A common theme that I noticed throughout my E – Portfolio is that society tells women especially how we should act, behave, where we should be (spatial wise), and where we stand in society. I feel as though the argument that I continued to make is that we as women and a society should be able and free to make our choices, lifestyle, and appearance related changes. I went back to my life quilt after reading your comments and redid my quilt as a whole to better reflect the process and make it more personal. I also added onto my discussion of the quilt how the personal issues may affect your decision and political views toward the process. I saw the projects working together in a way that was supposed to allow myself to mold my thought process to the way the world is structured and works around me. The Women’s World Project helped me explore the private vs. public sphere through women’s needs. The Life Quilt allowed me to explore a topic that is debated very frequency but from a historical and more personal perspective. My #ThighReading discussion also allowed me to share something that was personal to me in order to help others who may have felt similar shame towards their selves for something natural. When someone looks over my portfolio I want them to feel as though they can personally connect with the words that I say. I hope it informs them on personal vs. political issues and guides them to a more self-acceptance stance. I also wish that if someone were to read my portfolio that they would be able to become more educated on the influential women in our history that are wrongfully overlooked. I enjoyed creating this portfolio and hope that if anyone else reads it they too will enjoy my words.
How would you define beauty? Would being beautiful to you consist of long shiny hair that reaches your naval? Or would you have hips with large breasts that are tucked tight into an hourglass figure? Do you regularly see what you believe to be beautiful in magazines or being promoted on television? Do you, yourself, believe that you are beautiful? Many individuals would answer the last question with a painful and silent no. We collectively as a society do not find ourselves beautiful because we do not see models or actresses that resemble us. Even if we did see a model that appeared similar to ourselves we would rank them higher in looks because that is their job, to appear beautiful. Their look is simply unattainable and most individuals will spend their whole life trying to reach a digitally altered appearance. I say this because before photoshop even models do not look like their glossy magazine cover selves. We have created this type of “beauty”. This man made image of the perfect girl is sculpted through the copy and paste lifestyle we live. The false ideal of this beauty that society has created has hurt the self-image and mental health of our world population. We have lost the true meaning of what is even beautiful.
We should not always believe what we see. While looking at an advertisement we may view a beautiful woman with pore less skin and a perfect white smile but that may not be the truth. Jean Kilbourne introduced us with her presentation on, “Killing Us Softly 4” that it is easier to be deceived than we believe. She stated through her presentation that once Cindy Crawford said, “I wish I looked like Cindy Crawford”. She said this because how she sees herself and what she sees in her photos after retouching is completely different. She is a supermodel and she does not even see the pore less beauty icon staring back at her in the mirror. Women are deceived into thinking what we see is true because even after makeup is applied to models they still photoshop the image afterwards. This is not real beauty, this is manmade beauty, and this kind of beauty is what harms our self-image.
There is this myth that just because someone appears differently than another individual that it makes one or the other more beautiful. This may be because of skin color or hair color. We as a society always find a reason to make yourself or someone else feel less superior. Since individuals rational beauty it causes harm on an individual self-image. There are two quotes I would like to talk about from the book by Roxanne Gay, “Bad Feminist”. She first mentions the crowning of Vanessa Williams in 1984 for Miss America stating, “…watching Williams and her perfect cheekbones and glittering teeth as she accepted the crown gave girls like me ideas”(61).While Gay uses this quote in hope for women of color to aspire to winning a beauty contest such as Miss America it is concerning on why she only addresses her physical feature. I feel as though she does this to make a point that women of color can be beautiful and have great cheekbones and white teeth. What is confusing and upsetting is how women of color are not already considered beautiful despite their cheekbones and teeth. Gay then goes on to say, “[these women were]… blond and thin and perfect…” (62). There is this stigma within the United States at least that in order to be beautiful you must be thin and blond and perfect. If you do not fit this mold then you starve yourself and dye your hair. This is the wrong message to be sending to women. We need to change the ‘ideal’ beauty to an image that is versatile and attainable to everyone.
