Gud Fudz

Tired of being afraid of that extra few bites of cheesecake that will go straight to your thighs? Here is the part of our blog focusing on women with healthy relationships with food for a change. Check it out and try one of the delicious recipes!

http://gudfudz.blogspot.com/

Tattoos For Women By Women

Here are a few examples of tattoos done by Carrie Davini, a local artist at Evermore Tattoo Gallery on Main street. Share your tattoo stories in a comment!

http://www.evermoretattoos.com/home.html

Girls Gone Inked

Tattoos are often met with mixed reviews, but when they are on a woman they cause even more controversy. Why is this so? Tattoos have been a part of history. The art of tatooing dates back over 5,000 years to the "Otzi the Iceman". There has been evidence of women having tattoos since the time of Jesus, everywhere from Greece to China. Some of the earliest known tattooed women were from 2,000 years ago in Egypt.

The first American woman to receive a tattoo was Olive Oatman, born in 1837. When she was 14 she was traveling with her Mormon family when they were attacked by Native Americans. They killed nearly her entire family and took her captive for 5 years. In captivity she was given a blue tattoo on her chin from the Mohave tribe. She returned to civilized life but was forever changed by the experience.

The woman often credited with being the first tattooed American female is Betty Broadbent. The beautiful voluptuous woman nicknamed "The Tattoed Venus" was the first woman to be covered head to toe in tattoos and worked for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus for 40 years. She said in an interview "I decided to get tattoos. I want to be independent and take care of myself". In her time, tattoos were almost exclusively reserved for sailors and scumbags. As such she took pains to project herself in a feminine and refined light.

Here is an excerpt from BBC News Magazine entitled "So why do "normal" people get tattoos?" found at the link below.

"For the women milling around the convention the most popular explanation of the motive for getting a tattoo is about "reasserting control over your own body". In a Western world where body image, plastic surgery, anorexia and the depiction of women is a topic of daily debate, tattoos represent a different current of thought.

It is a sentiment that Margot Mifflin, author of Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo, believes dates back to the 1980s.

"In the 1980s it was a real body decade," she says. "There was a lot of body anxiety. Women wanted to reassert control over their own bodies."

Christine Whittington, co-author of Body Marks: Tattooing, Piercing, and Scarification, got her first tattoo in her 40s and traces the change in tattoos to the rise of proper artists in the 1970s. "It was moved out of the danger zone," she says.

But the political thread is still clear at London's convention. Leah Schein, 23, who has a tattoo of a Wiccan moon goddess, says: "It's a lot to do with having control over your own image and control over your own body."

Laura, a student nurse, says it is all about the art for tattooed women. "They don't see it as a sailor tattoo or slaggish. Our culture has changed."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7034500.stm

Carrie Davini: Professional Tattoo Artist

At First Glance, Carrie Davini might seem menacing with tattoos from her ears to her ankles holding a needle that pierces skin at thousands of times per minute, but as soon as she opens her mouth you soon realize she’s one of the friendliest people you could meet. She works for Evermore Tattoo Gallery in downtown Edwardsville and is has made quite the name for herself as a well-respected artist. For a full 4-hour appointment with Carrie you’re going to have to wait about 15 months. But she is well worth the wait; her tattoos are recognizable as large pieces full of many vivid bright colors. I personally have tattoos from her and gladly wait in line for more. I sat down with Carrie to ask her a little about what it’s like to be a woman covered in tattoos, which has long been seen as taboo until the last 30 or so years.

Would you consider yourself feminine?

No. I consider myself classy. I’ll wear dresses now and then, but I’m not a big fan of the high heels.

What were you like as a kid?

I was a bad kid. I was an only child, I loved artwork, drawing was my favorite. I had a vivid imagination and I played more by myself than with other kids

Did you ever play with a Barbie doll when you were little?

Oh yeah. I was so into Barbie. I would play bondage Barbie, it was awesome. I would also cut the crap out of their hair. So I guess I didn’t play with her in the traditional sense.

What is the “girliest” thing you do?

I’m addicted to bath and body facial products. I like to cook, and I’m a vegetarian. I don’t like what meat looks like when it’s raw, it just grosses me out, I guess that’s girly.

Is tattooing a hard industry for a girl?

absolutely. the one thing I notice a lot is that people look right past me and go straight to the guys because they think I don’t know how to tattoo. it makes me laugh. One time this guy came in right before 2000. he said he needed a red cross. he said he wanted it for the end of the world and he said “I don’t care who does it as long as it’s not that woman” I thought he was a nut bag and I was glad I didn’t have to deal with him

Have you always wanted to be a tattoo artist?

I thought about going to culinary school before I tattooed but I don’t think I would enjoy cooking as much anymore. A lot of people say you start to hate it when you get paid for it. I love my job now and am extremely thankful for it. It was hard to get, especially for a woman. I definitely had to work a lot harder than most men in the field and it gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

Do you tattoo a lot of girls?

The number of girls getting tattoos has definitely increased. My female clients’ average age ranges from 20 to 65 years old. The majority of tattoos I give are on people 30 and older. I think I get more of those people because I’m a woman, I might be a little more inviting than the huge scary guys in the back

What are some of the more typical tattoos you give to girls?

