“Girls” is coming back and it looks like the show’s characters are just as… crazy as ever? Erratic as ever? Real… Real as ever is the phrase we were looking for.

Watch the show’s teaser trailer below and watch its season five premiere on April 24, 2016.

Related on EcoSalon

Lena Dunham and Hillary Clinton Get Real About Feminism: #NowWhat

White Feminism Needs to Go Away: #NowWhat

6 Things ‘Girls’ Characters Should Write About in Lena Dunham’s Buzzworthy Newsletter

The post The ‘Girls’ Are Coming [Video] appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnThe friend babymoon. A new thing we invented!

I recently spent the weekend in Maine with three of my best friends, one of whom is pregnant.

Without meaning to, we ended up on a friend babymoon. If that’s not a thing already, it should be.

In addition to laughing until I couldn’t breathe at least once a day, this trip afforded the four of us the chance to go to the beach in winter wear, eat tons of bread and walk around various shops in Portland having conversations that went like this:

“Oh my god, oh my god! A baby sailor suit! Does our baby need this?”

Our baby. That’s right.

Luckily, our friend is being very generous. Even though her mom and sisters live close by and will be the go-tos, she is embracing the “it takes a village” attitude by allowing us to assume roles in this kid’s life before she’s even here.

In fact, when she told me she was pregnant, it went like this: “You’re going to be an auntie!” I can’t really explain how totally happy I was at that moment, first for her and then for how she chose to share the big news.

I am fairly sure I jumped up and down, which isn’t a thing I do.

I never really thought about what it would be like when one of my best friends became a mom. I have lots of friends with kids, but this one is different.

I’m not having kids of my own, and, as an only child, I wasn’t guaranteed any nieces or nephews. I got lucky and got one of each when I got married so, this little one will be my third.

She will be the only one who will know me from day one, that I will see on a very regular basis and the only one whose mom I have known since we were four.

Meaning, I will be able to tell her about our misguided attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for roller skating around the block when we were in grade school, how we used to do Mad Libs over the phone and how I used to wake her up way earlier than she liked at sleepovers.

When she’s 12 and thinks her mom is the lamest, worst person on the planet, I will listen and be a safe person for her, while encouraging her to not be a jerk.

When she’s older, I will tell her about how her mom took care of me when, in a state of mess that can best be described as “being 25,” I moved back home to Chicago and lived in her storage room for two weeks.

And if she ever gets drunk at a party and calls me for a ride home, I will praise her responsible choice not to drive or get in a car with someone who has been drinking, drive her to my house and make her drink lots of water. But before I go pick her up, I will call her mom and tell her that her kid is safe and sound.

Then, in the morning, I will wake her up way, way earlier than she’ll like because at sleepovers, that’s what I do.

That Happened is Libby Lowe’s weekly column for EcoSalon analyzing media, news and pop culture through a feminist lens. Keep in touch with Libby @LibbyLowe.

Related on EcoSalon

Childfree by Choice

The Princess and the Tramp

Maria Bello and the Modern Family

Image: “Auntie Heather with Baby Chick” by Sam Ritchie

The post The Friend Babymoon: That Happened appeared first on EcoSalon.

Perhaps it’s the influence of the movie “American Hustle” and 1970s style. Or maybe it’s just CEO and founder Dov Charney’s fetish. Whatever it is, American Apparel mannequins have pubic hair now.

Gothamist first spotted the bushy American Apparel mannequins in New York City earlier this month. The Huffington Post spoke to a store associate who said the au natural-looking mannequins were meant to drum up Valentine’s Day sales by conveying the “rawness and realness of sexuality.” Word.

I recently had a baby. How about mannequins with smooshy, puffy bellies that make it difficult to see one’s own pubes? Oh, wait. Global News reports: “At David’s Bridal, mannequins soon will get thicker waists, saggier breasts and back fat to mimic a more realistic shape.” It’s a start. How about stretch marks?

A Swiss mannequin campaign that highlighted people with disabilities went viral last year.

And back in Manhattan, people are flocking to the East Houston Street American Apparel stores, taking pictures in front of the bushy Barbies. I’m assuming many women stop to stare on their way to get Brazilian waxes.

Maybe some of the credit goes to Lena Dunham and HBO’s “Girls”, which has no issue showing bodies as they are. You know, real women who don’t look like supermodels, or mannequins, as the case may be. Not that there’s anything wrong with having a “perfect” body. But it shouldn’t be an aspiration. After all, we get what we get in this life. We should work towards the healthiest version of ourselves–not trying to emulate women we’ll never ever look like. Surgeries to boost our bust or shrink our thighs, or even just ripping out our crotch hair certainly could be time better spent. Like shopping for a new wardrobe at American Apparel. I think the campaign’s working, Dov.

