Sexist advice article indicative of societal heteronormativity

ModernMan “dating and relationship expert” Dan Bacon’s 2013 article “How to Talk to a Woman Who is Wearing Headphones” recently resurfaced on the Internet, causing an uproar across media platforms. The ModernMan site is known for giving style tips and dating advice to men, with Bacon’s article coming under fire from women taken aback by the sexist, objectifying tone Bacon uses to instruct men on how to approach a woman. Criticisms of the article center on the idea that a man is recommending other men to bother women who might not want to be bothered, particularly when they are wearing headphones. For example, The Huffington Post notes that Bacon’s article claims, “Women who have chosen to put something over and/or in their ears that actively prevents them from having to hear anything else do want to talk to random men—they just need some nudging.”

Listening to headphones is a conventional social cue indicating that a person doesn’t want to be disturbed. This, however, doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what is wrong with Bacon’s article. The article is a perfect example of how Internet dating sites continue to encourage dangerously dated gender stereotypes in an increasingly diversifying world.

As a woman, Bacon’s article was particularly unsettling to read, though it is genuinely demeaning to anyone who may read it. Bacon writes to his male audience as if they have never spoken to another human being before in their life.

He instructs men to “wave your hand in her direct line of vision” and to “pretend to be taking headphones off your head, so she fully understands what you mean” in order to gain the attention of a woman. This over-simplification of the social situation represents both men and women as unintelligent and socially inept.

Bacon’s writing also portrays women as dim-witted props who simply wait for a man to approach them—as if the only possible reason they could be sitting in a public place is to find a “boyfriend (or even a new lover).”

Furthermore, Bacon says, “Women know that [it] is the man’s role to be confident enough to walk over and talk to a woman he finds attractive, so they have a chance to meet.” This singular statement alone would be enough to encourage a passionate, feminist critique of his article since he essentially claims that women are just waiting around to be confronted by a man.

Romance in the 21st century is generally very accepting, as dating norms of the past have been pushed to the wayside. Despite this, it seems that dating sites and blogs haven’t caught up with society’s critique of heteronormative gender stereotypes.

We need to use Bacon’s offensive article as a gateway to discuss the demeaning and negative way that popular dating blogs and websites talk about gender. It is crucial that we continue to be critical of articles such as Bacon’s and that we remain aware of the ways in which the media influence public perception of gender roles.

Social activism addresses sexual assault on campus

Too often, statistics regarding sexual assault on college campuses are ignored. Perhaps this is because the consequences of their reality are horrifying. The New York Times reported that in 2015 “more than one-fourth of undergraduate women at a large group of leading universities said they had been sexually assaulted.”

The problem seems to be worsening at elite universities such as the University of Michigan, where 34 percent of female seniors experienced nonconsensual sexual contact, followed by 32 percent at Yale and 29 percent at Harvard. These numbers are unacceptable and it seems that sexual violence has become a normalcy among female students, as opposed to a rare atrocity.

Arguments have been made that the statistics surrounding this issue are “notoriously unreliable” or “inconsistent,” but these claims are dubious. The United States Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Picking apart ratios and percentages based on what kind of assault the female endured is not only insensitive, but it also has no bearing on the concern at hand. It does not erase the fact that women across the country are being threatened by sexual violence. Furthermore, there should be a presumed moral standard that any type of nonconsensual sexual action is unacceptable.

To combat the ignorant attitude regarding sexual assault, social media campaigns in the past few years have informed many and allowed for important dialogue. Not only have these crusades raised awareness, but they have also given women the courage to speak about their personal experiences with the issue. There has been a plethora of successful YouTube videos, Twitter hashtags and Facebook campaigns. Many students and organizations have been taking actions through social media to try and create increased awareness.

One recent campaign by students at Duke University went viral on Facebook. The page titled “Breaking Out” featured student survivors of sexual violence. There was a photo exhibit that pictured survivors with posters featuring quotations that illustrated their stories concerning sexual violence. The images were powerful, and those who participated displayed great courage. The campaign also inspired many other college students to speak out against this injustice.

This is important because, as Generation Progress reports, “Nine out of 10 assaults are committed by repeat offenders” and “the incidents begin in semi-public spaces like parties or dorm rooms.” This proves that sexual assault is not an unstoppable anomaly, but an issue that can be diminished if all students and faculty on campuses work together.

Here at Geneseo, students took action by participating in Sexual Assault Awareness Week from April 11–16. This included awareness events such as discussions regarding sexual harassment, a vigil, a Take Back the Night march, poetry readings and a multitude of speakers who discussed Geneseo’s sexual assault policy. The Women’s Action Coalition also utilizes social media by sharing photos and events on Facebook in order to reach a wide range of students.

