#femfinity

[ivanamelara-01-blog]

Pros & Cons to Social Curation

Being that the course is entitled Gender, Digital Media, and Social Curation, there were many things I did not know about social curation, like what it was for starters. Luckily, we delved into what aspects make content into a social curation and what were some of the negative and positive aspects about it. To begin with, websites such as Tumblr or Pinterest, create the platform for users to share their knowledge on a particular topic across to other users. This idea is essentially the user becoming the expert. By sending information based on your own knowledge on the matter, you can become a well-versed individual and a source others can use. Henry Jenkins coined the term, “prosumer” which is a producer and consumer in one. He explains that fan bases produce content that original creators can use. But the con of social curation would be is the information being presented verifiable and under the rules of research if it evens counts as a proper text? Another con that we discussed was the curation being conducted online still being subjected and structured by social powers, meaning sexuality, gender, race, sex, class, etc. These hierarchical of power still influences the content we see online today. We also question if the content being posted matches oneself both online and offline. We have to create our own feminist narrative of expression online without the expectations of others or by trying to “other” ourselves. 

[emilyevrard-blog]

Final Blog Post and Reflection

As our semester comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to discuss how this class has shed light on our current intimate relationship with the media.

Throughout this semester we have explored a multitude of topics from hacking to body positivity. Of all that we have learned, I have come to understand that how we use social media often controls our perception, both positively and negatively. It is up to us to be aware of this and understand how imbedded social constructions of race, gender, class, etc. are in all aspect of our lives. Once we recognize these areas, we can strive for social change. We are at a pivotal point in our lives as young students readying ourselves for the “real world.” Our world, our society here in the United States is all at pivotal points of change and it is up to us to make the difference. We can be the generation of change and if this class taught me anything, it taught me that this is possible.

[palomagomezfem-blog]

Since we spoke about body positivity at length I feel like this website would be useful to share. It is a feminist created movement where by “people are liberated from self-hatred, value their beauty and identity, and use their energy and intellect to make positive changes in their own lives and in their communities.” 

This movement has been in action since 1996, way before the hashtag was created (which has a lot to do with its popularity)

This website outlines some ways that people could achieve body positive which I believe is good because it creates some flexible guidelines that help individuals in reaching a working self positivity goal. This website has a very collective feel with the images and videos that it shares, which furthers the motivation to work on their growth in this department. 

One of their slogans is “Learning to love your unique body” which I really like because it lends itself to multiple bodies and not just one poster body that everyone is trying to achieve (ex. the fit, small waist, big butt body). @femfinity

[alethialynn-blog]

Fix my hair or whiten it?

https://www.facebook.com/HeyItzTaya/videos/1048527215229916/ This link above tells the story of how most young black young women are told to "fix" their hair in order to not look "untamed" and "well mannered" in society (also known as white). The young lady who recited this poem Elizabeth Acevedo gives others a look inside the life of a black woman with naturally wild hair. She states "My mother tells me to fix my hair and by fix she means to whiten." Young black women are being told at young ages that their hair needs to be fixed and have all these different types of product in the hair to look more white or appeal to the white main stream society. Why should black woman have to change their natural beauty to make those who are not fortune enough to be blessed with our beauty feel better about themselves. This is just another example of how whiteness is trying yet again make a minority feel bad about their culture in order to capitalize off of it or demean it out of existence.

[fadingnerdwombat-blog]

A Brief History Of Gay Marriage In Video Games

The supreme court wasn’t just copying Fire Emblem when it ruled in favor of same-sex marriage today. Gay unions have been around for quite some time in video games. Let’s look back at marriage equality’s rich history in the virtual world.

Same sex marriage options in gaming are a relatively recent and welcome addition. It is very important that gaming companies are acknowledging that not every person in their consumer community is a white, heterosexual, male gamer. While some of the same-sex marriage options in gaming are still slightly problematic in some ways (due to some fetishization of same sex relationships such as some games only offering a same-sex option for lesbian pairings and not for gay couples), it is undeniably a step in the right direction! This article is a brief history of how same-sex marriage options have gradually become more available in various video game franchises.

I picked up a copy of Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Fates, the day it launched and I was surprised that Nintendo had actually included two marriage options for the same gender! 

It was definitely a limited, but welcome addition to one of my favorite JRPG series, and I hope they expand this feature in future installments. Many people in the Fire Emblem fan-community were quite pleased that Nintendo had granted them the opportunity to allow their own sexual orientation to live through the player character by including the two bisexual marriage options, which allowed them to immerse themselves further into the story. 

- Nicole :) 

@femfinity

[icecreamvortex-blog]

Body Positivity

In thinking about body positivity, I agree that one should appreciate the body they’ve been given. Though there are many idealistic superficial notions of beauty, one should never feel obligated to conform to them in order to gain social gratification. I feel as though many people psychologically devalue themselves because they feel as though they lack certain physical qualities. From my experience, good looks are often compensation for those with poor moral character. Beauty then must be more than a pretty face and a good body. To be beautiful is to captivate and mesmerize, both of which are possible even in obscenity. On the flip side, I do not believe body positivity should be an excuse to condone obesity or unhealthy living. In appreciating the body one is given, I believe one should take care of it. Just as one tends to their home, one should tend to the vessel of their very being. 

[palomagomezfem-blog]

2 Dope Queens | WNYC

Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams are funny. They're black. They're BFFs. And they host a live comedy show in Brooklyn. Join the 2 Dope Queens, along with their favorite comedians, for stories about sex, romance, race, hair journeys, living in New York, and Billy Joel. Plus a whole bunch of other s**t. Booking inquiries: [email protected] Inquires: [email protected]

Post in relation to podcast #20 / Listen from 13:50-14:35 for the purpose of this post

This is a small snippet on #BodyPositivity--one of our topics this week. The radio host mentions that she was body positive before it was a hashtag. This led me to think, does using the hashtag body positivity (or any of the like) now make it less authentic as opposed to if you were body positive way before?

My personal thought on this is that body positivity comes from within, more specifically, it is how a person views themselves and how someone feels about themselves. Posting a picture attached with the caption #bodypositivity, in my opinion, serves as merely a statement/message and not so much communicating the feeling of body positivity. Does receiving over 100 likes on your #bodypositive post make you more body positive, and does receiving 5 like make you less body positive? To put yourself out into the public realm as an image warrants commentary in some way....and since I mentioned before that body positivity means that it’s a feeling that comes from and fosters within then why bring the public into that space? Doing so, in my opinion, reinforces existing social powers already in place and chips away from the central core and importance of body positivity...

However, on the flip side, if you are using it to make a social statement, like spread awareness of being body positive then using the hashtag is a great way of doing so.

This all boils down to intent and cause, I believe.

@femfinity

[emilyevrard-blog]

December 7, 2016

This week we continued our conversation about selfie culture and how it is seen through a “western” lens. How we view the legitimacy of a selfie is based on whether or not it fits into the stereotype created by western culture. Essentially, the consumption of selfies across borders is seen as a freedom for self-expression and yet, it still has its own limitations. In order to recognize selfies taken outside of “western world” the global south must alter their content to be legible to the Western public. Therefore the selfie manifests as a western privilege.

           For example, we learned about Al chaar and how we were able to feel empathic for him because his selfie was westernized. He was middle class, expressed interest in United States culture, wore clothes by western brands, English speaking, and educated. Selfies turn into a tool that allows us to compartmentalize different “types” and categorized people. In this process, we are continued to advance an agenda that is islamaphobic and racist. This leaves us with one critical question, “is the selfie a tool or a weapon”? Perhaps it is a double edged sword.