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— WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, You have the power to make a difference and it starts with an idea. That idea is formulated into a well-thought-out plan. The only thing left is action. Every word, every sentence and every book was carefully crafted with the most basic goal of being read and shared with others. In our lives we’ve read books that have made a difference; the most influential, emotion-tugging and mind-provoking words have often come from books and their authors, male and female alike. Female authors, the less common demographic, are especially important to note. A study conducted by Suzanne Grégoire finds “women are found to lead the process of linguistic change.” Yes, women. You have the power to make a difference and you have the ability to change language. With that being said, we’ve looked at who we believe has made an impact on language and has really influenced us throughout our lives thus far. Women be inspired, be original and make change. If nothing else, crack open one of these authors’ books and enjoy the read. Maya Angelou Marguerite Johnson, better known as Maya Angelou, was born on April 4, 1928, and passed away in May 2014 at 86. As a proclaimed poet, educator, historian and passionate civil rights activist, she has influenced women of all ages all over the world. With more than two dozen written works and many other accolades, we have probably been witness to the best African-American female mind to ever incite change. One of her most popular novels is I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings (1969) which details what it meant to be a young black female in the United States. Mary Shelley Mary Shelley, born in 1797, was an English novelist, poet and is best known for her novel Frankenstein(1818). Shelley’s novel was published anonymously, with a preface by her husband Percy. This led many to believe he wrote it, considering writing was not a woman’s profession. It wasn’t until 1822, when she released a second edition and announced herself as the author, that she gained recognition for her work. She was a phenomenal author who paved the way for many more women to write science fiction and share their work publicly. Shelley is widely considered the mother of science fiction. Her novel Frankenstein is the first that used what we would now consider science fiction. Shelley passed away in February 1851. Jane Austen Jane Austen, born in 1775, was an English novelist best known for her novels, Pride and Prejudice(1813), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Emma (1815). If nothing else her novels addressed the issue of female status and challenged the norm of female behavior in the Romanticism era. For once a woman in this time could be independent and stand up for who she loved. Aside from being the classic model of a love story, her novels reflected her class. Austen died in 1817, but her influence is still seen today within novels and films. Sincerely, The Opinion Editors
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— WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, We only hope that one day women will see themselves for who they are — beautiful and endearing human beings. Each and every one. Yes, you. Look in the mirror and you will see you — inevitably, undeniably and uniquely you. With that being said, don’t compare yourselves to anyone else. Not Marilyn Monroe, not Audrey Hepburn, not Beyonce and not the Kardashians. You don’t need a thigh gap to feel beautiful, you don’t need push-up bras to get the attention of men and you don’t need contouring to look like anyone other than yourself. It has really become a societal problem. The Kylie Jenner Lip challenge is just one of the examples that distorts the idea of beauty. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s book We Should All Be Feminists speaks on the issue by saying, “We teach girls to shrink themselves to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, ‘You can have ambition, but not too much. You should aim to be successful, but not too successful otherwise you will threaten the man.’ Because I am female, I am expected to aspire to marriage. I am expected to make my life choices always keeping in mind that marriage is the most important. Now marriage can be a source of joy and love and mutual support, but why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage and we don’t teach boys the same? We raise girls to each other as competitors, not for jobs or for accomplishments, which I think can be a good thing, but for the attention of men. We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. Feminist: the person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.” She talks about marriage as a goal, but it is also one of the many reasons females fight with each other. It goes back to the beginning of time. Women were used as a bargaining chip between families. We fought for men’s attention and over time we have tailored our appearance, our behavior and sometimes our morals for them. Now, we’ve gone so far as to call each other out — slut, whore, b**** and c*** — and it needs to stop. It should not be a “girl thing” to talk behind each other’s backs. It should not be a “girl thing” to gossip. We should be accepting of ourselves and not comparing and competing. We should be embracing friendships, and not clawing at each other. We should be building each other up, not bringing each other down. Being a female should not be the shallow, deceiving thing that it is stereotyped to be. Women, stand up for yourselves. Prove that we are stronger than what we are perceived to be. Sincerely, The Opinion Editors — WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, Women have the beautiful ability to conceive, carry and nurse new life. Thus, they are the natural and sometimes sole caretaker of their child, which means they are largely responsible for cleaning, feeding and teaching. There is absolutely no reason any of those aspects should be debated — even when it comes to breastfeeding. The female body is sexualized, so much so that no one bats an eye at Victoria’s Secret or Carl’s Jr. for their absurd advertising, and it is socially acceptable for a women to use her body to sell a product. But the nation goes into a frenzy when a woman is breastfeeding her newborn child in public. Why would we need to reveal our breasts to feed our children, critics say; they are obviously for the pleasure of men. What you need to understand, whether you’re male or female, is the anatomy of breasts and the power of breastfeeding. Breasts hold a female’s mammary glands, which produce the milk every female mammal provides to their young — animal or human. A mother’s milk is more than just milk. A mother’s milk provides the nutrients and vitamins needed for the baby to grow. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months. The reasons for this are plentiful, including fewer food allergies and a stronger immune system. However, everything changes in public. All of sudden feeding your child is disgusting and inappropriate. All of sudden it is wrong to show a little boob. All of sudden it has become a controversy to provide for your young. The female body has become so sexualized that the simple act of feeding children and providing them with the nutrition they need to grow is unacceptable in public. If a baby is crying of hunger, what mother wouldn’t want to calmly feed their child? There are ways for women to cover up while feeding, including using a nursing cover, and sling or even just a blanket. But while this may work for some mothers, it doesn’t for others. Breastfeeding is not one-size-fits-all. But that doesn’t mean those who don’t use a blanket need to be shamed. Consider the babies that are born unable to drink formula because of allergy or the mothers who can’t afford the expensive non-allergenic hydrolyzed formula, these mothers don’t have a choice. Even consider the mothers who are unable to breastfeed due to health reasons, but want to for their child’s sake. It is different for every mother and the reasons for breastfeeding vary. Mothers, let it be your choice. If you breastfeed or bottle. If you can or can’t. It is a female’s duty to provide for her young. Disgust should not be a reason to starve a baby. Breastfeeding is not shameful and should not be treated as such — it is human. Sincerely, Your Opinion Editors — WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, We are females and we have the freedom of choice just as much as the next person. Which means: yes, I can wear my v-neck shirt, yes, I can wear my cute high-waisted shorts and yes, I can wear that beautiful summer dress that barely goes an inch above my knee. We aren’t saying that it’s acceptable to be barely clothed and we also aren’t saying that you shouldn’t show any skin. What we are saying is that if there needs to be a dress code, it needs to be a fair one. On the Internet a quote has been circulating: “When you interrupt a girl’s school day to force her to change clothes or send her home because her shorts are too short or her bra straps are visible, you are telling her that making sure boys have a ‘distraction free’ learning environment is more important than her education. Instead of shaming girls for their bodies, teach boys that girls are not sexual objects.” In schools throughout the country and even abroad, girls have been shamed for what they wear. This is the norm for many schools across the United States. Stories of girls wearing completely modest and appropriate outfits being sent home for allegedly breaking dress code are becoming more common. They are repeatedly sent home or forced to wear “shame suits.” Anything really that removes them from their learning environment, and all because what they are wearing is distracting. But distracting to whom exactly? We’re sorry, are muscle tees not considered distracting too? Schools are the ones claiming girls’ outfit choices are distractions for boys — not the boys. Thus, why are girls really being sent home? Is it an attempt to control young girls and teach them a lesson in modesty? Is this about schools wanting to teach more than their academic standards allow? Many schools claim that if a bra strap is showing or a pair of shorts are shorter than where your fingertips fall, then boys will be distracted and not able to focus in class. But even more absurd than that is not only are shorts and tank tops banned at many schools, but so are leggings, yoga pants and even maxi skirts. This is not a call for girls to start accepting these rules or to start wearing something different. This is a call for schools to change their dress codes and to give guys some credit in the fact that they can focus even if their classmate’s bra strap is visible. If guys in college can focus with absolutely no dress code, then high schoolers can too. Have you considered that there may be girls who can only afford the clothes they have? We’re not saying that as a copout for girls around the country to use freely, but consider what this new “dress code” is doing. Along with punishing girls for their outfit choices or sense of fashion, this dress code is policing girls and teaching them to cater to guys. If anything boys should be just as upset at this dress code because it portrays them as less mature than they actually are. So boys and girls