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

Is Britain First actually “taking our country back”?

 

After watching a very insightful documentary a few weeks ago on BBC3 about the new radical political party Britain First. This became an interest to me concerning the morals around the political party. The fact Britain First have 1,174,984 likes on Facebook. I want to find out how ethical Britain First really is and why is it that some many people support their far right nationalist views?

 

However before discussing Britain First I think it is key to establish what they actually believe in?

“Britain First campaigns primarily against mass immigration, multiculturalism and what it seen as the Islamisation of the United Kingdom, and advocates the preservation of traditional British culture.”

 

However the question I want to find out is how far can a nationalist party go before it is boarding on racism. Can it be seen that Britain First is crossing this boarder?

 

Britain First is a BNP splinter group. After doing a quick search on YouTube it can be seen there are lots of videos posted about Britain First.

 

This one from the BBC was interesting as it shows the impact of Britain First.

 

 

Please comment your views on this blog.

What do you think about the video?

 

It would be appreciated to get a range of opinions

 

 

Lauren

Is segregation still happening in 2015?

Segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life.

Was this the case on Saturday 5^th December at Bournemouth’s hot spot nightclub, Cameo?

Here are the facts

• Eleven friends prepaid £750 for a VIP Table and entry to the club. After driving a 93 mile round trip to Bournemouth the friends arrived at the club to be told they were not allowed in because their group was too large.
• Despite moments later a group of 10 white male customers queued up and were permitted entry no questions asked. ( BBC News)

 

From the video below it shows how Cameo Management team could not give a reason as to why the men were not allowed, even though they were expecting the large group as a booking was made. It was not like the men just turned up.

Since the incident Cameo has issued two statements however neither of these still state a reason as to why the men were not allowed entry into the club.

 

“We operate a professional and well run venue and we reserve the right to refuse entry for various reasons” – Cameo Bournemouth.

 

However they still don’t say the reason. Even though the friends booked a table in advance. If Cameo were turning people away, they shouldn’t have been a part of that. It is like booking a table in a restaurant, pay your bill in advance and then be told on arrival that you can’t come in. Same rules apply here.

After reading many newspapers reaction on this story it can be seen that this has sparked a massive issue of racism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35047352/cameo-explanation-branded-not-acceptable-by-black-clubber.

Cameo’s communication on the issue has been disgraceful. More awareness needs to be done about this problem.

Is this just a one off event for Cameo or is this something that is going on in the nightclub industry?

If this was any other type of establishment besides a nightclub this would have been investigated as segregation.

Do you think more needs to be done on this matter?

Do Cameo need to be accountable for their actions?

 

Please comment below.

 

 

Lauren

 

 

 

Industrial farming is responsible for misery and pain

By Natalia

What’s the animal equivalent of a humanitarian? Is it morally and ethically permissible to eat meat and never question it? Are there worse and better ways of killing animals? That is definitely a contentious subject for many “meat eaters” and those who are strictly against of animal products consumption. And of course all the answers are different.

Some people may think that it is a conflict to love animals and eat them. But I don’t want to debate what you choose to eat, or convince you to change your nutritional habits. That is all up to you. Everyone deals with their own individual nature as they see it. I only want to share some facts on industrial farming, being described as one of the worst crimes in history.

Even though unnecessary cruelty to animals is strictly forbidden, it does not affect human habits. Thousands of generations ago, human being shaped a need of killing animals, which was yet indispensable for survival and reproduction. Times have changed and the dark ages have passed away! Nowadays, we do not have to create emotional pain and kill helpless animals in order to survive. People tend to blindly follow traditional ideas and ways of thinking; therefore they do not question themselves, if it’s morally appropriate to slaughter animals for food. Many of you may think this is the way that we have been raised and it is absolutely normal to eat certain types of animals, however industrially farmed animals are sentient beings with complex sensations and emotions. They may not be as intelligent as we are but they certainly know fear and pain.

I was brought up eating meat and never considered it as being wrong until I understood, something cannot be right purely because this is the way we have always done it. Especially that it’s not difficult to obtain protein from other sources. We don’t need meat to survive and it’s been proven scientifically. My desire for eating meat disappeared quickly after I decided to find out what happens before a packed breast of chicken gets on the shopping shelf.

Sadly, industrial revolution resulted in increase of brutality and provokes people to follow their subjective needs. According to One Green Planet, over 58 billion farm animals are unnecessarily slaughtered for consumption (Geer 2014). Human ability to harm animals keeps growing along with a scientific knowledge, which then allows the community to manipulate animals’ life in order to strengthen the industry.

Chickens are being genetically engineered with the help of hormones, pesticides, medications, vaccinations and automatic feeders; they have multiples legs but often no ability to walk. At the “poultry prisons”, their living space limits to less than a square foot and they often do not get water or food, while being transported to slaughterhouse (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation).

Cows, on the other hand, often stay still alive after being forced through a chute and shot in the head with a gun. Workers do not stop a line, simply because they are afraid of losing their jobs. The more animals are killed, the more money is made for the industry (Peta.org).

I have heard many people saying: “You won’t stop people from eating meat” and I am fully aware they are right. Maybe I do not possess a power to revolutionise the world because I suddenly realised that what people have been doing for many centuries is brutal and completely unnecessary, but leastwise I am not a part of continuous cruelty to hopeless animals.

Have you thought about your contribution to industrial farming? Do you think it’s ethical that animals are mistreated and brutally slaughtered for the well-being or carnivores?