Top Stories
Another Sexual Assault Prevention Officer Accused of Sexual Assault
It's obvious by now that in the U.S. military we're not only dealing with an unacceptable environment that discourages people from reporting sexual assault, we're dealing with a full-on culture of impunity. Pentagon officials last week announced that an Army sergeant in Fort Hood, Texas, who worked as a a sexual assault prevention and response coordinator is under investigation for allegations of "pandering, … [Read More...]
The Global Crisis of Child Marriage
It was certainly good news to hear in April that a 6-year-old Afghan girl, whose father previously intended to marry her to a 17-year-old boy, was no longer being forced to get married. The girl's father received enough money from an anonymous donor to not have to sell his daughter to pay off a debt. But despite one happy ending, child marriage remains a global nightmare. A common occurrence in sub-Saharan … [Read More...]
The Fight to Keep Merida Brave Is Not Over
Earlier this week, Disney fans became outraged by the company's decision to include Merida, of the animated feature Brave, in its new line of sleeker, sexier princesses. Admired for her tomboyish spunk and dudeless story arc, Merida stands out from princesses before her in ways that can be considered revolutionary for women in animated film. For this reason, many—including the film's writer and co-director, Brenda … [Read More...]
Barbara Brenner and the Road Less Pink
I met Barbara Brenner in a book. In a collection of scholarly essays called Breast Cancer: Society Shapes an Epidemic, she wrote the final substantive chapter, which was about women creating a breast cancer movement. I had just begun my own investigation of breast cancer culture, industry and advocacy. I re-read Barbara’s words many times. Today, as I gaze beyond the post-it notes, tabs and highlights that cover the … [Read More...]
Sex-Segregated K-12 Education? Again?
Rarely a week goes by without a news story or blog post related to single-sex public K-12 education. Coverage often focuses on the ways in which girls and/or boys benefit from these settings and the research that allegedly supports these claims. All this numbs the mind of someone who remembers the passage of Title IX and the hopes associated with it. I grew up in the 1950s and ‘60s. Girls took home economics, whether … [Read More...]
Mother’s Day Is Over – But Pregnancy Discrimination Isn’t
Women make up almost half the workforce today, and, if they become pregnant, most will work throughout their pregnancy. Given this reality, you probably think the stories below are works of a bygone era. Well, you’d be wrong. —A woman was 16 weeks pregnant and worked as a cashier at a large retailer in New York City. One day she fainted and was taken to the emergency room. Despite doctor’s orders that she remain … [Read More...]
Ms.cellany
Sally Ride to Receive Presidental Medal of Freedom
President Obama and NASA announced that they will posthumously honor the first American woman in space, Sally Ride, with the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. They timed this decision to coincide with a national tribute to the astronaut’s legacy that took place Monday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. [...]
NEWSFLASH: France Legalizes Gay Marriage
Making good on a promise he made when he first ran for president of France a year ago, President Francois Hollande signed into law a bill that will allow same-sex couples to not only marry but also adopt children. His decision came about after months of tumultuous, and sometimes violent, protests led by the country’s [...]
Taking Facebook to Task
Have you ever posted a photograph of a nude on Facebook, say one taken by a famous artist such as Imogen Cunningham or Hannah Wilke? It will soon be taken down. But what about FB pages, groups and images that condone or encourage rape or domestic violence, such as Fly Kicking Sluts in the Uterus, [...]
Arts
The Fight to Keep Merida Brave Is Not Over
Earlier this week, Disney fans became outraged by the company's decision to … ...
The Next Step In Fighting Street Harassment? A Comic Book.
HollabackPHILLY, a branch of the anti-street harassment organization … ...
Disney’s Not-So-Brave Makeover
UPDATE: The L.A. Times reports that, according to a Disney representative, … ...
Global
The Global Crisis of Child Marriage
It was certainly good news to hear in April that a 6-year-old Afghan girl, … ...
Time to Reform India’s Sex Trafficking Laws
When Ayesha was 13, she fell in love with a man who promised to marry her … ...
British Study Shows False Rape Claims are Complicated Matters
The United Kingdom's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently released a … ...
Justice
More Steubenville: Petitions Ask for Firing of Coach
Although technology was, on one hand, a tool maliciously used for … ...
California Gets Closer to Transgender Equity
Transgender students in California could soon enjoy more rights and … ...
Once Again, Media Asks Wrong Questions and Blames Victims
“The big question is, 'Why didn’t they leave earlier?'” I heard … ...
Health
Barbara Brenner and the Road Less Pink
I met Barbara Brenner in a book. In a collection of scholarly essays called … ...
Angelina Jolie’s Ovaries
Of course you've heard that actor/director Angelina Jolie went public this … ...
What If Women Are Offered Contraception for Free?
Last fall, researchers in Missouri caught the attention of public health … ...
