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This padlet explores some of the ways that feminism is displayed today. Feminism can be understood in the wrong context which allows a lot of misconception about what the true meaning of feminism is. Feminism is supposed to be about equality for both genders. Feminists who believe that men should be degraded instead of women are showing traits of sexism themselves. I will be reviewing a variety of sources with my opinions on each.

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ABC. "Miss Teen USA Replaces 'outdated' Bikini Competition with Sportswear." ABC, June 30, 2016. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-30/miss-teen-usa-ditches-swimwear-competition-for-sportswear/7556758.

Khadem, Nassim. "Australian Women Make 83¢ for Every $1 a Man Earns." The Sydney Morning Herald, March 24, 2016. Accessed August 15, 2016. http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/gender-pay-gap-20160322-gnp0vy.html.

McCarthy, Janelle Ann. "The Truth about Feminism." The Huffington Post (blog), March 03, 2015. Accessed August 15, 2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janelle-ann-mccarthy/feminism-exposed_b_6781340.html.

Mckie, Robin. "Men Redundant? Now We Don't Need Women Either." The Guardian, February 10, 2002. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/feb/10/medicalscience.research.

Novak, Mikayla. "Pay Gap Due to Women's Choices, Not Gender Bias." The Sydney Morning Herald, March 09, 2015. http://www.smh.com.au/comment/pay-gap-due-to-womens-choices-not-gender-bias-20150307-13y5bl.html.

Nurick, Jen. "This Week in Feminism: Sarah Jessica Parker Addresses Gender Pay Gap." Vogue, August 05, 2016.

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The Top Five Feminist Myths of All Time | FACTUAL FEMINIST

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Domestic violence statistics, girls sold as sex slaves, the wage gap-- what are the real statistics behind the plight of American women? And are the real numbers beyond critical analysis? The Factual Feminist, Christina Hoff Sommers, takes a look beyond the headlines and reveals her list of the Top 5 feminist myths.

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This article doesn’t talk about feminism specifically, but it does discuss an example of an idea that wouldn’t be put past radical feminists. In the mind of a radical feminist, developing ways that babies can be born outside the woman’s body would benefit the economy. If a woman didn’t have to physically go through pregnancy, then they wouldn’t have to take time off work for maternity leave and would have a better chance at getting a quicker promotion. Maternity leave is one reason that radical feminists believe that they often do not get promotions as quick or as often as men do. Women who are unable to have children are able to resort to surrogacy when considering a baby outside of one’s own body, the only issue is that surrogacy is only available to those who are unable to conceive. Thus, women cannot elect to have a surrogate child. Another option may be to adopt?

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Scientists have created prototypes made out of cells extracted from women's bodies. Embryos successfully attached themselves to the walls of these laboratory wombs and began to grow. However, experiments had to be terminated after a few days to comply with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) regulations.

'We hope to create complete artificial wombs using these techniques in a few years,' said Dr Hung-Ching Liu of Cornell University's Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility. 'Women with damaged uteruses and wombs will be able to have babies for the first time.'

The pace of progress in the field has startled experts. Artificial wombs could end many women's childbirth problems - but they also raise major ethical headaches which will be debated at a major international conference titled 'The End of Natural Motherhood?' in Oklahoma next week.

'There are going to be real problems,' said organiser Dr Scott Gelfand, of Oklahoma State University. 'Some feminists even say artificial wombs mean men could eliminate women from the planet and still perpetuate our species. That's a bit alarmist. Nevertheless, this subject clearly raises strong feelings.'

Liu's work involves removing cells from the endometrium, the lining of the womb. 'We have learnt how to grow these cells in the laboratory using hormones and growth factors,' she said.

After this Liu and her colleagues grew layers of these cells on scaffolds of biodegradable material which had been modelled into shapes mirroring the interior of the uterus. The cells grew into tissue and the scaffold dissolved. Then nutrients and hormones such as oestrogen were added to the tissue.

'Finally, we took embryos left over from IVF programmes and put these into our laboratory engineered tissue. The embryos attached themselves to the walls of our prototype wombs and began to settle there.'

The experiments were halted after six days. However, Liu now plans to continue with this research and allow embryos to grow in the artificial wombs for 14 days, the maximum permitted by IVF legislation. 'We will then see if the embryos put down roots and veins into our artificial wombs' walls, and see if their cells differentiate into primitive organs and develop a primitive placenta.'

