make love not war.

“All girls continue to be taught when they are young, if not by their parents then by the culture around them, that they must earn the right to be loved — that “femaleness” is not good enough. This is a female’s first lesson in the school of patriarchal thinking and values. She must earn love. She is not entitled. She must be good enough to be loved. And good is always defined by someone else, someone on the outside.”

—	Bell Hooks

Bitchfaces.

You think you're cool? Think again.

Stop. Stop talking. I'm about to slap you.

Do you see these glasses on my face? THEY'RE the reason I'm smarter than you.

I CAN'T SEE.

I JUST SAW FUCKING JUSTIN BIEBER. I'm gonna poo.

I got new glasses! I have horrible vision, 20/300 or something. I'm nearsighted.

you don't own me

simple as that.

sniff the pits

Yoo. This is just a really weird rant. The last two paragraphs are in honor of SlutWalk.

I don't even know what I'm talking about. EW I just drank luke warm milk and it's literally so disgusting I actually want to barf it up. Ew that was so nasty.

The other day/yesterday, in Health and Wellness class, we were talking about what we'd like to talk about (ha). We were also talking about offending people with what we wear, and I was just like, "aw fucking ey." Like, if you wear a shirt that says, like, "DIE REPUBLICANS" obviously that's offensive, but to me, wearing a shirt that has a few swear words on it is entirely not offensive at all. My super best friend Natalie who is awesome, was all like, "How are you supposed to even know what's offensive if we're told to suppress everything we believe in," which is just too genius for words. My school doesn't have a dress code, other than the obvious of like, don't come to school naked, don't promote drugs/alcohol, etc, so I feel like it's really hypocritical of them to tell us we can't wear "offensive clothing" when there aren't even guidelines as to what "offensive" is. I think if a person wears a shirt that expresses an opinion, they have the right to wear it. And OH MY GOD. In middle school, they were like "Your skirts can only be 4 inches above your knee, because otherwise it's distracting for your male classmates AND your male teachers." Um, EXCUSE ME? First of all, don't teach children to be ashamed of their bodies, or that they need to cover up their bodies because the human body is "distracting." Like, what shit heads. Not only that, but WHAT A FUCKING DOUBLE STANDARD. They tell US GIRLS, that we can't show "too much leg/boobage," and yet it's TOTALLY OKAY for guys to sag. I'm not saying guys shouldn't be allowed to sag, I'm saying if girls have to "cover up," then guys should too. I can't wait to bitch slap half the teachers in my middle school. They sucked fucking shit. Obviously there are boundaries, but just SHUT YOUR FACES UGHHH. And ALSO, distracting male teachers? NASTY TO THE EXTREME, EXCUSE ME? HOW NASTY IS THAT? Oh, and then they were all like, "no cleavage." Well, excuse me if some girls have big boobs. Does that mean they need to wear turtlenecks? WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOCIETY?!?!?!?!?!

I'm trying to get back into doing outfit posts and stuff, but my outfits are really boring. I'm just getting really into art as well as doing well in school, and although I love fashion and clothes, I'm sort of tired of experimenting and wearing crazy shit, feeling awkward and uncomfortable, and blah. I completely admire and love the people who are so outgoing with the things they wear, and I've always been like "be like tavi, be fearless" but I feel awkward wearing these really crazy ensembles that don't express who I am. I think I'm just going to allow myself to just naturally fall into step with my style. I think fashion and self expression are beyond important, but I'm also figuring out that there are other ways of expressing yourself other than through getting dressed, such as art and expressing your beliefs and opinions in situations. Like, the other day, my friends and I were talking about how this guy was facebook stalking my friend, and we were just laughing at how it was kinda funny, and then my friend was like "It's okay for girls to facebook stalk, and like really old photos of people, but guys can't do that." And I just said "Well that's a gross double standard."

