🇺🇸 U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A! 🥇 Morning patriots, I’ve got some golden content for you. Here’s your rundown now let’s get to it!
The Adidas Boobs Campaign
Top Women Fundraisers Running for Congress
Sarah’s Media Diet
Q&A w/ Evie Solheim, Founder of The Girl’s Guide to DC
It’s Titty Time
Just a few days ago, Adidas announced the launch of a new product line of sports bras. The product, however, wasn't on display, instead, 25 pairs of knockers were. The comment section is definitely worth the scroll (maybe NSFW?). This is but a blip in the long-debated topic amongst women everywhere: are breasts on display empowering or objectifying–especially when promoted by corporate interests.
We find ourselves at a weird intersection between #MeToo advocates, woke-doctrine that sees the patriarchal chains of capitalist oppression, and amazonian warrior-wannabes that want to beat their bare chests and scream in the carnal pleasures of boss girl status. Me? Well, I just kinda see boobs and say… ok so what am I supposed to do, buy all Adidas’s bras to figure out which one fits my boobs the best? They end their tweet with the hashtag #SupportIsEverything - agreed! So why not show me the before and after photos?
I clicked on the link to see the big reveal. It will not shock you to find out this is the revolutionary way by which they chose to describe their *new* bras: light-support, medium-support, heavy-support. I’m dead. Why don’t they have categories that are actually helpful like: Biggie-smalls, Mom-of-four, Women that use retinol, Box-Jumps day at Crossfit, Over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. So yea, I’m offended, offended because they really did have a shot at “allowing future generations to flourish” but instead they gave us the status quo: forever left confused about our next purchase and wearing the same sports bra that we have held onto since high school.
Top 10 Fundraisers: Republican Women of The House Edition
I’m mildly obsessed with tracking the performance of women that run for Congress––the House of Representatives in particular. I believe these races in the aggregate give us an indicator of political shifting winds and the health of the GOP’s bench/recruiting efforts. Unlike the U.S. Senate candidates, this really is the first look at future GOP rockstars in their raw form. It also is one of the hardest and most demoralizing offices to run for and most first-time candidates that choose this path, are broken by it, and never return for a second bite at the apple.
I’ve written about the importance of early support in primaries for women candidates. I’ll have an update on PAC endorsements and a full fundraising analysis in the next edition of the SLiP. Subscribe so you don’t miss it! In the meantime, here are the top ten women fundraisers of the GOP during 2021:
Elected Officials (U.S. House of Representatives)
Average Raised: $4,109,428.64
Average COH: $2,497,305.46
Candidates for Office (U.S. House of Representatives)
Average Raised: $1,083,547.50
Average COH: $584,995.19
Quick Guide to Candidate Type “Primary Seat”:
C = Challenging an incumbent Democrat
CP = Challenging an incumbent Republican
O = Open seat (incumbent vacated seat/new district)
Sarah’s Media Diet
🎓 Not Your Average Feminist #49 - School, Huh, What Is It Good For? - In this week’s podcast we dive into the murky waters of unearthing the point of school and how to best prepare the next generation of Americans to truly be ‘resilient’.
😈 The Tinder Swindler on Netflix - Fascinating, captivating, devastating! It’s rough out there in the streets.
🐻 Mama Bear Apologetics - There’s a ton of resources in here for Christian Mamas just trying to feel their way around and find the best way to raise their kids. I have only scratched the surface, but I like what I’ve seen so far. Hat tip to Ericka Andersen for introducing this to me!
👗 Fun Fashion Follow: @nenaevans on Instagram posts wardrobe picks for those who go for the “boujee on a budget” look (Workwear + Neutrals)
🤠 POLITICO: The GOP is gaining among Texas Hispanics. Women are leading the charge.
