Progress???

It's beyond belief and reason that Barack Obama believes having someone speak who promotes hate is going to unite people.

A reminder why it's very dangerous to present the ideas of Rick Warren as merely "differences in opinion."

I'm not suggesting that Warren would not be horrified by this, but I am suggesting that his ideas and preachings perpetuate this kind of hate in society:
San Francisco woman gang raped, reported as LGBT hate crime

Frank Rich's op-ed on Obama's inauguration pick is excellent:
You're Likable Enough, Gay People

Important!! New Findings On HIV and Women...

image from Science Daily

In the past, most studies have shown that HIV is transmitted to a woman during intercourse only if there is a lesion or some type of break in the skin. Cervical tissue supposedly could not be penetrated by the virus....

New findings from Northwestern University show that HIV actually CAN penetrate healthy tissue. Based on this article from Science Blog, it really seems like it is now much easier for women to contract than previously thought:

HIV infects women through healthy tissue: US study finds

Also some statistics via Feministing:

• Black women and Latinas account for 79 percent of all reported HIV infections among 13- to 19-year-old women and 75 percent of HIV infections among 20- to 24-year-old women in the United States although, together, they represent only about 26 percent of U.S. women these ages.
• HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25-34 years.
• High-risk heterosexual contact is the source of 80% of newly diagnosed women with HIV infections.

Another farewell gift from Bush, and more

Bush's midnight regulations can even make it more difficult to get birth control pills! Obama, you'd BETTER fix this...and fast!

Hope this link works!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/172593

Appalling Slavery "Demonstration"

A white teacher in Rockland County, NY bound the feet and hands of two 13-year-old black girls and had them go under a desk for a "lesson" on slavery.

Christine Shand says it was a terrible experience for her daughter, Gaby, descended, like most Jamaicans, from slaves. "She burst into tears, she was crying and she was horrified," Shand told CBS 2 HD.

In a social studies class at Haverstraw Middle School, teacher Eileen Bernstein chose Gaby and another girl for a demonstration of conditions on ships that carried slaves out of Africa.

One African-American student raised her hand to volunteer for the demonstration. Gaby did not volunteer, but was chosen anyway.

"She taped their hands together, taped their feet together, and she had them crawl under the desk as if they were on a slave ship," her mother told CBS 2.

Mrs. Shand said Gaby was traumatized. She questions the teacher's judgment.

(read whole article here)

The teacher has not been fired, and I couldn't find any reports of discipline. The principal simply called it a "bad decision."

There are a few good comments on this that speak to the teacher's disgusting treatment of these girls:

Teacher Binds Students in Lesson on Slavery from Feministe

Teaching Slavery from Womanist Musings

Reflections on an election....

(Photo: From left, Michael Edwards/Redux; Nigel Parry/CPI-Syndication)

"The Bitch and the Ditz"

from New York magazine

Holiday consumerism...

Necklace from Made By Survivors. Click here to purchase.

As the holidays approach, here is a way to give friends and family gifts and help women in need at the same time...

Check out these sites, listed in the December issue of Glamour Magazine...

Made By Survivors

This site sells items made by survivors of sex trafficking.

Compartes Chocolatier

Purchases of African truffles benefit Relief International in Darfur, directly funding a women's center in the region.

Women's Bean Project

This non-profit aims to break the cycle of poverty by teaching life skills to women through gourmet food production.

Hope Wine

Half of profits go to further education and research of AIDS, breast cancer, and autism.

-via my Mom.

I'm a Gardasil skeptic but this may change my mind.

One of our own...

Check out this site on the 11th International Forum on Women's Rights & Development to see a familiar face!

AWID: Women's Rights

"Being a stock protestor is really funny." -Sarah Coburn

Stop the Hate.

Protests against California's Proposition 8 banning gay marriage will be held in cities across the country on Saturday, November 15th.

Philadelphia's protest will take place at City Hall at 1:30pm. For more information visit: Join the Impact.

Keith Olbermann recently spoke powerfully about the ban on gay marriage. Check it out.

Uruguay

When I spent some time in Uruguay a few years ago, I was impressed by a lot. In addition to vehicles granting pedestrians the right of way more-often-than-not (in striking contrast to Buenos Aires where the cars speed up when they see you about to put a foot out onto the roadway...), Uruguay was the first (and only?) Latin American nation to have legalized same sex unions.

