Perhaps it isn’t strange that just a few days before my mom is to fly in, with less than a week left until I’m to see Jay and Emily again, I feel more distant than ever before. But maybe it is.
I need to give up this nocturnal crap.
Baby Steps March 25, 2007
This part of the environmental movement is huge in the UK right now. Grocery stores offer saving incentives to those people who utilize reusable, non-plastic bags. Pictures of Keira Knightley are above captions explaining that the bag she’s carrying is designer- though only 5 pounds, and available at Sainsbury’s starting in April- and is a nod to the environmental movement. Indeed, this article in The Independent calls it “this year’s must-have fashion accessory”, and it was the “official goodie-bag for guests at the 2007 Vanity Fair Oscar-night party”.
Diatribe March 24, 2007
This guy is an idiot. If he had spoken with a few feminists- or even someone who’d taken a gender studies course- they would’ve told him that there is already “womanism”. It’s even in Wikipedia! Furthermore, feminists have been struggling with the term “female” for decades, as part of a larger discussion of and rebellion against essentialism. There is huge oversight in not quoting Simone de Beauvoir in a discussion on “woman”. The article was poorly written, short sighted, and without a clear focus; but it only became offensive when he chose to conclude a discusion of language with an observation about activist/intellectual categories. “Womanism!” he seems to say, “What will those silly creatures come up with next?”
“Woman” and “female” are often used interchangeably, though depending on context each carries a different connotation (and denotation, for that matter).
Perhaps in media speek “gender” won out over “sex”, but who today does not understand that the two terms signify different categories?
The example he uses, given by Lakoff, completely threw me for a loop: “woman doctor”, in my experience, would suggest an ob/gyn. That is, a doctor exclusively for women (‘women’ here being the sex category female). “Female doctor” sounds antiquated. It seems that today, signals as to a female presence in an historically male profession are given through the use of gender-specific pronouns: “Today I went to the doctor and she prescribed…” Again, from personal experience, I’m always taken aback when someone I’m talking to assumes that my professors, doctors, advisors… are male. Perhaps this is because I’m in the unique position of working in two departments with female chairs, currently both of my tutors are women, my psychiatrist is a woman… etc.
On ne naît pas femme: on le devient.
Muslim Customs Override European Laws? March 24, 2007
The title of the article is “German Judge Cites Koran, Stirring Up Cultural Controversy”, but that description is misleading.
In reality, a female German judge used the Koran to justify denying a Muslim woman’s request for a speedy divorce. The woman’s request was that remaining in the marriage constituted “unreasonable hardship” because she was being beaten and had received death threats from her husband. Indeed, this same judge had issued a restraining order against him. Unreasonable hardship can be used as a reason to bypass the otherwise lengthy divorce process, which requires a year long separation. It’s all in the article, obviously. Read it.
Purdah and the Veil March 20, 2007
This verdict really upsets me. I’m going to figure out why after I finish this paper… check back later.
Eep March 19, 2007
At least it sounds good, right?
How would the publication benefit from your knowledge and how would you benefit from working with this publication?
~I feel one of the last hurdles facing any publication is the ‘polishing’- small details such as spelling and grammar which do not affect the content, but greatly influence the reader’s experience and opinion of the paper. I would like to help move The Cluster past such small errors, and in the process I will benefit from the experience of working with editors and writers to meet deadlines, and the opportunity to learn more about what goes into running a newspaper.
What changes/improvement would you make to this publication?
~Eliminating as much as possible typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting errors. Beyond that I think that The Cluster may benefit from looking at other student publications for feature ideas, as well as from seeking to increase the number and different types of students that contribute. I want Mercer’s campus to look forward to (alternate) Thursday mornings.
If there are errors in those answers, please don’t point them out. I can’t handle it today.
Seeking a Challenge March 18, 2007
This NY Times article makes me want to teach. Or at least apply for TFA.
An Early Christmas List March 14, 2007
“Why are you a vegetarian?” is a question I really don’t mind being asked. The reasons are numerous, but this article addresses one of them. I’d be willing to return to omnivore status if animal cruelty were* eliminated (I think). At the very least, it would be a huge step in getting me to reconsider. In any case, I want her book when it comes out.
*Sidenote: “cruelty were eliminated” or “cruelty was eliminated”? Obviously, I went with “were”, but it gave me pause. I think it sounds a little forced. Subjunctive, or no?
From dictionary.com:
—Usage note: The subjunctive mood of the verb, once used extensively in English, has largely disappeared today. The subjunctive survives, though by no means consistently, in sentences with conditional clauses contrary to fact and in subordinate clauses after verbs like wish: If the house were nearer to the road, we would hear more traffic noise. I wish I were in Florida. The subjunctive also occurs in subordinate that clauses after a main clause expressing recommendation, resolution, demand, etc.: We ask that each tenant take (not takes) responsibility for keeping the front door locked. It is important that only fresh spinach be (not is) used. The subjunctive occurs too in some established or idiomatic expressions: So be it. Heaven help us. God rest ye merry, gentlemen. Were in the phrase as it were, meaning “in a way,” is a subjunctive: His apology, as it were, sounded more like an insult.