Keep in touch with Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

Related on EcoSalon

Made in the USA: Stars & Stripes

Popular Fast Fashion Brands Caught Selling Lead-Tainted Purses, Shoes and Accessories

Women and Waxing: Paying For Our Cultural Upkeep

Images: michael kalus, Gothamist

The post Bush is Back: American Apparel Mannequins Have Pubes appeared first on EcoSalon.

I dare you to watch this heartwarming video and not cry. Sarah and Paige are both missing parts of their arms, and their moms brought them together via the International Child Amputee Network (just thinking that such an organization even exists breaks my heart). Over the last 8 years, the two girls have formed an intense bond, using Internet video chat service Skype (full disclosure: the video is actually an ad for Skype). Though separated by many miles (hometowns are in New Zealand and Indiana in the US), they are clearly best friends. Watch to see the terrific surprise and enjoy the beauty of friendship!  

Related on Ecosalon: 

This teenager will break your heart with her truth about being a woman (video) 

 Polar Bears Are Amazing Underwater Athletes: Who Knew? (video) 

Geena Davis is a Total Badass (Video)

The post Get Your Tissues Ready: Amputee Teenage Best Friends Are Pure Joy (Video) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Most of us know that life for women—and girls—in many countries is extremely restricted, whether because of their society’s culture, poverty, or both. But it’s one thing to know that in the abstract, and another to see exactly how those things directly and irrevocably affect young women and girls.

The video below shows how some girls (12 and even younger) in Yemen are treated like cash-money for their indebted parents—sold off to much older men as wives for their dowry, which is used by their families to pay off debts. The psychological and physical ramifications (really interesting detail here about how these girls’ bodies are at risk during pregnancy) are felt for the rest of these child bride’s lives.

Want to do something about the issue of child marriage? Check out Human Rights Watch’s page on the subject and sign their petition encouraging the Yemeni government to pass laws for 18 to be the minimum age of marriage. 

Related on Ecosalon: 

Geena Davis is a Total Badass: Proof that Women Over 50 Are Awesome (video)

Facing Fear: National Geographic Photographer Teaches Us How in Scary Encounter with Leopard Seal (video) 

The post “I Married Both My Daughters Off to Pay My Debts”: A Simple, Shocking Reason for Child Marriage (Video) appeared first on EcoSalon.

There are much more colorful reasons to hang out and talk.

Ever since Girls aired on HBO, female friendship has been the catchphrase du jour. That’s not surprising news to most of us, who would be lost without a close circle of girls with whom to commiserate and celebrate. But without structured activities, making time to see friends can take a backseat to work and family commitments. A book club might seem edifying and fun…at first. But we can’t think of anything more awkward than sitting in a living room, nibbling crudités while trying not to compare protagonists to each other’s exes for an hour. Thankfully, there are dozens of alternatives. We’ve listed just a few of them here.

1. Play kickball.

Girl’s nights out are stereotypically sedentary activities — drinking wine, or going to the spa. That’s fine for some, but what if you and your friends are a little more active? When the weather’s nice, meet up in the park after work with a cooler and a few camp chairs. The more friends you bring, the easier it will be to kick the seventh-graders off the baseball diamond.

2. Brew beer.

Homebrewing is an arduous process. Like other labor-intensive pursuits, it’s easy to put off shopping, boiling and bottling until your carboy is coated with an inch-thick layer of dust. Take turns meeting at each other’s houses and choosing recipes. A little extra help and company goes a long way. As an added bonus, you can throw a party every few months with the finished product!

3. Take a trip.

Granted, there aren’t too many examples of the female buddy road trip that don’t mention the names “Thelma” or “Louise.” But even a journey as small as to a local campground with burgers and marshmallows will give you and your best female girlfriends an experience to share. And stepping out of your comfort zone together is a great way to come up with new things to reminisce about.

4. Host a clothing swap.

Going shopping is the ultimate girls’ day out activity. But our feelings on fast fashion and conspicuous consumption are well-known. Luckily, there’s no reason to buy new clothes when your friends probably have unworn dresses and shrunken sweaters that they’d be happy to pass on — and so do you. Don’t forget to wear a clean pair of undies.