Today it was announced that Congress had passed a bill legalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of gestation. Abortion is illegal in every Latin American nation with the exception of Cuba and in a few places if there are extreme circumstances. Although the President is expected to veto the bill, Congress has made a bold statement that will hopefully empower and inspire abortion rights activists throughout the region.

Here's the article.

America's First Transgender Mayor

photo from the candidate's website

Check it out!

The Associated Press

BUST Magazine's Blog

Global Gag Rule

There's already been some talk from Barack Obama's transition team of overturning the global gag rule, which Bush reinstated on his very first day of office in 2001. The rule prohibits international organizations that provide abortion counseling or services from getting tax dollars.

Read more about Obama's possible immediate actions against Bush policies:

Obama Weighs Quick Undoing of Bush Policies
Buh-Bye Global Gag Rule!

Yes We Can

THIS IS IT

IT'S NOVEMBER 4~

Women, let's vote!

An Important Reminder

Brought to you by Jezebel. Check this out.

It reminds of a great email sent around by Cecily recently.

PA Election: Attorney General

In Pennsylvania, there are three candidates running for the State Attorney General Position.

According to Wikipedia, "The state attorneys general serve as chief legal advisor to the state government and as the chief law enforcement officers. In some states, the Attorney General serves as the head of the state Department of Justice, with responsibilities similar to that of the United States Department of Justice. "

About the Candidates:


Tom Corbett. (Incumbent, Republican)

Experience:

-Current Attorney General since 2004. He also served as PA Attorney General from 1995-1997, appointed by Gov. Tom Ridge to replace Ernie Preate, who was convicted of mail fraud.

-United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania

-Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County

-Chairman, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency

-Member, Pennsylvania Army National Guard 28th Infantry Division

Education:

-1975, St. Mary's University School of Law, J.D.

-1971 Lebanon Valey College, B.A.

Priorities:

-Protecting our children from Internet sexual predators and child pornography

-Fighting drugs and gangs in our communities

-Protecting our senior citizens from financial fraud and physical abuse


John Morganelli (Democrat)
(on his website, he has a link specifically for Women's Issues)

Experience:

-Serves as the District Attorney of Northampton County, PA was elected in 1991

-President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute 2002-2003; President of Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
1999-2000; served as Vice-President and Secretary Treasurer of Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and Member of the Executive Board 1995-2003

-Appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to Committee on Capital Litigation, 2003

-Testified before the U.S. House of Representatives, Sub-committee on Immigration matters, 2003

Education:

-1980 Villanova Law School, J.D.

-1977, Moravian College, B. A.

Priorities:

-Pass a gang statute that makes gang membership a crime so as to attack the gangs before they commit their next murder or drug deal

-Address the proliferation of handguns into the hands of criminals, young children and those with mental illness.

-Abolish parole for violent criminals.



Marakay Rogers ( listed as Green on my ballot, but listed as Libertarian on League of Women Voters and her own website)

Experience:

-Occupation: Attorney (private practice)

-former executive director, York City Human Relations Commission

- Director of paralegal studies, Academy of Medical Arts and Business, Harrisburg, (1989-2000);

-BPW "Women In Government" award 1985

Education:

-1984, Dickinson School of Law , J.D.

- 1981, magna cum laude, Wilson College, B.A.

Priorities:

-Stop prosecution of victimless crimes

-Put moratorium on death penalty

-Protect citizens' rights from government abuse


It was difficult finding criticism about each candidate other than Morganelli and Corbett attacking each other on this site:
http://www.politickerpa.com/tags/tom-corbett?page=4

rise of female television journalists?

Salon composite

we'll see.

Check out Salon's article on women journalists...

Ladies of the nightly news

The Best Kept Secret

Philadelphia Alliance for Labor Support (PALS) will be screening
Orgasmic Birth, The Best Kept Secret on November 6th at 6pm at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut St).

Woah! According to the flier I picked up, this film is "A documentary that examines the intimate nature of birth and the powerful role it plays in women's lives when they are permitted to experience it fully."

There will be a panel discussion after the film. This goes along very well with our health and sexuality series so if anyone goes please let me know!

for more info email palsdoulatraining@gmail.com

Phinally!

Outrageous

Apparently new evidence suggests a huge disparity in the amount of money men and women pay for individual insurance policies, for the exact same plan.

Reasons?

Some of my favorites from the New York Times article by Robert Pear:

The Childbearing Excuse.....

Insurers say they have a sound reason for charging different premiums: Women ages 19 to 55 tend to cost more than men because they typically use more health care, especially in the childbearing years.....

