For Your Reading Pleasure

It’s not often that I have time to read something enjoyable – between reading things for work and reading things in the news I’ve about had my fill of reading anything by the end of the work day. On weekends, and based on the occasional suggestion from friends, there are some long forms that I make time for. Don’t let me deter you by saying that most of these left me in tears. As Kirsten Bell once put it, “If I’m not between a four and a six, I’m crying.” Tissues at the ready?

A Father’s Final Odyssey by Daniel Mendelsohn for The New Yorker

This was published at a pretty serendipitous time for me, namely because I was fresh off of re-reading the Odyssey with one of the boys I babysit, and also because my parents recently spent a weekend here with me in Gainesville. Mendelsohn, a professor at Bard College, deftly intertwines Odysseus’s journey and the translations of the Greek text into the journey he and his father take along the same route (minus the gods and swapping the ship for a cruise liner).

When Things Go Missing by Kathryn Schulz for The New Yorker

This essay has received so much praise as its taken the rounds, and when you read it for yourself you’ll understand why. Schulz’s writing style is incredible, for one, but I’ve also never read a more accurate depiction of loss in every sense. Wow, back-to-back super sad stories… Mon, you okay? Yes, I’m fine, there’s just… something in both of my eyes.

What Makes a Genius? by Claudia Kalb for National Geographic

To me, “genius” is a term people use too often under no strict terms. Our children are geniuses, Kanye is a genius, that comedian is a genius, etc. etc. Kalb’s article, paired with the beautiful images one comes to expect from the National Geographic, delves into the qualities of genius: intelligence, creativity, good fortune, and genetic potential.

“SNL” Star Sasheer Zamata on How Kanye’s Music Forces Us To Forgive Him by Quinn Moreland for Pitchfork

This one is a shameless plug for a feature on one of my favorite comediennes written by an old high school friend who grew up and now does cool things like writing for Pitchfork. I admire Sasheer’s boss woman attitude and I love features like this that give me a glimpse into the soul behind the success.

The Best Longreads From Trump’s First 100 Days by Michelle Legro for Longreads

I admit that this is cheating, but to be fair I don’t think there is one singular piece of writing that can adequately summarize/analyze all that has happened since this buffoon and his co-buffoons took office. I was particularly delighted and horrified by the transcripts. Hashtag unintelligible.

Let Them Be Cheeky

There are many things I can’t stand these days – like any news that comes from the White House (read: from Fox News), when my coworkers don’t refill the coffee carafes in the kitchen, and when people talk over me, to name a few. The one thing that sends me into a hot spiral of rage no matter the season or presiding administration is when women shame other women.

Reading this article published by The Odyssey Online  today made me laugh and scream in disbelief. I took the time to mark it up for you below:

Here is the article as it should have been written:

To Girls Wearing “Cheeky” Bathing Suit Bottoms: Do You, Boo

This trend is no threat to women’s dignity, and therefore must be supported

As spring begins to show its face after a long, harsh winter, many women are getting excited about all of the new spring fashion lines being released featuring bright colors and fun pieces. However, upon the release of the new swimsuit line, I believe many women, including myself, are even more thrilled.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check it out for yourself! Just type “Bathing Suit Trends for 2017” into your Google search bar (you know how this works) and “cheeky” bikini bottoms will more than likely be at the top of your list. Coming from a female who cares about her body and self-image, this not only makes me happy, but also encouraged by the body confidence adopted by more and more women each day.

First off, thank goodness it is socially acceptable to wear these in public. When you live in a state that reaches upwards of 100 degrees in the summer months, you’ll take relief wherever you can get it. I know some people may argue that wearing these may be inappropriate around young children, but if I’ve ever known a group of people more unfazed by seeing some butt cheeks, its children. It surely teaches them about having self-confidence and respect for people of all shapes and sizes.

Now, I understand most people are going to agree with me saying things such as “Women should be free to wear whatever they want! Men exercise that right – why shouldn’t we?” and “If you’re confident in it, rock it.” If you’re one of those people, YAAAS EXACTLY, BUT remember that there are those who want to compare our behaviors to those of men for no logical reason whatsoever. And yes, I know you’re not dressing for anyone but yourself (and if you are dressing for someone else, that’s cool, too), but these people need to be reminded that not all women dress for the male gaze. And as far as the “how-would-you-feel-as-a-parent” argument, I think we should raise our daughters to respect themselves and to handle any situation where someone else was behaving inappropriately. We should not blame lude or aggressive behaviors by others on the way our daughters dress.

I know some women may prefer to not give the cheeky trend a try, and I thank them for showing respect to those women who choose to. Our world needs more women like you to prove to the patriarchy that we are characters of substance and value, and not competitive witches bent on shaming one another.

As for me, you’ll find me this summer laying on a beach with a bathing suit that is hella cheeky.

A Brown Girl’s Take on a White Girl Problem

I sometimes hate writing about controversies I hear about on social media because I know that by the time I get to it the Internet has thoroughly chewed it up and spit it out. Case in point, people going bananas over the University of Alabama Alpha Phi recruitment video. The video features the sisters of the Alphi Phi chapter – all noticeably white and beautiful – doing general “silly girl” things: blowing kisses at the camera, prancing around open fields and playing with a white swan float a la Taylor Swift. The video received backlash over its lack of racial diversity, perpetuation of gender stereotypes and for generally not being hyper-feminist. Take a peek at the video below and form your own opinion before reading mine:

Now, I’m gonna play devil’s advocate here a little bit. As a non-Greek woman, you might presume that I think this video is garbage. The truth is this: I heavily considered joining a sorority my freshman and sophomore years of college. But as a super minority woman (my parents are from Guam, for goodness sake) living in the south, racial identity has always been a struggle for me. I identify with all things traditionally southern and all of the great things that makes me a proud islander. What this video said to me was “Must be white to be in this sorority.” While that may or may not be the case, I can only speak for what I and potential new members like me might be thinking and feeling.

I have a lot of friends who are in sororities around the South, and unfortunately a lot of them have expressed to me that the values of friendship aren’t as strong as you’d believe. I’ve heard horror stories of girls getting singled out within their sorority, which is bonkers to me because if they didn’t like you, why would they even ask you to join? For numbers? For your connections? Who knows.

As far as the video perpetuating gender stereotypes and for not being feminist: calm down. If a fraternity did a similar recruitment video, all in their Vineyard Vine button downs and snapbacks, fishing on the pier and tossing back some beers I bet you a gajillion dollars that the general sentiment would be oh, just boys being boys. It wouldn’t have gotten near the same amount of attention this video did. Rule #1 of feminism is equality for women. So what if these girls are having fun? I’m sure they could speak just as much about how smart their sisters are, how involved they are in community service or what great people they are altogether. Just because it wasn’t highlighted in this silly promo video doesn’t mean these girls are vapid Barbie clones.

I think everyone has their own definitions of feminism, but at the root of surely (hopefully) everyone’s personal definitions is equality, safety and respect for women. Being a woman in this or any age is already hard enough. How about we take all of this negative energy and enact it on maybe something more worthy? Like making sure children don’t go hungry? There’s some piping hot reality check for you.

By the way, I’m one of the girls blowing glitter in the header photo. I have to know – how the hell do you get it all off your hands??