I also feel like it's really hard to like... express to people why slut shaming is wrong. My friends were talking about how this girl at our school had had sex with this one guy multiple times, they weren't even friends, blah blah, and how she was such a slut. And like, how are you supposed to be like "don't slut shame," because some people may not understand what slut shaming is. It was also annoying because the guy she was having sex with was having sex with the girl just as many times as she was having sex with him, OBVIOUSLY, and yet my friends didn't even blink an eye. I think blogging and Rookie have opened my eyes to so many double standards and so much sexism (and it's sad, because girls can we sooooo sexist towards other girls!) and it's just like, how do you explain to people why it's so wrong?

photo via whitekaffir.tumblr.com

blurbs about power and evolution

The following are some cool passages I found on tumblr. I agree 100% with both. When I was first reading the Riot Grrrl one, I was like "WTF is this shit? How can we be expected to forget about a feminist movement that is awesome?" but then I read the last line, about Riot Grrrl being an evolution I was like FUCK YES. I think rather than obsessing over the Riot Grrrl of the 90s, we need to evolve it and make it valid for today. I encourage everyone to read both blurbs. I know some people consider reading a burden, but this is some cool fucking stuff that I'm sure you will find really interesting and eye opening. Feel free to comment with your thoughts and opinions!

~~~

A reminder on why we need to focus on ourselves, rather than others. Written by Cassie.

No, for real. We do. I love riot grrrl as much as the next girl in a band who does the occasional Bratmobile cover. But let’s put that scene to rest. Let’s leave it in the ’90s.

There’s a whole different scene these days— with some of the old spirit, but with some new faces, the new forum that is the internet, new possibilities for gender expression, some new experiences (and not-so-new-experiences, like racism) that the old riot grrrls never really spoke to. 

I think about this a lot, with my comic Riot Grrrl Problems, which I’ve hit a stand-still with. Because I, as a Latina, am really trying to wrestle with the idea of tackling race in what’s supposed to be a funny comic. I thought of revealing Katie as someone who had a brown mother, but I realized the whole point of the cartoon is “White Girl Problems” with a punk filter. I want my white protagonist to say something racist at a show. I want her to be confronted with brown punx in her precious white space, and I want her to handle it poorly, I want her to think about the stuff she’s never wanted to think about, I want her to grow the fuck up because at some point, all riot grrrls have to grow the fuck up, all of them are gonna have to face a world that they’re not familiar with, people who don’t care about their zines or their music or their circular discussions about how it’s perfectly a-okay to like sex.

Riot grrrls started their scene because they wanted it to grow and to evolve. So let’s do it. Let’s come up with something good.

~~~

“In pop culture, girls who crush hopelessly on guys they can’t have are painted as just that – hopeless. Over and over again, we’re taught that girls who openly express sexual or romantic interest in guys who don’t want them are pitiable, stalkerish, desperate, crazy bitches. More often than not, they’re also portrayed as ugly – whether physically, emotionally or both – in order to further establish their undesirability as an objective fact. Both narratively and, as a consequence, in real life, men are given free reign to snub, abuse, mislead and talk down to such women: we’re raised to believe that female desire is unseemly, so that any consequent shaming is therefore deserved. There is no female-equivalent Friend Zone terminology because, in the language of our culture, a man’s romantic choices are considered sacrosanct and inviolable. If a girl has been told no, then she has only herself to blame for anything that happens next – but if a woman says no, then she must not really mean it. Or, if she does, she shouldn’t: the rejected man is a universally sympathetic figure, and everyone from moviegoers to platonic onlookers will scream at her to justgive him a chance, as though her rejection must always be unfounded rather than based on the fact that he had a chance, and blew it. And even then, give him another one! The pathos of Single Nice Guys can only be eased by pity-sex with unwilling women that blossoms into romance!”

