Free Rice!

I've developed a love affair with this site. Yes, it's because I'm obsessed with my own vocabulary building. However, it certainly doesn't seem to do my karma any harm.

Give a Free Mammogram

If you've ever wanted to be an active part of women's health efforts, but felt that you just didn't have time, now you do.

Click to Give

It only takes a moment, and you can serve women's needs every single day, with only a few spare moments of your time.

Female Strength Training

I generally try to avoid the subject of women's weight training when perusing the internet for new addictions, because I don't feel like receiving an incredibly gendered, oochicoochie, isn't she cute when she picks up those 2.5 lb weights, approach to women's fitness. I understand that my biologically female body processes a different amount of testosterone than my partner-in-crime's biologically male body. With that, I don't need to be beat over the head with information that enforces a stereotype that his penis gives him the potential to obtain superhero-like strength while my vagina forces me to be a little bit more doughie (you know, for the babies). Honestly, my biological makeup doesn't change the fact that I am capable of building and maintaining muscle mass, regardless of any differences in how my body might do so. Yes, it may be helpful during training to note hormonal differences between male and female body-builders, but the only reason so many people draw so much focus toward muscle difference is because, societally, women aren't supposed to be strong, and men are! It's that simple, and I won't argue about it. So, finding a fitness site that can overcome the shocking fact that my largest "lady lumps" could actually be my biceps, and that my only goal in life isn't to GET RID OF ALL THE FAT!, can be a little challenging (and incredibly frustrating). However, luckily, the p-i-c has been willing to do some sifting on his own time, and has passed some useful sites on to me.

Here they are:

Betty Brawn, the strongest lady alive.
This one isn't actually a site that recommends routines. I just think that Betty Brawn is really effing cool. She's beautiful, and strong, and proud. I think she's a bit of an inspiration for all of us who are willing to take up space. I also don't know whether she's actually the strongest lady alive, but she certainly is one of the swellest.

Stumptuous
Yes, please. The only way that I'm actually okay with the fact that there aren't very many strong, gendered websites for women's fitness out there is due to the fact that stumptuous exists. Here you'll find awesome articles, great recommendations, and true interest in helping you obtain a goal toward STRENGTH. If you're not convinced, read the article about fat! and all its glory. Highlights of the site include the fitness injury articles, myth-dispelling articles, and an overall focus on moving female body fitness out of a destructive sphere.

Crossfit
Admittedly, I haven't spent much time on this site, so I could be off on this one. However, from what I've seen, Crossfit is a pretty great gender-neutral fitness site. The demos are probably the most beneficial thing on the site, and contain people of all ages/sizes/sexes.

Tracy Reifkind's Blog/Rediscovering Strength
I think that Tracy's site is incredibly inspiring and she looks totally kickass. However, it should be noted that this is one woman's journey without so much focus on overall female fitness. Naturally, as with any blog, this doesn't speak for every person who might read it. I'd love to someday be as amazing with a kettle bell as she is, but right now I only have the time, sanity, and the desire, to spend a small amount of my life on fitness. I try to maintain a healthy diet, but I don't have the money or time to make it a top priority. I'm okay with that, and it certainly doesn't make Tracy any less awesome.

That's really all I've got (for now). If I come across anything else that I find useful in my quest for totally strong awesomeness, I'll be sure to make note. For now, I hope this helps all 2 of the people who stumble upon this blog, should they be interested in female fitness.

Courtesty of NARAL

Q: Why the fuck is my birth control so expensive?


A: Click.


Click, dammit.

Action Time!

Hey all you women's rights advocates out there!! Time to show a little bit of commitment to women's health.

On Tuesday, October 2nd, the Compassionate Assistance for Rape Victims Act (CARE Act) will be voted on. I STRONGLY URGE you to contact your Representative prior to Tuesday in support of House Bill 288. This Bill would provide victims of rape access to emergency contraception, regardless of whether care is received at a religiously affiliated hospital.

Click here to commit to contact your representative (link provides more information).

Icons of strength

Project mission statement:
To create a visual display of iconic strength, in an attempt to physically, mentally, and spiritually inspire. Media used will be a large, poster-size canvas (30"-42") with acrylic, primary-colored paint. The image(s) will be painted in a pop-art style and will be displayed in my workout room.

In the midst of researching (read as: googling) icons of strength for this project , I've found these amazing images:



This image is titled "Nana was always a strong woman" and it's by Lisa Folino. Just look at it. You know it's wonderful.




I don't care if you're a Marilyn fan or not, this is my favorite image of her. I love that she's weight training, something I believe is typically disassociated with women (especially women who are perceived as feminine). Also, I think this image humanizes her; it shows the continuing work she puts into her physical body, rather than implying that she is perfection.

Things I don't like about the photo-
I wish it weren't posed. It seems really likely, however, that a photographer didn't just happen to get a snapshot of her daily workout routine. The jeans and the perfect hair indicate that, even in an attempt to show her strength, there are certain stipulations to being a beauty icon. That's a little disheartening.

Regardless, I really enjoy the image and might transcribe the pose for my own uses with my upcoming projects. We shall see!

Anyway, right now I've settled on starting with an interpretation of "Rosie the Riveter." I'll post photographs once it's complete.

Class Action Bullshit

Recently my super-hot and endearing Partner In Crime has been keeping me up-to-date on a lawsuit that has been filed against United Fire and Rescue Service, the company through which he volunteers as a fire fighter. In Fall 2006 a woman who frequently attended United's weekly BINGO fund raiser fell and incurred injury (I believe she broke her hip). So, she's suing for hospital bills, etc. Fine, whatevs. However, my PIC then told me that her husband is suing for lack of sex during her incapacitation. Come again(har har)?

Granted, I can understand the frustration involved in going months without being able to physically have sex (my hospitalization a year ago kept the PIC and I from doing the deed for a good -er, bad- 2 or 3 months). However, in what fucking realm of crazy is it assumed that the husband has the rights to sexual intercourse with his wife during that time. Fine, he didn't get any for a while because he's monogamous by choice. Doesn't it strike anyone else as fundamentally fucked that he is putting forth charges over his wife's sexuality? If the couple is pissed that they didn't get to have sex, then, by all means, she has every right to include it in her suit (not that I'm sure of its overall legitimacy). Talk about body politics in action.

I wish I had articles to share, however, the news sources in my area are pretty shoddy and nothing about the suit seems to have yet been publicized. If I find more material on the subject, I'll be sure to post it.

A series of honest statements:

This is the obligatory 'first post in a new blog' post.

I'm not quite sure what direction this project will take, but it was created in response to a cyber-itch I've been feeling ever since realizing that my original livejournal was created in 2001. Embarrassing as it is, the first post read:

well my life's not all that interesting, but i never make time to write in my actual journal anymore, so we'll se [sic] how this works. i'm a 16-year-old chic with stuff to talk about just like everyone else...i'll try not to bore you too much.
and so starts a new journey.

Trust me when I say that I am trying not to have any pretensions about myself now vs. then. I'm probably just as likely to cringe when I look back at this in six years.

Let me just start by saying, I'm no longer referring to myself as "a 16-year-old chic."

Also, to clarify, I still intend to retain the original journal for personal rantings/ravings/updates on my pets, what have you. This project is meant to move beyond my reactionary self and into a blogging community with a little more to talk about then my weekend follies (though, expect some of that to mix in with this as well). Hopefully it will document and expound upon my experiences as a 22-year-old, feminist, newlywed, pet owner with a B.A. in English interacting with her surroundings (a small town with no industry in northeastern America).

Peace and Popsicles,
D