Study: The Objectification of Women Is a Real, Measurable Phenomenon →

PROBLEM: Women’s bare bodies are on display in billboards, movie posters, and many other kinds of ads. Though plenty of studies have looked at the ramifications of this pervasive sexual objectification, it’s unclear if we see near-naked people as human beings or if we really do view them as mere objects.

METHODOLOGY: Researchers led by Philippe Bernard presented participants pictures of men and women in sexualized poses, wearing a swimsuit or underwear, one by one on a computer screen. Since pictures of people present a recognition problem when they’re turned upside down, but images of objects don’t have that problem, some of the photos were presented right side up and others upside down. After each picture, there was a second of black screen before each participant was shown two images and was asked to choose the one that matched the one he or she had just seen.

RESULTS: The male and female subjects matched the photos similarly. They recognized right-side-up men better than upside-down men, suggesting that they saw the sexualized men as persons. On the contrary, the women in underwear weren’t any harder to recognize when they appeared upside down, indicating that the sexy women were consistently identified as objects.

CONCLUSION: People objectify women in sexualized photos, but not men.

SOURCE: The full study, “Integrating Sexual Objectification With Object Versus Person Recognition: The Sexualized-Body-Inversion Hypothesis,” is published in the journal Psychological Science.

(via azaadi)

"When we think of Arabs, what do we see? What images come to mind? Do we see actual people? People who, despite real cultural or geographical differences, do pretty much the same things that we do? When we think of Arab women, what images come to mind? Do we see women who laugh and play and who adore their children? Women who work in the home as well as outside? Would it come as a surprise to know that in many Arab countries, a majority of college students are actually women? Arab men? What’s our media image? Do we see loving fathers, men who want to provide for their families? What about Arab teenagers? Do we see them the way you would think about teenagers in other parts of the world? Then there’s religion in the Arab world. Do we see it as all encompassing dominating everything else? Do we know that even though faith plays a huge role in the Arab world, just as it does here in the United States, that it’s also true that much of the Arab world is quite secular? When we think of Arabs and religion, does Christianity come to mind? Do we remember that there are over twenty million Christians in the region, who have lived side by side in harmony with Muslims for centuries?"

Jack Shaheen, Reel Bad Arabs (via pyrexia)

(via azaadi)

& so continues the war on women →

How can the republicans say this is as make believe as a “war on caterpillars” ?

I hate being so ashamed of and frustrated with my country.
And we point fingers at the Middle East? We are simply just more subtle.

UXO’s in Laos

I did enjoy Laos, and the laid back atmosphere of the country, but it was also the country where i found myself most consistently frustrated. My frustrations in Laos mostly come down to the people being “lazy.” This is not a word I originally thought to use, rather, it’s the definition many Lao people have used to describe their people to me. I first assumed all my problems came down to a language barrier. But after interacting with and speaking to both Lao adults and foreign workers in Laos, I’ve realized my problems are not the whole result of me being foreign. 
It is  hard to get anything accomplished in Laos without twisting somebody’s arm. There is so little motivation here. Even beggars on the streets selling bracelets can barely be bothered to attempt to sell their goods. As an American, it is incomprehensible to me why one would open a shop, then make no attempt to sell their items. 

Yet, as I learn and understand more, it is hard for me to write about my frustrations in Laos, because everything that is upsetting seems to be the result of their history. The history I mean is the secret war the Americans waged in Laos during the Vietnam War. Most people have no idea that the American military, breaking the Geneva Accord, and largely unbeknownst to the public, had 580,000 bombing missions over Laos, dropping over 270 million bombs, making Laos the most bombed country in the history.

It wasn’t just any bombs our military dropped, they dropped mostly cluster bombs, or “bombies.” These bombs were created with the sole purpose of killing human beings. There are still 80 million unexploded bombies laying around, buried in the earth for children and farmers to find and die upon. 20,000 people have died post-war, due to these UXO’s. I’ve been on tours here where we were strictly told which paths to walk on- the ones considered 95% safe. 

The Lao people aren’t lazy. They have just been at the bottom of the chain of so long. Bombed more than any other country, but not reported on. Still finding tons of bombs yet to be detonated, yet again receiving little international attention or support. It seems the people are just used to being told exactly what to do. As a result, they do the bare minimum, and that’s that. 
It’s so different from Cambodia, where the Khmer people share a similar past. There, everybody is determined to better themselves, to move forward from their haunting past.  Everybody is eager to learn English, to put money towards new ideas, to take risks, to ask questions.

I don’t know why it is so different between to two countries. You can feel it, though. You can feel the difference in the spirits of the people. I suppose being pushed down so many times, it is hard to get back up. Anger, sadness, and fear can result in a lack of motion, a lack of wanting to move ahead. Almost, why bother?

