Women's Social Collaborative

Haiti and Chomsky

2010-01-16T12:25:00.000-05:00

This is important.

Read this.

Let's Do This!

2009-11-16T08:44:00.003-05:00

Sarah Palin is back, the Stupak Amendment (and the Republican Party) may further limit abortion access for all women, and I just saw Pray the Devil Back to Hell and am fired up about collective action and the power that women have.

WSC revival?

Great Job Everyone!

2009-06-15T11:20:00.005-04:00

this is.... absurd....

2009-06-09T10:31:00.000-04:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Fox & Friends' Lingerie Football Romp

thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Economic Crisis

Antiabortion Advocate Appointed to Senior Position at HHS

2009-06-04T14:35:00.003-04:00

Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued the following statement today about the appointment of Alexia Kelley to be Director of Faith-based and Community Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Alexia Kelley, co-founder and former executive director of the antichoice organization, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good (CACG), was today appointed to be Director of Faith-based and Community Partnerships at the Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Kelley's appointment is a defeat for reason and logic and calls into question whether President Obama's administration is serious about reducing the need for abortion. And, while it may not gain many headlines, the impact and significance of this appointment should not go unnoticed.

"If Ms. Kelley had been appointed to another position in the administration, there might be less reason for concern. However, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for providing and expanding access to key sexual and reproductive health services. As such, we need those working in HHS to rely on evidence-based methods to reduce the need for abortion. We need them to believe in men and women's capacity to make moral decisions about their own lives. Unfortunately, as seen from her work at CACG, Ms. Kelley does not fit the bill.

"A look into Alexia Kelley's leadership of CACG reveals a vehement antichoice stance that is focused on reducing the number of, not the need for, abortions. In voter's guides the organization Kelley led characterized abortion as akin to war or torture. You can learn more about Catholics in Alliance here .

"From the beginning, Alexia Kelley directed CACG to ignore the question of access to abortion and reframe the debate in terms of reducing the number of abortions-although polls consistently show that the majority of Catholics support abortion rights. This language around reducing the number of abortions should be a huge red flag to anyone who believes in and seeks to defend a woman's right to choose. While evidence-based prevention methods can go a long way towards reducing the need for abortion, some women will always need access to safe and legal abortion and we must recognize that and ensure public policies support that access.

"Alexia Kelley is on record with her support for restrictions on access to abortion, despite her organization's efforts to avoid the question of legalization at every turn. In an audio press conference prior to the 2008 election, Ms. Kelley agreed with other speakers who spoke out in favor of restrictions on abortion, saying, "Catholics in Alliance supports these restrictions as well."

"Under Kelley's leadership, CACG used flawed economic data to support anti-poverty measures as a means to reduce the number of abortions. While such measures are obviously beneficial for many reasons, poverty reduction will not by itself reduce the need for abortion. As Ms. Kelley's group opposed evidence-based prevention methods such as contraception and comprehensive sexuality education, its "abortion reduction" rhetoric is simply a newly packaged antiabortion message.

"Rhetoric around "finding common ground" (or common good, as Ms Kelley would have it) and "reducing the need for abortion" has framed the abortion debate for the past few months. While this rhetoric and subsequent efforts may indeed help to move us past the culture wars over abortion and contraception, it is dangerous when these efforts devolve into an abandonment of ideals. In appointing an antichoice advocate to a key position in HHS we are seeing crucial principles abandoned-principles upon which so many men and women rely to lead healthy lives."

This appointment raises a lot of questions about the role HHS will take in the future on relevant topics such as increasing the availability of Emergency Contraception. While Ms. Kelly's title seems to indicate that her role will be somewhat benign, I think the author is rightly concerned with her involvement in HHS and her ability to influence not only the message HHS sends but also the partnerships they enter into and the organizations they seeks guidance from.

Is this really Choice?

2009-06-02T21:23:00.001-04:00

This touches on many topics from our last discussion:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Abortion Doctor Assasinated

2009-05-31T14:16:00.004-04:00

photo of Dr. George Tiller, shot to death this morning at church
Read story here.

