April D. Boland

Reclaiming the F Word: The New Feminist Movement

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:59:00 +0000

What happened to the feminist movement that meant so much to all of us in the 1970s? Is it dead and gone for good? The answer is no, and UK authors Catherine Redfern and Kristin Aune are on a mission to spread the word. “Article after article proclaimed that feminism was dead,” they write, “and stated that young people in particular are uninterested in this once vital movement. This simply didn’t tally with what we had seen through our research and involvement with the feminist community.”

One of the most interesting things that Redfern and Aune do in Reclaiming the F Word is to compare the objectives of the previous movement with the objectives of the current one. According to their research, the demands of the 1970s’ women’s liberation movement were not all that different from our desires today. In chapters devoted to each of the seven issues they deem to be relevant in the past and today, they explore both issues as well as solutions.

For example, “Liberated Bodies” highlights a number of issues, from eating disorders to female genital mutilation to abortion to “jumping off the beauty treadmill.” The “Sexual Freedom and Choice” chapter opens with a discussion of what prevents women from making free choices. This can range from being forced to have sex with her husband to agreeing to an uncomfortable sexual practice in order to maintain a relationship. The authors go on to highlight specific sexual issues that women face today, including sexual double standards, objectification, sex education (or lack thereof), and homophobia. Redfern and Aune also analyze violence against women—including sexual assault, physical abuse, and harassment—and draw attention to the ways in which patriarchal attitudes impact violence, and how violence against prostitutes has its own specific concerns. They offer practical solutions such as organizing public awareness campaigns, better laws, and education programs.

Many of us know all too well that the fight is not over for equal opportunities in the workplace, while working women still struggle with being expected to take on the lion’s share of the housework and child-rearing. A chapter devoted to this issue once again illustrates the strengths of the book: providing statistics and stories from real women to back up claims, and then providing real solutions. Redfern and Aune suggest that expanding women’s career choices, challenging global poverty and working conditions, fighting for pay equality, challenging discrimination at work, and promoting equality in the home will make a huge difference for women. This is not just a book of “feminist complaining;” it is a call to arms against injustice and a blueprint for how to get there.

Chapter five tackles a sticky subject, one that people are not supposed to broach in polite conversation: politics and religion. Today, women are still fighting barriers when it comes to running for office and even getting to the polls. On the religion side, Redfern and Aune offer insight into how women perceive religion as well as how some feminists have tried to account for their faith.

Many feminists believe that sexism is so ingrained into popular culture today that it will require a major overhaul of media in all forms to fix the problem. In a chapter devoted to freeing popular culture from sexism, the authors tackle hip hop and its lyrical messages, sexism in advertising, gender stereotyping, and celebrity culture as it pertains to women like Paris Hilton or Miley Cyrus.

The final demand of feminists today is “Feminism Reclaimed,” as many of the women interviewed by the authors felt that feminism itself needs a revival. The backlash against it, leading many women to fear self-identifying as feminists, is not helpful. Neither is misrepresenting feminism or trying to typecast all feminists.

Reclaiming the F Word provides an excellent overview of all of the issues currently faced by women not only in the UK, but also around the globe. By highlighting the concerns women have today and offering powerful suggestions on how to eradicate sexism, readers feel empowered that they too can change the world.

Written by: April D. Boland, July 28th 2010

American Girl Magazine (May/June 2010)

admin — Sat, 22 May 2010 08:00:00 +0000

American Girl Magazine

American Girl Publishing

I recently reviewed New Moon Girls Magazine and was particularly impressed with the way it provides interesting and encouraging content to young girls without succumbing to the harmful media trends that can potentially harm their self-esteem. American Girl Magazine is another publication that appeals to girls without excessively highlighting gender stereotypes. You won’t find articles here on how to win a boy’s affection or properly apply makeup. Rather, American Girl focuses on a combination of real world issues, like relationships with friends and family, and fun features like recipes, craft ideas, and quizzes. This particular issue offers the following sections:

Together Time—suggestions for activities to do with parents
Rooms for You—how to jazz up your room to fit your personality, be it earthy, artistic or sporty
Frosted Friends—recipes for baking and decorating cupcakes, complete with cupcake stickers
Which Friend Are You? And: Save or Spend? Quizzes
Small Stuff—tips for decorating your doll’s room
Puzzle Palooza
Puppy posters

The magazine also publishes quite a bit of content from its young readers. This issue alone features drawings, letters, recipes, and more from over fifty girls. In my opinion, this gives readers the feeling that they have a role in the creation of the magazine and that the things they mail in have a good shot at being included.