Representative Xavier Becerra, Democrat of California, said that “if men could have kids,” such disparities would probably not exist.

Man....I always thought both my mom and dad were my parents, but apparently men don't have kids.

Women are more health conscious...

Elizabeth J. Leif, a health insurance actuary in Denver who helps calculate rates for Nebraska and other states, said: “Under the age of 55, women tend to be higher utilizers of health care than men. I am more conscious of my health than my husband, who will avoid going to the doctor at all costs.”

So now women are being punished for taking care of themselves, staying healthy, and practicing preventative medicine? And men are rewarded for not going to the doctor "at all costs"?! Using this logic, men would cost insurance companies more money in the long run.

Presidential Election

Last night we had a great discussion on the Presidential election! Please check out the articles if you haven't done so already:

Economists Grade Presidential Candidates on Ten Issues Vital to Women
Election 2008: Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader
Bob Barr on Reproductive Health Issues

The Pennsylvania ballot will include Barack Obama (D), John McCain (R), Ralph Nader (I), and Bob Barr (L). The Green Party candidate, Cynthia McKinney is not on the ballot but can be written in.
In our discussion, we focused heavily on Cynthia McKinney, as she is the only woman running for President. Other topics included:

• the two-party system and its faults
• the role of third parties
• the centrist politics of Barack Obama
• what's left, what's right, and what's Libertarian?
• "radicalism" vs. the perception of radicalism

So now, LET'S ALL VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4!

Death for just TALKING about women's rights?!

Parwez Kambakhsh (right) with his lawyer, Mohammad Afzal Nuristani (photo: Rahamat Gul/AP)

Parwez Kambakhsh, a 24-year-old Afghan journalism student, was originally sentenced to death for "blasphemy" for an article he had shown to others discussing women's rights under Islam. The court kindly overturned that decision, and his sentence is now 20 YEAR IN PRISON.

Laura King reports for the Los Angeles Times.

Election: PA State Treasurer

On November 4, we will elect a new state treasurer. The incumbent, Robin L. Weissman, is not running (took over for Bob Casey when he won his Senate seat). The responsibilities of treasurer include investing the tax revenues, paying bills, and managing a budget of 60 million and a staff of 520 people.

Here is some of the information discussed at our last meeting on the major candidates:

Rob McCord (Democrat, age 49)
Montgomery County

Experience:

• Cofounder and Director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners
• Cofounder of Eastern Technology Fund
• 10 years working with Budget and Regulatory issues on Capitol Hill, working with notable figures such as Al Gore, Norm Mineta, Bob Edgar, and Tony Coehlo.
• Board Member for United Way of Pennsylvania and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Education:
BA in Economics & History from Harvard University
MBA from UPenn's Wharton School of Business

Self-described objectives as treasurer:

• Cut wasteful spending
• Protect pensions of seniors
• "Attract new innovative business to Pennsylvania to encourage job growth."

Criticism:

Reuters

Tom Ellis (Republican, 49)
Montgomery County

Experience:

• Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioners (1990-2002)
• Montgomery County Board of Commissioners (2003-2006)
• Partner in the Public Finance Department of the law firm Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll (1985-present)

Education
BA in Political Science from University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania's School of Law (editor of its Law Review)

**Issues:

• Cut spending in order to reduce taxes
• Preservation of land (by stopping "urban sprawl") and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
• Public safety

Berlie Etzel (Libertarian, age 77)
Clarion County

Experience:

• 12 years as Math & Science Teacher
• Professor of Math at Cheyney University (1969-1986)
• Assessor of Ashland Township

Education:
BS in Education from Clarion State College
M.Ed from Penn State University

Issues:

• Open books for 'bonusgate' investigations
• Retrieve lost money from PHEAA (see Auditor General blog below)
• Making sure there's a "constitutional basis" for all payments

Rape in the Congo

We have frequently discussed the urgency of the sexual violence epidemic in the Congo. Recently, many organizations, as well as the United Nations, have put forth efforts to prosecute rapists and encourage victims to speak out. As displayed in many parts of the world, both past and present, women often are silenced by family members and shunned by society if they speak out.

Jeffrey Gettleman reports:

Rape Victims' Words Jolt Congo Into Change

PA 2008 Election for Auditor General

At the last meeting, we discussed the upcoming PA election. I researched the Auditor General. Here is my report.

Auditor General – Independent fiscal monitor. In addition to monitoring fiscal matters, the auditor general also looks at the effectiveness and efficiency of laws, government programs, and legislative changes.

