The other day while I was working at the bar and a man was trying to strike up a conversation with me. I was barely paying attention to his chatter about his daughter until he said something along the lines of, "Men don't truly understand the struggles women have until they have daughters. A man doesn't have the upmost respect for women until he sees his baby girl." This pisses me off, even though I know it's not true. I actually know a few men who do in fact have a great deal of respect for women prior to such a birth occurring. So I replied to the man, "Why do you think it is? Why do you think that the inequality, the disrespect, the vulgar acts made towards their mothers, their sisters, the cousins and friends of these males aren't enough to make a man wake up? Why don't these other female relationships mean enough for him to make changes? Are men so conceded that half of their DNA needs to aid in creating a person with a vagina in order for that person to be deserving of his respect?"  He didn't want to talk to me any more after that.

Malala Yousafzai is a hero, her family is remarkable and her father should be a role model to all fathers. This book was a great read (even though I accidentally purchased the Young Adult Version) it's an unbelievable story about incredibly strong people. Through this book I found Malala to be an incredibly stoic, driven individual, who was given a hand up by her parent's encouragement and support. I believe that people are definitely products of their decisions but the circumstances that Malala was born into, being the daughter of a man who ran a school and believed in educating girls is nothing to overlook. The puzzle pieces of Malala's life construct an ideal bridge for progress, especially now that this amazing speaker has a position to speak to the world. 

I have no doubts that Malala would have flourished in a variety of situations, which makes it even more of a miracle that her family is committed to the good fight of female education. There is a special place in my heart for her father and all the fathers out there like him, (and this one) fathers who stand up for their kids even when the surrounding culture isn't always conducive. 

Another book I just finished called 'Do They Hear You When You Cry' tells the story of a young woman from Togo who was allowed and encouraged to achieve as much education as possible before her father passed and was spared genital mutilation because of this progressive attitude her father possessed. Fathers, especially in patriarchal cultures have the ability to build strong daughters, daughters that shine past these traditions with the potential to make real change. My hope is that all Dads understand and embrace their roles as empower-ers and trust their kids with this power to make the world a more equality minded place. My fear is for the father who hasn't turned a corner in his own heart, whose circumstances haven't allowed them to see the value of their children, their little girls. 

When Malala's father put her name of their family tree, the first female name in 300 years of history, he invested in her, he gave her a precious gift, he said you are an equal. Your mind, body and spirit is no less valuable than that of your brother. I hope this story not only inspires young woman to speak out but I hope it inspires men to seek change, seek justice for your offspring. 

One of the best snip-its in the book starts out with Malala playing ELF BOWLING as she waits to meet President Obama. I used to play this rather raunchy computer game with my brother at our Dad's office when we were younger. You are able to kill the elves with the bowling ball and receive extra points for hitting a deer as it crosses the alley. 

It got even better as I read her take on the meeting, "I was respectful, I believe, but I told him I don't like his drone strikes on Pakistan, that when they kill one bad person, innocent people are killed, too, and terrorism spreads more. I also told him that if America spent less money on weapons and war and more on education, the world would be a better place. If God has given you a voice, I decided, you must use it even if it is to disagree with the president of the United States." 

I have respect for people who are outspoke, especially when they are young women speaking to authoritative men! So read this book, learn about a young lady who was shot by the Taliban, survived this attempted assassination and will continue to educate the world about the injustice that is being committed under the facade of religion. She will remind you that purpose is progress and that her purpose was made clear with a bullet. Let's make an effort each time we open our mouths, our hearts, our wallets that the key to equality lies not with the first world feminist fight but with the damagingly undervalued girls of the second and third worlds. 


xoxox,kp

I have been reading A LOT lately, I've always been a big reader but as life ebbs and flows sometimes there is more time for books! I think the key to being a reader is figuring out what kind of material you are fond of. 

A few of my friends have been batting around the idea of doing a book club, which is another way to help yourself prioritize reading and spend more time exercising your brain. 

Some of you may remember my post about how much I love Ted Talks, they are excellent snip-its that inspire and teach. 

As long as I have been picking out my own books at the library I've been reading multiple books at the same time. I have a serious need for stimulation so having a few different story lines bopping around my head at once is almost necessary for me. It's just like meeting two new friends at the same time! When I first sawLisa Bu's Ted Talk I had just started reading two books about two young women's journeys, about how they each blossomed through tragic circumstances. One woman was from Togo and escaped genital mutilation only to be put through hell in applying for asylum while the other woman was from Egypt, sold into slavery by her parents and human trafficked. These were the perfect books to do a comparative read with.

by Fauziya Kassindja  (Author), Layli Miller Bashir (Author), Karen Musalo (Epilogue)

I found this book at Hidden Treasures Thrift Store in St. Anthony one evening while I was trying to waste time before a documentary screening. The book challenged me on lots of different levels. I cried numerous times and it took me over a month to complete. I am so inspired that Fauziya Kassindja was strong enough to endure this tragedy and then to provide the world with the this detailed account. After what Kassindja went through I don't know if I'd have had the stamina to tell the story, reliving it over and over, draft after draft.  

