#barbie inspiring women collection

[alldollsarevalid]

Does anyone happen to know what hair fiber the Katherine Johnson Barbie has?

I have a used one coming and her hair looks to be in rough condition.  I got her because her face is immaculate and she was very inexpensive compared to what most resellers are asking.

[barbielore]

To celebrate the winter season more generally than just the holidays, I wanted to do a winter sports post but that quickly became far too big a job so I had to narrow it down to just one.

I've spoken before about the Ice Capades sets, so that's as good a place as any to start with talking about Barbie's adventures in ice skating.

The Ice Capades Skating Rink is a real standout to me: you may think it is because you can clip Barbie and Ken in to the rink and turn a handle so they can skate. Actually, it is because I find it really funny that the concession stand is the same size or possibly bigger than the rink. I don't know who decided that or why they designed it that way, but they definitely captured part of the experience of going to a live performance.

But outside of the Ice Capades, Barbie has dabbled many times in ice skating.

As part of the You Can Be Anything line, she has both been an ice skater and an ice skating coach. (I really like the Chelsea-sized doll in the coach pack that she is teaching. That's really charming.)

It's really hard to find a good picture of the Toys R Us exclusive Ice Skater Giftset, which is a real shame because, quite apart from the fact that it also contains Ken, which is always fun, it has some really interesting posing in-box.

Clearly someone put some real thought into that.

Olympic Skating Star Barbie showed that there was very little limit to her dreams.

And I can't talk about Olympic level skaters without acknowledging the Kristi Yamaguchi Inspiring Women doll.

But honestly, it goes way beyond just dolls. There's surprisingly also a lot of Barbie books and sticker sets themed around ice skating, too.

These are only some of them. This is not remotely comprehensive.

Not to mention the Barbie Sparkling Ice Show video game?

[toyhistory]

Barbie Signature

Barbie Inspiring Women Anna May Wong Doll

Anna May Wong is considered the first Chinese American Hollywood movie star. Frustrated with being typecast in stereotypical roles, she founded her own production company in 1924 and continued breaking barriers throughout her career. Wearing a red gown with a golden dragon design, this collectible Barbie doll honors a trailblazing icon.

Designer: Carlyle Nuera

Face Sculpt: Lavinia

Body Type: Articulated Original

[my-plastic-life]

Inspiring Women: Rumiko Takahashi

New custom doll is here! I'm sure we all know about the Mattel Barbie Inspiring Women doll line, right? Well, I took it upon myself to create one of my own because I'm sure Mattel will never make one lol. Click here for behind the scenes on how I made this doll!

I opted to create an Inspiring Woman Barbie based off Rumiko Takahashi, the Japanese manga artist who created my all-time favorite manga and anime, Inuyasha. But that isn't the sole reason she's deserving of this title. Yes, that creation got me into all things Japan and introduced me to the entire anime genre, but this mangaka has excelled in her career for 45 years - a profession that has been primarily male-dominated since its inception.

I also created a box for her designed after the official Mattel Inspiring Women boxes. The outfit she's wearing is inspired by the one she wore during the 2023 knighthood honor she received. Accessories include her most recent book, Rumiko Takahashi: Colors 1978-2024, as well as her 35th anniversary book that comes with removable genuine sketches, plus the first volume of the Inuyasha manga (original Japanese version). The doll I used was the Asian sister of Ariel from the live action Little Mermaid, but I cut her hair and styled it differently, painted some age lines on her face, removed her pink eyeshadow, and gave her some glasses. I also gave her a curvy body with the same articulation that dolls in this series have - movement at the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, and knee. Because I'm that much of a perfectionist. :D

Doll in the Inspiring Women box. The scene behind her is an actual photo of Rumiko Takahashi's studio.

Back of the box, all made by me based on actual Inspiring Women boxes.

Fun facts: Takahashi has never been married, and she has stated in interviews that she doesn't plan to. In addition, she works with women exclusively as she writes and creates. She has specifically said that she wouldn't hire a male assistant because he would be "troublesome." She prefers the atmosphere of a studio of women working together without distraction. Her work stands out among other shonen pieces because of its creativity, complex characters, and nuanced romances. Her woman and girl characters are never accessories to the guy hero, which was often the case in early shonen stories, especially. Takahashi often likes to implement strong, independent, multi-facetted female characters in leading roles into her stories. Talk about girl power!

Now for more information as to why she's so deserving of having her own doll in my collection. :D Strap in, because this post is a doozy!

BIO: Rumiko Takahashi (born Oct. 10, 1957) is the best-selling female comic artist of all time, selling more than 170 million copies of her work in Japan alone, and one of the names by which to reckon the evolution of anime. She is one of the wealthiest women in Japan, all of her longer running manga have become TV series, and nearly everything she has written has been adapted into animation (OVA or TV). Perhaps more importantly, her influence and the nature of her series since 1980 have been cited as large contributors to the perception and acceptance of anime as a medium today.

Rumiko with her new Colors book. Outfit inspired by the one she wore when receiving her knighthood.

All of Takahashi’s work has become popular throughout the world, and with more than 20 years of publishing her manga art, she earned the title of The Princess of Manga.

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978 when she was a university student. That year, she worked on her first full-length series entitled Urusei Yatsura. It became one of the most loved manga and anime comedies in Japan. In 1980, when she began to publish regularly, she began her second major series, Maison Ikkoku. This series is now considered to be one of the all-time best manga romances.

As her stories appeared and attracted many fans, Takahashi grew in popularity as an artist while improving her writing and artistic abilities. In 1987, a huge year for her career success, three of her most well-known stories ended and she began work on Ranma ½. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ and its anime adaptation are cited as some of the first of their mediums to have become popular in the United States. While publishing Ranma ½, Takahashi was hospitalized several times for peritonitis. But even during her second hospital stay, the series did not stop.

35th anniversary book has removable sketches - real photos actually drawn by the artist. The background is an actual photo of her basement (note all her figures!)

During the latter half of the 1990s, Takahashi began her fourth major work, Inuyasha. With this series, Takahashi is also often said to be the first woman to successfully set foot in the Shōnen genre and leave a lasting impact on it. To date, Inuyasha is her longest-running series, ending in 2008. In 2020, it received a sequel series titled Yashahime: Princess Half Demon.

In the basement library (actually in her home) with the first volume of the Inuyasha manga.

On July 30, 2008, Takahashi noted her 30th anniversary as a mangaka, and on July 8, 2009, during Shonen Sunday's 50th anniversary celebration, characters from three of her most popular series (Urusei Yatsura, Ranma ½, and Inuyasha) joined together in a short crossover to welcome everyone to the celebratory milestone. That same year, VIZ Media, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced the launch of a brand new imprint, Shonen Sunday, featuring the works of some of the top shonen manga creators in the world today. Takahashi's series RIN-NE was the first to be featured in the new imprint, and was the first manga novel ever to be published simultaneously in Japan and North America.