5. Start a knitting circle.

You don’t have to meet at each other’s homes either — or quote Little House on the Prairie. Enliven your weekly knitting circle by meeting up at a bar to knit over a pint or two. If you’re a little inexperienced, or have a low alcohol tolerance, make sure that you use washable yarn.

6. Make a zine.

For an example of what friends can create together when they have a little spare time and a common fascination, check out Girl Crush Zine, an ode to Nora Ephron, Charlotte Gainsbourg and all the random women who inspire us. If a few of your friends have a way with words or a pen — or even if they don’t — brainstorming ideas is a great way to spur conversations and inspirations.

7. Sing karaoke.

There is no better bonding experience than complete and repeated public humiliation — just ask any drill sergeant. If the idea of standing in front of strangers at a local bar sounds more terrifying than fun, there are karaoke bars that rent out private rooms.

8. Learn a new skill.

All of us have relatively simple tasks that we need to outsource. Some of us can’t change a car’s oil or hem a pair of jeans. Harness the power of the collective and find out if one of your friends has some skills that she could pass on to you in a Sunday afternoon lesson. If you can’t find a single person who knows how to repair a fence, send out for a pizza and put all your wits and hands to the task.

9. Rock some bar games.

Women have an undeserved reputation for being catty and competitive. This myth is, in fact, almost the exact opposite of reality — most women are conditioned to be nurturers, to be empathetic and to downplay their successes. A little healthy competition between you and your friends will help all of you learn how to encourage each other. Try to rack up the highest points at skee ball or make teams for shuffleboard.

10. Watch Sex and the City.

Okay. So perhaps watching this supposedly iconic television show wouldn’t be our preferred activity to bond with any of our friends (at least, if the stated intention is to make those bonds stronger, instead of weaker). Maybe instead, we could all dial a few numbers and spend some time on the phone, hearing real live voices and finding out what each of our nearest and dearest would like to do, instead of catching up via Facebook?

Image: sparkleawk, Oberazzi, carobe, melloveschallah, JudyGR, andie712b, hellojenuine, derekGavey, buhtterfly, Mr. T in DC, Eva Abreu.

The post 10 Ways to Bond With Female Friends That Have Nothing to Do With a Book Club appeared first on EcoSalon.

On the HBO show Girls, HPV went viral, but is there really less stigma about STDs?

In 2005, I learned I had HPV. The overwhelming emotion I felt was relief. I was relieved it wasn’t the warty kind that shows – it was the asymptomatic kind that turns into cervical cancer if you don’t catch it. And mine was bad enough that I had to have a cone biopsy and then part of my cervix scraped off in a LEEP procedure. Yet, with legs in stirrups and a needle in the vagina, I was still relieved not to have any physical evidence. Sick, right?

We don’t like to talk about STDs, which is why what happened on Girls is so interesting and why I started thinking back to how I felt in 2005. On the show, the lead character, Hannah, learns she has HPV. She takes to Twitter and after a few drafts types: “All adventurous women do,” which is something her friend said when Hannah shared the news.

Emily Nussbaum’s recent post in the New Yorker’s Culture Desk makes great points about the significance of this moment in TV history. She writes, “… Hannah’s telling other people – and of course herself – that her worst experiences are not humiliations and stains: they’re adventures. (They’re material.)”

It makes for great TV, but what does this scene say about how real women talk about STDs? On the one hand, here I am using my own adventure with HPV as material, right? And there were tons and tons of post-show “All adventurous women do” tweets. But, if I – and I’m a perpetual over-sharer – am still sort of unsure how I feel about sending my own story into the public realm, what does that say about the stigma surrounding STDs?

About half of all men and more than three out of four women have some form of HPV -all the adventurous ladies, put your hands up! – at some point in their lives. Now I’m not a mathematician, but it seems to me that if so many people have some version of this thing, we should be able to talk about it. But we don’t.

The symptomatic among us eventually hit up a doctor, find out the truth and get treated. The asymptomatic among us that have health insurance, or access to a clinic where we can get our annual exams, eventually go in for a pap smear and learn the news. The unlucky, uninsured women without access to testing or treatment -or even basic knowledge about HPV – are at high risk for cancer. Cancer that could be totally prevented if people had easy access to testing and the HPV vaccine.

The ultimate message of Girls is empowerment – like women reclaiming the word bitch. But should we be empowered? Is acquiring HPV an “adventure?”

I got HPV because, like many women, I was on the pill and, in the moment, didn’t even mention a condom. I was either too embarrassed, too afraid of rejection or too trusting of a guy who seemed fine – and in his mind was fine because as a guy he had no way to know he had HPV.