While some feminists might bristle at the “girly” aspects of the magazine such as the encouragement to bake, decorate rooms and hang up pictures of puppies, I do not believe that this undermines the positive potential of the magazine. Some young girls are just plain girly, and there’s nothing wrong with that so long as it’s by choice. American Girl does, however, forgo an unnatural focus on appearance, weight, or popularity. In this way, the magazine provides an excellent alternative to other publications that push agendas that are toxic to a young girl’s development.

Written by: April D. Boland, May 22nd 2010

New Moon Girls (The Beauty Issue)

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 12:00:00 +0000

New Moon Girls

If you’re a parent or a person who interacts with and cares about children, you might have noticed some worrisome trends, especially among girls. I have seen girls as young as seven show concerns over “getting fat” or being unpopular. Bullying, body image conflict, and other issues seem to be plaguing young women earlier and earlier.

Most women who call themselves feminists would agree that enriching the younger generation is crucial. The statistics on young girls today are disturbing: according to the National Institute on Media and the Family, forty percent of girls between nine and ten surveyed had tried to lose weight. The NIMF also published study results that stated the following: “One in every three articles in leading teen girl magazines also included a focus on appearance, and most of the advertisements (fifty percent) used an appeal to beauty to sell their products.” This is getting serious, folks. We cannot continue to feed our daughters this kind of messaging and then wonder why rates for eating disorders and low self-esteem are so high. That said, I think it can sometimes be hard to give these girls positive messages that are digestible and make sense at their level. Who wants to listen to boring old parents anyway?

Thankfully there are forms of media to help. If your daughter, sister, or friend is drawn to magazines, hide their latest issue of Teen Beat and replace it with New Moon Girls. The magazine has so many fun sections that she will hardly miss it. New Moon puts a spin on traditional magazine sections to make them even more relevant for girls. Instead of a Letter from the Editor being written by an adult, girls who helped work on the magazine write it. The advice column provides advice from—you guessed it—girls. The entire magazine focuses not only on giving girl readers good content but also in making sure that it is credible and relevant by getting it from the very girls New Moon targets. Simply put, this magazine is genius.

The Beauty Issue (May-June 2010) is full of positive messaging and reinforcement, something girls today often lack from the media. The issue contains features on beauty including how to boost your body confidence, your favorite body part, and a piece on inner beauty, as well as short fiction. The idea of beauty is tackled from every possible angle, giving girls an opportunity to discover what they like most about themselves rather than showing them yet another picture of female celebrities and models.

I am encouraged and thrilled about magazines like New Moon Girls and my hope is that they will continue to compete with more mainstream magazines for the attention of young girls. (Hint: They can’t do so without our support!) This magazine is for anyone who wants a girl in his or her life to know just how special she is.

Written by: April D. Boland, May 1st 2010

Grow Your Own Tree Hugger: 101 Activities to Teach Your Child How to Live Green

admin — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Wendy Rosenoff

Krause Publications

As a woman with young siblings, I have a vested interest in all materials that help me to have a positive influence on the adults they will grow up to become. I was very excited to see this new title by Wendy Rosenoff, an environmentalist who works with children through the Girl and Boy Scouts. Grow Your Own Tree Hugger contains, as noted, 101 activities that you can work through with your kids to help them better understand the planet and how to take care of it.

I often find it challenging (though necessary) to discuss lofty concepts with kids, and Rosenoff’s book helps because the activities serve as examples or analogies to larger, more complicated issues. For example, it might be difficult to get a child to understand the impact of pesticides and chemicals on our food, especially when these foods look the same as organic ones. Rosenoff suggests that you take two pieces of fruit—one organic and the other non-organic—and put them in the refrigerator. After several days, the organic fruit will be green and withered while the chemically enhanced one will still look new. This is a great, visual way to illustrate how pesticides prevent the natural decomposition process for kids.

Some activities do not actually involve activism, but offer a fun game as a way to encourage open conversation. Rosenoff suggests you make and fly a kite with your child and then use the opportunity to talk about wind power. She also encourages parents to take their kids out to experience nature, something the modern child often lacks exposure to.

In this day and age of the internet, video game devices, and television, some kids don’t spend much time outdoors at all. Rosenoff believes you should take them to examine tree stumps and determine the tree’s age, or get outside and plant something. She even includes recipes that parents and kids can make together with organic ingredients.

In working through Grow Your Own Tree Hugger, you not only inform your kids about the environment and the ways in which they can have an impact, but you get to spend time with them doing hands-on activities that are actually a lot of fun. You will probably both benefit from the time you spend growing your own tree hugger.

