mind breaths.

"Yeah… I don’t know. I kind of hate-recap it. I don’t hate it that much, but I just… I feel like I..."

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:38:33 -0400

“

Yeah… I don’t know. I kind of hate-recap it. I don’t hate it that much, but I just… I feel like I knew those people in high school, and I hated them in high school, and now they have a TV show. And I’m just like, good for you. You got a show. But then you’ve got the whole culture of “It’s un-feminist to criticize another woman, we should all just be happy that a woman is on television and leave it at that. You guys are just jealous.” So if you say anything that’s critical or against this, you’re automatically painted with that brush. But being a woman doesn’t mean that you’re absolved of any and all criticism — you can still fuck up, and still need to be called out.

But I think that the problem is that people really do identify with Lena Dunham, and so they feel that rightful criticisms of her are somehow a criticism of them — which it often is. I see a lot of the same middle-class, white feminists defending her because, to them, she is finally a chance to see themselves in a more unique, real role on television. She really is doing it for them. But it leaves so many people out of the conversation, and to paint Girls as finally being a story for everyone is so unfair.

I think that having to admit the things that Lena Dunham is doing or saying wrong also means looking at those things in yourself, and no one wants to do that. So it’s easier to defend her in saying that, if you criticize her, it’s because you have a problem with women. It’s the painless way out. And yes, a lot of people have gone in on her, but that’s because for months leading up to the show, they hyped it up so much as the show that was going to change everything. And personally speaking, I don’t think it’s lived up to any of its expectations. I don’t think that it’s nearly as funny as people have been saying, or as different. But again, it’s not a criticism you can make because it is “un-feminist” to make any judgments on it.

But just look at the marketing they do — a 45-dollar set of promotional nail polish, one for each girl on the show. You’re supposed to buy those as a fan. Who the fuck buys 45-dollar nail polish? And they did, like, free blowouts at this really nice salon. Who are they marketing this to? Like, this is not for me. Whoever this was directed to, it is absolutely not me. You are clearly targeting a certain type of person — they know what they are doing. And that’s fine, you have your demographic. But then don’t fucking turn around and tell me how universal your show is and how it’s speaking for everyone. Because it’s not, and you know it.

”

- Franchesca Ramsey on Girls (via andthenwesetheartsaside)

YES, Chesca!

Tell them!

(via str8nochaser)

I DON’T KNOW IF I’VE PUSHED THIS INTERVIEW ENOUGH BUT EVERYONE PLS GO READ IT SHE IS AMAZING

(via faganchelsea)

"Give your daughters difficult names. Give your daughters names that command the full use of tongue...."

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:13:10 -0500

“Give your daughters difficult names. Give your daughters names that command the full use of tongue. My name makes you want to tell me the truth. My name doesn’t allow me to trust anyone that cannot pronounce it right.”

- ~ warsan shire (via conflictingheart)

Photo

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:12:58 -0500

micasaessucasa: (via: desire to inspire)

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:05:13 -0500

micasaessucasa:

(via: desire to inspire)

Photo

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:58:56 -0500

Photo

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:57:50 -0500

b-sama: ‘Surfing in Zulu’ photographer: Jon Ivins.

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:51:47 -0500

b-sama:

‘Surfing in Zulu’

photographer: Jon Ivins.

"If you are lucky, you stop seeing the world as a series of things you do not have — a boyfriend, a..."

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:34:37 -0500

“If you are lucky, you stop seeing the world as a series of things you do not have — a boyfriend, a baby, an adorable terrier – and you start noticing the things you do have. A healthy bank account, unburdened by mortgages or school loans. No romantic ties. Loving parents who wanted nothing but happiness for you. Years to burn. That kind of freedom is like a command from the universe to get off your ass and do something amazing.”

