2012 March Archive | Feministing

Are pharmacists lying to teens about emergency contraception?

Just in time for Back Up Your Birth Control day tomorrow, here’s some disturbing emergency contraception news. Young women being misinformed about emergency contraception by pharmacists is, sadly, not news. And a new study suggests that it could actually be deliberate. MSNBC reports:

For the new study, researchers posing as either a 17-year-old girl or a doctor seeking help for a 17-year-old girl called every pharmacy in each of five U.S. cities asking about the availability and accessibility of emergency contraception.

All callers asked questions from a script. The first question was whether the pharmacy had the medication in stock — 80 percent of the 943 pharmacies said they did. Next, the researcher posing as a teen asked if ...

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

What We Missed

My god. Ervin Jefferson, an Atlanta teen, was shot and killed by private security guards.

A critical look at the unintended consequences of Nick Kristof’s anti-sex trafficking crusade.

Hunger Games fans take to Twitter to complain that Black characters from the book are depicted as Black in the film. Yay Twitter for consistently showing us just how bigoted our culture can be.

An Ontario high court struck down a ban on brothels, but upheld the ban on soliciting for purposes of selling sex.

My god. Ervin Jefferson, an Atlanta teen, was shot and killed by private security guards.

A critical look at the unintended consequences of Nick Kristof’s anti-sex trafficking crusade.

Hunger Games fans take to Twitter to

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

Trans woman disqualified from Miss Universe Canada

I am not exactly a fan of beauty pageants or Donald Trump, who owns Miss Universe. But I’m also not a fan of discrimination.

Jenna Talackova was a finalist for Miss Universe Canada until she was disqualified Friday because she is transgender. Talackova’s trans status wasn’t a secret – she competed in Miss International Queen, a trans beauty pageant in Thailand. But her gender history became a topic of blog chatter last week, which led to her disqualification:

National director of Miss Universe Canada Denis Davila told the Toronto Star that while they consider Talackova to be a “real girl,” Miss Universe rules stipulate that contestants must be a “naturally born female.”

Huh? I don’t see how a ...

I am not exactly a fan of beauty pageants or Donald Trump, who owns Miss Universe. But I’m also not a fan of discrimination.

Jenna Talackova was a finalist for Miss Universe Canada until she was disqualified ...

By Vanessa • 12 years ago

Quick Hit: Mad Men in 2012

At The American Prospect, Amanda Marcotte connects Mad Men’s revival with the shift in political conversations around sexism during its hiatus, and how that will affect its audience:

The last episode, “Tomorrowland”, aired in October 2010. Since then, we’ve seen a midterm election sweep Republicans into power in both Congress and across state governments, and their number one priority has been to return us to the social structures oppressing Joan, Betty, and Peggy. We’ve seen unprecedented attacks on abortion rights, some of which would, if successful, make abortion harder and more dangerous to get than it was in the 60s. Republicans have declared war on hormonal birth control, even trying to make it legal for your employer ...

At The American Prospect, Amanda Marcotte connects Mad Men’s revival with the shift in political conversations around sexism during its hiatus, and how that will affect its audience:

The last episode, “Tomorrowland”, aired in October ...

By Jos Truitt • 12 years ago

Shaima Alawadi, Iraqi woman murdered in CA

*Trigger warning*

This is just completely heartbreaking. Shaima Alawadi, an Iraqi who had recently moved to San Diego from Michigan, was found in her home last week severely beaten and next to a note that said, “Go back to your country.” Alawadi died in the hospital on Saturday.

Alawadi, a mother of five, had been hospitalized since her 17-year-old daughter found her unconscious Wednesday in the family’s house in El Cajon, police Lt. Steve Shakowski said.

The daughter, Fatima Al Himidi, told KUSI-TV her mother had been beaten… and that the note said “go back to your country, you terrorist.”

Addressing the camera, the tearful daughter asked: “You took my mother away from me. You took my best friend away from me. Why? ...

*Trigger warning*

By Maya Dusenbery • 12 years ago

Weekly Feminist Reader

“If this doesn’t describe out of touch with Americans I don’t know what does.” –Chris Piascik

Mallika Dutt on the war on immigrant women.

Bei Bei Shuai has spent a year in jail in Indiana for the “crime” of attempting suicide while pregnant. Join the campaign to get the charges dropped.

Th Guardian interviews badass actress and activist Rosario Dawson.

Moroccan women have been protesting to demand a repeal of a law that allows a rapist to marry his victim if she is a minor as a way of avoiding prosecution.

Check out the “I Am Trans” video project.

A physician calls for “a little old-fashioned civil disobedience” when it comes to mandatory ultrasound ...

“If this doesn’t describe out of touch with Americans I don’t know what does.” –Chris Piascik

Mallika Dutt on the war on immigrant women.

Bei Bei Shuai has spent a year in jail in ...

By Anna • 12 years ago

The Feministing Five: Lesley Kinzel

Lesley Kinzel is a writer and has been writing on the topic of body politics, fat acceptance and social justice for many years. Currently a senior editor at xoJane.com, Kinzel also spent a lot of time at Fatshionista both as an online community member and later coming on as moderator.

Even more exciting is the release of Kinzel’s first book next month, cleverly titled Two Whole Cakes: How to Stop Dieting and Learn to Love Your Body, published by Feminist Press. The book is an amazing (and quick!) read, blending both touching memoir and practical how-to guidelines easily. The stories Kinzel provides about growing up fat are moving to say the very least. Her book challenges popular opinion ...

By Samhita • 12 years ago

What we missed

Hey have you donated to Miriam Perez’s awesome project to create a Radical Doula guide? Well, you still can.

Matt Weiner answers the question, “where are the black people on Mad Men?”

Please read this very real story from Jesse Taylor at Pandagon about why the killing of Trayvon Martin hit home.

The president makes a searing testimony about Trayvon Martin.

Ever since Komen’s terrible decision to attempt to cut funding for breast exams to Planned Parenthood–they have felt a financial hit.

Hey have you donated to Miriam Perez’s awesome project to create a Radical Doula guide? Well, you still can.

Matt Weiner answers the question, “where are the black people on Mad Men?”

Please read this very real ...