Written by: April D. Boland, April 30th 2010

The Phoenix Gone, The Terrace Empty

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

By Marilyn Chin

Milkweed Editions

I have always been fascinated by the immigrant experience, especially within America. Being fifth generation American myself, it is safe to say I am quite removed from it. Yet I often do research and write about my ancestors, thinking about what they went through when they entered Ellis Island in New York and tried to make a place for themselves in a strange land. One hundred years ago, Europeans flooded our shores, and today, immigrants from many different countries make their way here. Their experiences are completely different from previous immigrant generations, right? Yes and no. I honestly believe that there are quite a few similarities.

Marilyn Chin's The Phoenix Gone, The Terrace Empty is a powerful account of what the immigrant faces in coming to the United States – the good, the bad and the ugly. She writes lines about Mongolians on horseback and the Chinese Goddess of Mercy, as well as buying groceries at the Safeway in San Diego. She juxtaposes images that are so different, startling to the reader, but this is only a representation of what immigrants truly experience. From one country to another, so completely different in every way: it is startling. While the poet was born in Hong Kong, she was raised in Portland, Oregon, illustrating the fact that being raised in America from childhood does not necessarily negate the confusion and complexity of the migration experience.

One of my favorite excerpts is the following, from the poem entitled, "How I Got That Name: an essay on assimilation":

I am Marilyn Mei Ling Chin. Oh, how I love the resoluteness of that first person singular followed by that stalwart indicative of "be," without the uncertain i-n-g of "becoming." Of course, the name had been changed somewhere between Angel Island and the sea, when my father the paperson in the late 1950s  obsessed with a bombshell blonde transliterated "Mei Ling" to "Marilyn." And nobody dared question his initial impulse - for we all know lust drove men to greatness, not goodness, not decency. And there I was, a wayward pink baby, named after some tragic white woman _swollen with gin and Nembutal.” _

Later in the poem she draws the two worlds together, showing the reader how intertwined they can be. In fact, one might say that these lines sum up the message of the entire collection: “The further west we go, we'll hit east;/the deeper down we dig, we'll find China.” The old world is never far, regardless of how remote it can seem. Traditions, perceptions, feelings, and thousands of years of history are always with Chin and others like her, even if they must scratch the surface to see them more clearly.

Written by: April D. Boland, January 16th 2010

All in a Day

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:27:00 +0000

By Cynthia Rylant, Nikki McClure

Abrams Books for Young Readers

All in a Day is a children's book by Cynthia Rylant that helps kids understand time is fleeting without being dark or frightening. The book urges readers to make the most of each day because "a day is all you have to be, it's all you get to keep." Rylant, who has written over 100 children's books and has received such honors as the Newbery Medal, does this quite effectively. Her chief character is a little boy who does a multitude of things in one day, from tying his shoes and climbing a tree to helping his parents with the housework and lying beneath the sun. Rylant's short poetic lines are the perfect backdrop to his actions, as she writes, "A day is a perfect piece of time to live a life."

All in a Day also features the artwork of Nikki McClure, a paper-cut artist who uses an X-acto knife to create portraits of people living their daily lives, which fits in perfectly with the theme of the book. Her simplistic black and white images, set against calm, pastel pages of light blue and yellow, add a peaceful tone that supports Rylant's non-threatening message. Children will not be frightened by the idea that all we have is today because it is presented in such a serene and matter-of-fact way.

One of the best things about this book is it provides a safe way for parents or teachers to broach a serious, important topic with their children: mortality. The book is short—only thirty-two pages—but it makes its point without being overly preachy or didactic, something that can be very important when approaching children with short attention spans. The book ends with a simple, profound message: "So live it well, make it count, fill it up with you. The day's all yours, it's waiting now... See what you can do."

Written by: April D. Boland, September 25th 2009

Lapis Birds with Malachite Earrings

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:51:00 +0000

By Black Rabbit

I have to admit, I have a weakness for unconventional, handmade jewelry, so I was quite eager to own something from Black Rabbit Handmade Jewelry. The business is run by a mother-daughter team based in Vermont who have a passion for creating jewelry inspired by nature. The company was named for their pet—you guessed it—an adorable black rabbit, photos of whom you can find on their blog.

A quick browse through the Black Rabbit online catalog of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces reveals incredibly striking colors and designs. The designers incorporate precious metals with beads and pendants made of semiprecious stones, glass, crystal, or natural materials—such as bone, horn, shell, mother of pearl, nut, seed, and wood—to create pieces you are not going to find in traditional jewelry stores.

