womens studies

by Mary Kate Brennan, 15

Empowering, inspiring, and stimulating. In a world full of beauty do and don't magazines and other superficial publications, this compilation is purely refreshing. Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing allows for teenage girls to read about significant issues that pertain to all, not just what shade of pink is in for this spring. This anthology starts with a bang, and influences readers to get out and actually do something. In the first chapter, volunteering and activism is addressed. It tells of actual things that young women have already accomplished, such as the one with girls assisting with a seeing-eye dog project. This book goes beyond simply telling, it encourages activism, not just dreaming, doing.

Between the pages that bring down feminist stereotypes and help for the mind and soul lay the true feelings and emotions of all girls. Though targeted at the 14-19 set, Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing defies age barriers. It is a collection of illuminating words that evoke dreams, hopes, and stories. Most importantly, it explains that common phrase "if you don't succeed at first, try, try again." Rather then put pressure on women, Blue Jean uplifts and helps girls shape themselves into independent, self-sufficient women. It does not make women feel as though clothes, makeup, and hot-dates define who we are, rather it coaxes our inner spirit and drive to challenge and overcome setbacks.

by Shayla Price

I was absolutely astonished by how young women, like myself, are making a difference, coping with life, and just simply having fun. Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing is more than just a book; it is a resource that will guide and teach you about situations you may face in this challenging world. It is full of insight that goes beyond fashion and cosmetics and touches on young women's dreams and accomplishments.

Throughout the book, true-life experiences are discussed to inform, involve, and empower you. "Suffering in Silence: Sexual Harassment" gives an outstanding investigation of sexual harassment in schools, while touching on many different viewpoints. My spirit was uplifted and brought to a new level as I read "The Key to Confidence". The story,"Black Feminists Talkin' Back", really touched home because it expressed the conflict of how African-American women feel separated between sexism and racism. The amazing question and answer section, "Dear Dr. Beth", gave great advice on difficult everyday experiences that young women deal with. These are just a few of the many terrific articles that will make you really dig deeper in learning about who you are as an individual.

Additionally, the book devotes a section on how you can publish your own zine, reviews of other zines, and information on how you can contribute your writings to Blue Jean Online ....This book should be in every young lady's collection. After you read Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing, you will have a greater awareness of society, and your perspective on life will truly change.

In her introduction Sherry S. Handel writes, "The success of Blue Jean is and always has been due to the involvement of girls who make it all happen. Without them there is no Blue Jean. I'm often asked, 'How did you get such a great idea and what inspired you?' The answer is simple...Girls and young women should be creating their own media. To me it is obvious and should have happened a long time ago."

Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying and Doing, a compilation of articles from back issues of Blue Jean Magazine fully captures this feminist spirit that Handel describes. It reveals the originality possible when media is created by its own demographic. No mainstream teen magazine can compare in authenticity and honesty to Blue Jean because Blue Jean is the only publication teenage girls control and write for themselves. It reads like a breath of fresh air.

I was very impressed by the "do it yourself" message promoted in many of the chapters, especially in chapter one, "Volunteerism and Activism." In this chapter there is a nice balance between essays by girls who have experienced hands on the pleasures of creating something themselves, and appreciative reports about the activism carried out by girls around them. For example, in her essay "Chix with Sticks," Courtney Martin describes how she and her peers formed a Women's Lacrosse team at her high school. By narrating her own struggles and successes, she offers sound advice and encouragement to girls who may want to start their own team. Alternatively, Larissa Masny's aricle, "Insight into the Seeing Eye," focuses not on herself, but another girl's efforts working for a Seeing Eye dog center. The combination of first hand stories and second hand reports in "Volunteerism and Activism" suggests how important it is for girls to do things themselves, but also recognize achievements in others.

I particularly enjoyed chapter three, "Feminism." I liked reading how different girls answered the question, "What does feminism mean to you?" There is no better way to understand the complexities of feminism and the women's movement than through reading a variety of opinions. By creating a written discussion on feminism, the article mirrors the sort of debate girls will experience in the real world. "Feminism" is a highly contested word; a fact Blue Jean does not efface, but rather embraces by encouraging so many different responses. Victoria Nam's essay, "Why We Love and Fear the F-Word," was similarly impressive. She thoughtfully approaches the topic of "girl power" feminism. She neither completely dismisses "girl power" feminism as might older feminists, nor does she shield it from criticism. She concedes, "Girls are recycling words and wearing clothes that have been used against women in the past, but this time they are using them to their advantage" but still insists that "relying on T-shirts and stickers for inspiration and meaning celebrates the present and erases the past." I am encouraged and inspired by Victoria's insightful commentary.

In the introduction, Handel includes a letter written to her by Kristin Purdy, one of the girls originally involved in Blue Jean. Kristin writes, "Blue Jean is an intangible grassroots global network of girl power -- uniting girls and young women (and some old women also). In a way it carries a spirit that made me realize we are all feminists." Kristin's words underline Blue Jean's greatest accomplishment: it creates a lasting sorority among young women. Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing motivates feminist thought during a key transistion -- adolescence. The result is the creation of a feminist community that is broad and undefined, but because it is formed at such a pivotal moment, permanently connected.