Through all the negative media that there is surrounding beauty image though there is a great campaign to bring back natural beauty and inner acceptance through the feminist movement. Image hate and self-hurting start at a young age but there are ways to encourage a healthier lifestyle. In the book “A Little F’ed Up: Why Feminism is Not a Dirty Word”, the author, Julie Zeilinger, talks about how even though the issue starts soon there is a better alternative. Zeilinger states, “The honing of the profile picture was the first form of performance I remember. Some girls even became obsessive about it, choosing to spend their weekends on hours-long photo shoots….. (but) really nobody is the perfect girl”(156-157).She talks about how while her friends would go on photoshoots to appear perfect over the internet and look beautiful it never really mattered because nobody was perfect. This is exactly true because what you find beautiful, what society finds beautiful, and what another individual may find beautiful are completely different. Through all the self-harm and lowered self-esteem we must realize that the most beautiful feature you can have is being yourself. If you find that you are beauty because you are unique then nobody could body shame you.
The photo above shows half of a face without makeup. The other half of the face has makeup and a photoshopped retouched finished. Which side do you find more beautiful? While society may insist the right side is more beautiful with its pore less appearance, smooth freckle-less features, and dark luring eyes, I choose the left. I may not always agree with the left because I am human and do let societies opinions cloud my judgment from time to time but deep in my heart I know the left is more beautiful. On the left I have cute freckles that come out in the summer. You can appreciate my natural blush that gives me rosy cheeks. Most importantly though you can see me for who I really am, no digital alterations, and being you is beautiful.
Gay, Roxane. Bad Feminist: Essays. New York: HarperCollins, 2014. Print.
Kilbourne, Jean. “Killing Us Softly 4 / Watch Documentary Free Online.” Documentary Lovers. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2015.
Zeilinger, Julie. A Little F’ed Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word. Berkley: Seal, 2012. Print.
I was in sixth grade when this incident occurred and it’s safe to say I didn’t have the most self-confidence at the time being. I was just coming off of recovering from anorexia and was gaining weight at a steady rate. It was hitting summer soon and many of my friends were having pool parties. I had one friend whose grandfather owned half of the city and was holding his birthday party at this indoor water park. I had just started to like this friend and we would flirt from time to time in Spanish class. Everyone else had their party invites sent through the mail but he gave mine hand delivered. Clearly I thought he loved me and was excited to go this party thinking he would ask me out. Being in sixth grade and looking like you were fifteen was never easy and I didn’t fit in the typical preteen bathing suits. I didn’t care this time though that I wasn’t small enough for those suits, I had my eye on a cherry red one piece with the sides cut from Victoria’s Secret. The day of the party I woke up early and suddenly felt sick. Looking at myself in the mirror I didn’t feel like I looked thin enough to wear the, dare I say sexy, bathing suit to the party. I desperately starting doing crunches and jogging around my room, I was doing anything to de-bloat and have me looking good. When I finally got to the party all eyes were on me and my bathing suit. I felt great but it wasn’t soon before I was body shamed. I hadn’t even noticed and yet there it came, “WHAT ARE THOSE ON YOUR LEGS?”. Panicking I began looking all over my legs and couldn’t find anything. People started to look and stare at me now trying to figure out what the kid was yelling about. “THERE ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR THIGHS”… That’s when it hit me and I knew what he was talking about. Right as my friend walked into the room I burst out into tears. This kid was talking about my new stretch marks that I had acquired from gaining the weight back from my anorexia spell. I ran into the bathroom as everyone began whispering. It wasn’t soon before my friend’s mom came into the bathroom and asked if she could show me something. She lifted up her bathing suit skirt to show me her marks and said, “Everyone’s got them at some point in their life or another. They don’t understand now but they will later”. After my conversation with her I went back out and ignored what everyone said. While I still felt insecure I was happy to know I was not the only one.
Looking back now I find the story funny. I know over half of my friends have stretch marks on different parts of their bodies. My dad even told me that he got stretch marks simply from lifting and working out. At the time though the story wasn’t funny, it was painful. I felt embarrassed to be different and suddenly very un-pretty. I felt as though no one would like me anymore because I had lines on my thighs that no one else had at my age. It’s now to think about how the same situation would affect someone of a different gender. I suppose if men wore speedos that it would be more noticeable. I also believe it would depend on where their marks were. My brother has stretch marks now on his hips and his arms and does not like to go swimming for shame of his marks. I wish then that people were more informed on the body and how it works. I wish children understood that what happened to me was not only a side effect from the issue I had gone through but also that it was normal and not to be made of. While I do believe it gets better with age I wish other individuals didn’t have to feel shamed for a natural process that their bodies go through.