Speaking out against this injustice is imperative, and our generation can use social media as a tool to have our voices heard. Instead of hiding from the statistics that scare parents as they send their daughter off to college, we need to embrace them. Acknowledging that sexual assault is not only present, but also rampant on college campuses is necessary. Here at Geneseo, we need to work together in hopes that one day we can truly “take back the night.”

Pope Francis adapts religious values to a progressive era

Since his election in 2013, Pope Francis has been known as one of the most progressive popes the Vatican has ever seen. The Religion News Service explains that he “has said that the church must be more merciful and open, and he has encouraged debate on changing pastoral practices.” His positive influence on the Catholic Church is proving that traditional religious institutions can continue to adapt to modern culture. Whether or not you align with the values of the Catholic religion, Pope Francis’ forward-looking attitude is undeniably commendable.

Francis’ progressive goals for the Church were especially demonstrated by the new apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetita, released on April 8. It was published in multiple languages including English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. Amoris Laetita is Latin for the “Joy of Love” and Francis wrote about marriage and family in context of the Catholic Church. He addressed many controversially charged issues that other popes have been hesitant to confront head on. This document—along with other actions of Francis—are positive steps that illustrate how traditional religious institutions can continue to adapt with the modern culture.

The New York Times reported that some of Francis’ transformative messages in Amoris Laetita included: an appeal for greater empathy, reviving injured marriages, denouncing antigay violence, encouraging single parents, questioning “safe sex” messages and creating a new route back into the Church for divorced Catholics.

These are all widespread issues in both religious and secular societies. Furthermore, the Washington Post predicted that although the Pope cannot make his changes too drastic, the exhortation serves as “symbolic” and will have a strong “media resonance.” This proved to be true, as many Catholic media outlets such as the National Catholic Reporter are encouraging Catholics to “take Amoris Laetitia’s challenge seriously.”

Francis, however, still did not make any changes to the Church’s strong stance against same-sex marriage. This personally seemed a major downfall of Amoris Laetita, albeit an expected one. The sacrament of marriage is one of the core beliefs of the Catholic religion; one can only hope Francis’ loving approach to Catholicism will eventually evoke greater acceptance. Francis did, however, speak about the need to regard all people with love. He expressed that “every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity.”

While Francis addressed the specific issues previously mentioned, he also generally spoke about the need for the Church to be more attentive. As The New York Times noted, he claims, “The church has made a mistake in alienating families,” and continued to describe “the pressures brought on families by poverty, migration, drug abuse and violence.” Admitting these mistakes is critical to transforming the Church and tailoring what some see as an “outdated” religion to one that accommodates modern pressures.

Regardless of your religious beliefs, the influence of Francis cannot be ignored. The Catholic Church is not solely just a belief system, but is also a transnational political and cultural actor that experiences widespread power. Francis is using that power to try and bring greater inclusion to a sometimes harsh world—which can give us a certain sense of hope.

A common practice of inclusion and acceptance is necessary, regardless of religious, ethnic or cultural divides. In our modern day society, this seems to be becoming more and more complicated. There is an undeniable importance in the fact that as millions of Catholics and non-Catholics listened, Francis ended a speech last year exclaiming that the “Good Shepard … excludes no one from his infinite love!”

Students counter millennial stereotypes through work ethic

You would be hard-pressed to find a college student who hasn’t received a parental lecture about how their parents used to walk 10 miles to school every morning, listened to a professor explain that they didn’t have the technology we have as undergrads or heard a grandparent explain how they had a job when they were only seven years old.

Writing for The New York Times, Steven Rattner suggests that millennials—those born between the years of 1980 and 2000—can be perceived as “narcissistic, lazy, and self-centered.” Insults like these have consistently plagued the accomplishments of our generation. Criticism from those older than us has diminished our life choices and priorities; sometimes even making us believe their words ourselves. In fact, it sometimes feels as if our success is not encouraged, but rather, our failure is expected.

There are people in our generation who unfortunately fit these stereotypes; we cannot deny the allegations that our privileged lives have affected some of our worldviews. Teacher and author Erin Gruwell stated in The Freedom Writers Diary, “Don’t let the actions of a few determine the way you feel about an entire group.” Defining an entire generation based on a half-truth cannot be accepted any longer.

Regardless of the unfairness of these generalizations, they do not seem to hinder our generation. Although I cannot speak to the entire population of millennials, after my time spent at Geneseo, I am confident in our generation. If the work ethic, passion and generosity of the students here is even a fraction of what our generation is capable of, our world’s future is a bright one.

