I am so excited that there's more action against offensive billboards. Word up.

Regarding the "pink" article... I completely agree. I think going overboard on the color, just because its stigma in society as soft, cuddly and non-threatening, makes people seem like just that. I kinda comparing it to buying into the whole 'disney princess' model of things.

Besides, it is SO limiting. Even if I liked the color pink, I look awful in it. There have been plenty of times I've seen a shirt I really like only to say 'if it was in some color other than pink, I'd buy it'. I'm a color 'blue' person myself. No double meaning there, I just think it looks good on me for one and too, it is a relaxing color.

It just seems to be ok to be fanatical about any other color and not be stigmatized.

On another note, we've known for years that kids notice everything in the world around them, including gender roles. I want to see some research though on young children and their perception of normal gender roles in single parent (mother or father) households, or where the traditional roles are reversed with dad staying home and mom working.

It wasn't already illegal to discriminate against transgendered people in New Jersey? The equal protection clause of the 14th amendment should have established the illegality of such discrimination already.

A lot of interesting reading to do there.
I like the color pink, dammit! (not that Pepto shade though) I wish more people of both genders would wear pink to help eliminate the baby girl stigma.
And Barbie's power could be used for good. She has interesting careers and her own home and car. If only Mattel would drop the pretty princess bullshit already. Maybe do more to educate little girls on what it takes to become an astronaut or a doctor rather than just put Barbie in an astronaut or doctor outfit and call it a day.
She's also another perpetuater of the pink stigma!

"Worse yet, I heard the tragic news that Lori had died at the Iraqi hospital. I was devastated. And I felt guilty—she had gone to Iraq to be by my side. I’d lost my best friend. Her kids had lost their mom."

I couldn't stop the flow of tears when I read that line from Jessica Lynch's story.

"In January, I gave birth to my daughter. She’s a miracle because I didn’t know if my injuries would prevent me from having children. Her name, Dakota—it means “friend� in a Native American language—is a reminder of Lori, who was the first Native American woman to die in combat for America on foreign soil. My daughter shares Lori’s middle name, Ann, as well. I think of Lori every day."

Lets make sure Jessica Lynch's friend Lori is never forgotten.

Re: The sexist billboard in Illinois. There's a poll on the page. At this point 64.3% of respondents say the billboard is "appropriate."

Go over there and vote No.

How on Earth is conspiracy to commit murder not worthy of prison time? Probation is completely inappropriate here, especially for just 3 years. *scowl*

I can't see the billboard article -- it's subscribers only.

I too cannot see the billboard, what happened?

I, for one, was deeply disturbed by the billboard in many ways, among these being the fact that it recommends that the beautiful 20-something (I don't think she looks a day over 25 at most) model get botox for her "facial lines and wrinkles." Are you kidding? I'm only 20, does that mean that I am supposed to start thinking about botox now?
As for the color pink, I am not a huge fan, but I don't feel like wearing it/ owning things that are pink infantilizes me... the color looks good with my skin tone is all.
ShifterCat and UltraMagnus: you just need to register with the site. Its free and takes all of 2 minutes.

Thanks sasha, initially i thought you had to have a subscription to the newspaper to access the site.

As far as the age of the model, it's preferred (and recommended) that you start early if you're going to get plastic surgery so that it doesn't take a huge overhaul of you face, making it look like someone stuck a cat in a windtunnel.

If you do it that way your body also heals faster/better It's sad but it's becoming the norm for women in their 20s to start botox to keep the wrinkles from ever forming in the first place.

Registered, saw the ad, voted against it.

It's no wonder that so many models are reported as having low self-esteem: they do all this work maintaining their appearance, only to be told that their "flaws" need to be "fixed" or airbrushed away.

And the very idea of having botulism toxin injected into my face makes me shudder.

I don't think that there's anything inherently infantilizing about pink, but some of the marketing for pink things definitely sucks: "Oh, we'll make a 'girl version' in pink and charge more for it! 'Cause women are so caught up in accessorizing that they won't notice." Pink, like most vibrant colours, is best used sparingly, or as an accent.

A California man has been sentenced to probation for plotting to kill an abortion provider.

I have two pink shirts. I do not yearn to be a little girl again. ;)

If you'd prefer not to have to register to read the billboard article, go here for a dummy account:
http://www.bugmenot.com/view/www.chicagotribune.com

Re: Google Maps - I wonder if this isn't sheer paranoia. I was under the impression the satellite images shown are not real-time, and in any case, not every woman goes to PP for an abortion.
I suppose it's possible a really hard-core anti-choice stalker could track down a woman from an out-of-date Google photo of her entering a clinic, and then proceed to harass her for *maybe* having had an abortion...but it seems like a lot of trouble to go to for your average sane person.

I could be wrong about the delay in the photos, though.

I live in the burbs of Chicago and saw that billboard, but i think i saw it at a different location than the one they talk about, as i live on the southwest side. It really bothered me when i saw it, however, so hopefully that was the only one. Kudos to those awesome ladies for getting it down!

I clicked on the Google Maps link, and the site had an ad on the corner for a "Pro-Life Calendar", with "before-and-after birth" pictures of babies.

I'm sorry, but they picked some fugly babies for the calendar. Doesn't really convince me to join their side.

On pink- I hated the color until I helped start a local chapter of Code Pink, then I had to buy tons of it. It didn't take long for my pink shirts to become daily wear, once I realized how nicely the color brought out the healthy (natural) glow in my cheeks. :) Vain yes, infantilizing no. At least, not that I ever noticed. I do not favor anything lacy or frilly, though, which makes a difference in the "little girl" effect.

I never felt more infantilized and demeaned than when I had to go to my local 'breast health center' for an ultrasound guided biopsy. The explosion of pastel pink kitsch (pink stethoscope and lounge chair!) made me feel silly and childish. As if my medical concerns will vanish if I am wrapped in a baby pink robe and poked at with pink instruments. I felt as though I was not taken seriously and how could I be when I looked and felt like a five-year-old. There is really no male equivalent to this kind of medical treatment.