And those I met that do bother, that do want to have an education, that do want to help themselves and their people- they get stuck. Often they can’t afford to finish their degrees,  or they can’t find a job suitable for their degrees. My tour guide in Luang Prabang spoke six language, was a certified engineer, yet escorting tourists around was the only work he could find- and he insisted he was lucky for it. When we volunteered at Big Brother Mouse, a guy we met desperately wanted to immigrate to Australia where he could put his math degree to good use and earn money to support his family. Yet he could not afford to do so, self-claimed to be trapped.

By the end of my trip, my frustrations with Laos and Lao people turned into frustrations with myself, and my people. It was us who held them back so long, us who secretly bombed them then flew away without a care in the world. Just like we still do with so many other countries. The cluster bombs used in Laos were the same bombs used in Afghanistan. I think I’ll forever be haunted by Seng asking my why my government bombed his country so heavily. Why I am allowed to vacation my way through his country, yet why he will never see mine? The only good thing I can think of about our conversation, was that at least I got him asking some questions.

Lovin’ Laos

Laos is different. It’s not as touristy as Thailand or Cambodia, it is much more relaxed. The official name is Lao PDR, People’s democratic republic. But everybody jokes it is PDR- please don’t rush. Everything little thing is done in Lao-time, it will take people ages to even acknowledge you’ve walked into their restaurant or want their service. This is also the hardest time I’ve had communicating with people. A lot of the time it really seems like people just cant be bothered to attempt to help us. ..But I’m still enjoying myself. Apparently enjoying myself so much that I cannot find time to write about where I am or what I’m doing. Expect this to a jumbled entry of my entire two weeks in Laos.

The roads here are ridiculous. I don’t understand why it alternates from paved to not so frequently. I can’t figure out why they paved roads but left huge gaps un filled. How did they decide which parts of the road would receive cement or not? The weirdest is when half the street is paved- sorry, northbound on this side is going to be rocky. I can’t imagine if their decision was based on paving the parts of the road that were the worst…because I can’t imagine if the roads were worse than they are now. Windy and bumps and pot holes and cows, and cars and other drivers. It’s hard to write on, or even worse, sleep on. Which is what I need. Naps and sleep. Traveling can be exhausting. However, as I sit on a slow boat from Luang Prabang to Phakbang, I think Penelope and I have discovered the best way of travel. On the boat there is a breeze, lots of space, and most importantly, the ride is smooth so I’ve been able to fit in three different naps! But this is the ending of our journey is Laos, let me start at the beginning…

In Cambodia we picked up a Swiss girl named Nadine. Essentially saved her from Philipino casino scammers and invited her to join us on the rest of our travels. We headed south to the beaches in Sihankoukville, were not the most impressed, so cut our trip short and headed to 4000 islands in Laos. After a VIP bus breakdown, a overcrowded rescue bus, a tuk tuk drive from the border, and a tipsy river boat through what we only assumed was crocodile infested water, we arrived at Don Det, the smallest of the 4000 islands. Due to lack of reservations and impatience, Penelope and I ended up in one guesthouse, mama’s, while Kayla and Nadine ended up in a much fancier one. We then decided to stay that way for the rest of our trip, and thus ended our group of four traveling together. It was time for Kayla and I to split up. Our friendship was not going to survive. But everybody is happy, and it was for the best. For penelope and myself, the islands consisted of our wonderfully crazy guesthouse owner, Mama, lacking waterfalls, hot bike rides, little shade, sunset boat rides and dolphins, tubing in the middle of nowhere, hammocks, and bright pink mosquito netting. 

From Don Det we headed to Pakse, coffee capital of Laos. I did not indulge, but did get a manicure. It was here where P.Lope and I picked up Lavinia, an Italian girl traveling by herself. The three of us headed on an overnight bus to Vientiane, the capital. In the sleeper bus each person was actually given their own bed! Not that the roads allowed for much sleep. Vientiane was a short visit, but a good visit. It all started off properly with a delicious breakfast of cornflakes & fruit, and the best frozen mocha from a little French bakery down the road from our guesthouse. Lavinia, Penelope and I knocked off most tourist things in the first day: the Buddha park, cultural park, BeerLao factory (almost), proper Lao lunch, the black stupa, and the victory arch. That lunch is still one of my favorite dishes I have been served here. I had a local man order me traditional food and wound up with Laap. Laap is a type of minced meat salad served with rice. My meat was duck and it was washed down by tons of free BeerLao provided by the locals I befriended and ended up sitting with for lunch. That was a really good day, leading into an even better night where  I talked to my friend Max and began to be convinced that the best option for me would be to cancel my flight out of Bangkok and meet up with him in Malaysia..

