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Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, is reported to have suffered an aneurysm and is not expected to recover, according to CBS affiliate WOIO in Cleveland.WOIO also reported that the congresswoman is on life support at this time.
Tubbs Jones was the first black woman to represent Ohio, and one of only 23 women of color in Congress. Our thoughts are with her family.
UPDATE: Tubbs Jones has died.
UPDATE II: Apparently there are conflicting reports.
Community blogger MaraJ3791 covered this a couple of days ago, and thankfully some good news has come out of this heinousness.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) attempts to mitigate violent crimes in the UK by giving victims reparations. But in their most recent case, a 25-year old woman who was raped was told the £11,000 she was to be given was actually going to be reduced by 25% because she was drinking on the night she was assaulted. She received a letter saying that, "the evidence shows that your excessive consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident."
"It was just so cruel and unthinking and so wrong because there is nothing you can do to prevent yourself being raped. It is not illegal to go out and have a drink, it is illegal to rape somebody," said the survivor.
The good news is that after some pushing, the decision has been overturned. But unfortunately, this is too little too late for others. The CICA also acknowledged that they had already cut reparations for 14 other rape victims this year, but refused to review the past cases to potentially right their wrong.
"If an applicant accepts our decision then that case is finalised and closed," the CICA said. "If they wish to ask for a review they must do this themselves, in writing."
The fact that these people can be so smug after admitting guilty to blatant injustice through victim-blaming is beyond me. Let the CICA know that they should take responsibility for their shameful actions and give the 14 women their reviews; they certainly shouldn't have ask for it.
The math wars - Economic Woman: Allison at the fabulous blog Economic Woman takes an in-depth look at the recent study showing girls perform as well as boys in math.
Girls=Boys in Math - The Onion: I couldn't let you miss The Onion's take as well.
Recognising 'gendercide' - The Guardian: Heather McRobie proposes that we start talking about gender-based massacres, like Ciudad Juárez, in using the word 'gendercide'.
Our Bodies Our Blog - Tribal Law and Order Act Aims to Address Abuse of Native American Women: "Last week, bills were introduced in the House and Senate that are intended to empower tribal governments to address crimes that take place on their lands, and, among other aims, to 'reduce the prevalence of violent crime in tribal communities and to combat violence against Indian and Alaska Native women.'"
LENIN'S TOMB - Noam Chomsky on Pornography: Chomsky speaks out on porn in the video clip.
Popgadget - Samsung thinks patronising women will get us into tech; Engadget agrees: "As Engadget gleefully reports, Samsung has designed a concept compact hard drive that looks similar to a piece of make-up - and this picture shows it surrounded by make-up, to prove the point."
1960s ad for rice - Boing Boing: For funsies.
This is only the second time in history that Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed a presidential candidate. Check out endorsement statement by President Cecile Richards and clip of Obama below.
CEO Barbie Criticized For Promoting Unrealistic Career Images - The Onion: "Toy company Mattel is under fire from a group of activists who say their popular doll's latest incarnation, CEO Barbie, encourages young girls to set impractical career goals."
First Female General Nominated - Feministing Community (Marc): "I'd say it's the beginning of a very critical start in the equalization of genders in the military. One of the reasons I decided to stay in after eight years of service, almost to the date, is because I realize that in society where rank does matter, that those who have a bit of rank can affect the people below them. Patriarchal as it is, the military leaves some room for change - and it is up to those in the military,with what little bit of rank they have, to change the culture."
Unfetter women's intellect on campaign trail - Newsday: "Media coverage everywhere is "Michelle vs. Cindy." Where do they buy their dresses? Do they make bacon for breakfast? And, of course, which one can we compare to Jackie O? Is anyone else as appalled as I am at how quickly we have gone back to thinking of women in the oldest of stereotypes - as only wives and mothers?"
The Loud Silence of Feminists - The Washington Post: "Michelle Obama has become an issue in the presidential campaign even though she isn't running for anything. An educated, successful lawyer, devoted wife and caring mother has been labeled 'angry' and unpatriotic and snidely referred to as Barack Obama's 'baby mama.' Democrats, Republicans, independents, everyone should be offended. And this black woman is wondering: Where are Obama's feminist defenders?"