Sonia Sotomayor

2009-05-27T11:47:00.003-04:00

Matthew Cavanaugh/European Pressphoto Agency

I was excited to hear that Obama's short list for Supreme Court nominees included only women (others included Elena Kagan, Janet Napolitano, and Diane P. Wood) ! Two out of nine is still not great- but a step in the right direction.
2 articles I found helpful on the nominee:
From RH Reality Check: Fair & Balanced:Weighing Sotomayor's Opinions
New York Times bio: Sotomayor, A Trailblazer and a Dreamer

Evidence suggests having daughters makes parents more feminist...

2009-05-24T13:20:00.002-04:00

From FiveThirtyEight:

Having Daughters Rather Than Sons Makes You More Liberal

Interesting Excerpts:

The authors' key finding is that support for policies designed to address gender equity is greater among parents with daughters. This result emerges particularly strongly for fathers.

This is very interesting:

By collecting data on the voting records of US congressmen, Washington (2004) is able to go beyond this. She provides persuasive evidence that congressmen with female children tend to vote liberally on reproductive rights issues such as teen access to contraceptives. In a revision, Washington (2008) argues for a wider result, namely, that the congressmen vote more liberally on a range of issues such as working families flexibility and tax-free education.

URBAN BICYCLE ADVENTURE!!!!

2009-05-21T14:07:00.002-04:00

Join Us
Help women in disaster areas. Cruise Philly on a 2-wheeled adventure.
All levels of riders welcome.

Sign Up/Get Started:
Email womenssocialcollaborative@gmail.com to sign up to be a rider in a fundraiser for Circle of Health International.

Defining Male and Female

2009-05-12T15:04:00.002-04:00

In an op-ed for the New York Times, Jennifer Finney Boylan writes of switching from being a man to being a woman after marrying a woman. She asks:

Is My Marriage Gay?

Legal scholars can (and have) devoted themselves to the ultimately frustrating task of defining “male” and “female” as entities fixed and unmoving. A better use of their time, however, might be to focus on accepting the elusiveness of gender — and to celebrate it. Whether a marriage like mine is a same-sex marriage or some other kind is hardly the point. What matters is that my spouse and I love each other, and that our legal union has been a good thing — for us, for our children and for our community.

Look how confusing it can get!

A lawyer for the transgendered plaintiff in the Littleton case noted the absurdity of the country’s gender laws as they pertain to marriage: “Taking this situation to its logical conclusion, Mrs. Littleton, while in San Antonio, Tex., is a male and has a void marriage; as she travels to Houston, Tex., and enters federal property, she is female and a widow; upon traveling to Kentucky she is female and a widow; but, upon entering Ohio, she is once again male and prohibited from marriage; entering Connecticut, she is again female and may marry; if her travel takes her north to Vermont, she is male and may marry a female; if instead she travels south to New Jersey, she may marry a male.”

don't ask don't tell

2009-05-08T21:24:00.000-04:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Feminist Novelist Marilyn French Dies

2009-05-06T16:20:00.004-04:00

Ruby Washington/The New York Times

Salon remembers French:

On May 2, feminist writer and theorist Marilyn French died at the age of 79. Not someone to shy away from a challenge, French once declared, "My goal in life is to change the entire social and economic structure of Western civilization, to make it a feminist world."
French, who was born in Brooklyn, NY, first gained notoriety with her 1977 debut novel, "The Women's Room," which follows the character, Mira Ward, an American housewife in the 1950s, on her path to feminist awakening. Although a single line has lingered longest, "All men are rapists, and that's all they are" -- spoken by a character whose daughter has been gang-raped (not by French herself, though it has often been falsely attributed as such) -- The Guardian describes the book's deeper impact: "The novel spoke not just to French's contemporaries but also their daughters, who passed it hand to hand with the same enthusiasm they had shown four years earlier for Erica Jong's upbeat feminist novel, 'Fear of Flying.'"

