According to Jessica: Article 4, "Blurred Lines"

 "I know you want me." 

 Robin Thicke, the star of the controversial "Blurred Lines" video is the topic of many discussions between feminists and ordinary people alike. I came across this parody and felt it summed up the thoughts of most females and even some males in general regarding this subject. Does this make you feel uncomfortable watching it? It personally makes me feel objectified. I am so glad someone has taken the initiative to create something like this which is hard-hitting and straight to the point. Now, I know some of you may be sat thinking I must be a prude and Thicke's music video is all a bit of fun. However, believe me when I tell you I am probably the least prude person going, and it takes a lot to make me squirm in my seat when it comes to sexualisation and the like.   Men are seen prancing around showing little to the imagination, whilst women in suits; obviously a mark of authority- follow them around saying they need to be "domesticated" in the parody. Pretty strange if you ask me- but this is how women are treated by the media and some men in this world. 

 It is a catchy song and I will have a dance to it on a Saturday night, but the parody video has definitely shed new light on it. Imagine if the tables were turned. If everywhere you turned, women where seen telling men "I know you want me", groping at men, objectifying men and generally treating men how many men treat women in music videos. It looks pretty silly when a woman does it to a man. Why is it seen as "attractive" when a man does it to a woman? Is this because women are seen as lesser beings, only good for looking good and there to please men?

 The parody video has obviously attracted lots of hits in the world of viral media, so it goes to show that taking a bit of a comedy turn on big issues does actually get the message through to people in this day and age. People who wouldn't normally be interested in these sorts of issues may be able to stomach it if it's presented in such a way as this.

All in all, it's a brilliant idea and hopefully it has got people talking all over the world!




One last thing- can I just say gentlemen, try any of the lines in this song with a lady you are trying to woo and you probably won't get very far. Just a tip.

The original video, judge for yourself:

According to Jessica: Article 2, "The Issue with Shopping too Much"

 I awake from a sleepy slumber. Just after the obnoxious door bell goes again. Twice in two minutes? After wondering whether there is some sort of attack on my street, or I am just have a really strange dream, I fall back into a deep sleep where I seem to "buy" things from the shop, instead of just taking them. No, I am not some shop lifter, but if I knew I was in a dream I would really just take what I wanted and have the time of my life whilst I was in deep sleep. Hell- I would probably gorge on curry, chocolate and crisps so I would wake up satisfied with no cravings. Soon, I wake up, stretch and reach for the nearest bottle of water I can find.

I ignore the earlier remembrance of the door bell and get on with my day. Reality meets sleep, and it really does not make much sense until a hard working father, who you still happen to live with comes home.


"Good day?", he asks politely;


"Yes thanks!;" knowing you have simply answered phone calls, meaningless, and have done personal chores that do not mean a thing to anyone else living in your house. Job interviews, university confirming places and personal chores only take up so much of your life.

 Reality comes when you are told there is post for you. Post that could simply not fit through your regular "Victorian" like door.


 Strange. You think to yourself. It must be the essential underwear you needed, or the toiletries that get you through life.


Of course it is none of the above. I have to admit to myself, I am a compulsive shopper. Whether I come home after a few glasses of wine and order those ridiculous shoes that the sober me would never wear; or weather I order that size 10 dress that would mean my boobs would pop out in a very indecent way, in fact it would probably never get over my head and hair... I shop. I shop when I am happy. I shop when I am sad. It's me. The "good girl" in me would reason. "Please return, don't be so ridiculous, even after the Cambridge diet for 10 months you will just not look good in that skin tight dress". I agree with her. I love her rationality. I love her to bits, she is reasonable, and she knows the real me.Those 6 inch platforms would cripple me. Whoever I was with would probably end up holding them in their hands whilst I got every bit of glass in the street in my feet.


 But this is me.
  


I am ridiculous. I buy ridiculous things. Only for them to end up on E bay 6 months later for a fraction of the price.

