2011 June Archive | Feministing

Wisconsin defunds Planned Parenthood; NineteenPercent breaks down the bullshit

Today, Governor Scott Walker signed the bill that will defund Planned Parenthood and other Title X clinics from the state budget. So remember the bad-ass video blogger on Beyonce’s latest song that was all over the internets some weeks ago? Well, we’re thrilled to announce Feministing has asked NineteenPercent to join the team as our new vlogger — and her commentary on the GOP’s attacks on Planned Parenthood couldn’t come at a better time. Check it.

Approximate transcript after the jump.

By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Muslim employee sues Abercrombie & Fitch for religious discrimination

News broke on Friday that a Muslim employee of Abercrombie & Fitch will be suing the company because she was fired for refusing to remove her hijab at work. The San Mateo Patch reported:

The woman, who has not been identified, is a Muslim, and “she was told that her headscarf, though worn based on a religious mandate, was not in compliance with the company’s ‘look policy,’” said those representing her in the lawsuit. She worked at Hollister Co., a subsidiary of Abercrombie & Fitch, in 2009 and 2010.

Abercrombie & Fitch has a spectacularly bad track record on employee discrimination. In 2005, it was the defendant in a class action suit in which female employees alleged that they had ...

News broke on Friday that a Muslim employee of Abercrombie & Fitch will be suing the company because she was fired for refusing to remove her hijab at work. The San Mateo Patch reported:

The woman, who ...

By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Quick hit: Lisa Wade on the real problem with hooking up in college

Hooking up isn’t the problem, she says. The problem is how we talk about hooking up. Or rather, about how we talk about nothing but hooking up.

The problem isn’t hooking up, it’s that hooking up is the only way of being sexual that my students see as an option. There were no counter-messages. Students who are deeply religious feel entirely unsupported in their desire to remain virgins till marriage. Students who want relationships, but not casual sex, are seen as fuddy duddies: old fashioned and possibly repressed. Students who are interested in polyamory, love-based sexual relationships with more than one person, are seen as simply weird. A feminist perspective on sex is essentially invisible, especially ...

Hooking up isn’t the problem, she says. The problem is how we talk about hooking up. Or rather, about how we talk about nothing but hooking up.

The problem isn’t hooking up, it’s that hooking up is the ...

By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand pushes for DOMA repeal

It’s been a hell of a couple of days for advocates of LGBT rights around here. On Friday night, the New York State senate sent a passed marriage equality bill to the desk of Governor Andrew Cuomo, who signed it into law right away. And on Sunday, the streets of New York were filled with rainbow-clad revelers who had come from all over the world to participate in the annual Pride parade (and to get their hands on the hilarious freebies).

But, as the smoke – and the glitter and the confetti – clears, it’s time to start looking toward the next fight. And for many people, that fight is repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.

The Defense of Marriage Act ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

WI Supreme Court Justice accused of assaulting a female colleague

Wow. David Prosser, a conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice and cheerleader for Gov. Walker’s anti-union efforts, has been accused of physically assaulting his colleague Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during a recent argument. TPM reports:

New details are emerging in this weekend’s story that Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser — a member of the court’s 4-3 conservative majority who was just re-elected to a ten-year term in a heated race that involved a recount and vote-tabulating controversies — allegedly attacked liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley during an argument over the court’s recent decision regarding the upholding of Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-public employee union legislation. Now, Bradley is speaking up, and saying publicly that she was assaulted by Prosser.

“The ...

New details are ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

The Women’s World Cup has begun!

(Image credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters)

The 2011 Women’s World Cup kicked off in Germany yesterday. So if you, like me, felt the men’s tournament last summer flew by before you could adequately develop obsessive team loyalties, another summer of soccer is here!

In the opening matches, France beat Nigeria and Germany, the two-time defending champion and tournament favorite, defeated Canada. The U.S. team, though still ranked No. 1 in the world, has suffered a few recent losses going into the tournament. But it remains a strong contender with a shot at winning its first Cup since 1999. Brazil, led by all-star striker Marta, is also looking pretty damn good.

The hype leading up to the tournament has ...

(Image credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters)

The 2011 Women’s World Cup kicked off in Germany yesterday. So if you, like me, felt the men’s tournament last summer flew by before you could adequately develop obsessive team ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

Weekly Feminist Reader

Remember when New York legalized same-sex marriage? That was awesome.
(Image source: Neighborhoodr)

93% of top staffers on Capitol Hill are white and nearly 70% are male.

Irin Carmon and Mary Elizabeth Williams take on Scott “rape is a natural instinct” Adams.

Tumblr: “another White, kyriarchical, status-quo upholding, oppressive medium.”

Two lawmakers propose lifting the federal ban on pot. Sadly, it will never pass the GOP-controlled House. Looks like some people need to take a look at this chart and think about it a little more.

Where are the lady rappers?

Mandy Van Deven asks: who determines the difference between a compliment and street harassment?

117 communities in Gambia pledged to abandon female ...

Remember when New York legalized same-sex marriage? That was awesome.
(Image source: Neighborhoodr)

93% of top staffers on Capitol Hill are white and nearly 70% are male.

Irin Carmon and Mary Elizabeth ...

By Chloe Angyal • 12 years ago

The Feministing Five: Nick Espinosa

Nick Espinosa is an activist for immigrant and worker’s rights best known for his glitter bombing of Republican politician Newt Gingrich last month. Espinosa, 24, has been an activist for years, but it was only recently that he discovered the power of humor and theatrics in politics. “Feel the rainbow, Newt!” he said as he poured silver glitter onto Gingrich at a book signing. “Stop the hate. Stop anti-gay politics. It’s dividing our country and it’s not fixing our economy.” And then security pushed him away.

Glitter bombing is controversial, but it is catching on, with another activist recently catching Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty unawares. But Espinosa doesn’t understand the concern that glitter bombing is violent or even, ...