—	Lamenting the Friendzone, or: The Nice Guy Approach to Perpetuating Sexist Bullshit  (via waschbar)

saying no

I LIKE YOUR EARRINGS RONNIE. They're super cool, I wish I had a pair like that. I'd wear them everyday

1 and 2

riot grrrl vibes part 3

This is the... third riot grrrl vibe post I believe? It consists mainly of Kathleen Hanna images, zine images, and a few obnoxious gifs that somehow maintain a sense of appeal. The moderate organization was completely accidental, and must be due to my karmatic aura which is off the charts (i'm a good citizen) and the fact that I have witch vibes in my blood and psychic powers (i truly am psychic.)  The obnoxious gifs would also make really cute room banners, so I need to get on that.

I've been hesitant to actually DISCUSS stuff with these riot grrrl vibe posts, because I know that the posts are already incredibly long and I didn't really want to add to that. But I feel like I'm missing out on not saying anything when I have all these inspiring photos to stare at and lick. 

So yeah. I'm just going to talk about some stuff.

Riot Grrrl is like a life changing obsession. Once you get obsessed, you develop this unshakable integrity to do Riot Grrrl proud, and live according to all it ever stood for. This would include-the obvious-girl power, but also internal strength and self-acceptance, which is something the majority of teenagers (including myself) struggle with on the daily. I'm just going to be frank and generalize here, but it seems that all teenagers ever really want is to be accepted for all that they are, by everyone, just for simply being themselves. I'm always horribly jealous of those socially capable people, because everyone likes them for them. I'm pretty guarded with people I'm not comfortable around. Sometimes my "I don't give a shit" super power kicks in and I just start road ragin' and everything about me that makes me who I am just explodes. It's funny, because I'm always happiest at those times, but it's really hard to be completely confident and completely myself (dropping the cliché bomb) at all times. Riot Grrrl kind of motivates me to be Courtney Love though, and have that "fuck it" attitude. I want to be like Courtney (minus the drugz and stuff) and just be LOUD and CRAZY and INSANE, even when I'm insecure and at my lowest point. Courtney is just such an amazing role model (again, drugz and stuff not included) when it comes to self acceptance and confidence and the "not giving a shit" super power that everyone has, but that takes time to develop. Mine is in the works (hurrah!) but still not fully developed. For now Riot Grrrl music will be my carbon fuel for fueling the carbon me.

yay for proud nudity!

All these photos are from THIS amazing tumblr.

bangs be bangin' and dreads ain't dreadful, hence, v-v-v-vunderful

Kind of want bangs. I used to have them and I hated them. Not gonna lie, they made me feel ugly. It kind of pisses me off that a HAIRCUT was able to make me so insecure, but I dunno! I suppose back then they just didn't make me feel like me. But who knows! Maybe I've.... matured? Is that possible? Maturing? As a teenager? Can that like, actually happen?

Anyway, I attempted to gather some friggen awesome photos of fab ladies with fab bangs, but I got very lazy, so the photo collection is minimal. Hairstyle thoughts? I was thinking bangs, dreads maybe, but dreads are really hard to take care of! And I'm ashamed to admit this, but one of my friends was like "ew dreads are fucking nasty and boys think they're ugly." And now I don't know if I want them! Why am I such a butt face! Caring if other people think I'm pretty, but I do when it comes to cute boys who I drool over in my sleep and who I secretly stalk on facebook like, everyday of my LIFE. Wah! As ashamed as I am, I know I am not alone! And I'm proud that I'm not afraid to admit I am insecure! And I am still a feminist, because being a feminist is accepting your "flaws" and being a bad ass about it and lots of other great stuff that inspires me to be AMAZING. (Also unsure about getting dreads because if I ever wanted to go back to natural hair, I'd have to shave my head or get a super short cut, and I love being able to style my hair! And I don't really want short hair right now. Thoughts gals and guys?)

Anyway, so right now I'm actually getting some awesome pictures of dread styles that I love and would want if I were to get dreads. And bang styles! Give me advice though people! Coloring ideas? Purple, red, pink, dark brown? HAIR IDEAS MANIA PLEASE. Also, what is your definition of a feminist/feminism?