"If she's not crying...then I did not do my job" - Women Who Serve: "In this same story, [Justin] Gimelstob goes viciously after Anna Kournikova, calling her a bitch, a douche and a scumbag. With regard to playing against her in World Team tennis mixed doubles, he says 'If she's not crying by the time she walks off that court,' then I did not do my job." That is mild, however, compared to: '...she's gonna be serving 40 miles an hour and I'm gonna be just plugging it down her throat.'"
Bratz Candy Cosmetics - Candy Blog: The doll company launches candy makeup for young girls.
Pantsuits and the Presidency - The New York Times: "Some supporters of Hillary Clinton believe that sexism colored news coverage of her presidential campaign. The Times reported in a front-page article on June 13 that many are proposing boycotts of cable news networks and that a 'Media Hall of Shame' has been created by the National Organization for Women. The Times itself, however, was barely mentioned, even though two of its Op-Ed columnists, Maureen Dowd and William Kristol, were named in the Hall of Shame."
Generation Y Refuses Race-Gender Dichotomy - AlterNet: Courtney's latest!
Judge's ban on the use of the word ‘rape’ at trial reflects trend - Kansas City Star: "It’s the only way Tory Bowen knows to honestly describe what happened to her. She was raped. But a judge prohibited her from uttering the word 'rape' in front of a jury. The term 'sexual assault' also was taboo, and Bowen could not refer to herself as a victim or use the word “assailant” to describe the man who allegedly raped her....Bowen’s case is part of what some prosecutors and victim advocates see as a national trend in sexual assault cases."
Tila Tequila: California lifted its gay-marriage ban "because of me" - Reality TV World: "Tila Tequila thinks she deserves some credit for California lifting its ban on same-sex marriages."
From the Associated Press: "Gay couples in Norway will be granted the same rights as heterosexuals to marry, adopt and undergo artificial insemination under a new equality law passed Tuesday."
I've been closely watching the news about the massive flooding throughout the Midwest -- I grew up in eastern Iowa, and some of the hardest-hit places very near to my hometown of Dubuque.
I talked to my dad this weekend, who told me the vast majority of the people affected don't have flood insurance. (My dad, who sells insurance for a living, is in the know about such things.) The most flooded Iowa towns aren't right on the Mississippi. They're in a 500-year floodplain. Wikipedia tells me that means there's a 0.2% chance of these areas flooding in any given year. So it's not surprising that people aren't insured for water damage like this, and are really going to be hurting financially.
I'm not going to attempt a "flooding is a feminist issue" post. But with my personal connections to the areas affected, I felt remiss in not mentioning it.
Click here to donate to flood relief efforts.
A new initiative has been introduced in Washington DC to try and curb a recent wave of crime. The new tactic is being compared to a police state, possibly for good reason. From the Examiner:
Under an executive order expected to be announced today, police Chief Cathy L. Lanier will have the authority to designate “Neighborhood Safety Zones.” At least six officers will man cordons around those zones and demand identification from people coming in and out of them. Anyone who doesn’t live there, work there or have “legitimate reason” to be there will be sent away or face arrest, documents obtained by The Examiner show.
There are many problems with this kind of plan (efficacy, legality, etc) but most concerning is what kind of rights are being violated in favor of security. Sound familiar? Violent crime is a huge problem here (DC has been called the Murder Capital) and that needs to be addressed, definitely. But we need to find a way to address the root causes of this crime (poverty, joblessness, drugs) without holding people living in low-income neighborhoods hostage in their own communities.
Why Judy can't add: gender inequality and the math gap - Ars Technica: "[A] new study suggests that, when it comes to math, we can forget biology, as social equality seems to play a dominant role in test scores."
After Caesareans, Some See Higher Insurance Cost - NYTimes: "When the Golden Rule Insurance Company rejected her application for health coverage last year, Peggy Robertson was mystified. 'It made me feel very helpless,' she said. 'It made no sense,” said Ms. Robertson, 39, who lives in Centennial, Colo. 'I’m in perfect health.' She was turned down because she had given birth by Caesarean section."
"Feminist" Marc Rudov believes "most American women are as shallow" as Sex in the City characters - Media Matters: More genius from the man who wrote Under the Clitoral Hood: How to Crank Her Engine Without Cash, Booze, or Jumper Cables.
