SlutWalks: What actually makes a woman a slut?

By Natalia

 

I am sure everyone has heard the term ‘slut’, ‘whore’ ‘jezebel, ‘hookah’ and ‘prostitute’ – but what actually makes a woman a slut?

Is it the way she dresses? Is it the way she walks and talks? Is it how she carries herself? Or is it because she simply chooses to have sex casually and regularly?

According to research published in the Guardian (2014) slut-shaming is more to do with a woman’s social class than sexual activity; though other articles published by the Guardian (2014) stipulates that a woman is simply called a slut because she is a female, but how far are these statements true?

Who gets called a slut?

You might think that a slut is a woman who has an “active sex life with many sexual partners”- if you go by the Oxford Dictionary definition, however, you could be wrong. According to researchers Elizabeth Armstrong and Laura Hamilton of the University of Michigan, the label is actually gaining currency as an insult that divides women on the basis of class.

But it doesn’t stop there; Jessie Klein, an author of “The Bully Society,” writes that girls need help in building trusting relationships particularly in high school.

She highlights that girls in schools get called ‘slut’ all the time and it’s because of various factors including social isolation, bullying, depression and anxiety.

In her book, she gives examples of teenage girls who have taken their own lives because of being called a ‘slut’.

The above information indicates that women from all ages and classes can be called ‘sluts’ but why are they called such derogatory names?

Why do women get called a slut?

I recently read a blog post titled ’60 Women: What I was doing when I was called a slut’ and some of their responses were outrageous! Here are a few of them:

Sarah

I walked down the street in a hot pink turtleneck dress. I was also simultaneously called a faggot by a bunch of college-age-seeming dudes in down vests.

Erin

I got called a slut because my ex-boyfriend started a rumour about me sleeping with his friend. He did it to cover up his tracks since he was a controlling and abusive scumbag and didn’t want anyone to find out. So he attempted to make me look bad. All but one person believed him.

Corrine

I was called a slut by my own grandmother when I was 12 because I wore a swimsuit in which my cleavage showed (my breasts came in earlier than most girls). Let’s just say, we didn’t have the greatest relationship after that. She was also an alcoholic and a racist, so no complaints from me!

 

The mere existence of this word creates a reality in which women and men can never be equal.

When we stop judging everyone else so harshly and just let them be happy, maybe we will all get more of what we want. Tolerance.

 

Walk of no shame 

Amber Rose, an actress and model who gained fame during her relationships with rappers Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa, spoke out against degrading comments made by her ex during the “SlutWalk” in Los Angeles in November last year. West had publicly said that his relationship with Rose impacted his dating life due to her past; being a teenage stripper.

 

 

“I used to call women sluts and whores all the time. Because that’s what society taught me: that it was OK and that it was what I was supposed to be doing, but I grew up, and I have seen these issues, and I have become very passionate about it. I am a former slut shamer and a newfound feminist.” (Amber Rose for Guardian )

 

Slut Walk Movement was originally underway in Toronto in response to a police officer’s comment telling a group of colleague women, after a number of sexual assaults at the campus, that in order to not be victimised they should stop dressing like sluts.

 

Interpretation of the word “slut” changes depending on the personal circumstances and it has been clearly overused in today’s society. Where are limits when it comes to calling a woman a slut?

What is your opinion in regards to the message that women do not deserve to be judged based on how they dressed?

Do you support the idea of “Walk with no shame”?

 

 

Dark side of colorful cosmetic market!

by Basia

Cream for anything and everything

Cosmetics market is very specific. We can observe rapid progressive diversification of products: customers are offered goods, which were not there in the past.  People began to supply creams for different parts of the face and body:  eg. Under the eyes, cheeks, separate for the night,  day, bad weather and good mood.

This type of persuading tactics are absolutely effective not fully ethical, however allowing cosmetic brands to expand the market. As mentioned above, people still believe in not ethical mere lies which cosmetics manufacturers are feeding customers with.

Until now, people were suspicious about the origin of the advertised cosmetics  – now they have the proof in the form of scientific research. The results of the study were published in June  titled “Deception in cosmetics advertising: advertising cosmetics Examining Claims in fashion magazine ads”.

