The latest in a long line of recently proposed anti-choice legislation in Michigan, HB 4799 takes yet another new approach in attacking abortion: the bill, if passed, would specifically prohibit coercing a woman into an abortion. In addition to prohibiting any threats of violence, HB 4799 would impose fines on husbands who threaten their wives […]
Month: August 2011
“Circumstance” Explores LGBT Oppression in Modern Iran
Iranian American director Maryam Keshavarz had a story of modern-day Iran that she thought needed telling. A story for which she and her cast were willing to give up the right to revisit their homeland after the film came out. Fortunately, the film Circumstance, an Audience Award-winner at the Sundance Film Festival which will open […]
Update: Still No Justice for Jordan’s Garment Workers
Last week, the Ms. blog reported on the alleged rape of a Bangladeshi garment workers at a Classic Fashion garment factory in Jordan. Classic Fashion has roughly 5,000 employees–mostly guest-workers from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India who come to Jordan to earn more money than they could at home. The factory supplies garments to big-box […]
We Heart: Geena Davis
Geena Davis is a powerhouse actor, best known for her strong and often comical roles in such Hollywood films as Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own and The Accidental Tourist (for which she won an Academy Award). We love her consistent portrayal of strong women who take charge of their own lives, including […]
Go East, Young Woman
Ever since I made my decision to attend Wellesley College, I find myself having to defend it to most of my high school classmates. Many of them know nothing about the school, and when I tell them about it they ignore its academic reputation and amazing alumnae. To them, it is simply a women’s college. […]
No Comment: Zazzle’s Pro-Anorexia Kids’ Tees
Last week, the online retailer Zazzle–which “empowers” customers to create custom T-shirts, cards and other paraphernalia–ended sales of a kids’ T-shirt and onesie that featured a pro-eating-disorder message in a scribbled font. The decision came only after the U.K. Advertising Standards Authority banned ads of the shirts for encouraging “an unsafe practice that may result […]
Remembering Dr. Bernadine Healy
Dr. Bernadine Healy, the first woman to head the National Institutes of Health, passed away due to brain cancer on August 6th at age 67. Healy broke medical ground by creating the Women’s Health Initiative, then the largest government clinical trial of women’s health ever in the U.S. She later served as the president of […]
Blowing the Whistle on “Peacekeeping” Sex Traffickers
The book version of The Whistleblower provided a harrowing, page-turning account of sexual trafficking in post-war Bosnia, revealing how the private military contractor DynCorp, the United Nations and the U.S. State Department were complicit in hiding, as well as perpetuating, the global sex trafficking industry. The film adaptation now out in theaters, with an original […]
Don’t Ms.: Gloria, Lizz, Ladyfest Midwest and More!
As summer vacation is winding down, feminists are going out with a bang. This week, check out a hopping Midwest dance party or join a feminist library. But be sure to spend at least one night at home (perhaps nursing your sunburn) watching the awesome Gloria Steinem documentary. There’s something for everyone this week, so […]
Women Senators Call for Action on Rape in Burma
On August 10, a group of 13 women U.S. senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling for support of a U.N.-led investigation of rape in conflict-ridden Burma. The senators urged Clinton to take action after 18 women and girls in the Kachin territory were reportedly raped by Burmese soldiers in late […]