Weekly Feminist Reader

RIP Dixie Carter, whose Designing Women character was “a confounding woman for those who think liberal politics and feminine wiles can’t coexist.”
Australian Chief Justice Jim Spigelman blames immigrants and “diversity” for sexism. Ah yes, because we all know that white people have never, ever exhibited any sexist tendencies, and an Australia without immigrants would be a feminist utopia.
Obama failed to pass reforms that would have helped millions of low- and moderate-income students attend and finish college.
Is hormone replacement as dangerous as people say it is?
A meditation on dude music.
Looking closer at openly un-retouched celebrity photos.
Pilgrim Soul on her disinterest in the debate over Tina Fey’s feminist bona fides.
Modeling “conscious antidiet” as a way of teaching your daughter to both be healthy and love her body.
On the speculation about the sexuality of women on the short-list to replace Justice Stevens on the Supreme Court.

Musician Baby Dee: “I am really inspired by the simplicity and beauty of love. I am a transsexual — I am a house of mirrors. I am not, by nature, simple… This was a way to allow myself to get into the simplicity of desire that is not accessible to me — to assume the role of the lover and the beloved.”
RaceWire considers the legacy of former L.A. police chief Daryl Gates: “His 14 years as chief, and 30 years on the force prior, lay out all-too-familiar story of policing that targets people instead of actions, and that views some races as inherently more dangerous — and less valuable — than others. In other words, police work as war.”
Erica Jong’s comment that Oprah has “transcended” race actually prove the opposite is true.
“Eco-chic” vagina spray?? Still GROSS.
JK Rowling sticks up for single moms.
Helen parses the results of a project “that asked transgender, transsexual and questioning people to create a message they wanted others to know.”
On the niqab debate and ableism.
Is it really all that surprising that blind men have many of the same ingrained beliefs and preferences about women’s bodies as men who can see?
Check out all the Women’s Health Heroes being featured at Our Bodies, Our Blog.
Chimamanda Adichie on owning stories, telling stories, framing stories.
“When black women say that mainstream publications don’t represent us, it goes deeper than there not being enough pictures of or articles by women of color. It’s about the larger “ethos” of the publication – and yes, I know that may read like a vague cop-out. Let me put it this way: I sometimes read Glamour magazine, I even sometimes like it but I don’t feel like I am the “Glamour woman.””
Cara on the importance of consent in everyday situations.
Finally, love this fairy tale! (via.)
What have you been reading/writing this week?