At Role/Reboot today, I look at the latest in a string of incidents in USA high school sports where boys have refused to compete against girls. Excerpt: As women integrate themselves into what were once all-male spaces (like universities, corporate boardrooms, and Congress), even the most ardent traditionalists have been forced to accept women’s intellectual equality with men. But that grudging acquiescence to egalitarianism in most public spaces means an even fiercer determination to protect the few remaining all-male bastions, be they Marine barracks or baseball diamonds. As long as there…
Feminism
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Most Topular Stories
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The Real Reason Some Boys Won’t Play With Girls
Hugo Schwyzer15 May 2012 | 9:46 am -
Stay In The Conversation
WordPress.com News15 May 2012 | 6:01 pmIt’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment… -
OK Judge Permanently Blocks Anti-Abortion Law
FMF BlogFMF News Feed | FMF Blog15 May 2012 | 10:41 amAn Oklahoma Judge ruled on Friday that a proposed state law severely restricting medication abortions is unconstitutional, permanently blocking the enforcement of the bill. Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Worthington issued the ruling against the bill, which banned non-FDA approved uses of the drug for abortion, but allowed for off-label use of the same medication for any other purpose. A judge temporarily blocked the law in October but Judge Worthington’s ruling makes the block permanent. In his ruling, Judge Worthington wrote that the bill is “so completely at odds with the… -
Singapore: Importance Of The Hougang By-election (Global Voices Online)
Wikio - Feminism16 May 2012 | 4:15 amFor many netizens in Singapore, the Hougang by-election next week is going to test the popularity of the ruling party. National issues like train breakdowns, wage gaps, and migration policies are expected to be discussed in the local campaigning.Source : Global Voices OnlineExplore : Asia, Politics, Singapore, World -
B-Sides: First Aid Kit, Folk-Music Sister Act
Bitch Blogs15 May 2012 | 4:17 pmWe have included the band First Aid Kit on two previous BitchTapes (Sisters Making Music Together and Queens of Swedish Pop), but it's time to give this band the credit they deserve. read more
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WordPress.com News
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Stay In The Conversation
15 May 2012 | 6:01 pmIt’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment… -
Look at These Gorgeous Blogs
15 May 2012 | 1:05 pmWe’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can… -
Photo Blogging 101, Part 1
14 May 2012 | 10:00 amSpring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including… -
New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen
10 May 2012 | 8:11 amHappy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices… -
Find Friends Who Use WordPress
1 May 2012 | 2:32 pmAre you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
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FMF BlogFMF News Feed | FMF Blog
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OK Judge Permanently Blocks Anti-Abortion Law
15 May 2012 | 10:41 amAn Oklahoma Judge ruled on Friday that a proposed state law severely restricting medication abortions is unconstitutional, permanently blocking the enforcement of the bill. Oklahoma County District Judge Donald Worthington issued the ruling against the bill, which banned non-FDA approved uses of the drug for abortion, but allowed for off-label use of the same medication for any other purpose. A judge temporarily blocked the law in October but Judge Worthington’s ruling makes the block permanent. In his ruling, Judge Worthington wrote that the bill is “so completely at odds with the… -
Survey Finds Decrease in Number of Women CIOs
15 May 2012 | 10:36 amThe number of US women in Chief Information Officer (CIO) positions has decreased since 2010, according to a survey (PDF) released by Harvey Nash USA this week. In 2010, 12 percent of CIOs were women. That number dropped to 11 percent in 2011 and is down to 9 percent this year. The report finds that one third of US CIOs say that within their IT organizations there are no women in management level positions. 52% of US CIOs report that women are underrepresented in their IT organizations, according to the survey. Senior Vice President of International Technology Solutions at Harvey Nash… -
KS Governor Signs Anti-Abortion ‘Conscience’ Bill
15 May 2012 | 10:32 amKansas Governor Sam Brownback signed a bill into law on Monday that gives pharmacists the right to deny women any drug that the pharmacist believes can cause an abortion. Critics have argued that the bill can give pharmacists the right to deny contraception or the morning after pill to women because under the law, pharmacists and doctors have broad power to deny any drugs that they “reasonably believe” could end a pregnancy. This is the fifth anti-abortion law that Brownback has signed since taking office last year. The Kansas state Senate passed the bill earlier this month in… -
Study Released on Young Adults’ Understanding of Contraception
14 May 2012 | 11:02 amA study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute and published in the June 2012 edition of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health demonstrates the link between knowledge of contraceptive methods and avoidance of risky behaviors among young adults. The Guttmacher institute collected data from a nationally representative sample of 1,800 sexually active people between the ages of 18 and 29 in 2009. They reported that “more than half of young men and a quarter of young women received low scores on contraceptive knowledge, and six in 10 underestimated the effectiveness of oral… -
TN Governor Signs Law Banning Education of ‘Gateway Sexual Behavior’
14 May 2012 | 11:00 amTennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed a law on Friday banning schools in the state from teaching students about “gateway sexual activity” in sex education classes. According to drafters of the bill, so-called gateway sexual activity includes any type of “intentional touching of the primary genital area, groin, inner thigh, buttock or breast of a human being.” Under the signed bill, HB 3621/ SB 3310, sex-ed classes will be required to “exclusively and emphatically promote sexual risk avoidance through abstinence, regardless of a student’s current or prior…
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Wikio - Feminism
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Singapore: Importance Of The Hougang By-election (Global Voices Online)
16 May 2012 | 4:15 amFor many netizens in Singapore, the Hougang by-election next week is going to test the popularity of the ruling party. National issues like train breakdowns, wage gaps, and migration policies are expected to be discussed in the local campaigning.Source : Global Voices OnlineExplore : Asia, Politics, Singapore, World -
Today in Right-Wing Identity Politics (Lawyers, Guns and Money)
16 May 2012 | 2:11 amAh, Virginia Republicans, the party that decided after George Allen proved his racism beyond all doubt that they’d like him to run again. Now, they refuse to confirm judges based on their sexual orientation: Shortly after 1 o’clock this morning, the Virginia House of Delegates proved that it can indeed be as mean-spirited and parochial [...]Source : Lawyers, Guns and Money -
China: Motor-Powered Breakfast Crepes (Global Voices Online)
16 May 2012 | 12:28 amThe Presurfer shares a video where we can see how the Beijing Jianbing is made. This large breakfast crepe is made possible thanks to a very steady hand and a motorized wheel that allows a really large and thin crepe to be evenly cooked. Written by Juliana Rincón Parra ·...Source : Global Voices OnlineExplore : Asia, Beijing, China, Politics, World -
Video: Indigenous Video Festival Open for Submissions (Global Voices Online)
