Updates!

I updated my blog, as you guys can see. There are new stuff like:

1. Search this blog- You can search easily for posts now without clicking too much! Just write a word and hopefully you'll find what you need.
2. News- There will be news headlines near the top of the page so you guys can keep up with news
3. Poll- There is a poll on the side where you can vote and share your opinion. This week's poll? "Are single parents to blame for poverty?" Don't be afraid to share your opinion!
4. Members- who joined the website
5. Lastly there is also logo because it looks nice! 

Enjoy! And by the way, if you go on Google and write "A feminist's view" you'll find me! Yay! Share this with your friends, follow by email, vote on the poll, comment, join!! READ AND SHARE...!! Peace!

Single Parents

I want to say a warm welcome to our first member, Rabia. I'm afraid Zarrin isn't able to join, but if she does she is welcomed. I took the ads down because they took too much space and it didn't work.

As I spoke about most of subjects that annoy me, I went to Google to find inspiration. I didn't. Maybe because I wanted to speak more about things that annoy me. Now, the subject will be single mums.

My mum is a single mum. There are many single mums, and figures show that 52% of those single mums are below the poverty line. They are scapegoat in the society, like teenagers (ah! Inspiration!). What is scapegoating? Scapegoat is when a group in society are blamed for problems in a society. For example single mums are blamed for poverty. Some might even go far and say it's their fault they are single and in poverty, because they couldn't "keep" a husband.

That is very unfair. But it is known people hate those they can't understand. And most males blame single mums, in politics. As I said before my mum is a single parent, and I know how it is to be in such a family. It isn't my mum's fault they split up. I think they both have their own faults.

Moving on. The fact that most single parents are in poverty means that the society is messed up. And I'm speaking about single parents in UK. I really believe this should change, because we should respect single parents as they are alone and are looking after one or more children.

Why do I keep saying single parents? Because there ARE single dads too. Maybe their partner died, and they can't move on, can't re-marry or want a girlfriend.

Single mums are always blamed, especially by media. But most single mums that are blamed are teenage mums. I don't know where, but I did write that most mums are middle age women. So teens should be HELPED not BLAMED.

Lastly, why are single parents in poverty? In my opinion it's because the society blames them for poverty and all bad in society. And media encourages this. So employers don't want to employ single parents, and they end up in poverty. I mean, there are benefits right? But are they enough? Why pay a football team when you can stop poverty? Pay a football player/team less and do something better with the money.

Conclusion? Single parents shouldn't be blamed, as it's not their fault for all problems in society. Next time I'll be talking about teens and how they are blamed as well.

This is actually an experiment. Because I'm using my email to type up an entry. It will be short, because I only want to see if it works. By doing so I'll also tell of news.

1. Every time I'll change theme, if something important happens. For example, it's autumn so my homepage will have golden leaves and the colour theme will be golden. When Halloween will come I'll try and put up a spooky image and dark theme. And etc.

2. I'm looking for other authors to type up their opinions. The most popular, for now, are Zarrin (a friend), Anca (another friend), Rabia (a friend). I'll TRY and get a boy, but I don't know if I will. If you want to be an author, all you'll have to do is leave a comment and I'll get to you as fast as possible.

3. If you read my blog from beginning you'll notice some changes, for example number 1 and also some adverts. No comment, expect that I'm changing my blog.

4. I wrote before that because I'm starting school, (on the 5th September), I might not write a lot. I'm sorry, but school is more important.

5. I'll celebrate every time the blog gets one month (and that's every 24th of a month, i.e.: 24th of September will be one month, 24th of October will be two months, etc)

6. My birthday is on 1st November 2011

7. Expect something different for Halloween, don't ask what because even I don't know yet.

8. Good luck everyone at school! I know everyone starts school on different dates, so I'll just say it now.

~Miru, from her own email, dunno if it will work.

ANTM and BINTM...

