By Ann • 14 years ago

Not Oprah’s Book Club: The Tall Book

Like me, Arianne Cohen is a woman over 6 feet tall who makes her living as a journalist. And dammit, she beat me to writing a book about life in the 99th percentile for height: The Tall Book. (I’ve blogged about some of my tall-lady experiences before, in response to an article Cohen wrote for Nerve.)

Much of the book focuses on the undeniable advantages that come with being tall — I’d venture to call it height supremacist, even. Because height is a product of not just genetics but good childhood nutrition, there’s a strong correlation between height and intelligence, and therefore height and wealth. (Ah, but a gender gap persists: tall women still earn 17% less than ...

Like me, Arianne Cohen is a woman over 6 feet tall who makes her living as a journalist. And dammit, she beat me to writing a book about life in the 99th percentile for height:
By Courtney • 14 years ago

Sharlene Khan, Artist to Watch

I wanted to introduce the feministing community to one of the amazing artists that I had the honor of being in residency with while in Italy last month. Her name is Sharlene Khan–a young South African artist who wrestles with themes of identity, work, race, class, gender, community, and so much more in the many genres that she works in.
Her work, in her own words:

My work (which comprises of oil paintings, installations and mixed media drawings) hopes to bring to the fore this sector of society that is so sadly ignored, to depict the ‘humanness’ of these people we pass by daily – their dreams, hopes, struggles, wit and dignity. My work also combines oil painting and ink drawing ...

I wanted to introduce the feministing community to one of the amazing artists that I had the honor of being in residency with while in Italy last month. Her name is Sharlene Khan–a young South African artist ...
By Courtney • 14 years ago

Thank You Thursdays: Orgs Eradicating and Preventing Future Rape Kit Backlog

Yesterday, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yarovslavksy announced that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department will completely fund the testing of every single rape kit in the backlog within the next two years, and the expansion of a staff to ensure that a backlog will never return to their shelves.
We’ve been following this story for awhile and it’s just so gratifying to see that the coalition of organizations advocating on this issue have won the fight on all fronts.
Thank you to the following groups and all the individuals who got the word out about this outrageous backlog: Human Rights Watch (led by superstar Sarah Tofte), Peace Over Violence, the ...

Yesterday, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yarovslavksy announced that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department will completely fund the testing of every single rape kit in the backlog within the next ...
By Courtney • 14 years ago

Does Testosterone Play a Role in Career Choice?

ABC News reports on a new study by researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University which supposedly determined that women with higher testosterone levels “take more risks and are more likely to choose a finance career.” Testosterone levels made no difference in men’s career choices in the study. The sample size was 500 graduate students.
I know that hormones play a real role in our behavior–no matter our sex–but these kinds of studies worry me. It feels as if isolating only one factor like this, especially one so biologically-determined, underplays all of the other huge influences on how we choose careers, get educated, seek mentors, develop an identity, determine our own gifts etc. The socialization, for example, ...

ABC News reports on a new study by researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University which supposedly determined that women with higher testosterone levels “take more risks and are more likely to choose a ...
By Miriam • 14 years ago

What We Missed

A leaked iPhone commercial spoof that shows you how to stalk your ex.
It looks like Senator Kennedy’s death might just be a rallying cry to pass health care reform.
A jury in West Virginia found a man guilty of raping a number of sex workers. The things said about sex workers by the defense were horrific, and I’m thankful they agreed that non-consensual sex is rape, regardless of your profession.
Microsoft is caught in a huge race FAIL, when they were found to have photoshopped an image on their website–to change the race of the man in question.
Angered about what is happening to Caster Semenya? Sign National Sexuality Resource Center’s petition asking officials ...

A leaked iPhone commercial spoof that shows you how to stalk your ex.
It looks like Senator Kennedy’s death might just be a rallying cry to pass health care reform.
A jury in West ...
By Miriam • 14 years ago

Feminist Sex Shop Review: Nomia in Portland Maine


On my two week vacation around New England (and Montreal!) I discovered a new feminist sex shop to review, Nomia in Portland Maine. From their website:

Portland’s first women owned and operated sensuality boutique.
We opened in February 2004 in order to provide women and men with a comfortable and fun environment in which to explore sex and sexuality. We offer a broad range of literature, from the academic to the erotic, lingerie, hosiery, and the finest adult toys and accessories available.

Nomia made it to my list of favorite feminist sex shops–it was a great place! It’s location is discreet, without a storefront. It’s up the stairs, but there is good signage outfront. They seem to emphasize discretion, ...


On my two week vacation around New England (and Montreal!) I discovered a new feminist sex shop to review, Nomia in Portland Maine. From their website:

Portland’s first women owned and operated sensuality boutique.
We opened ...
By Miriam • 14 years ago

New Leaf Organic Farm

The last two weeks I spent driving through Vermont, Montreal and Maine. The first week of it, I worked on an organic farm in Vermont through a program called WWOOF. Some of you may know I have a burgeoning interest in food politics and spending some time on a farm seemed like a logical next step. Also a great way to take a break from my typical work life in front of a computer.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is an international program that has been around since the 1970s. It helps connect volunteers with organic farms around the world, where folks exchange volunteer help on the farm for a place to stay ...

The last two weeks I spent driving through Vermont, Montreal and Maine. The first week of it, I worked on an organic farm in Vermont through a program called WWOOF. Some of you may know I ...

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