There's a new in-depth report on the Global Gender Gap (PDF).
The U.S. named the first female four-star General, Ann E. Dunwoody.
Audio: New America Media on the glass ceiling for Asian American women.
The latest Carnival Against Sexual Violence is up now at abyss2hope.
Rachel Setzer on why we still need an ERA.
Aimee Wilcoxson, a transwoman from Aurora, CO, was found dead in her apartment. Police say it's suicide, but her friends and family say she was murdered.
The Women's Appointments Project, which pressures incoming presidents to appoint women to high-level positions, is running out of cash.
Rebecca Traister on the mom-ification of Michelle Obama. Gina MacCauley's alternate take.
Die-hard Beatles fan Cara lists the top (bottom?) five anti-feminist Beatles songs.
A sex-trafficking group operating out of the UK and Thailand has been broken up.
How not to make the case for organ donation.
Single mothers' college attendance has dropped.
My review of Jeanne Flavin's Our Bodies, Our Crimes and Carol Gilligan and David A.J. Richards's The Deepening Darkness is up at Bookforum.
Girls in Afghanistan are staying home from school after a series of brutal acid attacks.
Check out the National Women's Law Center's Platform for Progress, which "offers concrete proposals and outlines steps that should be taken by the new Congress and Administration in the areas of education, employment, basic economic security, health, and legal rights."
A Pakistani 17-year-old, Taslim Solangi, "was forced to give birth, and the baby was thrown into a canal. Taslim was then put in front of dogs to be mauled, and subsequently shot dead." Female senators in Pakistan staged a walkout to demand better protections for women.
Another reminder that new media isn't much better than old media when it comes to women's bylines.
A woman was banned from British department store Marks and Spencer after she pulled an emergency bell because her wheelchair was stuck in a bathroom. The store deemed her a "health and safety hazard"?!! WTF.
The U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs has new shelters and outreach efforts for homeless female vets.
Jessica Yee on Barack Obama and the Native vote.
Actions
A fund has been set up to help cover Duanna Johnson's funeral expenses. Jack at Angry Brown Butch suggests that folks match the donation they made to No on 8.
Tell the Bush administration -- again -- not to implement that HHS rule protecting employees who want to exercise their antichoice beliefs.
Call for submissions: The Body as a Site of Discrimination - A Multidisciplinary, Multimedia Online Journal.
Events
New York, NY: Paradigm Shift: A discussion of feminism and motherhood with Amy Richards on Nov. 19.
New York, NY: Toward a Greater Understanding: Transgender Identity and the Jewish Community on Nov. 25. More info here.
Portland, OR: Susie Bright speaks on the Sexual State of the Union on Nov. 18.
Washington, DC: Feministing/Racialicious happy hour on Nov. 18!
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FYI- Aimee Wilcoxson lived in Aurora, Colorado.
Okay thought I would add this
A woman who was fired for being stalked and why we need to go after advertisers who use images that are demeaning to women to promote a product.
Fixed, thanks jen.
And I forgot to add-- feel free to post links to what you've been reading/writing in comments! Thanks for the links, Renee.
two posts about adoptions in tv shows
http://mzbitca.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/a-slightly-better-executed-adoption-story-line/
http://mzbitca.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/this-may-sound-mean-but/
Oh, man, I wish I could go to the Feministing/Racialicious happy hour thing. I've just recently started reading these two blogs and you guys do an amazing job!
Off topic, but I wanted to ask for some feedback from any of you who are interested regarding a discussion I'm having over at a romance blog I frequent. The topic up for discussion is chick lit and how one author, who's books are categorized under this genre, feels that it's a derogatory term towards women and this is why men and women routinely shun books from this genre.
I really feel that the mainstream entertainment industry is male-dominated and often see female-centred texts like movies, television shows and entire book genres are dismissed as 'chick lit' or 'chick flicks'. I see this as a pretty big problem that we're still struggling with but none of the women there see anything in it. Some of them seem outright hostile to any kind of feminist argument and I just can't seem to articulate myself.
I don't mean that I want anyone to go over there and argue for me but I'm terrible at debates and I really can't seem to articulate my point:
http://karenknowsbest.com/2008/11/14/heart-lit-instead-of-chick-lit/#comments
Sorry for spamming this entry. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
"Chick lit" annoys me. It is a denigrating term, and I'm not partial to "Chick" either. Plus, there's no opposite for dude lit, because if women like something designed for men, they're cool, but men simply aren't allowed to like something designed for men. However, the quoted sections annoy me, and heart lit makes me think more of Chicken Soup for the X than light, poppy romance stories.
i think "dude lit" would be tom clancy or robert ludlum
Please ignore my second comment! I wasn't sure if my reply worked! ;D
Thank you so much for you reply, nightingale! I agree with you. It feels like there's a double-standard going on.
