to commemorate a relationship that had not one, but three breakups.

5. Willow – Sarah Slean

Gotta put yourself in the mindset of a tree for this one.

Country and Alt-Country

1. Everything is Free – Gillian Welch (or Chris Pureka)

“I just stay home. And sing a little love song, my love, to myself. If there’s something you want to hear you can sing it yourself.”

2. The Long Way Around – Dixie Chicks

Journey not destination, etc.

3. Brand New Starts – Erica Wheeler

Erica Wheeler isn’t very well known but she has some lovely alt-country/folk songs, including this really pretty one about coming back from tough times.

Feminist Staples

1. Superhero – Ani DiFranco

I also really like her song “Shroud”, which is about questioning the things you think you need.

2. Closer to Fine – Indigo Girls

3. As Cool as I Am – Dar Williams

“I will not be afraid of women.”

Musical Theatre

1. Shine Like the Sun – from 9 to 5

“I will prove my own worth, heal the damage and hurt that’s been done. When the cryin’s all done, well I’m going to shine like the sun.”

2. Without You – from My Fair Lady (not the one from Rent)

“You, dear friend who talks so well. You can go to Hartford, Hereford, or Hampshire!”

3. It Sucks to be Me – from Avenue Q

“Why are you all so happy?”

“Because our lives suck!”

Humour

1. I’m Not Crying – Flight of the Conchords

Sometimes there’s nothing to do but laugh at the situation.

2. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python

It could be worse.

Miscellany

1. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

You probably think this blog post is about you. Don’t you?

2. Ciao! – Lush

“I never thought that I could feel as great as I do today. ‘Cause you were nothing but a big mistake.”

3. Hate on Me – Jill Scott (or Glee cast)

-Jarrah

Posted on October 19, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Can-Con, Feminism, Pop Culture Leave a comment

Adventures in Badfic

I’ve been reading, writing, and editing fanfiction since I was 15, and I thought it was time to share some of the worst fanfic quotes I’ve been collecting from stories I’ve read over the years. I’m not including names of stories or links to them because many fanfic authors are just teenagers trying to express themselves and I don’t want to shame them, but some of their writing is really funny. These are largely taken from the M*A*S*H, Law and Order: Trial by Jury, and West Wing fandoms.

Too Much Information

Tracey’s left arm was wrapped around the top of the toilet, and her head was resting on top of her elbow. Sweat covered a good portion of Tracey’s forehead.
“She’s projectile vomiting,” Kelly said truthfully. “Do you still want her to come in?”
Toby, glanced over at the President and said, “I’m afraid the reeking is due to my upset stomach. I’ve got a touch of airsickness. Sir, have you ever heard of projectile vomiting?”

Unintentionally Dirty

Hawkeye signed for a few to be transferred, and briefed BJ on his patients for the week that could be a bit of trouble. He talked to a few of the patients, which Margaret loved to see. He was so good with the young men.

But I Digress

“You know, if symptoms persist, you really should see a doctor,” Kelly responded seriously. She walked over to the fridge. She was not in much of a mood to cook something for dinner. Instead, she scanned the contents of the refrigerator for something to heat up in the microwave. Their microwave had not stopped working.
People are not supposed to die until they were old and senile. Tracey was neither of those things.
James’s dad left when he was only 3. Well, really when he was 1.
Hawkeye didn’t know of him until he got back, but that wasn’t the point.
She paved the way for five more children, who he loved for the same but different reasons.

Anatomy Lessons

Sabrina and Katelyn we’re on his back and he was holding Baylee with his arms.
The pair cried on each other’s shoulder as both their hearts twisted with pain and grief.
Because Toby was sitting on the floor and the lunging President was standing, CJ’s maneuver ended up as more of a tackle than a block.

Masters of the Run-On Sentence

When I got back with my ex fiancé, we weren’t engaged because I chickened out, but we were so in love in collage, anyway, She was married by then and cheating on her husband with me.
After a few hours of putting up with Hawkeye’s constant lame pick up lines that at this point just made her laugh which was what he was looking for anyway, BJ and Kellye showed up to relieve them.

