2005 May Archive | Feministing

Alabama Gives Domestic Violence Victims Guns

Yesterday the Alabama House passed the Domestic Violence Victims Empowerment Act. Sounds nice, right?
Not so quick — the purpose of the bill is to make it easier for DV victims to arm themselves. The AP reports that the bills allows protective orders to be among the evidence a sheriff can consider when determining whether to issue a 90-day permit to carry a concealed weapon.
When asked about bill, Rep. Ronnie Sutton, chairman of the judiciary committee, explained that: “Obviously, it doesn’t do very much. But technically, it does two things. It makes a bunch of people feel more secure, and it seriously runs the risk of getting somebody killed.“ Ummmm, what?

By Samhita • 18 years ago

Fat Discrimination

This study found that “heavy set” women face more job discrimination. DUH! How about life discrimination? But reals,
Reuters reports..
“Body mass significantly decreases women’s family income,” the study by two researchers at New York University found. “However … men experience no negative effects of body mass on economic outcomes.”
I know this is not very suprising, but how do we begin to have a discourse about this EXTREMELY pervasive and dangerous phenomenon. Fat discrimination is still one of those things that people do consciously and it is considered okay (you’ve heard it, it is just not healthy blah blah blah, at least when you are a woman, if you are a man you ...

This study found that “heavy set” women face more job discrimination. DUH! How about life discrimination? But reals,
Reuters reports..
“Body mass significantly decreases women’s family income,” the study by two researchers at ...

By Jessica • 18 years ago

Women arrested for helping incest-victim daughter get an abortion

And what in the world could this Florida mom possibly be charged with? Evidence tampering and child neglect. Un-fucking-believable.
The girl’s 40-year-old stepfather was charged Friday with familial sexual battery. The 33-year-old mother also was arrested. Both are free on $5,000 bond. The girl [17-years-old] and her sister have been placed in state custody.
Palm Beach County sheriff’s detectives wanted to perform a paternity test on the fetus as part of the investigation, but they say the mother took her daughter to a Broward County clinic for an abortion without notifying them.
They were both arrested and freed on the same bond?! So I guess helping your daughter receive a legal abortion is the criminal ...

And what in the world could this Florida mom possibly be charged with? Evidence tampering and child neglect. Un-fucking-believable.
The girl’s 40-year-old stepfather was charged Friday with familial sexual battery. The 33-year-old mother ...

By Jessica • 18 years ago

“Bra chain” raises money for breast cancer research

Reuters reports that British women plan to make the world’s longest chain of bras on the island of Cyprus to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer:
Organisers said they will need at least 90,000 bras and about 10 months to build the chain that they hope will put them in the Guinness Book of World Records. The previous record was a 79,000-long bra chain in Singapore.
Talk about original organizing! Though I would feel kind of bad sending in my nasty-ass old bras for the world to see. Gross.

Reuters reports that British women plan to make the world’s longest chain of bras on the island of Cyprus to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer:
Organisers said they will need at ...

By Jessica • 18 years ago

Jeb signs parental notification law for unmarried, childless teens

From the Associated Press:
Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill Wednesday that requires physicians to tell parents when a minor daughter seeks an abortion.
Bush signed a similar bill into law in 1999 but the courts blocked it, finding it violated the privacy provision in the Florida Constitution.
OK, not too shocking right? Consent laws are the hot abortion topic lately. But here’s the part that really got me:
The law, which takes effect July 1, applies to girls 17 and younger who aren’t married and don’t already have children. Unless it’s a medical emergency, doctors are required to notify a parent in person or by phone 48 hours before the abortion or, if that’s ...

By Ann • 18 years ago

Military women can choose combat but not abortion

The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday to preserve women’s right to serve in combat positions, but deny them the right to get an abortion on a military base.
The House passed the 2006 defense authorization bill without an amendment that would have repealed the current ban on abortions at overseas military clinics. It also rejected an amendment that would have restricted the number of combat positions open to women.
The military base abortion ban was instituted by President Reagan in 1988, lifted by President Clinton in 1993 and reinstated by the Republican-controlled Congress in 1996. It prevents military hospitals from performing any abortions except in situations of rape, incest or to save the woman’s life. (Under ...

By noauthor • 18 years ago

You Might Actually Have to Watch Race Car Driving

This weekend, while you’re bbq-ing and drinking some beers, check out the Indy 500. I know, I know. That seems like an odd request for a bunch of young feminists. But this year, possibly for the first time in its almost 100 year history, a woman has a chance of winning. Her name is Danica Patrick.
Danica Patrick is no novelty driver. Though she’s only the third woman to qualify for the Indianapolis field, she’s the first woman to earn an IndyCar drive with a topflight team like Rahal Letterman Racing. Basically, this means she might actually win, which would be huge for a sport and a culture that isn’t particularly feminist-friendly.
For a whole ...

This weekend, while you’re bbq-ing and drinking some beers, check out the Indy 500. I know, I know. That seems like an odd request for a bunch of young feminists. But this year, possibly for ...

By Jessica • 18 years ago

Erica Jong calls out Laura

Erica Jong tears into First Lady Laura Bush and her Middle East visit at The Huffington Post. It’s pretty scathing on its own, so I don’t feel the need to add on:
Now that Laura Bush is back from the Middle East and can take off her black scarf, it’s time to ask why she is promoting freedom for women in the Middle East when the rights of American women are being systemically eroded by her husband’s initiatives. Is it the same reason why her husband promotes democracy abroad while the Patriot Act and the suspension of the Geneva Convention dilute democracy at home? Is wearing the headscarf the last refuge ...

Erica Jong tears into First Lady Laura Bush and her Middle East visit at The Huffington Post. It’s pretty scathing on its own, so I don’t feel the ...