16 May 2012 | 12:23 amThe XI International Film and Video Festival of Indigenous Peoples to be held in Colombia during last quarter of 2012 is putting out a call for entries for audiovisual material about indigenous and first people issues and topics.Source : Global Voices OnlineExplore : Politics, World -
Armenia: Concern and Fear After Nationalist Firebombers Released On Bail (Global Voices Online)
16 May 2012 | 12:08 amFollowing the firebombing of of an 'alternative' and gay-friendly bar in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, LGBT and other civil society activists are concerned by the rise of nationalism and hate-speech in the country.Source : Global Voices OnlineExplore : Armenia, Asia, Music, Politics, World
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Bitch Blogs
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B-Sides: First Aid Kit, Folk-Music Sister Act
15 May 2012 | 4:17 pmWe have included the band First Aid Kit on two previous BitchTapes (Sisters Making Music Together and Queens of Swedish Pop), but it's time to give this band the credit they deserve. read more -
End of Gender: Argentina Grants Gender Self-Determination
15 May 2012 | 3:48 pmWhile most governments regulate what trans people can do with our bodies and identity documents, Argentina is taking off the transgender training wheels. We're big kids now. read more -
Douchebag Decree: Side Boobs and Fat Babies—Five Not-So-Subtle Magazine Covers
15 May 2012 | 3:30 pmWe get it. Selling magazines is tough. As a feminist nonprofit swimming in publishing world, we know how hard it is to keep your head above water. (Completely unrelated: Do you have your Bitch magazine digital subscription yet?) But some magazines feel the need to push their publication with provocative cover photos and headlines in order to compete with the Huffington Post. Here are some recent offenders: read more -
Fertile Ground: New Ads Say You Don’t Have to Be a Pickle-Eating Hippie to Get Solar Panels
15 May 2012 | 3:09 pmThis election season, "green energy" seems to be a dirty phrase for many conservatives—if political ads indicate anything, at least. read more -
Lady Business: When You Make More Money Than He Does
15 May 2012 | 1:53 pmThe only upside of being a writer who doesn't make a bunch of money is that it has become a little easier to date. I can't figure out if this is because I have a more flexible schedule, or because I'm happier and therefore more available and sultry-looking, or if it's because I'm less intimidating now that I'm not pulling in five figures. read more
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commondreams.org
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Over One Million Say Shell No! to Arctic Drilling
15 May 2012 | 3:23 pmEnvironmental groups delivered over a million signatures to the White House today demanding President Obama stop Shell's plans for oil drilling in the Arctic. The groups highlighted the potential disastrous impact the drilling would have on Arctic wildlife including polar bears, caribou, walrus, seals and eiders, all already impacted by global warming. read more -
Anti-Wall Street Protesters Upstage Morgan Stanley
15 May 2012 | 3:12 pmAnti-Wall Street protesters -- who purchased the company stock so they could attend as official suit-wearing shareholders -- upstaged Morgan Stanley's annual meeting on Tuesday. Dozens of protesters took turns stepping up to the microphone and blasting the company’s business practices during the question-and-answer session. At one point, they all stood up for a “mic check,” and shouted, “We will not be quiet until we create a system that prevents the 1% from ripping off the 99%!” read more -
Execution Stayed for Mentally Incompetent Inmate
15 May 2012 | 1:05 pmA stay has been issued for the execution of a Texas death row inmate who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia after his lawyers argued his constitutional rights were being violated by being forcibly given antipsychotic drugs so that he could be declared mentally competent enough to be executed, the Texas Tribune reports.(adapted photo from Kurt and Sybilla) read more -
'Terror Group' Who Enlisted Former US Officials on Verge of Potential Payoff
15 May 2012 | 12:03 pmA bipartisan band of former Washington officials and politicians has spent the last two years aggressively advocating on behalf of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MeK), an Iranian dissident group that has been formally designated for the last 15 years by the U.S. read more -
Nuclear Catastrophe Imminent at San Onofre if Guidelines Continue to be Ignored
15 May 2012 | 11:34 amAccording to a new report released by Fairewinds and Friends of the Earth, Southern California Nuclear energy company Edison avoided federal regulatory guidelines when replacing defective steam generators at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, leading to major malfunctions and a release of radiation from defective equipment at San Onofre in January. read more
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Latest articles from Women's eNews
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Cyber-Safety Savants Say Less is Best Online
15 May 2012 | 2:23 amCybercriminals may be "spear phishing" your Facebook or Twitter account. A gorgeous PowerPoint attachment may harbor a malicious program. Women are more vulnerable to online security breaches, so here are a few words from the Web-wise. -
Obama Presses His 2012 Courtship of Women
14 May 2012 | 2:17 amThe president continued his outreach to female voters on Monday with a commencement speech at Barnard College, call to make May 13-19 National Women's Health Week and an appearance on the "The View." -
Vatican Attack on Nuns Reopens My Brother's Wounds
14 May 2012 | 12:54 amCaryl Rivers has not yet forgiven the Vatican for the sexual molestation suffered by her deceased brother. Male church leaders should be seeking forgiveness, she says, not reprimanding nuns who truly do God's work. -
'Part Time' Cleaner Survives by Constant Work
13 May 2012 | 12:17 amRosalina Miranda works at all hours of the day as a cleaner of warehouses and offices in New Jersey. After 15 years she's unhappy about never getting a raise. Her best hope could be lawmakers now debating a proposed hike in the state's minimum wage. -
Vermont's Kunin Reflects on Mom-Career 'Muddling'
12 May 2012 | 1:52 amThe first female governor of Vermont reflects on how she wound up running for office with children aged 3, 6, 8 and 10. In this excerpt from her book "The New Feminist Agenda" she credits, among other things, coming of age in a transitional time.
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Salon.com
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Sacha Baron Cohen’s dark political farce
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmWhat exactly is Sacha Baron Cohen up to? This question, stupid as it may appear on the surface, has intrigued me ever since "Da Ali G Show" began airing in the United States. It's a stupid question because Baron Cohen is a comedian; as "edgy" or "controversial" as his topics and material may sometimes be, his job is to make people laugh. But most comedians don't try to get laughs by interviewing Pat Buchanan or Boutros Boutros-Ghali ("Boutros Boutros Boutros-Ghali," as Ali G introduced him) under false pretenses, or by leading a group of unsuspecting Arizona nightclubbers in a rousing chorus… -
Mother-daughter sexperts
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmMost parents loathe talking to their kids about the birds and the bees, let alone pubic hair grooming, faked orgasms and "water sports" -- but most parents are not legendary "sexpert" Susie Bright.Better than talking about these things, she penned an advice column in 2009 with her daughter, Aretha, then 19, for the ladyblog Jezebel. Their answers to questions about everything from porn to Paxil were unflinching but playful, and at times controversial. Now the pair have collected those columns into a new e-book, "Mother/Daughter Sex Advice." Together, they read as an irreverent version of "Our… -
Should I nail the sexy prof?
