Keeping Score: Activist Narges Mohammadi and Economist Claudia Goldin Awarded Nobel Prizes; U.S. Scores a C for Protection of LGBTQ+ Rights

PUBLISHED 10/11/2023 by

In every issue of Ms., we track research on our progress in the fight for equality, catalogue can’t-miss quotes from feminist voices and keep tabs on the feminist movement’s many milestones. We’re Keeping Score online, too—in this biweekly roundup.

This week: Federal funding for childcare expired on Oct. 1; Iranian activist and feminist economist are honored with Nobel Prizes; gunman fires two rounds into Planned Parenthood clinic in Montana; California to protect abortion providers from out-of-state lawsuits; Republicans in Congress attempt to repeal FACE Act protecting abortion clinics; cost of raising a child in the U.S. skyrockets; Latina women hit hardest by state-level abortion bans; and more.

The Biden Administration’s Investment in Internet Will Reduce Barriers to Abortion

PUBLISHED 10/11/2023 by

Millions of Americans lack access to reliable high-speed internet. But a move this summer from the Biden-Harris administration—a $42.45 billion investment in affordable high-speed internet—will no doubt help to close this digital divide. Promoting equity in internet access is especially urgent in a post-Roe world, where 21 states have moved to ban or restrict abortion, all while telehealth abortion capabilities are increasing.

The pandemic popularized and revolutionized telehealth, and today, a full range of reproductive healthcare services are available: abortion, contraception, gender-affirming care and more—but only if a person has reliable internet access. The Biden administration estimates 8.5 million households are without high-speed internet infrastructure, and millions more face limited or unreliable internet options.

Archdiocese of Baltimore Files for Bankruptcy to Evade Sexual Abuse Cases

PUBLISHED 10/11/2023 by

The archdiocese of Baltimore filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 29 to preempt child sexual abuse lawsuits which were expected to be filed once a new Maryland law removing the statute of limitations took effect on Oct. 1.

The scheme allows the church to protect its assets, limit financial settlements, and stop civil lawsuits which would air unsavory information about decades of child sexual abuse and the church’s complicity. 

Brick-and-Mortar Pharmacies Begin Dispensing Abortion Pills Across the U.S.

PUBLISHED 10/11/2023 by

In January of 2023, the FDA announced the new certification process for pharmacies to dispense mifepristone. Last week, the pharmaceutical company GenBioPro announced the names of 18 brick-and-mortar pharmacies that are now dispensing the abortion pill mifepristone.

They are the first pharmacies to publicly acknowledge doing so after the FDA in late 2021 finally loosened medically unnecessary restrictions on mifepristone that blocked pharmacy distribution for decades. 

Defending Diverse Voices: Four Best-Selling Authors Talk Banned Books

PUBLISHED 10/10/2023 by

The issue of book banning has resurfaced with renewed vigor. We must resist attempts to suppress books written by Black authors and diverse voices. Ms. spoke with Tiffany D. Jackson, Kimberly L. Jones, Jason Mott and Nicola Yoon—national award-winning authors—about the impact of book banning on both authors and society.

“Banning books will not make racial complexities and the world’s complexities disappear; instead, it erodes compassion and understanding.”

“Books nurture empathy in kids who are reading about people who don’t look like them. They build understanding.”

No More Child Brides

PUBLISHED 10/10/2023 by

Kriti Bharti founded her nonprofit, Saarthi Trust, in 2011 to fight child marriage and empower women and girls. Since then, she has helped legally annul 49 child marriages and prevented 1,700 more from being “solemnized” in ceremonial engagements. She has aided in the rehabilitation of 20,500 children and women, and has conducted orientation programs that resulted in 35,000 villagers taking oaths to resist child marriages.

“One day,” she said, “we should be able to say, ‘Once upon a time, there was something called child marriage.’”

(This article originally appears in the Fall 2023 issue of Ms. Join the Ms. community today and you’ll get Ms. in print delivered straight to your mailbox!)

How the World Is Letting Girls Fall Behind

PUBLISHED 10/10/2023 by

The world is letting girls fall behind at an alarming rate. This International Day of the Girl, the world must reassess its commitments to girls everywhere—for a flourishing world and, most importantly, for the individual health, rights and well-being of each girl, no matter what. 

Girls will reach their fullest potential when global governments comprehensively prioritize their education, safety, health and autonomy.

Why I Want to Build a Better Democracy

PUBLISHED 10/10/2023 by

As a young girl in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Iran, I never expected to be fighting for democracy in the United States.

We are linguistic and ethnic strangers, yet we are family and are at home in the United States. And we are one among many here. That spirit of welcome is the spirit that should propel us toward the new democracy we want—and need. It’s what should animate us as we build a new democracy that we can all call home.

The 2024 Election Will Be a Referendum on Abortion and Women’s Equality, According to New Ms. Poll

PUBLISHED 10/9/2023 by

Next year’s election will see many voters turn out who are motivated by abortion and equal rights for women, according to a new poll by Lake Research Partners for Ms. and the Feminist Majority Foundation, publisher of Ms.  The poll showed that abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) are strong voter turnout issues separately, but even more powerful when combined.

Candidates talking about abortion and the ERA together are particularly mobilizing for Democrat and Independent voters—especially Independent women, younger women, voters who support abortion rights, college-educated women, Latinas and Black voters, and voters ages 30-39.