The immediate aim of this work is to help women whose damaged wombs prevent them from conceiving. An artificial womb would be made from their own endometrium cells, an embryo placed inside it, and allowed to settle and grow before the whole package is placed back in her body.

'The new womb would be made of the woman's own cells. so there would be no danger of organ rejection,' Liu added.

However, her research is currently limited by IVF legislation. 'The next stage will involve experiments with mice or dogs. If that works, we shall ask to take our work beyond the 14-day limit now imposed on such research.'

A different approach has been taken by Yoshinori Kuwabara at Juntendo University in Tokyo. His team has removed foetuses from goats and placed them in clear plastic tanks filled with amniotic fluid stabilised at body temperature. In this way, Kuwabara has kept goat foetuses alive and growing for up to 10 days by connecting their umbilical cords to machines that pump in nutrients and dispose of waste.

While Liu's work is aimed at helping those having difficulty conceiving, Kuwabara's is designed to help women who suffer miscarriages or very premature births. In this way Liu is extending the time an embryo can exist in a laboratory before being placed in a woman's body; Kuwabara is trying to give a foetus a safe home if expelled too early from its natural womb.

Crucially, both believe artificial wombs capable of sustaining a child for nine months will become reality in a few years.

'Essentially research is moving towards the same goal but from opposite directions,' UK fertility expert Dr Simon Fishel, of Park Hospital, Nottingham, said. 'Getting them to meet in the middle will not be easy, however. There are so many critical stages of pregnancy, and so many factors to get right. Nevertheless, this work is very exciting.'

It also has serious ethical implications, as Gelfand pointed out. 'For a start, there is the issue of abortion. A woman is usually allowed to have one on the grounds she wants to get rid of something alien inside her own body.

'At present, this means killing the foetus. But if artificial wombs are developed, the foetus could be placed in one, and the woman told she has to look after it once it has developed into a child.'

In addition, if combined with cloning technology, artificial wombs raise the prospect that gay couples could give 'birth' to their own children. 'This would no doubt horrify right-wingers, while the implications for abortion law might well please them,' he added.

Gelfand also warned that artificial wombs could have unexpected consequences for working women and health insurance. 'They would mean that women would no longer need maternity leave - which employers could become increasingly reluctant to give.

'It may also turn out that artificial wombs provide safer environments than natural wombs which can be invaded by drugs and alcohol from a mother's body. Health insurance companies could actually insist that women opt for the artificial way.

'Certainly, this is going to raise a lot of tricky problems.'
robin.mckie@observer.co.uk Topics

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Artificial womb allows embryos to grow outside the body

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Scientists have created prototypes made out of cells extracted from women's bodies. Embryos successfully attached themselves to the walls of these laboratory wombs and began to grow. However, experiments had to be terminated after a few days to comply with in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) regulations.

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Let's unpack it.

Coming under fire following the release of their latest campaign, clothing giant GAP have been met with less than favourable critical reception towards their gendered slogans.

The advertisements in question style a boy, sporting a t-shirt printed with Albert Einstein's face alongside the words "The Little Scholar," and a girl, wearing a pink 'G' jumper, branded as "The Social Butterfly." Adding insult to injury, the offerings available for boys are written underneath a message that says, "Your future starts here," whereas for the girls, relegated to the schoolyard, "Chambray shirts + logo sweaters are the talk of the playground." Subtle.

Similarly having to face sexism head-on in an interview with Marie Claire, Sarah Jessica Parker had to confront gender binaries, and the differences in pay gaps that come along with them, too.

Responding first to her position on feminism, Parker highlighted, "I am not a feminist. I don't think I qualify." Quick to add to her admission, she also emphasized, "I believe in women and I believe in equality, but I think there is so much that needs to be done that I don't even want to separate it anymore. I'm so tired of separation. I just want people to be treated equally."

Easier said than done.

Especially in light of the current gender disparities in the workforce. Commenting on the existent pay gap, Parker added, "I would like all of that nonsense to end. I would like women to get paid for the value of their contributions, not by old-fashioned ideas about gender."

And perhaps old-fashioned ideas about women's bodies are in need of revision, too.

ELLE cover star and frequent campaign go-to model for Calvin Klein, Levis and Marina Rinaldi, Ashley Graham has penned an essay on Lena Dunham's taking issue with generalised perceptions of women, especially those who come under the curvy or plus size banner.

