Pinterest vs. Feminism

I read an article that I think raises and interesting argument, but that I can't say I agree with fully.

The article discusses the idea that Pinterest is "killing feminism" by containing content what a woman is "supposed" to be reading, according to stereotypical housewife codes of femininity. Critiques point out that the content for women on Pinterest is all about cooking, dieting, outrageous body image goals, clothing, and kitchen/house dreams, etc. By creating this site and then gaining so many millions of women followers, the article argues that the steps that internet has taken to create more substantive, meaty internet sites for women are being undone by the superficial and gender-restricting codes displayed on Pinterest.

And while I agree in some points, I disagree in others. Much like my stance on Women's Health Magazine, I do think sites dedicated to women's content are much too focused on dieting (rather than over all health), getting "fit" (a.k.a. having a certain body type and image), and "proper" topics for women. But I also think that sites and magazine like these can still serve a purpose.

A key critique of feminism in the Communication field is the isolating affect it can take on women. Rather than bringing the female population together as a solid, united group, it tends to do the opposite and make women see each other in an "us vs. them" light.

Pinterest has become a space where women (and men, who also are users of the site) can share ideas, pictures, recipes, comments, and so forth. While the content may be less than ideal, the collaboration it has sparked among female online users is quite ahead of many other sites. That collaboration in and of itself could be a very important and useful tool in uniting women as a collective group.

Another sticking point for me on this argument is the idea that just because one identifies his/herself as feminist, automatically one cannot enjoy the types of things you can find on Pinterest. As a user myself, I go to Pinterest because I enjoy cooking and I like to see the new and creative recipes and comments that other users contribute. I don't think that because of this I lose any credibility as a woman or as a political agent, I just enjoy doing it and I like the way it is done on this particular website.

So there, enough with my critique of a critique. I am always glad to see critical thinking such as this article, so I am happy to pass it on to others to read and think about it for themselves.

Enjoy!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/amyodell/how-pinterest-is-killing-feminism

#FirstWorldProblems

There is a new buzz going around about a video that is making some waves in the Twitter water. And more and more people are becoming angry about it. DDB New York created an add for a charity called "Water is Life" which is working to get donations to bring clean water to countries in need.

The ad, more or less, points out the absurd trend that is sweeping all over Twitter, #FirstWorldProblems. The ad uses native Haitians to read the tweets tagged as first world problems in order to point a finger at the bigger issues in the world that far surpass forgetting your phone charger downstairs or forgetting your maid's last name as you go to write him/her a check.

Many people have become angered by the ad because it makes fun of those people and their first-world problems. But it does make an important critique. Of all the ways we could use social media, whining about our laziness and silly problems is among the least productive. Instead, the ad is trying to suggest that there are other problems out there that are in serious need of attention, and social media is one avenue to provide your assistance, such as a donation in this case.

However, a major critique of the ad is also that it does offend the very people that the company is asking for a donation to the cause. Even though the ad does make a very urgent critique, many are saying that it could have been done in a more subtle and productive way that does not push away the people you are asking for help.

I personally like the ad and the critique it is making, and I think it is a pertinent message that we are abusing our resources and far too often are becoming lazy, selfish individuals. However, I urge you to watch the ad and decide for yourself.


#FirstWorldProblems - Haiti Water Ad 2012

http://www.businessinsider.com/ddbs-firstworldproblems-haiti-water-ad-2012-10?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Advertising%20Select&utm_campaign=Advertising%20Select%20Mondays%202012-10-08

Welcome to my website!

I have just put together my very first portfolio website!

It has my CV, bio, classes taught, education, and all that good stuff. Plus, I think it looks pretty cool! Check it out!

https://sites.google.com/site/mcdonaldjr88/home

Free Information! Get your free information here!

During my teaching at EIU, I have [attempted] to get students interested in research, a task far easier said than done at times. However, they seemed particularly pumped when I introduced the freepress.net.

If you are new to freepress, it is a free website that takes on issues with media, ownership, censoring, net neutrality, and lots of other issues that may be buried in the news (if mentioned at all). Most of the issues on the website were completely new to my students, and they seemed very excited about learning things that actually applied to them ("Disney owns ESPN? No way!").

I was shocked that so many of the topics were new to them, and I must admit I was a little shaken by it. Regardless of whether you side with the corporation or the activist, it is important to know the issues and the sides that are arguing for things that will not only be put into action at the present but could also affect you a great deal. So, as far as my students go, if freepress.net is the way to get them excited about research, I consider it a double win!

Now if they would just get an RSS feed...

freepress.net

Virtual Wake

In the Communication Studies field, many influential and innovative scholars are celebrated as sickness, accidents, or life take them from what they have dedicated their lives to. The most recent was Mr. H.L. Goodall, or Bud to his friends and colleagues. I have been following the huge outpour of writings, memories, and responses that have been exploding from the academic community and I find it extremely fascinating how perfect each account of Bud's life is, regardless of whom does the recounting.

Something in this particular post also struck me as fascinating, the way the author discussed the "virtual wake" that was part of Bud's sendoff. Even those who are not very familiar with Mr. Goodall's work can read these moments that he shared with others and feel connected to his academic work and at times his personal stories. If you are one who is quite unfamiliar, I really encourage you to keep up with those scholars in your field that have laid the bricks, broken the barriers, and changed parts of academia for those of us following.

http://www.hlgoodall.com/blog.html

A New Meaning for Face Recognition

I will openly admit that I hate the steps you have to go through to post pictures on Facebook. Tagging? Privacy? Location? I just want my picture to post and my friends to be able to see it.

But picture posting rant aside, this is a really cool story about how Facebook pictures literally saved a man's life, even though he didn't know it. Facebook helped piece together the first 26 years of the man's life. How's that for online memory storage. Read it!

http://www.businessinsider.com/mayank-sharma-amnesiac-used-facebook-to-piece-back-first-26-years-of-his-life-2012-8?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Advertising%20Select&utm_campaign=Advertising%20Select%20Mondays%202012-08-13

Hitler as a Salesman

I came across this particular article a month or two after I returned from studying in Southern Germany for three weeks. I had to read it twice: once to chuckle at the creativity and humor of the images, and once to read the message and understand the argument the writer was making.

Is ok to laugh at dark moments of history? Sure, I supposed it could be argues that Hitler's image serves as a kind of meme that most everyone can easily recognized, but does the use of him in ads desensitize the history of his hand in the murder of over 6 millions people? To be honest, I can't say that I gave the images a second thought until the author pointed out the problem.

Good food for thought though. Read on.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bad-choice-hitler-is-starring-in-these-ads-2012-7