When I think of Black History Month and women, I don’t just think of historical figures; I think of women who impacted my own life, and whose history also deserves celebration. I met Ann Jackson in the Fall of 1985, at the annual fundraising dinner for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. She was at a […]
Month: February 2011
Will Gay Ugandan’s Death Save Lesbian Ugandan’s Life?
On January 28, just two days after the brutal murder of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato, the United Kingdom’s high court granted another Ugandan, lesbian asylum seeker Brenda Namigadde, a temporary reprieve from deportation. Namigadde’s initial application for asylum was rejected because she is not “lesbian enough.” Her appeal is scheduled for Friday. According […]
Bangladeshi Rape Victim Flogged To Death
Hena Begum, a 14-year-old old Bangladeshi girl, was publicly flogged recently in Shariatpur, 35 miles outside of the capital, Dhaka after being accused of having an affair with her 40-year-old old married cousin. According to the BBC, a village court made up of Islamic clerics and elders sentenced Begum to 100 lashes under Islamic Sharia law. […]
Going to Space, Rising Up, and NOT Apologizing for Roethlisberger: Editors’ Picks, 1/30-2/5
Families across America will be sitting down to watch Super Bowl XLV today, where the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger will have the chance to win his third ring. At the Huffington Post, Jackson Katz has some excellent advice for parents about how to talk to children about a quarterback with a history of multiple rape […]
Vintage No Comment: Young and Innocent, 1977
This ad for New West magazine, a short-lived California version of New York magazine, appeared in the January 1977 No Comment section of Ms. Coincidentally, New York magazine published the first-ever edition of Ms. as a one-page insert in 1972. Do you think the same sort of advertising geniuses are behind this campaign that “pretends” […]
There’s a Reason Why Lucy Yanks the Football From Charlie Brown
UPDATE: Behold, even more sexist ads that aired during the big game have been added below. When do corporations spend $100K-per-second for TV ads in which the product will inevitably be forgotten by consumers, but the content will help spread misogynistic stereotypes? On Super Bowl Sunday. Whether or not you enjoy football as a sport or […]
Test Your Knowledge of Black Women In History
So you think you’re an African American history buff? Prove it with our quiz on notable African American women. For the final question, we’re offering a special prize. Email your answer to alitman@msmagazine.com with your name and address; if it’s correct, we’ll enter you in a raffle to win a copy of Great African American […]
Middle Eastern and North African Protests Shatter Myths About Muslim Women
Anyone remember one of the most striking images to surface from Iran’s uprising last summer after the country’s so-called elections? Yes, Iranian women protesting, playing a huge role in shaping this revolt against their government. Why should people be surprised? Iranian women, who make up 65 percent of university students in the country, are also […]
Yes, Comment! Skins, Google Art, and High School Feminists
For us Ms. editors, by far the most rewarding part of the Ms. Blog has been reading the comments. Since we’re used to sending out a magazine into the void every three months and waiting with bated breath for letters to the editor, it’s been revelatory to hear back directly–instantly!–from Ms. readers. To be sure, […]
South Dakota Seeks to Force Women Into Crisis Pregnancy Centers
[Excerpted from RH Reality Check. Read the full article here.] South Dakota is no stranger to the fight to keep abortion safe and legal for women who choose to terminate a pregnancy: The state’s voters overwhelmingly voted to keep abortion legal in 2006 and 2008. Yet 27 state representatives and 11 state senators are once […]