as i'm reading articles on feminism topics in order to write a response to Sarah Kane's play, "Blasted," through a feminist lens i've been profoundly disturbed by a particular article i'm reading.  you can find it at: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=13641&R=11373CEA6

it is ironic to me that even in the areas of society where groups or activists are fighting for certain rights (such as women's rights) that much harsher and more drastic circumstances are being ignored and overlooked.  I feel that American activists over-emphasize the need to promulgate female equality within the patriarchal society in which we live in.  Mainly in the political, cultural, social realm, such as, female underrepresentation being refuted, unequal pay, or women's rights for abortion. 

In comparision to the American women's issues, this article talks about the suffrage of women in Muslin societies, especiallly in Arab nations and in Iran, which include lashing, stoning and honor killings.  Other brutalities include throwing acid in a woman's face if her head is unveiled, the right for a man to rape a woman to make her his wife, and female genital mutilation (FGM).  the worst it, i feel is FGM.

According to http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/:

"Female genital mutilation (FGM), often referred to as 'female circumcision', comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons...The most common type of female genital mutilation is excision of the clitoris and the labia minora, accounting for up to 80% of all cases; the most extreme form is infibulation, which constitutes about 15% of all procedures...

...In cultures where it is an accepted norm, female genital mutilation is practiced by followers of all religious beliefs as well as animists and non believers. FGM is usually performed by a traditional practitioner with crude instruments and without anaesthetic. Among the more affluent in society it may be performed in a health care facility by qualified health personnel. WHO is opposed to medicalization of all the types of female genital mutilation.  The age at which female genital mutilation is performed varies from area to area. It is performed on infants a few days old, female children and adolescents and, occasionally, on mature women."

This is alarmingly frightful to me.  I know that this is not the worst attrocity happening in the world, knowing the persecution that happens in NK, Africa and warzones, but it is pretty grotesque.  In comparison, in Bev Hills, women are opting to get vaginal laser rejuvination procedures to seek relief from vaginal irregularities or to optimize sexual pleasure.  I have no right to judge one's personal choice to have this procedure or plastic surgery procedures done in general done, however, it is important for one to recognize the distinction between the scale and purpose for these procedures.  Furthermore, these women are involuntarily forced into these procedures which potentially harm their bodies permanently and are excrutiatingly painful.

All this to express my disgust with the mistreatment of women in other countries and my disappointment in the lack of organization to help these victims.  I'm also disappointed in certain feminist hard-liners that are the headrunners for fem rights but fail to recognize the distinction between the severity of violation of fem rights in other countries in comparison to the states, and drawing conclusions that are false and misrepresentational of the truth. 

In reading these things my heart is wrenched and my stomach turned.  but i know i am also disgusted with myself for lacking the courage and ability to do something about it.  it is extremely frustrating to have my heart roused for action and desire for change and not really feel like i can go out there and do something about it.  i already feel like i'm being spread so thin.  in one sense, there's an outlet i can find in theater for that form of expression, which is nice.  but i don't feel it's enough.  i know that i have to be careful though of judging others of apathy, since i kno that i am too lacking in action. 

I have a couple of deadlines. 

May 15th is when my dye project, graphic's design portfolio, renderings/costume designs, aesthetic theory conceptualization group project is due.  I have a little of everything done....but there's so much more involved.  I'm a little bit of a mess and everyone is getting sick around me =(. Oh, and I also have to be packed and ready to be gone for a little while.  I'm going to Boston to visit Jim and then to Philly for Doris' and Tim's wedding.  I was hoping to have lost some weight or at least trimmed down a little since i'll be one of the maids, but with my hectic schedule, chocolate and coffee have been my friends as well as foes.

I'm bringing with me my oral readings, and my paper to work on while i'm on the e.coast. 

eeee

 had quite an adventure on Friday noon. was moving my car at 11:55am in time for the street sweeping only to discover my car was dead as a doornail.  i had to have it jumped two nights before and didn't drive it the next day.  fortunately a neighbor across the street was kind enuf to offer and pulled right up.  except it took about 5/6 tries before it got going.  it had really rolled over, and wasn't playing dead, it was really, really dead.

so as mechanically savvy as I was, I drove to autozone, picked out a new battery and installed it and was able to make it in time for school in a few hours.  see...

after the old one was removed.

 me working hard away.

okay okay, fine. if you know me, when you saw "mechanically savvy" a red flag shoulda come up.  and if you've got a good eye, you should question who took the picture for me at autozone?  truthfully, another good neighbor of mine offered to come with and had the battery savvy-ness.  but, hey, i learned something new, and have the know-how now, for future battery issues.  =)

 here's justin who helped me out. 

yay for a first in battery changing!  joel should be proud! =) 

no, i don't really want to move my car right now.  i want to sleep. 

i've been at school since 8am.  worked all day...had rehearsal to go to.  i just got home it's 11:45pm and i just want to pack my things for tomorrow and sleep cuz i have to be up at 3am.  really now.  what i want to say is, can you get your own gas in the morning, instead of having someone else doing it for you right now?

man.  i'm grumpy.  (this is what happens to my attitude when all i've had to eat today was pizza and cookies.  mix that with a large work load and lack of sleep and you get a perfect batch of evil nancy)

Finally!  I can move on to doing other things...

Pericles,  a play by Shakespeare, had been in production for what seemed like forever!! I was both the assistant costume designer and the makeup and hair designer for that show.  Needless to say, tech week, last week, was horrific.  However, I took it in stride and enjoyed every moment of it, seeing it as training for the film industry.  I will spare you the details.  It will play Tuesday through Saturday, so if you're interested in seeing it, I will recommend it, as it is a pretty good show. 

Now, I'm moving on...to my dye project.  I need to be living in the dye shop for the next few weeks, otherwise I will not get it done!  I've finally come up with my inspiration just today during my break from work at BR.  I will not disclose it, and just post the picture of my finished product.  eta: late May.  Also, just to notify you in advance, there will be a gallery of work from this year from all the design students sometime in late May.  I think it will go up on May 15th until that Friday.  If you're interested in visiting, it will be up I think 9am-5pm each of those days.  Otherwise I will try to post some pictures like I did last year. 

Other than that, three oral exam books, renderings from two conceptual shows, a slick portfolio, several group projects and a paper later, I'll be done with my second year.  That will leave me with one and a half year left before graduation!  I'm a little over half way done.  =)  yay!