Butterflies, flowers, stars, birds, guys do more lettering. Only about 30% of girls will go for more masculine things like skulls and guns. Girls tend to stick to childhood memories and things relating to family members.

Do girls have a harder time getting tattooed than boys pain-wise?

Sometimes. Girls can usually sit longer, boys tend to get antsy. Girls are built for pain, just think about labor.

Do you think there is a stigma against tattooed girls as opposed to boys?

Yes. I find that middle eastern men tend to frown upon it especially because they think women should be more feminine, but the reaction I get from other women is more of respect me because it’s something they wish they could get away with. I think it’s getting better as the older generation becomes more accepting after being exposed to it more on reality TV shows. Elderly people are actually the sweetest to me, they want to stop me and talk about my artwork.

Are you treated differently when you cover up your tattoos?

I have neck and ear tattoos so people almost notice and look at them more when I’m covering up the rest, but it depends on where you go. I get treated differently around the higher social classes, I make yuppies sick to their stomach. I don’t really cover them up often but I feel more respectful and feel better about myself when I cover up at things like weddings, funerals, and fine dining restaurants. And airports, for some reason I get “randomly” searched a lot.

Do you regret any tattoos?

I regret who I got tattooed by, but not the tattoos I got. I got a black lizard on my ankle that is not covered up with a coy fish.

YouTube - A Woman Should Know Her Place

YouTube - A Woman Should Know Her Place

Lisa Johnson
SIUE Police Officer
By: Kaytlin Day

In today's workforce women only make up 11% of police officers, but I had the pleasure of interviewing a female officer via phone who is currently employed by the Southern Illinois University police force. On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Lisa Johnson made time for a conference call with me. Lisa had a young, but certain voice. She spoke with confidence that showed strength and assurance that was definitely admirable. Lisa attended Eastern Illinois University. I asked her if she had always intended on becoming a police officer, and she answered with a no. She said she originally went to school for speech communication, but later changed to law enforcement. When asked what had influenced her career choice, she simply said her father. Her father had served as an officer for 30 years, and she said "sometimes it's just in your blood." Which I completely agree with as my mother is a teacher, and I have been positively influenced to follow in her footsteps and become an educator as well. Lisa has been working on SIUE's police force for the past four years, where she says she really enjoys her job. Her favorite part of the job is the fact that every day is different, she stated "you never know what to expect and I really like that about the job." She talked about the challenges of her job as well though, where she says that it's definitely a struggle to balance work with three children. We also talked about how her male co-workers interact and treat her. Luckily for her she says that she has been well respected by her male co-workers, but she unquestionably felt as though there was a trial period for her to prove herself in her line of work. I also asked her about others reactions towards her when she tells them what her line of work is, where she says that she has never had any negative comments made towards her, and that most respect her when she tells them her line of work.

Questions about Body Image

Are you happy with your body and/or do you feel sexy?
"Yes I am happy with my body, I've recently lost some weight and I'm happy with how I look"

Favorite Body Part
"My arms. My mom and I recently joined a fitness class and my arms are getting more toned. It's important to be in shape as a police officer."

How do you feel about Barbie? If Barbie was a real person she would be 5'9 and 110 lbs, do you think this is positive and realistic for young girls?
"Haha no. I laugh because I am 5'9 and that weight would be unrealistic. I would love a more realistic image, maybe somewhere between the Barbie now and GI Jane. I have girls and I want something that's more reasonable for them to play with or be influenced by."

Any advice for young girls about body image or about going into a career that's not typically female?
"I think that parents need to help their children be active and help influence them. Staying active is important and makes you feel better. About choosing a career I recommend them not being in a hurry to decide their career. Sometimes it takes a bad job to know what a good job is, but don't be discouraged. But mostly YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!!!!!"

This is how we are raised.

The pictures below are from a 1970s childrens book. They are proof that "appropriate" gender roles are taught at an early age.

If this is the way we were raised, then it is no wonder why women in the workforce often work twice as hard for half as much.

