In the battle against Rep Chris Smith’s “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” feminists and other advocates successfully agitated to keep the term “forcible” rape from defining who gets federal money for abortions. But did you know we’re still fighting the war to get “forcible rape” removed from our national lexicon? Since 1929, the FBI […]
Author: Stephanie Hallett
Stephanie hails from Toronto, Canada. She is a Ms. writer, a master of journalism candidate and a hip hop dancer/instructor/choreographer. She got her start in feminist journalism at the age of 16 when she was a member of the first editorial collective at Shameless magazine—and she has never looked back.
The New York Times Puts Another Alleged Rape Victim on Trial
Last month, The New York Times stirred massive controversy by implicating an 11-year-old girl in her own brutal gang-rape, reporting that she “dressed older than her age [and wore] make-up.” This week, they’re blaming the victim yet again. In 2008, a 29-year-old woman was out celebrating a job promotion with friends when she had too […]
Do Women Lie About Rape?
Do women lie about rape? That’s an easy question for feminists and allies to answer–in the vast majority of cases, absolutely not–but it’s one that gets asked every time a rape accusation is made public. Take the case of Ben Roethlisberger. Back in 2009, the star Steelers quarterback was accused of rape by a Lake […]
Joe Biden Urges Schools To Address Sexual Assault Epidemic
Today, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and the Department of Education announced the launch of a nationwide initiative to encourage colleges, universities and K-12 schools to take action to prevent sexual violence on campuses. It’s been a long time coming. Biden’s initiative follows more than 25 years of feminists lobbying the federal government to address […]
On Domestic Workers’ Day, A Call to Action
Outside of the busy Vermont Metro station in Los Angeles today, dozens of domestic workers and supporters rallied to call for the passage of the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights. “Behind many successful households there is a strong domestic worker,” said Altagracia Garcia to cheers. She and others spoke out for domestic workers’ legal […]
No Comment: March Madness, A Guide for Girls
It’s that time of year again, gals. The time of year when we sit down, furl our lady brows, and try our darndest to take part in that gee-whiz-tough office tradition, the March Madness pool. I know it’s hard, what with the estrogen-fuddled brains and all, but thanks to winemaker Seven Daughters’ March Gladness table, […]
Feminist Backlash, Then and Now
In August 1982, the No Comment section of Ms. magazine decried a decade of premature media eulogies for feminism and the women’s liberation movement. But the women’s movement wasn’t dead, it was under attack. In the 1980’s, feminist gains of the previous decade were turned upside down, shaken by the ankles and mutilated by conservatives […]
Wearing a Tube Top Does Not Equal Consent
In a disgraceful judgment by the provincial court of Manitoba, Canada, Justice Robert Dewar allowed a convicted rapist to walk away with nothing but a curfew and a mandatory letter of apology to his victim. The reason? She was wearing a tube top, high heels and make-up the night of the rape–and she was drinking […]
NEWSFLASH: Good News for Same-Sex Nuptials and Unions
In a move eagerly anticipated by gay rights advocates since his election in 2008, President Obama has ordered the Justice Department to cease its defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)–bringing federal marriage equality one step closer to reality. The 1996 act defines marriage as a legal union between a man and woman and allows […]