Shatter the myths 

The researchers took into account fashion magazines which were advertising cosmetics. That’s where the fakest messages were found. What  have they established?

First of all, the fact that the advertising of cosmetics speaks in their own language, which is designed to sound serious and inspire confidence. Close examination of these trends revealed that, for example, most superiority claims were categorized as false, while scientific claims tended to be classified as vague or as omitting important information.

Naive nation?

All the used terms shall have the impression of the scientific method: protection, regeneration, deep absorption, etc. Somehow at the same time, these very rare terms are explained. The accompanying charts provided in adverts are often deprived of the units for each axis and does not really represents anything relevant.

Researchers in the study (the research team was led by Jie G. Fowler from the University of Georgia) found that over 80% of this type of “facts” had no basis in reality, it was very tight, tension, or sounded like an attempt to mislead. What would be the attempt to mislead? For instance, sophisticated determination of the obvious characteristics of the basic  product (“moisturizing” on the product based on water-based).

To conduct a study, scientists analysed 300 full paged advertisements in magazines. Out of all of them, they catalogued 757 different definitions and theorems. The most common were “not tested on animals”, “recommended by dermatologists” and “clinically proven”.

Smart lies

Furthermore, the panel of scientists undertook a detailed check of each of the terms, categorizing it then in one of four categories: “acceptable”, “vague”, “incomplete” and … “a hundred percent lie”.

In the category of “acceptable” there were only 18% of statements (including only 14 percent of the category “clinically proven”).It is worth to recall a study conducted in 2005 by Roger Highfield. He chose the elite of the scientific community (mainly specialists in medicine and biology) and asked for an explanation of the various terms found in advertisements and on packaging for cosmetics.

 

It turned out that they cannot understand or explain those terms because … usually were meaningless cluster of wise-sounding words. For example “Lancôme scientists have created Aquacellular (TM), a unique moisture complex of 16 essential elements found naturally in radiant, healthy-looking skin.“

So if the cosmetics commercials seem to be exaggerated or incomprehensible, it is probably because they are  bogus!

Do you trust cosmetic brands ? What is your opinion about complicated terms promoted in TV and magazines cosmetic ads ?

 

 

 

 

 

Brainwash – TV, Media and something else

TV and Mass Media brainwashing has been a topic of a research since the last century. A lot has been discovered and said, the question still is: “Does the result from the research change anything?’. The answer is “No” because people still buy TVs, newspapers, magazines and use social media. In fact, it is proven that things are getting worse since we have switched to digital television.

“On average person watches TV 2 months a year and 9 years in a life time”
25 Nov 2015, StatisticBrain

Yes, the results are shocking. Brainwashing is so common that it is invisible until the moment you start to think about it. You wonder how they do that? Well, they use an ancient hypnotising technique, but what’s more important is that the victims should be unaware that the environment is controlled. Next time you’re watching the news pay attention to all the flashing lights and colours and the most common one the spinning circles. In the following video it is well explained.

Click here

Reality shows like Big Brother, broadcasted all over the world, are actually experiment psychologist conduct. They give tasks to people who cannot refuse to do as they are driven by money. It is observed how the rest of the people react to that behaviour, then it is applied outside the house of Big Brother.

 

Let’s stop talking about the TV, have you thought about logos? Certain parts of the brain react when they are directed by specific symbols and colours. Now you can realise many of the logos are created based on psychological methods in order to encourage an action, and it is to buy the product. It is similar with the slogans, they are short and easy to remember, repeated everywhere in every campaign. Slogan barely ever change because once remembered it is always associated with the brand. Moreover, repeating the same thing over and over again makes is reliable and believable.

I am a PR student who enjoys advertising, does this makes me a manipulator, brainwasher?

You probably have never thought about this… Are you ready to get you mind blown?

…On the other hand, we are brainwashed every day by parents, friends, teachers and tutors, religion and God knows who else. Parents and teachers tell us what is right or wrong and we are not given the chance to make decisions from early age. Religion teaches us to believe in God, Jesus, a world given to us by God and created in 7 days.

 

Then “Brainwash” should be when you believe in something and you try to convince the others to believe it too, no matter if it’s right or not. Should we just accept it? Can it be not so bad then? Does it encourage us to make decisions quicker or it just make us stop thinking? I will appreciate it if you let me know your opinion below in the comments.

