Maybe it had something to do with how often-and on how many networks-the show seemed to air, but Saved by the Bell was one of the cornerstones of my generation. It was by all accounts a terribly acted and horrifically written television production, yet I love it. But behind its bubbly charm lies some tacitly damning social commentary-none more dubious than with the environmentally-minded feminist character of Jessie Spano. Jezebel and a few other blogs want to know: Did Jessie Spano Ruin Feminism?A friend of mine and I recently had a long discussion regarding “The Jessie Spano Effect,” which we deemed “the unwillingness to call oneself a feminist for fear of being labeled an uptight, neurotic bitch.” For every stance Jessie took, be it against being called “a chick,” standing up for the environment, or taking a anti-sexism stance on not one, but two beauty pageants, she is shown to the audience to be uptight, lame, and stuck-up. She’s not the pretty girl like Kelly, nor is she the cool girl like Lisa. Jessie Spano is the girl that everyone should be, but nobody wants to be.The Jezebel piece goes on to bemoan the fact that the actress who played her, Elizabeth Berkeley (pictured above beside her onscreen chauvinist boyfriend, A.C. Slater), needed “to play a Vegas showgirl to distance herself from Spano,” which “speaks volumes, as well. Because god forbid anyone get typecast as a feminist! Heavens, no! Now off with those pants, lady friend!”But if Spano did a disservice to feminism in the late 1980s and early 1990s, she wasn’t the only youth culture culprit (consider every teen make-over movie ever). The character type is one forged over and over again in fictional high school stories: the annoying, nerdy, environmentally conscious, book-reading shrew. Here a few more stock feminists from the era.”Natalie Anderson” (Nina Siemaszko): Corey Haim‘s twin sister in License to Drive, she dates a Kant- and Zimm-reading boyfriend and she, unlike Haim, is able to study for and pass her driver’s test. How lame!”Jeanie Bueller” (Jennifer Grey): Matthew Broderick’s rule-abiding older sister in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off grows so resentful of her brother’s feckless (and consequence-free) fun, that she ends up melting down and making out with a drug-dealing Charley Sheen (after being arrested for “prank calling” the cops).Just about every woman in PCU is a man-hating, boot-wearing, militant feminist. While these misogynistic depictions are both satirical and hilarious, they don’t leave women a lot of options in terms of self-construction.Can you think of any others?
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Man’s dog suddenly becomes protective of his wife, Internet clocks the reason right away
The online community came through in a big way.
Reddit user Girlfriendhatesmefor’s three-year-old pitbull, Otis, had recently become overprotective of his wife. So he asked the online community if they knew what might be wrong with the dog.
“A week or two ago, my wife got some sort of stomach bug,” the Reddit user wrote under the subreddit /r/dogs. “She was really nauseous and ill for about a week. Otis is very in tune with her emotions (we once got in a fight and she was upset, I swear he was staring daggers at me lol) and during this time didn’t even want to leave her to go on walks. We thought it was adorable!”
His wife soon felt better, butthe dog’s behavior didn’t change.
Otis knew before they did. Canva Girlfriendhatesmefor began to fear that Otis’ behavior may be an early sign of an aggression issue or an indication that the dog was hurt or sick.
So he threw a question out to fellow Reddit users: “Has anyone else’s dog suddenly developed attachment/aggression issues? Any and all advice appreciated, even if it’s that we’re being paranoid!”
The most popular response to his thread was by ZZBC.
Any chance your wife is pregnant?
ZZBC | Reddit
The potential news hit Girlfriendhatesmefor like a ton of bricks. A few days later, Girlfriendhatesmefor posted an update and ZZBC was right!
“The wifey is pregnant!” the father-to-be wrote. “Otis is still being overprotective but it all makes sense now! Thanks for all the advice and kind words! Sorry for the delayed reply, I didn’t check back until just now!”
Redditors responded with similar experiences.
Anecdotal I know but I swear my dog knew I was pregnant before I was. He was super clingy (more than normal) and was always resting his head on my belly.
realityisworse | Reddit
So why do dogs get overprotective when someone is pregnant?
Jeff Werber, PhD, president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, told Health.com that “dogs can also smell the hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body at that time.” He added the dog may “not understand that this new scent of your skin and breath is caused by a developing baby, but they will know that something is different with you—which might cause them to be more curious or attentive.”
The big lesson here is to listen to your pets and to ask questions when their behavior abruptly changes. They may be trying to tell you something, and the news may be life-changing.
This article originally appeared last year.
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14 images of badass women who destroyed stereotypes and inspired future generations
These trailblazers redefined what a woman could be.
Throughout history, women have stood up and fought to break down barriers imposed on them from stereotypes and societal expectations. The trailblazers in these photos made history and redefined what a woman could be. In doing so, they paved the way for future generations to stand up and continue to fight for equality.
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Why mass shootings spawn conspiracy theories
Mass shootings and conspiracy theories have a long history.
While conspiracy theories are not limited to any topic, there is one type of event that seems particularly likely to spark them: mass shootings, typically defined as attacks in which a shooter kills at least four other people.
When one person kills many others in a single incident, particularly when it seems random, people naturally seek out answers for why the tragedy happened. After all, if a mass shooting is random, anyone can be a target.
Pointing to some nefarious plan by a powerful group – such as the government – can be more comforting than the idea that the attack was the result of a disturbed or mentally ill individual who obtained a firearm legally.
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Catherine O’Hara’s tear-jerking eulogy for John Candy was a master class in memorializing a true friend
Menstrual pads and tampons can contain toxic substances – here’s what to know about this emerging health issue
Probability underlies much of the modern world – an engineering professor explains how it actually works
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