Doubly criticised for looking slimmer and larger at times than her size 16 body, Graham is encouraging girls to support one another, rather than shame each other, in and outside of the modelling industry.

This comes after she posted a photo to Instagram on the set of America's Next Top Model which was quickly met with a slew of criticisms slamming Graham for succumbing to societal pressures. Allegedly looking thinner than usual, Graham responded to the incident in the essay, highlighting, "... Some people were upset because I appeared to be slimmer. (Knowing my angles is one thing, but I must be a magician to make people think I went from a size 14 to a size 6 in a week!)"

Her most critical takeaway, arguably, comes later: Graham is too much and not enough.

Adding, "To some I'm too curvy. To others I'm too tall, too busty, too loud, and, now, too small - too much, but at the same time not enough. When I post a photo from a 'good angle,' I receive criticism for looking smaller and selling out. When I post photos showing my cellulite, stretch marks, and rolls, I'm accused of promoting obesity. The cycle of body-shaming needs to end. I'm over it."

Her recommendations to break the cycle?

"We can't create change until we recognize and check our own actions... If you see another woman taking a selfie or a photo in her bathing suit, encourage her because she actually feels beautiful, don't give her the side eye because you think she's feeling herself too hard. Why waste time and energy spewing negativity?"

Need we say more?

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This week in feminism: Sarah Jessica Parker addresses gender pay gap; Ashley Graham condemns body shaming

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Let's unpack it. Coming under fire following the release of their latest campaign, clothing giant GAP have been met with less than favourable critical reception towards their gendered slogans. The advertisements in question style a boy, sporting a t-shirt printed with Albert Einstein's face alongside the words "The Little Scholar," and a girl, wearing a pink 'G' jumper, branded as "The Social Butterfly."

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This article addresses the misconceptions that can often be assumed of feminism. McCarthy (2015) discusses the fact that while feminism is often given a dirty connotation about angry women, it is actually about advocating equality for both women and men. McCarthy (2015) claims that feminism aims at destroying gender stereotyping which allows men and women to enjoy activities that are generally more specific to one gender or the other. As an example, if women were no longer seen as sexual objects, the jobs that are generally open to attractive women would be open to men. As a result, women would be more willing to apply for jobs that require skill rather than appearance. In regards to social issues McCarthy (2015) suggests that it would no longer be a perception that men have to pay for bars and clubs and that dating would be more of an equal effort. Feminism aims to destroy the negative connotations placed on deterring from the norm. Women should be seen as more than a pro-creator or a sexual being and men should have equal rights to their children. This is the real meaning of feminism, not the radical form that is often shown throughout the media.

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Feminism is the advocating the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes and promoting gender equality in society. Feminism is not misandry, which is hatred toward men or women wanting power over men in society. These are two terms that I believe have been widely confused by men and women. Society sees "feminism" as a dirty word that has no real value or purpose that was created by angry women. In reality, feminism is an equally important movement for men and women. It not only helps to create more opportunity and equality for women, but it understands the importance of fixing men's issues in society alongside women's.

Feminism aims to improve the equality between men and women in the job world, in the social world, and in the political world. It aims to empower women to prove that we are capable of accomplishing anything that a man can and that men and women deserve the same respect, while also improving the lives of men rather than condemning them for the actions and beliefs of misogynists.

Feminism aims to destroy gender stereotypes and roles, allowing women to enjoy sports without being seen as less knowledgeable or allowing men to enjoy knitting without being seen as less of a man. Feminists want men and women to chose their own roles in relationships as well as in life, allowing a man to be a stay at home parent without being looked down on for not being the breadwinner or allowing a woman to hold a high position in a career without being condemned for not staying at home with her children or for not having children at all. Its goal is to end the stereotypes that women must stay in the kitchen cooking and cleaning while the men are out making money and allow every man and woman the chance to do whatever they please within relationships and in the world without criticism from society.

Destroying the gender roles that have been engrained in society would create more career, social, and political opportunities for both men and women. If women were no longer expected to stay at home or were no longer seen as sexual objects, the jobs that are specifically aimed at attractive women (cocktail waitressing, sexual roles in tv and film, etc) would be opened up to men and more women would be willing to venture into the job world if the opportunities were based on skill rather than gender or attractiveness. The wage gap (which does actually exist and is especially obvious in Hollywood, despite the doubt that is created by the numerous and sometimes difficult to understand factors) could be closed and allow women to work the same jobs for the same amounts of money without trying to take anything away from the men.