Gloria Steinem talks to the New York Times about "The Women's Room", written by French in 1977:

Gloria Steinem, a close friend, compared the impact of the book on the discussion surrounding women’s rights to the one that Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” had had on racial equality 25 years earlier.
“It was about the lives of women who were supposed to live the lives of their husbands, supposed to marry an identity rather than become one themselves, to live secondary lives,” Ms. Steinem said in an interview Sunday. “It expressed the experience of a huge number of women and let them know that they were not alone and not crazy.”

The Rape Kit Problem

2009-04-30T10:15:00.002-04:00

From Kristof's Op-Ed today in the NYT:

Stunningly often, the rape kit isn’t tested at all because it’s not deemed a priority. If it is tested, this happens at such a lackadaisical pace that it may be a year or more before there are results (if expedited, results are technically possible in a week).
So while we have breakthrough DNA technologies to find culprits and exculpate innocent suspects, we aren’t using them properly — and those who work in this field believe the reason is an underlying doubt about the seriousness of some rape cases. In short, this isn’t justice; it’s indifference.

Protest

2009-04-16T12:07:00.003-04:00

Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images, for the New York Times

This is very inspiring and moving to see women speak out, even with so much against them:

Afghan Women Protest New Law on Home Life

Nicole Richie...

2009-04-16T08:21:00.001-04:00

...has a message about the Congo!

Anyone else wish Seth Rogan would go away?

2009-04-10T11:12:00.003-04:00

After cringing and not laughing my way through "Knocked Up," this certainly doesn't surprise me:

Seth Rogan's date (rape) movie

(I realize Seth Rogan doesn't make these movies, but he certainly likes to place himself in the roles).

This Week in The Nation

2009-04-08T12:19:00.004-04:00

Zina Saunders for The Nation

The Nation had several articles this week that may interest:

When Culture Trumps Law
More on Brazil and abortion laws and culture

Mad About Michelle
a feminist response to common perceptions of the First Lady (past & present)

Warlord Politics
More information on the ever-complicated conflict(s) in the Dem. Rep. of Congo & Rwanda

Legalized Rape in Afghanistan

2009-04-03T11:34:00.003-04:00

AP (Afghan women pray for justice and security of the country during a gathering to mark the International Women's Day in Kabul)

Critics Assail Law that "Legalizes Rape"
from Yahoo News

from the article:

"As long as the husband is not traveling, he has the right to have sexual intercourse with his wife every fourth night," Article 132 of the law says. "Unless the wife is ill or has any kind of illness that intercourse could aggravate, the wife is bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband."

Guilty Pleasures

2009-04-01T17:23:00.002-04:00

In addition to Perez Hilton and Philebrity (and a few 'real news' sources, like NYT and Morning News), I have Jezebel chiseled into the list of blogs I read daily via Google Reader. Today they posted about femicide in the Congo and the link between Western cell-phone addiction and the continuing crisis the nation faces. Though I felt moved and incredibly enriched following the recent WSC Congo teach-in, I also felt positively helpless. So, I'm relieved to see a news outlet with such an expansive and active readership spread the message about the crisis. Hopefully there's more of this to come!

Male Presence in the Feminist Movement

2009-03-30T16:20:00.001-04:00

Perspective from a man:

Men, masculinity, porn, and feminism

Supreme Court Case: Strip Searching in Schools

2009-03-25T11:13:00.002-04:00

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?

2009-03-24T16:32:00.005-04:00

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

2009-03-24T11:52:00.003-04:00

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"

2009-03-22T14:09:00.001-04:00

Is Michelle a tool of distraction?

2009-03-22T11:50:00.006-04:00

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

2009-03-21T10:47:00.004-04:00

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

2009-03-20T11:10:00.003-04:00

(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....

2009-03-19T09:45:00.000-04:00

Now THIS is alarming.

Salon's Broadsheet

2009-03-13T16:38:00.002-04:00

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!

2009-03-12T16:45:00.004-04:00

Affordable Birth Control Restored

2009-03-12T11:24:00.001-04:00

Read about it here.

Nine-year old Brazilian rape victim receives abortion care

2009-03-06T12:35:00.002-05:00

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...

