Before I started my humble little blog, I of course researched other sites/blogs with similar material to get an idea of what my target audience gravitated to, and I couldn’t help but notice that the most popular sites and pages featured very negative and/or superficial material. They were either gossipy, rudely critical and tabloid-esque or the discussions were about simple-minded things, like the blogger’s favorite winter gloves. I was immediately irritated. There is so much talk about how America is dense and lacks social awareness, but it seems like no one is making a move towards change. It seems very few people support productive and creative outlets.

Using a personal example, when I post a Facebook status about something political or societal, hardly anyone comments, but when I posted a picture of a handsome actor, several people left remarks. When I posted a gallery of celebrity artwork, no one was interested, but I when I posted a few pictures of Zac Efron, it was all the rage. With my blog, I’ve felt a little pressure to be more sensational or gimmicky, but I refuse. If I give way to that, my blog might be popular, but my purpose for wanting a blog in the 1st place will be defeated. Jsays.weebly.com was built to share a mutual love of music, increase music consumer awareness, encourage societal dialogue, entertain Beyonce` fans, and create a forum for distressed 20-somethings. That’s what I came to do, and hopefully, I’ll git’ ‘er done.

"Academics are forced to write in language no one can understand...They have to say 'discourse', not 'talk'. Knowledge that is not accessible is not helpful."- Gloria Steinem

One of my female friends told me that she doesn’t get along with feminists because “they’re anti-childbirth and anti-marriage.” There are many misconceptions about feminists and feminism, and this idea is one of them. I’m sure there’s some woman out there that calls herself a feminist and is indeed anti-marriage/childbirth, but being such is not a major tenet of feminist beliefs or of the movement. For me personally as a feminist, I am NOT against marriage and/or childbirth; I’m against women being forced or pressured to take on those responsibilities if they do not wish to. I’m against women being characterized as poor spouses or parents for pursuing harmless interests outside of those roles. I’m against women being made to feel like slaves or silent subordinates in their marriage. That’s what I’m against.
On a semi-related note, when I come across a woman that speaks negatively of the concept of feminism, it pisses me off. It’s one thing to disagree with some of the ideas or approaches, but it’s another thing to be against it all together. Feminists are the reason women have a right to vote. Feminists are part of the reason why there are women’s shelters for the abused and homeless. Many of the liberties we enjoy as women today came as a result of a movement or protest led by feminists. I don’t understand how any woman can be anti-feminist. Someone please explain that to me.