2008 Election

Democrat- Jack Wagner, Incumbent. In office since 2005. Jack is pictured above.

Republican – Chet Beiler

Libertarian – Betsy Summers

Beiler, 45, of Lancaster County, is a businessman whose primary enterprise is AmishGazebos.com. Hmm.) He is a fiscal conservative. Beiler criticizes Wagner for not regulating the accuracy of gasoline pumps and taking too long to release his report on PA higher education.

Summers has held the office of PA Judge of the Elections. She believes abortions should always be legal, but not publicly funded in any way. She is for gay marriage and wants to end affirmative action.

Get to know the candidates for Auditor General: http://www.smartvoter.org/2008/11/04/pa/state/race/paau/

Since Wagner is the Incumbent, the most information is available on him. Here is a summary of Wagner’s performance. These reports also give some information on the state of affairs in PA.

Education report from 2007 found:

-schools will not have enough money to cover budget costs in the following year if spending is not adjusted now.

-lack of proper documentation for bus drivers (some drivers did not have a child abuse or criminal background check).

Wagner produced a report about the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources addressing their elimination of life guards in state parks. His report concluded that DCNR should reinstate life guards and provide better signage in the interim. Basically, the DCNR had said that “it’s a trend to not use life guards.” To see the report: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Info/DCNRBeachesSpecialRpt051408.pdf

Charter Schools - He identified several charter schools that were receiving more funding than necessary for their operations. When a child transfers from a public school to a charter school, the charter school receives funding from the public school for that child. Since the charter school starts out with a base amount of money for operations, if too many kids transfer, the charter school can turn a profit. Wagner said he supports charter schools but encourages Randall to properly monitor their funding so that they do not place unnecessary burden on public schools and taxpayers.

Audited PHEAA for the first time in it’s 45 year history. (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistant Agency). Uncovered 7.5 million of bonuses given to employees. To see the report: http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Press/WagnerFindsPHEAAGaveMillionsInBonuses.html

Audit of Megan’s law calls for more complete and accurate info to be posted to website. Also, Wagner suggests that increasing the scope of the information on website (adding physical description) will increase the safety that law provides to children. He also points out the need for the state police website to improve organization of the information on the website, so that it is easier to sort through to find the most violet predators (roughly 110 out of the 8,100 listed.)

Mandatory HPV Vaccine for Immigrants

So, more on this topic which I posted about a few weeks ago. I have to admit I haven't read this whole post (I'm in class right now...ha) but it looks like it has a lot of information.

The State Can Violate Women's Bodies if They Want to (via Feminist Law Professors)

P.S. GO PHILLIES!

Connecticut Allows Gay Marriage

Connecticut today joined Massachusetts and California by legalizing gay marriage.

Huffington Post article

MSNBC article

Gender Bias in Fine Dining

Frank Bruni wrote an article in the New York Times investigating sex discrimination in finer New York restaurants. He writes that restaurants regularly participate in gender profiling, assuming women will eat a certain way, are less profitable, and lack the authority or knowledge to choose wine. Many also use an order-tracking software allowing servers to specify which seats "ladies" occupy.

Read the whole article here:

Old Gender Roles With Your Dinner?

What strikes me most is the willingness of women to perpetuate this system, rather than participate in the rejection of male chivalry and power. It's also interesting how "manners" and "etiquette" come into play.

UPDATE: a note on this from Feministing

Salmon with a side of gender stereotyping please

Register to Vote

Pennsylvania's deadline is Monday, October 6th. The following link takes you to Obama's website to register in any state:

Register Here

Real Women Have Curves?

No-

Real women come in all shapes and sizes.

We touched upon this issue in the "Eating and Exercise" discussion during the Women's Health Workshop series. The following comes from Community Feministing:

Aren't I A Real Woman?

Women Speak Out

CNN's Campbell Brown on the McCain Campaign's sexist treatment of its VP nominee:


And a woman who never gets the attention she deserves in the male-dominated field of comedy, Wanda Sykes:

The New Eugenics

Not to be all Negative Nancy on the women's health front but I just found out about an absolutely appalling plan being proposed by a Louisiana State Rep. He is exploring the idea of creating an incentive program that would give $1000 to poor women who agree to have their tubes tied. As if that isn't offensive enough, the plan would also include tax incentives for college-educated, high-income people willing to have more children.

Read about it here and here.

This reminds me a lot of the Project C.R.A.C.K. controversy.

