theatlantic: Adulthood, Delayed: What Has the Recession Done to Millennials? Generations are social constructs. There is no chemical or biological difference between Gen-Xers and Millennials, but we talk about them as if they were different species. That Gen-Xers grew up “independent” and Millennials grew up “entitled” aren’t anthropological observations. Rather, they’re marginally useful stereotypes. If it’s true that members of a certain age group have commonalities that they don’t fully share with older or younger groups, this isn’t the result of generational determinism. It’s just circumstance. The circumstances surrounding the Millennial generation are particularly strange. Many came of age in the longest economic expansion of the 20th century and graduated into the worst recession since the 1930s. The abrupt contraction of opportunity has left a mark. Unemployment among 18- to 24-year-olds was 16% in 2011, twice as high as the national average. Median earnings fell more for the young than any other cohort, and college debt, most of which is held by 20-somethings, is at an all-time high. With education comes opportunity. That’s the deal, as this generation understood it. Now, they’re the highest-educated generation in American history, and they’ve graduated into … this. When adults wonder what’s the matter with the Millennial generation that has increasingly chosen to live with their parents and put off marriage and homeownership, the first thing to say is that they’re using the word “chosen” wrong. Nobody chose this. The economy chose for them. Read more. [Image: Scarleth White/Flickr]

theatlantic:

Adulthood, Delayed: What Has the Recession Done to Millennials?

Generations are social constructs. There is no chemical or biological difference between Gen-Xers and Millennials, but we talk about them as if they were different species. That Gen-Xers grew up “independent” and Millennials grew up “entitled” aren’t anthropological observations. Rather, they’re marginally useful stereotypes. If it’s true that members of a certain age group have commonalities that they don’t fully share with older or younger groups, this isn’t the result of generational determinism. It’s just circumstance.

The circumstances surrounding the Millennial generation are particularly strange. Many came of age in the longest economic expansion of the 20th century and graduated into the worst recession since the 1930s. The abrupt contraction of opportunity has left a mark. Unemployment among 18- to 24-year-olds was 16% in 2011, twice as high as the national average. Median earnings fell more for the young than any other cohort, and college debt, most of which is held by 20-somethings, is at an all-time high.

With education comes opportunity. That’s the deal, as this generation understood it. Now, they’re the highest-educated generation in American history, and they’ve graduated into … this.

When adults wonder what’s the matter with the Millennial generation that has increasingly chosen to live with their parents and put off marriage and homeownership, the first thing to say is that they’re using the word “chosen” wrong. Nobody chose this. The economy chose for them.

Read more. [Image: Scarleth White/Flickr]

(via npr)

Men have scars; women, mysteries.

Cersei Lannister

(Source: fuckyeahasoiafquotes, via goldenfools)

On a somewhat serious note today because of a conversation the other day:

I am sure every girl can recall, at least once as a child, coming home and telling their parents, uncle, aunt or grandparent about a boy who had pulled her hair, hit her, teased her, pushed her or committed some other playground crime. I will bet money that most of those, if not all, will tell you that they were told “Oh, that just means he likes you”. I never really thought much about it before having a daughter of my own. I find it appalling that this line of bullshit is still being fed to young children. Look, if you want to tell your child that being verbally and/or physically abused is an acceptable sign of affection, i urge you to rethink your parenting strategy. If you try and feed MY daughter that crap, you better bring protective gear because I am going to shower you with the brand of “affection” you are endorsing.

When the fuck was it decided that we should start teaching our daughters to accept being belittled, disrespected and abused as endearing treatment? And we have the audacity to wonder why women stay in abusive relationships? How did society become so oblivious to the fact that we were conditioning our daughters to endure abusive treatment, much less view it as romantic overtures? Is this where the phrase “hitting on girls” comes from? Well, here is a tip: Save the “it’s so cute when he gets hateful/physical with her because it means he loves her” asshattery for your own kids, not mine. While you’re at it, keep them away from my kids until you decide to teach them respect and boundaries.