2009-03-03T10:13:00.003-05:00

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

And the winner goes to....

2009-02-24T15:38:00.001-05:00

"A Jury of Her Peers" cover

Recognizing women for excellence in literature and the arts is not exactly popular, to put it mildly.

No woman has ever won Best Director at the Academy Awards. In fact, not even one was nominated this year. In FACT only THREE have been nominated EVER. Men beat that number in 2008 alone. I'm not making this up.
The Guerrilla Girls also lamented with a recent poster: "Do women have to be naked to get into the Met. Museum? Less than 5% of the artists in the Modern Art sections are women, but 85% of the nudes are female."

Laura Miller writes about Elaine Showalter's new book A Jury of Her Peers: Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx in Salon and the prejudices surrounding women in writing:

Every few years, someone counts up the titles covered in the New York Times Book Review and the short fiction published in the New Yorker, as well as the bylines and literary works reviewed in such highbrow journals as Harper's and the New York Review of Books, and observes that the male names outnumber the female by about 2 to 1. This situation is lamentable, as everyone but a handful of embittered cranks seems to agree, but it's not clear that anyone ever does anything about it. The bestseller lists, though less intellectually exalted, tend to break down more evenly along gender lines; between J.K. Rowling & Stephanie Meyer alone, the distaff side is more than holding its own in terms of revenue. But when it comes to respect, are women writers getting short shrift?

Read the whole article:
Why can't a woman write the Great American Novel?

Abortion Law

2009-02-23T11:55:00.002-05:00

A few sad developments in the US abortion law:
- Arkansas has made the performance of so-called "partial birth" abortion services a felony. [NYT]
- North Dakota now requires the following sign to be posted at abortion clinics:

Notice: No one can force you to have an abortion. It is against the law for a spouse, a boyfriend, a parent, a friend, a medical care provider, or any other person to in any way force you to have an abortion.[MSNBC]

The Spanish government is expected to legalize abortion soon. [AP, RH Reality Check]

Also, while taking some time out from class to check up on the news, I came across an article that mentioned a bill going before the Massachusetts house that would remove the parental permission requirement for women under 18 who are seeking abortion care in the state, [WickedLocal] and an article about the various "personhood" initiatives gaining momentum in an number of different states. [Denver Daily News]

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW?

2009-02-19T09:33:00.008-05:00

Click here to read the story about a group of thirteen Grandmothers who, being compelled by individual revelations, came together in 2004 to work against oppression of women and indigenous people the world over.

Very strange, and beautiful.

Salma Hayek on Breastfeeding

2009-02-12T09:42:00.003-05:00

This now viral video from Nightline of Salma Hayek breastfeeding an infant in Sierra Leone is quite touching, as she reaches out in an incredibly intimate way to a child in need while also offering the US a version of motherhood that is stripped of the sterility and artifice so often associated with raising/feeding children in this country.

Of course it's disheartening to read comments that continue to sexualize her and her breasts, even when she is offering such a pure gesture of outreach to a tiny, starving body. so weird!

The Greatest Silence

2009-02-08T10:36:00.002-05:00

Wednesday, February 11 at 7pm
International House Philadelphia, 3701 Chestnut Street
$7 admission, $5 students
Introduced by Dr. Arancha Garcia del Soto

Shot in the war zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), this extraordinary film sensitively yet unflinchingly shows the plight of women and girls caught in that country’s intractable conflicts. Herself a survivor of rape, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lisa Jackson travels through the DRC to understand why this is happening, interviewing activists, peacekeepers, physicians and the indifferent perpetrators. The most remarkable moments of the film come as survivors recount inspiring examples of resilience, resistance, courage and grace. Special Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival 2008.

from International House's website

"The Great Girl Gross-Out"

2009-02-05T15:35:00.004-05:00

from Salon

Salon's article is worth the read:

The great girl gross-out

Female writers are getting more graphic than ever about the messy realities of their bodies. Is it too much information, or enlightened honesty?

By Rebecca Traister

Feminism 101

2009-02-04T16:52:00.005-05:00

For someone with some time on her hands...