- Sarah Hepola, Every Woman Should Travel Alone (via indieless)

hipstertracks: Chvrches- Lies

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:32:04 -0500

hipstertracks:

Chvrches- Lies

Bloc Party - “Truth”

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:36:04 -0500

Bloc Party - “Truth”

Photo

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:25:12 -0500

other-wordly: pronunciation | ‘nam-tzI or ‘nam-jIThai script |...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:22:18 -0500

other-wordly:

pronunciation | ‘nam-tzI or ‘nam-jI
Thai script | น้ำใจ

“If the world were a village of 100 people…”

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:19:26 -0500

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

The World of 100

“If the world were a village of 100 people…”

"People of colour do not think of themselves as exotic or other to themselves. We think of ourselves..."

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:56:14 -0500

““People of colour do not think of themselves as exotic or other to themselves. We think of ourselves as white people think of themselves, as central to ourselves, and not some stylisation, political points, added extras; none of those things. We are ourselves””

- Zadie Smith (via blackmalemodels)

artwork by local Ghanaian artists

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:04:32 -0500

artwork by local Ghanaian artists

"“Excuse me while I throw this down, I’m old and cranky and tired of hearing the idiocy repeated by..."

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:07:02 -0400

“

“Excuse me while I throw this down, I’m old and cranky and tired of hearing the idiocy repeated by people who ought to know better.

Real women do not have curves. Real women do not look like just one thing.

Real women have curves, and not. They are tall, and not. They are brown-skinned, and olive-skinned, and not. They have small breasts, and big ones, and no breasts whatsoever.

Real women start their lives as baby girls. And as baby boys. And as babies of indeterminate biological sex whose bodies terrify their doctors and families into making all kinds of very sudden decisions.

Real women have big hands and small hands and long elegant fingers and short stubby fingers and manicures and broken nails with dirt under them.

Real women have armpit hair and leg hair and pubic hair and facial hair and chest hair and sexy moustaches and full, luxuriant beards. Real women have none of these things, spontaneously or as the result of intentional change. Real women are bald as eggs, by chance and by choice and by chemo. Real women have hair so long they can sit on it. Real women wear wigs and weaves and extensions and kufi and do-rags and hairnets and hijab and headscarves and hats and yarmulkes and textured rubber swim caps with the plastic flowers on the sides.

Real women wear high heels and skirts. Or not.

Real women are feminine and smell good and they are masculine and smell good and they are androgynous and smell good, except when they don’t smell so good, but that can be changed if desired because real women change stuff when they want to.

Real women have ovaries. Unless they don’t, and sometimes they don’t because they were born that way and sometimes they don’t because they had to have their ovaries removed. Real women have uteruses, unless they don’t, see above. Real women have vaginas and clitorises and XX sex chromosomes and high estrogen levels, they ovulate and menstruate and can get pregnant and have babies. Except sometimes not, for a rather spectacular array of reasons both spontaneous and induced.

Real women are fat. And thin. And both, and neither, and otherwise. Doesn’t make them any less real.

There is a phrase I wish I could engrave upon the hearts of every single person, everywhere in the world, and it is this sentence which comes from the genius lips of the grand and eloquent Mr. Glenn Marla: There is no wrong way to have a body.

I’m going to say it again because it’s important: There is no wrong way to have a body.

And if your moral compass points in any way, shape, or form to equality, you need to get this through your thick skull and stop with the “real women are like such-and-so” crap.

You are not the authority on what “real” human beings are, and who qualifies as “real” and on what basis. All human beings are real.

Yes, I know you’re tired of feeling disenfranchised. It is a tiresome and loathsome thing to be and to feel. But the tit-for-tat disenfranchisement of others is not going to solve that problem. Solidarity has to start somewhere and it might as well be with you and me.”

”

- Hanne Blank (via colporteur)

humansofnewyork: Seen in Union Square

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 11:05:55 -0400

humansofnewyork:

Seen in Union Square

"I don’t want to be a feminist anymore. Like a five-year-old, I want to close my eyes, stick my..."

