It’s taken me quite a while to compile this list. I wanted to do a list of 25, but ultimately I decided to choose quality of quantity.
From Body Mass Index, to filthy diamonds, to the Playboy myth, here is a list of 20 posts that all women should read. Some will inspire you, some will upset you, but most of all these posts should educate you. It wouldn’t hurt for the men to check them out as well.
1. Illustrated BMI Categories I’ve never been a fan of BMI but its nice to see it in pictures how off it can be sometimes.
2. Women of Color Talking About Sex I don’t believe that all, or even most women of color have issues with sex. But that’s my experience. Here is someone with a different perspective.
3. Reshaping the Sexy Filipina Image Images of Filipina women is something that was never on my radar. I fully support this cause.
4. Just Say No to Diamonds Have women (and men) been brainwashed?…Yes. Need more proof? Watch this somewhat disturbing DeBeers parody.
5. Women Entrepreneurs Changing the World We often think about helping women entrepreneurs in this country, but what about the women abroad who are depending on their businesses to survive. You can help them make a better life for themselves and their children.
6. Women Aren’t Victims Finally someone who gets it.
7. The Joke is on You Posing in Playboy is not empowering. Here is why.
8. The Power of Airbrushing We all know that celebrities are airbrushed but that doesn’t stop us from trying to achieve a level of perfection that doesn’t exist. Sometimes you just have to see it for yourself.
9. Women shouldn’t objectify themselves Like number 7, this also discusses women getting caught up in the faux empowerment of “my body is beautiful and there is nothing wrong with showing it to thousands of men who see me as nothing more than an object”
10. Everything I Know I Learned from InTouch Magazine the author adds, “Everything about misogyny, fat-hating, postcolonialism and consumerism, that is” Sad, just sad.
11. Stop Rape Now how do you stop rape? I don’t know but you certainly don’t do it by making it solely a woman’s problem.
12. Pretty isn’t a look, it’s a feeling says the marketers of a body hair removal product for children. My question is, should 10 year old girls be worried about their bikini line? That’s kind of sick.
13. Emasculation? The author says “This you’re just trying to emasculate men attitude is often used as an excuse for the perpetuation of misogyny by equating masculinity with scurrilous behaviour and attitudes.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.
14. Today in disembodied things is a part of a series that highlights misogynistic products on the market. This is by far the most disturbing.
15. My Face/Her Face So you get plastic surgery to fix what you perceive as a flaw. That’s fine, but what happens when your daughter ends up looking just like you?
16. How to Succeed Without Being a Man is a great interview with tips on how women can succeed in Corporate America.
17. Girl Power highlights a moms reflection on some of the obstacles that her daughter will encounter as she grows up. She says “I grew up believing that women could do anything they wanted. I believed they had the same opportunities as men. I think that not being able to play baseball because it was for boys and softball was for girls should have clued me in, but it didn’t.”
18. Zero is how many women presidents there have been in the U.S. but how do you explain “why” to a child?
19. Hippie does not describe a woman who decides to use alternative products during her time of the month. Whether you agree or not, it’s good to know what options are out there besides Kotex and Tampax. [Edit 12/7/07- This site appears to be down but you can currently access the cache of this page here.]
20.The Feminine Cover Up Because every woman has dealt with this issue at least once.


12 responses so far ↓
1 Liz Fuller // Dec 1, 2007 at 4:26 pm
DJ
This is an incredible collection you’ve compiled! The range and breadth of scope is fantastic.
Thanks for including my article in with the rest - I’m honored.
Liz
2 Carolanne // Dec 1, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Cool. Now you’ve given me a weekend task.
3 noemi // Dec 1, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Thank you for including our filipinaimages.com in this awesome list
4 Liz Fuller // Dec 2, 2007 at 8:14 am
Hi DJ
I wanted to let you know that you’ve been tagged for a meme asking you to share 7 facts about yourself. I hope that you have fun with this - I did!
details are at my blog:
http://www.morethanweknow.com/2007/12/01/women-entrepreneurs-networking-on-the-worldwide-web/
5 This Week’s Carnival plus a Scary Lion! - More Than WE Know - Information, Inspiration and Support for Women Entrepreneurs // Dec 3, 2007 at 6:34 am
[…] at AllDivaMedia shares 20 Posts that All Women Should Read, including at #5 one of my posts - Women Entrepreneurs Changing the […]
6 Amanda // Dec 3, 2007 at 3:32 pm
This is a wonderful compilation!! I am incredibly honored that you included my post with the rest of these thought-provoking, well-written entries. Thank you!
7 Carol // Dec 3, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Thank you for including my post in your list. I’m quite honored!
8 Living By Learning // Dec 5, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Thank you for this collection! I’ll be digesting it for awhile.
Perhaps you and your readers could help me develop a list of suggestions for encouraging girl leaders.
If you can, please comment on The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience on the Living By Learning Blog.
9 grace // Dec 9, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Hi, just wanted to say thanks for linking to my post. I think it’s a really important issue so I’m glad that more people will get to see it through reading your blog.
Cheers x
10 Rebecca // Dec 13, 2007 at 9:19 pm
For #12
Not only is the product disturbing, but pubic hair HAS a purpose! It creates a barrier between the vagina and our underwear (or pants if you’re into going commando) so that air can get to our vaginas. This airflow is essential to help fight off infections as we all know bacteria loves to grow in warm, moist areas; destroying the barrier only gives it a better chance to thrive!
As for guys like it “smooth down there” well thank you for only encouraging our children to lose their innocence sooner! Children as young as eight are preforming oral sex on one another for just a dollar and thinking nothing of it! A random magazine I had picked up in a doctor’s office polled their men readers and found that the majority preferred to have their lady’s nicely trimmed as opposed to wild or designed or bare.
11 Cecelia // Dec 24, 2007 at 7:06 pm
This is just great - I enjoyed reading every single post..
12 Tracee Sioux // Dec 27, 2007 at 9:09 am
DJ Nelson I am honored to have been included. Here is my post about being included http://traceesioux.blogspot.com/2007/12/20-posts-all-women-should-read.html . I’m sorry it took me so long to reciprocate.
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