Battling Everyday Sexism

I just got done watching what was probably one of the best TED talks I've ever seen. The video is posted below, I highly recommend you watch it! To give a brief recap Laura Bates talks about everyday sexism that woman face and how unfortunately widespread it has become and is considered "the norm". Here's my take on it and I hope each of you who watch this video or read this post form your own opinions on everyday sexism and street harassment as well. How many of us have heard cat-calls from construction workers, men driving past, men on the street etc.? Something along the lines of "Hey sweetie! Hey! Let me talk to you!" are frequently shouted out at me while I'm in public and it took a bit of research and informing myself to realize how grossly inappropriate it is and how I should not simply accept it as "the norm". For a while I just figured "Ignore them, don't let them have the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of me." However, I realized that being passive can actually be quite harmful as it sets the precedent that your cat-caller can harass women and get away with it as no one, not even the one being harassed, will call him on it. Now of course, if you're walking alone at night and someone harasses you, I would not recommend engaging them. In that situation, ignoring is the best way to diffuse the situation and unfortunately the harasser may just get away with it that time. However, during daylight and especially when others are around I challenge you to resist being passive. There's no need to be aggressive, but a simple "I'm uncomfortable with your behavior, please stop." will work. By asking, "Why do you think its appropriate to say that to me?" chances are your harasser will clam up at this question. He has no logical answer simply because, no one ever calls him on it! I think we can all agree that years down the road, if the same man saw his daughter or wife being cat-called, he would not be too happy about it. So why does he all of the sudden have the right to cat-call someone else's daughter or wife? The answer is HE DOESN'T. Also, there's a reason women refer to each other as sisters. Because if you saw your sister being cat-called you most likely would not be okay with it. So the next time you are being harassed or see someone else being harassed, SAY SOMETHING. As long as the situation doesn't put you in immediate danger, stand up for yourself and your sisters. Even if it's just a reassuring "Are you okay?" to a fellow woman who has just been harassed. Compassion is still here in this world and all it takes is tiny actions such as these to get the world talking, to inspire people to look out for one another, and even maybe just cause some men think twice before they cat-call women.

XOXO

Ingrid Michaelson.

If you don't know this name I implore you to Google it immediately! But first, let me enlighten you on the subject. If you don't recognize her name hopefully you recognize her hit "Girls Chase Boys", that she released back in February. Since then, "Girls Chase Boys" has been climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and enjoying plenty of play on the radio. The upbeat tempo and sassy lyrics make the song catchy but it's when you truly listen to the lyrics that you realize how bold and badass Ingrid Michaelson is as she sings this song. Lyrics like "You played me now I play you too; Let's just call it over" are making females around the world rejoice as Michaelson kicks the breakup blues to the curb in what is essentially her saying "Whatever! Screw it!" to her ex-lover. These lyrics talk of a woman who is confident, empowered, free, and everything except bitter after a breakup. Who says a breakup always calls for tubs of Ben & Jerry's and tissues?! "I got two hands, one beating heart, And I'll be alright!" sings Michaelson, clearly flippant about the breakup. More power to you, sister! Michaelson then goes a step further in her powerful parade of equality, in the video for the song. In the video, Michaelson sings into a microphone while in the background chiseled men in pink tank tops and a fair share of eye shadow, sashay to the beat; oh and let's not forget the red nail polish either! But wait! Just when you thought this music video would be a silly satire of Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible", we see women in similar dress dancing with the men and engaging in the same acts as the men. Equality. Shocker, isn't it? In today's music industry we see a bevy of women being objectified in videos across all genres, but Michaelson kicks that notion right to the side with an entertaining video which adds even more to the already powerful song. Michaelson is just one of many artists turning the tables on old gender stereotypes and injecting life into the current wave of feminism. Which for those who don't know, simply means "belief in equality between the sexes". So if you haven't heard the song or seen the video yet, make sure to check it out in the link below and be on the lookout for more Ingrid Michaelson to come! XOXO