The Summer of Brownface - Vulture, New York Magazine: "Outside of color-blind Shakespeare adaptations, cross-race casting has been one of Hollywood’s obvious taboos for decades now — a no-no so basic it didn’t even merit discussion. No more: Enough Hollywood stars are enthusiastically applying bronzer in 2008, either for a quick gag or for a serious leading role, that we’re forced to hesitatingly declare this movie season the Summer of Brownface."
Jonathan Martin's Blog: Duprey defies captions - Politico.com: Just click on it. Trust me.
Outcry after French court rules on virginity - Associated Press:"The bride said she was a virgin. When her new husband discovered that was a lie, he went to court to annul the marriage—and a French judge agreed."
This is big.
Less than a year after she was appointed by George Bush to lead the nation's family planning office, contraception-hating wingnut Susan Orr announced her resignation on Wednesday.
Her resignation shortly followed after the the Family Research Council, the organization she was formerly employed with (along with 80 other conservative groups) called on George Bush to reinstate a "domestic gag rule." Like the Global Gag Rule, this means that eligibility for Title X funds (which covers a huge chunk of our nation's family planning clinics) will require that centers don't refer patients for abortions or share facilities with abortion providers.
Title X is the only federal funding program that provides contraceptive services to low-income individuals, and Susan Orr's job was to watch over its management. The Family Research Council are working hella hard to get this "domestic gag rule" passed, and if Bush decides to leave us with this gift before he leaves office, a lot of clinics and a lot of low-income women and men are going to be fucked.
Check out RH Reality Check for more background on this, and take action here; tell Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt that the gag rule has no home here.
National Science Foundation - Chore Wars: Men, Women and Housework: "Husbands create an extra seven hours a week of housework for wives, according to a new study. But wives save husbands from about an hour of housework a week."
Shakesville: Horrifying New Law: Forced Ultrasounds Condition of Abortion: "Last week, the Oklahoma Legislature overrode the governor's veto and enacted a law that puts a horrifying twist on informed consent requirements for women seeking abortion. While other states require that women seeking abortion be offered an ultrasound, this law requires that the woman have either an abdominal or a vaginal ultrasound, whichever offers the clearer picture, as a condition of having an abortion."
New York Times - More Mothers Breast-Feed, in First Months at Least: "About 77 percent of new mothers breast-feed their infants at least briefly, the highest rate seen in the United States in more than a decade, according to a government survey released on Wednesday."
The Frisky - The Daily Squeeze: Disney push-up bras?!
Our Bodies Our Blog: On Increasing Rates of Diabetes in Pregnancy: "An article set to appear in the May issue of the journal Diabetes Care is garnering widespread media attention today, as it declares that the prevalence of pre-existing diabetes in women who become pregnant has doubled over the past several years."
Femme Den - Design for females, without "pinking and shrinking": "Women are still underrepresented in the design industry," says designer Erica Eden, of Smart Design. To combat that, Eden and three other female members of Smart's staff (Agnete Enga, Yvonne Lin, and Gina Reimann) have started Femme Den, an in-company initiative to address the needs of female consumers without alienating males by merely 'pinking and shrinking' existing products.
Or so the major news outlets are reporting. Deborah Jeane Palfrey was found dead this afternoon.
Read our previous posts: Vanessa on the outcome of Palfrey's trial ("a pointless, slut-shaming witch hunt"), and Samhita on how the Washington dudes who purchased sex were let off the hook.
UPDATE: More from Thomas and Carissa at Blue Lyon.
I added an update to my post on Wednesday about the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- noting that Senate Republicans blocked the bill from passing. John McCain wasn't there for the vote, but he opposed the legislation: (via Scott)
"I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems," McCain told reporters yesterday. "This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system."
To summarize: McCain's not against women and people of color being paid the same as white men for doing the same work -- heck, if businesses want to pay fairly, that's great! -- but he doesn't think we should make businesses do so. And not holding businesses accountable for wage discrimination is the same thing as endorsing it.
In my interview with Lilly Ledbetter, she actually responded to McCain's position on the legislation:
We've had a lot of opposition that said this would just open up a multitude of lawsuits, and it would be tough on corporations to fight these cases. But that's not true. If a person or individual thinks they have a case, they can't even go to EEOC unless they have proof. You can't just waltz into EEOC.