To distract myself from getting too down about my current state of (f)unemployment, I am taking a Contemporary Feminist Thought course at Penn. I thought I might share some of the readings with whoever may be interested in revisiting some classic feminist writings. Later in the semester the readings will be more contemporary, but for now we're starting with the first wave.

My first assignment was to read Chapter II of Mary Wollstonecraft's 1792 A Vindication of the Rights of Women, which argues that while ladies are just as smart and capable as men, they often appear to be stupid because they're uneducated and socialized for a life of vanity and caprice. From what I have read, she appears to address rich people exclusively, and her attitude towards the women that she writes about is overly patronizing, but I have to appreciate her good efforts. Particularly interesting is the conflict between the puritanical ideals she espouses in her writing with the tumult of her personal love life.

We also read the Declaration of Sentiments, drafted and signed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and other prominent feminists in 1848 at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, NY. The convention was organized after Ms. Stanton and other women were turned away from a big Abolitionist meeting in England, which apparently only admitted men. Frederick Douglass, ever the gentle man, stood up for the ladies, but to no avail- they were not allowed in! The Declaration, miming the Declaration of Independence, asserts the rights of women in participation in the political, religious, civil, and social arenas, and is really gutsy for something called the Declaration of Sentiments...why did they call it that, anyhow?

Also, we read Sojourner Truth's amazing Ain't I a Woman speech. Ms. Truth, a freed slave, just walked unannounced into a church full of white Abolitionists and told 'em what's what, and then gave the speech again at a Women's Convention in 1851.

Enjoy!!

Not For Sale

2009-01-30T09:45:00.002-05:00

After reading the recent post about sex trafficking and slavery it is hard not to feel upset. However, there are organizations working hard to end this awful practice. One of the organizations is Not For Sale. My brother works extensively with this organization and wanted to pass on some information about how we can all get involved in the movement to end sex trafficking.

Here is what he wrote:

There are 27 million slaves in this world today. That is more than ever before in history. The Not For Sale Campaign is a movement that is dedicated to ending modern day slavery.

Not For Sale aims to educate and mobilize an international abolitionist movement through the innovation and implementation of open-source activism. Inside the United States, the campaign identifies trafficking rings and collaborates with local law enforcement and community groups to shut them down and provide support for the victims. Internationally, the campaign partners with poorly resourced abolitionist groups to enhance their capacity.

To get involved please visit: http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

On the path to equality.

2009-01-29T10:55:00.002-05:00

AP photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari

Today, President Obama is expected to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, fulfilling one of his campaign promises...
Gail Collins' Op-ed:

Lilly's Big Day

Science of desire....

2009-01-26T16:23:00.004-05:00

New York Times Magazine cover

Here's a New York Times Magazine article on some research that came up in a previous discussion... I have only had the chance to read half of it thus far (it's a longer one), but it seems interesting...

What do women want?

He gives me hope.

2009-01-24T13:18:00.002-05:00

One day after the Roe v. Wade anniversary (Happy Anniversary!) Obama lifted the Global Gag Rule. More here.

Nicholas Kristof

2009-01-16T22:30:00.003-05:00

If you haven't been reading Nicholas Kristof's op-eds in the past few weeks (New York Times) on sex slavery and trafficking, please check them out.
Warning- they are hard to handle at times.
Here are some links:
The Evil Behind the Smiles
If this isn't slavery, what is?
Striking the Brothels Bottom Line

And here's his blog on Clinton's reaction to some of these problems during her confirmation hearing and possible State Department involvement:
Hillary Clinton on women in foreign policy

Inauguration update

2009-01-12T16:25:00.001-05:00

Openly Gay Episcopal Bishop to Deliver Invocation at Lincoln Memorial

Lily Ledbetter Bill Update

2009-01-05T12:15:00.002-05:00

According to the New York Times:

Seizing on an issue that resonated in the 2008 campaign, the House is set to vote on the Lily Ledbetter bill, named for the Alabama woman whose pay discrimination complaint was rejected by the Supreme Court because it was not filed within six months of her being treated unfairly – even though she didn’t know it at the time.
The bill was stalled by Senate Republicans last year and Ms. Ledbetter set out on the campaign trail, working on behalf President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats. The bill passed the House easily last year and fell just three votes short of overcoming a Republican filibuster. But with the changed makeup of the Senate, its approval is certain since some of its opponents have retired.

