Pat Robertson has never been a friend of feminists, but he’s just proved that he’s the absolute last person you should go to for marriage advice—unless, of course, you’re looking for an excuse to beat your wife. The televangelist, most notable for denouncing gays and lesbians, linking the destruction of Hurricane Katrina to the legalization […]
Author: Lauren Barbato
Lauren Barbato is a writer who enjoys focusing on the intersection of the arts and social justice. As a journalist, she has contributed to Ms., the Women's Media Center, IndieWire, MovieMaker Magazine and many others. She holds a B.F.A. degree in screenwriting from the University of Southern California. Follow her on Twitter @lauren_barbato.
NEWSFLASH: Bishop Convicted in Child Abuse Scandal
Bishop Robert W. Finn of the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph (Missouri) was convicted Thursday of failing to report suspicions of child abuse that took place within his diocese. He is the highest-ranking American cleric to be convicted of a child abuse crime in the Catholic Church. However, he was sentenced to just two years […]
We Spleen: CNN Pundit Calls Speeches by Dem Women the “Vagina Monologues”
The first night of the Democratic National Convention kicked off with a number of impressive women at the podium, including Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who lost both her legs in combat; Nancy Keenan, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America; Lilly Ledbetter, the namesake of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act; Secretary […]
NEWSFLASH: Yet Another Male Politician Shows Abortion and Rape Ignorance
The latest entry in the headache-inducing saga of politicians attempting to debunk the fact that women can become pregnant from rape comes from Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), an anti-choice congressperson who believes in abortion exceptions for rape but only because they are so small in number. While speaking at a town hall meeting this week, […]
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 […]
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 […]
“Legitimate” Rapes and “Illegitimate” Children
Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), a current U.S. Senate candidate, raised America’s consciousness last week when he revealed that there are people out there who believe that 1) there is such a thing as “legitimate rape” and 2) women cannot get pregnant from “legitimate rape” because their reproductive systems go on some sort of anti-rape lockdown. […]
Circuit Court Messes with Texas Women
Late on Tuesday, a federal appeals court lifted an injunction that blocked a new Texas law from barring federal Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood and other abortion provider-affiliated clinics around the state. It’s the latest in a string of affronts to women’s health in the Lone Star State, where the lives of Texan women have […]
77 Years Later, Social Security Still Crucial for Women
Social Security turns 77 years old today, but there’s hardly a wrinkle on the system. Sure, the government program has been a passionate talking point for numerous politicians over the last seven decades—with some eager to reform, privatize or dismantle it altogether—but Social Security continues to be one of America’s most successful anti-poverty programs. During […]