15: My hair and my thick eyebrows
Looking like a boy with crazy hair. But in actual fact, I am just a normal girl. 
Going for the second jab of cervical cancer tomorrow again.
The Battle against Sexism
Thanks to Nuffnang and POCC, I got the chance to watch Pope Joan Premiere screening at Shaw Lido Cineplex on 3rd August 2010.
Synopsis:
In 814 A.D. Johanna is condemned to life as a woman. Her life seems to be predetermined: work, have children and die young. But Johanna decides to resist – her strict father, the rules of the Church – for the sake of her conviction and her faith. Because she senses that her destiny is a different one, that God is showing her a different path. But the price she will have to pay is a high one.
Johanna attends the cathedral school in Dorstadt and meets Count Gerold, a noble man at the Bishop’s court. Their friendship develops into love. When Gerold goes to war, Johanna remembers her destiny. But she cannot achieve her goal as a woman. Johanna makes a decision that will have far-reaching consequences: she joins the Benedictine Monastery at Fulda disguised as a man, calling herself Brother Johannes, and lives there as a successful and well-respected doctor. When her real identity is in danger of being revealed, she flees to Rome. She meets Gerold there again and realises that there is one thing she can no longer deny: her love. Johanna continues to move up the church hierarchy and the danger of her being found out becomes greater and greater. She also increasingly feels the necessity to decide: does she want to give her heart to God or to a man? But then the decision is taken away from her: when Pope Sergius dies, Johanna is named as his successor. However, her feelings for Gerold are stronger than her fear of being found out – but Johanna’s enemies are just waiting for a chance to remove her from the throne …
Pope Joan
Let’s not talk about the awkward editing of it, let’s not talk about the confusing scenes of it, let’s not talk about the illogical parts of it. And let’s not talk about the realistic violent scenes of it.
This movie brutally forces me back to the topic of sexism.
She is standing for what she believes in.
Do you believe that everyone has a path to walk and a destination to reach? Well, the end point of everyone’s life is “death”, but what kind of legacy have you left? Money? Fame? Knowledge? Respect? Something else to change the world?
There must be something that everyone can leave… A story to tell, it is just whether it is meaningful or not that it will translate into a legacy, like Pope Joan — movie adapted from the novel of the same title by Donna Woolfolk Cross. From an era of imbalance gender equality, females were in utterly lowest status that they could not decide any single thing without consulting their husbands/male member in the family. Women were merely a tool to give birth to more “superior” males, they were not even treated with the very basic respect that EVERY human deserves to have.
For a wise teacher to teach an intelligent student despite the objections.
Hey! Some comments from the guys in this movie really boils my blood to the highest point and I cannot believe anyone with such stupidity will ever exist again in our era. What does it mean that “Women who knows how to read or write has a smaller womb”?! What does it mean that only guys can be of the highest rank as the Pope in the Church history?! Why is it that a female, so intelligent and so much wiser than others, cannot have the equal rights as the others?! How do you define the strengths of the both genders, or is the man the “only” good that is left in this world?! Can’t a worthy person, regardless of gender or race, be able to benefit the whole with a deserving position?! Why do women need to put up with all these nonsense and even get raped by her very own husband just because she believed in a god that he does not?! Religions, for goodness sake, is beliefs that changes people for the good but never ever meant for us to be twisted and torture others who don’t believe in it. EVERYONE has their own rights in believing what they want to believe in. HOWEVER! It does not includes harming anyone, mentally or physically insulting anyone, creates others’ inconvenience NOR forcing others under your beliefs. Seriously, be it your religion or how many times you need to go to the bathroom to shit is simply YOUR OWN BUSINESS. You are happy, that’s great. But never ever ever force (or “try to educate”) anyone else to convert them into another you. NO! It’s not right, they have their own thinking and you will never be able to control them.
She was beaten so badly when her father found out that she is studying greek, instead of her brother.
She has to disguise as a priest (yes, including shaving herself bald) to survive in a church. Despite the dangers, she still use & learn her knowledge to help as many people as she could.
Living in fear and dangers
Even her love life is being endangered and not blessed...
And I am not even saying women should be superior over men, NO! I am not saying that. What I am trying to tell is, everyone has their rightful positions. If they have the abilities, then why not give them a chance and let them try, instead of discriminating them for who they are which demolish the chances for better changes that would be beneficial to everyone else? Why do we need to disguise ourselves as someone that we were not, in order to be accepted and live “normally”? Is the discriminating looks of the others pressurizing us so much that it would actually endanger our own lives?