Anyone present in the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena on Saturday April 9 wouldn’t dare call our generation lazy or self-centered. At the Relay for Life Event from 6 p.m.–6 a.m., students and community members joined together in the fight against cancer. The student-run event was attended by 2,000 and raised over $173,000. If the incredible atmosphere in the arena wasn’t enough to convince you of the power of our generation, these statistics certainly speak for themselves.

Stereotypes regarding our generation affect us each and every day. Needless to say, Geneseo defies each and every preconceived notion of how “little” people think we are capable of. Even though we have opportunities and technology that was unavailable to other generations, we try our best not to take these privileges for granted. Instead, we use them to tear down generational stereotypes—one action at a time.

I can see it happening across the world and right here in our Geneseo community. I see this action as Geneseo fraternities and sororities join together in philanthropy and resident assistants help students in their college assimilation. I see it as Geneseo athletes train tirelessly to bring home SUNYAC Championships and as students travel halfway across the world to experience other cultures.

I hear it in the ferocious typing of students during the early morning hours at Milne Library and in the voices of a cappella groups and in the instruments of music ensembles. And I most certainly heard it in the moment of silence at the memorial service for Matthew Hutchinson and Kelsey Annese.

As millennials, facing the weight of negative stereotypes is a burden we continue to carry. We must persist in proving everyone wrong and by breaking out of the confinements those stereotypes have created. As I see it, the future is not hidden within the opinions of generations of the past—rather, it is within us.

Women’s soccer team deserves equal pay for accomplishments

The United States Women’s National Soccer Team has had an immeasurable amount of success in the past few years. They took home gold in the 2012 Summer Olympics and won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, showcasing their athletic prowess worldwide. Their greatest success, however, may be off the field: serving as positive role models for young girls and women everywhere.

CNN reported that USWNT members filed a lawsuit demanding equal pay from the U.S. Soccer Federation on Friday April 1. This action is an important step in battling sexism in the male-dominated arena of professional sports. Young girls and women are able to watch the team as they battle opponents on the field and now as they battle workplace discrimination in the real world. This teaches them that they, too, deserve equal compensation for their achievements.

Co-captains midfielder Carli Lloyd and defender Becky Sauerbrunn, forward Alex Morgan, midfielder Megan Rapinoe and keeper Hope Solo and are suing for equal pay rights. CNN explained that the group insisted their complaint was on behalf of their entire team. They felt the need to take action because they earn “as little as between half and a quarter of their male counterparts.”

National Public Radio reported that the athletes will be represented by Jeffrey Kessler, an attorney who is no stranger to working with controversial sports cases—most notably representing New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the infamous “Deflategate” scandal. Kessler expressed his support for the women’s claim, noting that, “We believe we have a very strong case of blatant gender discrimination and that the [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] will agree.”

The Huffington Post reported figures to help paint a clearer picture of the gender discrimination that Kessler references. According to the article “Why Soccer Should Pay Women’s Players Equally, Regardless of Revenue,” in addition to individual salaries being unequal, the USWNT was paid $2 million for winning the 2015 Women’s World Cup while Germany—the winning men’s team in 2014—earned $35 million. This difference is grossly unfair and unacceptable.

The decision by the USWNT to refuse to settle for less than they deserve is an important one. As Huffington Post explains, these athletes “have proven there is an appetite for women’s soccer and that it’s certainly capable of generating global popularity.” There is no reason for this blatant inequality in payment.

These women have faced the inherently sexist nature of professional sports throughout their entire careers. Now, they are publicly opposing the sexist nature of their payment. The USWNT team is more than deserving of equal—if not more—compensation than the men’s team because of the success they have achieved.

Hopefully, this public outcry for equal pay will inspire and invoke change. Not only are members of the USWNT role models for their athletic success, but also because of their desire to fight for gender equality and women’s rights. Their actions demonstrate to young girls and women everywhere that knowing what you deserve—and asking for it—is OK. In fact, it is necessary.

Women on U.S. currency long overdue, deserved

Sexism in the 21st century has become a complicated concept, as many people feel equality between men and women has already been reached. This can be disputed, however, by viewing just one basic aspect of our everyday lives: money. Not only is sexism present in the controversy regarding equal pay for equal work, but also on the physical currency.

Whenever a person is paying for something, they can expect to look down and see a man’s face staring back up at them. Not one woman is pictured on a regularly used bill or coin. This clear discrimination was perhaps acceptable in 1928—when the United States Treasury selected the paper currency—but cannot be ignored in 2016.

