Weekly Feminist Reader

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the attacks in Mumbai. Bastard.logic has a list of resources.
Cecelia at Ojibway Migisi Bineshii gives her view of Thanksgiving, and Renee asks, “what are we really giving thanks for?
Nezua on men who don the traditional costume of Zapotec women in southern Mexico, and constructions of Mexican masculinity.
The situation in Gaza has gotten really bad.
Shark-Fu on Nebraska’s safe haven law, which allows parents to drop off children of any age, not just infants.
Horrible news: Jdimytai Damour, a Long Island Wal-Mart employee, was trampled to death on Friday. As Matt says, “Talk about a great reason to celebrate

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the attacks in Mumbai. Bastard.logic has a list of resources.
Cecelia at Ojibway Migisi Bineshii gives her view of Thanksgiving, and Renee asks, “what ...

Home for the holidays

Two different takes on seeing family this time of year…
from SLB at Post Bourgie:

Whenever I go back there, I never quite know what to say. How do you answer for why you’re not in one of those townhomes? You, who insisted on going around the mulberry bush to get a couple of degrees instead of just stacking paper at the post office right out of high school? How do you return to a school reunion and tell your homeowning, child-rearing former classmates that you live on your fam’s couch while you’re building your curriculum vitae?

and from Antigone at PunkAssBlog:

Unpleasant aspects number two: This has been a problem for awhile now, but now that Hubby and I are ...

Two different takes on seeing family this time of year…
from SLB at Post Bourgie:

Whenever I go back there, I never quite know what to say. How do you answer for why you’re not in one ...

Note to women smokers: Quit smoking.


If only you knew Betty, if only you knew…
This is a stark reminder: women smokers lose 14.5 years off their life span.
I’m going to disclose a little, shameful secret: I’m a smoker. Well, not your average pack-of-cigarettes-a-day smoker, but depending on my stress level, I can be a pack-of-cigarettes-a-week smoker. And I hate it. I’ve been smoking casually, socially, whatever you want to call it, for over 10 years.
But that “I’m a social smoker” excuse is a complete cop-out. I’m in the process of trying to quit, and if you’re a smoker, this is a great time to kick the gross-ass habit too. Reasons? Gee, let’s see…

Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer, ...


If only you knew Betty, if only you knew…
This is a stark reminder: women smokers lose 14.5 years off their life span.
I’m going to disclose a little, shameful secret: I’m a smoker. ...

Props of the Week: GLAAD 7th Annual OUTAuction


The late Herb Ritts’ piece with Derek and Drew Riker.
I went to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) OUTAuction 2008 earlier this week, and it was pretty damn awesome. In fact, it was so awesome it raised over $135,000!
I’ve always been a huge fan of (and occasional attempted maker of) art, so this was quite the treat for me. While the auction had pieces by the famous Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, some of the newer artists were pretty phenomenal. Check out the winners of the Best Emerging Artists on GLAAD’s blog.

The late Herb Ritts’ piece with Derek and Drew Riker.
I went to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) OUTAuction 2008 earlier this week, and it was pretty damn awesome. ...

Woman wins “A Date with Travis,” then raped by Travis

This is pretty appalling. An Illinois woman is suing Waukegan radio station WXLC for being sexually assaulted on a “date” she won from one of their contests.
The station promoted Travis Harvey as a “great” and “kind” guy in their challenge, “Win a Date with Travis,” which she ended up getting after being asked a series of questions by Harvey along with other contestants. So after being tested and judged as to whether she was an adequate “date” for the bachelor, Harvey invited her to his house on the night of their oh-so-special date where he drugged and raped her.
And this all happened despite the fact that Harvey had a record, which the station failed to find out:

Baizer ...

This is pretty appalling. An Illinois woman is suing Waukegan radio station WXLC for being sexually assaulted on a “date” she won from one of their contests.
The station promoted Travis Harvey as a “great” and ...

Happy Thanksgiving, Crew!


Not the massacre of native people “Happy Thanksgiving,” but the thankful for our lives and communities and feminism and progress “Happy Thanksgiving.” We’re certainly deeply grateful for all of our readers and community posters–you all make this space truly alive and dynamic.
And, thus, feminism alive and dynamic. I’ll drink a glass of wine and eat some mac n’ cheese to that lovely thought.
By the way, we’re taking the day off and will be back tomorrow with limited posting.


Not the massacre of native people “Happy Thanksgiving,” but the thankful for our lives and communities and feminism and progress “Happy Thanksgiving.” We’re certainly deeply grateful for all of our readers and community posters–you all make ...

“Mocha moms” take over the white house.

I am not totally sure how to respond to this commentary on CNN about Michelle Obama’s choice to stay at home during the presidency of Barack Obama. I don’t want to be too hard on it, because I do think on one level highlighting that there are also women of color that stay at home and sometimes feel isolated and alienated so they should build relationships, well that is great. Having the resources to be a stay at home is even better. However, suggesting that you should stay home to do it for the betterment of the country and to uphold traditional values-well that is just not OK.
She makes an apt argument about black women taking care of ...

I am not totally sure how to respond to this commentary on CNN about Michelle Obama’s choice to stay at home during the presidency of Barack Obama. I don’t want to be too hard on it, ...

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