let's talk about rape, bay-bee.

Dear Reader,

I want to first and foremost thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read my blog. I understand that you are busy being workers, students, friends, mothers, lovers, wives, husbands, and ultimately theorists. It is not going unnoticed and i appreciate you.

This next series is very important and dear to me. Unfortunately, i know/have heard of too many people who have been sexually assaulted and it is nothing short of horrific. After hearing brave stories and shedding numerous tears, i decided to write about this. While rape may seem like a "female thing", it is a human thing. I want women to seize their sexual sovereignty but i am also giving men some unseen insight into the complexities of rape.

I will provide creative writing, facts & statistics, personal advice/accounts, as well as dialogue about this topic that plagues THE GLOBE. if anyone has thoughts, topic suggestions, or anything regarding this blog series, feel free to DM me, facebook message me, or comment (if you wish to contribute anonymously, that's perfectly fine). Although this is an uncomfortable and controversial subject, i am a firm believer that true growth only happens outside of comfort zones. Here we go ..

All My Love,
Stevi Renee

@heartsNhandguns
Stevi Renee Facebook

SHEESH !

reality television : lucifer's playground

            Reality television has always been so intriguing to me. Like mice and monkeys, men and women (more times women) are placed into a controlled environment and observed. There is only one significant difference - mice seem to have a bit more dignity than humans. Basketball wives: a show of bitter, fighting women whose existence depends solely on the fame of the men they dated. The Real Housewives series: a plethora of shows that degrade the sanctity of marriage and family values. 16 & Pregnant: don’t get me started. Tough Love: although i enjoy this show, it's just a contemporary rendition of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.  AND if I’m not mistaken, I think I saw an episode of The Jersey Shore in which a cast member pulled her dress up & pee’d behind the bar of a club. I guess mice and monkeys are not as fun to watch.

            Some people are stunned that viewers fall victim to the lies of reality television, screaming, “It’s all scripted and fake!” Tis true. Producers film a fake friendship among strangers, create the fights and altercations, and even script the lines. Yet, what’s even more interesting is the indirect reality of “reality shows”.  REALITY TV IS ACTUALLY REALITY. Beyond the producers and marketing, it is a harsh reality that people will beat each other’s brains out, participate in self-destructive behavior, have unprotected sex, and ruin their reputes for a dollar & "mini-fame". that's the reality in which i am a little more scared. 

            A professor of mine believes that our generation has “surveillance paranoia”. We are born into an era that is accustomed to being followed and watched. Chatrooms in middle school. Myspace and AIM in highschool. Facebook, twitter, blogs, tumblr, youtube, and every other way for people to watch you. Consequently, this gives us every opportunity to construct ourselves into who we want people to see. This lifestyle has plastered a concrete-solid façade on our personalities. We cannot even be ourselves when we are by ourselves because we constantly need to feed a persona. Honestly, perceptions are dangerous. While we're so busy manipulating people's perception of us, we're likely to LOSE OURSELVES in the process.

mm, they never cease to amaze me.

letter to a meddling friend ...

to the nosey, wish-me-no-well friend,

this letter is for every girl who worries that their friend is "that hater". conniving friend, at first, you always seem to be so "concerned" with our lives. you want to know where we're going, what we're doing, who we are texting, and who we are with. you stick your nose in our endeavors and ask a thousand questions. at first, we'll brush off the fact that you scrunch up your nose at guys that we're dating or the men we're crushing on. we'll charge that to the game and say that you're just expressing your opinion. we'll shrug and say, "that's fine, i guess."

slowly, but surely, we'll notice you making snide comments like, "nah, i dont like him for you." and walking away as if your "extremely articulate and well-versed" opinion is God's immaculate gift to the green earth. we'll tilt our heads in confusion when we see you flirting with ex-boyfriends and talked-to's (probably the same guys that you advised us not to date). Similarly, it's only right that we would catch you venting to other friends about how we're 'not as pretty as people say she is'. Yes, the subtle, wish-me-no-well friends, we see you.

Sincerely,
Any girl with a hatin' bitter friend.

p.s. too many times we let our friends influence our lives when they dont know the first thing about how to live. i can often times sympathize with men who are annoyed by their girl's friends. they often times throw out their opinion with little good intention and when NO ONE ASKED THEM. make sure the people surrounding you are true friends. be careful of brutus.