Tag: International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day. Commentary.

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Editorial

It could end up in burning lights or paradise, Taylor Nation.

How are you? How’s the family? I hope everything is good on your side of the world. Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who is not a journalist but some days feels like he’s dreaming with this “journalistic integrity” ideal, we’re missing reporting on the Blonde With The Sparkly Guitar. On the other hand, the current political climate is really charged, isn’t it?

(Source: internationalwomensday.com)

Taylor has opted to stay silent about social issues so far. People have interpreted her silence in different ways, some more outrageous than others, but all of them are speculation. The Sparkly Dressed is not playing the political game and I respect that. Myself, I was ready to go all out and criticize both left and right, but the truth is I’m really tired of entertainment having a political agenda. As entertaining as some people might find to go crazy over politics, I don’t expect politics when I go to an entertainment site. That being said…

I do want to wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day 🙂 Because of the date there’s something I think it’s worth saying without playing to sides, hopefully.

So, here’s my disclaimer. In the beginning I thought I’d sit this one out and say nothing. Let the women have their say. But since I’m choosing the latest moment of the day to speak now, I hope nobody will mind. The thing is, I’ve learned that believing in gender parity doesn’t mean you can preach about it – specially if you’re on the side which is mostly getting more benefits than detriments. In the past, I’ve foolishly taken the name of feminist without knowing that the role means different things to different people. So I’ve stepped back and decided that rather than seek out to fit labels, I’d rather just state what I think and hope I don’t get pushed to anybody’s camp. I’m going to be imperfect and awkward but I’ll try be honest.

Women are awesome. They’re awesome in the sense that they can be inspiring, wonderful, sensible and smart human beings. They don’t need to fulfill a particular societal archetype BUT they’re welcome to take any role they want without being policed, which means they don’t need to answer to anybody. Women are flawed, they get frustrated, they lose their patience, they miss their step and they get lost. But there’s no telling what they can do when they find their footing. They don’t need anybody but their achievements do not lose any greatness if they ask for help. They’re not the other half of humanity but complete humans themselves. Women define femininity exclusively.

That’s it 🙂

Coming up! Eh…. Not a thing. Darn it. Something better pop up soon.

#PledgeForParity and #HeForShe: On International Women’s Day, take the pledge and count yourself in

On By The EditorIn Editorial, Emma Watson, Taylor Swift, Various Artists
(Source: Emma Watson via Twitter)
(Source: Emma Watson via Twitter)

Happy International Women’s Day, Taylor Nation!

Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who like many others decided to Take The Pledge, we’ve got a long way to go. This is one article that I really wish I wouldn’t have to write in 2016. It’s not just about rights. To quote the International Women’s Day site: It’s about helping women and girls achieve their ambitions. It’s about challenging conscious and unconscious bias. It’s about a call for gender-balanced leadership. It’s about giving the same value to women and men’s contributions equally. It’s about creating inclusive, flexible cultures. Pick one of those, the one closes to your heart and start there.

Emma Watson and Chirlane McCray turned the Empire State Building pink (or magenta if you prefer) to celebrate International Women’s Day. Both are activists for HeForShe.org, a movement inviting people around the world to stand together to create a bold, visible force for gender equality.

As for the Blonde With The Sparkly Guitar, she took the pledge to help women and girls achieve their ambitions.

I decided to go a different route and instead, I chose to challenge conscious and unconscious bias. As guys we often fell prey to this one. Even the word “feminist” strikes a lot of guys as bad because we’re blind to see what it means. You want freedom for those in slavery and justice for those unfairly treated. You need to call attention to the oppressed, calling for rights for everyone dilutes their struggle. But even if you choose not to call yourself a feminist, bravo if you’re actively making sure the bias against gender parity gets taken down. Cheers if you’re willing to challenge it when you see it happen. It’s something tough to challenge the status quo and stand against it, but I think it ultimately benefits both genders.

Coming up next in the Calendar:

  • March 12: Taylor Swift is nominated for Nickelodeon’s 29th Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Female Singer, Favorite Song of the Year for “Bad Blood” with Kendrick Lamar, and Favorite Collaboration for ‘Bad Blood’ with Kendrick Lamar. You can vote by going to nick.com/KCA, or via hashtag on Twitter by using BOTH #KCA and #VoteTaylorSwift, #VoteBadBlood or #VoteBadBloodCollab. Original tweets and retweets count.
  • April 3:  Taylor Swift is nominated for the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards for Song of the Year for “Blank Space”, Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for 1989, Best Tour of the Year for The 1989 World Tour, Best Collaboration for “Bad Blood”, Best Meme-able Moment for “Blank Space”, Best Fan Army for #Swifties and Best Cover Song for Alessia Cara Covering Taylor Swift.

(Sources: International Women’s Day, HeForShe.org)

 

International Women’s Day Editorial & Emma Watson on HeForShe

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Editorial, Features, Video
(Source: HeForShe.org)
(Source: HeForShe.org)

Hello world, how you been… Good to see you, my old friend.

Past Sunday, March 8th, was International Women’s Day. Yours truly (just a guy, etc.) thought about it a lot but wrote nothing because there were so many more talented writers and speakers, specially female, commenting on bringing equality to all walks of life. So now, before we all forget last weekend, I hope you won’t mind if I throw a few lines together on the subject.

To this day, half of humankind is still struggling with lack of civil rights, wage inequality, domestic violence, rape, lack of free speech and basically the right to participate in any activity without discrimination or hostility. Feminism is about equal rights, equal opportunity, equal compensation and stopping all forms of violence and discrimination targeted at women. It’s 2015 and they’re still governments and organizations who force different standards and practices on women. Even those against discrimination that proclaim equality on paper do not practice what they preach.

This is nothing new. The sad thing is that we have to keep saying it because it keeps happening.

One of the most watched interviews was a live Q&A with actress Emma Watson, highlighting the HeForShe movement. HeForShe is defined on their Facebook Page as “UN Women’s Solidarity Movement for Gender Equality bringing together one half of humanity in support of the other half of humanity, for the benefit of all.”

Now I gladly leave you with the eloquent Miss Watson. Video, please:

Watch on YouTube

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • March 15: Taylor Swift’s 1989 is nominated for International Album of the Year for the 2015 JUNO Awards. She’s not scheduled to appear so far.
  • March 25: Taylor is a guest on Live with Kelly and Michael (via Late Night Lineups).
  • March 29: Taylor Swift is nominated for Artist of the Year, Song of the Year for “Shake It Off”, Best Fan Army for the Swifties, and Lyrics of the Year for “Blank Space” for the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The show will be broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on NBC at 8pm ET.

(Sources: HeForShe.org)