The “Women on 20s” campaign addresses the fact that a woman’s face is missing from U.S. currency. The campaign believes that this issue within the U.S. coinage is an important feminist issue—their slogan being, “Women’s place is on the money.” Women on 20s describes itself on its website as “a non-profit, grassroots organization which aims to compel historic change by convincing President [Barrack] Obama that now is the time to put a woman’s face on our paper currency.”

The campaign argues that the U.S. currency is outdated as a whole, but especially the $20 bill. It argues that “money sends a message both at home and abroad about what and whom we value as a nation.” The site continues, “Keeping an Andrew Jackson bill in wide circulation means we celebrate and evaluate historic figures who used and condoned violence against personal enemies and populations of marginalized people.”

With this harsh criticism of the $20 bill comes the fact that women are largely unrepresented in society as a whole—all the while celebrating problematic men. The campaign argues that this type of discrimination in our currency “conveys the message that women are not important enough or independent enough to have a bill of their own.” The efforts of this movement to change this patriarchal nature are much needed.

The New York Times explains that many other countries have beaten the U.S. to having women on their paper money, including countries in South America, Europe and the Middle East. As a progressive country, the U.S. should be among these countries—the U.S. should be the one setting a standard for basic gender equality.

The efforts of the Women on 20s campaign has not gone completely unnoticed. Buzzfeed reported in June 2015 that the U.S. Treasury officials planned to redesign the $10 bill. The Treasury Department said that the $10 bill “should feature a woman who was a champion for our inclusive democracy.” Exactly who this woman is will be released later on in the year and the bill will be in circulation in 2020. This will literally change the face of U.S. currency forever.

Overall, the efforts of the Women on 20s campaign—along with the lobbying efforts of many—have contributed to this colossal first step. Even though the campaign was unable to get a woman on the $20 bill, the declaration by the U.S. Treasury Department will allow for further equality.

By 2020, a worthy woman will be depicted on U.S. currency in time for the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment. This achievement is just a small step in conquering everyday sexist micro-aggressions ingrained in our country’s history.

Muslim characters in children’s books offer invaluable inclusion

Publishing company Simon & Schuster recently made attempts to tackle the lack of diversity in literature by promoting children’s books with Muslim characters. The diversity issue in publishing is one that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. Exposing children to various cultures is extremely important and literature is an excellent medium to help them learn about traditions different from their own. There are consequences to this absence of cultural variations. If children are not exposed to different ways of life at a young age, they will have difficulty accepting them later on. Additionally, minority children who don’t see themselves represented in literature may feel alienated from their peers.

According to The New York Times, Simon & Schuster decided to create a new children’s imprint named Salaam Reads. An imprint is a trade name under which works are published and Salaam Reads is dedicated to publishing literature that centers on Muslim characters and stories. Newsweek reported that Salaam Reads will start publishing chapter and picture books as well as middle school and young adult titles in 2017.

Simon & Schuster Executive Editor Zareen Jaffery will lead this imprint. According to the Simon & Schuster Team Page, she focuses on “commercial and literary young adult and middle grade fiction, as well as teen non-fiction.”

Jaffery grew up as a Pakistani-American Muslim in Connecticut, noting her own personal struggles growing up with a lack of diversity in children’s literature. In an interview with Story and Chai, Jaffery discussed her personal views on the white-centric nature of children’s literature. “I acknowledge the industry has a long way to go to correct the current imbalance,” she said.

Under the direction of Jaffery, Simon & Shuster’s new imprint will work to neutralize the cultural inequalities in the publishing industry. To do so, they are specifically creating a platform for Muslim children’s literature—a great step in the right direction.

Jaffery made it clear that she is aware that children are not necessarily reading books to be “enlightened” about other cultures and ways of life. Books are primarily a means of entertainment for younger generations and that doesn’t need to change. It is ignorant, however, to believe that things such as the race, class, gender or religious beliefs of a character do not affect the child reading the book. The New York Times article clarified that the newly published books’ main focus will not be Islamic doctrines or theology, but instead will be the everyday experiences of young characters.

Simon & Schuster’s recognition of the lack of diversity in children’s publishing will likely fuel necessary conversations about the neglected topic. Jaffery herself urged individuals to “reflect on the role you play in the book publishing process and think on ways you can help create a more just and inclusive world.”

Increased diversity in children’s books can aid in the creation of more accepting future generations. It can also give minority children a sense of belonging and construct an environment in which they embrace their differences—instead of feeling ashamed of them.

Every child deserves to read a book that they can see themselves in and Simon & Schuster is working to make that possible.