I was certainly not disappointed with my beautiful lapis birds when they arrived. According to the Black Rabbit ladies, the birds were hand-carved in Afghanistan. They added green malachite beads and sterling silver Bali rondelles. The earrings are a colorful yet understated complement to many outfits, and I feel elegant and funky at the same time whenever I put them on. At times, I even enjoy tossing my head from side to side to watch the birds fly!

In addition to offering beautiful trinkets at fair prices, Black Rabbit Handmade Jewelry offers free shipping within the United States, no matter how much or how little you buy. Pick up something handmade for a friend or loved one, or just spoil yourself a little. It is fabulous to support small, women-led businesses whenever you can. It just feels good, doesn't it? And honestly, who can say no to that beautiful black bunny?

Written by: April D. Boland, September 17th 2009

Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:02:00 +0000

By Susan Campbell

Beacon Press

As a feminist who was raised within the Christian fundamentalist paradigm, I was immediately drawn to this memoir. Though Susan Campbell and I come from different flavors of fundamentalism, all of the experiences she writes about ring true. I suspect they would ring true for all women who were raised within a patriarchal religion (fundamentalist or not), as well as women who may not have been raised with any religion at all, but recognized prejudice in American society just the same.

Campbell grew up in the South during the 1960s and '70s, where she struggled with what was expected of her as a female. In Dating Jesus, she describes countless scenarios of rebellion, which make the reader simultaneously laugh and pump her fist in the air in solidarity and support. One such incident took place when Campbell asked her Sunday school teacher why women could not be preachers. Her teacher gave her a pat answer, yet even at a young age, Campbell was skilled in rhetoric and debate. She continued to dialogue respectfully with her teacher until he stepped out and returned with her mother, who took her out of the Sunday school class to spend the rest of the time in the nursery. “The meaning is not lost on me,” Campbell writes. "For asking questions, I will be placed among babies who slobber and fill their pants. It is a public shaming."

Dating Jesus is not limited to describing faith-based injustices against women. It also paints a picture of America at a time before Title IX, through the eyes of a tomboy who desperately wants to be treated as her brothers are, but is constantly expected to behave like "a good Christian girl." This reprimand comes from all sides, including her school principal when Campbell flips off a fellow student athlete as he shows off his new school-bought sneakers. The female sports teams at the school had been forced to wear the same ratty uniforms while the boys were given new uniforms for each sport.

Yet the fact remains that Campbell's memoir is about her tumultuous relationship with Jesus, whom she views as her boyfriend from age eight on. And who can blame her? She is brought up in a culture of loving and adoring Jesus and living her life in order to make him happy. One of the best things about this memoir, however, is that it does not end with Campbell dismissing Christianity altogether. She is honest enough to say that while she is disappointed by the route the church has taken, where misogyny and strict legalism reign in place of Jesus' message of love and acceptance, she is still a Christian on some level. She refers to people like herself as "Christ-haunted," never being able to depart fully from the faith. When, as adults, her brother says to her, "Fundamentalism broke off in us, didn’t it?" the reader who has lived this type of life knows exactly what he means.

Campbell ends on a hopeful note. She talks about the way Jesus treated women in the Bible, which was very different from how the rest of the world treated them. They were seen as outcasts, unworthy of attention or respect, but Jesus spent time talking with them. He valued them in a way that was revolutionary at the time. Campbell's final realization is that the Jesus she "dated" throughout childhood was "someone’s idea of Jesus, but not the real one." She notes, "The real Jesus wouldn’t have loved me less because of my gender. The real Jesus wouldn’t have weighed me down with rules—a list of do's and don'ts that serve no real purpose. The real Jesus would have had a sense of humor about the whole thing, goddammit."

Written by: April D. Boland, April 10th 2009

Lemon Shortbread

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 13:34:00 +0000

By Sun Flour Baking Co.

When I saw there were cookies available to be reviewed—COOKIES—I jumped at the opportunity! I didn't do extensive research on the Sun Flour Baking Co. that makes the cookies. I just saw the words "Lemon Shortbread" and then went a little nuts.

When the box of cookies came in the mail, I did read it more closely. Since I had no background information on the baking company, it came as a surprise to read such phrases as "No refined sugar," "Egg & Dairy Free" and "40% organic." I noticed that the Sun Flour Baking Co. pride themselves on manufacturing the "Feel Good Cookie."

As a former vegetarian, I know all about the importance of eating organic foods and avoiding certain things in your diet. Usually, however, one can only accomplish this through a drastic reduction in taste.