Think think think! Why would she even choose danger over a “secure” life under the “protection” of the men? Because it is not what she wants. She could do much greater without the men.
Her talents and wisdom that leads her to become one of the previous Pope's confidante.
And in the end? She died in tragedy, he died in tragedy too.
Up till now, the myth of Pope Joan is still remained as a mystery in history. Nonetheless, I adore women who believed and tried all their best to achieve what they really wanted. Well, maybe not only women. I admire anyone who dares to dream, dare to achieve and dare to “disobey” the “laws” of the society. If it was a right thing to do, it doesn’t matter what others think. They can be as ignorant as they are, but we cannot if we had the ability to make a change. Pope Joan actually reminds me of another woman – Coco Chanel, and there are numerous movies about her legacy too. Women, status viewed so lowly in the past, who were true to themselves and brave enough to withstand the hardships and dangers in their lives just to become who they want to become.
They left a legacy behind, what about those who objected/rejected/tortured them? They were simply not remembered at all, except the fact that they became the catalyst to create such legendary ladies.
If you get what I mean, don’t ever let any hardships bring you down. No matter what it takes, be who you are but do not ever harm anyone else. You can be greater than who you think you will be.
Cheers.
Love Life!
POCC Bazzar @ Zouk @ 24th July
POCC is having another big event for everyone! QUICK Register now!!!
[Information below is taken from POCC blog]
24 July 2010 (Sat)
12noon – 6pm
What is better than to go shopping on a Saturday afternoon?
The Power Over Cervical Cancer campaign is going to have its very own bazaar! Thanks to our kind venue sponsor, Zouk is going to be a bustling marketplace on 24th July from 12noon – 6pm!
Join us to help spread the Cervical Cancer Prevention message to all the women you know. Get your friends to turn up in support and bring home the best bargains!
Last but not least, do join us on Facebook so that we may update you with more activities and events. 
Email rachel@oasiscommunications.com.sg for enquiries.
24th July is filled with fun activities for the ladies. From 8.30pm – 10.30pm, Zouk comes alive in support of the Power Over Cervical Cancer awareness campaign. All media, bloggers, celebrities and our friends like you are invited to attend this party. Grab your friends and head down decked in pink or teal!
We will launch our POCC limited edition BFF wristlet especially designed and manufactured by Muiik – the internationally renowned brand that has appeared in the recent Paris Fashion Week.
A Fashion Galore Fashion Show will be put up with the support of our kind sponsors and retail partners. We have some power women to walk on the runway who are not just your usual models, so keep your eyes glued to the stage at the event. Magic Babe ‘Ning’ will wow the crowd with her amazing act of illusion!
Enjoy services provided by our supporting partners, freebies, great music and party the night away in true POCC spirit!
More information will be coming your way soon on how to participate!
Good cause, good freebies! :P
POCC staff are being so sweet, there’s even a thank you message on the letter! <3 I like the appreciation!
Support Power Over Cervical Cancer!!!!
Thanks again to POCC (http://www.pocc.sg/) and ThyDowager (http://www.thy-dowager.blogspot.com) for the tickets. Haha. I didn’t really expect to win it and was quite surprised to find the email from POCC the other day telling me that I will be receiving this. Nice! Oh by the way, I would also like to say thanks to Ju Ann (http://judging-me.blogspot.com/) too. She has been really nice in providing information and stuffs when I volunteered. Haha. *waves hello and bows thank you*
Isn’t this what they called… What good begets good? ^^ It feels so good to do something meaningful and also getting some unexpected rewards. Heehee.
Anyway, for those who STILL don’t know about POCC, it’s a project to promote “Power Over Cervical Cancer” (in short, POCC). Cervical cancer is the fifth female cancer killer in Singapore and every 5 days, there’s one women die because of this cancer. The most stupid fact of all is, this is the ONLY female cancer that can be PREVENTED!
Some tips for everyone (guys can also convey this message to your female friends):
- Go get a vaccine (clinics that provides vaccine for this cancer can be located through POCC website), regardless whether you are a virgin or not. The vaccine will still work.
- If you had sex experience before, remember to go for pap smear every once in 3 years regularly.
- There’s a higher risk of getting this cancer if you… had sex at a very young age (ie. 12-years-old), smoke, has multiple sex partners or suffers Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).
