Feminism: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

 I realize this isn't a news channel or the NY Times, but Bailey and I had some ranting that was just too good to keep to ourselves. The bottom line is this: equality is a good thing, all people are created equal under God, but the problem is when organizations try to preach that equality is right at all costs and under all circumstances. No, men and women are not equal. As far as their functions, abilities and purposes, men and women will never be equal. Ever. And that pill is a hard one for modernity to swallow. We apologize if this post causes controversy or offends anyone as we are simply sharing our opinions (as conservative women who actually care about the current events of this somewhat screwed up country) Enjoy!

The Truth Behind Feminism

Guest post by Bailey Barnes

I am a woman and I’m not embarrassed by my femininity at all. I embrace it and celebrate it. But there are some organizations that do make me embarrassed to be a woman. They’re claiming they are feminists yet they seem to be demeaning women in the process.

You all know exactly what I’m talking about.

FCKH8 is a so-called feminist organization that is supposed to be showing the world that we should treat everyone, especially women, with the utmost respect. That is a great goal. I agree that everyone should be treated with respect. Kudos to you FCKH8. Really great goal. Their methods in doing this are incredibly disgusting. They created a video of young girls (young meaning, well, first graders) endorsing feminism and swearing like sailors. It’s incredibly disturbing. No matter your opinion on curse words, the video just makes women look bad.

And this is coming from a woman.

The fact is, true equality between men and women is impossible. Truly impossible. We’re made differently; for different purposes. Our brains are wired differently, our bodies function differently. Yes, I believe we should be treated with respect, but FCKH8 is just creating more hate.

Not to mention, these organizations don’t support the beauty of women’s bodies.

Organizations like FCKH8 are all pro-choice.

They tell us to love our bodies, to embrace our femininity, but also to kill our babies if they’re inconvenient?

Haven’t we women been taught the value of our bodies? The amazing ability we have to bring life into the world?

True feminism, in my mind, is loving every aspect of ourselves and the amazing things our bodies have been gifted to do.

So what is the solution? Just complain about feminist organizations? Not at all. There are actual non-profit organizations that support my views and the views of so many other women around the world.

The Guiding Star Project is a group that call themselves “new feminists.” Their motto is simple and represents everything that I believe encompasses true feminism. Their motto goes as follows:

“Pro-Women, Pro-Peace, Pro-Life.”

Their mission statement is written on their Facebook page.

“The Guiding Star Project is a non-profit organization whose mission is to bring about a Culture of Life through the nationwide establishment of holistic comprehensive health centers offering life-affirming services for women and their families.To accomplish this mission we will work to provide guidance and support to individuals and organizations wanting to unite and work cooperatively in their own communities in order to better coordinate their services for the benefit for women and families.”

This organization aims to show women the importance of their bodies...so there you have it. Real feminism. Boom.

Check out their informational video.

With love,
Bailey Barnes

The Best Things About Your College Family

I think the biggest difference between high school and college is the relationships you begin to develop with people. Yes, I am very busy with lectures, homework, and studying. Somehow, amid the craziness of it all, I still find time to be with my friends more than I ever did in high school. That's what's so great about living on campus. You develop close relationships like you've never experienced before and it's absolutely wonderful. Bailey and I have been blessed with an amazing group of friends, who we have fondly started referring to as "the Family." We eat together, study together, cry together and laugh together, and wherever we go, no matter what's going down, there is always someone from the Family who we can find in one of a few places. We've had our troubles, but so far, there hasn't been any challenge that we can't get through and we consider ourselves pretty darn lucky to have such a crazy but lovable group. 