Right. It's not exactly like it was easy for Ledbetter -- and others in her situation -- to prove they were discriminated against. In fact, there are some very high barriers to getting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to recognize your complaint as valid.
So the "I hate lawsuits" defense is bullshit. McCain is really saying that he values the rights of corporations over the rights of women and people of color who work for them. Thanks, buddy.
Most U.S. women have 'disordered eating' - UPI.com: "Sixty-five percent of U.S. women ages 25 to 45 report having disordered eating behaviors, such as skipping meals or cutting out food groups, a study found."
Oh Joy: The Stupid Spirit Airlines M.I.L.F. Sale Is Back: "We're probably just encouraging them, but we felt some sort of strange obligation to let you know that Spirit Airlines has brought back the (controversial?) M.I.L.F. sale."
Facebook - Equal Rights Amendment: An ERA fan page!
For Chris Matthews, Misogyny Pays Handsomely - AlterNet: "In fact, in Matthews' case, the sexist outbursts have helped propel his career. That's how he landed on the cover of the Times magazine. Why? Because misogyny pays."
Congress Holds Hearings on Abstinence-Only - RHRealityCheck: "Numerous scientific and ethical critiques have been raised about abstinence-only education for young people. These concerns are articulated in reports by the Society for Adolescent Medicine, the American Public Health Association, and others."
Our Bodies Our Blog: Mortality Inequality: Life Expectancy Declines for Some U.S. Women: "The Washington Post has a front-page story today that's a shocker: Lfe expectancy for some U.S. women is on the decline, and the data points to a growing inequality between the best-off and worst-off counties."
Woman, 19, becomes youngest college professor - MSNBC.com: "Perhaps in Alia Sabur’s wildly advanced studies she came across a famous quote from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. 'Knowing is not enough. We must apply,' the German writer once observed."
This is horrible news:
The Triqui indigenous community of San Juan Copala, which declared autonomy on January 21, 2007, has suffered the bitter loss of two young women. Felicitas Martinez, age 20, and Teresa Bautista, age 24, were traveling in a rural part of Oaxaca state on route to the statewide meeting “For the Defense of the Rights of the Peoples of Oaxaca,� when gunmen opened fire on their vehicle late Monday. The gunfire killed the two women, and wounded three others in the vehicle, a man and wife and their three-year-old child, the Oaxaca attorney general’s office said in a statement.
Did you catch that? They were 20 and 24 years old, respectively. For me (someone who works in journalism), this news was a stark reminder that being an independent lefty journalist means very different things and carries very different burdens depending on where you live and the color of your skin. These women were infinitely braver and more dedicated than I will ever be.
The community radio station they worked for is called La Voz que Rompe el Silencio (“The Voice that Breaks the Silence�).
Feminist Peace Network has information on which authorities to contact to demand an investigation into the murders and punishment of those responsible.
Marriage: Do it for the economy!
Well, that's what some groups would like us to think...
Divorce and out-of-wedlock childbearing cost U.S. taxpayers more than $112 billion a year, according to a study commissioned by four groups advocating more government action to bolster marriages.Sponsors say the study is the first of its kind and hope it will prompt lawmakers to invest more money in programs aimed at strengthening marriages. Two experts not connected to the study said such programs are of dubious merit and suggested that other investments - notably job creation - would be more effective in aiding all types of needy families.
But who needs jobs when you have a husband, right? The study was sponsored by four organizations that identify as part of a "marriage movement" - Institute for American Values, the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, Families Northwest, and the Georgia Family Council (an ally of Focus on the Family). So yeah, not biased at all.
Studies like these are not just about promoting marriage, of course, they're about promoting traditional marriages. And the idea that women don't need a job (just a man) has hurting women welfare recipients for far too long. So if we're worried about the economy, let's focus on jobs, education, and affordable child care for parents - not weddings.
Thanks to Monica for the link.
Sara Fajardo is a staff photographer at the Orlando Sentinel. Her photojournalism journey has taken her to many places, from local places in the States to covering the rise and fall of president Alberto Fujimori in Peru. You can see some of her photos at her website: http://sarafajardo.com/.
She's also the author of a children's nonfiction book, Enrique's Day: From Dawn to Dusk in a Peruvian City.
Here's Sara...