First off I would like to say I'm quite excited. People from Australia and Germany are visiting my page. Cool! And USA...thanks all who are visiting my page and telling their friends. A special thanks to Zarrin, my friend from Bangladesh. I'm missing you a lot. I got 6 page views today, 7 yesterday, 64 last month and most are from UK. Hopefully I'll also get some comments? Or do I ask for too much? I don't know...

Anyway, it's 11:31 a.m., I'm bored and I am watching Jeremy Kyle. I don't know why. But before I switched to JK, I was watching America Next Top Model, or ANTM as in the title. (BINTM= Britain & Ireland Next Top Model). There is also Australia's (hello Australia, thanks for visiting my page) Next Top Model. I'm sorry but I don't really like Australia's rules. If I go on your show, even though I'm too young...no scratch that. If I was 18, same weight, maybe taller, and went on your show I would be thrown out.

Because I'm not skinny, I'm a little over the normal weight. So you guys wouldn't take me on. Because for the past months while I was watching AuNTM (Australia's) I only saw skinny models, and they were always on diet and exercising. I mean, it is healthy exercising. But really? If you put on a LITTLE bit of weight, you had to lose it and FAST. I mean, the Model society want skinny girls. OKAY? Good, now lose weight.

This is a good impact of the media. Now models have to be skinny, a size 0 in America. It is the wanted look. If you're overweight or normal there is no place for you in model world.

No, I'm being mean. If we look on ANTM there was one plus size model winner. I forgot her name. She was blonde, and everybody said she behaved like a pageant queen. I don't know if I spelled that right. Anyway, she won and she was a plus size model. But there was only ONE winner. And I bet she was influenced and asked to lose weight or else.

In BINTM I never saw a plus size model. I mean, I haven't watched those shows for a long while because my mum hates them. And I dislike them sometimes because they are really stereotypical and mean. Expect for ANTM, it seems Tyra Banks is a great mentor. I wish she would teach me how to model. Whatever, because I'll never be model. I'm too feminist for that. I would argue back every time someone would criticize me. Maybe because I'm a scorpio? Who knows.

If I had to choose to always watch a model show, I would choose ANTM because they are really nice and funny. Not too serious, I don't like that. I also like the fact they let plus size models come into competition. (I just had to change because there was a stupid show on. BLAH! Music is better, and I'll write about that later on).

There is something else I never understood, and maybe disliked a little bit at these shows. Why are there always girl models and no boys? I mean, really? Are there no male models in the competition. But I like what Tyra Banks once said, that male models are toys and you should outshine them. I'm with you, sister!

Conclusion? These shows are somewhat stereotypical. But they also help women get somewhere far and big. But BINTM and AuNTM should let plus size models through. Because it is not fair!

****Next time, maybe tomorrow: music and how it represents women****

I will also start with some psychology because I'm learning about it soon. God, summer went fast. At least it was fun!  

Marriage attitude

I didn't write anything yesterday because I was too lazy. And I was watching movies the whole day. I don't have a lot left before I start school, so I'm having fun. 

Now, to more important matters. The subject I'm going to call about is marriage attitude. Because not all girls want to marry, have kids and be a stay-at-home mum. And an example is me. In my opinion, I'll never get married and never have kids. I might adopt a kid, but I'm not gonna have one and go through that whole pain and still be treated unfairly in society. Why the pain when you only gain a kid? Another mouth to feed...now that's mean, but that's my opinion.

Marriage. The attitude towards it, years ago, was that most girls wanted to get married. That was their target in life, according to a interview by a sociologist. But now, in 200-something, girls want to get married but they also want to have a great career, be a great businesswomen. And I respect those who do that. Have a somewhat happy marriage, beautiful kid/s and a successful career. What I'm saying is I can't and won't. All I want is for my family to be happy (if I'm happy they'll be happy) and a great career. 

So know less girls want to get married. But there are still problems. Because as always there is a dark side to marriage. For example, there is domestic abuse. There is domestic labour. These equal = inequality in a household. 

I'll start with domestic labour. What is domestic labour? Why does Google say that I spelt it wrong? I'm not American. However, domestic labour is housework, basically. It's just a more sociological word. If you don't know what housework is, use Google. An example might be washing dishes. And in most households the woman does domestic labour. And this is not normal. Let's not be stereotypical. And then the woman has to face triple shift if she works and is married: domestic labour, career and emotional support for her family. 