Stela

Baby Factories

 

 

Controversial market

by Basia

In 2002 India legalized the practice of surrogate motherhood. Since then, large numbers of Indian women have gotten pregnant through hiring their wombs to deliver children to infertile couples, single women and homosexual couples from the Western countries.

For surrogate mothers hiring out their own womb is a way to get out of poverty. Many Indian women opt for it to earn money for education and medical care for their children.

In the documentary for BBC4, 28 year old Vasanti recounts that a pregnant surrogate receives up to $8,000. The money will allow her to build a new house and send her children to a good English teaching school. Vasanti and her husband admitted that, the money received for the surrogacy will also increase their social status. In the future their daughter will have a better chance to get married, and eventually they will have money for a dowry.

 

Expensive parenthood 

The whole “game” is not about these few thousand dollars at stake. Journalist from Columbia University, Divya Gupta states that surrogate motherhood is nothing but huge business for brokers and clinics.  In 2013 its value had been estimated to more than $2.5 billion. Prospective parents have to pay from $10 to $18 thousands. In comparison, in the US average cost of having a surrogate baby it is $30 thousands. Indian’s surrogacy clinics are definitely cheaper but women are treated as factory workers – they must undergo fertilization, they are then sent back to their homes and must return after nine months, give a birth and get the money.

In Dr.Patel’s clinic surrogates receive more than they could get in other clinics. Doctor Patel offers them $8 thousands for the birth of a child. In the case of an abortion, surrogates only get $600. Dr. Nayana gets up to $30 thousands in advance.

 

Feminist in action

 The founder of the first clinic in Gujarat was gynecologist Dr. Nayana Patel. This hospital is different from others. Apparently the personnel take care of the women from the moment they decide to be surrogate until the due date. Some of surrogate mothers are insured on the special request.  Dr Nayana says that in her hospital women are being psychologically supported and can count on advice at any time.

The first hospital founded by Dr. Patel is the place with homely atmosphere where surrogates are allocated into common rooms with 10 other mothers. They are provided with properly balanced meals and doses of vitamins. Once a week, on Sunday’s, they are allowed to meet with their family. In the Western press there have been numerous articles criticizing the conditions in which surrogate mothers give birth to children for people from the West. In order to soothe the conscience of future parents, the surrogacy business began to increase hospitals standards.

 

More customers , more happiness 

“Bussiness mother” delivered over 600 babies, the business is booming, and the construction of a new, luxurious clinic worth several million dollars is ongoing. Over 100,000 sq. m hospital, large enough to house 100 surrogates and 40 clients; parents to be, who will be offered apartments when they come to visit. Demand for having children is high so the conditions of hospitality need to be high too.  However the trade in babies is still controversial.

 

 

Dr. Patel in her statements for the left-wing Western press describes herself as a feminist and claims feminist ideology gave her the inspiration to open up the clinic. “People have two basic instincts, to survive and to procreate,” said Dr Patel. “I am helping with both: the surrogates survive with the money I pay them, and the childless couples procreate.”

However, when the Indian gynaecologist talks about her surrogate mothers, she no longer uses the ideological platitudes. She is painfully honest and concludes that she pays the surrogates for the performance of physical work to which they agree. Those women willing to be a surrogate are well aware that, if there is no pain, there is no gain.

Dr. Patel, philanthropic feminist or well orientated businesswoman?

 

What is your opinion about trade in babies ?

 

 

 

 

Did you know that female graduates still meet a huge gender pay gap?

According to the press women are not getting paid equally comparing to the opposite gender. Even if both of the genders are having similar educational experience, they are working the same positions with massive difference in terms of the payment. This is really far from motivational for the young graduates and its also extremely unfair.

The Telegraph claims that women graduates have roughly £8,000 gender pay gap. In fact, female graduates earn between £15,000 and £24,000. In contrast, males starting salary is more than £24,000.

Laura Carstensen said: “We cannot continue to accept that a woman embarking upon her working life can expect to be paid less because of her sex.” (The Telegraph) 

Unfortunately female workers are misrepresented in good-quality traineeships and they are taking the majority of the low-pay sectors.

