There has been a lot written this week about “Weinergate” after Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.), known for his House floor diatribes, admitted Monday to having sexual Internet relationships with at least six women. A piece by Jodi Jacobsen of RHReality Check, reprinted on the Ms. blog, defends the Congressman on the grounds that while what […]
Editor Picks Round-Up
Women Drivers, Editors and Burlesque Performers: Editors’ Picks, 5/29-6/4
Jezebel reports that French sexual harassment complaints are up 600 percent in the wake of Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s alleged assault of a hotel room attendant. According to French women’s groups, the staggering increase may be due to women feeling more comfortable speaking out, or it may be a response to men’s dismissive attitude toward the story. […]
Underpaid Cheerleaders, Unbelievable Ignorance and Unjust Verdicts: Editors’ Picks, 5/22-5/28
At TBD, Amanda Hess investigates the shockingly low pay ($75 a game) Washington Redskins Cheerleaders make in exchange for their hard work–particularly in contrast to the salary of the players, who are currently embroiled in an ongoing labor dispute with the league. Hess explains: At the table are the players, the former players, and the […]
SlutWalks, IUDs and What Trans People Want: Editors’ Picks: 5/8-5/14
At the ITT List, Lindsay Beyerstein thinks that anti-porn feminist Gail Dines’ critiques of SlutWalk marches completely miss the point. The Peace Corps volunteer rape scandal continues to make headlines. At RH Reality Check, a Peace Corps volunteer says she became pregnant after a Peace Corps employee raped her, only to be told by Peace […]
Birtherism, Royal Weddings, Viagra for Rapists and More: Editors’ Picks, 4/24-4/30
In her speech at the Time 100 Gala, Amy Poehler delighted everyone when she thanked the dedicated women who help take care of her children, allowing her to pursue the career she always wanted. She spoke for all working women “that get to do what you get to do because there are wonderful people helping […]
Seeing Inequality, Keeping Trans Transparent, Criticizing Gwyneth and More: Editors’ Picks, 4/17-4/23
Tragically, the body of missing honors student Phylicia Barnes has been found in the Susquehanna River. Her body was recovered, along with that of an unidentified male, on Friday. The Root has more. At Sociological Images: a visualization of inequality in the U.S., from name-based racial discrimination to the ever-growing gap between the rich and […]
Secret Handshakes, Misogynist Rappers and Unfunny Men: Editors’ Picks, 4/10-4/16
“They never let her learn the secret handshake there.” Katie Couric’s five-year run as anchor on CBS Evening News is reportedly coming to an end. The New York Times reveals behind-the-scenes details of Couric’s tenure at the network, from her chilly reception to her persistently low visibility, plus what’s coming up next for the Emmy-award […]
Women Cops, the White Male Brat Pack and Bicycling Towards Equality: Editors’ Picks, 3/27-4/2
This week, Dilbert creator Scott Adams managed to offend both feminists and anti-feminists with a “satirical” blog post on the all-too-real Men’s Rights Movement. If you haven’t heard about the uproar, get filled in here and here; if you’re confused about “men’s rights” (and it’s easy to be), Salon.com has a great interview with Ms. […]
Clinton, Colbert and Ticking Time Bombs: Editor’s Picks
Recent news about the Obama administration’s actions in Libya has generated some of the most absurd commentary on gender and politics we’ve seen. This National Review Online post is disgraceful, naturally (but has one of the best comment threads I’ve ever read). But neo-cons aren’t the only wrong-headed commentators. Over at The Nation blogs, Robert […]
Dukes, Deportation and Days of Solidarity: Editors’ Picks: 3/14-3/18
This week, the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) named its 2011 picks for the 50 best companies for executive women–not be confused, mind you, with regular women. This distinction is evinced by the fact that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. made the list, even though a pending lawsuit alleges the company systemically paid women less and […]