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmDear Cary,There is a lecturer in my faculty whom I find devastatingly attractive. I find him so attractive that I have to actively control myself in his presence. I think about him nonstop. I am a graduate student and he is a lecturer. He is probably about double my age, and I am 22. I took one of his classes a few semesters back but won't be in any of his classes in the future. I am sure I have made my attraction as painfully obvious as possible. Should I try to proposition him? What do you think of this sort of age gap? And how do I handle the possible (probable) rejection? I am aware of… -
When text meets art
15 May 2012 | 7:00 pmIn the exhibition "Ecstatic Alphabets/Heaps of Language," which opened on Sunday at the Museum of Modern Art, words are treated as tools and as totems. Gathering text-based work by artists from Marcel Duchamp to Tauba Auerbach alongside contemporary designers like Paul Elliman and Dexter Sinister, the show offers varied takes on how to make meaning out of language, and also how to make a beautiful mess of it—sometimes at the same time.[caption id="attachment_320971" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="A portion of Paul Elliman's Found Fount, at the Museum of Modern Art's… -
Coming soon: Bigger drones
15 May 2012 | 3:51 pmPublic safety agencies can now get expedited permission to fly drones weighing up to 25 pounds in U.S. airspace, according to new rules approved Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration.The size of the craft was the most significant change made by the FAA in responding to a congressional mandate to integrate unmanned aviation vehicles into domestic airspace. In February, Congress passed legislation calling on the FAA to expedite approval for law enforcement and first responder agencies that want to use drones smaller than 4.4 pounds.FAA officials decided to boost the size of the largest…
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feminist blogs
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International Committee in Dakar, Senegal
15 May 2012 | 7:14 pmFind out what happened in the International Committee Meeting in Dakar, Senegal 2012. In this International Committee we had members from Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.We now have 3 new full members: Esplac from Catalonia, OGCEYOD from Cameroon and Liepajas Jaunie Vanagi from Latvia, we also got one new associated member Agrupacion Integridad Absoluta from Chile.We started to work on the next 3 year work plan, and it became obvious that our members would like ‘Children and Youth Participation’ to be the main working area from 2013 on.During the last day… -
African Network Meeting Dakar, Senegal
15 May 2012 | 7:10 pmExciting Updates on the African Network Meeting that Recently took place in Dakar, Senegal We are happy to share with you the exciting experiences that we had during the African Network Meeting in Dakar on 6th May 2012.In the successful meeting young people from IFM-SEI member organisations Pionnniers du Mali, OGCEYOD Cameroon, Mouvement National des Pionniers Senegalais and Action Enfance Senegal participated. The participants decided to form a small coordination team that will be in close contact to update each other about work in their organisations and that will plan common… -
Obama, The First Girl President
15 May 2012 | 3:48 pmVia Digby, I read a piece Dana Milbanks wrote about that:Nonsense. Obama is not the first gay president. He is the first female president.Consider his activities on Monday: He sat down to tape a session with the ladies of ABC’s “The View” — his fourth appearance on the talk show by women and for (mostly) women. He accepted an award from Barnard College and gave the commencement speech to graduates of the women’s school. Heck, he even appeared in public wearing a gown.Obama was still early in his address when he acknowledged that his praise for the young generation of women is “a… -
“Guestimating” the Size of the LGBT Population
15 May 2012 | 11:40 amCross-posted at Family Inequality. There is no one answer to the question, “How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?” But demographer Gary Gates, who works for the Williams Institute at UCLA’s School of Law, has compiled the results from nine surveys that attempt to measure sexual orientation — five of them from the U.S. He estimates that 3.5% of the U.S. population identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, while 0.3% are transgender. Here is the breakdown for the different surveys (click any image to enlarge): He also points out that bisexual identification is… -
Part II: Historical Perspective on the LEGO Gender Gap
15 May 2012 | 11:20 amThe splashy introduction of the new LEGO friends line earlier this year stirred up a lot of controversy. My goal with this set of posts is to provide some historical perspective for the valid concerns raised in this heated debate. ———————— 1989-2003: Gender Ahoy! I discussed the introduction of LEGOs the invention of gendered minifigs, and early efforts to market separately to girls and boys in Part I of this series, covering 1932 to 1988. The segregation of LEGO into feminine and masculine sets would escalate beginning in 1989. That…
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Feministe
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UNITAID: 5 Years of Innovation for Better Health
14 May 2012 | 10:39 amUNITAID, a fantastic international health organization, is marking their fifth anniversary with a detailed and fascinating report. They use innovative financing to improve health care access and save lives. Click through and check out all the excellent work they continue to do. -
Kuttin Kandi: Hiphop, Heart Disease, Fatphobia, and Truth-Telling
14 May 2012 | 10:32 amThis is a guest post by Laurie and Debbie. Debbie Notkin is a body image activist, a feminist science fiction advocate, and a publishing professional. She is chair of the motherboard of the Tiptree Award and will be one of the two guests of honor at the next WisCon in May 2012. Laurie is a photographer whose photos make up the books Women En Large: Images of Fat Nudes (edited and text by Debbie Notkin) and Familiar Men: A Book of Nudes (edited by Debbie Notkin, text by Debbie Notkin and Richard F. Dutcher). Her photographs have been exhibited in many cities, including New York, Tokyo, Kyoto,… -
Shameless Self-Promotion Sunday
13 May 2012 | 7:16 pmDo it. -
Would you like a racist boyfriend?
12 May 2012 | 3:19 pmBecause there are so many racist boyfriends to choose from! (“I’m not racist! I just appreciate ethnic women!” -all of the boyfriends). -
Feministe Book Club: The Hunger Games Chapters 5-9
12 May 2012 | 2:26 pmWe’re in the city now, and stuff’s startin’ to get real. A few themes: Katniss’s preparation (practically purification); the significance of individual appearance; culture shock; privilege; Katniss’s self-awareness (or lack thereof); and, of course, WHAT PEETA SAID. And anything else that jumped out at you. Ready, go. (As always, if you have anything even remotely spoilerish, leave it in comments to the original post and link to it here using just the names of the characters involved. The management appreciates your support.) Next up: Next Saturday, May 19,…
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Hugo Schwyzer
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The Real Reason Some Boys Won’t Play With Girls
15 May 2012 | 9:46 amAt Role/Reboot today, I look at the latest in a string of incidents in USA high school sports where boys have refused to compete against girls. Excerpt: As women integrate themselves into what were once all-male spaces (like universities, corporate boardrooms, and Congress), even the most ardent traditionalists have been forced to accept women’s intellectual equality with men. But that grudging acquiescence to egalitarianism in most public spaces means an even fiercer determination to protect the few remaining all-male bastions, be they Marine barracks or baseball diamonds. As long as there… -
Male Desire, Women’s Body Image
10 May 2012 | 6:59 pmAt Jezebel today, I look at men’s hunger to impress other men — and how that drives their sexual choices. Excerpt: Eating disorders — and the broader problem of poor body image — aren’t unique to women, nor can they be attributed to one single cause. But it’s undeniable that whatever the truth about men’s desires, young women’s perception of “what guys want” plays a huge part in the pursuit of thinness. While the fashion industry deserves some blame for perpetuating an unattainable ideal, men’s refusal to acknowledge the reality of… -
