1000 views!

My blog has recently hit 1000 views! Wow, that's really something. You might have noticed that I've changed my blog name, I thought it was only appropriate to mark the beginning of a new era... plus I prefer this name much better than the old one!

My blog isn't as popular as many blogs out there, and I'll admit I haven't always been the best at posting regularly, but I never thought I'd come this far when I started it up this little thing in January. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me come this far and make my mark on the interwebs, whether you're a regular reader or just a passerby. Every little helps, and it's knowing that there's an audience as amazing as you out there that motivates me to keep this thing going. So on to the next thousand!

I really wanted to commemorate this occasion by posting something, and since my other pieces I'm writing are still a work in progress, I've decided to do a small outfit post! Just a few of my favourite recently purchased items that I want to show you all. This is also very exciting for me, because it is my first outfit post shot in my very bright and spacious uni room at my new house! (Well, I've been living here since July, but you catch my drift...)

jumper - alice takes a trip... via freshman's vintage

floral headband - poppydaisy.com via ebay

cat ring - topshop

leggings - h&m

shoes - h&m

earrings - evolution

I am completely in love with this jumper! I bought it at a vintage shop called Freshman's when I was looking for some Levi shorts, it's so amazingly soft and comfortable, and I really adore the floral skull motif. After buying it I did some research and found Alice takes a trip's bigcartel store, which has many more amazing pieces that I'd definitely recommend taking a look at! I love all their various designs featuring animals with bows. I've also got mad love for my Native American-esque shoes (so so comfy!) and cute cat ring. I'm not much of a ring person - hell, I'm not much of an accessories person in general - but this cat ring is definitely my favourite piece of jewelry after I bought it almost two months ago.

This look is quite festival-y, which is ironic since I haven't ever been to a festival, unless you count Tramlines, the free weekend festival that takes places all over central Sheffield. But I'll carry on rocking this look regardless, at least while the weather stays more or less agreeable...

Naked Ambition...

It's no word of a lie when I say that I love Lana Del Rey. We saw it when I sang her praises in a review for Born To Die, and when I defended her questionable performance on Saturday Night Live. So when I found out that she was being featured in this year's GQ Men of the Year, I was over the moon.

She looks absolutely fierce on the cover, wearing nothing but jewels and red lips, and the rest of the shoot doesn't disappoint either, showing Del Rey at her best in her signature sophisticated Old Hollywood style. And at first, the nudity didn't bother me. I don't have a problem with anyone wanting to pose naked, it's their prerogative.

But upon further research on this issue, reading certain posts on Tumblr and following it up with articles on the internet, I sensed that something wasn't right. Let's take a look at all of the other winners of Men of the Year: comedian James Corden, rapper Tinie Tempah, pop-star Robbie Williams, and actor John Slatterly. With the addition of Lana, three Brits and two Americans, nothing strange there. But then you take a look at their covers...

Spot the odd one out...

Suited man, suited man, suited man, suited man... and naked woman.

Now, ignoring the New Statesman's argument that her cover looks suspiciously similar to a 70's porn poster, there are a lot of questions to be raised about why on Earth LDR, who happens to be the only female, is the only one to bare all. I'm not suggesting that they tied her down and forced her to shoot naked, if she didn't want to do it she could have just refused. But why didn't the Creative Directors at GQ suggest that their other cover stars strip down too?

I'll tell you why, because GQ is a magazine for men made by men. It's the James Bond of men's magazines, suave and sophisticated, focusing on men's fashion and lifestyle, and not forgetting to sex up those ladies. The sexism is so casual that one of the shots in Lana's spread even shows a faceless man clutching at her breast like it's no big deal.

Easy there, fella, we're not groping produce at the supermarket here. Or are we?

What scares me most is that sexism has become so internalized. We are so used to seeing naked women in the media that we don't even bat an eyelid to it. I'm ashamed to say it, but I wouldn't have thought twice about it if I didn't find out about all the other covered-up male cover stars. Naked women have become the norm, and no one seems to care about this because no one seems to think that sexism and feminism is a 'thing' anymore.