The Best Things About Your College Family

 Guest post by Bailey Barnes 

I've begun to notice, within the past few weeks, that my friends at this school, the people I'm with everyday, are slowly becoming more than friends to me. "Friend" doesn't seem like a good enough word to describe them. They're becoming my family. 
These are the best things about your friends becoming your family:
1. You're never alone Just like your actual family, they love you no matter what. You could make the biggest mistake of your life and they're still going to be there for you. Just like your blood relatives, they're not going to abandon you. 
2. Someone's room becomes everyone's room There's the room that everyone is ALWAYS in. Like constantly. It starts to be referred to as "the house" instead of so and so's room. 
3. There aren't any secrets Everyone knows everything. Think you can keep something from the Family? That's funny. You can't. 
4. You make elaborate plans about the family in the future "We should totally go on a cross country road trip!"  "Wanna be a bridesmaid in my wedding?" "Let's all get an apartment together in two years!"  All quotes I've heard since I developed the family-like friendships in college. Making plans for the future isn't even weird for them. They're probably thinking it, too. 
5. Everything is shared Actually everything. Clothes, food, drinks. Everything. There are usually articles of clothing, keys, and someone's phone and charger left in anyone's room (probably the house) at any given time.
6. Your problem becomes the family's problem  They have your back and they're ready to defend you when someone is disrespecting you. It's like having your big siblings with you all the time, always ready to kick some serious butt. 
7. You can be yourself  The best thing about your friends becoming your family is that you can be yourself around them. There's no need to wear a mask. Your family will accept you no matter what. 
I'd just like to finish this post by thanking everyone I consider my family in college. You guys are all amazing and are making every day of my college experience better than the one before. I truly love all of you. Thanks for a great first few months. Can't wait for what's to come!
With love,  Bailey Barnes

Five Ways to Move On

One of the biggest differences between college and high school is that in college you can really choose your friends. You can choose who you want to spend your time with, who you want to trust with your deepest secrets and who you let see the best and worst of yourself. I graduated with a class of twelve, and therefore I didn't necessarily have as much freedom in choosing my friends; we had mostly the same values and beliefs, and because there were only twelve, it was much easier to get along with everyone than not. Here in college though, there are hundreds to choose from, and if you don't choose carefully, it's easy to get really screwed really fast. I have had the great pleasure of finding and befriending the beautiful Bailey Barnes. She is 4'11 (yes, that's actually shorter than me) and has one of the biggest hearts I know. We bonded one night taking care of a mutual friend, and hit it off right away. We share a love for writing and when I asked her if she would like to start a guest post series on the blog, it was an immediate yes. Her words are clear and to the point, which is one of the many reasons why I happen to love her. 

Five Ways to Move On Guest post by Bailey Barnes
Two months ago, my heart was broken. The details aren't important. It was messy and I don't like talking about it.  I'm not writing this for sympathy. I want people to learn from what I've discovered over the past two months. 
Moving on is tough. Coming to the realization that things won't be the same with the person that you loved more than anything is scary. Trust me, I know. 
Here's a list of what I've learned about moving on over the past two months:
1. It's not the end of the world It's really not. The world will continue to turn and life doesn't stop happening. I know how sad you are. I've been there, but it gets better. 
2. Surround yourself with TRUE friends Please PLEASE don't be by yourself. I know that you want to sit on your floor and listen to Taylor Swift songs and cry, but that will not help anything. Talk about how you're feeling with someone who is a true friend. They'll be able to sympathize with you and help you move on. 
3. Take the pictures down Chances are, you two probably are done for good. Stop staring of the pictures of you guys on your desk. Just stop. It's not helping. Also, give his sweatshirts back. And you should probably delete them on snapchat too while you're at it. Seeing what they're up to is a constant reminder that they are able to be happy without you. That'll only make it harder to move on. 
4. Don't rebound I get it. It's weird being alone, especially if you're fresh out of a long term relationship. I know how badly you want to feel love, to feel affection. Believe me when I tell you that it's not worth it. "Rebounding" is only going to put you in a worse emotional state than you were before. Surround yourself with people who won't take advantage of your walls being down. 
5. There's someone out there for you I promise. It'll get easier. Eventually, you'll wake up in the morning with someone else on your mind. Just be patient. 
With love,  Bailey Barnes