Susan Keil: Electrical Safety Engineer
By: Kassie Garrison

On June 7, I went to Evansvile, Indiana to speak with an electrical engineer working for the Whirlpool Corporation. I met Susan Keil in her cubicle. She shook my hand firmly before she led me briskly through a winding path of office space and into a private conference room for our interview. It wasn't until sitting in that wood-paneled room that I was able to really look at her. Her dress was business casual and her self-assured manner made her more beautiful than she already was.
Susan first attended Indiana University, receiving an education degree. After teaching for a couple of years, she went back to school and received a degree in Electrical Engineering, which led her to her current job working for Whirlpool-- a place she has now worked for 26 years.
When getting her second degree, Susan recalls that she was one of the very few women in the engineering program. However, when I asked her if she found it difficult being a minority in that sense, she said that her age was a bigger challenge than her gender (being that she was in her late 20s and starting a family at the same time). She made it through the program and entered the workforce, again with few females in her surroundingd. I asked her what differences she noticed between the men and women in her workplace. She began her answer by pointing out that things have changed alot. There are now more women coming into her career field and likewise being hired by the company she works for. Looking back though, she remembers that there was a time when there was a certain level of mistrust towards female employees. Men did not expect women to work and, when women did, it was expected that they would leave their positions after a few years to stay home and start families. Susan and her husband agreed early on that, to maintain their careers and their 6 children, they had to hire a nanny. She recalls that "it was somewhat difficult trying to be taken seriously when everyone else thought you were likely to quit at any moment."
I wondered if there was a sense of camaraderie among the men at the corporation and whether she felt excluded from that. She made it clear that in no way were men on one side of the room and women on the other. Rather, she said that friendships "develop more over our common interests." For example, the electrical engineers work in close proximity to each other and have developed many working relationships within them. She went on to say that male engineers have certain common interests that most women, engineer included, just don't have. "Two men may get together and talk about cars or speed boats, whereas I really have nothing to offer in that conversation." And when I asked her if that meant she was treated differently by male co-workers, she told me the man from companies overseas are much less accepting of the concept of a woman in her position while she found U.S. men to be much more open. She said "I think they are more respectful to me because I am a woman. But I have been here al long, if not longer, than most of them and have worked my way up to a position of respect in the company." I wanted to know if she had ever felt she had missed out because she wasn't a part of that male to male friendship. She took a moment and said, " I definitely think there is a glass ceiling, still even. It's harder to be heard."
I asked how other women reacted to Susan when they discovered her profession. Susan said, "most are surprised, and often impressed, I think." I added that they should be impressed, as I was. Susan responded, "Oh, I just think it's something I had an aptitude for. When you're good at something and you enjoy it, you are bound to be successful at it. Everyone has their aptitudes."

Questions about body image:

How do you feel about Barbie dolls? Did you have them when you were growing up?
"I hated Barbie. I was the boy out of my sisters and I. I loved to play with trucks and make things and build things. I think Barbie creates such a narrow image. I never bought my children Barbies."

Do you think that Barbie's representation of beauty is realistic?
"Of course not, but issues with body images aren't going away. We subscribe to it."

What is your least favorite part of your body?
"My thighs."

What is your favorite part of your body?
"My hair. Because, at 57, I'm still fortunate enough to be able to have it long."

What is beautiful?
"Anything?.. well things in nature I think are beautiful: smells, colors, flowers, mountains. I think certain pieces of art are beautiful. I really admire the inspiration and creativity behind them... I don't think perfection is, because that's not real. I have friends who I think are gorgeous, but when you tell them that they say 'oh, but look here', or 'but I've got these marks and these things.' And you think how differently she must see herself. But in any person, it's not just the outward appearance. It's that, it's the personality, it's everything."

Do you fell beautiful?

"Well, I don't feel ugly. I guess I feel acceptably attractive which at my age is good I think. I don't think anyone can really say that they feel beautiful."

Get the big picture. Men Are Over. Except at the Top.

An article on Jezebel.com give us the bigger picture regarding women in the workforce today.


""Sure, college-age women tell her they hope to become surgeons and marry men who will be primary caregivers. But research shows that few women actually realize this domestic arrangement- they tend to marry other high-achieving men who expect their own careers to take precedence. Many of the fastest-growing, female-dominated industries, which do not require a college education, are among the lowest paid. And while there are a handful of female CEOs and senators, women have yet to crack the glass ceiling with any sort of critical mass.""

Read the full article at:

http://jezebel.com/5559491/the-end-of-men-not-so-much

A Question to President Obama Addresses Military Rape.

Citizens were asked to post questions via Youtube and one asked about the issues revolving around the sexual assualt of women in the military.

See the full story at this link:

http://community.feministing.com/2010/01/ask-obama-about-military-rape.html

American(Nazi) Apparel

An online article reveals American Apparels hiring policies. Pretty people only. NO UGLIEs ALLOWED!


http://gawker.com/5560215/american-apparels-new-standard-no-uglie-allowed

Women struggle to get a foothold in the careers of science and technology

An article published by New Castle University in the UK talks about women in the career fields of science and technology still finding it difficult to climb to coveted positions in their workplace. In addition to the interviews conducted, statistics can also be found in the article


Women in 'male' careers still face barriers - New report:

"In total there were three times as many male employees as women in firms surveyed. The average firm had ten male employees compared to only four female employees.
Although 40 per cent of the enterprises had women managers, only two per cent held scientific-related managerial positions, and the majority were employed in the traditionally female administrative and personnel sectors.
70 per cent of the participants were married, divorced or lived with a partner, but only 35 per cent had children. - Only one in ten women worked in research and development (R&D) jobs and other scientific and technical activities, compared with 60 per cent of their male counterparts. However, only one in hundred women worked in industrial R&D. - Many women cited professional barriers to progression such as institutional sexism, informal male networks, male-dominated senior management team, male-biased incentives such as attending football matches.
Personal barriers such as lack of confidence and self-esteem were mentioned, as well as a lack of female scientist role models, lack of support from teachers, lack of information on SET-related careers and low expectations of girls in SET education."