Junior Seau and Middle-Aged Male Despair
8 May 2012 | 10:40 amThis week’s column at Role/Reboot looks at the tragic suicide of NFL star Junior Seau, and the larger issue of rising suicide rates among the middle-aged. Excerpt: According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, since the mid-1990s, the bullying epidemic notwithstanding, teen suicide rates have been headed in the same happy direction as teen birth rates: down. At the same time, suicide rates for middle-aged men and women have been rising dramatically, with white males ages 45 to 54 at the highest statistical risk. Though the AFSP reports that women of all ages attempt to… -
The Philandering Perfectionist Papas of Park Slope: UPDATED
3 May 2012 | 5:23 pmMy latest Genderal Interest column is up: The Cheating Dads of Brooklyn. I look at the recent revelation that the Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope, infamous for perfectionistic parenting practices, is also the home to the greatest number of users of the adultery service Ashley Madison of any community in New York City. Excerpt: If the wealth of Park Slope’s residents enables cheating by reducing moral inhibitions, the notoriously perfectionistic parenting ethos of the community elevates child-rearing to the sine qua non of marriage. In her novel Prospect Park West, Amy Sohn describes… -
“Thank You” in response to “I Love You?” Obama passes the Miss Manners kindness test
3 May 2012 | 11:47 amAs someone who has never believed that private revelations tarnish public dignity, I’ve enjoyed reading the Vanity Fair excerpts from David Maraniss’ new biography of the young Barack Obama. Thanks to Maraniss, we’ve learned much more this week about the future president’s first serious relationship with a slightly older woman, Genevieve Cook. One thing for which Obama is catching some heat is this reported exchange: When she (Cook) told him that she loved him, (Obama’s) response was not “I love you, too” but “thank you” — as though…
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Jezebel
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When It Comes to Mattresses, People Are Opting for Good Sleep Over Good Sex [Sex]
15 May 2012 | 10:55 pm -
Cute Ad Encourages You to Keep Your Pet from Turning Into a Teen Mom [Video]
15 May 2012 | 10:15 pmYour puppy or kitten might look all sweet and innocent now, but they can turn into a slutty pooch or caddy cat before you're even expecting it. As this ad shows, once you start thinking of your adorable little animals as horny teens, it changes everything and suddenly you'll want to do anything to keep them from filling your house with offspring. The clever spot was made by the Best Friends Animal Society in Utah to promote their Fix at Four campaign, which encourages people to get their animals spayed or neutered at four months old. While that's obviously a good idea, can't we also have a… -
May 15, 2012 [The Big Picture]
15 May 2012 | 9:45 pm -
Barack Obama Bends It With Beckham [Snap Judgment]
15 May 2012 | 9:30 pm -
You Might Want to Get Your Whooping Cough Vaccine Since There's an Epidemic Brewing [Health]
15 May 2012 | 8:45 pm
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The Angry Black Woman
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Mitt Romney Inadvertantly Teaches Us A Lesson About The Long Term Effects Of Bullying
11 May 2012 | 2:41 pmYesterday we learned that Mitt Romney, in addition to being a vulture capitalist and a rank political opportunist, was also a schoolyard bully. This is my unsurprised face. John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn’t having it. “He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!” an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann, his close friend… A few days later,… -
I Got Your Book: The Gilda Stories
10 May 2012 | 11:21 pmLike always, we gotta start with some celebrations! Princeless has been nominated for an Eisner! Mary Anne Mohanraj’s collection of SF erotica looks fantastic! Charles Saunders‘ Damballa, was just awarded Best Pulp Novel of 2011! Here’s an excerpt of a review: All of the wondrous trappings of pulp are here in this incredible work: action, adventure, evil scheming Nazis and a hero determined to foil their plot to embarrass the United States, politically, in the boxing ring – the key component here is that Damballa is a black man. Given the classic pulp elements present… -
I Got Your Book: This Time, It’s LITERARY
26 Apr 2012 | 11:43 pmTwo new anthologies prominently featuring authors of color are fundraising RIGHT NOW!!! A review of Kingdom of Gods A review of this month’s Stone Telling On why multiculturalism is just good writing. Hooray for Tayari Jones — reader demands have made her first two books once again available! Annnnnnnnnd here’s Kindred…. as a radio drama. Hooray for Tor’s poetry month! A review of American Dervish highlighting its focus on interfaith relationships A review of the myriad influences on Mirror, Mirror “What do we want? Books! When do we want them? -
I Got Your Book: Into the Wise Dark
12 Apr 2012 | 11:40 pmLet’s begin with some links: Hooray for Linda Addison, whose How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend received a Bram Stoker Award from the World Horror Association! The ToC for Steampunk Revolutions! More discussion of Hunger Games (the last link is to a review that focuses on the movie from an indigenous, social justice oriented perspective) Here’s a link to “The Inconstant Moon” by Alaya Dawn Johnson. Now, onto the review. Neesha Meminger’s Into the Wise Dark focuses on the adventures of Pammi, a girl who lives in the in-between spaces… -
The Power of Performance
6 Apr 2012 | 10:18 pmI received the email below this afternoon, and am re-posting it with permission from Dr. McCune. In it, he emphasizes that activism surrounding Trayvon Martin’s murder must not be conflated with misogyny. ——————— On Wednesday, The Department of Women’s Studies and American Studies–along with African-American Studies and TRIOTA–hosted approximately 100 students, faculty, and staff from across campus to discuss the meaning of the Trayvon Martin tragedy and its aftermath. Together, a UMD Theatre Ensemble, Dr. Jo Paoletti, Dr.
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Muslimah Media Watch
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Maria Toor Pakay vs. the World
15 May 2012 | 1:00 amIn a 2010 television interview, quoted in a more recent article (I was not able to find an original recording of the interview), Pakistan’s highest-ranking female squash player, Maria Toor Pakay, spoke on the rights of women in Pakistan: “Girls don’t get any rights. They cannot go out of the house. They cannot do whatever [...] -
Isabelle Eberhardt: Swiss Explorer, Sufi Adventurer
14 May 2012 | 1:00 amIsabelle Eberhardt’s extraordinary life is the stuff of legends – and movies, and operas. Song From the Uproar: The Lives and Deaths of Isabelle Eberhardt, Missy Mazzoli’s multi-media opera, which premiered this spring, explores the unconventional twists and turns of Eberhardt’s short, “operatic” life. You can see the trailer, the Kickstart video, some excerpts and a shorter [...] -
Friday Links | May 11, 2012
11 May 2012 | 1:00 amVictims of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan cannot rely on the Kyrgyz legal system for help, even though the practice is legally forbidden. One reason for this is that many of these marriages are religious marriages only, and are not registered as civil marriages. According to Kyrgyz official up to 8,000 girls are bridenapped annually, based on [...] -
Dead Muslim Women As Opportunities
10 May 2012 | 1:00 amIn April of 2011, 20 year-old Jessica Mokdad was allegedly gunned down by her stepfather Rahim Alfetlawi. The media uproar over the murder was immediate and, unsurprisingly, cloaked under the sensationalized trope of “honor killing.” While Mokdad’s family, including her biological father, stressed that Alfetlawi had issues of control and was not acting out of [...] -
Book Review: Rughum & Najda by Samar Habib
8 May 2012 | 1:00 amRughum & Najda by Samar Habib is a fictional love story set in ninth-century Baghdad. Rughum, a Muslim woman, meets Najda, a witch who was raised with a Manichean family. Rughum and Najda’s love story is the main story around the stories of several lesbian (or “tharifa”) women in the book. Besides Rughum and Najda, [...]
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WIMN's Voices: A Group Blog on Women, Media, AND…
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2 Broke Girls Finale: Long Duck Dong Redux?