Forty-five years after the Equal Pay Act the old economical style and social barriers for workingwomen are still applicable. As we begin the New Year, we need to move on and change. We have to make sure that women finally get treatment they deserve. The situation nowadays is absolutely no acceptable and it has to be changed for public good. The research that has been stated by the media shows that many women have poor reputation in relation with their job contracts proving that they are working part-time or zero-hours. These facts are damaging their image, and it’s harder for them to be promoted to a manager position in the future. According to the research presented by the Telegraph, females still face pregnancy discrimination, including negative opinions.

 

I would love to hear your comments regarding this issue. Do you think is fare that female graduates still face a pay gap?

#Gender #PayGap #Discrimination #Graduates

Gergana 

Heartbreaking or creepy?

Have you heard of the German supermarket Edeka and  John Lewis’s Christmas advert? Of course you have, they were the most discussed TV commercials.

The German brand decided to promote their logo by producing a video that shows a man who faked his death to get his family together in his house.

The advert has been found as extremely shocking and sad. Several viewers around the world expressed their opinion in the social media. Some people shared that the advert made them travel and spend Christmas with their families. For instance, there were people who bought very expensive last minute flight tickets from Europe to Chili, just because the advert reminded them how important family is. Some Twitter users believe that the advert is way too heartbreaking and they also share the fact that it made them cry over the winter holiday. Of course some people found the advert too creepy because at the end of the day that old man is faking his death.

However, some people are comparing the video ad with some other brand’s Christmas ads. For example, John Lewis released a Chritmas video, which was also criticized by he public, because some of the people are tired of heartbreaking manipulative adverts. To quickly summarise, the advert is well known as the advert with the old man on the moon who is sitting there lonely and then a child is sending him a telescope so the old man can actually see the kid.

In fact, people claim that their Christmas spirit has been ruined by this shocking trend many other brands has been selected for this winter.

It seems like brands are selecting  shocking and dramatic style in order to generate more traffic and to make their product a viral video as well as to get more noise in the media.

I would like to know what is your opinion about the style of ads that has been produced by Edeka and John Lewis? Do you think that they are manipulative and depressive? What was your favourite Christmas ad this winter?

 

#Ads #Christmas #JohnLewis #Edeka  

 

Gergana

New Year Eve’s expenses. Do you know how much fireworks cost?

Have you calculated the money you spent on New Year’s Eve? Many researches are held by Guardian, Daily mail, Mirror, etc. every year to predict the average expenses of the Brits during the winter celebrations.

An interesting fact about this year was found by the Daily Mail – three fourth of the UK population will celebrate at home or friend’s. The reason for that is pretty obvious! After each of us, on average, spent £800 only for Christmas Eve people are trying to waste as less as possible. Do you think you will save some money if you have stayed at home? Yes? Well, Daily Mail does not agree. After the research they claim people who go out spend the unexpected £96 while those who stay in £116. The difference is not big but its still there.

If you have decided to go to London for the fireworks display obviously you must have had a lot more money especially since you have to pay “entrance fee” to be able to watch it. This does not make any sense to me. There are so many people who pay and actually are not even able to see anything, people like me. Being 5’2 tall does not help me in the crowd and after all you might have ended up giving money to be pushed around, to feel cold and wet.

The preparation for New Year’s Eve every year begins on 6 January, The firework designer starts his job after the soundtrack is ready. Soundtrack? So there is music? I am confused! Why do we need music when it is so noisy because of all the fireworks…

For the last few years, the biggest cities all over the world have been competing with each other who will spend more and will have a better display of fireworks. I have read somewhere that this event is very important as it shows which the “top” cities in the world or the “ultimate status of moneyed cities” as Guardian calls it.

£1.8 million pounds spend for 11 minutes of fireworks show

Despite all those facts, each year the mayor of London spends £1.5 – £1.8 million on fireworks for only 11 minutes. Do you remember what Mr Boris Johnson did? £500 000 of Londoners money were secretly given for the fireworks show otherwise it would have been cancelled…

How much have you spend on NYE? Do you think we need 11 minutes of entertainment when it costs so much and endangers you to get asthma attack because of the gunpowder?

 

If you have comments please write them bellow, any opinion is highly appreciated.

 

Stela