Male Presence in the Feminist Movement

Perspective from a man:

Men, masculinity, porn, and feminism

Supreme Court Case: Strip Searching in Schools

I think this is probably more of a prevalent practice than we think. I've been told that this happened at my high school as well.

Strip Search of Girl Tests Limit of School Policy

OTC EC Age Restriction Lowered, But What About The Price?

A court decision truly worth celebrating! Emergency contraception will be made available over/behind-the-counter to 17 year olds, following a court order that gives the FDA 30 days to change current restrictions that prohibit people younger than 18 from purchasing the medication. [NYT]

While I find some relief in the court's move to overturn the contentious Bush-era regulation, I take issue with the prohibitive cost of the medication ($30-$60/pill)and hope that the ruling will provide space for conversations about issues of accessibility beyond age restrictions.

Tonight! Congo Teach In Presented by the WSC

img: nytimes.com

Please join us TONIGHT! March 24th at 7:30 in the South American Room (2nd floor) of the International House for a very special event about war in the Congo and the tragic effect it has on women in the area, sponsored by the Women's Social Collaborative.

The night will feature a teach in (so if you don't know much about the topic, don't worry!) and a short talk by Dr. Elisa von Joeden-Forgey. She is a historian of modern colonialism, human rights and genocide, specializing in gender and genocide.

I really hope you can make it! It is our goal to sponsor one or two women through Women for Women International, an incredible organization that works with women who have been affected by trauma.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We're really excited! I know this is a heady and daunting topic, but please come to learn what we can do to spread awareness and create positive change.

Please spread the word to anyone or any organizations who might be interested!!!

A Funny "Apology"

Is Michelle a tool of distraction?

Fashion, gardening, cooking, community service, and family.

Michelle Obama is playing it safe, engaging in the most domestic and traditional of stereotypical female activities. Luckily, she is accomplishing her agenda with mindful intelligence, and aside from the 'Fashion' part, the rest of these issues really are important for Americans.

She is glamourous and fascinating, and I'm starting to wonder if the president relies on her as an unintended distraction. The country is in serious trouble right now (see Has A Katrina Moment Arrived?), yet it seems like every time I turn to a serious news website, I find myself drawn to a new fashion slideshow of Michelle.

The first lady is now an icon like her husband, and I fear that her likability will soften our criticism of the president. Is she being used to distract?

I could be wrong... but I think she is.

Quiverfull

I came across this article in Newsweek. It is about the Dugger family, who apparently had their own reality TV show. The Duggers are part of the Quiverfull Movement, a pro-life, purist lifestyle movement that believes that gender equality is contrary to God's law and abstain from using any form of birth control.

From the article:

"At the heart of this reality-show depiction of "extreme motherhood" is a growing conservative Christian emphasis on the importance of women submitting to their husbands and fathers, an antifeminist backlash that holds that gender equality is contrary to God's law and that women's highest calling is as wives and "prolific" mothers."

check out the rest of the article here

The Pope

(Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope Benedict XVI on AIDS in Africa:

"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem."

read more from Yahoo News and BBC

Domestic violence....

Now THIS is alarming.

Salon's Broadsheet

I really enjoy Salon's Broadsheet. Here are two posts from today:

Attack of the feminist bridezilla!
Complimentary compliments can be confusing

We're Hosting an Event March 24th! Be sure to come!

Affordable Birth Control Restored

Read about it here.

Nine-year old Brazilian rape victim receives abortion care

A nine-year old girl, pregnant with twins after being raped by her father, underwent an abortion yesterday in Brazil where abortion is illegal. [MSNBC]

Philadelphia filmmakers Janet Goldwater and Barbara Attie made a film that documents a story, synonymous to the one being reported today, that unfolded in Nicaragua a few years ago. Janet is always willing to talk about the film - maybe we could host her for a talk some time in the future. Information about Rosita here.

A slow progress...

Lynsey Addario for the New York Times

Women in Afghanistan are very slowly gaining access to protection and resources against abuse after the fall of the Taliban. This article offers some hope, although traditions and systematic oppression continue to block progress.

Afghan Women Slowly Gaining Protection
by Kirk Semple