7 May 2012 | 1:59 amAs tonight’s season finale of CBS’s hit new sitcom 2 Broke Girls illustrates, three decades after Sixteen Candles’ cringe-worthy portrayal of foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong, degrading stereotypes of Asian men continue to proliferate in popular media. 2 Broke Girls premiered last fall with the highest rating for a new comedy series since 2001. [...] -
The Bachelor and Bachelorette race discrimination lawsuit: read the complaint here
3 May 2012 | 6:26 pmI’m working on story for The Daily Beast about a racial discrimination lawsuit filed late in April against ABC and the various production teams behind “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette.” I’ve interviewed reality TV producers, high-level media executives, former and aspiring future Bachelor cast members, entertainment lawyers and TV reporters for this piece, which I’ll [...] -
Liveblogging the Sidney Hillman Foundation Awards: Journalism for the public good
1 May 2012 | 6:00 pmThe 2012 Sidney Hillman Awards have begun, as I discussed earlier. To give you a sense of the heavy hitters in independent journalism represented in this room, even the bloggers and press here to cover the event are, themselves, challenging, critical voices in the feminist and independent online media sphere. I am sitting in a [...] -
Liveblogging the Sidney Hillman Foundation Awards: #Hillman2012
1 May 2012 | 5:21 pmI’m liveblogging tonight from the Sidney Hillman Foundation Awards, which honor excellence in journalism for the public good. You can follow @SidneyHillman as well as Hillman staffer and friend-of-WIMN’s Voices, Lindsay Beyerstein, on Twitter, and the team of bloggers who are livetweeting with the hashtag #Hillman2012. Before I begin, some info about the program and tonight’s [...] -
Women rights work get international recognition by the Nobel Peace Prize
20 Apr 2012 | 7:05 amWhen the Nobel Peace awarded Peace Prize to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, her compatriot Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights, the Nobel Committee gave recognition to women who have been demanding for years, the equal involvement of women in all [...]
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Womanist Musings
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We Don't Need Your Opinion On Our Rights
15 May 2012 | 2:18 pmThis is a guest post from Sparky, of Spark in Darkness. Many of you are familiar with him from Livejournal, as well as from his insightful and often hilarious commentary here. Each Tuesday, Womanist Musings will be featuring a post from Sparky. So quite often people want to tell me their opinions about various issues. They want to tell me what they think about marriage equality, or about -
Can We Really Celebrate Serena Williams Making the Cover of Vogue?
15 May 2012 | 12:59 pmI am a huge fan of the no nonsense Williams sisters, so I must admit to a brief squee when I saw this image. The Williams sisters are champions several times over. They have had to deal with people calling them fat, men, as well as racism from both the fans of tennis and referees. To be sure all of the basis are covered they have also been subjected to a dose of sexism. Just about anything -
When It Comes to Same Sex Marriage There is no Other Side
15 May 2012 | 10:00 amAs you might well imagine, I read a lot of blogs. I don't always have the time to leave a comment though. This morning I started my daily blog reading, heading to the normal liberal sites, but when I hit Jack and Jill Politics, I have to say that my lip hit the floor. Jack and Jill normally cuts through the b.s. and gives great commentary, along with some original reporting. I did not expect -
Game of Thrones, Season 2, Episode 7: A Man Without Honour
15 May 2012 | 8:11 amIn Harenhal we have standard shots of grimness and cruelty. Tywin is convinced that the death of his soldier (who was going to reveal Arya’s note stealing last week) was an attack on him. Ser Gregor the Mountain, who is not a Nice Man, is doing lots of hanging and torturing assuming that the death was caused by “the Brotherhood”. And, yes I agree with Tywin, that’s a ridiculously pretentious -
Barack Obama is NOT The First Gay President
14 May 2012 | 10:29 amCheck out this week's cover of Newsweek. Last week, Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. president to state unequivocal belief of same sex marriage. This is an absolutely historic thing for Barack Obama to do however, it simply places him on the right side of history. I don't believe in giving people accolades for doing what is morally right. There has been the suggestion that because
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Our Bodies Our Blog
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Long-term Use of Bisphosphonates Not Helpful for Most Women
15 May 2012 | 9:43 amLast week, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) published a perspective piece on the long-term use of bisphosphonates for reducing bone fracture risk in the New England Journal of Medicine, describing findings from the agency’s September 2011 review of these drugs. The agency had reviewed data from a few studies on longer term (>3 years) use of the drugs, including whether they increased bone mineral density and decreased bone fractures. We wrote about that review in more detail here. Essentially, the agency reported that long-term safety of these drugs was still something… -
Obama Addresses Barnard Grads: “Fight for a Seat at the Head of the Table”
14 May 2012 | 2:53 pmBelow is the text of President Obama’s remarks at Barnard College’s commencement ceremony (as provided by the White House Office of Communications). Let us know what you think! THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, please have a seat. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, President Spar, trustees, President Bollinger. Hello, Class of 2012! (Applause.) Congratulations on reaching this day. Thank you for the honor of being able to be a part of it. There are so many people who are proud of you — your parents, family, faculty, friends — all who… -
Learn More About Inequities in Breast Cancer: Race and Place Matter
14 May 2012 | 2:18 pmBreast Cancer Action is offering a free, one-hour webinar examining the racial and socio-economic factors that influence the health of individuals and communities. Titled “Inequities in Breast Cancer: Race and Place Matter,” the webinar will take place Tuesday, May 15, at 2 p.m. PDT/5 p.m. EST (register here) and again on Wednesday, May 16, at 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EST (register here). “Inequities in breast cancer risk and outcomes vary among different racial and ethnic communities and are well documented,” writes Sahru Keiser, BCA program associate of education and… -
What Mothers Really Want: Right to Care for Family Members and Selves
13 May 2012 | 9:00 amby Ellen Bravo My favorite Mother’s day gifts from my sons were their original stories, songs and poems. But what I needed when they were infants and toddlers was something children can’t deliver: affordable time off when they were born and when they were sick. So for all those candidates and elected officials interested in the women’s vote and eager to prove their support for motherhood and families, here’s a sampling of what mothers want and need, not just one day a year but every day: The right to care for a sick child or personal illness without losing our… -
New CDC Report Finds Trends Toward More, Better Contraceptive Use Among Sexually Active Teen Girls
9 May 2012 | 3:06 pmThe CDC recently released a report on sexual experience and birth control use among female teenagers in the United States. The agency used data from the National Survey of Family Growth for 1995, 2002, and 2006-2010 to look at sexual activity and birth control use among girls ages 15-19. The percentage of teen girls who reported that they had never had vaginal intercourse rose from 48.9% in 1995 to 56.7% in the 2006-2010 period. Of the girls who had had sex in the month before the interview, 59.8% used a highly effective contraceptive method (IUD or hormonal contraception), 16.3% used a…