Thanks for commenting, nightingale! I definitely agree that there seems to be a double standard.
I don't shun "chick lit" because of the term. I shun it because I think it's trash.
I went through a very brief phase where I read Bridget Jones' Diary and similar books, and The Devil Wears Prada and similar books, and it really left me worse for the wear. They're like cotton candy--fun in small doses but not nutritious.
Mostly, I'm insulted by the fact that contemporary authors think that all I care about are dieting, partying, 30somethings in the upper class trying to net that hot guy and drink all the fluorescent colored drinks they want in high heels that cost several months' of my rent.
I do have fun and light reading but if it has a pastel cover with a picture of a handbag on it or the word "shopping" then I won't read it.
To be honest, I haven't read much 'chick lit' either but I do know that some of it deals with some very important themes. I've heard British author Dorothy Koomsoon is good, the one who's mentioned in the link.
But you're right; some of them seem to support a stereotype about how you should be acting in your 30s and it's ridiculous. At least romance novels give more variety of personality types, jeez.
I like Bridget Jones because I think those book are very good satire of the themes in most chick lit (the movies seem to have missed that they were supposed to be satire, though).
But, I don't like much other chick lit. In fact, can't think of any others off the top of my head.
Yeah, I agree with you about Bridget Jones, definitely. And I also haven't read too many other authors. It just seems so silly that they promote all these stereotypes about women when they're supposed to be enjoyable and empowering for all women. =p
I like Bridget Jones because I think those book are very good satire of the themes in most chick lit (the movies seem to have missed that they were supposed to be satire, though).
But, I don't like much other chick lit. In fact, can't think of any others off the top of my head.
I have mixed feelings about General Dunwoody. On the one hand, I'm glad to see a woman advancing, but on the other hand, I generally find participation in the military-industrial complex to be depresing. Don't read the comments at the story if you want to preserve your hope for humanity.
***
Unfortunately, I can't find a link to the interview but the latest issue of Geek Monthly had an interview with Gail Simone of the Women in Refrigerators blog and the first woman ongoing writer for Wonder Woman. I'm not really into superhero comics (Except the Buffy Season 8 comic) but it's a really interesting interview if anyone can find it.
Ugh, sorry for the bad HTML. Women in Refrigerators.
Thanks for the blog traffic, Ann. :D
The Global Gender Gap report is really cool especially when you look at it from the perspective of the other links. Specifically, the glaring hole for not most but all countries is the under representation of women in politics. If you then reference the article about the Pakistani female senators walking our it becomes clearer how important it is to eradicate the gap in politics.
If Andrew Sullivan makes u retch then here is an Excellent post at Femisex.com :
http://www.femisex.com/content/asked-and-answered-the-atlantic-asks-should-women-rule-world-the-atlantic-gives-90-its-bylin
"The Atlantic asks: Should Women Rule the World; The Atlantic gives 90% of its byline space to Men, Pays Misogynist Andrew Sullivan to write about Hillary’s “Cooties” and Palin’s “Massive Boobs” and “Porn-style Pumps”
Re: Misogynist Beatles Songs
Seriously?? I have to hate the fucking Beatles now?? Holy shit, when will it end??!
Look, I'm really sorry, but it gets SO TIRING learning about all of these things that I am now supposed to be against to be a "good feminist". (And YES I realize that nowhere does it say that in either post, but honestly, I believe that's what a lot of these posts imply to me.) I absolutely adore the Beatles, and it has NOTHING to do with the lyrics of their songs! In fact, almost all of the music I love and hold dear has nothing to do with lyrics. There is more to loving music than the supposed "message" a song is conveying. I happen to love the Beatles because of the feeling they give me; I listened to them growing up, and they give me that "simpler time" feeling in my heart, which is a feeling I am having a harder and harder time grasping these days. I couldn't give a shit what the "real, deeper meaning" of some of their songs are... Shit, they could be singing about deep fried monkey balls and I still wouldn't give a rat's ass. And I absolutely refuse to call it a "guilty pleasure", because there is nothing shameful to me about the music I enjoy. There are a LOT of songs that have underlying messages of intolerance and hatred - does that mean I can't enjoy a tune ever again?? Like I said, I grew up listening to this stuff, and *I* turned out just fine - in my opinion - and there is no way I am going to let anyone tell me otherwise just because "Martha My Dear" is one of my favourite Beatles songs.