What it comes down to is “Hey, join the adventurous ladies club!” is not a good message for the 25% of women who don’t yet have HPV. The better message might be that sex can be weird and embarrassing, and no matter what Trojan commercials tell you, condoms aren’t sexy. But you know what else isn’t sexy? An STD. Warts. Cancer.

Ultimately, I’m glad Girls started the conversation, and I don’t watch HBO for PSAs, but I do think empowerment would be better defined as having the lady balls to protect yourself in the first place.

Photo: HBO

The post Girls, Women and HPV appeared first on EcoSalon.

Sometimes, the solution is as simple as a bicycle.

Girls who stay in school for seven or more years marry four years later and have two fewer children. Countries where women’s share of seats in political bodies is greater than 30% are more inclusive, egalitarian and democratic. Two-thirds of the 130 million children worldwide who are not in school are girls.

There is an indisputable need for investing in and empowering women. Given the global scope of the issue, that task is daunting. Yet a solution as simple as a bicycle can make – and is making – a meaningful, measurable difference.

This year, 88bikes Foundation, a nonprofit organization that gives bikes to kids in developing countries, is launching its sixth and most ambitious project, Asha 2012. With the help of the Nell Newman Foundation, Asha 2012 will endow bicycles to thousands of girls around the world, from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia.

The project was inspired by a bicycle endowment 2010 that took place at the Bihar Ashram in India, a shelter for girls who are survivors of sexual slavery. Sheltered by Free the Slaves for several months before reintegrating back into their communities this ashram provides a safe haven and a place to transition back into society after a gruesome reality. At Bihar, the 88bikes team met Asha. After six months at the ashram, Asha, which means “hope” in Sanskrit, reintegrated back into the same community from which she was sold. The story was so moving, she later became the namesake for the organization’s current project.

The goal for Asha 2012 is to provide bicycles to girls who have endured and transcended similar situations of slavery and abuse, in turn empowering them to take part in their communities, attend school and grow as strong women.

“We’ve found that girls tend to appreciate the bikes more and demonstrate greater maturity [owning the bicycles]. Women and girls deal endure and transcend tremendous abuse and unequal rights, especially in the developing world. We believe focusing on girls has the greatest overall impact on the community. We want to do everything we can to foster leadership and healing among heroic girls who’ve risen above challenging circumstances beyond their control,” says 88bikes co-founder Dan Austin.

Bicycles can be an excellent catalyst for empowering women, in all kinds of communities, as writer and cycling advocate Eleanor Blue points out. “Bicycling is a great economic equalizer especially for women. Women worldwide tend to have more domestic work than men, and bicycling when it can be an alternative to walking and transit is often safer, cheaper and makes things like school and working outside of the home possible where they might not otherwise be.”

Not only a tool for economic and social empowerment, having access to a bicycle often achieves a very simple, but powerful, goal: inducing a smile. “A bicycle is a tool of happiness and autonomy. With a bike, your world instantly expands,” says Austin.

At a first glance a bicycle might not appear to be the key tool for solving international development challenges, but consider all the elements that it brings together – transportation, education, health, etc. – and it becomes clear that at a grassroots level, two wheels could be one of our most effective ways forward when it comes to empowering women and making significant and long-lasting change.

“The 88bikes model is refreshing and effective,” says Nell Newman of the Nell Newman Foundation. “It empowers women though a grassroots and somewhat radical approach. Bikes are such a fantastic, low cost way to expand an individual’s freedom – freedom to move, freedom to do commerce – and receiving one will make a profound difference to these girls who have transcended so much already. We are happy to be supporting their efforts.”

If we are to bridge the gender and economic gap around the world, it will be imperative that individuals and organizations consider programs like these, as they deal with larger, more complex equality issues on a personal level. “Asha, our namesake for this project said that the bicycle ‘helps me feel equal to men,'” says Austin.

That isn’t just a feeling, it’s a reality. “Gender and equality starts with children. Often girls in many places are not always able to go to school, especially if they have to travel a long distance, and bicycling can bridge the gap, quite literally, between male and female education,” says Blue.

88bikes is currently accepting sponsorships of $88 per bike for Asha 2012. Donations can be made online at www.88bikes.org. Donors are asked to email a picture of themselves, to be presented with the bike. In return, 88bikes sends back a photo of the child with her new bike and her donor’s picture.

Images: 88bikes, Lynsey Dyer, 88bikes

The post 88bikes’ Asha 2012 Program: Empowering Girls with Bicycles appeared first on EcoSalon.