To the folks at Morning Joe: Shame on you. What pains me is that I generally really like Mika Brzezinski, and consider her a voice of reason in an otherwise frat-boy-gross show. But this is just horrifying.
UPDATE: There's an email form on Morning Joe's website that you can use to complain, or you can check out the general MSNBC contact info.
Allison Kilkenny describes herself as "a political humorist, a fancy way of saying writer, who makes shitty world news funny." She is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, The Beast, Alternet.org's Wiretap Magazine, and Timothy McSweeney's. Her work has appeared on The Nation and SIRIUS radio.
Here's Allison Kilkenny...
A forewarning: This is about as bad as it gets.
A Maryland man with bipolar disorder with a history of suicide attempt murdered his children this weekend after a court refused to submit a permanent restraining order requested by their mother partly because she was still "having sex" with him in fear for her and her childrens' lives.
While the psychologist's report claiming that Mark Castillo was not someone of harm to his children was a factor in the decision, Amy Castillo said that her husband told her "the worst thing he could do to me would be to kill the children and not me so I could live without them," which she wrote in the petition for the order.
Nonetheless, Judge Joseph A. Dugan Jr. said, "I am not satisfied that indeed there is clear and convincing evidence of abuse in this case." And brought up the fact that Amy continued to "have sex" with her husband, including "twice on the day he allegedly talked about killing the children," despite Castillo testifying that she was - very understandably - scared of him and worried that if she didn't, he would suspect she was taking action against him.
This is beyond horrid. To discredit a woman for being raped to save her and her childrens' lives is unbelievably heinous. I wonder if Dugan has that on his conscience now that her children are dead. Fucking horrible.
Thanks to Sarah for the tip, who is from the same neighborhood.
A woman who filed a restraining order against former boyfriend and present Republican candidate was pressured by the Republican party to drop it.
Ali Hasan was in the midst of his campaign when Alison Miller and his relationship ended, after which, according to Miller, Hasan hired a company to hack into her email accounts to find out here whereabouts as well as harassed her. "He followed me to intimidate me and control how I handled the situation," said Miller, also a Republican, stated in the court documents.
Chairman of the Eagle County Republican Party, Randy Milhoan, implied that the story was concocted as a campaign smear, which is also what the Hassans are claiming. "The whole thing is just crazy. You couldn't have scripted a story more cleverly than this one," says Milhoan. Hence the article title, "GOP candidate in a 'crazy' soap opera drama."
Yeah, because stalking just seems just so outrageous! And a Republican woman to file a restraining order against her own kind?? Pshhh.
After Hasan hired Kobe Bryant's law firm and local party officials began telling her she was "embarrassing the Republican party," Miller decided not to move forward with a permanent restraining order. Criminal charges may still be filed by the district attorney.
Let's all say it together now: Stalking is a very real and serious problem. To brush it off as some melodrama and shame a woman for trying to protect herself is what the Republican party of Eagle County should be embarrassed by.
According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, complaints of pregnancy discrimination hiked up by 14% between 2006 and 2007. There has been a 40% increase over the last decade, reports the National Partnership for Women and Families.
The Wall Street Journal suggests that this is party because women are increasingly working later into their pregnancies, including new advocacy being created for pregnant women and women with children.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act can't straight up protect women from being fired or not hired, but if they're singled out based on their pregnancy, they're liable to take action. And unfortunately, the Family and Medical Leave Act poses a problem: while unpaid maternity leave is required, it doesn't doesn't require paid maternity leave. (California and Washington are exceptions.)
Regardless, it's good to see women taking more action on pregnancy discrimination; we're getting closer to accurate numbers on how prevalent it really is in the U.S. and maybe, just maybe, our family-friendly policies will someday get friendlier. Check out MomsRising and the National Advocates for Pregnant Women has a great list of more resources about pregnant women and mother's rights at work.
iPartySmarter.com - Smart Women Smart Choices:"Girls just want to have fun. Right? However, a woman's party style can make all the difference between having fun or having regrets." (Nothing like a little victim-blaming campaign to shame women into not "partying.")
Copyranter - French men can't see the forest for the trees. Or something: Some charming ads for hair removal cream.
Rebel Dad - Men: Shrinking Violets?: Brian takes on Laura Sessions Stepp's latest nonsense.