 Of course, we cannot simply forget the items that just "turn up" at my door either. "Lose 10 years in one week?!" hell... I would look 12. Maybe not. I guess if I forget what I do buy I can always say it is a present to oneself. However, it does get a bit embarrassing after a while when your neighbours are threatening to charge you a rate for holding your post, and your sighing parents are getting embarrassed about the whole thing.

 Life is not about "things". I know this, no one can take what the earn in this life to the grave. It is exciting when things come through the door and you forget you ever ordered them. I do wonder to myself... "oh a present? For me? Who could do such thing?!" and as I open the brown paper a stark realization that... it was me. I could do such thing. I just love to treat myself too much, and others I must say.


 I have decided, due to my crap responsibility- I am going to make a change. Michael Jacksons old words. I do NOT need 10 pairs of luminous green knickers, and I do NOT need 20 MAC lipsticks; which in reality will probably just get eaten- only for me to apply the same £12 plus quid lipstick 10 minutes later.


 Please wish me luck on this journey- and gone are the days where I get "presents" in the mail. Oh Jessica Sarah- you are too nice. To oneself. There is much more to life.


 Of course I am going to indulge in essentials now and again, but I really need to be kind to myself and my poor parcel minding neighbours.

According to Jessica: Article 1 "Women Wars"

Gone our the days where the typical woman was wooed, married and settled down by 25. My parents themselves where married and had their own home, and child on the way at 24. This scares me slightly. I myself, am 23 years old and there is probably a very slim chance I will ever achieve that in a short 2 years. Why, you may ask? The simple answer is University and my career.

 Seemingly, women these days are leaving it later and later to start family life, putting careers first and climbing the ladder of success. However does this worry me? Not more than it should, possibly. I want to achieve so much, so is this possible with a family in tow?
Of course it is. Simply swap your last minute Mojito nights for evenings cooking and chilling out in front of the TV. The world offers so much for "career" women these days and has got with the times. It is possible for a family girl to have a job, attend University and kick start her career. With so many government childcare for equal opportunities to those who choose to start family life early, gone our the days where a woman had to choose between bouncing babies and crisp designer suits. 

 And of course, there is the other side of the coin. Men taking on the roll of "house husband" and living life at home, looking after the children and doing the housework. While the woman are the main bread earners, 100 years ago this would have never even crossed the minds of those macho men. In such dismay to men, women are even climbing the salary ladder a lot faster than one may think.

 It is amazing that there is so much choice these days. Sometimes you feel overwhelmed and question whether you are doing the right thing in life, like a lost kid in a sweet shop. As cliché as it sounds- things all make sense in the end. There have been so many times in life where things have not gone my way, but it's always ended up to be perfect for me when it all pans out.
 I myself am not ready to give up my flamboyant nights out, and waking up on days off at silly o'Clock in the morning (cough - afternoon); but I can feel myself "growing up" as it is as well. Gone are the days I'd roll in at 2am most mornings, and here are the possibly one-night a week cocktails and chill time talking about my week with close friends. The recent recession made life harder for many in the UK, causing strain in every part of life. People's careers where put on hold, and many had lost a sense of direction. Myself included.

 In a way this has been a blessing. It's made me and other think long and hard about what they want to do for the rest of their life. It is also important to respect the chance to be able to work and see it as such a blessing.

 For now, I am going to continue doing what I have always done. Let life pan out. Of course, you have to work hard to make your dreams come true- but don't be too disheartened when things don't go your way. Everyone is on a different path in life, and this is true. My top tip so far in my short life is to do what you love and surround yourself with who you love. Life is too short to do anything different.

 Going back to my original comment, maybe it's not such a bad thing tables are turning and women have more choice these days. Without sounding like a complete feminist- we have fought for years for this to happen. Take chances and enjoy all the opportunities that have been presented to us.
 If that's not something to smile about, I don't know what is.