To some the title may seem slightly deceiving. Through my quilt I go over the process and emotional journey with abortion. The right to abort a child has been a battle and struggle since ancient times. Every year hundreds to thousands of women receive an abortion, whether in safe practice or shady back ally procedures. It has always been a fight over being pro-choice or pro-life. This quilt would mostly speak to the young women who battle this injustice on their bodily rights but would also speak out to the masses on human life and test individual’s thoughts and morals. This issue is important because many women cannot receive an abortion in today’s society and risk their lives and health in order to have one done. There are many different reasons for an abortion, few being health concerns, psychological problems, financial status, and age. I hope through my quilt individuals will understand better the emotional battle that a woman goes through when thinking about having an abortion and realize better that even if someone decides to have an abortion ( though they do not support this ) that deeper thought went through the process and that it is not an easy decision. Through the quilt you can see many problems and tough decisions that are brought up through receiving or thinking about having an abortion. If you have an unplanned pregnancy that can cause a lot of stress on your life. Your partner may not be supportive about the pregnancy because he is either scared or against children, for examples. There is a moral struggle between choosing to keep or end “life”. The personal is political especially in a situation such as this. If you are given the right channels and decide to have an abortion you may be at risk to unsafe medical practice. There is ultimately a large decision on having a new life with a child or without a child, even if your partner continues to be supportive. I believe in a growing society with this major issue this quilt would be able to comfort those in a similar position. The quilt allows them to know that they are not alone, and offers history in the political battle and practices of the act.
The “Women’s World” that I created is a beach front three room multipurpose center with an outdoor auditorium. I created the idea through several of the concepts that I read about through this week’s lessons and also through my own opinions of free critical thinking space. The two side rooms from when you first walk in center around the concept of education which is a key point in the “City of Ladies” reading. It was stated in “The Guerrilla Girls” on page 42 that academics got a “bad name” because only four women were instated in the academy per year. To be a woman in that time and attend schooling was considered a great privilege and the same could be said in today’s society. Women still make up the lower percentage in universities and it baffles me as to how more women cannot attend college. Because of this I created two spaces to help this issue. To the left is a large library with high ceilings comprised completely of book shelves on every wall. This is a study and education room in order to allow women the same opportunity to knowledge that men are. Across the hall would be the applied thinking room. In this room it is filled with abstract art that is also purpose furniture. This creates a space where the women can come in to expand their minds on art and how art can be used. Art is extremely important and is a love shared by many women. Art can be viewed as a thinking tool and/or escape for stressed or less inspired individuals. The walls of this room are made completely of glass and look out into a small forested area. This is because many times when people would like to do their thinking they want to “escape”. Many artists including Anna Maria Sybilla Merian traveled to other places in order to perform their work better, she spent most of her life in Holland. The largest room at the end of the hall overlooks the beach. This room is provided for calming and communication. There are many chairs and desks that surround the glass walls in order to give a relaxing conversational space in which women can share their ideas, dreams, and life work. Lastly outside of the multipurpose center is a large stage with outdoor seating. There is a podium for women to stand and educate the public on their accomplishments and work. This could also be used a political center to communicate on how to make the surrounding area a better and safer place to live, free from objectification and rape that is mentioned in the text “City of Ladies”. Lastly I used open designs because I as a woman often feel enclosed in who I am and what I can do. I feel the glass walls, environmental change, and circular design will provide a more empowering space that allows women to feel free in their minds and safe to roam around the world and make change.