My beloved cookies were... gulp ...HEALTHY.

And yet as I opened the package and popped one into my mouth: sheer bliss. How can cookies that contain no butter have such a buttery yet lemony quality? I guess I wasn't giving that pressed organic palm oil enough credit.

The cookies are delish! I will definitely buy them in the future, and who knows: perhaps alleviate some of my cookie-eating guilt in the process?

Written by: April D. Boland, June 3rd 2007

Shabnam Mousi

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:44:00 +0000

Directed by Yogesh Bhardwaj

Frameline Distribution

Yogesh Bhardwaj’s 2005 Bollywood film Shabnam Mousi presents some interesting issues regarding gender. It focuses on a group of eunuchs who raise a eunuch child within their clan. This child grows up to be Shabnam, the star and namesake of the film. Shabnam and other eunuchs struggle with the fact that they are not complete men or women, and that they will never be able to marry or have children. They question why god made them “incomplete,” and why other people in society treat them so unkindly.

There are various altercations in the film between the eunuchs and other members of society. One example of such is when a man falls in love with Shabnam. Upon telling his sister that he wishes to marry the eunuch, his sister promptly approaches Shabnam and tells her to stay away from him. The end result is Shabnam selflessly bidding farewell to this man and chance at a marriage.

Shabnam is a lovable character; she seems to combine the stereotypical attributes of male physical strength with female kindness and compassion in order to stick up for the helpless. She also makes some lofty, inspiring speeches about what is right.

Despite an interesting premise and main character, the movie is hard to sit through. It drags in places, the subtitles lag and the acting is not the best. It may, however, be worth a watch just for the themes represented in it.

Written by: April D. Boland, April 3rd 2007

"Decaf Tastes Like Ass" T-Shirt

admin — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:04:00 +0000

By Rudechix

The Rudechix line is all about honesty – letting your t-shirt/tank top/underwear say what you are too polite to say. Ranging from "I'm Cuter than You" to "Getting Tattoos When I'm 18" baby-wear, the clothes are funky, fun, and full of attitude. They are ideal for women who are tired of the old adage, "Sugar and spice and everything nice."

When my t-shirt came in the mail, I was very excited. Inside a coffee cup was the commentary, "Decaf Tastes Likes Ass." Red so soft it's almost pink, the shirt was pretty and biting at the same time.

Unfortunately, I did not get my chance to model it for the neighborhood. While this reviewer does not shop in plus-size stores, the XL tee was surprisingly small. Naturally, as a feminist, I was disappointed. I had requested an XL to be safe – surely XL women are not this size! I was forced to give it to my younger sister, who normally wears smalls and mediums.

The idea and style are both fantastic; my only hope is that Rudechix will realize that chunky girls have something to say too.

Written by: April D. Boland, February 19th 2007

If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit

admin — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 23:58:00 +0000

By Brenda Ueland

Graywolf Press

As a writer, I was excited about reading and reviewing Brenda Ueland’s book, If You Want to Write. I thought that it would give me helpful tips on honing my craft. The book is full of tips, but not the kind I had expected. Subtitled “A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit,” the book is more philosophical than anything else. Ueland goes to great lengths to avoid dispensing advice on style or form; she believes such advice kills one’s writing faster than anything else. Her main concern is with freedom – the freedom to write straight from your imagination without fear or reservation.

The book is a bit dated, having first been published in 1938. It soon becomes clear that Ueland is addressing women, and one of her chapters is entitled “Why Women Who Do Too Much Housework Should Neglect It for Their Writing.” Upon reading this title, I thought that this chapter might no longer be relevant, until I came to the following passage:

In fact that is why the lives of most women are so vaguely unsatisfactory. They are always doing secondary and menial things (that do not require all their gifts and ability) for others and never anything for themselves. Society and husbands praise them for it […]. The poor wives are reminded that that is just why women are so splendid – because they are so unselfish and self-sacrificing and that is the wonderful thing about them! But inwardly women know that something is wrong (99).

This may still teach women something after all.

Ueland comes off as a Christian – although she does mention writing from past incarnations – and she believes that what is referred to as the “Holy Ghost” is really none other than the imagination where one’s creativity and inspiration flow from. To deny or silence this is the greatest sin.

The bottom line of If You Want to Write is that we must rediscover the creativity that has been murdered by teachers, parents and critics of all kinds. If we write to make money, get published, or please others, our work will always be dull. We must write for the pleasure of writing, because we have something inside of us that must be shared. She presses the reader to understand the fact that despite what we may think, we all do.

Written by: April D. Boland, February 17th 2007