I understand how important it is to call out and decry sexism and misogyny, but for crying out loud, it really seems to me that some people have absolutely nothing better to do than actively search out the misogyny in every single thing in the world since the beginning of time. IMO, if that's all one ever does, then when is there time to enjoy life?
Sometimes I think some of us forget to slow down and give that sunshine outside a chance to shine down on us, and take the time to sniff those pretty flowers. Yes, there is a lot of seriously fucked up shit happening in the world right now, but does that mean I have to be miserable ALL time??
/end rant
The part that gets me about that? They're GONE. They aren't even making MUSIC anymore. Am I not supposed to enjoy Shakespeare because he espouses "misogynist" philosophies? What about Ovid or Virgil? Homer? Am I allowed him? Heck, even Sappho, the first female poet, was misogynist by our modern standards.
Stick to MODERN music/books/cinema/etc to fight sexism, unless you want to obliterate every single classical work from the public consciousness.
Yeah, you do both realize that I wrote the post and am more positively obsessed with the Beatles than any person ought to be? My entire Xmas list is made up of Beatles memorabilia. I can't remember the last time I listened to non-Beatles music. And I wear a John Lennon ring every day. The point is that the songs are anti-feminist. Not that we ought to burn Beatles records like when John said that the band was bigger than Jesus. If the handful of misogynistic Beatles songs out there are too much for you to still like the band, that's your deal, but one that certainly can't be pinned on me. I'd advise the exact opposite. But that doesn't make those particular songs any less anti-feminist.
I think it's funny that while most people get the post and that it was all in good fun, others are taking it really seriously. So I'm sorry that I've upset you, Mz. Stiletto, but I do think there's been a serious misunderstanding here.
Anyway, thanks for the traffic, Ann. Seriously, I don't think that a single link has ever gotten me so many visits before. In fact, I'm really glad that the word "Beatles" can drive so many blog hits among feminists! What great news!
Yeah, well you know what??
*yawn*
I'm real sorry, but sometimes I really just couldn't give a shit.
You know that scene in Star Wars where C3PO kept spouting off statistics that no one wanted to hear? And they wanted him to shut up or shut off? Yeah, this feels a lot like that. We KNOW things were a bit more heavy on the misogynystic side back then. We are fully aware.
But sometimes, it just gets really fucking annoying when someone feels like they have to wave it in everyone's faces all the time. Like, "Hey guys, look at this! They're anti-woman! Hey! Hey look what I found! Hey everyone, I found anti-woman messages in THIS and THIS and THIS and THIS...."
*sigh* Yeah, we know. Why don't you go for a walk or something, get some fresh air and sunshine?
Ultimately, I think it's a good idea for a lot of people - especially myself - to take a break from the (mostly) bad news that is the Feministing site. Because otherwise I will be cranky and bitter and pissed off at the world ALL the time, and that's no way to live a life, at least not for me. If some other people like living that way, fine and dandy, but I think I'd rather spend at least SOME of my time trying to see the GOOD in songs/movies/lit/anything than the bad.
And I'm so sorry if I've offended you, but I do think there's been a serious misunderstanding here.
No one's saying you can't like them...
As evident by my username, I frigging love The Beatles! Ever since I was 8, I've been near obsession with them. Yet the songs on the anti-feminist list, I've never heard of. It's sucks how there are sexist songs by them, but unfortunately they were a product of there time.
No one's forbidding anyone from listening to The Beatles. Cara was just letting it be known.
As evident by my username, I frigging love The Beatles! Ever since I was 8, I've been near obsession with them. Yet the songs on the anti-feminist list, I've never heard of. It's sucks how there are sexist songs by them, but unfortunately they were a product of there time.
No one's forbidding anyone from listening to The Beatles. Cara was just letting it be known.
As evident by my username, I frigging love The Beatles! Ever since I was 8, I've been near obsession with them. Yet the songs on the anti-feminist list, I've never heard of. It's sucks how there are sexist songs by them, but unfortunately they were a product of there time.
No one's forbidding anyone from listening to The Beatles. Cara was just letting it be known.
whoa sorry for the multiple posts. eek