2009 October Archive | Feministing

Intersex Awareness Day.

Yesterday was Intersex Awareness Day.

Oct 26th marks the 5th annual celebrate intersexual awareness day! Today is the (inter)national day of grass-roots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.

Via Queers United, where you can learn more about the issue and what you can do take action.

Yesterday was Intersex Awareness Day.

Via Queers ...

By Samhita • 14 years ago

The Disney Princess Feminist Fail.

Via Feministe, via Sociological Images. As this commenter notes, where are Mulan, Pocahantas, Giselle and Lauren notes the absence of Tiana, first African American princess who were all also constructed as racist and sexist stereotypes. Disney doesn’t discriminate who they create sexist caricatures out of, that is for sure.

By Samhita • 14 years ago

A Little Victim Blaming With Your Coffee.

The Daily Mail says women might imagine being drugged and put at risk of rape, but in reality they just drank too much.

Dr Adam Burgess, from the University of Kent school of social policy, said rumours about the prevalence of date-rape drugs were little more than an urban myth.
This led young women to underestimate real risks of alcohol misuse, which can include impaired judgment putting them at risk of sexual assault.
‘The reason why fear of drink-spiking has become widespread seems to be a mix of it being more convenient to guard against than the effects of alcohol itself and the fact that such stories are exotic – like a more adult version of “stranger danger”.’
The study, published ...

The Daily Mail says women might imagine being drugged and put at risk of rape, but in reality they just drank too much.

Dr Adam Burgess, from the University of Kent school of social policy, said rumours about ...

By Jessica • 14 years ago

What We Missed

Congrats to Jessee Vasold, the first transgender homecoming queen at the College of William and Mary!
A new study on the Internet and prostitution.
Italian feminists are wiping the floor with Berlusconi.
Why did Project Runway edit out a gay relationship from the show?

By Jos Truitt • 14 years ago

Mad Men Mondays: I can explain

During the third season of Mad Men Feministing writers will offer some of our thoughts on feminist moments, scenes, and themes in the new episodes in order to start a discussion about these topics in our community. *WARNING: Lots of spoilers follow.
Roger Sterling and Annabelle Mathis.
It was kind of nice to see Roger flirting with a woman his own age. I also love that we’re getting some backstory on him. -Ann
I think this turned out to be so interesting, since Roger ultimately “rejects” her advances and normally his weakspot is teh ladies. It is almost cute that he is obviously doing it for some kind of broken-hearted revenge. -Samhita
Ugh. I hated seeing Annabelle’s character portrayed ...

During the third season of Mad Men Feministing writers will offer some of our thoughts on feminist moments, scenes, and themes in the new episodes in order to start a discussion about these topics in our ...

By Jessica • 14 years ago

Extremist doctors: Saving women from the anguish of sluttiness

USA Today has an article about conscience clause legislation – laws that, among other restrictions, allow pharmacists and health care workers to deny women access to birth control pills if it goes against the pharmacist’s religion. It’s your run-of-the-mill piece, but this quote from Dr. Michele Phillips just killed me.

“I’m not going to give any kind of medication I see as harmful,” said Phillips of San Antonio. The drugs would not protect her patient from “emotional trauma from multiple partners,” Phillips reasoned, or sexually transmitted diseases. “I could not ethically give that type of medication to a single woman.”

Wowza.
Via Feminists for Choice.

By Rose • 14 years ago

Cecile Richards on health care, anti-choice Dems, and what’s next

Champions of Sexual Literacy Honorees: Richard Garcia, Cecile Richards and Rose Afriyie
Last week, I got the chance to be honored at the National Sexuality Resource Center’s (NSRC) Champions of Sexual Literacy Dinner following in the footsteps of my amazing mentor Samhita. This year, the main honoree was powerhouse sexuality-rights advocate Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PP). From afar, she had this elegance to her that was really alluring. When I first arrived, she was knee deep in a conversation with an ambassador. It seemed that the entire room occasionally glanced at her, the woman at the helm of perhaps the only woman’s rights organization left that is a household name no matter ...

By Jessica • 14 years ago

Overruled!: Ending sodomy laws in the U.S.

Lambda Legal made this great documentary that tells the story of the Supreme Court victory in Lawrence v. Texas that struck down state sodomy laws.
Click here to find out more about the film and how you can host a screening at your school or organization.
h/t Audacia Ray on Twitter.