Politics would be able to be opened up for women to be better represented by another woman who understands their experiences and help make informed decisions on women's issues. In the social world, men would no longer have to be the ones to pay for bars and clubs while women are allowed in for free and dating would become more of an equal effort from men and women.

Feminism aims to destroy the idea that men must be aggressive and strong and controlling in order to be "real" men and the idea that women must be nurturing and sweet and complacent in order to be a "real" woman. Feminism wants to break down the expectations that society holds on men to be masculine and tough all the time. It wants men to be able to speak out about domestic violence from a woman or being sexually assaulted without being seen as weak or just being brushed aside as if it doesn't happen. It wants to acknowledge that, although it happens less often, women can and do rape and abuse men.

Feminism wants society to stop portraying men as animals that have no control over their sexual urges and stop assuming that women always want sexual attention simply because of the way they dress. It is trying to destroy the idea that sexual assault and harassment toward women is simply a result of "boys being boys" because good men deserve more credit than being generalized as animalistic, sexually out of control beings. It wants both men and women to not become victims of blaming and scrutiny for speaking about sexual attacks that have happened to them.

Feminism wants all people to be listened to and understood when they choose to come out about assaults so that they can have justice for what they've endured, whether it is a man or a woman. Feminism doesn't assume that all men are evil and misogynistic, but rather that men can be and are good and should not all be condemned for the actions of male rapists and abusers.

Feminism's goal is to create a society where men are taught that expressing their feelings does not make them less of a man and where women are taught that they are strong too. It wants a society where men are no longer taught that "crying is for girls" so that they can actually communicate their feelings and problems and have more successful relationships with women throughout their lives. It wants a society where men aren't expected to to always be the moneymaker of a family and women are able to provide for themselves without expecting a man's support. Feminism wants a society where a woman is seen as an individual before she is seen as a sexual being or a baby maker and where a man and woman can be seen equally as parents and treated fairly in parental or custodial issues.

Feminism is about creating a world of equality, free of prejudice, judgment, or hatred between the sexes.
More about feminism, music, photography, mental health, and more on my personal blog, Janellisms.

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Feminism is the advocating the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes and promoting gender equality in society. Feminism is not misandry, which is hatred toward men or women wanting power over men in society. These are two terms that I believe have been widely confused by men and women.

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The fact that Miss Teen USA has bikini competitions is a little degrading on the 14-19 year olds who participate in the pageant. The article claims that the move from bikinis to athletic wear is “less exploitative and focuses more on the importance of physical fitness for its younger participants” (ABC 2016). This comment itself is very stereotypical of women and their appearance and relates closely to the negative connotations associated with feminism.

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Posted June 30, 2016 13:11:33

One of America's top beauty pageants has axed its swimsuit competition - ditching bikinis for sportswear in a bid to fend off years of complaints that parading in a bikini is sexist and demeaning.

Reactions have been mixed, with some praising the announcement as a step forward, and others noting that both swimwear and sportswear competitions judge competitors on their physical appearance.

Miss Teen USA - open to women aged 14 to 19 - said on its website, "In a society that increasingly prioritises feminism and equality, watching women parade across a stage in bikinis can feel outdated".

The Miss Universe Organisation, which operates the pageant, said from now on contestants would be judged on athletic wear, in addition to the evening wear and personality competitions.

"Miss Teen USA's transition to athletic wear reads as less exploitative and more focused on the importance of physical fitness for its younger participants," it said.

The reform was welcomed by reigning Miss Teen USA Katherine Haik, who called it, "a great way to celebrate the active lives that so many young women lead and set a strong example for our peers".

The 2016 Miss Teen USA pageant, to be broadcast online, will be held in Las Vegas on July 30.

Each year, a woman from each of the 50 states and one from Washington DC compete for the crown.

Miss Universe was for years owned by billionaire Republican White House candidate Donald Trump. He sold it last year to a talent-management group.
ABC/AFP
Topics: women, human-interest, community-and-society, united-states

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Miss Teen USA replaces 'outdated' bikini competition with sportswear

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Posted June 30, 2016 13:11:33 One of America's top beauty pageants has axed its swimsuit competition - ditching bikinis for sportswear in a bid to fend off years of complaints that parading in a bikini is sexist and demeaning.