unite and stand up to what should not be an issue in the first place. And girls — wear whatever you want. Sincerely, Your Opinion Editors — WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, Sexy — it’s merely a word. A word that’s spit at girls who walk by in short shorts and v-neck shirts. It is whispered among guys who sit around the bar. It has become negative — a sign of objectification. But at one point sexy was beautiful, sexy was strong — a sign of power. Spoken word artist and poet Michael Lee, better known as Tenrai Kenshin, has been one of the many artists who has represented and reclaimed this sensual and provocative word. “Sexy is taking all the evil things people call you as compliments and using the rocks they’ve thrown to build mansions,” said Lee in his poem “Sexy.” It should be used synonymous with beautiful, strong and intelligent and not a word to describe the “girl that gets around.” What happened to the time when sexy was empowering? A word to describe the strength of a female, the confidence in herself and the pride in being a woman. Sexy is beautiful. Sexy is strong. Sexy is intelligent — sexy is you. Sincerely, Your Opinion Editors — WRITTEN BY RACHEL DEXTER AND CHEYANNE MUMPHREY
Dear Diary, Sit up straight. Cross your legs. You can’t wear that. Don’t swear. That’s not ladylike. Girls can’t do that. No matter how these phrases are worded, almost every girl has heard them. When those words are spoken, whether it be from a parent, a sibling, a friend, a teacher or anyone else, they have the same effect — they diminish a girl’s self-worth. Whether we know it or not, those phrases place limits on us. They put pressure on us to act in a certain manner — a manner which has become synonymous with being feminine and ladylike. It is perceived by society that when and only when we cross our legs, wear feminine clothing and act as a juxtaposition to the masculine can we really be considered a girl. We are forced into a world where, even before the age of adolescence, expectations are placed on us simply because of our gender. Because being a girl means that you are expected to play with Barbies, not trucks. You are to be quiet and reserved, while boys can be loud and rowdy. The unwritten rules that girls are pressured to follow are absurd. Be seen and not heard. Hold your tongue. If we do something we’re not supposed to, we are told “that’s not ladylike.” If boys do something they’re not supposed to, it’s brushed off as “boys will be boys.” So not only are the expectations different, the repercussions are also drastically different. The gender norms that women are subjected to are unnecessary and outdated. There is almost always a negative connotation to the things girls do, and it is appalling. When a girl likes something traditionally girly, she is considered weak and fragile, but if she likes something that is more masculine, she is not girly enough. And if she starts to do girly things, and she is now considered weak and fragile. It’s a vicious cycle that will always hold girls back. Girls can be dainty. Girls can be strong. Girls can like pink. Girls can like blue. Girls can do whatever they want when they want. Girls can like whatever they want how they want. Girls can do all of these things or none of these things. It doesn’t matter. No matter what a girl does or how she acts, she is still a girl — screw gender norms. Sincerely, The Opinion Editors — WRITTEN BY CHEYANNE MUMPHREY AND RACHEL DEXTER
Dear Diary, We are females. We are taught to be feminine. Cross your legs, good posture and look presentable. We are taught to be polite. Hold your tongue and don’t curse, yell or shout — “It’s not lady-like.” We are taught to cook, clean and obey. We are females. We are perceived delicate, inadequate and dependent. We can’t play sports, we can’t handle money and we can’t make our own decisions. The only thing we are good for is our looks and ability to manage a kitchen and a baby. But we are females. We can be tough. We can take a hit on the field, throw back an insult and defend ourselves. We can play with toy trucks and video games. We can be intelligent and hold leadership positions, and we don’t have to be wearing a dress or makeup to do any of it. These guidelines to being a female are being challenged everyday, and equality seems more likely than it ever was when Cleopatra, Rosa Parks and Rosie the Riveter walked the Earth. Being a female is much more than barbies, pink and purses. Being female is something you should be proud of. We, as females, have opinions and we will write them, share them and speak our minds. Throughout the semester we will be detailing issues that females face around the world. We will define what it means to be female and how to live a life being proud in your heels and confident in your skin. We will look at issues of dress code, bullying, rape culture, pay and more. We will take a stance against female-on-female violence, debate female and male inequalities and define what society has portrayed the female race to be. Females face inequality every day, and if nothing else we will educate you on the issues we face and what to do about it. So we are picking up our pens to say — You are strong. You are independent. You’re dominant and you’re damn good at it. Sincerely, The Opinion Editors |
About A Pen & A DressA Pen & A Dress is a column by Cheyanne Mumphrey (and often features Rachel Dexter). Created in December 2015, A Pen & A Dress started publishing in The Lumberjack. Mumphrey's goal is to strike conversation about issues women face on a day-to-day basis and challenge the social norms for females across the globe. Archives
April 2016
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