Open Society Fellowship: "The Open Society Institute has launched a fellowship program for outstanding individuals from around the world working on issues concerning national security, citizenship, authoritarianism, and new strategies and tools for advocacy." (For all you activists who need funding, check it out!)
Feminists More Open-Minded on Weight - New York Times: "If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then try to be beheld by a feminist."
Think Progress - HHS Secretary: OB/GYNs With Objections To Abortion Should Not Have To Refer Patients To Other Doctors: "In a little-noticed letter on Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt wrote a letter to the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), stating that providers with moral objections to abortion should have no obligation to refer patients." (NPR has more.)
"Spanx" Now Hold In Your Unsightly Boobies As Well As Your Hideous, Mutant Gut - Guanabee: "Speaking of bacon cups, “Spanx� underwear brand is re-launching their line of bras designed to make you, the average bacon-chomping woman, look more like the feminine ideal put forth by store mannequins and anime heroines alike."
Kansascity.com - Kansas House gives first-round OK to abortion bill: "The House today advanced a bill supporters say will lead to better enforcement of restrictions on late-term abortions. Approved on a voice vote, it also requires that women get more information about the fetus and the procedure before having an abortion."
Chicago Business - Illinois AG to appeal overturning of abortion notification law: "In an action that is scrambling normal political alliances, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has decided to appeal a federal court order that overturned the state’s law on parental notice for abortions for minors."
Religion Dispatches - An Open Letter to Western Feminists: "It is appalling that in these catastrophic times, many U.S. liberal feminists are focused only on misogynistic practices associated with particular local cultures, as if these exist in capsules, far from the arena of imperial occupation. Indeed, imperial violence has given fuel to some of these patriarchal practices of misogyny and sexism. They should also know that such a narrow vision furthers a much older tradition of feminist mobilizing in the service of colonialism--�saving brown, or black women, from brown men,� as observed by Gayatri Spivak."
Top Ten Feminist Blogs - TakePart Blog Network
In Alabama, a Crackdown on Pregnant Drug Users - New York Times: "A day after she gave birth in 2006, Tiffany Hitson, 20, sat on her front porch crying, barefoot and handcuffed. A police officer hovered in the distance...Ms. Hitson’s newborn daughter had traces of cocaine and marijuana in its system, and the young woman, baby-faced herself, had fallen afoul of a tough new state law intended to protect children from drugs, and a local prosecutor bent on pursuing it. She made arrangements for the baby’s care, and headed off to a year behind bars." (Note: Make sure to check out this response from the National Advocates for Pregnant Women.)
Akansas Woman, Left in Cell, Goes 4 Days With No Food or Water - New York Times: "A woman was locked for four days in a tiny holding cell in a northern Arkansas courthouse, forgotten by the authorities and left without food or water, the local Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday...'Everybody is backing away from it as fast as they can,' Mr. Petty said. 'Frankly, that’s how they treat Hispanics down here. They treat Hispanics like cattle, like less than human.'"
In the wake of Spitzer's resignation there's been a ton of commentary (feminist and otherwise) about prostitution, trafficking, legalization, and a host of other related issues. I've been out of town and haven't found time to write a substantive post on the subject, but I've been reading a lot of interesting things 'round the internet:
First up, check out Nicholas Kristof's column from Sunday's Times: Kristen's story is "a dangerously unrepresentative glimpse of prostitution in America. Those who work with street prostitutes say that what they see daily is pimps who control teenage girls with violence and threats — plus an emotional bond — and then keep every penny the girl is paid."
Amanda forges ahead and opens what we all know can be a huge can o' worms for a sex-positive feminist: "But when degradation and harm are the work itself, struggling over labor standards becomes confusing. ... Which is why I tear my hair out at the people who focus on the exceptions, like Kerry Howley arguing that prostitution is about women who love sex so much they want to make it a career. That sort of argument serves only one purpose—to shame people with serious questions about prostitution into not asking those questions for fear we’ll be labeled as prudes. Well, I’m not taking the bait."
Safe to say Twisty's against decriminalization: "Note that the goal is merely to curb the male appetite for trafficked women. The message? Pay-for-rapists are here to stay! It is unfathomable that human society could exist entirely without a subclass of sex slaves." UPDATE: Twisty has a clarification.
