Friday, April 30, 2010

Television programming and role modeling

Television programs receive extensive attention for how they characterize different racial and gender groups. Many sitcoms pay particular attention to avoid racial stereotypes and portray minority families in positive relationships with successful lifestyles. Programs that fail to do so are criticized for perpetuating negative images and attitudes of these groups. In a similar way to minority groups, women are depicted as competent and balanced, often juggling a career and childrearing with ease. Fathers and husbands, on the other hand, are frequently depicted as bumbling, lazy, incompetent, and even superfluous. Sometimes it's as if the man is just another one of the children that mother must take care of, rather than a dependable, contributing leader of the home. This modeling of husband and father gives an image of men's familial roles that can be discouraging and disappointing for both men and women--for men in light of their roles, and for women in their relationship to men fulfilling those roles.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Misandry

Somehow it has become widely acceptable to berate and disrespect men as a gender. Man-hating is validated and justified while the same attitudes and behaviors towards women are condemned as sexist and inappropriate. Perhaps some feel that this antipathy is deserved for offenses committed by men. But returning raling for raling is false justice. Our fates are tied together. We cannot do harm to another without harming ourselves. Derogatory attitudes towards men and their roles, especially as fathers and husbands, have both personal and societal consequences. As we undermine their contributions and malign even purposeful and constructive concepts of masculinity, we not only discourage men from filling crucial roles in their families, but tell them they'll be inadequate or even total failures in doing so. People naturally become as we regard them. Misandry will not help improve men's behavior any more than misogyny will improve women's.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Tongue Reveals the Heart

"How can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."
-Jesus Christ

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Internal work

"What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality."
-Plutarch

Monday, April 26, 2010

Words from a fashion writer

"Clothes are not everything, but you cannot have depths without surfaces. They communicate with what is within; between the two there is always a great dialogue."
-Linda Grant

Saturday, April 24, 2010

I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more!

Well, I try my best
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them...
-Bob Dylan, Maggie's Farm

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Organizations that reward conformity vs. original thinking

Hierarchies that exist for the primary purpose of sustaining and propagating themselves reward conformity over original thought. Organizations that are more concerned with accomplishing the mission for which they were created not only tolerate, but welcome creative and divergent thinking to further their purpose.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A world without planes

Unlike planes, "the soul invariably travels at the speed of a camel."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8626000/8626927.stm

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Time to love

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
-Mother Teresa

Monday, April 19, 2010

An Incredible Model for Saving Lives

The Delancey Street Foundation, based in San Francisco, helps those who have hit rock bottom to turn their lives around using a powerful leadership model for personal change.
http://www.delanceystreetfoundation.org/

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Truth

"The truth is not to be found in either side, but in the debate between them."
-Unknown

Monday, April 5, 2010

Great Bumper Stickers

I love my country, but I think we need to start seeing other people.

The five day work week: Brought to you by the labor movement.

Think! It's not illegal yet.

Honk if you love peace and quiet.

A closed mouth gathers no foot.