PRETTY DREADLOCKS OMG. This gal is fucking awesome. Love her dreads. 

Dreads like these! How to obtain such dreads? The world may never know.

So pretty. Celia Hammond lookin' like a beast with her pretty lipstick and perfect bangs.

It's Francoise Dorleac with awesome bangs and 60s vibes all around! Vibes vibes vibes!

Don't forget to answer ze questions because I really enjoy stimulating conversations via ze comments.

riot grrrl vibes part 2

So, after like two months, I have finally gotten around to writing the second riot grrrl vibes post! I'm really excited, because I have so much amazing stuff to show you guys, whether it be art, photography, collages, or like, question answering type things, like the second photo which I love dearly and want to glue to my life! Due to my eternal laziness and lack of organizational skillz, I happened to lose like, every possible source for all these photos. I CAN tell you that the majority (meaning like, 98%) are from this awesome tumblr devoted to feminism and being FUCKING AMAZING, but I don't have the creators/genius beings behind this awesome shit you're about to stare at. So go check out the tumblr, because it's the part of yourself you've been searching for all your life.

On a different note, I literally just finished watching this Disney movie called Radio Rebel (I think that's what it's called... one sec, let me go and confirm this. YUP I'M RIGHT) and it's about this hella shy girl with zero confidence who secretly has this radio show where she inspires her fellow teenage citizens of Hoover High School to be themselves and be bold and all that awesome crap, but struggles with being as confident in her day to day life as she is when she is the fab Radio Rebel (duh.) And then all this other stuff happens, blah blah, and of course the classic Disney plot of protagonist=super in love with person they don't think they can EVER be with, but of course, they end up together and all that cheesy goodness (we need more crackers!) Anyway, MOVING ON. 

So watching this super awesome/inspiring Disney movie got me thinking, like, HEY! Maybe I should start a radio show/podcast, because it looks super fun and cool, and maybe along the way the guy I'm secretly in love with (*cough* Justin Bieber *cough*) will finally see how awesome I am and then he'll ask me to MORP! J-play, guyz. HA. HA. J-play...

Do any of you great humans who read my blog have any online platform recommendations for doing this? I found this one website called Spreaker (it was the first one I clicked on when I googled all this shit up) but I don't know if it's super awesome compared to some other websites. If any of you guys have advice or website recommendations that are free and easy to use and allow you to talk and play music and all that fun stuff, lemme know in ze comments! I've never heard of any Riot Grrrl radio shows/stations in my area, so I'm going to Be My Own Hero and make my own! I want to do it online because that way, if I actually find enjoyment in doing radio stuff and people actually end up listening, I will be able to become MORE FAMOUS by allowing the entire world to have access to my awesome soon-to-be radio show! DUH, because fame, you dingos, is EVERYTHING. Am I right? Yeah, I'm right. (sarcasm because I'm wrong!)

But seriously! It looks hella fun! And like, I have swag! And like... I love feminism! And like... I also love Riot Grrrl, the feminist music movement of the 90s! So like, hey! Maybe I should start my own feminist/Riot Grrrl-esque radio show! So yeah, I'm seriously thinking about doing this. I think it would be super fun, and if I became somewhat skilled at this trade (hence, speaking) maybe I'd meet some other Riot Grrrl nerds and we'd fall into friend crush love and I'd be able to bond with people who have similar interests as I! But seriously, I think it would be super cool to do this. Like, a feminist/Riot Grrrl music radio show?! Holy piss nugget! That would make my life! It would take some time to get used to hearing my voice on a recording, but I'm sure I'd get used to it! Would anybody else be completely in love with a Riot Grrrl/feminism themed radio show? Please EMAIL me if you have advice/ideas/the desire to flip a shit over email about how excited you are about this possibility, hence anything that is more discussion-esque than a simple comment that I will read and love.

glitter is like sex for virgins

TRUE THAT.

 

Preach it.

I want this soooooo bad. Utter perfection and beauty.

I'm tryin'!