The facts are startling, Kassindja was thought of as property in her culture, property to be mutilated to her owner's dismay. She escaped the terrors of her home life only to be imprisoned by an evidentially dysfunctional asylum system. This book is long and at times it was extremely difficult for me to follow all of the legal jargon but I upon finishing I appreciated all of the lengthy explanation. The hard work, the long hours, dedication and persistence of everyone involved in fighting for the justice of Kassindja's claim deserves to be accounted for. It was long, at times torturous but if that young woman could survive what life put her through then the least I could do was read every word and encourage you to do the same.

by Shyima Hall  (Author), Lisa Wysocky  (Contributor)


Ok, this is reidiculous but I need to get this petty detail out of the way, I listened to this book on Audible (an app for audio books). And I found the voice reading the story to be incredibly annoying. Something about the inflection the woman uses, but somehow I suffered through it and learned the story of Shyima's life. I am so glad that I didn't let the voice deter me because Shyima is an incredible survivor who is turning her struggles into her life's work. This beautiful Egyptian girl was sold into slavery by her mother, trafficked into the United States by the family who 'owned' her, she was recovered by agents of the US government and eventually built herself into a driven, strong, intelligent, self sufficient, highly evolved woman. I absolutely love that Shyima is using this experience to drive her career ambitions.

There are a lot of similarities between the situations that Shyima and Fauziya endured, the most brazen is that both cultures are patriarchal and both girls were thought of as property in the events that lead to their leaving their homes. Fauziya was blessed by her father's progressive attitude towards their tribal traditions but with his death by tribal law she became the property of her father's family. Shyima's family was incredibly impoverished and her father was absent a lot during the time she remembers in Egypt. Both girls are brought up in Muslim homes, Fauziya's faith stays strong through out her hardships while Shyima struggles with her's. At one point Shyima expresses that she didn't realize that people other than Muslim's could be bad people. The similarities, the differences, the vulnerability and the strength shown make both of these women my heroins. 

THANKS FOR READING and in the words of Lisa Bu, "May books always be with you."

xoxo,kp

I want to apologize for my hiatus and briefly explain that the last two months er so I was experiencing a brief bout with the Winter Blues. I went through the sniffles, the bitterness of Minnesota's cold temperatures (and the seasonal depression that comes along), plus the meandering pains of the holidays. On a more positive note, the last two months were restful and full of snuggles. I truly believe taking care of oneself is the number one thing a person can do. I could have pushed out blog content, it wouldn't have been thoughtful or thought provoking because I was in a place of self-stagnancy. I worked through a few things, started organizing my life in a new way and with purpose, even my closet looks semi-cleanly. Now the only thing that is blue about me is my hair. 

Never in my life have I had the urge to color my hair an unnatural color. Yeah, I've done red peekaboos and such, but never have I done anything as drastic as I did last Thursday. All I do know is that one day I was perusing the Hive's Facebook page and the next there I was in the chair with Felicia; We chatted about life and all of a sudden my hair was a turquoise, blue, green, mermaid-y color. I am in love with my hair! I still don't know what made me do it, but I'm glad I did. THANKS FELICIA!

In the last few months I have been reading copiously; I've been keeping my head down, haven't blogged, haven't really gone out at all. I've been doing my best to be financially responsible, when I spend money it's on books and healthy food. Books and healthy food are my style but head down, concentrated demeanor is sooo not me. But alas, while I was fighting through winter's cold temps, holiday pains, the sniffles and a few other personal situations my literature intake has increased to an admirable amount. I have always been an avid reader, but the last few years have been more about online media than words printed on a page in a book.

I feel like I have regained a part of myself that was missing. Books were a huge part of my upbringing, my mom and I read books together every night before bed until I was at least 12. I am so glad that books have returned to me with vengeance. I miss being in school, the purpose that comes with being a student but books are the answer to not enrolling and accruing more student loan debt.

So I am back, 2015 has lots in store from Katia Priceless so stay tuned for hella book reviews, words about words, more fashion, more fun and more feminism. Also try to read more, whether it's news, novels, blogs or biographies. Reading is good for your brain and your life.

xoxo, kp