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Shakesville
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Question of the Day
15 May 2012 | 6:00 pmSuggested by Shaker j0lt, via email: How do you reward yourself after completing a difficult task?j0lt says: "My answer, in treating myself after doing some hideously grimy job, is to take a hot shower while drinking a cold beer—delicious and relaxing!" -
Big Fat Love
15 May 2012 | 5:12 pm[Content Note: Fat hatred, body policing, food policing, bullying.]I know I've said this before, though only on Twitter, but, because I'm seeing a disproportionate amount of shit being flung at fat people—and when it's remarkably more than usual that is SO MUCH SHIT!—as a result of HBO's garbage documentary, The Weight of the Nation, the first part of which aired last night and the second part of which airs tonight, I'm going to say it again: I like fat people.Naturally, I wouldn't really like every fat person, but in the interest of providing a tiny bit of counterbalance to all the… -
Assumption Junction, what's your function?*
15 May 2012 | 4:39 pmDuring a relatively recent visit with some family members, the discussion turned to reproductive rights. I didn't shy away from my own beliefs on the topic and our house guest (who generally seemed to agree with me) came away surprised. Granted this person does not know me very well, being a member of the family for a short time before we moved across the country over six years ago (and, uh, not on Facebook or Twitter). But what they said was that they "never would have thought" that I'd be pro-choice/autonomy/access "because (vague waving of hands at our house) the four children...and… -
Romney Gets the Coveted Dubya Endorsement
15 May 2012 | 3:08 pm"HA HA YEAH! This guy RULES! We're BFFs! And someday he will definitely return the enthusiasm I am showing right now, right? Right, George? Heyyyyyyy! Everybody! Bushisthebest! Wooooooo!"For those of you holding out to see who George W. Bush endorsed before selecting to which candidate to donate your millions of free speech vouchers, he has endorsed Mitt Romney.And it doesn't get more awesome than this in the ol' endorsement game:"I'm for Mitt Romney," Bush told ABC News this morning as the doors of an elevator closed on him.Perfect. Solid endorsement of a terrific candidate by a great man. -
Quote of the Day
15 May 2012 | 1:33 pm[Content Note: Capital punishment; police misconduct; racism.]"Unfortunately, the flaws in the system that wrongfully convicted and executed DeLuna—faulty eyewitness testimony, shoddy legal representation and prosecutorial misconduct—continue to send innocent men to their death today."—From a statement accompanying "Los Tocayos Carlos: Anatomy of a Wrongful Execution," a report produced by Columbia School of Law Professor James Liebman and five of his students after nearly five years of investigation into the arrest, conviction, and eventual execution of Carlos DeLuna for the February…
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The F-Word: Latest features, reviews and blog posts
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Where have all Cannes women directors gone?
15 May 2012 | 5:44 pmArguably the most prestigious (and indisputably most glamorous) film festival in the world opens tomorrow in Cannes, the French Riviera. As it is the Festival's 65th birthday, no-one else but iconic (and resurrected) Marilyn Monroe blows the candles on... -
Weekly round-up and open thread, 7-14 May 2012
14 May 2012 | 4:49 pmHi all Here's this week's round-up of some of the bits around the internet we haven't had a chance to blog about. Please add links in the comments section if there's anything you came across that you want to... -
Parental leave: what's the deal?
14 May 2012 | 6:13 amLaura looks at the issues surrounding parental leave, and explains why it is so important. -
Gaggle update and call for reviewers
13 May 2012 | 4:35 pmWith their debut album From the Mouth of the Cave finally hitting the shops on 4 June, Gaggle have announced that they will be playing the Village Underground on 4 July... -
Rape hidden by marriage in Morocco
13 May 2012 | 2:15 pmGuest blogger Lottie Prince writes about the Moroccan law where rapist can hide behind marriage.
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WordPress.com News
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Stay In The Conversation
15 May 2012 | 6:01 pmIt’s now much easier for you and your commenters to keep track of the conversations you’re involved in across WordPress.com. Some recent tests have shown that by subscribing commenters to new comments by default, they are more likely to stay engaged and come back and comment more on your blog. With that knowledge, we’ve changed the default comment following behavior to help you get more conversations going on your blog. We made the initial changes last week and after great feedback from you we just launched an update. Here’s how it works: By default, posting a comment… -
Look at These Gorgeous Blogs
15 May 2012 | 1:05 pmWe’ve added a user showcase where you can view stunning customizations made by people just like you. From complete redesigns with CSS to adding pizzazz with Custom Fonts to clever use of options like background and header, this showcase will spark your imagination and inspire creativity. Discover details about what each showcase blog is doing with WordPress.com themes and customizations by clicking a thumbnail to see a colophon-style list of credits on the left. We’ve also updated footer links so blog owners can show off the types of customizations they’ve made and visitors can… -
Photo Blogging 101, Part 1
14 May 2012 | 10:00 amSpring is in the air. With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get started on a photo blog. Creating a photo blog is a wonderful introduction to blogging on WordPress.com or an opportunity to refresh your current site. Ready to get started? You can sign up for a new blog right over here. Getting started Photo blogs, sometimes called phlogs, use pictures instead of words. While many photo bloggers choose a type of photo that they want to focus on, such as portraits, others use their photo blog to document their life’s events. Photo blogs come in a variety of styles, including… -
New Themes: Just Desserts and Oxygen
10 May 2012 | 8:11 amHappy Thursday! We’ve added some exciting new themes to our ever-growing collection, and we’re happy to tell you all about them. First out of the oven is…Just Desserts. Yep, that’s a theme! Designed by Andy Rutledge, Just Desserts is a deliciously stylish premium theme that’s perfect for blogs centered on food. With its responsive, single-column layout and unique presentation of images and posts on the front page, Just Desserts gives you a delectable canvas on which your mouthwatering photos and text can really shine — even when viewed on smaller mobile devices… -
Find Friends Who Use WordPress
1 May 2012 | 2:32 pmAre you curious to see how your friends are using WordPress? Give the new and improved Friend Finder a try to connect with your Twitter, Facebook, and Google contacts who have WordPress sites! After authorizing WordPress.com to use your Twitter, Facebook, or Google account to find your friends (don’t worry — none of this account information is saved!) you’ll see a list of people you know who have WordPress sites. Click Follow and each time your friend publishes a new post it will show up in your Reader under Blogs I Follow. If you have multiple blogs, make sure to set the…
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Skepchick
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AI: Stop doing that!
