YWCA FUNDRAISING EVENT

Come out to a Fashion Show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to support the YWCA of Richmond Nov 15th at 730!!!

That is all.

Am I A Woman?

My good friend recently got asked out on a date by a boy in her class. This brought home a persistent thought that regularly plagues me. I feel like I've failed as a woman. I've never been asked out by a guy. I'm a heterosexual, 25 year old woman who's never been on a date. I'm alone and I can't decide why that hurts so bad. How are single women viewed in our society? Is my femininity based on a man's acceptance? As a single woman, am I just an androyous blob waiting for a man to claim me? I don't throw myself on men or wear tight clothes. I don't present myself as a available piece of meat ready for potential mates to project their wants and needs onto me. I know there's a guy out there that will accept me for my kick ass self. In the meantime, I struggle with finding a feminine identity that comes from inside of me versus an extrinistic two dimensional definition that none of us can fit into to. Am I the only one that struggles with this? How do other single ladies feel?

Rebekah Carrow

OBAMA won Virginia and the presidency by a landslide !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm thrilled! Never in my lifetime has Virginia gone blue, and never since I began voting in 2000 has the election not been a complete disaster. I'm so excited for the progress of this country, and for the first time I'm proud to be a Virginian.

Not to be a downer on such a wonderful occasion, but there is something that all of the above pictures still have in common. Three guesses what that is...

Change for women is coming, and I am hopeful that I'll be around to see a woman in that highest office. But for our country, great progress has been made, and I'm a PROUD mama. I'm happy to know that all children will grow up in a place where their hopes for greatness won't be dashed by the cynicism of their parents or society, because today- we rejoice that we now have a president elect worth our admiration.

~ Amanda

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

The Palin Question

How should feminism deal with Sarah Palin? I’m not talking about the complex individual behind the Lens Crafters. I’m talking about the Palin image that’s carefully being molded to fit into some very sexist stereotypes. She was chosen to stand by McCain’s side because she’s designed to appeal to both sides of the traditional gender divide. She has a vagina which is supposed to be enough to earn my female vote, and she’s easily typecast as the sexy librarian which should appeal to men driven by pornographic fantasies. It’s insulting to all of us. Palin is being used as a token of tolerance for a political party that’s by the white men, of the white men, and for the white men. Palin is a woman who’s gotten ahead because she’s willing to knock other women down a few pegs while she climbs the political ladder. How should feminism deal with Sarah Palin? Feminism can’t support Sarah Palin or the policies that she would bring into an administration. These policies would at their very foundation be anti-woman. Feminism can’t remain silent. Allowing Palin into a place of real power is not an option. However, feminism can not stomach Palin being turned into a teenage boy’s wet dream with things like the Palin sex doll, Nailin Palin, or the strip club look alike contests. When we stand against how sexism has been weaponized to undermine Palin, we stand up for all women to be seen first and foremost for their merits and not their vaginas. Defending Sarah Palin for the feminist community is like taking cough syrup, it’s good for us but it sure is hard to swallow.

Rebekah Carrow

Barack Obama

I’m voting for Barack Obama. I attended a rally recently and found myself in the middle of a realization. Among this crowd of 20,000 people, I got caught up going hoarse from yelling as loud and as much as I could. All of a sudden within the excitement, my mind grew still and I thought . . . Barack Obama is a human being. Sometimes the biggest moments are summed up with DUH. He is not hope. He is not change. Barack Obama is a human being. Even though he’s extra ordinary, he’s also ordinary. I truly believe that all of us have the ability to be extra ordinary if given the opportunities. Obama is running for president of the United States of America, the only job with one employee and millions of employers. Getting Obama into office is only half the battle. As employers we must hold Obama to our highest standards. A democracy is only as strong as its least informed voter. This is our responsibility and our country no matter whose hands we put it in.

Rebekah Carrow