Q&A w/ Evie Solheim, Founder of The Girl’s Guide to DC
1. First - tell us a little bit about yourself!
I grew up in North Carolina but moved to the DC area in 2018 for my first full-time job. I got a degree in “political journalism” so DC just kind of made sense, you know? I spent several years as a reporter, writing about politics and breaking news nonstop. Now I’m enjoying being on the PR side at District Media Group (if you’d be interested in working with me at DMG, shoot me a message on Twitter).
Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention that I’m enjoying life as a newlywed. My husband Nick and I got married in September 2021 – that still counts as newlywed, right?
2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
I don’t consider myself a feminist. I came of age during the “girlboss” era and was eventually turned off by feminism’s focus on beating men at their own game, whether that’s in the workplace or in dating. A movement that tells women to deny what their bodies naturally do or what their hearts want can’t actually have women’s best interest at heart. I think that modern feminism, ironically, devalues femininity.
If I were to diagnose the societal problem that today’s feminists are trying to fix, I would say that the problem stems from disordered relationships between men and women, rather than women not being elevated enough in the workplace or other spheres. That’s a problem that modern feminism can’t fix or even diagnose.
3. What made you want to start The Girl's Guide to DC?
Like I said, in my work I focused on breaking news, which can be pretty disheartening at times, but I’m also someone who loves to write about “girly” things, whether that’s dating, fashion, or the latest celebrity gossip. I didn’t really have an outlet for that, so I decided to create one. In The Girl’s Guide to DC, I write about what I wish I had known when I first moved to DC, interview the coolest women who live here, and riff on the week’s headlines.
Originally, I thought that maybe a few of my friends would subscribe. Nearly a year in, Girl’s Guide has more than 300 subscribers! It’s been a neat way to meet new people and reflect on the experiences (good and bad) I’ve had in this city.
4. What's the best piece of career advice you ever received?
I love to declare at dinner parties that everyone who moves to DC to work in politics is the same – we’re all Type A firstborns. I have yet to be proven wrong. That said, we tend to fall into a lot of the same pitfalls at work. In high school and college, you put in the work and get the grade you earn. Once you’re on the job, things are a little different. It’s important to remember the aphorism “Do, but also seem.” I wrote about this advice in Girl’s Guide a couple weeks ago – you can read my entire explanation here.
5. The last two years have been hard on everyone - but it hasn't all been bad! Share one good thing/silver lining that came out of the pandemic for you.
HUGE silver lining. HUUUUGE. My husband and I met in 2019 but we didn’t start dating until summer 2020. Let’s just say Nick was very creative in planning our first few dates since a lot of DC restaurants weren’t even letting people inside at that time. Our first date involved a sunset moped ride through DC ending at the Lincoln Memorial (and he somehow produced champagne and two glasses out of his backpack?!).
We’re both lucky that “pandemic dating” turned out to be just what we needed – very few distractions, just focusing on each other. When the world shut down in March 2020 and I went to stay with my parents for a few months, I felt my romantic prospects were pretty dismal. Now, less than two years later, I’m married. I think it’s a good reminder to be open and optimistic because as much as I deride the DC dating scene, it brought me Nick!
now a few fun ones!
6. go-to starbucks order?
I only go to Starbucks during pumpkin spice season – I love the pumpkin cream cold brew even if it’s chilly out.
7. TV show you could rewatch over and over again and not get tired of?
Not enough people talk about Monk. Sharona forever.
8. if you could snap your fingers right now and have a completely different career - what would you do?
I really wish I had a productive hobby, but if given a Saturday morning to myself, I will hit the thrift stores/estate sales every time to look for the weirdest grandma sweaters and most useless knickknacks. In another life, I would run a secondhand shop or be in charge of buying up old props and clothes for a TV show like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Got any tips or topics you want us to dig into more? Know someone that you would like to be featured in our next Q&A or on the podcast? Shoot us an email at hello@nyafpod.com.
Until next time. LYLAS,
-Sarah
Enjoyed the read. I’m a relative of Evie’s.