Fun with Hyperbole!

Margaret woke up feeling happy for the first time in Korea.
Margaret couldn’t be in a better mood for someone living in Korea in the middle of a war.
And he took her home and never left.

Unfortunate Word Switches

You are the love of my life. I promise that I will take care of you forever, and love you even longer. You are the ‘something’ that is missing in my life. I may not be Prince Charming, but I love all of you. Including your faults, and the fact that you’re thirty two,” he assed with a smile.“Will you marry me?”
She had scratched herself to the point she was bleeding. Hawkeye immediately picked her up and placed her on the counter to whip the blood away.

Classy Dates

“Thanks. You wanna go get a burger in town? The just built a McDonalds near by.”

Pushing the Romance Envelope

Kelly glanced at the tape outline of the body on the carpet, and then at a woman in the bedroom who looked like she’d been crying, who was now wearing handcuffs, dangling like trendy S&M bracelets around her wrists, while talking to the homicide detective’s partner.
Each of her limbs—creamy, sensitive skin left exposed by the tangled sheets at the foot of bed and striped by the light-shadow-light staccato of the sunbeams—seemed to move of its own volition so that her usually graceful body was rendered somewhat ungainly by the discordant shifting of its parts.
She knew next to nothing about him except the basics, like his name and such.

One last reminder. Make sure you vote for Gender Focus in the first voting round for the 2010 Canadian Blog Awards. We’re nominated in the category of “Best Culture and Literature Blog 2010″ and you can cast your vote here until noon on Sunday, October 17. Thanks for your support!

-Jarrah

Posted on October 16, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Pop Culture 1 Comment

FFFF: Vag Magazine

Two vids this weekend for your Funny Feminist Friday Film:

Catch the series starting next week! Vag Magazine goes live Monday, October 18th at http://www.vagmagazine.tv/

And just a reminder that you have 3 days left in the first round of voting for the 2010 Canadian Blog Awards. Gender Focus is nominated in the Culture and Literature section and you can cast your vote here!

Posted on October 15, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in FFFF 1 Comment

Thursday Thought: Thanksgiving

On our Plymouth-bound vacation, my sister Amy, my nephew Owen, and I visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, a stone’s throw from Foxwoods…We sit in the museum’s theater and watch a film – a dramatic reenactment of the massacre at the Mystic fort. Owen is seven. His knowledge of seventeenth-century New England derives entirely from what he learned in his school’s Thanksgiving pageant the previous fall and repeated viewings of Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost…

When the film shows the Pequot clashing with the Connecticut settlers, Owen whispers, “I don’t get it. Why are they fighting? They eat together on Thanksgiving.”

Cut to the Pequot fort, where we have already seen a little girl around Owen’s’ age playing with a cornhusk doll while being teased by her brother. The reenactor playing Captain Mason yells, “Burn them!” As the wigwams catch fire, Pequot kids are shrieking and holding on to their mothers. The English shoot at the Pequot who flee the flames. Horrified, Owen tugs my sleeve, demanding, “Aunt Sarah! When do they have Thanksgiving?”

“The one with the Pilgrims?” I whisper. “That happened sixteen years earlier.”

Owen closes his eyes and refuses to watch the rest of the movie. When the lights go up, he asks his mother, “Who won?”

“The English,” she replies.

From The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell.

Posted on October 14, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Politics, Racism Leave a comment

Sorted Books

Last month my roommate and I hit up the Time-Based Art Festival in Portland, OR. One of the highlights was an installation by Nina Katchadourian called Sorted Books. Katchadourian sorts books in both private and public libraries so the titles tell stories and sometimes express something about their owners. Here’s the one that was on the poster for the exhibition, taken from the library of the New York editors of the journal Shark :

A Day at the Beach by Nina Katchadourian

My roommate and I decided to have a little fun pooling and sorting our own books and below are our homages to Katchadourian. They’re not nearly as good but they were really fun to make. Hope you enjoy!

-Jarrah

Posted on October 13, 2010 by jarrahpenguin in Feminism 2 Comments

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