It was a busy week at MISS and I’m just trying to get through it because the sooner the week is over, the sooner my vacation starts! Here’s the best news this week from the MISS Omni Media network…
Whenever we get the chance, the Tiny Dancer and I have a dance party. She’s only two, but once she hears a beat drop she doesn’t stop moving - it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Right now she’s loving Rihanna’s Where Have You Been but I really don’t want her listening to music and watching videos that make me blush. So, I’ve resorted to going back and playing the songs that I danced to when I was a kid. Sure, those songs may have made my mom blush back then but standards have changed so that stuff seems tame today. This week’s gem of a dance party was set to the tune of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun. I hope you have as much fun dancing to this as we did…
I heard about a video trying to get girls interested in science that was published by a European Commission circulating around Europe on NPR and I was intrigued. The video was getting some backlash for appearing too “girly” and having the opposite of its intended effect - that is, instead of appealing to girls to get into the sciences, it was pushing them away. As soon as I got to a computer I searched for this video because I had to see it for myself. It was worse than anything I could ever have imagined.
The opening is a mix between Sex In The City and Charlie’s Angels (I love both but I don’t see what they have to do with science - especially for young teen girls). It then shows the girls striking poses and laughing with shots of makeup and beakers interspersed between. Yes, you read that correctly. Make up - specifically nail polish, lip gloss, lip stick and blue eyeshadow.
There is so much I want to say about this video but I don’t want to sound like a raving lunatic. This video in a nutshell represents everything bad with marketing geared toward women. It’s the science PSA version of a pink sneaker for adult women. I wish I could have sat in on this pitch meeting to hear what the thought process was behind this. I would bet money that there were no women in this meeting - at least no women scientists.
WHY would you try to get young women to go into the fields of science with MAKEUP? Are you trying to tell them they can make the next great lipstick formula?? WHY wouldn’t you just highlight the many technological advancements that benefit health, living and the environment instead. WHY wouldn’t you show the many achievements of scientists and inspire young women to aspire to great heights? WHY must we throw pink on everything just because it’s aimed at people with ovaries. CAN WE JUST STOP!
You know how we’re trying to introduce science to the Tiny Dancer? My daughter is just learning to talk and some of the first few words my husband was teaching her were “math” and “science”. When I first heard it I thought it was cute and funny. The more I thought about it, the more I thought my husband is brilliant. We’re starting at an early age to introduce her to math and science - at first just with words, and later with actions and experiments. The main goal is to not let science and math be something that’s viewed as scary or hard. If she likes it and wants to do it, she can. Her having ovaries should have nothing to do with it her abilities. We sure as hell won’t be showing her videos young girls wearing too much makeup and giggling to get her to see that science can be wonderful.
Earlier this week Reebok brought the Princess back to rock our worlds. Originally released in 1984, the Reebok Princess is an aerobic sneaker that comes in fun bright colors that are perfect for summer or sweating to the Jane Fonda Workout. You can find the Reebok Princess at Foot Locker or on Reebok.com.
The interweb has been abuzz with the news of a collaboration between bejeweled glasses designer Kerin Rose a/k/a A-Morir and skate brand Supra. Last night the shoes debuted at a launch event and they are exactly what I would expect from Kerin Rose - they are sparkly and bejeweled! No word on when they release and if other colors are available. For now enjoy the pics courtesy of High Snobette and Kerin Rose’s Instagram.