Alabama has finally apologized, 67 years after the crime, to an African American woman who was kidnapped and raped by a group of white men who were never prosecuted. In 1944, when Recy Taylor was 24 years old, she was kidnapped at gunpoint by seven white men. Forced into their car and driven to a [...]
Everywhere: April 22 is Earth Day! I remember being a wee girl and planting trees with my schoolmates to celebrate the day. Check out some other ideas on how to celebrate the day here. Support Women and the Green Economy (WAGE) by becoming an Earth Day Network Activist. WAGE works to engage women business, NGO [...]
Sexual assault in the military has reached near epidemic proportions, as Rep. Niki Tsonga (D-MA) reported at a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee in February: In 2010, there were 3,230 reported sexual assaults in the military. But by the Pentagon’s own estimate, as few as 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported. The [...]
Tuscaloosa, Ala.: Feminist non-profit festival Ladyfest has made it to the deep South for three days of feminist art, music and activism. Proceeds of the festival will go to organizations that support the welfare of women and girls, as well as to local art/craft/DIY culture and organic farming groups. April 15-17. New York: Like bowling? [...]
Like The Vagina Monologues, The Panza Monologues is a collection of short performances based on interviews and stories of different women. But instead of being about vaginas, it’s about panzas–Spanish for bellies. The play focuses on the lives of Latina women, putting the panza “front and center as a symbol that reveals the lurking truths [...]
Anti-abortion groups Operation Rescue of Wichita, KS, and the Maryland Coalition for Life have leased an office space directly across a parking lot from an abortion clinic in Germantown, MD, in order to set up a so-called crisis pregnancy center (CPC). Dr. LeRoy Carhart, who became a prime target of Operation Rescue protests following the [...]
Everywhere: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and this year’s theme is, “It’s time … to get involved.” The campaign encourages those who witness sexual assault to speak up and get involved in their own communities. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center has resources and ideas for bringing more awareness to sexual assault. New York: [...]
Everywhere: This is the last week of Women’s History Month! If you haven’t already, take a look at David Dismore’s fascinating day-by-day women’s history coverage on the Ms. Blog. And there are still lots of ways to celebrate Women’s History Month before it ends. For one thing, this week is the Feminist Majority Foundation’s National [...]
Everywhere: March 25 marks the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The fire killed 146 workers, mostly immigrant women, and was a catalyst in the fight for workplace safety regulations. Film screenings, commemorations, rallies and more are being organized all around the country; check out the many events here. Some highlights: The U.S. [...]
In honor of Women’s History Month, I want to honor my favorite (and too-little-known) feminist, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, a 17th century nun, poet and scholar. Juana was born in 1648 in San Miguel Nepantla, Mexico, near Mexico City. She was officially registered as “a daughter of the Church” because her parents were [...]