In her studio showing off genuine sketches. Featured here: Featured here: Lum from Urusei Yatsura, the Tendo house from Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha character heights. This outfit is inspired by the one she wore at the Rumic World 30th anniversary ribbon-cutting.

Early in her career, Takahashi expressed that though she doesn't write love stories often, she loves a good love story. While none of her works are straightforward romances, many of her works early and later on have compelling romance subplots that are integral to the characters and world. Her works like Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2 are known for their romances. Takahashi's romances are varied, and they are trendsetting. They set the standard for popular romance tropes like slow-burn romances and love triangles. The love triangle between Kagome, Kikyo, and Inuyasha is one of the most iconic in all anime.

In her studio showing off genuine sketches. Featured here: Ranma from Ranma 1/2, Lum from Urusei Yatsura, and Mao and Kiba from Mao.

In her studio showing off genuine sketches. Featured here: Yashahime, Inuyasha 20th anniversary, and Inuyasha, Kagome, and Moroha.

Outfit inspired by the one worn during the Rumic World 30th anniversary ribbon cutting.

HONORS: * Takahashi won the New Comic Artist Award in 1978. * Winner of the 1994 Inkpot Award at The San Diego Comic Con in America. *In 2016, ComicsAlliance listed Takahashi as one of 12 women cartoonists deserving of lifetime achievement recognition, stating that "any one of her projects would be the career highlight of another talent." In 2017, Takahashi was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame as part of the 2016 class. *In July 2018, Takahashi was inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. She was previously nominated for entry in 2014, 2016 and 2017. *In January 2019, Takahashi won the grand prize at the prestigious Angouleme International Comics Festival in France, becoming the second woman and second Japanese manga artist to win the award at the festival. * In 2020, Takahashi was awarded Japan's Medal with Purple Ribbon. First awarded in 1955, this honor is awarded to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements, and accomplishments. * Takahashi was inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame in October 2021. The Harvey Awards are one of the comic industry's oldest and most prestigious awards. Recognizing outstanding achievement in multiple categories, the Harvey's have been a fixture of the comic industry since 1988. * In April 2023, Takahashi was conferred the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government. She is the first female mangaka to receive this honor.

Books: 35th anniversary (with removable genuine sketches inside), Colors: 1978-2024, and volume 1 of the Inuyasha manga.

Genuine sketches, all fit inside the 35th anniversary book.

Source photos (first is from being bestowed a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, second is from the Rumic World 30th anniversary ribbon cutting in 2008):

[stellastra-scribbles]

Finally completed the outfit reference for Jayna Stiles, a half-elven NPC follower from Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura.

Outfit breakdown (or "outfit onions" as I like to call them lol~)

I really like Jayna Stiles and her backstory + goals of becoming a technological healer. I'm also a sucker for 19th-century fashion and I have an unhealthily large collection of reference books and a bunch of files saved from online museum collections (I've got about 22+ gigabytes of refs downloaded from the Library of Congress alone haha I need more hobbies).

More unrestrained detailed design ramblings below the cut~

Back on track, I really just wanted to design Jayna an outfit that suited her character more than her in-game sprites while also being practical for travel/adventuring.

Individual layers. I pulled most of her colors from her default outfit.

Since Arcanum's starting year is 1885, I usually picture the "modern" sense of fashion in big cities like Tarant and Caladon taking cues from real life 1885-1890s western fashions (to give myself some leeway with references). Smaller towns can be a bit more dated, but I try not to go back further than the 1870s in most cases.

However, for a character like Jayna, who hails from Dernholm, I gave her clothing from references dating back to the 1850-1860s. I did this because Jayna says in her recruitment dialogue that "[her] parents weren't wealthy people, and [she doesn't] make much money here in Dernholm," so I took this to mean that she likely wears clothing to last, wearing hand-me-downs, makes her own clothes, and mending it over the years rather than buying new clothes.

Given that Dernholm (+ the Kingdom of Cumbria in general) isn't in the best state when the game starts, they may be behind the times and the latest fashions take longer to reach Dernholm.

Gar: “Alas, poor Dernholm! Once home to the legendary Dragon Knights, it has fallen on hard times since Praetor became king some 60 odd years ago. He despises all technology, and I think he's recently become sour on magick as well.”

Herkemer Oggdoddler: “For two generations Cumbria languished as an economically abused and technologically impaired backwater in the shadow of Tarant. Its once fine capital, Dernholm, has become a ruin.”

Layer 1 - Chemise + Open Drawers. I deliberately drew the drawers as fairly loose so as to not expose her without having to redraw the pose or resort to "Barbie doll anatomy."

Various resources demonstrated the chemise being tucked into the drawers or worn fully untucked/loose, but I drew it as tucked-in for the sake of reference visibility, so perhaps either one works in practice.

Layer 2 - Corset + Socks/Stockings. I picked a more "contemporary" (1880s) design for the corset as I imagine it would be a more custom-fitted garment. Plus, anyone who has ever worn bras will attest that a bra that properly fits is comparable to a good pair of shoes: never cheap out on it because if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Perhaps that same logic can be applied to corsets in ye olden days and historically-inspired fantasy settings.

For Jayna, despite the simplistic design, it might be one of the few luxuries she can afford for herself given the necessity of the garment for bust support.

Layer 3 - Trousers + Shoes. I was inspired by vivandières and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, who typically wore trousers beneath their skirts. Dr. Walker was a "surgeon, women’s rights advocate, abolitionist, and spy, [and] the first female U.S. Army surgeon during the Civil War." Since Jayna is an aspiring technological healer, I feel like an allusion to Dr. Walker and her practicality was appropriate.

Layer 4 - Petticoat. It's just something to fill out the skirt volume a tad. I considered adding a corset cover in this layer but I did like having the upper outline of the corset somewhat visible in the shirtwaist layer to illustrate her living situation (aka she doesn't have one or just has a poor-quality one). As a modern-age woman, I think this this all already looks like a laundering nightmare to wash by hand.

Layer 5 - Shirtwaist + Outer Skirt. I really like the shape of the 1860s Garibaldi blouse's sleeves (I think these are bishop sleeves? correct me if I'm wrong...) and the stripes allude to some 19th century nurse uniforms. I initially went for a plaid pattern but that was a pain to draw and using a pre-existing plaid brush/pattern just didn't look as good as I wanted it to be.

Layer 6 - Sash + Pistol Holster + Bag. Given Jayna's goals of becoming a tech healer, I took design cues from vivandières, who were 19th-century women attached to military regiments, with a few known vivandières being nurses (like Anna Etheridge).

However, rather than lifting the vivandière look completely, I imagine Jayna would attempt to replicate the silhouette with her own clothes. The bag is a bit of an amalgamation of various 18th-19th century hunting/frontier bags, so I apologize that I don't have a direct reference image.

---------------

Of course, in the end, I did take some liberties with the outfit so it's not completely historically-accurate, but that's okay since Arcanum is a fictional universe.

I guess I should've prefaced that I'm no expert on historical fashion, just a casual enthusiast who thinks "ooh old dress is pretty!"

I just wanted to see how far I could go before I had to make some concessions, such as:

Jayna's hair is short and worn loose while irl Victorian women typically had long hair and wore them up (there were documented exceptions of course). Many portraits for both female player characters and female NPCs across all in-game races show short hair and loose long hair, so let's just assume that 19th-century Arcanum has more relaxed feminine hair standards compared to the real-life 19th century western world. Also, irl 19th-century rural women did sell their hair for money, so maybe there's something to apply to the world of Arcanum with that. Or maybe the short-hair craze just hit Arcanum a few decades early *shrug*.

I initially planned to give her gloves, but many resources show vivandières not really wearing them, preferring to go barehanded.

The clothing colors may be a bit too saturated for the era I took inspiration from, but I wanted to stay somewhat faithful to Jayna's original sprite colors.

I did simplify some garments down for the sake of me having to draw enough layers as it is lol. Sorry if the lace wasn't fancy enough or that she doesn't have headwear. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sometimes you just wanna finish a project and be done with it.

hoo boy, that was a lot

Thank You For Coming to My TED Talk :)

Now go play Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura~

[wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee28374728]

Until Dawn character hcs

Sam:

Her music taste is crazy. Like the same playlist could have Beethoven, Iron Maiden, The BeeGees and Taylor Swift

Does aerobics in her pajamas

Doesn't know how to order at Starbucks (she just wanted a medium)

Had a dog walking business in high school

Knows how to surf

Will absolutely destroy you in most strategy based board games

Favorite holiday is Halloween

Chris:

Dog person AND cat dad

Far sighted

Huge history nerd, had a ww2 phase in high school that never completely went away

Guy at a camping trip who tells the ghost story that leads up to a joke

Knows exactly what to do when a woman is on her period

Nervous fidgets; bouncing leg, tapping on desk/table, etc

Knew where everything was in his school backpack at all times

Ashley:

Say it with me people: Only. Fucking. Child.

Will get mad at you for saying pumpkin spice latte is basic

Was a horse girl in middle school

Owns more scented candles than a bath and body works

Has gotten her fortune told at a carnival and taken it pretty seriously

Had braces

Smokes weed

Mike:

Track and field

Can't find the clit

Paid other people to do his homework

Wanted to be a firefighter when he was 6

Shockingly scared of bugs, used to make Emily kill them for him, but Jess won't do it

Can swim but doesn't like it

Was really close with Sam when they were younger, Sam is the one who introduced him to the group.

Jessica:

Used to be much happier and more chill before puberty, after which she felt pressure to live up to her looks

Her and Emily used to be super close and she misses it

Was a Frozen kid and still watches it a lot

Most definitely bi curious at least(Emily to blame)

Reads her horoscope but doesn't actually take it seriously

Emily:

Wayyyy to much Disney Channel in her early childhood, now loves drama

The middle of many siblings, acts the way she does for more attention

Was vegetarian at some point

Secretly misses being close with Jess, but makes sure no one knows

Needs rain sounds to sleep

Really wants Matt to stand up to her, this is why she's so hard on him

Matt:

Easily confused when women aren't completely direct

Probably smoked weed at least once, but quit doing it when he started doing sports

Nervous around babies(so small what if he panicked and dropped them)

Had an earring in one ear at one point, but his parents had him take it out and now the piercing is healed over

Can't tell the difference between nail polish shades

Josh:

Would fight god in the Denny's parking lot for someone if they gave him a hug

His bedroom/college dorm is covered in so many movie and band posters you can't see the wall anymore

Talks to cats like they're people

Confused rich(wait his is the only family with six cars??)

Jokes about sex and women, but if he saw a girl being taken advantage of he's gonna slap a frat bro

Owns a VHS tape player

Friggin s l e e p s in checkered shirts

Hannah:

Plant mom

Inspirational quotes on the wall

Best party is a book and a blanket

Nature documentaries

Josh's partner in crime

Loved dolls as a little kid, not Barbies, like baby dolls and porcelain dolls

Fairy lights in her bedroom

Loves music, Josh started buying her cassette tapes and now she collects them

Beth

Can you say LESBIAN?

Is never seen without her hat

Tried to stop Josh and Hannah from causing trouble, it never worked

Uggs and leggings

Smokes weed with Ashley

Her side of her and Hannah's bedroom is so much neater and cleaner

Total metalhead but no one knows bcs "she doesn't look it"

Dr. Hill:

Accidentally opened YouTube once while trying to find the news app

Can't work if the music has lyrics, it's too distracting

Might have a husband

Has such doctor handwriting that he can't hardly read it himself

Coffee addict

911 on speed dial(he's worried about all his patients)

The real Dr Hill is really nice, only the hallucination version is all threatening

Flamethrower guy:

Fucking loves soup

Hasn't bought clothes in years, and got them all secondhand

Has been off the mountain exactly twice

"When did kids get this dumb?"

Secretly stays in the lodge sometimes when no one is there bcs it's shelter and it's kinda fancy

Actually feels crazy guilty for not saving the twins

Was very happy to see Mike making friends with his wolves

[weirdpolis]

Since July is the Disability Pride Month and the Barbie Movie Month, here's my collection of Barbie dolls with disabilities.

Mattel has been adding disability representation to their doll series since 2019. So far we've had at least 6 Barbie dolls in wheelchairs, along with 2 Kens and 2 Chelsea dolls (little kid sized dolls).

There are 4 Barbie dolls and 1 Ken with prosthetic legs.

There's a doll with hearing aids, and a doll with Down Syndrome designed in association with National Down Syndrome Society.

There are also dolls with conditions like Alopecia and Vitiglio.

Mostly they come out in the Fashionistas line, but sometimes they also crop up in other thematic series, like "You can be anything", and so we had a Para-alpine skiier and an Interior Designer with a prosthetic leg.

There's also a doll honoring Helen Keller from "the Inspiring Women" series.

And in the clips from the "Barbie" movie, you can spot a Barbie in the wheelchair dancing along with others at Barbie's party.

[shamebats]

[ID: A series of Instagram graphics, mostly black text on a pale pink background.

Image 1: Barbie Is Taking the World by Storm, and Fast Fashion Is Capitalising on It

Garment workers deserve better

Image 2: With the recent release of the Barbie movie captivating audiences and breaking box office records (the film made $162 million in the US and Canada its first weekend, making Barbie the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman), it's no surprise that fast fashion brands are jumping on the bandwagon, launching their own Barbie- inspired collections.

That's bad news for people and planet

Image 3: What's happening?

Problematic fast fashion brands like Zara, Primark, Boohoo, ASOS, and GAP have all launched Barbie-inspired collections, capitalising on the Barbiecore trend for their own gains.

While the allure of a pink-infused, Clueless-like wardrobe may be enticing, we need to pause and question the true cost of these collections.

Image 4: Exploiting garment workers isn't empowering

Seeing fast fashion brands claim their collections "empower women" is just giving us the "ick". It's purplewashing.

Fact: the majority of garment workers are women, mostly women of colour, and the fast fashion brands promoting these collections don't pay living wages. Most have terrible track records for supply chain transparency and many labour rights violations.

Launching a pink collection won't fix that.

Image 5: Fuelling overconsumption

Fast fashion brands are already producing far more clothes than anyone in the world actually needs.

Barbie collections are simply more of the same overproduction and overconsumption that ultimately ends up in landfills-but disguised in pink.

Dressing up for a movie experience? Fun! Luring people to buy new clothes they are likely only to wear a few times? Not fun!

Image 6: Life in plastic is not fantastic

Most of these fast fashion collections are made of virgin plastic. According to Forbes, nearly 70m barrels of oil are used each year to make polyester fibre, which is now the most commonly used in our clothing.

Worse yet, loads of these trendy fast fashion garments end up wasted in landfills, where it can take more than 200 years to decompose.

Fashion's plastic waste is already wreaking havoc on the environment, and these collections only add to the problem.

Image 7: As the character Sasha (played by Ariana Greenblatt) tells Barbie early in the movie: "You're killing the planet with your glorification of rampant consumerism."

The message ironically rings true when it comes to the fast fashion Barbie collections.

Unfortunately, the movie of the summer is once again become another trend exploited by fast fashion giants to make more plastic clothes the world doesn't need.

TL;DR—dress up! Wear pink! But shop your closet and check out the second hand options instead.

/end ID]

[artistesoiree]

Nightfall in Sunridge Ranch

Chapter 1

{'70s Jack Daniels x Fem!OC)

Chapter 2

Rating: Mature Warnings: Mentions of blood and draining blood (she's a vampire, I feel it's a given), drug mention, mc is a bit eerie and her thoughts can be a bit troubling, Likely incorrect things about the 70s and Paris, France, as I was born in '02 and haven't been outside the PNW since I was born, Jack's too suave for his own good and probably shouldn't flirt with vampires, I hope he isn't OOC? Veronica's maker is interesting…(and is named after my favorite IWTV character) but I'll get into that in later chapters, takes place in the late 70s in a made-up Texan town WC: 3.8k

A/N:

Howdy, y'all! I wanted to write this because I've been recently inspired to begin writing again. I was inspired by Interview with the Vampire, 70s Texas, little bit of Ethel Cains Album Preachers Daughter, and my own OCs. The writing might be rough, but I'm proud of it. It's told in the first-person POV, and I hope you guys like Veronica as much as I do. She's a wreck and a weirdo .Oh, and the introduction was inspired by the beginning of The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice.

headers by @/saradika

I am Veronica Sharpe. I am a vampire who stands six feet tall. I have been blessed with my mother's black curls and my father's family's white streak in it. I have my mother's pale complexion, cheekbones, plush lips, and aquiline nose. I have my father's slender green eyes. My father gave me his height, while my mother gave me the gift of a body with feminine curves. Over the years, while I have maintained my feminine body, I have gained muscle, which has dramatically complimented my figure. I am a strong woman. I am proud of that.

I was only twenty-one when I was turned in the year 1904. I lived in Paris, France, and several lovers sought my hand. One of them was my maker, Armand Sharpe. He was a tall man with a fine figure, and he loved his beautiful clothes and long silk like red hair. He collected art pieces and hung them in his home. He had found me painting in the Jardin des Plantes and asked kindly if he could buy one of my paintings. Armand loved his beautiful women; I was flattered to be one of them. 

He always talked about how I should be grateful that I remain eternally beautiful, that I will never age like most women, and that my youthful beauty will never leave. He always seemed too proud of it. And I am grateful, his beauty is like mine, eternal.

Although I am thankful that I remember my mother, father, and sister, Armand, when we first met, had made it possible for me to have photographs of my family. While I don’t remember my family name, I remember their names. My mother was named Estelle, and my father was Laurent, and my sister was Lucille. But sadly, I don’t know the name my mother gave me when I was born. I expressed my discomfort with not remembering my name to Armand, and he thought of a name for a moment until he told me that my name must be Véronique. It is a beautiful name, a one I deserve.

As time passed, my name changed from Véronique to Veronica. This transition came in ‘64 when a waitress misheard my name and called me Veronica in a thick southern California accent. She was a lovely gal. She was a Barbie blonde wearing a baby blue uniform, which suited her tanned skin tone. Her hair was styled like Farrah Fawcett's and smelled like Adorn Self-Styling Hair Spray. Veronica stuck. The transition was freeing from the name my maker and husband had given me. The name Armand would use to beckon me to his room was the name he would call with desire. 

I am very thankful to the waitress at that Los Angeles diner a couple of years ago; she gave me a new name, and may never know what it meant to me. I am sure Armand felt the same way, it is a gift to give a name to someone.

As I make my way along the winding Interstate 10 in Texas, the sky is painted with the last hues of the sunset, giving way to the emergence of countless stars. The radio fills the car interior with the nostalgic melody of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." This song has been the background to my travels for the past couple years. With my hand resting on the smooth, black leather steering wheel of my 1964 Ford Mustang, I tap my fingers in time to the music. The car, painted a deep raven black, seems to blend seamlessly with the night. Despite the darkness, I wear my circular black sunglasses with their delicate silver frame. It might strike some as odd to wear sunglasses at night, but I do so to conceal my naturally eerie and unnerving green eyes, a feature that has often drawn unnerving attention. 

I’ve never understood why they were unnerving. They’re my eyes; they’ve been green since childhood. Is there something I’m missing? Green is the color of the earth, why must I have to cover my beauty.

The fuel gauge on my dashboard is hovering dangerously close to empty, and as I glance out the window, a highway sign catches my eye. It reads, ‘Visit Sunridge Ranch, Texas! The Cowboy Capital of the USA!’ I find myself humming in response, realizing that not only do I need to refuel, but it might also be a good idea to find a place to stay for the night. The sun will rise soon, and although I won't burst into flames like in fiction, its rays will still leave me with a nasty sunburn, turning my pale skin red. It’s embarrassing. Armand would scold me like a child when I would come home red. As my husband, he often acted like a father, not my own. Oh no, he decided my father wasn't useful and took him away from me.

As I made my way into town, I was struck by its quaint charm and the subtle nods to its cowboy past. Before heading to the nearby motel, I decided to fill up my car with gas. As I approach the motel, I couldn't help but notice the small sign featuring a cowgirl riding a horse and the name "Desert Ranch Motel." It seems like a beautiful place to spend a day. The sign advertised a pool I plan to enjoy once the sun had set.

I hear the soft jingle of a bell as I push open the heavy wooden door to the front desk. Standing behind the counter is a woman who seems out of place in this ordinary setting. Her immaculate appearance and bored expression tell me she'd rather be anywhere else. I glimpse her name tag and see "Barbara" etched onto it. 

"Welcome to the Desert Ranch Motel, where the Old West meets comfort," she recites in a dry, monotone voice. "What kind of room are you looking for?"

The weirdest thing is that Barbara jumps when she looks up at me and tries to act as if she hadn't jumped. Am I creepy? Surely it cannot be my eyes, they cannot be creepy in this light. Was it my staring? My eyes burning into her.

As she asked if I was interested in the suite, I responded, "I will take the suite." I respond, there is nothing fancy about the way I said it. It was monotone. Following my response, she picked up the check-in book to check for its availability, or at least that's what I assumed she was doing.

"Sure... that'll be no problem," she says, keeping her pretty blue eyes on my figure as she checks the lodging book. That will be 15 dollars for the day," Barbara says uncertainly as I hand her the cash. She carefully notes my name in the lodging book and gracefully passes me the key. "The room is 28B. I hope you have a pleasant stay, ma'am," she says.

The prominent feature of the chain is a weathered cowboy pendant suspended from it, effortlessly enhancing the town's rustic charm and Western essence. I wonder who made it; it looks like an artist had a hand in making it. 

As I make my way down the hallway to 28B, the weight of my luggage is a reassuring reminder of the countless times I've journeyed down this similar hallway. I navigate the stairs quickly. Arriving at the end of the hallway, I reach for the doorknob and swing the door open. A smile spreads as I take in the view before me.

The wooden door creaks open as I enter the room, unveiling a spacious living area. The room features a sunken seating area adorned with vibrant patterned cushions encircling a central sunken pit that could double as a fire pit. The brick fireplace is the main focus, making everything warm and comfortable. 

Large windows flood the space with natural light, offering picturesque views of the pool outside. The high ceiling is adorned with several elegant hanging lights that glow warmly throughout the room. The inviting atmosphere makes it a pretty space to spend time and relax.

Behind the conversation pit, the bed steals the attention, decorated with a striking orange comforter and decorative pillows. The bedframe and nightstands complement each other, showcasing a matching wood. The clock on the nightstand displayed 3:02 am, signaling the impending arrival of dawn. Hungry from my long drive from San Antonio, I couldn't ignore the persistent itch of blood thirst at the back of my throat. As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, I felt the familiar hunger gnawing at my insides. It is different from a human's regular hunger pains; my stomach feels as if it’s going to turn inside out, and I might die. 

The craving for blood pounded through me, and I know I couldn't ignore it much longer. But living in this arid, desolate town presented a challenge—no nearby life sources could quench my thirst. Then it hit me: In such a deserted town, there is an option: to search for the presence of rats. Although I don't like the taste of rat blood, it satisfies my thirst for blood. Or perhaps the local diner could provide a solution. I could order a rare steak and let its rich blood juices satiate my hunger for the night. I always thrived while killing; there is something so satisfying about that iron-rich liquid spilling down my throat.

As I leave the dimly lit motel room, I check that my purse is securely slung over my shoulder. I mentally record the contents within—my wallet holding a substantial amount of cash, my ID, and the all-important hotel room key. Opening it, I make sure that my favorite perfume is safely nestled among the other items. Knowing I'll smell good despite the bloodbath I’m going to put myself through does put a smile on my face. 

I stroll across the road from the motel to The Kingsman Diner, relieved to see that it is open 24 hours a day. Knowing that no matter what time, I can always find a warm meal here is a comfort. Approaching the front door, I couldn't help but notice a small cluster of mice scurrying around towards the back of the diner.

Sneaking towards the back of the restaurant, I quickly grab a mouse and sink my fangs into its body. Draining the blood from it and tossing it into the garbage. I continue doing this to a few more mice, draining and tossing.  It is not human, but it will do for the night. I need to drink multiple in order to feel fine.

Lost in my bloodthirst, I fail to notice the creak of the back door swinging open. Suddenly, a gruff and low voice startles me from behind.

"Darlin, what are you doin’ near my garbage?" The man asks, and I freeze, realizing someone had caught me. I feel my heart racing as I quickly toss the mouse into the garbage and turned to face him. There was a little blood on my chin, and my hands are stained from the unsuccessful attempt to clean up the mess.

What am I doing? Did Armand’s lessons in cleanliness and manners exit my brain the first moment I stepped foot on American soil? I should vanish now. Wipe his memory, he never saw me.

But as I answered, "Nothing," he gave me a questioning look, and I’m grateful for the overhead light illuminating his face. He was very handsome, with a man in his forties with a strong, tall frame, warm brown eyes, and a mop of dark brown, short hair. A well-groomed mustache adorned his upper lip, adding to his cowboy appeal. He stood before me in well-worn jeans cinched with a leather belt, an apron over his chest, and a vibrant blue flannel shirt. He held a black Stetson cowboy hat in his hand, completing the look of a true cowboy. God, he has kind eyes, clean-shaven eyes, and a beautiful smile. And a confident swagger to him, Armand never really had that sort of confidence or swagger. He was quiet and foreboding. 

"Why do you have blood on your hands and chin there, Darlin?" The man asks, squinting his eyes and furrowing his brow as if trying to assess my appearance. My mind races as I desperately tried to come up with some sort of plausible excuse. "Were you drainin’ those rats?"

I stammer nervously in response, causing his brows to furrow even deeper. "I, uh, yes...?" I admit, my voice trembling slightly. "I may have taken ecstasy in my motel room. It seemed like a good idea at the time. In the past I loved to drink the blood on ecstasy, it feels lovely."

"Why in the world would drinkin’ rat blood even cross your mind as a good idea?" the handsome man asks, leaving me speechless. Incompetent to conjure a coherent response, I found myself unable to answer him. How about we forget this ever happened, and I whip up something to satisfy that hunger of yours?"

I nod eagerly, awaiting his following words. "What are ya in the mood for?"

"Can you make mashed potatoes and a rare steak? It's been far too long since I've had a meal like that, not since I left San Antonio," I tell him, wiping the extra blood on the sleeve of my black blouse. It won’t be seen anyway. His face cringes for a moment as I do that. God, he needs to stop staring at me.

As the man mulls over my request briefly, he gently scratches his chin and nodded in agreement. "Come on in. Why don't ya take a seat at the counter," he offered as we entered the cozy diner. "Maybe after you freshen up a bit..."

Pausing, I glance down at my hands and suddenly became conscious of my messy appearance. The fancy clothes I bought for myself have blood splatters on me, and my hair is nowhere near presentable. I should’ve washed up in my motel room. 

"Oh, excuse me, where can I find the restroom?" I ask, and he gestures towards the doors at the back of the diner, clearly marked 'Men' and 'Women.' 

"I'll be back. I'm sorry you had to see that, handsome stranger," I say to him with a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. His chuckle is a welcome sound as my eyes wander up and down, finally landing on the name tag labeled ‘Jack’' "Jack, a handsome name for a handsome man," I remark, a twinkle in my eye, nervously laughing. Has it been this long since I’ve been around a man? He must think I'm an idiot. 

Jack’s chuckle resonates through the room, carrying a warmth that seems to surround the entire room. "Not a problem, darlin'," he says in a soothing, reassuring tone, his words comforting to my ears. He flashed a kind and friendly grin, and as he did, the well-earned wrinkles around his eyes deepened, adding character to his face. A rush of heat floods my cheeks, betraying the blush that crept up in response to his gaze. Sensing my reaction, he arched an eyebrow ever so slightly, his eyes shining with a knowing glint. 

Dieu qu'il est beau. (god he is handsome)

“I will be right back, Mr. Jack,” I chuckle nervously before heading toward the restroom. Mr. Jack?! Why would I call him that? Also, I says I would be back not even a minute before. Must I repeat myself like a babbling imbecile?!

I quickly went to the restroom, but the encounter was still fresh in my mind. As I stand in front of the mirror, I meticulously wash away the stains from my face and hands, taking care to remove every trace of the blood. It's hard to believe that my first impression of this rugged man was being covered in blood. I can't help but wonder what  Armand must think of me. I did always turn to him for advice. He was always a posed man; he would get angry when I wasn’t. 

But I do not remember even doing anything that vastly embarrassing with him. Did I do something wrong when I was with him? Have I always been this way, and he was helping me? Should I have not left him? I cannot act like a lady around a handsome man who saw me draining mice near his garbage. Well, not that it is a ladylike thing to do, but there are nicer ways of satisfying my thirst. But fuck being ladylike, Armand would use that word so often I never liked it.

Wait, that businessman wanted to get with me at that party in ‘71. Why am I realizing this now?  Have I always been this aloof? I need to do better.

“Bloody lady, ya doin’ alright?” I hear Mr. Jack from just outside the door, “You’ve been in there for twenty minutes or so,” 

“Sorry, I got lost in thought. I’ll be out in a minute!” I reply, and my cheeks redden due to my embarrassment. Splashing water on my face, I walk out of the restroom with a slightly embarrassed smile, rocking on my heels momentarily. “Sorry about that, it’s been a long day.” 

Mr. Jack chuckles again, “‘s alright, darlin’ you not from ‘round here, aintcha?” He asks as I sit down at the counter where he’s prepared my food. God, it looks delicious. Staring at him, a little confused, he smiles again. “You ain’t got an accent like us, ya almost sound European.”

“No, I’m not from around here. I was born in Paris, but I’ve been traveling alone for a while,” I reply, grabbing the fork he’s set out for me. He tilts his head, confused.

“Ya look lil young to be travelin’ for a while,”

“M-My…uhh-” I begin trying to find a good excuse: “My family ages well. I am in my thirties,” Okay, that’s not a bad excuse, and it’s true I do not age. Thanks, Armand; one of the only good things about this gift he gave me. He still deserves to die, though. 

"Well, I’ll be damned ya do look good, sugar,” Jack tells me with a suave smile on his face, “that white streak in ya hair is real pretty too, them eyes of yours are real pretty too. I always liked green eyes on ladies,” 

“Why thank you, Jack. You sure know how to make a lady blush,” I giggle momentarily, hiding my face behind my hand, and while taking a bite of the steak he made me, and god if it isn’t delicious. That cowboy sure knows how to make a meal. 

He and I both chat for a while and continue eating the meal he had prepared. He pauses for a moment before asking, “You says you were born in Paris, that meanin you french?” 

“I suppose?” I reply, thinking for a moment. “I grew up there, my parents were born there too. But I have not been there for good while, I am losing my accent.” 

“Clearly, you barely sound French anymore, sugar. Are you still speakin’ the language?” he asks, and I nod with a bright smile.

“Oui, j'aime toujours cette langue,” I say, and his eyebrows raise. Is he impressed? “I say, yes, I still love the language.” 

Jack chuckles as he takes my empty plate and cleans it quickly while I wait at the counter. Should I wait for him to come back? Or should I leave? This feels weird. My legs begin to sway underneath the counter, waiting for him to come back, my chin resting on the backs of my hands. 

He comes back a couple of minutes later, and I've been looking around the diner, taking in the details of it all. It’s a very cozy diner. The warm lighting adds to that. If I lived here, I would be a regular, I know it. 

“How long you in town sugar?” He asks, snapping me out of my daydream. 

“As long as I want, I tend to keep myself in different towns for a few days before leaving. But I can stay in a spot for months if I’d like. Why do you ask?”

“I wanna offer you a job, if you’d like it. It would be watiressin’ but it pays good with tips.”

My eyes widen for a moment. Is he serious? His expression says he isn’t; extra cash would be nice. I have been running out of it since I left France and stole an excellent sum of Armand’s fortune. It would be nice to stay in one spot long and not be on the run. He also did find me with blood all over me. Why is he offering me a job? Did he not find me in the back with blood all over me..he does not have good awareness.

“I like that a lot. It would be nice to have extra money and save up a good sum.” I say to him, and his lips curl into an almost sly smile. He looks too mischievous with that mustache of his, but that is a reason he’s a joy to be around. He is much better than Armand, so much better.

“Sounds like a plan darlin’ let me get ya the uniform,” He tells me, walking to a closet in the back and coming back with two things, a red dress, it has short sleeves and seems that it would end at my knees. What’s in his other hand is an apron, simple enough. “Here’s the uniform, keep your hair in a bun and simple earrings. You got shoes that could go with it?”

Pausing, I think back to the clothes in my luggage, more specifically, the shoes I’ve been carrying with me. There are a couple of options, and others that would never work for that uniform.

“Would a pair of red-heeled sandals work?” I ask, unsure if that’s what he is asking for. 

“I believe they would darlin’. You can wear those with the uniform. Have you ever waitressed before?”

“When I was in Paris, I worked briefly for a cafe. Is this similar to that?”

“You’ll do great sugar. Now go get some rest and I’ll see you here at 2pm okay?” He asks, and I nod quickly, my arms gathering the uniform he handed me in my arms. 

When I leave the diner, the sky is empty; spare it for the stars sprinkling in the sky. This town is eerily quiet. Paris was loud, and so was Los Angeles. I like quiet; I've always liked quiet. Maybe I should stay here. Until Armand uses his fledglings to find me again, then I will run. I do miss him, the chase is more fun knowing he misses me. But for now, I will stay. 

I hope y'all enjoyed it! I do plan to have more chapters, as this is just the beginning; I've got a bunch planned!

Taglist: @morallyinept @604to647

[willowisapillow]

🌈🦋 Pleasant Pixl 🦋🌈

Hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving! Y’all’s turkeys have probably digested by now, but have some more gijinka art from me.

Last year, I made a human design for Tippi, one of my absolute favorite Paper Mario partners, but looking back on it, I don’t like how the design turned out. So I wanted to redesign it. I didn’t give her a specific ethnicity and just made her look vaguely Hispanic/Latina, but with this redesign, I made her Native American as a celebration for both Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day (even though both were last month, ik I’m very late to the party 😭).

I myself don’t have one iota of Native American blood, so I had to do lots of research to make it look accurate to the tribe that her whole new look is based on while taking a few creative liberties. So I apologize to anyone who is part of the Hopi tribe or part of some other Native American tribe if Tippi’s design doesn’t look the greatest. 

However, I would love it if some of y’all would kindly comment or dm me on how I should fix my design if I somehow screwed something up. I don’t want to come off as disrespecting your culture at all, so don’t be afraid to tell me your honest opinion on it so I can learn how to improve my design.

The tribe I based Tippi’s new human design on is the Hopi Tribe. The butterfly is seen as a positive and comforting symbol within a lot of Native American tribes, and it’s very prominent within the Hopi Tribe. Since Tippi takes the form of a butterfly when she’s a Pixl throughout the entirety of Super Paper Mario, I thought it would make sense to base her on that tribe. The butterfly represents change and balance, and they have a kachina (spirit) based around it in their mythology.

The kachina is called the Polik-mana, or Butterfly Maiden. The Butterfly Maiden was one of the main inspirations for Tippi’s human redesign. According to the Hopi Tribe, the Butterfly Maiden is said to pollinate the fields and flowers and give rain to the Arizona Desert once spring rolls around. There’s even a whole traditional dance based around the kachina called the Butterfly Dance, where the young girls of the tribe basically give thanks to the Maiden for her spring dance.

Her necklace is inspired by a cute Hopi necklace I found on Google, but her earrings aren’t really inspired by anything, I kinda just made them up myself. Her dress is heavily inspired by the manta, which is a traditional knee-length garment that the women of the Hopi Tribe wear. At first, I wanted to draw her hair in squash blossom buns, which is the traditional Hopi hairstyle, but I settled on leaving her hair down to match her silhouette at the end of Super Paper Mario.

And ik this is super random, but I would also like to include a few headcanon voice actors that I think would suit the role of Tippi if Super Paper Mario was fully voice-acted like Sunshine. I kind of came up with this while digitally drawing the picture, so sorry for how random and out of place this is, I’m just currently bored out of my mind lol;

• Voice Actor: Christine Marie Cabanos - Voice Inspiration: Filia (Skullgirls)

• Voice Actor: Nicole Oliver - Voice Inspiration: Princess Celestia (MLP: FiM) or Queen Calissa (Barbie in a Mermaid Tale)

• Voice Actor: Stephanie Sheh - Voice Inspiration: Kayo Hinazuki (Erased) or Flora (All 3 of the Winx Club Movies)

• Voice Actor: Irene Bedard - Voice Inspiration: Pocahontas (Pocahontas 1995)

• Voice Actor: Cree Summer - Voice Inspiration: Kidagakash “Kida” Nekdah (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

I imagine Tippi having a collected, soft-spoken, but serious-sounding voice, which is why I chose these voice actresses and some of the characters they voice as inspiration.

🌈 ✨ 🦋 ✨ 🌈

[dollshobby]

Barbie Inspiring Women series honors Maria Tallchief: America's First Prima Ballerina

The Inspiring Women Barbie series has introduced a new collectible doll that honors Maria Tallchief, an icon of American ballet and the first Native American woman to be awarded the title of prima ballerina.

This collectible doll not only highlights Tallchief's remarkable achievements in the world of ballet, but also serves as a wonderful reminder of her influence on Indigenous art, culture and representation.

[darlingfeeder]

Sea Salt Beach Boardwalk, Ep. 2

Sarah at the Fry Hut

The Fry Hut is the perfect place for people-watching. It was situated like a floating island in the middle of walkway between the shops and the sand. During the slow hours, Sarah loved to sit back on her stool and watch the parade of barely-dressed boardwalk patrons of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes she would sketch them, just for practice.

From under the Fry Hut's blue awning and a banner advertising "Fried EVERYTHING!" Sarah served up mostly french fries, onion rings, and fried chicken. She'd worked there for only 2 summers now, yet she felt right at home. She loves that her job lets her wear a tank top and shorts that show off her arm and thigh tattoos; besides, between the heat of the fryer and the heat of the sun, a thicc gal like her would simply melt if she wore anything warmer.

She served up fries by the bucket to a wide array of patrons today: a man whose belly hung far below the hem of his shirt over his board shorts (who didn't seem aware of his exposure), a trio of college girls who had a collective epiphany that they were allowed to each get their own bucket of fries (no almond moms to make them share), two very hungry moms (with perfect mom-bods) corralling a small army of kids under 5, a heavyset t4t masc/femme couple who adorably fed each other fries as they sat on the nearest bench, and at least three women over 300 pounds who wore small, pink, Barbie-Inspired bikinis (one apple shape, one pear shape, and one very busty hourglass shape, yet all in the same bikini).

But of all the people Sarah studied today, she had her favorite. Same as they day before, and the day before that. Just across the walkway was the ice cream parlor where the new girl worked. Jenny just started on the boardwalk earlier this summer, and Sarah fell immediately in love with her. From her soft, strawberry blonde hair to her soft, wide hips, Sarah wanted to stare at her all day. She loved the way she laughed and the way she danced to the (nearly annoying) bubblegum pop playlist of the shop. Still, Sarah didn't want to scare her off, so she tried to keep their interactions to offering her fries-for-ice-cream trade every other day. But man. What Sarah wouldn't do to sit with Jenny on a bench, feed her some fries, explore her curves, kiss her a little-- but what if she's straight? What if she doesn't want her curves touched like that? Sarah shakes off the fantasy.

For now, she'll just keep bringing Jenny fries on her lunch break. Nothing says seduction like a snack, right?

[barbielore]

Every time I do one of these I straight-up forget what tag I decided on for these posts...

Now we're into December I thought I would do another new release round-up post! These posts are just to talk about any of the recent Barbie Signature collector doll releases I feel I have an opinion on - even if that opinion is just "I think this looks cool".

Also sometimes I discuss the releases in a weird order, because I will sometimes just get tunnel visioned on a certain doll and then not include another that is deserving of discussion.

Anyway.

There are two recent celebrity likeness dolls released: one in the Inspiring Women series and the other in the Tribute Collection. The difference between these two series is relatively subtle: in Mattel's words, the Tribute Collection honours "visionaries whose incredible contributions have helped shape and impact culture", while the Inspiring Women line celebrates "trailblazing women throughout history".

The Inspiring Women newest release is Maria Tallchief, both America's first prima ballerina and, as an Osage woman, the first Native American prima ballerina. Her outfit, as pictured above, was based on her debut in The Firebird.

The Tribute Collection doll celebrates Rita Moreno, EGOT winner and, of course, Anita from the 1961 West Side Story film and Valentina from the 2021 West Side Story.

The only designer credited on Mattel's website is Javi Meabe, but according to some sources, like this PopInsider article, Moreno herself had a key role in the design. Moreno shared the doll on Instagram with a very appreciative caption.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rita Moreno (@theritamoreno)

Besides these two celebrity dolls, the other big news from the Barbie Signature line is the release of the collectible MyScene dolls.

Specifically Chelsea, Barbie and Madison.

For some reason, I've never done a post about MyScene. I think because the line totally missed me when it first came out and I never had any kind of investment in it.

[strangesmallbard]

randomly decided to perceive my barbie collection today! the standing/boxes ones are newer additions, and the bottom four are the survivors from my childhood collection lmao. one day i’ll have the money and space to scroll mercari again…

(all known doll names listed below the cut!)

top row from left to right:

1. Barbie Rewind Collection: 80s Edition Career Girl Doll (released 2021)

2. The X Files Giftset Collector Edition Dolls: Barbie and Ken as Special Agents Scully and Mulder (released 1998)

3. Inspiring Women Collection: Sally Ride Doll (released 2019)

bottom row from left to right;

4. unknown fashion doll (likely released between 2002-2004)

5. Dolls of the World Collection: Russian Barbie (released 1997)

6. My Scene Jammin’ in Jamaica Collection: NoLee Doll (released 2003)

7. Barbie Very Velvet Doll (released 1998)

[burningtheroots]

Women‘s rights movement // General stuff continued 🔗 links —> Part 3

Protect your account

MADRE — a global feminist fund

Facts about women‘s rights

South Korean feminists — 6B4T

Girl Math — inspirational women

The process of male & female socialization

Things you can do to help women

Literary Resources

💫 Women‘s History 💫

Andrew Tate

Radical Action: Period Poverty

Social Justice movements from a feminist lens

Jack the Ripper victims petition

The Pad Project

Men as a terrorist group

Take care of yourselves

Barbie trumps Oppenheimer

Reasons NOT to get pregnant

The story of Franca Viola

Greed is Male Culture

Suffragette Flag

"Not like other girls" GNC perspective

Men‘s insults

Women‘s anger

OSA women

UNITE, don‘t divide

The b-slur

Socialization ≠ bioessentialism

Classic hypocrisy

Female separatism benefits all women

Pedophiles on the rise

Men don’t see us as human beings

Sex for pleasure 1

Sex for pleasure 2

Fuck conservatives

Motherhood is difficult

Misogyny by any other name (article)

"Oppression Olympics"

Damned if you do, damned if you don‘t

The reality of double standards

Don‘t bother with misogynists

Conservatives

Fatphobia is wrong

Male Collective Identity

Female reproductive anatomy

Misogyny vs. misandry

Whitefem hypocrisy

Women‘s Economic Space

Misandry ain‘t real

Usurpation of women‘s ability to create life

Men being pathetic (education)

"Progressive" hypocrisy

Women‘s accomplishments >>>

OSA separatism

Don‘t invest in men

Men are violent anyways

Megan Thee Stallion

"Man-hater" vs. woman-hater

Feminist wins/progress

Penetration & degradation

Male loneliness

"Misandry" isn‘t racism + update

Radical feminism vs. basic feminism

Small changes are meaningful

On shaving

Shaving anon

Socialization: Let‘s talk

Male approval

Don‘t fall for gaslighting

Fake accountability

"Choice" ≠ choice

Barbie isn’t "anti-men", but men‘s movies are often anti-women

Advice for dealing with men

Refuse to bow down

Advice for women with SH scars who date men

A win for female CEOs in the U.S.

More general information

Global majority women and third world countries MATTER

50:50 with men is a scam

The "bimbocore" trend

Why misogyny is so normalized

Sexualization of women in sports

Women‘s rights are for all women

Misandry isn’t real, but if it was, it‘d be a male thing

Side with women or be guilty

Men exploit women‘s empathy

Male violence is normalized, women fighting back is demonized

Which rights do women *actually* have?

Reasons to dump him

Historical feminist writings

Ethnic cleansing of Palestinians — War crimes committed by the State of Israel

Stop antisemitism — State of Israel ≠ Jewish people

Affection is NOT absence of bigotry — every man needs to be held accountable

Maternal equality is crucial for feminism

Massacres/genocide of Palestinians in Gaza

How to actively help women in Gaza with period products

Gender disparity in Indian organ transplants: 4 in 5 living donors women, 4 in 5 recipients men

How misogyny harms women‘s footballers

[worldofasianfashion]

The Barbie of Fashion: Sandy Liang

~

Written by: Elijah Magalong, CSULB

Welcome Back! This week we will be the spotlighting the Asian-American designer, Sandy Liang.

Satin pink bows, Mary Jane flats, and flowery grocery bags may be what is evoked when the name "Sandy Liang," is thrown around but her rise to the top of street fashion in Downtown New York is remarkable.

images from: https://www.oprahdaily.com/style/a23553236/fashion-sandy-liang-chinese-culture/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/12/fashion/sandy-liang-fleece.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

From growing up in Bayside, Queens to walking around Chinatown and the Lower East Side near her parents' restaurant, Congee Village, Sandy Liang took inspiration from her childhood experiences and role models. The first being her Paw Paw, her grandmother, who continues to be a source of adoration from the designer for her authenticity and eccentricity as a Chinatown Grandma. This leopard fleece on the right was dubbed the “the hottest jacket in men’s wear” by GQ in 2019, which gave the brand its highest level of visibility at the time.

Sandy Liang has since started to draw inspiration the girlhood within. She expresses several times that she is simply a "girl designing for a girl.” She embraces feminine expression through sartorial decisions such as multiple "girly" motifs such as flowers, hearts, stars and anything you would find in a girl's diary.

images from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a42842431/sandy-liang-downtown-uniform-interview-profile/

Her garments mix practicality and a whimsical way of dressing, always designing with the mindset that women may be able to wear her clothes on the subway, no matter the occasion: going to work, playing sports, or anything a woman wants. Her most recent collection emphasized this concept of a female uniform, the dress: the first girl is at prom and the second is a girl getting up from a dream.

Successful collaboration after successful collaboration, Sandy Liang continues to push the zeitgeist instead of being lead by it. Combining both pragmatism and femininity allows women to embrace female energy in their contemporary lives that blur into androgyny. Sandy Liang's juxtaposition of power suits with bows and lace dresses with hiking shoes continue to draw in women who are strong, capable, and in touch with something that connects her audience even before they purchase her clothes: girlhood.

Next week, we will visit the esteemed designer, Grace Ling!