We’ve talked a lot about the media and how it represents different groups of people, reaffirms social stereotypes in my Women's Studies classes.

I’d like to point everyone’s attention to a bit of a breath of fresh air in the media avenue: Current TV.

Sarah Haskins has a segment on “Info-Mania” called Target Women. It’s excellent. Here are a few links to my personal favorite clips of hers.

She grabs points in the media (mostly ads) and points out all the stereotypes and fundamental flaws in their attempts to target women to their products. I will warn, a few of her clips have a bit adult humor, but nothing I would consider beyond a PG-13 rating.

Yogurt:

http://current.com/items/88941392_sarah-haskins-in-target-women-yogurt-edition.htm

Jewelry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzLWn3xTGL4

There are plenty of these, ones on chocolate, laundry. Practically everything women are “suppose to care about.”

There are other segments of the show as well that critique mass media and pop culture, which I would probably check out if I had a TV, and Cable. All I have are these clips.

So, I invite anyone to be a fan of current TV with me. Support the media avenues that represent real people and call people out on their reinforcing for gender stereotypes.

listening

I am not sure how many times I need to relearn this lesson.
LISTENING.

I go through phases when I think it's important, then I become super educated about something (or at least FEEL super educated) and start ignoring other people because they.are.wrong.

Well, other people are not always wrong. Mostly we have a difference of opinion, one of us is mis/under/wrongly/overly informed and it leads to 'noise' in the communication process.

Listening is JUST as important, if not more so, than saying what you know or feel.
I need to work on this again.
I need to be the listener I once was, and then some.

Learning to communicate properly is a learning process... and can have it's falls. Hopefully I've learned the listening lesson enough and I wont forget it.

I've, as you know, been angry for days

after Dr. Tiller's death.

Reading this upset me, then made me feel a bit better:

http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/anti-tales.shtml

Dr. Tiller

I didn't think I'd ever see the day when another Medical Professional was murdered. Dr. Tiller, you were a hero in every sense of the word.

Dr. Tiller provided late term abortions in Wichita Kansas and was gunned down in his church on Sunday May 30th, 2009.
I've been in mourning for a man I've never met. Filled with anger and fear. Knowing that his assassination is thought to be justified by certain groups, especially those that claim they favor life, appalls me.

Dr. Tiller saved lives, he did not take them. With his murder, countless women have lost access to necessary health care. Women now have two doctors in the country to turn to when they find themselves in need of this medical procedure.
Children developing with no brains and other abnormalities that will only know pain during the life that will last only a few moments. Mothers who face death or life long disabilities have only two heroes left to help them. May my and the next generation bring up more people like him. More heroes. More people willing to stand up for the right to save the lives and integrity of women and families.

As Dr. Tiller said: "And the first concept is that for every woman, each pregnancy is an invited guest into her body and a welcome addition to her family"