By Sarah • 13 years ago

Again: Rape is not an “Alcohol-Related Problem”

In 2008, there were a number of posts on SAFER’s blog about a rape at the University of Iowa that was terribly mishandled by the school. In the aftermath of publicity about the school’s “poor judgment,” a number of changes were made. The university president publicly apologized, two administrators involved in the case were fired, and the sexual assault policy was revised. A new article (in a Texas newspaper, the Victoria Advocate, oddly enough) following-up on the case also shows that in 2009 the school hired a sexual misconduct response coordinator who was trained to assist victims and make sure they “get treated with care.” So, despite the inexcusably abysmal immediate ...

In 2008, there were a number of posts on SAFER’s blog about a rape at the University of Iowa that was terribly mishandled by the school. In the aftermath of publicity about the school’s “poor judgment,” ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

What We Missed

Dagmar Wilson, founder of Women Strike for Peace and organizer of a 50,000 women protest against nuclear weapons in 1961, has passed away.

In Egypt, protesters are calling for a million person march tomorrow while many foreigners are being evacuated. Global Voices Online has a great round-up of videos of other nations marching in solidarity across the world.

After David Koto’s murder last week, Ugandan lesbian Brenda Namiggade has received a temporary injunction from the UK before she was about to be deported back to Uganda, where she fears for her life.

On the fight in Nebraska to breastfeed in public.

We have some awesome content on the ...

Dagmar Wilson, founder of Women Strike for Peace and organizer of a 50,000 women protest against nuclear weapons in 1961, has passed away.

In Egypt, protesters are calling for a ...
By nazza • 13 years ago

The Struggle for Transgender and Genderqueer Legitimacy

As someone who identifies as genderqueer, I find I struggle most for legitimacy. Not just within society, but within myself. I analyze the way I feel to a large degree, and it still all seems so bizarre sometimes. The last big hurdle we face towards achieving full equality may well be that of gender identity. Those who subvert gender, be it in the form of male or female, are still often consigned to the freak show, though I would argue that biological men who show elements of femininity are shown in the first act. We can handle masculine women much easier than feminine men.

Though I know I am not alone in the way that I ...

As someone who identifies as genderqueer, I find I struggle most for legitimacy. Not just within society, but within myself. I analyze the way I feel to a large degree, and it still all seems ...
By Sarah • 13 years ago

“Kiss Me, I’m Wasted”

I’m totally digging the editorial board at Penn State University’s Daily Collegian right now for their editorial taking a stand against the t-shirts being sold for this year’s “State Patty’s Day.”

For some context I had to look into what the hell “State Patty’s Day” is, and apparently it’s an annual pre-spring break student holiday that’s been going on since 2007. It’s basically—surprise!—early St. Patrick’s day, with local merchants pulling out all the usual St. Patty’s stops like green beer and (although this is new for me) green-crusted pizza? Unsurprisingly, State Patty’s Day leads to a lot of alcohol related conduct violations, and last year the event’s founder actually publicly denounced it. ...

I’m totally digging the editorial board at Penn State University’s Daily Collegian right now for their editorial taking a stand against the t-shirts being sold for this year’s “State Patty’s Day.”

For some context I had to ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

The Post-DADT Battle for Trans Servicemembers


Transgender activist Autumn Sandeen stood with Dan Choi and other LGBT servicemembers outside of the White House. Via AP.

Amanda Hess has an important post from last week discussing the political issues surrounding the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal and the struggle that trans servicemembers have had and are facing now that DADT is on its way out. Between some feeling sold out to their fellow gay and lesbian servicemembers, to the growing campaign among trans activists for the right to serve, it’s a must-read:

[A]s the gays and lesbians who joined Sandeen in protest prepare for open military service, trans men and women are being warned to remain in the closet. The National Center ...


Transgender activist Autumn Sandeen stood with Dan Choi and other LGBT servicemembers outside of the White House. Via AP.

Amanda Hess has an important post from last week discussing the political issues surrounding the ...
By Chloe Angyal • 13 years ago

What you can do to stop the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

It’s on. The fight to stop the GOPs from redefining rape and further restricting abortion access is ON, and we need you to help win it.

If you’re on Twitter and follow feminist folk, you’ve probably noticed the hashtag #DearJohn. It’s the creation of Sady Doyle (@sadydoyle), mastermind of the #mooreandme protest that last year so successfully drew attention to how Michael Moore was minimizing and mocking the assault allegations against Julian Assange. The John in question here is Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner, who cries at the thought of children missing out on the American dream, but seems to shed no tears at the idea of a rape survivor being forced to give ...

It’s on. The fight to stop the GOPs from redefining rape and further restricting abortion access is ON, and we need you to help win it.

If you’re on Twitter and follow feminist folk, you’ve probably ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Vintage Sexism: Yesterday’s Headline Edition

This does look like it can be straight from the 50s, does it not? Including the first line of the article,

“Basic ‘female’ skills are becoming endangered with fewer young women able to iron a shirt, cook a roast chicken or hem a skirt.”

Well, spank me with a spatula! Who knew the state of our generation was so domestically dire — it’s time to rally the troops and learn these critical life skills before it’s too late, ladies; thousands of roast chickens depend on it.

Seriously though, read the rest of the article, it’s really quite hilarious — bullet points included.

h/t to Nate.

This does look like it can be straight from the 50s, does it not? Including the first line of the article,

“Basic ‘female’ skills are becoming endangered with fewer young women able to iron ...
By Vanessa • 13 years ago

The smaller the body size, the bigger the paycheck?

That’s right, folks. A new study published in the fall issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology found not only that skinny women make more money than women with larger body sizes, but they make a helluva lot more — in fact, a whopping $16,000 more a year on average:

The study found that thin women are paid significantly more than their average-size counterparts, while heavier women make less. Skinnier-than-average men, on the other hand, cash smaller paychecks than their average-weight peers.

Experts say it’s just another sign that as a society, we’ve internalized the unrealistic, media-driven physical ideals that show up in the workplace — and therefore the pocketbook.

“Employers don’t purposely think of these ...

That’s right, folks. A new study published in the fall issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology found not only that skinny women make more money than women with larger body sizes, but they make ...

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