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 11:05:48 -0400

“

I don’t want to be a feminist anymore. Like a five-year-old, I want to close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears, stomp my feet on the floor and scream “No! No, you cannot make me, I won’t, leave me alone!” I am, simply put, too tired. So very, very tired.

I am tired of fighting with my friends. I am tired of arguing that someone groping and slapping my butt isn’t “what I have to expect”, just because I’m at a bar, and the one attacking my butt has a drink in the other hand. I am tired of hearing “boys will be boys” and “when you’re dressed like that …” and “that’s just what guys do”. I am tired of trying to drown those sentiments in loud, repetitive no’s, screamed over and over again, till my throat is sore and my voice weak – just to hear them repeated, as soon as exhaustion threatens to silence me.

I am tired of being afraid. I am tired of seeing someone writing something offensive, sexist, racist, ageist, ableist, somewhere online. I am tired of seeing those writings getting likes and lol’s, and SO TRUE’s. I am tired of being consumed by confusion and anger, typing, typing, typing and typing a seemingly endless response, including research, links and statistics, and then hesitate clicking “submit”. I am tired of knowing that I hesitate because I am afraid of the flood of responses that will come. I am tired of knowing that I will be bombarded with lighten up’s, stop whining’s and get a sense of humor’s for so long, that I will start to wonder if I am indeed wound up too tight, a nagger and humorless. I am tired of the fact that I’m afraid of being called a cunt, even though I don’t find genitalia insulting or demeaning.

I am tired of being told. I am tired of being told that “a key that unlocks many locks is a good key, but that a lock that can be unlocked by many keys is a bad lock”. I am tired of the fact that nobody who says this has ever been able to tell me what it is that needs to be locked up. I am tired of being told “your boobs are awesome, you should show them off.” I am tired of being told that “that looks a little slutty”. I am tired of being told that I shouldn’t be a prude, but I shouldn’t be slutty. I am tired of that nobody seems to be able to explain how to do so. I am tired of being told that I can just say no, and I am tired of being told “come on, you know you want to”.

I am tired of being told “But we HAVE equality!”

I am tired of being asked. I am tired of being asked if I’m a lesbian or if I was raped. I am tired of being asked if daddy didn’t treat me right. If I was in an abusive relationship. If I was beaten. If I grew up with a single mother. If I don’t like sex. I am sick and tired of being asked “But, why are you a feminist, then?” I am tired of being asked why I wear make-up. Why I wear a bra. Why I wear skirts and dresses. Why I flirt with men. Why I shave my legs. I am tired of asking “why do you ask me this?” and hearing the answer “because real feminists are against those things, aren’t they?”

Most of all, I am tired of knowing. Knowing that my eyes have been opened, and that what has been seen cannot be unseen. I am tired of knowing it, when I see something that is wrong. I am tired of knowing that only speaking out can change it. I am tired of knowing exactly how hard and scary it can be to do so. I am tired of knowing that if I am not careful, the fight will eat up my hope and strength, and leave me only with bitterness. I am tired of knowing that I can never turn back to not knowing. I am tired of knowing that despite my fears and exhaustion, I am a feminist.

No, I don’t want to be a feminist anymore – today.

Tomorrow? Tomorrow I think I’ll try again.

”

- I don’t want to be a feminist anymore | Feministing (via colporteur)

lyblac: I want to see the world with...

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 11:05:26 -0400

lyblac:

I want to see the world with you.

mydarkenedeyes:

Recent landscape paintings by Maja Wrońska.

(Rome, Prague, Venice, Kraków).

espritss-libress: theafrosistuh: infragilefashion: Jude is...

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:01:44 -0400

espritss-libress:

theafrosistuh:

infragilefashion:

Jude is Nigerian, Sharan is Indian and they must be in love because they had a Nigerian ceremony, an Indian ceremony, and a Christian ceremony.…in Jamaica. Don’t mind me, I’ll just be sitting here consumed with envy at this beautiful baby making, multicultural wedding.

“HEY MOM, look he’s not Indian and they’re happy!”

this is amazing.