Christine de Pizan was a French Italian author who worked closely with the royal court in the 13th century under Charles V. From the excerpt that we read regarding the “City of Ladies” I learned that women in that time were truly suppressed and underpowered. I was saddened when I read the line of how she wished for forgiveness from God for being born a woman. Through the speech given by Lady Reason about education it was clear that not all men believed women should not be educated but most did. Almost all of the artists we have discussed through this lesson were lucky enough to have men in their lives that supported their decisions to become educated. My favorite part of the whole discussion though is when Christine and Lady Reason discuss the inventions and other advantages women have given humanity. It is empowering to read and remember all the good that women have done in the past. It is unfortunate that these good deeds are not remembered by all and celebrated like men’s accomplishments were. I learned through this reading though that women should be empowered and that they should not apologize for their sex.
Cahill talks about the rise of feminism in his lecture and presentation on the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages lasted from the 4th century to almost the 15th century. While this was occurring there was a playful feel in the era and most art was carefree and light. Color was a large tool used and he mentions the artist by the name of Hildagard who incorporated this idea of numerous colorful artworks into her various pieces. The Middle Ages is also when nudity began to make more appearances in work but under a more humorous position regarding the male body.
Many different topics were covered in this week’s reading from the Guerrilla Girls. It begins by focusing on the 17th and 18th centuries and mostly focuses around Europe. While it starts by starting of war and it eases into the discussion of the forming of the Enlightenment period, neoclassicism, and Romanticism. While during this period the women’s place was considered to be at home it dives into several artists who created their lives work outside of home. The accomplishments of many female artists are noted including that of Judith Leyster who was known to have three male students because of her ability. She even sued a man because he accepted a student who used to study under her, something typically unheard of. Another artist discussed in this chapter that did something typically unheard of was Angelica Kauffmann who painted historical themes, something men were only known for doing. A large part of this chapter centers around the topic that was earlier discussed with how academics got a bad name from only accepting four woman at a time to be members. Women were able to attend Salons though which were run by the Academy and later the Academy worn down its influence and was no longer considered to be a large part of prestigious education.
He likens a god.
The man who sits by her side
Who drinks in her presence,
Who grows through her laughter
I am left disarmed
Captivated by her voice,
Pacing my breathing,
To match my wavering heart
Words seem to escape,
My faulting tongue,
Failing limbs,
I am bound; hopeless
Overwhelming yet numbing,
Losing color,
I slip into a darkness,
Death of passion
J.B Hare gives us a look into Sappho’s life and as to why she is given the labels that she has today. Hare states that while Sappho’s occupation was unknown it is believed she could have held several jobs. Sappho was most likely “ a priestesses of the goddess Aphrodite, which in that time and place may have implied ritual prostitution”. Hare also gives a glimpse into her sexuality when she states that Sappho, “complain[ed] that she [couldn’t] focus on her weaving because she’s, to put it bluntly, horny”. While only a few remaining poems float around the world she was described as the “tenth muse”. Her sexuality has been confused with later with the invention of “Bilitis” which was said to be a contemporary translation of sorts of Sappho. It was so widely acknowledged that now it is almost impossible to tell the two apart. While it is more believable that Sappho was bisexual since she had a daughter, she is known now as a lesbian poet.
Judy Chicago made homage to the late poet Sappho by creating, “The Dinner Party”. Chicago’s work holds subtle yet visible clues to Sappho’s life within the piece. The colors on the piece represent the Aegean Sea which Sappho lived by. There are waved lines that run down vertically from the work representing the hair of many Greek statues from the time period (believed to be the same style of hair that Sappho wore). Lastly there is Sappho’s name embroidered on the front with a Lyre for the “S” to represent her poetic work. These details describe and embody who and what Sappho was and lived for.
I based my translation of the Poem of Jealousy from Mary Barnard (1958). Her verses seemed to speak out to me the most and I felt as though I could better translate through her version. In her translate she states that, “Laughter that makes my own heart beat fast”. This is where I based my translation from saying, “Who grows through her laughter… Pacing my breathing, To match my wavering heart”. I also felt inspired from her ending line, “death isn’t far from me” to translate into “ Death of passion” since I felt as though she was conveying that the death was welcoming to be in the presence of the one who made their heart beat fast.
Women in both Ancient Greece and Rome were not respected or given equal rights. It was said that a woman not heard from was the good woman. This displaced the importance of creativity and accomplishments among women from the era. Therefore, Sappho’s work was not taken seriously until hundreds of years after her own death.
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