My daughter is `10 years old and has come home on more than one occasion recounting an incident at school in which she was teased or harassed by a male classmate. There has been several times when someone that she was retelling the story to responded with the old, “that just means he likes you” line. Wrong. I want my daughter to know that being disrespected is NEVER acceptable. I want my daughter to know that if someone likes her and respects her, much less LOVES her, they don’t hurt her and they don’t put her down. I want my daughter to know that the boy called her ugly or pushed her or pulled her hair didn’t do it because he admires her, it is because he is a little asshole and assholes are an occurrence of society that will have to be dealt with for the rest of her life. I want my daughter to know how to deal with assholes she will encounter throughout her life. For now, I want my daughter to know that if someone is verbally harassing her, she should tell the teacher and if the teacher does nothing, she should tell me. If someone physically touches her, tell the teacher then, if it continues, to yell, “STOP TOUCHING/PUNCHING/PUSHING ME” in the middle of class or the hallway, then tell me. Last year, one little boy stole her silly bandz from her. He just grabbed her and yanked a handful of them off of her wrist. When I went to the school to address the incident, the teacher smiled and explained it away to her, in front of me, “he probably has a crush on you”. Okay, the boy walked up to my daughter, grabbed and held her by the arm and forcibly removed her bracelets from her as she struggled and you want to convince her that she should be flattered? Fuck off. I am going to punch you in the face but I hope you realize it is just my way of thanking you for the great advice you gave my daughter. If these same advice givers’ sons came home crying because another male classmate was pushing them, pulling their hair, hitting them or calling them names, I would bet dollars to donuts they would tell him to defend themselves and kick the kid’s ass, if necessary. They sure as shit wouldn’t say, “he probably just wants a play date”.

I will teach my daughter to accept nothing less than respect. Anyone who hurts her physically or emotionally doesn’t deserve her respect, friendship or love. I will teach my boys the same thing as well as the fact that hitting on girls doesn’t involve hitting girls. I can’t teach my daughter to respect herself if I am teaching her that no one else has to respect her. I can’t raise sons that respect women, if I teach them that bullying is a valid expression of affection.

The next time that someone offers up that little “secret” to my daughter, I am going to slap the person across the face and yell, “I LOVE YOU”.

You Didn’t Thank Me For Punching You in the Face « Views from the Couch (via golden-notebook)

(via alysian-fields)

alysian-fields: rainbowballz: waltdisneyconfessions: “I think the people hoping for a lesbian princess need to be reminded that Disney movies are aimed at kids. I don’t think there is anything wrong with being gay, but to push the idea at kids before they understand what that means will only confuse them. Also as a parent, I would be pissed at Disney for addressing such controversial topics in a movie intended for children”. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this. Generally I don’t pay much attention to opinion blogs because a lot of people are under the impression that there is no such thing as a ‘wrong opinion’ (which there is) and talking to said people is much like talking to a pile of rocks, except even rocks would be preferable to these kind of ridiculous people. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay, but -” Nope. Stop right there. If you truly think there is nothing wrong with being gay, then that would be the end of it. You would not have this opinion. There is no ‘but’. Queer couples should have the same representation in children’s movies as heteronormative couples because - gasp! - there is nothing wrong with being gay! You speak of ‘confusing’ the kids - tell me, though. How? How would this confuse them? When children watch Disney films, they are not thinking about sex. When they see Ariel and Eric kiss, or Aladdin and Jasmine, or Aurora and Phillip, or every goddamn couple in the entire franchise, they are not thinking about penises and vaginas, they are watching two people who love each other kiss. It’s simple and actually incredibly clear. There is nothing confusing about two people in love.  See, heterosexuality and heteronormativity is so ingrained in our culture that, most of the time, we don’t even realize it’s there. This confession is a prime example of that. And to assume that representing a gay couple would somehow be ‘pushing’ homosexuality on them is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Considering sexuality is an innate part of us, something we are born with and cannot change, you could show a child nothing but animated gay couples going on adventures and falling in love and if the child is straight, they’ll still be straight at the end of it. Representation is not about trying to coerce anyone into being anything they’re not - it is about shedding light on the people of society who have been kept in the dark, about teaching children that not being the norm is okay. Do you realize that there are children out there with gay parents? Gay relatives? Gay friends? That there are children out there - prepare yourself - who are gay? What do you think it’s like for them to see the same boy and girl fall in love over and over? That what they feel isn’t ‘appropriate’? That what they feel is ‘too confusing’ to be displayed? It is statements and opinions like these that reinforce homophobia and make kids afraid to be themselves. This is what keeps people in the closet, in denial, afraid to come out, because the majority - heterosexuals like yourself, I presume - have condoned homosexuality/being queer as being ‘too confusing’ when it’s been proven time and time again that it’s just as natural as anything else.