Brad Plumer looks at what happened in Nevada and Sweden when they decriminalized prostitution: "[O]ur currently policies are grotesque, but honestly, I don't know what the ideal alternative is. I'd lean toward legalize-and-regulate as the least-bad option, although the idea of providing generous support for women who want to get out of the sex trade sounds like the best idea on offer. But if Sweden can barely manage it, good luck putting anything like that in place in the United States."
...and dnA has more thoughts on legalization.
The Sex Workers Project says: "To focus solely on the salacious scandal created by Mr. Spitzer’s alleged actions without attention to the realities and needs of sex workers does nothing to provide solutions for sex workers."
Jill takes on conservative John Derbyshire, who actually wrote that: "To a lover of liberty, it’s hard to see why a woman shouldn’t sell her favors if she wants to. Trouble is, weak or dimwitted women end up in near-slavery to unscrupulous men, and I think there’s a legitimate public interest in not letting that happen." Yeah, you read that right: "weak or dimwitted women."
Jill also points out that there is not an inherent contradiction in being a sex worker and a feminist.
What have y'all been reading/writing about this issue? I'd love to see more links in comments.
Bad first: A Florida House committee passed an Unborn Victims of Violence Act that defines an "unborn child" as "a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb" and removes all language around viability.
The good news: The Oklahoma House voted by a tiny margin to reject a bill that would require parental consent before students receive sex education. They currently already send "opt out" forms to parents of children enrolled in classes that provide sex ed.
Early Thursday morning there was a huge fire in Mt. Pleasant, a neighborhood in NW DC. The neighborhood is predominantly Latino, although quickly gentrifying as well. An entire apartment buidling was destroyed in this fire, which displaced around 200 people, mostly low-income Latino immigrant residents.
It's a complicated story, unsurprisingly for those who are familiar with struggles around gentrification and housing. The building was one that had been neglected for a long time, in what some would say was an attempt by the owners of the building to force out their low-income residents. Well now nature has done it instead, although the source of the fire is as of yet unclear (I smell a rat). Luckily no one was hurt.
So now we've got a crisis in Mt.Pleasant, with a ton of displaced people who have lost everything. If you happen to be in DC, there are some donation options: you can donate supplies (like clothing, Bottled Water, Blankets, Trash Bags, School Supplies, Gift Cards, Baby Formula) or money to some local orgs and businesses that are serving as facilitators for this process. Also a friend of Jen's is organizing a happy hour tonight to raise money for the displaced people.
These sites provide the best information on how to help: Hear Mt. Pleasant, Neighbor's Consejo, then info about the fundraiser tonight.
Why do things like this always affect the most vulnerable populations? Not only are these people out of a home, but their building will probably be turned into luxury condos they can't afford anymore. It's just so frustrating.
Pictures of the fire here.
Wow!
Gov. Eliot Spitzer has informed his most senior administration officials that he had been involved in a prostitution ring, an administration official said this morning.Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He is set to make an announcement about 2:15 this afternoon at his Manhattan office.
Just last week, federal prosecutors arrested four people in connection with an expensive prostitution operation. Administration officials would not say that this was the ring with which the governor had become involved.
What made him admit this?
New York is introducing a bill to the City Council this week that would expand protections of victims of intimate partner violence to unmarried couples. Only married/divorced couples or blood relatives can currently seek a civil order of protection from a family court. The bill would allow same-sex and unmarried couples to get the order without having a criminal proceeding first, which is known to possibly escalate violent behavior.
"We will continue to advocate on the state level for a broader definition of family, but we can't wait for the state to act," said Christine Quinn, speaker for the City Council.
Check out more information on intimate partner violence in LGBT relationships.
Hey all, just a little shameless self-promotion... Check out my article in The Nation, The Sisterhood Split, a commentary on what I think the feminist election tension says about the movement more generally.
I'll be honest, I was nervous about writing this - I knew that I'd be criticized for feeding the backlash and such. But I truly do think that if we want feminism to move forward, we have to be honest about the problems within it.
Gloria Feldt, who I quote in the article, has a response here. I have a ton of respect for Feldt and the work she's done, but I do think her post demonstrates the problems I talk about in the article. For example, Feldt says that I'm buying into the "catfight" stereotype - but if feminists can't talk about issues within the movement without being accused of fanning the backlash flames, how can we possibly get any work done? In any case, check it out for yourself...
