Comments on: do these boots make me look smart? http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/ entirely true, but exaggerated for comic effect Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:48:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: proeats http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7367 proeats Mon, 05 Mar 2007 02:58:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7367 What an interesting, well expressed group. I am so glad to have stumbled onto this site! What an interesting, well expressed group. I am so glad to have stumbled onto this site!

]]> By: Daisy http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7349 Daisy Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:07:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7349 Very thought provoking. I teach pre-adolescents, and the girls are just learning and dealing with the curves developing in their bodies. I hope they develop a solid self-image so that they don't turn into Doll-Babies as they grow older. Very thought provoking. I teach pre-adolescents, and the girls are just learning and dealing with the curves developing in their bodies. I hope they develop a solid self-image so that they don’t turn into Doll-Babies as they grow older.

]]> By: Anonymous http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7333 Anonymous Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:34:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7333 To all interested moms out there:<br/><br/>I would like to invite you to participate in a research study of parenting views and practices. Dr. Kim White-Mills and Dr. Catherine Dobris of IUPUI (both are moms) are interested in understanding what sources parents find useful in their parenting practices, how parents use different parenting information, and what views parents across the county hold regarding parenting issues.<br/><br/>To access this survey, go to http://www.iupui.edu/~momviews/ To all interested moms out there:

I would like to invite you to participate in a research study of parenting views and practices. Dr. Kim White-Mills and Dr. Catherine Dobris of IUPUI (both are moms) are interested in understanding what sources parents find useful in their parenting practices, how parents use different parenting information, and what views parents across the county hold regarding parenting issues.

To access this survey, go to http://www.iupui.edu/~momviews/

]]> By: Michele http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7332 Michele Fri, 02 Mar 2007 06:47:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7332 Hmmm. I admit that I'm not one to think about such things often. It makes my brain hurt. However - I think of it this way. If I wear makeup and wear something "fashionable" and it makes me smile? I'm all for it. Because if it give me, a sufferer of depression, a small bright spot - I don't really care if it's feminist or not. And that - the not caring because it's already doing something good for my mental state (and yes I mean makeup helps my mental state - I walk taller for some reason) - I suppose is feminist in it's own way. Hmmm. I admit that I’m not one to think about such things often. It makes my brain hurt. However - I think of it this way. If I wear makeup and wear something “fashionable” and it makes me smile? I’m all for it. Because if it give me, a sufferer of depression, a small bright spot - I don’t really care if it’s feminist or not. And that - the not caring because it’s already doing something good for my mental state (and yes I mean makeup helps my mental state - I walk taller for some reason) - I suppose is feminist in it’s own way.

]]> By: Anarchy in the OK http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7330 Anarchy in the OK Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:51:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7330 Wow, Susan, what a great post. I especially love the question "Is a participation in the culture of style a capitulation to the patriarchy?" It just about sums up the history of fashion in the western world. I find a glimmer of hope in the Minoans and other more gender-equal societies where women were accepted, taken seriously, and even worshipped (in healthy ways, not the weird little-girl worship we do today). Those women were fashionistas to the max, but still held equal footing. I agree that it's possible to be a fashionista and a feminist, but I believe that since we women don't ultimately set the aesthetic agenda in our culture that we must be aware of the subtle overtones of our fashion choices - we all know that one button can be the difference between being looked in the eyes and, well, being looked at somewhere else.<br/><br/>Great post - thanks a lot. Wow, Susan, what a great post. I especially love the question “Is a participation in the culture of style a capitulation to the patriarchy?” It just about sums up the history of fashion in the western world. I find a glimmer of hope in the Minoans and other more gender-equal societies where women were accepted, taken seriously, and even worshipped (in healthy ways, not the weird little-girl worship we do today). Those women were fashionistas to the max, but still held equal footing. I agree that it’s possible to be a fashionista and a feminist, but I believe that since we women don’t ultimately set the aesthetic agenda in our culture that we must be aware of the subtle overtones of our fashion choices - we all know that one button can be the difference between being looked in the eyes and, well, being looked at somewhere else.

Great post - thanks a lot.

]]> By: Jen http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7329 Jen Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:39:00 +0000 http://fridayplaydate.com/do-these-boots-make-me-look-smart/#comment-7329 When I taught college freshman about writing as critical thinking, I showed them a video called Killing Us Softly. It is a compelling look at how women (and little girls) are portrayed in media and advertising: We are encouraged to be less-- less in our physical bodies, and there are frequent images of women being silenced.<br/><br/>Jean Kilbourne was the psychologist (I believe) who presented these images in the video, and I had the pleasure of meeting her when she came to speak. I asked her whether or not it was problematic for her that she is slender and attractive, when she is fighting against a world that demands that women be slender and attractive.<br/><br/>She conceded that it was problematic in that she felt that because of her appearance, she was better-listened to. <br/><br/>I think about these things a lot-- but I think that feminism encompasses empowerment, taking care of ourselves, and also being free to make our own choices. And I think those choices can include how we present ourselves to the world. And it's okay to talk about and think about those presentations-- besides, fashion is a political choice.<br/><br/>Hope you had a fun lunch. When I taught college freshman about writing as critical thinking, I showed them a video called Killing Us Softly. It is a compelling look at how women (and little girls) are portrayed in media and advertising: We are encouraged to be less– less in our physical bodies, and there are frequent images of women being silenced.

Jean Kilbourne was the psychologist (I believe) who presented these images in the video, and I had the pleasure of meeting her when she came to speak. I asked her whether or not it was problematic for her that she is slender and attractive, when she is fighting against a world that demands that women be slender and attractive.

She conceded that it was problematic in that she felt that because of her appearance, she was better-listened to.

I think about these things a lot– but I think that feminism encompasses empowerment, taking care of ourselves, and also being free to make our own choices. And I think those choices can include how we present ourselves to the world. And it’s okay to talk about and think about those presentations– besides, fashion is a political choice.

Hope you had a fun lunch.

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