2004 October Archive | Feministing

Happy Halloween from the Hate-Mongers on the Right

Do you ever wonder what hate-monger evangelicals do on Halloween? Apparently, they have turned it into a tool for proselytizing…
This year, for the 33rd year, students at Jerry Falwell’s “Liberty” University (it is an accredited institution…but I think the quotation marks are appropriate) put on a show called “Scaremare”, an elaborate performance described by the Washington Post as part haunted house, part sermon. Visitors are led into an abandoned orphanage with graphic demonstrations of what hell is like and who “deserves” to be there. These interactive scenes include women who have had abortions and gay men who have died of AIDS. No, I’m not kidding. (I wonder if they’ve made room for the ...

By noauthor • 19 years ago

A Walk Down the Aisle to Republicanville?

In Ruth Rosen’s latest piece for The Nation, she discusses Women Really On Their Own–i.e. single women voters. While it has effectively been drilled into our heads that 22 million single women didn’t vote in the last election, Rosen explores the impact that “single” status is having on the vote. Her conclusion–“Memo to politicians and the political parties: The difference between married and unmarried women’s political views is greater and more decisive than the gender gap.” (sigh). It turns out that there is a *huge* difference in how the single gal and married gal votes.
Recent polling data from Democracy Corps, found that single women favor Kerry over Bush by ...

In Ruth Rosen’s latest piece for The Nation, she discusses Women Really On Their Own–i.e. single women voters. While it has effectively been drilled into our heads that 22 million ...

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Happy Halloween! A Feministing costume contest…

So in the spirit of the holiday, Feministing wants to see your best efforts at feminist and/or political costumes. Send your pics to me, and we’ll feature the best ones on the site on Monday.
Usually I go with a birthday-themed costume (I’ll be officially in my late 20s the day after Halloween…now that’s scary!), but this year I really had go with something election-inspired.
After some serious consideration, I’ve decided to go as a “swinger state” for a Saturday night soiree…So be prepared to see some trashy-ass pictures of me dressed as a 70s-style swinger (think The Ice Storm) with a Hello-My-Name-is-Pennsylvania sticker on. Can’t wait…
So what does everyone have planned?

So in the spirit of the holiday, Feministing wants to see your best efforts at feminist and/or political costumes. Send your pics to me, and we’ll feature the best ones on the site on Monday.

By Jessica • 19 years ago

When Republicans and Domestic Violence collide

Freaky shit. This past Tuesday, an 18 year-old Marine recruit in Florida threatened to stab his girlfriend because she was voting for John Kerry. Sounds like a reasonable guy.
Apparently Steven Scott Soper (maybe it was all the alliteration that put him over the edge…) went nutty when his girlfriend told him that not only was she breaking up with him, but she was –gasp!—voting for Kerry for president.
Soper, a strong Bush supporter, told his soon to be ex-girlfriend Stacey Silheira that she would “never live to see the election,” and held her captive with a screwdriver to her neck until police could subdue him.
I see a future with the RNC for this guy. ...

By noauthor • 19 years ago

Old & New v. Bush

Was anyone in Pittsburgh on the 27th? Turns out Gloria Steinem introduced Le Tigre’s show at Mr. Small’s Theatre. Steinem discussed the political process, especially the importance of voting in the upcoming election. It’s amazing that Steinem, second-wave extraordinaire, recognizes the influence music (Le Tigre, Ani Difranco, etc.) has on third wave women. “The ability of music groups of all kinds to go directly to the public without passing through the media is crucial,” she recently told Billboard. “People know and trust musicians based on their records and their lyrics. In this age of pretty skewed media, that’s precious.” Right on.

By noauthor • 19 years ago

UN’s Inadequate Response to Gender-Based Violence

Yesterday the UN Security Council heard from more than fifty speakers on the perpetuation of gender-based violence in war. Thoraya Obaid, head of the UN Population Fund, chastised the counsel for not implementing programs that would provide protection to women in conflict areas.
“From Afghanistan to Liberia, from Colombia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from Burundi to Darfur — the list goes on and on — women and girls, and even men and boys, are being subject to sexual violence, torture and slavery that defy the imagination and bring into sharp focus the cruelty that human beings can inflict on each other. It is truly sad, and terribly angering, to ...

Yesterday the UN Security Council heard from more than fifty speakers on the perpetuation of gender-based violence in war. Thoraya Obaid, head of the UN Population Fund, chastised the counsel ...

By Vanessa • 19 years ago

Check It.

We may not all be big fans of Eminem, but I do think this is a pretty incredible video and would love to know what y’all think of it.
The question is: Clearly Eminem has been continually and unabashadly misogynist, and has promoted violence against women. Should feminists embrace this video, that I’m sure will be extremely popular in the days to come before the election because of its potential political power? Should we push aside our opinions about Eminem?
Before you get going, make sure to read Echidne’s excellent take on the issue.
I’m open for comments…

We may not all be big fans of Eminem, but I do think this is a pretty incredible video and would love to know what y’all think of it.
The question is: Clearly Eminem has ...

By Jessica • 19 years ago

CUNT! Cuntcuntcuntcuntcunt…

Now was that so hard? I think not.
But the folks at the Chicago Tribune disagree. Because of a last-minute freak out over the contentious c-word, editors were running around like maniacs pulling out the Women’s News section from their Wednesday papers.
The Tribune had originally planned to run an article, “You c-nt say that (or can you?),” which discussed “cunt” and whether the word was becoming more acceptable.
Instead of the intended article, which was written by freelancer Lisa Bertagnoli, the Tribune ran a piece about military widows. This only reached readers in the city however; those in suburban areas didn’t get the Women’s News section at all.
The weirdest thing about this story ...

Now was that so hard? I think not.
But the folks at the Chicago Tribune disagree. Because of a last-minute freak out over the contentious c-word, editors were running around like maniacs pulling ...