2011 March Archive | Feministing

Enganged citizenry in Seattle

I’m spending today and tomorrow at a really dynamic conference in Seattle, Washington called Guiding Lights, all about engaged and creative citizenship. I’ll be live tweeting (@MartinCourtneyE), so follow the keynotes and panels there. Speakers include Van Jones, Dan Savage, Andrea Levere, Maya Wiley, and so many more. Here’s a few initial quotations from main organizer Eric Liu:

Cross-pollinate relentlessly.

Society becomes how you behave.

Citizenship is about how you show up in community.

By Vanessa • 13 years ago

What We Missed

Jay Smooth’s history lesson for Chris Brown — watch it. Now.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; Nancy Goldstein connects the dots to Wisconsin. Also check out Shark-Fu’s thoughts.

The death toll from Japan’s earthquake and tsunami has topped 10,000. Donate to help relief efforts here.

Weeks after a lawsuit was filed against American Apparel CEO Dov Charney for raping a former employee, four more women have come forward with charges of sexual harassment.

Jessica writes about sexual assault on college campuses — and how no one is doing anything about it.

Jay Smooth’s history lesson for Chris Brown — watch it. Now.

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire; Nancy Goldstein connects the dots to Wisconsin. Also check out

By Vanessa • 13 years ago

Third grade assignment asks: “What is an illegal alien?”

There are just no words. A third grade class in at Chesney Elementary School in Duluth, Georgia was given a homework assignment that included an essay entitled “What is an Illegal Alien?” with follow-up questions, including his gem:

What does the U.S. do with illegal aliens?

A. The U.S. puts them to work in the army.

B. The U.S. shoots them into outer space.

C. The U.S. puts them to death.

D. The U.S. sends them back where they came from.

The good news is that when the assignment was brought to the school district heads, they agreed it was inappropriate and are investigating into who authorized the assignment — though also emphasizing that the assignment was not an immigration lesson, but ...

By Sarah • 13 years ago

College Students Have Sex (Or Plan To)

Students at Wesleyan and Oberlin made these great videos in support of Planned Parenthood. Check them out, and look below the cut for the explanation from the Wesleyan students.

By Courtney • 13 years ago

Not Oprah’s Book Club: Girls Like Us

There is a long, beautiful tradition of women writing about their lives as an act of personal liberation and political transformation. I remember slipping Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings off of my grandmother’s shelf as a young teenager and swallowing whole the story of Maya and her rediscovered voice. Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison broke me open. Maxine Hong Kingston, Amy Tan, Isabelle Allende, Audre Lorde, bell hooks, Caroline Knapp…the list goes on. And another critical volume just got added: Rachel Lloyd’s Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls are Not for Sale, an Activists Finds her Calling and Heals Herself (out next month).

In this powerful new memoir, Lloyd, who founded ...

By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

Conservative Opposition at UN Meeting on Women Reaches Fever Pitch

Last weekend, I gave a speech at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Young Feminist Leadership Conference about why U.S.-based feminists should care about international issues.

I spoke about some of the challenges I see in getting domestic folks engaged globally. Some people may be unsure of the ways in which U.S. foreign policy affects the day-to-day lives of women in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Others may feel overwhelmed by the need they see in other countries and worry that their contributions amount to just a drop in the bucket. But I told my own story of getting involved with these issues and ultimately tried to emphasize that despite these challenges, there are absolutely ways to get involved with ...

Last weekend, I gave a speech at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Young Feminist Leadership Conference about why U.S.-based feminists should care about international issues.

I spoke about some of the challenges I see in getting ...

By Lori Adelman • 13 years ago

On beauty and love, in the wake of Liz Taylor’s passing

Elizabeth Taylor has passed away.

In addition to a famous and much-celebrated movie star, she was an HIV/AIDS activist and ally to the LGBT community who helped a lot of poor people of color.

Having been born in the ’80’s, I didn’t live through the period that most would call “the height of her career”, so although I was sad to hear of her death, as I would be to hear of the death of any beloved public figure, I didn’t really think too much of it beyond that.

However, I haven’t been able to help but notice that since her passing two days ago, many have been inspired to write long and detailed descriptions of her beauty, both real ...

Elizabeth Taylor has passed away.

In addition to a famous and much-celebrated movie star, she was an HIV/AIDS activist and ally to the LGBT community who helped a lot of poor people of color.

Having been ...

By Miriam • 13 years ago

What We Missed

It looks like Michelle Bachmann is going to run for President (she’s forming an exploratory committee).

Wisconsin Governor Walker’s budget would repeal a state law requiring insurance companies to cover contraception. Luckily insurance companies understand that it’s cheaper to cover pills than pregnancies.

File this under: I wish it was a Hollywood movie, but its real life. Steven Seagal partners with Sheriff Joe Arpaio, roles into Arizona on a tank.

Maybe the only good news of the day: The Ohio “heartbeat” bill that would have banned abortion after as early as 18 days has stalled.

It looks like Michelle Bachmann is going to run for President (she’s forming an exploratory committee).

Wisconsin Governor Walker’s budget would repeal a state law requiring insurance companies to cover contraception. Luckily insurance companies understand that ...