alysian-fields:

rainbowballz:

waltdisneyconfessions:

“I think the people hoping for a lesbian princess need to be reminded that Disney movies are aimed at kids. I don’t think there is anything wrong with being gay, but to push the idea at kids before they understand what that means will only confuse them. Also as a parent, I would be pissed at Disney for addressing such controversial topics in a movie intended for children”.

I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this. Generally I don’t pay much attention to opinion blogs because a lot of people are under the impression that there is no such thing as a ‘wrong opinion’ (which there is) and talking to said people is much like talking to a pile of rocks, except even rocks would be preferable to these kind of ridiculous people.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay, but -” Nope. Stop right there. If you truly think there is nothing wrong with being gay, then that would be the end of it. You would not have this opinion. There is no ‘but’. Queer couples should have the same representation in children’s movies as heteronormative couples because - gasp! - there is nothing wrong with being gay!

You speak of ‘confusing’ the kids - tell me, though. How? How would this confuse them? When children watch Disney films, they are not thinking about sex. When they see Ariel and Eric kiss, or Aladdin and Jasmine, or Aurora and Phillip, or every goddamn couple in the entire franchise, they are not thinking about penises and vaginas, they are watching two people who love each other kiss. It’s simple and actually incredibly clear. There is nothing confusing about two people in love. 

See, heterosexuality and heteronormativity is so ingrained in our culture that, most of the time, we don’t even realize it’s there. This confession is a prime example of that. And to assume that representing a gay couple would somehow be ‘pushing’ homosexuality on them is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Considering sexuality is an innate part of us, something we are born with and cannot change, you could show a child nothing but animated gay couples going on adventures and falling in love and if the child is straight, they’ll still be straight at the end of it. Representation is not about trying to coerce anyone into being anything they’re not - it is about shedding light on the people of society who have been kept in the dark, about teaching children that not being the norm is okay.

Do you realize that there are children out there with gay parents? Gay relatives? Gay friends? That there are children out there - prepare yourself - who are gay? What do you think it’s like for them to see the same boy and girl fall in love over and over? That what they feel isn’t ‘appropriate’? That what they feel is ‘too confusing’ to be displayed?

It is statements and opinions like these that reinforce homophobia and make kids afraid to be themselves. This is what keeps people in the closet, in denial, afraid to come out, because the majority - heterosexuals like yourself, I presume - have condoned homosexuality/being queer as being ‘too confusing’ when it’s been proven time and time again that it’s just as natural as anything else.

creatingaquietmind:

If you’re a “nice guy” to a girl up until you realize she doesn’t want to date you, then go on about how she’s a cold shrew that friendzoned you and how no girls date nice guys, like, nah mate, girls do date nice guys. You just aren’t a nice guy. You’re a passive aggressive beta with internalized misogyny and a serious victim complex.

(Source: xvxavier)

And yet a woman’s weight is seen by American culture as an outward manifestation of her personal worth. If she is overweight (a tricky term that I hate – over what weight?), she has failed as a woman. If she is overweight and not actively seen to be doing something about it (exercising for sixty-eight percent of her waking hours, eating three pieces of lettuce and a tomato for every meal, going to a nutritionist, going to a gym, going to a personal trainer, hiring a personal chef, getting costly and dangerous surgeries to butcher the shape of her stomach, publicly demeaning herself and her body so that the world knows she understands it’s not good enough), she has failed as a woman. If she is overweight and feels like eating a hamburger instead of a salad one day, she has failed as a woman.

Everybody, Every Body: the Media’s Erasure of Fat Girls

(Source: sparkamovement, via rawwomen)