One in three: Why is no one talking?
Issue date: 5/4/06 Section: Opinion
This is in response to an editorial in this week's paper entitled, "Men are not the Issue." First I would like to say that I'm glad this topic is being discussed like this. It is this type of conversation that I felt was lacking. As the creator of the bulletin board in question, I would like to point out some discrepancies in the article. To orient you if you did not read the article, I made a bulletin board pointing out some everyday phrases or lyrics that objectify women, and showed some ways language like that affects our environment, our culture, and ultimately, has led to way too many deaths among female victims. Last week's editorial by Maria Alonso states that "the way women are portrayed in the media, it's their own fault," "It's their (women's) fault that women are treated that way, because our own gender let themselves be subjected to it," and "I have no problem with men objectifying women in songs and music videos."
First, no where on the bulletin board did I blame men. In fact, many of my music lyrics were from female artists such as Lil Kim and the Pussycat Dolls. I also called out to women to stop "egging" this behavior on by pretending to like it, and especially to stop tearing each other down with gossip. There's a reason every single high schooler in America has self doubt- we criticize, make fun of, and gossip about each other like that's what we were put here to do! So my bulletin board was in no way man-bashing, as the title of the editorial implies.
Not only was I blaming both genders, but the point of the whole thing was to call attention to the things we say and hear everyday. Why are we letting men hoot and holler at us on the street, and we strut our stuff like their behavior is acceptable? Why is no one talking about the fact that more and more music lyrics contain phrases that objectify women or even suggest violence against women? I don't care if they're "kidding," it's creating an environment where it's okay to say these things.
First, no where on the bulletin board did I blame men. In fact, many of my music lyrics were from female artists such as Lil Kim and the Pussycat Dolls. I also called out to women to stop "egging" this behavior on by pretending to like it, and especially to stop tearing each other down with gossip. There's a reason every single high schooler in America has self doubt- we criticize, make fun of, and gossip about each other like that's what we were put here to do! So my bulletin board was in no way man-bashing, as the title of the editorial implies.
Not only was I blaming both genders, but the point of the whole thing was to call attention to the things we say and hear everyday. Why are we letting men hoot and holler at us on the street, and we strut our stuff like their behavior is acceptable? Why is no one talking about the fact that more and more music lyrics contain phrases that objectify women or even suggest violence against women? I don't care if they're "kidding," it's creating an environment where it's okay to say these things.
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