Domestic abuse. I bet everyone knows about this. Because even though you don't read a lot about it in newspapers, you still hear about it. It's a big subject, too big for today. But what I'm going to say is that it is more likely a woman will face domestic abuse in a home than a man. Yes, even men face domestic abuse. 

Before, divorce was frowned upon. If you married, you are meant to stay together for ever, right? In my opinion if something goes wrong in that marriage and you cannot mend it, then divorce is the right choice. But now, divorce is on a rise. Maybe the women, as it is more likely they'll fill for a divorce, agree with me. Maybe they have a higher standard in marriage.

Also women can also not make the same mistake as before. Now they can live with their boyfriend instead of getting married straight away. They can also have sex with their partner without being frowned upon. Which is great, it means the society is changing in good way.

But there is a big way to go. Conclusion? Marriage is good for those who want to stay committed, not those who want freedom to move around and see what they like, people like me. Women, and men, can re-marriage after divorce or they can girl/boyfriends. Or they can choose to never marry, or marry later on when they settled down which I guess it what I'll do.

Boys are stronger than girls...

...I would like to disagree. But first I would like to say sorry for not writing yesterday. I forgot. My bad. Actually I was watching The Da Vinci Code.

I heard the phrase "Boys are stronger than girls" a thousand of times, and a thousand of times I had debates with the people, mostly boys, who said that. If a girl said that, I would try my best not to slap her. Because it's wrong.

Boys might be physically stronger, as nature made them that way. But is violence the best? I mean, we can get out of trouble by using our minds, our intelligence. I might even go further and say that girls are more intelligent and more mature than boys, and instead of using our hands we use our brain. Which means we outsmart whoever and we also don't get in trouble with the law.

That's the first part of the whole debate. Have you ever thought it this way: girls are stronger than boys because of many factors. I'm going to make a small list.

1. Do boys carry a heavy baby for 9 months? I don't think so. Either we decide to have a baby, or we don't (i.e.: rape, condom comes off etc) we still go through pain. We also lose a job if we are 21 and are likely to have a baby. We also have the pain of delivering the baby, and we might end up dead or our baby dies. Also we are frowned upon if we have an abortion. In my opinion, it's our body we do whatever we want as long as it doesn't hurt the society. Furthermore, let's say if a male had a baby and had an abortion the society wouldn't be against it.
2. We have periods. I mean, it is easy right? Right? No. Boys don't know how it is to have periods. Especially at the beginning when, even if your mother tells you about it, you think you're bleeding to death. Furthermore it is very uncomfortable and sometimes you can't do things you enjoy, like going to the beach, if the period is heavy.
3. Double standards. I spoke about this previously, but I'll state briefly what I mean. If boys sleep around, they are cheered on, encouraged to do again. As long as they don't leave the girl pregnant. But if girls do that and are found out, they are shunned from society. Or they are told off. Then killed. Or whatever, it is still different if you're a girl and if you're a boy.
4. Expectations. Boys also are expected to be fit, but they are not pushed as girls are. What I mean is that  the most number of teens dying from anorexia (as said previously) are girls. Magazines, i.e.: media, tell girls that they have to be slim, beautiful, perfect, a sex object. Don't believe me? Ok then. Slim: look at a fashion/glamour magazine. Then count how many overweight models do you see? Or how many normal weight models do you see? Two, one, NONE? Beautiful: how many models do you see without make up? None. Perfect: look again. How many are not airbrushed? How many have spots, wrinkles? Not many. A sex object: this is simple. Look at page 3 on Sun newspaper. What do you see? A topless girl in a bikini. This is how media sees girls and teaches girls how to be. Nothing wrong with that, right? Wrong, because girls commit suicide because of this. Girls are pressured to be perfect. But perfection doesn't exist, because all girls are beautiful the way they are. 