Read more about Risk of Sex in my previous post for more information!
Click the button below to pledge your support too! This cause can only be effective through YOU. Word of mouth is definitely important, spread your message!
Power over Cervical Cancer
http://www.pocc.sg/
I hate to say this but this is really important as every women is at risk of contracting the cervical cancer once they start to be sexually active. Usually, it’s women who are over 25 that contracted this cancer. However, the age group has been going younger and younger! And you know what? To add on the horrifying fact, women who…
- Had sex at a very young age (12+++)
- Multiple sexual partners (duh. *roll eyes* This will increase your risk of contracting STDs like HIV too)
- SMOKERS (10x more risk than average) *I can’t stress more on this*
- Suffered from STDs like Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphillis or HIV
Don’t leave anything to chance!
Despite me being in the no-risk group, I cannot help but to feel that this cause is really important to every single person I know because just based in Singapore, every 5 days, there are 1 women dying due to Cervical cancer (2nd most COMMON cancer among women worldwide) EVERYDAY and yet this cancer is the ONLY female cancer that can be prevented and treated (in early stages).
The least that every woman can do is to protect herself, her body & her health. It is a kind of respect to your own! Lower down your risk simply by…
1. Leaving sex to a later age.
C’mon man, sex at 12 years old is quite ridiculous. Leaving the risks of getting cervical cancer aside…. I mean, I have no comments on pre-martial sex but you are not even over the puberty stage and yet you had sex?! I don’t even see any benefits of having sex at such a young age, you can’t even get married if you are pregnant. Hrmp… I bet the sex partner is some pedophile who cannot get his hands on those gorgeous mature women and turns to the young ones. RAWWRRRRRRR!!!!! GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE GIRLS AND GET A LIFE WITH NORMAL SEX!!!!!!!
Sex should be a pleasure, not a source of excitement that leads to unwanted consequences.
2. Be loyal to your partner.
Multiple sex partners is definitely a no-no. It has always been a wonder for me of how some could expose their bodies to so many other bodies… don’t they feel very gross? I mean like… having so many different dicks into your vagina, it’s super grosssssssssssssssssss……… Let alone the fact that having multiple sex partners makes you vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Diseases!
Sex should be an enjoyment between an in-love couple, not exposing yourself or your partner into risks.
3. DO NOT SMOKE!
Please please please, don’t smoke! It doesn’t make you prettier and in fact, it makes you damn ugly over the time! I am sure not a single lady would want to look old and haggard with yellowish teeth and bad breath right?
Frankly speaking, I abhor smokers though I have friends who smoke. You can ask them what’s my reaction whenever they want to smoke in front of me or just came back from smoking… Even if I force happy thoughts into myself, I cannot, I repeat, CANNOT stand the smell. It is not that I hate smokers, but I think it’s pretty stupid to expose yourself and others to health risks that can be prevented just by not doing it! Moreover, just by smoking, you are having 10 times as much risk as the non-smokers. Why risk it?
4. Don’t contract STDs… Love yourself.
STDs can be contracted in many ways and it breaks down your immune system in terrible terms. Like said in point 2, be loyal to your partner (and prays that your partner has a clean history of sexual activities). Be aware of drugs and needles too! Never never use used needles or consume illegal drugs (duh).
If you were a STD patient, love yourself more. Take care of yourself more. Don’t let your immune system to bring you down.
Do not risk anything!
Cervical cancer is the ONLY cancer that you can prevent yourself from! Spread the word to everyone you know, including the guys! Protect your loved ones from this, it’s ridiculous to leave your loved ones to death when this cancer can be prevented just by injecting the vaccine!
YOU ARE AT RISK IF YOU ARE OR HAD BEEN SEXUALLY ACTIVE!
- Lead a healthy lifestyle and practice safe sex!
- Go for early check up and have regular Pap smears (every 1 -3 years) after your first sexual activity.
- VACCINE! (regardless whether you are a virgin or not!)
Visit http://www.pocc.sg/ for more information and hear out the stories of their bloggers of their experiences! Spread the word to everyone who you care about!
Power Over Cervical Cancer is a campaign that aims to make Singapore the country with the lowest incidence of Cervical Cancer and they need your help to spread the word.
Pledge your support for this cause and protect those you care about by telling them about Cervical Cancer. Together, we have POWER Over Cervical Cancer. Click the button below to begin!
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