15 May 2012 | 2:00 pmI feel like I spend half my online life clicking “unsubscribe” from people on Facebook. It’s annoying that Facebook automatically subscribes you to people you’re friends with and even more annoying that they even default you to opt-in on annoying people. But worst of all, Facebook thinks the annoying people are the ones I’m most interested in, so all their annoying-people updates flood my feed. How do you know if you’re annoying? If you post a lot of images you think are really funny, that’s a red flag. If a lot of those images are completely text,… -
Skepchick Quickies 5.15
15 May 2012 | 9:07 amAll-girl team wins science competition with ingenious pasteurization contraption – The team developed their invention to be used by Nicaraguan women to pasteurize their milk. Edwina Rogers – Greta Christina on the new executive director of the Secular Coalition for America: “But the problem isn’t just her denial of the political reality of the Republican Party. The problem is also with the way she denied it.” Dangers of chiropractic under reported, study finds – Edzard Ernst lead the study. Clementine Churchill eloquently pwns a sexist dude – In response… -
Review: God Bless America
15 May 2012 | 8:00 amGod Bless America is the latest film from Bobcat Goldthwait, ’80s star and present day indie filmmaker. I saw World’s Greatest Dad last year and mostly enjoyed it, and I’ve really been enjoying Goldthwait’s interviews on shows like Comedy Bang Bang, so I was looking forward to seeing his latest. (It’s in a limited number of theaters this week but it’s already available On Demand, which is how I saw it.) Minor spoilers follow but honestly there’s not much to spoil as the whole film is one-note, and it’s the note you can see in the trailer: The… -
The Most Interesting Monster in The World
14 May 2012 | 2:00 pmOriginally posted on Mad Art Lab. You guys! I am so excited about this fun little project! My main squeeze, Mr Surly Johnny Skaare helped me edit and produce a mockumercial for Death by Puppets based around one of skepticism’s most beloved creatures and pop culture’s favorite beers. It was SO fun to do! Scott Sigler did the announcer voice over. My mother, Charlene Roth and my pal, Charles Pillsbury helped make puppets. Our very own Treelobster-Steve wrote the script. I did the filming, some puppeteering and all the artsy set design. Johnny is the voice of Chupacabra. Now, let the… -
ICYMI: May 6-May 12 on the Skepchick Network
14 May 2012 | 10:00 amHelloooooo! Pull yourself out of bed, sleepy! It’s time to catch up on what happened last week on the Skepchick Network. Did you know that you are legally obligated to read all of these highlights before you get on with your day? It’s true.* Trust me. I’m a lawyer. *It’s not true. But you should do it anyway. Teen Skepchick Religion, Memes, and Circular Logic: How Religion Invades People’s Minds Aurora explores the self-perpetuating meme that is religion. Dinosaurs in Space: Why the Hell Not? What are the odds that there are intelligent space dinosaurs? Pretty…
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Viva la Feminista
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EarthTalk Tuesday: How to "Fair Trade Your Supermarket"
15 May 2012 | 8:30 amEarthTalk® E - The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What is the “Fair Trade Your Supermarket” campaign? -- Brian Howley, Washington, DC A project of the non-profit Green America, the “Fair Trade Your Supermarket” campaign aims to empower consumers to advocate for more “Fair Trade” products on store shelves at their local supermarkets. Fair trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities and the environment by ensuring that farmers and artisans throughout the developing world are paid fair prices for their work and have direct involvement in the marketplace. -
MIRCI CFP: Adrienne Rich Symposium, Oct. 20, Toronto
14 May 2012 | 8:30 amCALL FOR PAPERS Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI) ONE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON ADRIENNE RICH October 20, 2012, Toronto, Ontario, Canada In celebration of the life and work of Adrienne Rich (1929-2012) Poet, Essayist, Radical Feminist, Anti- War Activist, Mothering Theorist, and Author of Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Institution and Experience. We welcome submissions from scholars, students, activists, workers, artists, and others inspired by the work of Adrienne Rich. Cross-cultural, historical and comparative work is encouraged. We are open to a variety of… -
All-aboriginal King Lear at Canada's National Arts Centre
10 May 2012 | 8:30 amSee the woman jumping? That's one my new friends, Tantoo Cardinal, practicing for the all-aboriginal "King Lear," which opens this Friday at Canada's National Arts Centre. We met on the NWI delegation in January. She talked about this production and was so excited. I wish I could make it up to see it! But if you are in Ottawa, please try to see it...for me! It's getting some great press about the boundaries this production is crossing: For decades, Schellenberg was told there simply weren't enough working aboriginal actors to pull off the Lear of his dreams. In 2012, however, director Peter… -
Introducing Earth Talk Tuesdays
8 May 2012 | 8:30 amI am proud to announce a new partner for Viva la Feminista! Each week, if the story fits, I'll be sharing the latest EarthTalk column from E Magazine. Environmental issues are definitely feminist issues and even more so feminist mom issues. I felt this way for many years and even felt more connected to the environmental movement before the feminist movement. However, after my trip to Guatemala in January, I am even more certain that what happens to the Earth is an issue for feminists to pay attention to. With that in mind, I present the first in the columns and it hits far too close to home. -
Book Release: Mother-Talk: Conversations With Mothers of Lesbian Daughters and FTM Transgender Children
30 Apr 2012 | 8:30 amDemeter Press is pleased to announce the release of: Mother-Talk Conversations With Mothers of Lesbian Daughters and FTM Transgender Children by Sarah F. Pearlman Mother-Talk is a collection of stories of twenty-four mothers--twelve who found out a daughter was a lesbian and twelve who learned that a child, once a biological female, was planning to transition to male--capturing the complexity of coming to terms with the loss of a daughter who has changed sex or an anticipated relationship with a daughter, now a lesbian, who lives in a different world and will lead a different life. This…
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Femagination
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Thoughts on Femininity and Feminism
29 Apr 2012 | 8:32 amOn Facebook today, “Muslim Feminists” asked the question, “What makes you feel feminine?” Apparently there was a discussion about this on a radio show and the women who called in said everything from dangling earrings to being on their periods. I commented that I feel feminine when I get dressed up to go somewhere. And I feel maternal (which I suppose is a subset of femininity) when I’m around children (including my own, who are grown). But the rest of the time I feel androgynous. I happen to believe that gender behavior is largely socialized and that somehow I… -
Happy Birthday to the Founder of Modern Feminism
27 Apr 2012 | 4:21 pmStrengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience. Taught from infancy that beauty is woman’s sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison. Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to the sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority. These are all quotes from the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft, British writer and social theorist, who was born 253 years ago today. Think about it: that was before the… -
A New Book Series for Girls (8-12)
10 Apr 2012 | 9:38 amThere is a new series for girls coming out which sounds like just the thing for budding feminists (or feminists’ daughters). None of the books have been published yet (more about that later), but I thought they were interesting enough to report on. Watch this video, then read the description below it. Wollstonecraft London 1826: The Advent of the Steam Age 11-year-old Ada has a problem: her governess, Miss Coverlet, has quit her job to go get married (a dumb idea if ever there was one, if you ask Ada) and her new tutor Percy (“Peebs”) is a total drip. She’d rather be… -
Adrienne Rich: Not Just a Feminist Poet
9 Apr 2012 | 9:25 amAdrienne Rich died last Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at the age of 82. If it is at all fair to sum up a poet’s work in one word, in her case it would be “feminist.” But of course it isn’t fair, or accurate, to do so. Rich wrote about so much more than feminism. It is true that she became known as a feminist poet partly because her poetry gained recognition during the early days of the Women’s Liberation Movement. In fact, her third poetry collection, Snapshots of a Daughter-in-Law, was published the same year as Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique (1963). -
Why Fight the War on Women?
2 Apr 2012 | 7:23 amThere’s been a lot in the news lately about the War on Women. What most people don’t realize is that this “war” isn’t only about abortion. It’s a series of battles over a woman’s right to live her life purposefully. This doesn’t just mean her right to birth control or abortion. That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Women are still having to fight for these things and more: access to education jobs, promotions health benefits reasonable rates for life and health insurance maternity leave and other accommodations for child-rearing effective…
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Kitsch-Slapped
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A Poignant Pause
12 May 2012 | 7:26 amI originally found this photo of Erik Lee Kirkland watching his mother, Gypsy Rose Lee, perform while censor is watching performance on alert for over-exposure when creating Gypsy Rose Lee;... -
Thoughts On Gypsy Rose Lee
10 May 2012 | 3:39 amI recently, again, watched Natalie Wood’s Gypsy (1962). While the film is stunning — as rich & saturated in period color as it is fashion and sex appeal, I’m always... -
A Different Kind Of Convertible
9 May 2012 | 7:00 pmWith this convertible house dress shown in Jet Magazine (April 1, 1954), you don’t let your top down — you show off your petticoat! -
Going To Hell In A Handbag?
