There continues to be a visible, troubling disconnect in our collective literacy of the menstrual cycle—especially vis-à-vis the way we frame early pregnancy and abortion. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott spoke to the press about S.B. 8, the new law that all but obliterates the right to abortion in the state, saying, “[O]bviously it provides at least six weeks for a person to be able to get an abortion.” He is 100 percent wrong.
Author: Jennifer Weiss-Wolf
Jennifer Weiss-Wolf is a lawyer, fierce advocate for and frequent writer on issues of gender, feminism and politics in America. Dubbed the “architect of the U.S. campaign to squash the tampon tax” by Newsweek, she is the author of Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity, which was lauded by Gloria Steinem as “the beginning of liberation for us all,” and is a contributor to Period: Twelve Voices Tell the Bloody Truth. Find her on Twitter: @jweisswolf.
What is the Legacy of the “Gender-Equal” Tokyo 2020 Games?
When the IOC announced last winter that Tokyo 2020 would be “the first gender-equal Olympic Games,” they were touting the near 50% representation of female athletes, an all-time high.
Now that the summer games have concluded, the IOC statement turned out to be prescient in other unexpected ways: fierce feminism has been on full display for the past two weeks as athletes boldly broke norms and pushed back against sexist protocols and practices.
The Filibuster Continues To Undermine Democracy, ERA and Other Advancements for Women’s and Civil Rights
Because of the filibuster, it has become nearly impossible for our elected leaders in Congress to advance the will of the people.
[This article originally appears in the Summer 2021 issue of Ms. Become a member today to read more reporting like this in print and through our app.]
It’s Time for a Whole-of-Government Approach to Address Period Poverty in the U.S.
Period poverty is one of America’s alarming—and often hidden—inequities.
As a member of Congress and as advocates, we share the belief that there is power in leveraging the law to help make healthy, dignified, stigma-free menstruation a reality for all.
Amy Coney Barrett’s “Much-Touted Cloak of Decency”
Amy Coney Barrett has thus far demonstrated a few considerable lapses in judgment as the critical thinker and caring soul she’s purported to be.
In addition to her record, Barrett must be called to account for her hypocritical actions, words and lapses.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Created the Playbook for Feminist Barrier-Breaking
RBG taught us grand generosity, wisdom, wit and the need to presume some modicum of good will on all sides: “She left us the playbook.”
Jennifer Weiss-Wolf shares three RBG anecdotes—”not only on account of their stand-alone brilliance, but because when considered as a collective, they offer a blueprint for success in the mighty trio of life, love and the law that she exemplifies.”
Women’s Representation at the Ballot Box—and in the Halls of Power—Has a Long Way To Go
While the numbers show women participate voraciously in civic life and outnumber men at the polls, our representation in the halls of power continues to lag.
An undeniable force in the electoral system, why don’t women’s votes translate to equal representation in political presence and policy prioritization?
Education, Discrimination and Menstruation
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of an eleven-year-old with Down syndrome that challenges her expulsion from a federally-funded afterschool program in Austin, Texas. Why? Because she began to menstruate.
The young girl’s lawsuit—and her demand that menstruation be considered under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972—has the potential to break new ground.
Raising the Bar for Menstrual Equity. Period.
This year’s law school bar examination, in particular, is high stress and high stakes. Nearly 3,000 lawyers, law professors and recent graduates are demanding a clear, consistent statement that authorizes people to carry and use their own menstrual products while taking the bar exam in every state.
COVID-19 Exacerbates Gender Inequality. Let’s Ensure PPE Doesn’t Neglect Women’s Bodies.
What happens when PPE is treated as a “one-size-fits-all” proposition? And when the default is the body and experience of a cisgender male? Two recent news stories highlight the dangers.