I like this because not only does it push back against the stereotypical depiction of girls in popular media but it also pushes back against stereotypical depiction of boys. I often have a hard time explaining to students that feminism isn't just about women's issues or female stuff. It's about gender relations and the socially-constructed world we live in in which men, women, neither, both, others, all are characterized in specific ways such that deviation from those ways of acting is considered odd (by the mainstream).
Or, a shorter way to say this: just watch the video.
Via Openculture.
PS: Yes, we can make the claim that girls-who-read don't need a chap to validate that he "likes" them reading. They read because they fancy reading. This also serves to distinguish "girls who read" from "girls who don't read", thus pitting women against each other. This is just objectification of a different sort. Yes, agreed to all of that. But, small steps, eh? I still find this quite subversive in terms of critiquing general representations of women in the media. And, on a shallow note, Mr. Grist isn't hard on the (my?) eyes either.
Or, a shorter way to say this: just watch the video.
Via Openculture.
PS: Yes, we can make the claim that girls-who-read don't need a chap to validate that he "likes" them reading. They read because they fancy reading. This also serves to distinguish "girls who read" from "girls who don't read", thus pitting women against each other. This is just objectification of a different sort. Yes, agreed to all of that. But, small steps, eh? I still find this quite subversive in terms of critiquing general representations of women in the media. And, on a shallow note, Mr. Grist isn't hard on the (my?) eyes either.
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