GENDER BENDER



Looking from the outside in - people, place and practice

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Life inside the Kabul cinemas












By Jonathan Saruk

Saudi women finally given the vote


On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, announed officially that Saudi women are allowed to vote. Finally. “Because we refuse to marginalise women in society in all roles that comply with sharia (Islamic law), we have decided, after deliberation with our senior ulama (clerics) and others… to involve women in the Shura Council as members, starting from the next term.” “Women will be able to run as candidates in the municipal election and will even have a right to vote.” 


The announcement came after increasing pressure from liberal activists in the country to expand women's rights. Even though women are not yet allowed to drive and still need male chaperons when going basically anywhere, there seems to be light for women in Middle Eastern countries....

Friday, September 23, 2011

Gendered toys on Curb Your Enthusiasm: Should boys play with sewing machines?



What do you think? Should Larry have given Greg this present? I definitely think so. He loved it and why shouldn't he have a sewing machine? Not all 'boys' love sports and not all girls love dolls. Gay or straight, it doesn't matter. Children should be allowed to play with cross-gendered toys... 

 

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Gender-bending ad



This boy is just so cute! I can understand why people find this ad unusual, since it's so far outside the realm of how a conventional mother would act towards her little boy. I really like this ad though. It's really great that certain companies are willing to bend gender norms, shaping it little by little, even when so many people are resisting it.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Chaz Bono talks gender and being a transsexual

Chaz Bono, the daughter of Cher and Sonny Bono formerly known as Chastity, is now living as a transsexual male individual. I really love what Chaz is doing. He's really giving a voice to the transsexual community, by using his celebrity.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Pageant mom dresses daughter as prostitute



This mother (below) received death threats after dressing her daughter up for a beauty pageant as Julia Robert's prostitute character in Pretty Woman. Once again, I think that pageants and especially pageant mothers are completely insane...



Saturday, September 10, 2011

Body modification gone too far?

Here are some of the most extreme forms of body modification. They are much more common than you might think:


1. Anal stretching 

This one I just don't get. Why? The image above is for “tools” to aid in this modification. But you can only imagine what this practice involves.


2. Pierced Glasses

James Sooy and Oliver Gibson have come up with Pierced Glasses – the most minimalist eyewear ever.


3. Subdermal Implant

A subdermal implant refers to a kind of body jewelry that is placed underneath the skin. 


4. Branding

Human branding is the process in which a mark is burned into the skin, resulting in a permanent scar.


5. Extraocular Implant

I've hear of tooth jewelry, but this I think is quite mad. The implantation of jewelry in the outer layer of the eye.


6. Earlobe Stretching
This one is quite common. 


7. Corneal tattooing 
Never heard of this before. The procedure can be performed with traditional tattoo needle or a syringe. The eye is simply held open while the pigment, which is the exact same type used in a regular tattoo, is injected into the eyeball.


8. Tightlacing

Almost something like corset percing. Also called corset training and waist training, this is the practice of wearing a tightly-laced corset to achieve extreme modifications to the figure and posture.


9. Tongue Splitting
 
Tongue bifurcation, or tongue splitting, is done through scalpeling or surgical laser.


10. Tooth Filing

Like the Mentawai women, tooth filing is a form of body modification in which people file their natural teeth to create a desired look or shape.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The World's Fattest Woman

I find this woman very interesting. Susanne Eman wants to be the world's largest woman. Even if that means eating over 20,000 calories per day. She is 32 and plans to reach her 1,600+ pound goal by the time she's 41 or 42. To most, this pursuit might not seem very attractive, but Eman told The Sun that men are very much turned-on by her physical appearance. 


Her diet: 

Breakfast: 

6 Scrambled Eggs Cooked In Butter=468 cal. Half Pound Of Bacon=1,168 cal. 4 Hash Browned Potatoes=672 cals. 6 Pieces Of Buttered Toast=600 cals. Ice Cream Shake=1,160 cals. Bag Of Animal Crackers=1,950 cals. 2-Liter Of Soda=800 cals. Bag Of Barbeque Chips=1,650 cals. 3 Ham And Cheese Sandwiches=1,576 cals. 


Lunch:  

3 Beef, Bean And Green Chili Burritos With Sour Cream=1,453 cals. Salad With Bacon, Cheese And Chicken=1,479 cals. 


Dinner:  

12 Tacos=4,906 cals. 2-Liter Of Soda=800 cals. 8 Scoops Of Ice Cream=2,080 cals. Pan Of Brownies=1,200 cals.


I don't feel that it's right to fatten yourself up or slim yourself down in order to break some record. It comes down to health. This is simply VERY unhealthy. Promoting a good body image is great, be it larger or smaller, but promoting gluttony is simply not. 

Friday, September 2, 2011

Newest trend for toddler beauty queens: Fake butts and breasts


 Toddlers and Tiaras provides a little sneak peek into the world of beauty pageants for toddlers in The States.See the proud mother in the mirror above...


The newest trend? Fake butts and boobs (below).


One word: Horrifying!