Before first hearing the word feminism or learning about its history, I was deeply attracted to embracing the characteristics and many abilities of women. Growing alongside this passion was my other love: Christianity. My mother told me this developed at an early age; she clearly remembers when I first asked her to teach me to pray. Just as vividly, she remembers when I had the audacity to disobey my Tae Kwon Do instructor and do the rock-fisted "boy" push-ups after he specified that girls were not to do these push-ups for fear that they might break their weak wrists. These early Christian feminist interests thrived in the early years of my life as I continued to invest more and more of my...  read more»

A friend of mine has a tattoo on her arm of a stone-faced pin-up girl tied to a giant fishhook. The tattered banner above reads By Hook or By Crook: an old English idiom roughly meaning by any means necessary. She got it at a time when she was hustling street corners. Now the tattoo is often hidden under long sleeves – it doesn't quite suit her current identity as an engineering student. The Student by Day/ Sex Worker by Night figure is as much a stereotype as The Happy Hooker; however, for several years I led this double life. My clients knew I was a student, it seemed to ease their guilt and even excite them but as a safe measure I always lied about which campus I attended. At school, I...  read more»

Choice. It's a loaded word that begs questions like "Will mine be the right one?", "What are my other options?", and most importantly, "Will I be supported in my choice?" The options surrounding abortion have always been a hot topic for debate. Nowadays, it is the common belief that most, if not all, religions are anti-choice, but what many do not know is that a slew of religious organizations do exist with the goal of protecting a woman's right to choose while providing religious support. One progressive organization that harmonizes religion and reproductive rights is the Religious Coalition of Reproductive Choice (RCRC). It is an alliance of national organizations from major faiths and...  read more»

Today, frailty is coupled with beauty as women are pushed to meet surreal standards of thinness. But we are really meant to have curves, and hips, and thighs— the whole 9 yards or 9 inches as the case may be. So, I have two questions: why does this movement to portray women solely as extremely thin, boyish creatures exist, and what should women do about it? The answer to the first question may well have to do with the de-sexualizing of women. To be successful in today's society, women must embody self-control, domination, and masculinity. No more indulgences and cravings— don't you know they make us weak? Women strive to emulate the exceptional, atypical woman who is admired despite...  read more»

(Note: To reveal larger patterns within the Greek System, we have chosen to use pseudonyms to refrain from identifying specific Panhellenic sororities). "Feminism is inherent to some sororities": A Promise Betrayed? Amy Richards, co-author of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future, states, "I certainly think that you can be a feminist and be in a sorority; in fact, I think that feminism is inherent to some sororities, where there is a commitment to social justice, volunteering, etc... and where sharing is a constant part of women's lives".After hearing about Delta Theta's anti-woman policies regarding "promiscuity", appearance-based recruitment process, and the censorship of young...  read more»

Dear Michelle Stover / FEM Staff, I am completely appalled at this issues installment of "FEM Goes Greek". I would like to know why it is so blatently (sic) biased, I felt as though the article was written in a manner that was unconvincing and seemed as though the points that were presented were reached for and not backed up at all. I don't disagree with feminism or a person's opinion on any given situation but this article lacked inspirational stands and was one hundred percent one sided. I don't know if Miss Stover has ever taken a speech or debate class but to get people to appreciate your views in an acceptable way you must present both sides of the argument, which she failed to...  read more»

In an attempt to make the Bible more relevant to teenage girls, Thomas Nelson Bibles has created the second edition of the Revolve: The Complete New Testament. Utilizing a magazine format, the publication combines Biblical verses from the New Century Version of the New Testament and magazine-like tidbits targeted at teenage girls. Beauty secrets, quizzes, and "Guys Speak Out" are only a few of the topics that have fluffed this Bible up to make it hip and appealing to teens. As a feminist, reading this publication was difficult for several reasons. Complete with manipulative "advice" about boys, relationships, sexuality, and body image, Revolve does not attempt to mask its intentions; this...  read more»

The sexual revolutions that have occurred throughout the development of the western world have certainly made it easier to talk about sex. However, the extent to which these sexual revolutions involved major changes in sexual attitudes remains questionable as Western cultures continue to consider sex to be a dangerous, destructive, and negative force. Prominent feminist anthropologist Gayle Rubin explains that this kind of sex negativity is an important ideological formation that retains a strong grip on sexual thought. American culture treats sex with suspicion by judging almost any sexual practice in terms of its worst possible expression. Often, we are burdened by assumptions that sex...  read more»

Sex is stigmatized. Sex workers are demonized, magazines featuring sexual images are kept behind counters, and academia rarely studies sex in a non-pathological light. However, sex is everywhere. Sex is in advertisements, television, and movies. Sex sells but shame awaits those who buy. We hear sexual jokes daily and innuendos have become a sign of quick wit, but we cannot engage in serious conversation about our sexual desires without fear of reprimand or disapproval. We can deal with sex as a commodity, pathology, or a joke. But, when it comes to honestly delving into our desires and sexual experiences, we are silenced. Sex is everywhere but is at the same the last taboo topic of serious...  read more»

Two contradicting idioms influence our lives. The first tells us that actions speak louder than words, yet the second proclaims the pen is mightier than the sword. I'd like to propose that a combination of these trite phrases truly serve as a self-representation, for I act with my pen. I both act and write against the dangerously ignorant and contradicting male form known as the Hypocrite.His patriarchal mind, disgustingly ignorant of the world around him, does not allow him to admit he is a hypocrite. He instead turns his nose up at Tyra Banks for using her body to make money but records and repeatedly watches the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. He heartily espouses that strip clubs...  read more»