2004 October Archive | Feministing

Check out…

The inspiring article in Women’s eNews about Florida’s Betty Castor and the fight of her political career.
While struggling to win the seat in the U.S. Senate as the first female Democrat and second women ever to be elected by Florida, she challenges her opponent as a supporter of choice and stem-cell research. This article is a must-read!

By noauthor • 19 years ago

Why can’t CVS be this cool?

The BBC reported that British pharmacy Boots is teaming up with condom maker Durex to introduce a line of sex toys to the pharmacy. Women are the drug store’s main customerbase, and analysts believe that providing sex toys will provide an additional incentive for women to choose Boots over another pharmacy.
Responding to criticism about the decision, Garry Watts, chief executive of Durex’s parent company SSL, notes that: “People are becoming…more open-minded. Products to help people have a healthy and happy love life are much more normal. It is right and proper we should be bringing them to the market via those channels.” Whoo-hoo!
While I’m not sure that I’d be willing to give ...

The BBC reported that British pharmacy Boots is teaming up with condom maker Durex to introduce a line of sex toys to the pharmacy. Women are the drug store’s main customerbase, and analysts ...

By noauthor • 19 years ago

“We don’t want to go back to coathanger abortions”

The Observer has a great story detailing how Bush’s hard-line abortion stance is finally beginning to alienate women within his own party. And moderate Republicans are stepping up to discuss what we’ve known all along–if Bush is re-elected there is a very good chance we may lose our right to choose.
Arizona Republican State Senator, Linda Binder, claims that while she voted for Bush in 2000, she won’t be casting a vote for him this time around. Why? “We don’t want to go back to coathanger abortions… As legislators, my fellow moderates are feeling the push for more faith-based programs on sex education and contraception coming from the Bush administration.” Amen, sister.
Exploring ...

By noauthor • 19 years ago

NYC Women More Likely to be Killed by an Intimate Partner

A new study by the NYC Health Department documents that women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than by a stranger. This is particularly true for immigrant women and women of color.
The study focused on the 1030 women killed in NYC between 1995 and 2002. Of those, only 12 were classified as homicides (i.e. committed by a stranger), while “339 were committed by intimate partners, 369 by others, and 322 were unknown.” More than 60% were killed in their homes. Women in their 20’s and 30’s were likely to be killed by intimate partner, while women in their 50’s were more likely to be killed by a stranger.
Particularly ...

A new study by the NYC Health Department documents that women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than by a stranger. This is particularly true for immigrant women and women ...

By noauthor • 19 years ago

Voting Your Economic Interest

Reuters reported yesterday on Kerry’s attempts rile up women voters in Wisconsin. He promised to promote equal pay policies and increase the minimum wage ($7 from $5.15) and lashed out at the “false assurances” of the Bush regime. My favorite quote:
“Before the president complains about his job, he ought to come here and spend the day with you. He might learn something about how, day after day, the women of this country juggle so much with such grace and strength.”
While I don’t think that Kerry can cure [all of] our economic ails, he will be a *big* improvement. Under the Bush administration the gender wage ratio fall ...

Reuters reported yesterday on Kerry’s attempts rile up women voters in Wisconsin. He promised to promote equal pay policies and increase the minimum wage ($7 from $5.15) and lashed out at the

By Vanessa • 19 years ago

Gloria Hits the Road

Gloria Steinem, writer and feminist organizer, announced today that she will travel over 1,500 miles in an RV through Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from October 25th through Election Day. Woohoo!
“I’m taking this action because I’ve lived through the election of every US President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and the fundamental differences in world view between Bush and Kerry make this the most crucial election in my lifetime.” says Steinem.
What a kick-ass lady.
For up to the minute information on Gloria’s whereabouts, call 1-877-GLO-TOUR (456-8687) or visit www.pfaw-votersalliance.org.

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Lowering violence against women in the UK

As part of an effort to lower intimate partner violence in the UK, doctors and midwives now must ask pregnant women if they are being abused by their partners during check-ups.
Understanding that violence increases (or begins) during pregnancy, the Department of Health is hoping to implement the policy by next year.
Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said, “The fact that domestic violence often starts or escalates during pregnancy and is associated with increases in rates of miscarriage, low birth weight, premature birth, fetal injury and fetal death makes for stark reading.”
What Johnson doesn’t say, however, is that there is also a significant increase of risk for the pregnant woman, not just the fetus.
In the United ...

By Jessica • 19 years ago

Army may eliminate women-in-combat ban

The Army is considering eliminating the women-in-combat ban as soon as January, The Washington Times reported today.
The Army is in negotiations with Rumsfeld’s staff to see if they can lift the ban—which has been in place for 10 years now. The ban won’t allow women in units that “collocate” with ground combatants.
Using Iraq as an example, Lt. Col. Chris Rodney says in the article that everyone faces similar threats in that all soldiers face attack “by rockets, mortars, roadside bombs and ambushes,” and that “there is no front-line threat right now.”
For previous Feministing posts on women in the military, click here, here, and here.