Obama and the black press

2009-01-04T13:13:00.003-05:00

from AP

This article from the Politico is interesting, and I think it relates to women, especially since the readership of most of the magazines its speaks of is largely female.

Obama brings firsts for black press

Progress???

2008-12-29T10:47:00.004-05:00

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...

2008-12-18T11:35:00.004-05:00

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

2008-12-17T11:58:00.004-05:00

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"

2008-12-11T11:45:00.003-05:00

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....

2008-12-03T18:36:00.003-05:00

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

"The Bitch and the Ditz"

from New York magazine

Holiday consumerism...

2008-11-26T10:44:00.005-05:00

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.

2008-11-18T20:07:00.001-05:00

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

One of our own...

2008-11-14T14:37:00.002-05:00

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.

2008-11-13T07:47:00.003-05:00

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

2008-11-11T18:20:00.003-05:00

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

2008-11-11T12:03:00.004-05:00

photo from the candidate's website

Check it out!

The Associated Press

BUST Magazine's Blog

Global Gag Rule

2008-11-10T14:24:00.001-05:00

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

2008-11-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

THIS IS IT

2008-11-04T00:04:00.002-05:00

IT'S NOVEMBER 4~

Women, let's vote!

An Important Reminder

2008-11-02T18:26:00.002-05:00

Brought to you by Jezebel. Check this out.

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

PA Election: Attorney General

2008-11-02T08:50:00.002-05:00

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?

2008-10-30T14:58:00.005-04:00

Salon composite

we'll see.

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

Ladies of the nightly news

The Best Kept Secret

2008-10-30T11:36:00.007-04:00

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!

2008-10-30T11:07:00.001-04:00

Outrageous

2008-10-30T10:05:00.005-04:00

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

2008-10-28T11:44:00.019-04:00

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?!

2008-10-23T11:32:00.004-04:00

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

2008-10-19T10:28:00.002-04:00

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

2008-10-18T16:24:00.004-04:00

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

2008-10-18T12:11:00.006-04:00

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

2008-10-16T10:30:00.002-04:00

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

2008-10-10T12:22:00.006-04:00

Connecticut today joined Massachusetts and California by legalizing gay marriage.

Huffington Post article

MSNBC article

Gender Bias in Fine Dining

2008-10-08T15:48:00.002-04:00

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

2008-10-03T11:43:00.003-04:00

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

Real Women Have Curves?

2008-09-30T12:51:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-24T19:36:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-24T15:31:00.004-04:00

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?

2008-09-24T12:56:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-23T16:08:00.005-04:00

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....???

2008-09-23T11:42:00.002-04:00

Lunch Time Film Series at Temple Law

2008-09-23T11:35:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-23T10:34:00.007-04:00

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

2008-09-22T02:00:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-17T16:32:00.002-04:00

Michelle Obama wrote a blog on PAY EQUALITY FOR WOMEN!

Fighting For Equal Pay

Opinions are like... special snowflakes

2008-09-17T09:52:00.004-04:00

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

2008-09-16T12:53:00.002-04:00

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

2008-09-12T09:34:00.008-04:00

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

2008-09-11T11:46:00.001-04:00

Salon delivers.

Sarah Palin, Feminist.

2008-09-10T17:06:00.007-04:00

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

2008-09-10T14:48:00.006-04:00

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

2008-09-09T13:25:00.003-04:00

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

2008-09-09T12:41:00.004-04:00

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?

2008-09-08T17:02:00.002-04:00

from feministing

Things that make you go...hmmmm

2008-09-04T15:11:00.010-04:00

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....

2008-09-04T11:03:00.000-04:00

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

2008-09-02T12:28:00.009-04:00

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!