lip magazine: for girls who think feel create speak out live

So, in connection to my latest reply on the raunch culture topic, I call all female swimsuit wearers. Do you wear a bikini? Why or why not?

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SuicideGirls revolt

It’s not surprising that in the tattooed and pierced world of SuicideGirl erotica, some tempers would flare, some feathers would ruffle, some sexpots would get sullen. That’s all part of the growling appeal of the alterna-porn Web site, which features DIY provocateurs posing in hair-dyed, body-modified, mostly nude glory, and which has created an online community for these “real” girls and the Web surfers who love them (at $9 a month).

But few could have predicted that almost 40 of the close to 1000 SuicideGirls would stage a Web-out and stalk off the Web site amid claims that despite all its go-girl messaging, SuicideGirls.com is run by people who don’t care much about female empowerment.

Read the rest of the article here

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Hi girls and guys,

I’m doing a book review on Ariel Levy’s new book Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture. Michelle mentioned a few blogs ago, about tee shirts that she had seen in a shopping centre, that shocked her. I was wondering if any of you could share any other examples of raunch culture, that has surprised or shocked you. Like, the other day I saw a guy wearing a t shirt “My girlfriend’s out of town” and at work we sell Bratz clothing and Hillary Duff, and I’m bothered that the clothes are too skimpy for 7-14 year olds, and that when i was 7 or 14 I wouldn’t have thought to wear anything like that.

Also the video clips on weekend tv are disturbing and aren’t a good representation of women, for young girls/women. Lately, the clips that I have found most worrying that young people are watching and copying are: Jessica Simpson “These boots are made for walking”, Pussycat Dolls, and Sugababes “Push the button”

What are your thoughts?

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So, we mailed out close to 500 copies of issues 7 and 8 to high school, college, public and uni libraries. A telemarketing company followed up 100 of those. 54 librarians thought the magazine was inappropriate. Some of the comments in the database I was sent are

“Content too risque”

“Articles too mature”

“Better for girls over 18″

“Mag was too text (not enough pics) and some articles were needed to be more conservative)”

“Not suitable due to political - feminine point of view- too radical ”

I can’t tell you how depressing this is. My favourite of course is the “not enough pics”. A fuckin’ librarian thinks all her students are morons. Great! You know, it’s no wonder girls are dressing and behaving like fully sexually mature people. I guess the more the adults around them infantilise them, the more they’ll rebel against that. But the irony is that if all the adults only let them read Dolly, then they’re bound to be pretty immature. Anyway, enough sour grapes.

I just don’t know that I can keep fighting against this culture. Hey, maybe we can use it as a marketing tool: “lip - the magazine your mothers don’t want you to read!”

Oh and in case you are trying to figure out what’s so damn risque and radical, have a look on the website at the table of contents for issues 7 and 8. Highlights are:

the article about how girls could not have a wedding

the article about how you could consider not shaving

and of course, the sexuality columns (which must have done it - the one about strippers and the sex museum)

Fuck, it makes me angry as I look through the contents. All these empowering articles about careers, making choices, thinking about what you do, how you can change the world. But, damn, they mention strippers…

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Hey all,

My latest Vibewire column is up. It’s garnered some nice responses,which is great - it makes me feel much better about my writing when people respond. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out and write comments: I haven’t been up on the Vibewire “most comments” list in a loooong time. http://www.vibewire.net/2/index.php?option=
com_content&task=view&id=10319

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Hey all,

I’m against capital punishment and all, but I just can’t get worked up about the Australian drug trafficker who’s going to be put to death in Singapore. It’d be one thing if there was the possibility that this guy was framed, as seems to be the deal with many of the drug traffiking cases. Being as partially informed as I usually am, I gather this guy was wearing the drugs and it’s pretty obvious he’s guilty as charged. I don’t think one should get killed for drug trafficking, but it’s not like the guy didn’t have fair warning about what would happen if he got caught. He took the risk, he got caught. He’s suffering the known consequences of his action.

Gee, I can be heartless…

Any thoughts?

Rachel

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