So You Want to Get Married, Do You?

I personally don't see myself ever getting married, but if I did, I would definitely read this statement as part of the ceremony- not only because I believe in it, but also in honor of Lucy Stone.


The following was signed by Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell prior to their May 1, 1855 marriage. The Rev. Thomas Wentworth Higginson, who performed the marriage, not only read the statement at the ceremony, but also distributed it to other ministers as a model that he urged other couples to follow.

While acknowledging our mutual affection by publicly assuming the relationship of husband and wife, yet in justice to ourselves and a great principle, we deem it a duty to declare that this act on our part implies no sanction of, nor promise of voluntary obedience to such of the present laws of marriage, as refuse to recognize the wife as an independent, rational being, while they confer upon the husband an injurious and unnatural superiority, investing him with legal powers which no honorable man would exercise, and which no man should possess. We protest especially against the laws which give to the husband:

1. The custody of the wife's person.

2. The exclusive control and guardianship of their children.

3. The sole ownership of her personal, and use of her real estate, unless previously settled upon her, or placed in the hands of trustees, as in the case of minors, lunatics, and idiots.

4. The absolute right to the product of her industry.

5. Also against laws which give to the widower so much larger and more permanent interest in the property of his deceased wife, than they give to the widow in that of the deceased husband.

6. Finally, against the whole system by which "the legal existence of the wife is suspended during marriage," so that in most States, she neither has a legal part in the choice of her residence, nor can she make a will, nor sue or be sued in her own name, nor inherit property.

We believe that personal independence and equal human rights can never be forfeited, except for crime; that marriage should be an equal and permanent partnership, and so recognized by law; that until it is so recognized, married partners should provide against the radical injustice of present laws, by every means in their power...

HPV Required for Immigrant Women

The debate over mandatory vaccination for the controversial HPV vaccine has taken an interesting twist. As it turns out, the US Department of Homeland Security is requiring girls and young women who immigrate to the US to get the Gardasil jab, TheStreet.com reports.

Read the whole article here. This is clearly a problem. Aside from the alleged health risk associated with the vaccine (and the gold coating the insides of Merck's pockets), this clearly stands as yet another concerning barrier to immigration.

What's that word....???

Lunch Time Film Series at Temple Law

I know everyone is working/busy but if you happen to be unemployed or have a long lunch break, the National Lawyer's Guild Reproductive Rights Committee will be hosting a viewing of "Rosita". Q & A with the director will follow (she happens to work at Temple!). It will be held at noon on September 30th. I'd be happy to provide more explicit information to anyone who is interested.

ROSITA, an hour-long documentary by award-winning filmmakers Barbara Attie and Janet Goldwater, traces a young girl's journey from innocent victim to unwitting victor. When a nine-year-old Nicaraguan girl becomes pregnant as a result of a rape, her parents — illiterate campesinos working in Costa Rica — seek a legal "therapeutic" abortion to save their only child's life. Their quest pits them against the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the medical establishment, and the Catholic Church. When their story gains international media attention the repercussions ripple across Latin America and Europe.

If people can't make it and are interested in viewing the film I would be happy to host a screening and discussion some time in the future.

Also, for those who were asking, here is my favorite zucchini bread recipe!

3 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 yogurt (soy or regular)
2 cups sugar (white will dissolve better)
2 cups grated zucchini (I use closer to 2 1/2 or 3)
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups unbleached flour
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 325. Lightly butter and flour two loaf pans.
In a bowl, beat eggs. Mix in oil, yogurt and sugar. Mix in zucchini and vanilla. Combine the rest of the ingredients before stirring into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 60 minutes.
Share with friends, or if you don't like to share this bread freezes well.

If you want to make it vegan, egg replacer will work! But make sure you double up (6 "eggs") and mix while the water is still warm.

Garden Cycles Bike Tour: New Faces from the Farm

In the summer/fall of last year, The Women's Garden Cycles Bike Tour (our dear friends Lara Sheets, Kat Shiffler, and Liz Tylander) traversed the Northeastern coast on their bicycles from DC to Montreal on a quest to meet and document the new farmers in the US.

They visited community gardens, farmers markets, youth organizations, school gardens, urban farms, and many other organizations (complete list here), where they encountered hundreds of motivated educators, farmers, and community members who together are the architects of a new agricultural movement in the United States.