So the conclusion? Boys and girls are different, and that itself is a beautiful thing. To be different, unique. To be you. Media should encourage imperfection, uniqueness. Boys might be stronger than girls in means of fighting, but girls are still powerful. Girls might cry at night, but next morning they will behave everything is alright. Girls have been strong all over history, and media should encourage girl power.

~Miru

Way to go!

Woop! I read in a newspaper that girls are STILL doing BETTER than BOYS! WOOP! That is very good for us, girls, so keep going! Girl Power.

Anyhow, tonight I'm going to speak about becoming young adults. You go into school, you learn, you see more stereotypes and more double standards and you're taught your gender role. How? By your teachers (for example, teachers are more likely to tell a girl off for misbehaving; while boys are not told off as much- boys will always be boys...yeah, whatever), by your parents (young ladies DON'T walk that way, they DON'T talk that way; men don't cry, man up boy, stop being a girl), by the media (Ohmigod, size 0 is the new fashion girls!; boys, using girls as sex object is cool) and etc.

You are taught all these inequalities. And maybe there are positives in society. I'm not saying there are not. But there are so many negative examples, like double standards and glass ceiling effect that us women have to face everyday, whether we are teens, babies or adults (women are more likely to face glass ceiling effect than girls). But we still face it. Everywhere in the whole world.

As you get older and move onto college you might be encouraged to choose subjects like Art and English if girl; and Maths or ICT if a boy. This shows stereotypes: if a girl you should be "artistic", "gentle"; if you're a boy you should be "hard-working" and "intelligent"- furthermore girls should choose careers like teachers or nurse; boys should choose careers like doctors or lawyers. And those careers encouraged for girls don't earn as much as those for boys. Meaning for a lifetime boys while earn more than girls. It will take a lot of years to catch up with boys just because of the unfairness in the society.

You are also less likely to get a job if you're 21 and a woman; why? Because you might get pregnant at that age. And those companies don't want to lose money, do they? No, obviously not. So they won't choose you. They'll make some really random reason, because they are not allowed to do that. That? That is called glass ceiling effect which I mentioned on the 3rd paragraph. At the same time other factors could contribute: racism (if you're African, you might not get chosen) or because of your accent, etc. But more than less it's likely because of the fact that the nature gave you the ability to have babies. And it isn't even your fault. I mean, there is payed leave, but do companies want that? No. And you're less likely to get promoted.

So there's no wonder why women make less money that men. It's not even our fault; it's nature's way. We make babies because that's how we were born and made by God (if you believe in him, I don't know). This surely proves how unfair the society can be.

How does the media contribute to this? That's hard to say...maybe because when celebrities have babies they are not really put in a good light, being picked on weight and etc. This makes everything more stressful for women reading those magazines/newspapers/websites/watching news.

Why do more women choose not to have babies and concentrate on career than on family? I don't blame them, because I don't plan on having babies and being stuck in the house with less pay than my "future" husband/boyfriend/whatever. Because I don't like doing that. I like baking a cake...no, scratch that I can't. I like helping my Auntie/mum/whoever knows how to cook at home (by licking the cake mix? Is that even helping? Washing the plates...). But, unlike my mum/Aunties, I won't cook/bake for my husband/boyfriend, not just because I can't (I can learn), just because I'm not a slave. And that's why I help my mum, who is a single mum, because she is not a slave, and never will be. I won't cook, or clean up after him, because he has two hands, two feet and he can do it himself. If he can't? Then he can starve, smell like a bin outside in the summer rotting, I don't care because just because I'm a women doesn't make me his slave. End of. Goodnight.

****Next time? Who knows. I got a new hair-cut. Have a nice weekend everyone who reads this****

Comment. Follow. Tell your friends. Just do something, don't just read this! Thanks


(Yeah I'm just always going to say this even if people don't comment: don't insult, I don't insult YOU, I WON'T insult you, I'm just stating my opinion, i.e.: what I make of this world. I'm tired because I stayed up all night listening to music, so I don't know I might be even more harsher? Or I might make no sense. Whatever. I just HAD to write something.

~Miru)