2009 March Archive | Feministing

Who Woulda Thunk: ABC Show Addresses Homophobia in NJ Bar

Via Womanist Musings, we find that ABC decided to use their show, What Would You Do?, to address homophobia in a sports bar in New Jersey, where they tested folks’ acceptance of a gay couple being openly affectionate. A straight couple was also used as well as another actor making homophobic remarks to see how patrons would react.

Overwhelmingly, the real patrons showed intolerance for snide remarks like his, even as the gay couple escalated their touching and affection.
“I would rather have 12 of you than four of him,” said one man apologetically to the couple.
“Seriously, this is not your [expletive] bar!” yelled an emotional woman to one harasser, in defense of the gay couple.
Later, a real ...

By Ann • 15 years ago

Immigration: Who gives, who takes?

I’ve always found that the dominant anti-immigrant narrative in this country — despite paens to the great mythical “melting pot” I read in my grade-school social studies textbooks — is that immigrants take. They come here to take our jobs. They take up social services. They take formerly pristine street corners and make them look dirty by standing around looking for work. They take the money they earn back home rather than keep it in the local community. These are the things I hear repeated on crap cable shows like Glenn Beck’s, or when I sit down to dinner with my conservative relatives.

It’s also a theme that popped up a lot when I was doing some reporting several ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Women Action and the Media 2009

So Samhita and I will be holding it down for the Feministing Crew this year at the Women Action and the Media Conference.
If you’re gonna be there be sure to come say hi and check out two Feministing events. The first, I’m speaking on a panel that I am super psyched about. Jack from Angry Brown Butch and Feministe, Julia Serano (amazing author, performer and activist) and activist extraordinaire Kate Bovitch and I will be speaking on a panel called In/Out of Focus: Gender, Non-conformity and the Media on Saturday morning at 11am. I’m honored to be on a panel with these awesome people and I think it will be a great ...

So Samhita and I will be holding it down for the Feministing Crew this year at the Women Action and the Media Conference.
If you’re gonna be there be sure to come say hi and ...

By Miriam • 15 years ago

Obama administration decides to sign UN gay rights document

In further evidence of Obama’s departure from Bush era policy, the State Department announced last week they would sign on to a gay rights UN document. The document calls for the decriminalization of homosexuality and 66 countries have signed on so far. The UN drafted the document in December as a stand against human rights violations based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Bush Administration had previously argued that the document contradicted US law, but the Obama Administration disagrees.

By Jessica • 15 years ago

South Park takes on purity rings

I can’t believe I missed this episode (and that I have to wait weeks till the full episode is available online)! Outside of the mouse-on-teen violence, I really liked this clip – especially how it points out that by focusing on purity these companies/singers are actually focusing on sexuality, just in a “safe” way.
Thanks to Lucas for the heads up.

By Courtney • 15 years ago

Not Oprah’s Book Club: Quiverfull

Model daughters of the patriarchy movement, the Botkin girls express a hatred of feminism that is pure, and they hate it in a variety of flavors most feminists wouldn’t recognize as their cause. To the Botkins, all bad women–from the seductress hoping to “subdue masculinity” with her womanly wiles and charms to vain pageant queens to career women to even conservative Christian wives who aren’t fervent enough about spiritual war–are feministic, seeking to ‘weaken and dominate men.’

Reading Kathryn Joyce’s exhaustively researched and fascinating new book, Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement, sometimes feels like a science fiction experience. The Christian patriarchy movement is aimed at raising dutiful daughters and obedient wives who will populate the world with strong ...

By Jessica • 15 years ago

Quick Hit: The HPV vaccine for boys?

The Washington Post reports that Merck, the company that makes Gardasil, has asked the FDA to approve the HPV vaccine for boys and young men.

When a vaccine designed to protect girls against a sexually transmitted virus arrived three years ago, the debate centered on one question: Would the shots make young girls more likely to have sex?
Now the vaccine’s maker is trying to get approval to sell the vaccine for boys, and the debate is focusing on something else entirely: Is it worth the money, and is it safe and effective enough?

Shocking that the concern for young men isn’t about promiscuity.

The Washington Post reports that Merck, the company that makes Gardasil, has asked the FDA to approve the HPV vaccine for boys and young men.

When a vaccine designed to protect girls against a sexually transmitted ...

By Jessica • 15 years ago

The “tragedy” of hook up culture. And scare quotes.

One of the upsides of reading IWF’s blog (the downside being the constant retching) is that it points you in the direction of gems like this one. Robert P. George and John B. Londregan, professors in Princeton’s Department of Politics, say that sex on college campuses is a “tragedy.” They also really, really like scare quotes.

…Princeton, where we teach, is a wonderful university; but like other colleges and universities there is a dark side to its social life. Our students are bright, enthusiastic, and eager to learn. Most did not come to college bent on boozing and hooking up. Many feel deeply ambivalent about these aspects of campus life. Yet, they find ...

One of the upsides of reading IWF’s blog (the downside being the constant retching) is that it points you in the direction of gems like this one. Robert P. George and ...