This past weekend, some WSC members were present as they premiered their documentary, Faces from the New Farm, in the beautiful meadows of the Blue Ridge Environmental Center in Loudoun Co., Virginia. It was a tremendously inspiring experience, full of delicious, homemade, local foods, excellent musical performances, a bit of homebrew, a trampoline, and even a bicycle powered generator. Here is a picture of me putting up my tent (thanks Abby).

A big thank you and good luck to the Women's Garden Cycles group as they promote and show their film. Hopefully we will have a chance to see it in the Philadelphia area soon!

Check out the trailer:

also:

“Pedaling the Local Food Movement” by Adrian Higgins, Home Section Washington Post

“The Incredible Cycling Garden Women” by Ed Bruske, The Slow Cook: The Urban Insurgent’s guide to real food for life…

“Young Gardening Revolutionaries Premiere Their Movie” by Susan Harris, Garden Rant: Uprooting the Garden World

88.1FM BSR Providence, Bike Talk! 9/26/07 - listen here.
“A Taste of New Jersey” by Amy Brummer, The Garden Plate

Women ought to have representatives, instead of being arbitrarily governed without any direct share allowed them in the deliberations of government.
-Mary Wollstonecraft

At our meeting on Monday, Sept. 21st we will discuss Women in politics. This is a colossal topic to tackle, so Roz and I tried to come up with some general themes to shape the discussion. Our main objective, while researching, was not finding a general overview of Women's political action, but more to determine what specific changes allowed women to gain their footing in the the political scene and to advance to the point we're at now (quite an exciting point to be at, I do say).

We decided upon several articles to prepare for the discussion.... as always, read the articles that interest you and if you get the chance, skim the ones that are less compelling.

To begin with, a general Women's Suffrage timeline:
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/index.html

Skim over the Declaration of Sentiments:
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/declare.htm


A recent article from Newsweek "From Seneca Falls to...Sarah Palin?":
http://www.newsweek.com/id/158893

The Nation article "Obama and the Sisters":
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080901/harris-lacewell

And two Quick articles to make you think about Women's fashion in politics:

http://www.marquise.de/en/1900/howto/reform.shtml

Nytimesarticle


If you have the time...

An article to skim from Harpers, circa 1955... we thought a lot about the access that women had to political power if their husbands were politicians.
http://www.harpers.org/archive/1955/06/0000257

Often overlooked, and one of our own: a short biography on Hannah Callowhill Penn
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Callowhill_Penn

Meeting begins at 8:30 PM
Hope to see you there!
(see e-mail for directions to Sarah's apartment)

Michelle Obama Blogs

Michelle Obama wrote a blog on PAY EQUALITY FOR WOMEN!

Fighting For Equal Pay

Opinions are like... special snowflakes

NPR's Talk of the Nation yesterday explored the varied reactions of women voters to Governor Palin's addition to the McCain ticket. If you didn't catch it, listen HERE.

Guests:

Katherine Mangu-Ward, associate editor of Reason magazine

C. Nicole Mason, executive director of the Women Of Color Policy Network

Beth Tweddle, a self-identified Republican, works in sales, mother of three

Apparently Obama Supports Infanticide

From Politico:

A new anti-abortion, anti-Obama ad revisits the Born Alive Infant Protection Act.

The Illinois press, and Eric Zorn in particular, have the clearest summaries of this complicated topic, which make fairly clear that Obama's vote was cast against what was seen locally as a stealth attempt at a broader ban on abortion.

we are family

Vicki facilitated our discussion on Monday, which focused on the massively general topic of "Marriage & Family." If you haven't had a chance to read the articles she selected, please have a look:

Is it the beginning of the end for marriage?

Marry Him!

When Mom and Dad Share It All

Gay Couples Find Marriage Is A Mixed Bag

So...Are You Two Together?

Everyone that attended was single with no kids. We spent quite a bit of time talking about actual weddings, then were left wondering what exactly happens AFTER the big party. While many of us believed it wouldn't feel very different than living with a partner, others expressed fears of feeling trapped. This is a point where we all wished we had some married ladies at the discussion! The concept of a non-romantic kind of partnership seemed like somewhat of a relief in the conversation for many, although commitment issues came into play here too. We also discussed the benefits of communal living.

The discussion then moved on to parenting, equality, and social expectations. Balancing work and children was certainly the hot topic. Many believed they would want to stay at home as much as possible early on in the child's development. Others felt they would want to work out an equal schedule with their partners, while a few others felt a sense of importance in providing the main source of income. Speaking of income, whoa, that one's a doozy as well! How much money will we need? Is one person staying at home with the kids more important than a second source of income? Will we be privileged enough to have that choice? How do men feel?

