Name: Saige MartinezMajor: Double Major in Anthropology and Classical Civilizations (minor in Animal Studies) Hometown: “[I’m an] army brat, so [I’ve] never stayed in one place for long. The last place I lived was Vicenza, Italy, where my mom still lives.”Year: 2015
Girl-Crush Status: “Army brat” always appeared to be a strange phrase, especially since you’d think the last place brats would be is in the army. Nevertheless, the epithet exists, and probably steams from the fact that the general population is jealous how t most of these brats just have the natural experience of travelling the world. Just meet Saige Martinez, the well-rounded and non-bratty army brat that also happens to be this week’s girl crush.
HC NYU: Who are your personal girl crushes and why?SM: First and foremost, I love Angelina Jolie. I love her movies; I’ve always thought she is gorgeous; and she seems to be such a caring, giving person, (whether it be adopting kids from all over or working as a UN ambassador). Also, as a young girl aspiring to become an archaeologist, Lara Croft was the ultimate role model. In addition to Angelina, my other girl crushes are Mindy Kahling and America Ferrara. Both of them are such strong, witty, and beautiful women who are unapologetic of their curvy bodies. Thinking about them on various occasions has given me the self-confidence that I’m beautiful the way I am, with slightly more than average junk in the trunk.
HC NYU: Do you generally feel that women are more empowered than, say, thirty years ago?SM: I completely agree with that statement, especially growing up with a mother in the Army, who, when she first joined at age seventeen in the eighties, was a bit of a rarity. In addition to having more opportunities in more varied fields, I believe women are more empowered because of the general trend of more importance being placed on social acceptance of all genders, sexes, and sexual orientations being equal and furthermore equally able.
HC NYU: Are there any standards put other there today for girls that you disagree with?SM: Yes. I feel we are running into the issue of over-promoting the image of a “successful, business savvy” woman as the ideal aspiration of young girls. I personally feel that though feminism is great, some more extreme feminists are unwittingly creating a whole new set of standards by which women and young girls need to adhere to, just for the sake of rebelling against old images of what a woman should be.
HC NYU: So then what standards do you feel should be promoted?SM: I agree more so with the standards of equal opportunities and access to education across all sexes, genders, and sexual orientations. Little girls should be taught that they can do and achieve anything at all they want to, whether that be growing up to be a firewoman, a CEO, or even a stay-at home mom. They should be given the freedom to like what they like, play with what they want, and in the future become what they want to.