2009 October Archive | Feministing

The Feministing Five: Ariel Boone

Regular readers will have noticed that in recent months, Feministing has brought in a number of new contributors: Ariel, Jos, Lori, Rose Afriye and myself. No doubt you’re getting to know them and their expertise by reading their posts and engaging with their ideas in the comments section, but I also suspect that you want to know a little more about these wonderful women (I know I do!). So, over the next few weeks, I’ll be interviewing my fellow new contributors, so that you and I can get to know them a little better. This week I interviewed Ariel Boone.
Ariel is in her third year at Cal Berkeley, where she is completing a double major in Music ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

What We Missed

President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard Act, which adds sexual orientation and gender identity to existing hate crimes laws.
A trans woman in Australia successfully fought for an apology and a change in policy from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade after she suffered embarrassment and harassment while traveling abroad with a passport that still identified her as male.
It’s Friday folks! Add your links in comments and enjoy the Halloween weekend.

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Ebay refuses auction to support Dr. Tiller’s murderer

A group of people wanted to hold an online auction to raise money for Scott Roeder, the man who shot and killed Dr. Tiller at his church in May.
Ebay refused to allow the auction.

Based on the details we know about the anticipated listings, we believe these would violate our policy regarding offensive material,” the company said in a statement to The Kansas City Star. “EBay will not permit the items in question to be posted to the eBay site, and they will be removed if they are posted.”

A letter from Dr. Tiller’s family explained their position on the auction:

“These materials contain hate messages, glorify violence against abortion doctors who provide constitutionally protected medical services, and instruct on means ...

A group of people wanted to hold an online auction to raise money for Scott Roeder, the man who shot and killed Dr. Tiller at his church in May.
Ebay refused to allow the auction.

Based on ...

By Lori Adelman • 14 years ago

Obama Lifts HIV Travel/Immigration Ban

About. Damn. Time.
Via The Advocate and Akimbo:
“The United States is one of a dozen countries that bar people with HIV from entering the country,” Obama said as he announced the lifting of the U.S. policy banning travel and immigration to the U.S. by people who are HIV-positive.
“If we want to be the global leader in HIV, we need to act like it.”
This should go a long way towards battling the seemingly ubiquitous stigma and discrimination HIV-positive people face worldwide. What a great way to end the week!

About. Damn. Time.
Via The Advocate and Akimbo:
“The United States is one of a dozen countries that bar people with HIV from entering the country,” Obama said as he announced the lifting ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Quick Hit: UK Equal Pay Day

Today is Equal Pay Day in the United Kingdom. The pay gap there, for full-time workers, is 17.1%. Meaning women make on average 17% less than men make.
This website has some interesting graphics that breakdown the details of the pay gap for two different cities in the UK, where the pay gap is actually reversed in the city with lower income overall.
More information here.

By Vanessa • 14 years ago

Sarah Jayne: Feminism, Fear and Friendship

When we started our Feministing College Tour this year, we had decided that we’d give each school we attend an opportunity to include one of their students as a panelist at our presentation so that we can have the school be a part of the process as well and speak to some of the issues that their feminist organizations and groups have been addressing. We also offered the student panelists the opportunity to feature their presentation as a guest post on Feministing. The wonderful and amazing Kym Nacita wrote the first of many to come. And here’s our next student panelist, Sarah Jayne, from the University of Ottawa.

Hey everyone! I’m Sarah Jayne, and I want to ...

By Ann • 14 years ago

Quote of the Day

“As a child, I never saw a confident woman; I only saw women being abused. That’s why I am here… I want every girl and woman who walks through this door to know that she is loved, no matter who is telling her she isn’t loved.”

– Mary J. Blige, announcing the opening of the Mary J. Blige Center for Women in her hometown of Yonkers, NY (As Samhita noted last year, Mary founded an organization to empower women in their lives and careers.)

And with that, I think it’s time for a little music, no?

[Video: Mary J. Blige – Family Affair]

Thanks to the lovely Becky for the head’s up.

Transcript of lyrics after the jump

“As a child, I never saw a confident woman; I only saw women being abused. That’s why I am here… I want every girl and woman who walks through this door to know that she is loved, ...

By Miriam • 14 years ago

Today in Feminist History

On October 30, 2005, six days after Rosa Parks’ death, she was transported to the US Capitol and became the first woman to lie in honor (have their body be presented for public recognition) in the Capital Rotunda. This also made her only the second African-American to lie in honor.
Rosa Parks’ is best known for her role in the civil rights movement, when she refused to give up her seat to a white woman in Montogomery Alabama in 1955. She wasn’t the first to resist these segregation rules, but her action sparked a wider boycott on the bus system. She later went on to collaborate with Martin Luther King Jr and other civil rights leaders.
Via New ...