Yarr! Here be a riddle on #TalkLikeAPirateDay

Yarr!

Why be it, scurvy dogs, that when a lass goes without make-up, she be taken less seriously; yet when a man goes out with make-up, he is taken less seriously-- unless a pirate he be?

Thar be no need to answer. Do'na take a treasure map to find this. Just a crab in your bandana.

🧜‍♀️💎🏝🗺⚓❌

Advertising Aquaman for the OTHER Audience

My friend sent me this. She got it from a friend who found it on the Internet.

At first I thought it was a real ad.
"OMG! The DC studio hired an ad agency who is willing to market a superhero movie to WOMEN? Is it due to the success of Wonder Woman?"

Then our other friend pointed out that it's fan art.

"Whew! For a second I thought they were gonna have to start marketing other things to everyone, even women. One minute it's superhero movies, then they'll be trying to sell us lawnmowers, stereo equipment, steaks, snowblowers, hammers, sporting goods, and motorcycles! Ad executives would toss themselves out the windows. And we'd have Mad Men 2020 coming soon. Wow, dodged that bullet."

🤔🙄

Teela Captain of the Damsel in Distress

Thanks to Netflix, my husband and I recently rewatched all 65 episodes of season one of
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
http://imdb.com/rg/an_share/title/title/tt0126158/

I know I watched this show in my youth. Interestingly, there are strong female characters... sort of.

For the biggest example of all: Teela.
She's the Captain of the Guard. Not only should she be able to defend herself,  it's her job to defend other people. When Prince Adam is around, she gives him crap about not being a skilled enough fighter.

But then,  when He-Man is around, she gets all gooey drooling over him,  and then ends up in need of rescue. Seriously, it's like every episode she's in includes the phrase, "Help me,  He-Man." Instead of fighting beside him as an equal, showing him a challenge, and making herself worthy, instead she just falls apart and waits to be rescued. No wonder they never hook up!

*spoiler from the 1980's*

Both of her parents know that Adam and He-Man are the same guy, but neither of them call her out on this behavior. Do you not want your daughter to have a shot with a guy who is both a prince and the most powerful man in the universe? I don't think she's gonna do better.

Man at Arms could be like,  "Teela, we're both in the guard, but He-Man shows up and you forget all your skills. Knock that off. It's boring and a bad example." The Sorceress could be all, "You don't know I'm your mom, but since I am, listen when I tell you that the dude knows the real you and sees you being all helpless when he holds aloft his mighty sword and says the magic words. And that's why you're a joke. He can't tell you the truth because then you'd realize you two can never hook up because he is aware of your helpless damsel routine and has been secretly eye-rolling at you all this time. Fortify, Teela! Prove your equality. Quit being two-faced. We already have a character for that."

Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's because I figured out that this was not a great example for my childhood self. (Be able to fight for yourself, unless there's a guy to do it for you, in which case act helpless.)

Thoughts?

Potential Meme -girl self esteem

Before we get all hung up on blaming society,  magazines,  models,  and Hollywood... How about if we take a second to check what dear old dad has displayed as a fantasy woman? Frued wasn't entirely wrong,  after all. Is it a scientist of the month calendar hanging next to the tool box? I'm just putting it out there that whatever women a dad shows his daughter as his ideal is what she'll first strive to be when she hits puberty. That switch from wanting to be mom to wanting to be who dad defined as his fantasy. The moment it clicks in the mind that MOM ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. She didn't manage to remain the fantasy. (*There are men who manage to be the exception. Congratulations. There are also gay dads, but I'm not sure how they portray women to their daughters-- I imagine it varies.)

The good news is that a lot of girls grow up and get over this. We stop seeking that approval. Some of us just don't put up with not being the fantasy because we've realized that there's always some other guy out there who WILL treat us like the fantasy.

Just thought I'd share this insight after my dad has sent me yet another sexist joke which I've come to just roll my eyes at because I've long since realized that's the height of his regard. I love him, but he's beyond change. He grew up learning that this behavior was okay. If I had a son, I would hope to teach him better.

Seems society is going the way of just giving males the same body issues. No six pack abs, no love.

Survival of the fittest. We aren't beyond caveman instincts yet. We haven't become a world longing for technological and cultural advancement yet-- That's only some of us, not a majority.

Maybe one day.

CameraMEN

Bones: The Girl in Suite 2103
http://imdb.com/rg/an_share/title/title/tt0849844/

Watch about 13 minutes in. Notice how the camera follows a woman's butt as she walks. There's no other visual for focus.

This is a show with a strong female lead who is extremely intelligent.

It's a wonder that people continue to treat women as sexual objects. Subliminal visual images are powerful. Without a word, teaching viewers that it is acceptable to just stare at a person as an object for a prolonged amount of time.

Sure,  it's okay. She was paid for that strut. Probably fought for the opportunity.

But the director had an opportunity to shoot humans as equals.

Hard to market that.

Just an observation.