8 May 2012 | 4:12 amTwo thoughts regarding Vote With Your Purse: One, this is a very similar philosophy to that of the National Housewives League, which means I like it. Two, the fact... -
Winning The Book On Fashion
7 May 2012 | 1:40 pmOr at least I hope to. Lingerie blogger Slip Of A Girl is giving away a $100 gift certificate to Shopbop. To enter, all you really have to do is...
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Gender Focus - A Canadian Feminist Blog
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The Round-Up: May 15, 2012
15 May 2012 | 7:35 amChloe at the Ms. Magazine blog writes about why it makes sense to celebrate access to birth control on Mother’s Day. Another belated Mother’s Day link – Queerty has put together a slideshow of 6 political mothers standing up for marriage equality. Canadian women soldiers are in Australia advising Australian women soldiers on serving in combat, which they will be doing as of 2013, 13 years after Canadians (via ABC News). The Mary Sue pays tribute to Evelyn “Mama Bird” Johnson, a record-breaking pilot who passed away last week aged 102. Xtra reports on last… -
Things My Mother Taught Me
13 May 2012 | 2:10 pmby Jarrah Hodge How to do stage makeup How to pick stinging nettles That it’s important to take care of yourself How to make Ukrainian Easter Eggs That we are all inextricably connected to the Earth and it is important to protect her The difference between banana slugs and garden slugs That embarrassing childhood pictures are fair-game for showing to your adult friends That religion doesn’t have to be oppressive To have the patience it takes to find great things in a thrift store That having someone who is always there to listen when you’re having a bad day or a bad week or… -
Take Back Mother’s Day
13 May 2012 | 7:01 amChanel Dubofsky’s work has appeared in the Forward, Tablet, the Jewish Women’s Archive, and the Pursuit of Harpyness. She is the creator of the Marriage Project, an interview series on marriage in imagination and reality, at her blog, Diverge. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. I was once what you might call “bad” at Mother’s Day. When my mother was alive, I would constantly forget it, make plans on the day of, not call, etc. This was due to the incredibly complicated relationship I had with my mother, to her long illness and me not being the kid she thought she’d have,… -
I Am Dalit, Hear Me Roar
12 May 2012 | 8:34 amby Matilda Branson Correct me if I’m wrong – and I always hope I am – but I doubt many are familiar with the current status of Nepal’s political situation. Basically, it is politically unstable and has had a transitional government at its helm for the past few years. On the 27th May 2012 the new Constitution will come out, hopefully including within it the rights of many of the country’s minority groups. One such group currently lobbying the government for their rights to be included within the Constitution are Dalit women. Who are Dalits? Think of the caste systems prevalent in… -
The Two Faces of Time: Answering “Are You Mom Enough?”
11 May 2012 | 12:40 pmJessica Mason McFadden writes, studies and mothers in Western Illinois, where she lives with her wife and daughters. Jess graduated from Western Illinois University in 2006 with a B.A. in English. She will be pursuing a graduate education in English next fall. Jess identifies as a queer feminist and manages a wrecking blog at masonismymiddlename. blogspot.com. Visceral reactions are where it’s at when it comes to Time Magazine’s cover story, “Are You Mom Enough?” While the topic of attachment parenting is relevant and in need of intelligent discourse, it’s the cover that’s making…
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the ch!cktionary
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My friends and I do this thing where we celebrate all major...
7 May 2012 | 2:46 pmMy friends and I do this thing where we celebrate all major events/reunions by making pies. Mostly, this is because we have an expert baker in our group who single-handedly produces pie spreads like this one. I, on the other hand, can only make one type - key lime! - which I argue is the best kind, though some people dispute its status as a pie given its short baking time (blasphemy, I say!). I have produced key lime pie for a myriad of special occasions, including my dog’s birthday and finals period. Given that it is also Kennedy’s favorite, it seemed appropriate for the festivities :)… -
In DC visiting one of my besties from college. Folks came from...
7 May 2012 | 12:55 pmIn DC visiting one of my besties from college. Folks came from six different states to surprise the birthday girl :) I’m in town until tomorrow and then headed back to Boston where I need to get many life things in order. (Yes, Kennedy is wearing an 80s prom dress. This is because she is awesome.) -
Above was my in-flight reading today :) I just got to DC a...
5 May 2012 | 2:42 pmAbove was my in-flight reading today :) I just got to DC a couple hours ago. I’m here until Tuesday to see my friend Kennedy. (A bunch of us flew in to surprise her for her 25th birthday!). I’m meeting up with tons of people (who I might not see for a long time when I move) and in between, trying to write write write as much as possible. I promise I will cease posting book covers in lieu of actual photos as soon as I get a chance to go through my pictures from Provincetown ;) -
So! The above was filmed two years ago when I was a college...
30 Apr 2012 | 2:41 pmSo! The above was filmed two years ago when I was a college senior. I had just met filmmaker Therese Shechter who was working on the documentary HOW TO LOSE YOUR VIRGINITY, and we were both attending an abstinence conference being held at Harvard. It was the first spark of inspiration for the Rethinking Virginity conference I planned later that spring. My 22-year-old self’s camera presence aside, Therese’s awesome project is now so close to being completed but we need your help! In her words: Our goal for How To Lose Your Virginity is to undo centuries of myths and contradictions around… -
"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."
30 Apr 2012 | 1:01 pm“Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” - Oscar Wilde
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The Lesbian Mafia
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News Media Sucks
2 May 2012 | 11:10 amThis is outrageous, Woman gets 2 life terms for raping infant daughter it really is an outrage that they use headlines like this to shock and disgust people when we ALL know it couldn’t possibly be so, which is WHY it horrifies us so much and WHY we HAD to scan it to find “the [...] -
(80) What Are We Talking About?
26 Apr 2012 | 2:51 pmCiao, hello! Long time. Ignore the color of the audio player (on the site) it’s ugly and needs to be changed. Nicole begins with an audio apology for being a slacker s.o.b so I “audio” answer because these bitches do NOT help me for shit! Let’s hope they aren’t as LAZY in the sack as [...] -
Rufus Wainwright – Jericho [Black Cab Sessions]
26 Apr 2012 | 12:38 amReally in the zone…Click more to watch VIDEO -
WATCH: How Did the Lady-Pundits on Fox ‘News’ Get to Be the Greatest Punding Punderers?
20 Apr 2012 | 1:59 pmAsk the men in their lives! (And no, we’re not “hating on conservative women,” WE are more “conservative” than those liberal feminist neo-cons in wolves’ clothing. For crying in night!!! WE are hating on shit-whore shills.) We’re just showing you how they got so great at punding! This is how! -
WATCH: Our Favorite Fox “News” Segments Are The Ones With Their Lady-Pundits Punditing
19 Apr 2012 | 8:58 amVIDEO
