Hey Ma- What's Up?

No I am not your mother! In fact I'm not anyone's mother so please don't refer to me as one. "Hey ma"--does that line actually work? Do women/girls/females respond to that? Because I certainly don't.

It's ridiculous what males think is acceptable to say to women on the street; shortie (side note-I'm 5'8" which is kinda tall, and guys who are shorter than me have called me that--I don't understand it), hottie, sexy, baby, mamma, etc. and those are just a few of the PG names I thought of as I was writing this.

How about "excuse me miss..." That might work. Actually being polite, respectful and sounding interested in something else beside my ass.

Chivalry isn'T dead

I was fabulously surprised this past week with the two random acts of chivalry that I encountered during my daily commute on the T.

The first and the best was a young guy, around my age...your average college 20 something male (oh did I mention he was quite attractive…in fact he was the definition of the word "fine")...anyway of course the T was packed, the red sox probably just got out or something…yes this means I'm standing up juggling my Charlie ticket, ipod and cell while grasping on for dear life to that silver handle thingy. About eye level with my vagina was the guy (who was sitting). And no he didn’t offer up his seat but still he was kind. So we were somewhere around Pleasant St. on the B line when this ridiculous virgin T rider stumbles into me and nearly takes me down. Might I add that I'm not a tiny girl, a thick woman if you will, so to make me loose my footing is no easy task. Anyway, a look of fear rushes over my face as this big guy falls onto me, I am taken off guard by the strong, kind, hand that grabs onto my arm...it was that fiiinnne looking young gentleman I had noticed earlier...He saved me from udder embarrassment...because if it wasn’t for him my ass would have been on the ground...and he did it in such a calm matter that it didn’t even interrupt the convo he was having on his cell. I looked into his eyes and mouthed the words "thank you"..I'm pretty sure he knew how grateful I was.

Then the next morning I encountered another act of chivalry although this one was less remarkable. Usually people are racing past one another to secure themselves a place on the T..well not this morning in August. A guy actually backed off and although I told him he was there first to step up ahead of me...he refused and insisted on me entering the T before him...it was lovely and made my day just that much brighter.

So in conclusion, chivalry is not dead, it just isn't thriving. However I thank those out there who are kind to a woman..not because she is of the opposite sex, or thought of as weaker...but simply because it is the nice thing to do. Thank you.

Watch Your Step After Dark

If you're in the Boston area, breathing and have a vagina you've probably been told this news story by concerned friends and family who keep up on the news. Yes..another assault has occurred along the Esplanade in the wee hours of the morning.

I'm just taking the time to remind all you ladies to not walk alone at night if it's not necessary...Oh wait, you already knew that? Duhhh!! Most females know it's dangerous to walk alone at night. It's just not fair that having a vagina makes you handicap and incapable of making it home safely.

Everytime I leave my friend's house, a bar etc. and it's late and I'm alone..hell yeah I'm scared of what's lurking in the dark. But I've still walked home and I'm thankful every time I make it safely to my front door.

This whole violence against women/rape culture that we live in is pathetic. No wonder men have more money than women it's because women have spend all their money on cabs---well ya know what I'm saying.

I wish we all lived in a world where things like this didn't happen..but we don't. So our best defense if we must walk at night, be proactive about it.
-Have your keys (or another sharp, painful object) and cell in hand (with local police set on one of your speed dials)
-get pepper spray
-walk the long way, if it's more lit and populated
-fuck it, walk in the street, so people can't snatch you from the sidewalk
-don't wear your hair in a long ponytail or braid (easier target-can be grabbed)

to all you fellow nightly walking women..be safe and stay strong

Calling all Female Sneaker Fiends

Female Sneaker Fiend makes cute kicks for the ladies. FSF was promoting the other night at Paradise in the brighton/allston area. Anyway I thought that these female sneaker fiends are doing a great job and have some pretty cool ideas and wanted to share..check out their website and/or blog.

The Cougar...on Feminist Blogging

I suppose I've been a feminist my whole life but didn't really begin to embrace the F-word until my college years, when I began to understand the meaning behind it. Being a feminist is basically--me fighting for equal rights among the sexes…the want to not be discriminated against because of what is between my legs.

Blogging for feminism is just part of my activism. I would say that all day every day I'm throwing my Vs up...spreading knowledge about the need for equality and feminism. My blog putyourvsup.blogspot.com allows me to put my feminist ramblings into words, it’s an outlet to the blogosphere. Blogging has given me courage to know that I'm not alone, in fact there are many men and women out there fight for equality in various ways.

The art of mastering the blogosphere is one that I haven’t got down, but I’m working on it. There’s tools everywhere and once you start blogging and surfing the web, you’ll be amazed at the resources you find out there about things that you’re actually passionate about—I’m telling you it’s inspirational.

Yeah sure I was scared to be discriminated against and yeah I get made fun of for it and called a dyke but w/e I know who I am and what I stand for...and lets face it if you don’t stand up for yourself, then who will?

So stand up for what you believe in, I promise it will make you feel a lot better about your life--and who knows maybe even change the world a little.

As for myself, I'll continue to spread feminism...one V at a time.

Pussy for Peace

March 24th Beantown hosted a peace rally in the commons. It was pretty sweet. There was music, a march, and random people coming together in support of bringing our troops home. It was a little intense at times but inspiring how people came together for humanity in an anti-war protest. My camera ran out of batteries and I only got to take like two pictures so they're not that great.

Some Sweet Stuff

For all of you ladies living in various metropolitan areas you may want to check out your DailyCandy. It's great for a girl on the go; to stay savvy with what's going down in their next of the woods with a daily email on things from fashion, nightlife, eats, etc. Although I can't afford most of it as I'm a broke college joke--it keeps me up to date on what I would be doing if I were a young professional in the Bean. Cute pics too.

Online Appointments

Planned Parenthoods in and around the Boston area are taking appointments via internet.

Pretty cool, quick and easy..a lot better than being on hold for 15 minutes.

Some Feminism in and around the Bean

For those in and around the Boston area here are a few events going on in March.

*Feminism and Dessert...Yummm

*Open Mic in the Bridge

*WAM! 2007 Conference