We then went to a town called Vang Vieng. It’s a small little river town that has within five years became the party capital of Laos. The whole concept is you float down this river in an inner tube. There are bars all along the river, and they throw ropes to you and pull you in. So it’s like a huge river pub crawl. At the bars they give you tons of free shots and everybody buys these bucket drinks and people are just all sorts of fucked up. There is tons of drugs and tons of drinking. But the scenery was so pretty. Beautiful jagged mountains. So we did the pub crawl one night, no tubing involved. Then did the whole float down the river the next day, after exploring caves. The bars really weren’t as bad as I’d had them described to me, but I’m sure that is because it was low season. On average, 25 people per year die on that river, so the partying is nothing to mess around with. But Penelope and I survived, had a blast, and made cool friends. Marios the French boy was my favorite.

Then was  Phonsavan and the famous & mysterious Plain of Jars. Massive stone jars in a field. Nobody knows how they got there or what they were used for. Took a day tour to three different sites, got stuck in the mud, and found it impossible to find a massage parlor. 

We then headed to my favorite city in Laos, still rich in french culture from back in the days of colonization, Luang Prabang. The entire city is an UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of the girls still wear traditional skirts, and the entire city has a curfew of midnight— everything begins to shut down by 11:30. We did all the typical touristy things to do. Each day I had a favorite bit- Vat Xieng Thong with beautiful glass mosaics, elephant rides through the jungle, rope swings & waterfalls, the cooooolest free fashion show and break dance performance, volunteering at Big Brother Mouse. Big Brother Mouse was a really cool experience where we volunteered to help students practice their English. The students turned out to all be 15 years and older, and we basically just had a conversation about them. It was interesting to discuss differences in culture and tradition. Here we also ran into and spent more time with Lavinia! As well as the French guys we’ve seen in every single  city..I’m surprised they aren’t on this boat with us. Today we then survived a disaster of a morning losing a wallet, our tickets, and breaking into a laundry shop. But here we are, on the first boat ride of our two day journey out of Laos. 

Oh, and I did officially cancel my flight out of Bangkok. Rather than returning to New Zealand, I am flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to meet up with Max, one of the guys I lived with in Paihia. Max and I will then have about two weeks to travel around before we need to be in Bangkok to meet up with Oli. The three of us will celebrate Max’s birthday together before Oli flies home and I fly to Australia. I may completely be out of money by the time I arrive in Brisbane, but I’m very happy with my decision and really looking forward to seeing both of the guys again. Plus, luckily, my cousin Erin just moved to Brisbane, so I will have somewhere to stay for free while I sort out all my work stuff and get adjusted to everything being super expensive again. Aaand, my long lost friend Tara from Canada will be arriving in Brisbane about two weeks after me. So I get to catch up with her as well!!

So that is what I’ve been up to. Tomorrow I’ll try to find motivation to write about my thoughts on different things here in Laos, not just a boring list of what I’ve done and seen.

I miss you all!

Cambodia might have some strong competition with Laos

I think that this world is magnificent, more wonderful than I could have imagined in my wildest dreams, and that it’s beauty is not confined to the dew on an early morning mountain, or a dramatic coastal sunset, although all of these things are life and a celebration. I think that its beauty really exists in the people who inhabit it, who make it sing with their music, who scent it with their heavenly cooking, who make it resound with their laughter and rest quietly with their tears.

Paula Constant, Slow Journey South

erosum:

Gloria Steinem [x]

(via mypropheticsoul)

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mypropheticsoul:

Don’t sell yourself to fall in love. Taken from Daughters of Dilla. Inspired by “Fall in Love” by Slum Village.

Forever smiling

In New Zealand, I used to use my travel time on buses to write in my blog. Now, I just sleep. It’s hard to find motivation to write, I am so tired all the time. Traveling every three to four days is exhausting, even when I get massages to relax me and go to bed by ten o clock. But it’s okay, I’m not complaining, because I really love what I’m doing, and I really love Cambodia. It’s the people and their smiling welcoming faces. 

Even the poorest people have smiles on their faces. Yesterday we went with CHOICE-Cambodia (website is choice-Cambodia.org …please look it up and donate, it’s a really good organization doing really good things) and helped to deliver water to three villages. Everybody came out of their huts laughing, the children screaming “hello” and begging to be picked up. Everybody was thankful and so kind and beautiful. The only time I saw some one look upset was when we had to decline taking their children home with us and adopt them. And the look of distress was quickly replaced with a shoulder shrug of what-ya-gonna-do, and the ever resilient smiles.

The consistent smiles are amazing considering the recent history of the country and the terror of the Khmer Rouge. After years of war, Pol Pot came into power in 1975. The celebration of this was soon replaced by terror as Pol Pot emptied cities and started slave labor camps. Soon, the genocide began and three million people were killed before it ended. That is one out of every four people being killed. Regardless of age, gender, political affiliation, you were at risk. 

Yet still, the people are smiling. Sure, nobody was smiling as we visited the Killing Fields or the genocide museum. But even learning that we had visited these sites and knew the history, could put a smile on a Khmers face. I don’t necessarily think Cambodia is the most beautiful country I’ve been to scenery wise, but the people themselves make it the most beautiful one by far.