Two years ago, I had a personal epiphany at the Personal Democracy Forum in New York City. I joke about how I was so deep in revelatory thought that I fell down a few stairs. Yet it was the moment when it all clicked for me. The way that new media could change everything.
On July 17, 2009, The National Council of Resistance of Iran headlined the story, “Iran: The burnt corpse of of female demonstrator found after a month of captivity.”
Everyday young girls and women are being bombarded with images that set the standards for what constitutes visual attractiveness in our culture. Margaret Cho knows about these strictures first hand, and addresses them in her standup comedy special on Showtime entitled “Beautiful.”
As new media continues to be an amplifying platform for previously under-recognized constituencies and agendas, women are looking to claim their piece of the pie.
We need to move forward with advocacy and legislative solutions. For the caregivers devoted to either our older citizens or those who make up the future generation, there has got to be a better way.
"The Jump Rope Line" by Marcia G. Yerman is included in the Seal Press anthology Dancing at the Shame Prom.
Published at:
