Sexed-up Society

After two days off school due to the rare sighting of snow in South Carolina, going back to lessons at 10am yesterday morning was a bit of a struggle to say the least. But as my fellow class mates slowly pondered into our lesson, frozen and sleepy, everyone seemed wide awake when our teacher announced that our lesson was going to be on ‘sex’, focusing especially on how women are portrayed as sexual objects in the media.

The media obsess about women’s bodies and how we’re supposed to preen ourselves to look a certain way. Every product in the cosmetics aisles promises clearer skin, shinier hair and fuller lips. Society tells us that if we don’t look a certain way we won’t be successful and we won’t end up with the ‘right’ kind of man.

It wasn’t that long ago that the fashion industry started using computer-generated mannequin bodies with real women's heads to advertise their products online. Each model had the same curve in the waist, the same arc of the hand, and the same wash-board stomach. Only when you line them up alongside one another does it become blaringly obvious that they are actually unnatural computer-generated mannequins with the heads of real models. Makes us all seem like dummies really! But the scary fact is that society kind of just accepts it, somehow it’s become ‘normal’ to use artificial images of women. Because, after all, don’t we all strive for that impossible perfection?

Beyonce has become the ultimate portrayal of this ‘perfection’. But what message is she really sending out to young girls? At the 2014 Grammy Awards on Sunday, arguably the biggest night in the music industry, Queen Bey chair danced alongside her husband, rapper Jay Z, in one of her hottest outfits yet. But leaving little to the imagination in a skimpy, strappy, extremely seductive tight black thong bodysuit, made me (the rest of my class) question why?.... Simply because sex sells! And not only this, even if we don’t have Beyonce’s body, vocal skills or swagger – she teaches young girls that the only way to be successful is to dress provocatively. In stark contrast, hubby Jay Z was dressed in the most expensive looking suit I’ve ever seen. Why is it that men don’t have to dress the same way as women in order to be seen and heard? This power couple dominates the media, sending alarming messages to young girls, but also showing men that if you dress a certain way you can get a girl like Bey.

I feel like complaining about the sexualisation of women in magazines and the media is as common as complaining about the weather. But if it’s such a hot topic, why is nothing being changed? It’s been drilled into our society that girls have to be beautiful and sexy in order to get above the rest. Women have always been portrayed as sex objects, but just far will the media push this? Celebrities posing semi-nude on the front of men’s magazines looks like straight up porn! When are we going to be seen as something other than our exterior?  Just some food for thought.

Snow Day

Only in South Carolina….

When there’s the off chance of snow, no matter how small, even if it’s been 20 degrees and beautiful sunshine all day, it makes complete sense to cancel class! It appears snow is such a rare sighting in South Carolina that people freak out even more than the British!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Message from the President:

‘January 27, 2014

Dear Students:

It looks as though some inclement weather may be heading in our direction. Even though it’s a balmy 67° today, weather reports indicate that a possible winter storm will impact much of South Carolina, including the Midlands, this Tuesday and Wednesday. We will follow the lead of Richland County regarding closings or delays.

I imagine you might view the possibility of a snow day with mixed emotions. It might mean cancelled classes, an opportunity to build a bigger-than-life snow Cocky, or some additional study time. All are possible, but I am asking each of you to remember that there are safety issues to consider as well. Whether participating in outdoor activities, walking or especially driving, please use good judgment and take reasonable steps to ensure your safety and the safety of your friends.’

Alive and Kicking

Readers, sincere apologises for the lack of blogging this month! The last couple of weeks have passed in a whirlwind so I thought I would write a short post to assure you all that I am indeed alive and well – Hi Mum!

 

Christmas break has been and gone in a flash, and after two extraordinarily busy weeks playing role reversal and acting as Lindsay’s personal ‘tour guide’ in London I am back in the US of A, casually sipping a cup of tea and munching on the last of my galaxy chocolate. But, as I sit here wearing a pair of Norts and my bright Nike trainers, I can’t help but think; ‘Oh no, I’ve conformed!’ But rest assured, I am actually going to the gym today, I haven’t quite reached the stage of lounging around in my sports gear just because!

Fitting back into American college life has been surprisingly easy, I haven’t felt as homesick as I thought I would and catching up with American friends over coffee has made South Carolina feel like my ‘home away from home’. It’s going to be undeniably hard to say goodbye to some of the friends I’ve made over here when the school term finishes.

School-wise it’s taken no time at all to get back into the swing of things, apart from feeling like ‘the new girl’ all over again and receiving the same shocked looks when I introduce myself, my classes all seem incredibly interesting so I can’t wait to get stuck in. Auditions, gym classes, going out and even a cheeky trip to Myrtle Beach have consumed the majority of my time over the last two weeks, this Semester is looking to be even better than the last!

For those of you who have already forgotten what I look like; here’s a picture to confirm my existence…. and bad eating habits. (Yes, I’m guilty; I have already been back to Pawley’s since the beginning of term!)

New Year. New You?

2013. A year that will be remembered for the bombing at the Boston marathon, the deaths of Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela, the birth of a new heir to the British throne – Kate and Wills babe, and Andy Murray’s success at Wimbledon.

2013. A year that I will remember as a year of friendship, heartbreak and of course, the fantastic opportunity to fly half way round the world and study abroad in my very own bubble that looks an awful lot like a scene from ‘American Pie’.

This time of year is full of reflection and promises as we all try to set unbelievably impossible new years resolutions that even ‘A’ list celebrities and professional athletes cannot maintain.

Even the resolution to NOT make any more resolutions seems to have failed. So I should probably come up with some more realistic resolutions other than to become stick thin and glamorous, maintaining a size zero toned body by going to every fitness class available at the University multi-million dollar gym. Maybe I should resolve to get rid of all my odd socks lying in the depths of my sock draw, that is once I've actually figured out how I would get rid of them – giving them to charity almost seems offensive! Then there’s the standard new years resolutions that everyone ‘pretends’ they will attempt; travel more, read more, use your iphone less, drink less, lose weight, exercise more etc etc. Perhaps I should keep mine short and sweet, nothing too extreme; I resolve to try and maintain my 4.0 GPA and to earn an internship over the summer in a field I’m actually interested in going into…

New Years Eve plans are always left right up to the last minute in our household and vary dramatically year to year; from random house parties to watching fireworks on the piste in the Alps . I vote New Years Eve as the most problematic night of the year! The friends you want to spend it with inevitably have boyfriends who they have to spend it with. The pressure to have ‘the best night of your life’ or even just a good time is immense, and more often than not, the outcome is rather soul crushing and kind of depressing. The most ambitious plans seem to be the ones that always go wrong so I’ve come to conclusion that the best New Year's Eves are the ones that just happen to fall into place and come about largely by accident. This year was no exception! With the addition of my American buddy Lindsay to the mad Barraclough household, there was even more pressure to do something out of this world amazing so that Lindsay could rant to everyone back across the pond and bore them to death with jealousy. After being in the country for less than half a day, I decided to drag jet-lagged Lindsay up to London to watch the magnificent fireworks that take place on the iconic London-eye. Approaching the evening with the lowest possible expectations worked absolute wonders; yes there would be thousands of people pushing up against us all night, yes it would most likely rain, yes we would have to wait for a good 3 ½ hours on Southbank and yes it would probably take FOREVER to get home. But, with each other for company; laughter, giggling and generally just loving life seemed like the perfect way to end 2013.