Black man vs. white woman - The Boston Globe: "Hillary Clinton contends with gender stereotypes, and Barack Obama with racial ones. Which bias runs deeper in the American psyche? The answer does not bode well for Clinton." (Oppression Olympics defined. Just check out the graphic!)
Vaccinating Boys for Girls’ Sake? - New York Times: "Will parents of sons consent to a three-shot regimen that has been marketed as benefiting girls? How do you pitch that to Gardasil Boy’s parents? Think altruism. Responsibility. Chivalry, even? Oh, and yes: some explicit details about genital warts..." (Shocker: this is in the Styles section.)
Obama: First Female President? - Newsweek.com: "It has been a rarity in modern political life: a wide-open race for the nomination of both parties. But whatever happens from here on out, this campaign will always be remembered for the emergence of the first serious woman candidate for president: Barack Obama."
Never Too Young for That First Pedicure - New York Times: "One recent rainy afternoon, Eleanor LaFauci, 7, sat with her feet in open-toed foam slippers, admiring her toenails, freshly painted watermelon pink. 'Look, we’re reading an adult magazine,' Eleanor told her mother, gleefully waving a copy of People..."
Want the government to pay for your sex change? Go to Iran. - FP Passport: "Last fall, Passport noted that more sex-change surgeries are performed in Iran than in any other country except Thailand. Ayatollah Khomeini approved them for "diagnosed transsexuals" 25 years ago, and today the Iranian government will pay up to half the cost for those in financial need."
Barbara Seaman, born September 11, 1935; died February 27, 2008
Contributed by Jennifer Baumgardner
I came to New York City in 1993, age 22, to take an internship at Ms. magazine. Within a few months, I was asked to fact-check a profile of Barbara Seaman, a pioneer in the women’s health movement on the 25th anniversary of the publication of her classic The Doctors Case Against the Pill. I called her and three hours later got off the phone a changed person. She had answered my fact-checking queries, but then peppered me with friendly questions: Who was I? What was my background? Was I interested in health? Was I on the Pill? Did I know Mary Howell? No, I really must meet her. Was I working on a book? I was clearly smart, she could tell by our conversation. Did I want to attend a gathering with her at Erica Jong’s house? I really must meet Erica.
The questions and opportunities went on and on. I was flummoxed by her interest and offers—didn’t she know that I was just a lowly assistant (by that time) at Ms.? Did she have me confused with someone else? I had ambitions, sure, but I was far away from admitting I wanted to write a book—I just wanted the cool Ms. editors to learn my name.
Barbara continued to fax and call me at Ms., providing me with endless history, important contacts, and insightful analysis. She goaded me to get to know the feminists who she felt were being forgotten by history—women like Cindy Cisler (perhaps the most significant philosopher in the push to legalize abortion) or Dr. Mary Howell (the first woman to become a Dean at Harvard Medical School). She organized intergenerational gatherings in 1994 where I first met Leora Tanenbaum and Jennifer Gonnerman, who were my same age and who also began to think (with more than a little nudging from Barbara, I presume) that they would write books. (Leora went on to write Slut, Catfight, and Taking Back God; Jen wrote Life On the Outside.) Barbara asked me to introduce her at a party for her held in a gorgeous penthouse, saying, “I’d love it if you said a few words, Jen. Then Katie Couric will probably say a few things.� She did introduce me to Erica Jong–and Alix Kates Shulman, Margot Adler, Shere Hite, and countless others who adored Barbara.
Pregnant teacher discrimination suit OK'd - UPI: "A North Carolina judge refused to dismiss a teacher's lawsuit claiming she was unfairly demoted by her school district when she became pregnant."
Giveaway of emergency contraception angers anti-abortion group - Chicago Tribune: "A free giveaway of emergency contraception doses at Planned Parenthood health centers in Indiana cities with large college populations has angered an anti-abortion group, whose leader calls it 'irresponsible.'"
Gothamist: New Game Teaches Immigration Laws: "A NY-based nonprofit called Breakthrough launched a video game yesterday called ICED: I Can End Deportation (also a play on the acronym for Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department). In the game, the player chooses one of five immigrant teens, each of a different ethnicity and immigration status, and walks through their shoes -- learning 'how immigration laws deny due proc