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The pay gap between men and women has always been an issue that is associated with feminism. Many socialist feminists believe that capitalism strengthens and supports the sexist status quo within economics and politics. This article addresses the pay gaps in a few major countries including Australia. The pay gap can apply to many aspects within the economy including the workplace, hollywood and sport. Many arguments from the feminist point of view as to why women are paid less stems back to the origins of discrimination against women. Throughout history, women have been seen as ‘less capable’. If a woman is too attractive, she may not be taken seriously or considered intelligent, and if not pretty enough, she may be overlooked completely. Another example is that women have always been seen as the ones who stay home to look after the children while the men go out to work. On average, Australian women earn 83 cents to a mens $1. In America it’s even worse with women only earning 70 cents to a man’s $1.

Is this true though? Some studies suggest that there is a pay gap but it relies on women's choices of lower paying jobs rather than gender bias (Novak 2015).

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By Nassim Khadem

Updated first published

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Australian women earn about 83¢ cents for every $1 a man earns, according to a new report analysing the gender pay gap.

The report by recruitment firm Glassdoor, titled Demystifying the Gender Pay Gap, is based on more than 534,000 salary reports held by the firm on the pay differences between men and women in countries including Australia, the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

The average wage gap, adjusted for hours worked, is about 19 per cent.
Photo: Andrew Dyson

The Australian results, based on information on more than 4000 local employee salaries, showed that when variables such as age, education, experience, occupation, industry, location, year, company and job title, are taken into account, the adjusted gender pay gap shrinks from 17.3 per cent to 3.9 per cent.

More than one-third (38 per cent) of the unadjusted pay gap is explained by differences in how men and women sort into different occupations and industries with varying earning potential.

Figures released last year by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency said men earn on average $27,000 more than women every year. It estimates that the Australian gender pay gap is roughly 17.9 per cent.

The Glassdoor report, which tracks more than 4000 salaries (1370 employers) reported from calendar years 2006 through to 2015, had similar findings.

The sample was 77 per cent male and 23 per cent female. The average age of those included was 35 years, with more than 6 years of work experience.

It said the average base pay was $99,940 per year for men and $84,218 for women. That amounts to a gender pay gap of $15,722 in base pay between men and women.

"The gender pay gap is real," said report author and Glassdoor's chief economist Andrew Chamberlain.

"Australian women are earning roughly 83¢ for every dollar earned by men on average."

Glassdoor's survey collects information on base salary as well as total compensation. Since employees can optionally report income from tips, bonuses, commissions and other forms of pay, the report said "they are subject to under-reporting by users" and that "for this reason, our primary focus is on base pay".

Overall, there is a 17.3 per cent gap in base pay between males and females, and a 17.8 per cent gender pay gap in total compensation.

But several factors made a difference in the level of the gap. "Applying controls for age, education and years of experience, the gender pay gap shrinks to 12 per cent for base pay and 12.6 per cent for total compensation," the report said.

"Finally adding in a rich set of controls for company and job title, we find an "adjusted" gender pay gap of 3.9 per cent for base pay and 5.4 per cent for total compensation."

The report said 59 per cent of the Australian sample had bachelor's degrees, 27 per cent had master's degrees, and 8 per cent had a high school diploma.

Although about 61 per cent of the overall Australia gender pay gap in base pay was explained by unique worker characteristics, this still left 39 per cent unexplained and due to differences in the way the labor market rewards men and women with the same characteristics.

"Individual worker characteristics explain only about one-fourth of the Australia gender pay gap, nearly identical to our finding for the United Kingdom," the report said.

Other countries also had big pay gaps based on gender. In the United States, the unadjusted pay gap was 24.1 per cent, in Britain it was 22.9 per cent and in France it was 14.3 per cent.

"While overt workplace bias may contribute to some of the gender pay gap, our research illustrates the importance of providing men and women equal opportunity in education and training," Dr Chamberlain said.

He said gender norms such as women bearing disproportionate responsibility for child and elderly care, had also pressured women into more flexible jobs with lower pay.

"Policies ensuring women have more equal access to science, technology and health care training, targeted initiatives to encourage career development and pay negotiation, and programs that support care for children and the elderly can help address some of the root causes," he said.

Deputy Editor, BusinessDay. Reporting on tax and regulation.

Delivered Mon-Fri.

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Australian women make 83¢ for every $1 a man earns: report

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By Nassim Khadem Updated first published Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Australian women earn about 83¢ cents for every $1 a man earns, according to a new report analysing the gender pay gap.