NEXT UP: ELECTION TALK

Monday, September 22 @ Sarah's

Topic: History of Women in Politics

Salon delivers.

Sarah Palin, Feminist.

And who is calling her that? The authority on all things good-for-women, Pennsylvanian's own Rick Santorum.

"Sarah Palin is the Clarence Thomas for feminists. The civil rights community, the African-American community obviously should have rallied behind Clarence Thomas an his achievement, but they hammered him because he was a conservative. And the civil rights establishment was first and foremost liberal and then for the liberal rights of -- as liberals saw it, what blacks should have in this country. And the same thing with the feminist community."

As we all know, Rick Santorum is not alone in this sentiment. Today in Salon another Pennsylvanian, Camille Paglia, wrote about her views on the flavor of feminism she thinks Palin represents:

"Conservative though she may be, I felt that Palin represented an explosion of a brand new style of muscular American feminism. At her startling debut on that day, she was combining male and female qualities in ways that I have never seen before. And she was somehow able to seem simultaneously reassuringly traditional and gung-ho futurist. In terms of redefining the persona for female authority and leadership, Palin has made the biggest step forward in feminism since Madonna channeled the dominatrix persona of high-glam Marlene Dietrich and rammed pro-sex, pro-beauty feminism down the throats of the prissy, victim-mongering, philistine feminist establishment."

Pro-sex? As long as it's in the context of marriage.

Paglia goes on to question how Palin's take on women's health and other liberally branded social issues would play out, should she take office. She wrongly equates Palin's overtly Christian/Dictated By God stance with the media uproar over Obama's relationship with Rev. Wright. Paglia seems to think it's all an over-reaction.

I don't know if people are reacting enough. Polls show that this very tactic, the branding of Sarah Palin as a trail-blazer for young-girls and Obama as a name-calling (see "pig with lipstick" controvery) anti-feminist, is working. I hope the glitter and shine attached to Palin's nomination wears off sooner, rather than later.

born of earnest struggle

Philadelphia - Tomorrow at the Rotunda
Andrew's Video Vault 2008
Free - 8pm
4014 Walnut St.
September 11, 2008 – Let Us Keep Abortion Safe and a Woman's Right to Choose Legal

Rain Without Thunder

(1993 / 93 minutes / 1.33:1) Cautionary direct address docudrama of a future where abortion is illegal. Stars Carolyn McCormick and Betty Buckley.

The Handmaid's Tale

(1990 / 109 minutes / 1.66:1) Natasha Richardson, Robert Duvall, Faye Dunaway and Aidan Quinn star in Volker Schlondorff's film of Harold Pinter's adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel set in a future where reproductive rights lay in the hands of a Christian theocracy.

Thanks Margaret!

I must admit I have not seen these and don't know much about them, but we're going tomorrow so perhaps I'll update later.

Kilkenny's E-mail on Sarah Palin

photo of Anne Kilkenny

This is a very publicized email from Anne Kilkenny, resident of Wasilla Alaska, concerning Sarah Palin. I found it pretty insightful.
So, if you didn't already, this email provides a lot more reasons to hate Sarah Palin and fear the power she may gain with as a Vice President.

the knot

As a follow-up to our discussion on marriage last night, here's an article about a couple that did it a little differently, allowing Washington Post reporters to plan their nuptial ceremony. The ACLU was also involved.

The Anti Wedding

Palin's a M.I.L.F?

from feministing

Things that make you go...hmmmm

This is an interesting opinion article from Gloria Steinem on the nomination of Republican VP candidate, Sarah Palin.

"Palin: wrong woman, wrong message."

Everyone should read this book....

I just finished reading America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, by Gail Collins. Not since Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States have I felt so deeply moved and satisfied by historical writing. Collins' book traces the history of women in this country, beginning with Eleanor Dare in 1587, one of the first European women to sail across the Atlantic.

She writes of the early hardships and housework of the colonial women, the Salem Witch Trials, infant textile workers, horrific medical experiments performed on slave women, opium addiction, corsets, the abolitionists, birth control, female soldiers, Hollywood, rape, bicycles, menstruation, etc, etc, etc... Collins touches on most aspects of the daily life of women, but also maintains a broad and coherent perspective.

Collins references magazines and journals commonly read by women of the day to help the reader understand the existing social and cultural pressures. The female authors of these publications usually promoted submissiveness, marriage, and the classic ideals that we still to read about in many women's magazines today.

