2006 February Archive

Indian state passes law giving pregnant women free bus fare.

You heard it.

District administration has decided to issue free bus passes for pregnant women in rural areas, so that they could avail the medical facilities in time. The new scheme was implemented from Friday.
According to district medical and health officer Ramakrishna Reddy, periodical medical tests and checkups for pregnant women were necessary for a smooth delivery and they were also important for the health of the newborn after the delivery.

This is huge considering many of the women in this part of India (Andhra Pradesh) can’t afford even public transport to the medical center. This is really amazing that a law like this was even passed, although South India has consistently been passing progressive laws concerning the rights of women. ...

You heard it.

By Samhita • 18 years ago

Jamaica gets first female leader.

After a narrow win, Portia Simpson Miller currently holding a position in the Cabinet beat Rastafarian candidate Peter Phillips for the prime ministership.

In the Jamaican system, the majority party’s president automatically becomes prime minister. About 3,800 delegates of the People’s National Party voted.
Portia Simpson Miller, local government minister, received 1,775 votes for the party presidency, while Peter Phillips, national security minister, came in second with 1,538 ballots, said Danville Walker, director of elections at the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
Three Cabinet ministers and a party vice president vied to replace the party’s president, Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who said he would resign by April after 14 years on the job.

I think this is a big win for the ...

After a narrow win, Portia Simpson Miller currently holding a position in the Cabinet beat Rastafarian candidate Peter Phillips for the prime ministership.

In the Jamaican system, the majority party’s president automatically becomes prime minister. About 3,800 delegates ...

By Ann • 18 years ago

Are you there, God? What’s a tampon?

Book of the Day recently re-read Judy Blume’s pubescent classic, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Like 99.9% of awkward, bookwormish pre-teen girls who’ve grown up in the past three decades, I loved this book. It’s one of Time Magazine’s 100 greatest novels, and also one of the American Library Association’s most frequently challenged books.
Turns out they’ve updated the novel to reflect advances in menstrual technology. Margaret now uses “disposable adhesive pads” rather than the slightly frightening “sanitary belt.” (This is really old news, but I hadn’t heard.)
I’m glad they’ve updated it. I remember reading this book and thinking I knew nothing about getting my ...

By Ann • 18 years ago

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Family Planning?

Over at Nerve, Kara Jesella reminds us that it’s not just abortion access that’s become restricted in the U.S. Women–especially young and low-income women–are having a hard time getting contraception. Even at Planned Parenthood.
This is how you know it’s gotten bad.
Jesella mentions Hannah, 17, who couldn’t afford Planned Parenthood’s $100 exam and $40-per-pack birth control. Jennifer, 24, also tried to get the Pill through Planned Parenthood, which had a hard time understanding her lack of health insurance. Erin, 25, left her local clinic without the morning-after pill when she was told it would cost $50.

Women I spoke with reported encounters with clueless receptionists and lines worthy of the DMV. (One woman says she waited three hours ...

By Ann • 18 years ago

Spin cycle: Silver Ring Thing settlement

The ACLU has settled the lawsuit against Silver Ring Thing, the Jesus-fied abstinence-only program. HHS froze Silver Ring Thing’s funding back in August, and this week’s settlement ensures the program won’t receive federal dollars to Bible-thump until they change the curriculum.
But, like all federally funded abstinence-only programs, Silver Ring Thing will still be able to tell young women they’re sluts and spread misinformation about condoms. Anyway…
Check out the ACLU’s press release on the settlement, then compare it to the one put out by the Alliance Defense Fund, the group that defended Silver Ring Thing:

“Apparently, the ACLU of Massachusetts would have us believe that discussion of abstinence ...

By Vanessa • 18 years ago

UK midwives call for epidural fee.

While I’ve always been interested in midwifery and the discussion of how the western world increasingly treats full-term pregnancy like a medical condition, this seems a bit much. The Royal College of Midwives in the UK are suggesting that women giving labor should pay for epidurals.
Louise Silverton, RCM Deputy General Secretary, elaborates:

“Epidurals provide effective pain relief but, where there is no clinical indication that they are necessary, they can significantly raise the likelihood of other interventions such as Caesarean section occurring.
The UK already has an extremely high Caesarean rate and, as the acknowledged experts in normal pregnancy, labour and birth we midwives need to debate ways in which we might help to bring this ...

By Ann • 18 years ago

A defense of liberal, straight men

My liberal, straight male friend Jonathan sent me a link to this open letter to all the liberal straight men, from the latest Carnival of Feminists, and asked if I would sign on to a letter like this.
My response? I think statements like this give all feminists a bad name.
The only real complaint I could find within this screed is that there are liberal, straight men who “derail the discussion” of gender by superimposing their personal experience. To which I say, sure, and there are also lesbians and straight women and gay men who do the same thing. I don’t think this implies self-centeredness. How can anyone completely separate from their personal experience while ...

My liberal, straight male friend Jonathan sent me a link to this open letter to all the liberal straight men, from the latest Carnival of Feminists, and asked if I would sign on ...

By Vanessa • 18 years ago

The dangers of being a (female) track inspector.

Apparently this track inspector can’t escape scrutiny, regardless of whether her life is on the line or not.
The Daily News had an article on Monday about the New York City Transit Authority’s only female track inspector, and the sexist bullshit she has to deal with for simply being brave.
Ronda Rivers is the only female track inspector among 21 women working in the division, which includes another 1,800 men. But apparently, someone wants to keep ladies off the tracks. Written in the yellow chalk that’s issued to TA maintenance supervisors and other track inspectors, graffiti in one of her tunnels read, “Women should be cleaners, not track inspectors. Women don’t belong on track.”
“I was offended and ...