Like I said early on in this post, I have no problem with anyone, male or female, wanting to pose naked for a photo shoot. I do, however, have a problem with the ideology that the more naked a woman is, the sexier she becomes, whereas men are sexy whether they're all bare or covered up - and more often than not we see them covered up. Women may have come a long way when it comes to equality in the past century, but most of those successes have been tangible - the right to vote, contraception, sexual health, equal pay (which FYI, still not equal)... but I think the real battle is changing people's mindsets of women being largely objectified and start treating them as true equals to men.

'Legitimate' Rape and the Republican

Republican Todd Akin

It's election year in the United States, and with November looming closer and closer, needless to say it's been... interesting. With the televised debates and conventions, we've been hearing all sorts of different arguments and opinions from both the Democrats and the Republicans. What's been revving many people's engines - and not in a good way - are some of the opinions the Republicans have voiced about rape, always a sensitive (see: controversial) subject. Here are the top five quotes, taken from AVG Notes, from various Republican candidates, past and present:

1. Todd Akin: "If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that whole thing down" - mid 2012 Senate Campaign

2. Clayton Williams: “If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it” - mid 1990 Gubernatorial race in Texas

3. Chuck Winder: “I would hope that when a woman goes in to a physician with a rape issue, that physician will indeed ask her about perhaps her marriage, was this pregnancy caused by normal relations in a marriage or was it truly caused by a rape. I assume that’s part of the counseling that goes on.” - March 2012

4. Ken Buck: “A jury could very well conclude that this is a case of buyer’s remorse … It appears to me … you invited him over… the appearance is of consent.” - October 2010

5. Rick Santorum: “I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created - in the sense of rape - but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you… rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” - January, 2012

Let's see what we learnt from that shall we? Babies are a 'gift' despite their conception, forced or otherwise; women are essentially 'asking for it'; rape within marriage is okay; if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen; apparently there are distinctions between different types of rape ranging from 'legitimate' to 'forcible' (thanks Paul Ryan)... and oh yes, all of these statements are made by men.

First of all, can I ask, assuming there's such a thing as 'legitimate' rape, can someone please provided me a definition of illegitimate rape? Because I'm really interested on what that may be. Also, can someone please provide me with proof of Akin's qualifications in biological sciences? Because since he's such an expert on the female body, I would really be interested in finding out how it can distinguish between consented intercourse and rape, and just how the body can reject conception in the case of rape.

Here's the thing, men, especially white, upper-class, Republican men, know nothing about women because they don't believe we should have the same rights as they do. Though some of them supposedly agree that rape is wrong, they still don't believe that a woman has the right to an abortion if she falls pregnant from rape, because "human life is a gift." Even without rape being involved, nothing is done to help women when they fall pregnant. Republicans say, "No, you can't abort the baby you don't want/aren't ready for, because life is sacred. But don't think we'll be helping you with any of the childcare expenses when you do have the baby you aren't financially prepared for. Instead, we'll criticize you for not working because your job won't give you maternity leave and you need to look after the baby you didn't want." And you know what baffles me the most? The fact that there are women out there who have voted, and will vote again, for these men. How can any self-respecting woman stand by and listen to these ignorant and chauvinistic views, restricting our rights that we fought so hard for, and still agree with them?

As Obama so rightly put it, "We shouldn't have a bunch of politicians, the majority of whom are men, making healthcare decisions on behalf of women." Just like we shouldn't have these politicians make certain types of rape 'okay'. It saddens me that we live in a world where we don't teach our sons not to rape, but instead tell our daughters not to go out late at night, or not to wear the clothes she wants to wear because she'll be "asking for it". I don't claim to be an expert on politics, and I am not an American citizen, but any party behind a "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" loses my vote.