The movement of women from the domestic sphere to the workplace is one of the more fascinating strands in the book. The acceptance of working women comes only when absolute necessity warrants it (although the women who lost their jobs after WWII were fired regardless of the needs of their families). Often, through nationalism and propaganda, the government determined and probably still determines, what the role of women should be.

The struggles and triumphs presented are moving: often tragic, but often empowering. Through Collins' amazing work, we can see that we have a multitude of rights, privileges, conveniences, and freedoms that the early colonists could not begin to imagine.

Yet we also have not achieved true freedom. I hope that in another 400 years a historian again writes of the progress of American women. Maybe our 21st century brains would be blown away!

Vox Populi Event

Thursday's show at Vox Populi was a great success!
Here are some pictures of the night.
sorry for the fuzziness and the dark. I'm not so good at photos, ok?!

Kassie Richardson

Rapidice

Lindsey Martin's Invasion

Faded Gory

The Suicide Machines

participants!

Obama stands on the shoulders of men AND women

Senator Obama's acceptance speech tonight comes with much anticipation. He will speak 45 years after MLK's "I have a dream" speech, and you can bet you'll hear that fact a couple gazillion times before the night is over. His acceptance will most certainly address King's powerful and influential speech. I read an excellent article written in the Nation by Melissa Harris-Lacewell that reminds us not to trivialize the role of African-American female organizers of King's time. She writes:

When Barack Obama takes the stage in Denver, he could draw on the political rhetoric of African-American women as the core of his historic speech. The Obama candidacy is built on the organizational foundation laid by these women at least as much as it is on the oratorical showmanship of black male preachers. Obama's speeches may be reminiscent of Dr. King, but his organizing fellows program, use of existing social networks and concern with sustained mobilization recall Ella Baker, the inspirational activist whose work set the course for every major civil rights organization of her time. It was Baker who kept refocusing the movement on organizing rather than oratory, and her work showed that when citizens are given the skills to organize on their own behalf, rather than relying on charismatic leaders to show them the way, real change happens.

Collectively we know very little about the deeds, lives and words of Baker and other black women leaders. Many Americans assume that they spoke about parochial, narrow or self-centered topics. Quite the opposite is true; black women's political work hits the notes of inclusion, universalism and patriotism that Obama needs to emphasize.

Read the whole article here

WHEN TWO PEOPLE LOVE EACH OTHER VERY MUCH...

This here is to serve as the minutes for our enthralling discussion on sex. Thanks to Roz and friends for hosting and providing libations! First we examined an article about a silly disease called HASD (hypo-active sex drive or something). While some of us were worried about the implications of scientists getting involved in the how much and how often of sex, we had a lot of ideas about why some women "just don't feel like it". Among the culprits: the infamous high school double standard of slut v. stud, body image problems reinforced by popular media, "society problems", negative sexual experiences, etc., etc.

The libations and the nature of the discussion made it difficult to maintain the level of detail displayed above.

Other highlights:

• women "peaking" in their 30's- fact or myth, and why?
• multiple orgasms, and how
  
• getting "in the mood", worrying about getting out of the mood, thereby losing the mood
• WHAT WOULD SEX BE LIKE WITHOUT THE MEDIA'S PORTRAYAL OF SEX?
• long-term relationships and sex
• how often are you supposed to? three times per week? WHOA!
• the ethics of "faking it"
• the satisfaction derived from giving satisfaction
  
• sexual dominance and positions that evoke the dominant/submissive setup, and is this cool or oppressive?

Next VP?

Today, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama announced that Senator Joe Biden is his running mate. Biden's long-time commitment to passing legislation to combat domestic violence and offer legal support to abuse victims is one of his many accomplishments. As voters and citizens, this is a time for us to examine each candidate's stance (and past legislative efforts, failures, and objectives) on various issues affecting women. It is also a time to place pressure on candidates and offer criticism while they still desperately want our vote (especially us Pennsylvanians).

To read more from Joe Biden on domestic violence, click here.

To contact one of the major candidates running for president: Bob Barr, John McCain, Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, Barack Obama.

This is in no way an endorsement of either Barack Obama or Joe Biden.

Show at Vox Populi, August 28!

The Women's Social Collaborative is pleased to present its first show at 8pm (SHARP!) on Thursday, August 28 at Vox Populi. Come and check out some local female musicians (and one male!). Donations are welcome to support the artists. Beer will also be available...

See you there!