Feminism :: Identity
Identity is where our sense of self comes from. It's about where our racial, family and personal history. It's the story we tell ourselves. The path towards gaining that strong sense of self is a life-long process. All of us go through it, though it's harder for some than others.
A Doll
Portrayed as a love story, this beautifully shot 16mm short film depicts the relationship between a man and a woman. It starts with the man brushing the woman's hair. The woman with her face and body covered in blue, sits silently, gazing on. She faces the man's wrath when he sees that she has stripped off the blue layer from her body. This film raises issues of objectification and control as the female struggles to find her identity, rather than have it imposed upon her.
Two Sides of the Mirror
Males and females have developed a set of grooming behaviors that identifies their gender. Males shave their beards, mustaches and facial hair while females put on make up. Interestingly, males remove excess from their face whereas females add on. This gender difference is explored in front of a mirror above a sink by a female who plays both roles.
What does your fridge say about you?
Everything we surround ourselves with says something about us. Our fridge is no exception. It says a lot about how well we take care of our body, how healthy conscious we are, whether we are vegetarians or meat-eaters, whether we are single or married children, how clean and neat we keep our spaces and much more. It's another interesting indication of our identity.
Geisha Girl II
After reading "Memoirs of a Geisha," one woman was inspired to paint her face like a geisha. Then she goes through the process of taking off her mask, exposing her true face. This video explores the masks we put on everyday before we venture out to face the world. Often, the masks protects us, shields our real selves, and allows us to remake ourselves.
How2 : Make a Video Blog
Learn from one woman the things you should do and shouldn't do in making a video blog. It's about entertainment, stay away from inflating that ego. She is quite entertaining in this how-to video. See how you can be videoblog savy. Entertain. Not annoy. Maybe your video will make the director's cut.
I'm 30!
Katie turns 30 on May 11 and she's freaking out about it. She talks about not wanting to grow up, having to make decisions. She rants about her crisis. Many of us can identity with her. There's so much pressure for females to be young, youthful, playful and energetic. It's like we are not allowed to grow old. Maybe we don't allow ourselves to grow old. We will do anything to hold back the years. Yes, we all want to be forever young.
I'm Autistic!
Emily, 25-year-old woman, talks about her aspergers syndrome, mild form of autism. Her brother and father also have aspergers. She has trouble reading people expressions and making eye contact. Through her own experience and research, she has come to understand her condition and to cope with it.
Hi, I'm Melody...
Growing up is a difficult process. Melody, 18, talks about her self perception and overall dissatisfaction with herself. She is a short girl with a lump on her nose, bad posture, and zits on her face. She likes to paint but don't to be watched while she's doing it. She likes to travel. She's single. She's addicted to the internet.
Size Doesn't Matter
Samantha Turnbull, 115 pounds, started off as a competitive cheerleader. She developed her speed and flexibility in cheerleading. Now she is a weightlifter, lifting 156 - 180 pounds. She has strength, talent and power. People are surprised that she is a weightlifter because of her size. She is an Olympic hopeful. Females in sports have change the image of sport and instilled in them a sense of confidence and hope.
So What if I am a Black Woman
Arbeny Davis, 7, recites the poem, "So What if I am a Black Woman," on a talk show. She recites with confidence and passion. Very well done. Every girl should be this secure in their identity. We should be proud of whatever we are.
Stayceyann Chin "Feminist or a Womanist"
Jamaican Chinese American Lesbian poet, Staceyann Chin, performs in New York. She starts by asking, "Am I a feminist or a womanist?" If she does men primarily. She explores the social tensions, the complexity of multiple identity, women who are raped in bars, and people saying they asked for it by the way they dressed. She embraces diversity and in her passionate delivery, encourages others to do the same. Very poetic and thought-provoking.
A Girl Like Me
Young African-American women struggle to accept and define themselves according to their own standards. They talk about other people's expectations of them. One woman talks about how she wanted to be like her white barbie dolls when she was a girl. One study with African-American children show that white dolls are preferred as playmates. Questions include: Can you show me the doll that you like to play with? Can you show me the doll that is a nice doll? Can you show me the doll that looks like you? 15 out of the 21 children in the study prefer the white doll. The women in the video talks about their individual paths to embracing themselves and their culture.