Following a string of anti-choice efforts which began when the British coalition government came to power in 2010, its recent cabinet reshuffle has resulted in even more anti-abortion ministers at the top. Maria Miller, promoted to both culture secretary and minister in charge of women and equalities, has a track record on abortion rights and […]
Year: 2012
What’s the Connection Between Violence Against Women and Our Prison Nation?
As CeCe McDonald lingers in jail for being a Black transwoman who defended herself in a public space, and Kelley Williams-Bolar is convicted of a felony for sending her children to a higher-ranked Ohio school district in which she did not reside, it’s time to read Beth E. Richie’s Arrested Justice: Black Women, Violence and […]
Philippine Senator Plagiarizes Pro-Choice Blogger to Make Anti-Choice Arguments
For decades, Filipina women have fought for the right to control their own bodies, from contraception access to abortion rights. And now they are closer than ever to achieving that goal—but it is turning into a raging political battle that leaves countless women’s lives hanging in the balance. I am not Filipina. I am a […]
Two Courts Overturn Voter Suppression Laws
In the last week, federal courts have delivered major victories against voter-suppression legislation that seeks to disenfranchise millions of registered voters this November. A federal appeals court struck down a voter I.D. law in Texas last Thursday, ruling that it violated Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act by discriminating against minority voters. The three-judge […]
Femisphere: Sports Bloggers with a Gender Lens
My own sports “career” ended at the ripe old age of 17, when I traded in laps around the soccer field for less athletic pursuits. Despite my lack of time on the field, I’ve still kept an eye on sports from the comfort of my couch, or even from the stands. Many other feminists have done […]
Serena and Venus Play for the Male Gaze
Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy that Serena and Venus Williams were on the cover (left) of The New York Times Magazine last week. Sure, I might have been happier if either of them were wearing a shirt, but with Serena’s 24-pack on display in its full muscular glory, I can see the shirtless argument. […]
We Heart: Amy Poehler Advocates for Domestic Workers’ Rights
Though they care for our homes, children, elderly parents and disabled family members, domestic workers are often made invisible. Not only does their work go largely unnoticed by society, but more importantly they’re denied basic labor protection laws. Currently, the National Labor Relations Act excludes domestic workers, including childcare providers, housekeepers and caregivers. These workers […]
NEWSFLASH: Personhood Amendment Will Not be on Colorado Ballot
UPDATE 8/30/12: The Colorado Personhood Coalition announced that it is challenging Colorado’s Secretary of State, who determined the group did not have enough valid signatures for its ballot initiative. Members from Colorado Personhood claim petitions with valid signatures were discarded. A personhood amendment, which would have defined a “person” at “any stage of development,” including […]
The Women Virtual Volunteers of Hurricane Katrina
As Hurricane Isaac passed through New Orleans today, we couldn’t help think about what happened seven years ago when Hurricane Katrina wreaked extraordinary damages and losses on the Louisiana city. And when we think about Katrina, we can’t help but also recall how traditional media outlets depicted African American survivors as looters and “refugees” (thus ignoring their […]
As Memories of Dalkon Shield Fade, Women Embrace IUDs Again
Imagine a world in which women trying to avoid unplanned pregnancies don’t have to worry about popping a daily pill that shoots their moods to hell, getting shots, buying condoms that sometimes break or changing a patch. Imagine a contraceptive method with which 99 percent of its users report satisfaction. Sound like a dream? In […]