Finally!

Link: HOLLABACK!

I just read about a movement spreading from country to country. Its called Hollaback! Women are asking for consequences and asking one another to speak up to end street harassment. A movement to end all leering and catcalls.

I am so thankful for even the idea of this as a woman who has had some pretty traumatic experiences that just get laughed off or chalked up to "a bad day." For instance, over Winter Break, I went to the city where my mom works to visit her office and the doctor's she works with. While waiting for her to wrap up her day, I decided to check out the public library across the street. I noticed a man, presumably homeless, who kept wandering over to the section I was at. The fourth time I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I knew he wasn't lost. As soon as he was out of sight, I gather my things (and myself) and darted off into the bookshelves in search of a less-secluded place.

He found and followed me. I sat in the women's restroom for an hour asking myself, if I tell someone, will I have to fill out a police report? Is that vain? Maybe he wasn't following me? Would I have to go to court? Does he have daughters?

Finally I call my mom, begging her to hurry up. Only "15 more minutes! Go check out the art in the gift shop!" As soon as I left the restroom, my shoulder brushed past someone. It was that man again, and he was close enough to whisper in my ear. I hardly remember what he said because I was terrified and caught off guard.

So I rounded the corner into the gift shop and tried to carry on a conversation with the very unfriendly librarian who knew I wasn't going to buy anything.

I knew I was upset about the incident then, but writing it out in response to this movement made me realize not only was it "shitty" as I told my mother, it should not be ok. I shouldn't have to shrug that off and accept it because I'm a woman.

Definitely time to Hollaback!

Does LA Count?

LINK: Here's a report about the sex life of LA.

It is a pretty wild article. Lots of sordid accounts of the escapades of a the hundreds of wannabes in a town that, to me, represents desperation.

Not much shocked me, many of the statistics were predictable. Men are more likely to "blank" while only this tiny percent of women are into "blank." Standard gender roles represented. But I expect all of the numbers to be higher than if in any other city. Take a college town verses a college city. San Francisco verses Dallas. I would have been far more interested in the numbers if it hadn't been so regionally specific.

The personal accounts of extreme sexual encounters I wonder about. Would I be more or less likely to lie knowing that everything I say would be confidential and my name would be reduced to "21-year-old artist."

Ken to Rekindle Romance and Sales?

LINK: 'Barbie, we may be plastic but our love is real'

I found this article under the CNNMoney section after just having watched the video about the Barbie Phenomenon in class. I thought it was hysterical in 2004 when they split up citing a need for "some quality time apart."However anti-Barbie I may have been as a child, I have to admit how genius this marketing campaign is.

The company is publicizing the imminent return of Barbie & Ken by way of social networking media!? According to the article, people noticed on Facebook that Ken checked in through Foursquare at Barbie's favorite cupcake place. I guess that's how we all relate to one another nowadays, so it was only a matter of time. I wonder if Barbie tweets?

Anyways, the whole campaign is aimed to boost sagging sales. They mention note how successful, independent Barbie is... and yet the company is using the male to rescue the brand?

Fascinating, hysterical, and a little twisted.