2012 December Archive

Physicist Fabiola Gianotti is the second woman shortlisted for Time’s POY

I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t give a proper shout-out to the 5th runner up for Time’s Person Of the Year (POY), physicist Fabiola Gianotti, part of the team that discovered the Higgs Boson particle in July. Remember? Here’s a refresher:

According to the Standard Model, the Higgs boson is the only manifestation of an invisible force field, a cosmic molasses that permeates space and imbues elementary particles with mass. Particles wading through the field gain heft the way a bill going through Congress attracts riders and amendments, becoming ever more ponderous.

Without the Higgs field, as it is known, or something like it, all elementary forms of matter would zoom around at the speed of light, flowing through ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

Military women who have been raped will finally have insurance coverage for an abortion

Good news! Looks like Senator Shaheen’s amendment expanding abortion coverage for women in the military is going to pass:

A bipartisan conference committee of House and Senate members approved an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill on Tuesday that will extend the insurance coverage of abortion to military women who have been raped.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-N.H.) amendment to the defense bill lifts a decades-long ban on abortion coverage for military rape victims. Since 1981, military women have not had the same level of health coverage that civilian employees, Medicaid recipients, and even federal prisoners receive from their government-issued insurance plans. High-profile supporters of the amendment include former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The House is expected to approve ...

Good news! Looks like Senator Shaheen’s amendment expanding abortion coverage for women in the military is going to pass:

A bipartisan conference committee of House and Senate members approved an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill ...

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

What we missed

Obama commits to tackling gun control. Let’s hold him to it.

Ann on the importance of caregivers in the aftermath of Sandy Hook.

NYT says women should fix the gender gap by negotiating harder. But that probably isn’t going to be enough.

Guttmacher has a new tool that gives you everything you want to know about unintended pregnancies.

Hasbro to unveil gender-neutral easy bake oven after NJ girl’s campaign.

‘Tis the season for Feminism: In this letter to Santa (warning: graphic imagery), women declare they “don’t want material things this Christmas, just equality and respect.” And in the Bronx, Santa is now ...

Obama commits to tackling gun control. Let’s hold him to it.

Ann on the importance of caregivers in the aftermath of Sandy Hook.

NYT says women should

By Sesali B. • 11 years ago

The way we talk about sex work is changing, but the way we treat sex workers is not

As I reflect on the The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, which was on December 17, 2 Chainz comes to mind.

I listen to “I Luv Dem Strippers” everyday. Seriously. It took me more than a few listens to realize, however, that the lyrics (aside from the chorus) have absolutely nothing to do with strippers. The song is about how rich 2 Chainz and featured artist Nicki Minaj are. One has to wonder how we got to this point? Stripping is the new black and the exchange of sex(uality) for money is becoming a more glamorous narrative everyday.

In the kind of consumer culture where luxurious goods mean everything and nothing at the same time, the way we are ...

As I reflect on the The International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, which was on December 17, 2 Chainz comes to mind.

I listen to “I Luv Dem Strippers” everyday. Seriously. It took me more than ...

By Maya Dusenbery • 11 years ago

Watch: Franchesca Ramsey explains how slut shaming becomes victim blaming

*Trigger warning*

Last week, comedian Jenna Marbles made a totally unfunny and viciously slut-shaming video called Things I Don’t Understand About Girls: Sluts Edition. Franchesca Ramsey breaks it down–and offers an emotional plea to stop with the victim blaming.

You can read the full transcript at Racialicious.

*Trigger warning*

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

The Wednesday Weigh-In: How are we doing in the aftermath of Sandy Hook?

Today’s post is technically more of a check-in than a weigh-in. But I hope in light of recent events you’ll forgive my semantic oversight.

We’ve covered the Sandy Hook shooting with heavy hearts.

Today, the Daily Beast and others are pointing out that our responses to the shooting have been gendered. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, for example, found that women are more likely than men to view the shootings as reflecting broader societal problems in American society, by 54% to 37%. In contrast, men express the opposite view: 51% say that shootings like this “are just the isolated acts of troubled individuals.”

While many of us ...

Today’s post is technically more of a check-in than a weigh-in. But I hope in light of recent events you’ll forgive my semantic oversight.

We’ve covered the Sandy Hook shooting with heavy ...

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

Quick hit: Obama named TIME 2012 Person of the Year

The completely warranted if somewhat safe pick is accompanied by a lovely longform profile that manages to add new dimensions to a now well-worn story of Obama’s journey from Chicago community organizer to re-elected president and historical icon.The profile emphasizes the role that women, minorities, and young people played in electing Barack Obama both times.

Also notable: Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban for her crusade for better girls’ education, was named runner up.

Check out the whole feature here.