2013 January Archive | Feministing

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last abortion provider in Mississippi, goes pink.

The Association of Women in Development appointed Kay Thi Win, a sex worker and advocate, to its International Board for the first time.

The Times of India tells men to be men, and respect women.

Zero Dark Thirty: There is nothing feminist in revenge.

Felicidades! Cristina Rodriguez is named Yale’s first Latina tenured law professor in the history of the school. Also, it’s 2013.

Republicans need to stop being assholes to gays and Latinos, says Jim Gilmore, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Diva is the female version of a hustla:

The Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last abortion provider in Mississippi, goes pink.

The Association of Women in Development appointed Kay Thi Win, a sex worker and advocate, to its International Board for the first ...

By Jos Truitt • 11 years ago

The dangers of a gender essentialist approach to sexual violence

In December, when controversy about the rape apologist org the Good Men Project was all over the feminist internets, I wrote about problems with the juvenile way of thinking about people in terms like “good” and “bad.” In that post, I briefly mentioned that to address the reality of sexual violence we need a more sharply nuanced conversation all around, including when it comes to gender. The post included this line:

Most men aren’t rapists; some women are rapists; some people who aren’t men or women have experiences with sexual violence.

Community member Red commented on the post, and I’ve been thinking about this response ever since:

Thank you. Thank you so much. I am genderqueer and was raped 4 years ago. ...

By Amy S. Choi • 11 years ago

Sheryl Sandberg: Let’s talk about getting pregnant

I’ve been a (semi-conflicted) fangirl of Sheryl Sandberg’s ever since seeing her TED talk in late 2010. Then there was that glowing New Yorker profile in the summer of 2011. Her perspective as a feminist is definitely very white-educated-privileged-wealthy, which is hard to swallow when you hear her say that women are more to blame for their lack of advancement than societal structures are. I mean, not everybody has Larry Summers as a mentor, Gloria Steinem on speed dial and a wealthy tech CEO as a supportive husband.

Still, a lot of what she espouses regarding changing personal attitudes and behaviors and “leaning in” to your work resonates with me, and I deeply admire her brains, discipline and focus on ...

By Amy S. Choi • 11 years ago

Quick Hit: God’s police in Brooklyn

South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, just blocks from the hipster epicenter of Bedford Avenue, is home to one of the most conservative, separatist communities in the country: Satmar Hasidim, an ultra-orthodox arm of Judaism.

It’s a famously insular group. But lately, a rogue group within the Satmar community has been making noise. Calling themselves a “modesty committee,” its members, all men, keep tabs on the behavior of community members, teachers, and store owners to make sure that they adhere to principles of modesty. One result? Stores selling women’s clothes now rarely use mannequins in displays, which might arouse men and boys who pass by. Instead, clothes and wigs are modeled on faceless heads. Other, more disturbing allegations against these committees include ...

It’s a famously insular group. ...

By Courtney • 11 years ago

Building character in overlooked places

One of my favorite parts of being on the road, speaking about my various books, is the chance to interact with local organizers, artists, and activists, and get even just a lil’ taste of the issues in various parts of the country. A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to go to Salt Lake City, a place you’re probably more likely to associate with Mormons and mountains than radical activism. Think again.

I visited the Mestizo Arts & Activism Collective at their home base in a cool, local coffee spot. They describe themselves like this:

We are an inter-generational group of students of diverse academic and ethnic backgrounds concerned about the community we live in. Our goal is ...

By Lori Adelman • 11 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

“You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you.” Gabby Giffords’ powerful statement at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence.

On the distress of the privileged.

Victoria’s Secret Model Cameron Russell’s message to young girls who want to be models: “It’s not a career path.”

Ann Coulter continues to be terrible and racist. [Update: this piece is SATIRE but the sentiment stands.]

“How having an abortion made me a better parent.”

Hadiya Pendleton, a 15 year old girl who played at the president’s inauguration ceremony, was shot and killed in Chicago last night.

“You must act. Be bold. Be courageous. Americans are counting on you.” Gabby Giffords’ powerful statement at today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence.

On the distress of the privileged.

Victoria’s Secret Model Cameron Russell’s ...

By zerlina • 11 years ago

Are Republicans already giving up on their electoral college rigging scheme?

After getting their butts kicked by Democrats in 2012, Republicans huddled up to strategize how to win in the next presidential election. Did they make any real effort to reflect on their own policy platform and rhetoric that turns off large swaths of the electorate? No, of course not.

Instead, they set up a scheme to steal the next election by rigging the electoral college in 6 states. So far, 4 states look likely to reject these shenanigans, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, and Michigan. Two additional states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are still debating the GOP’s plan.

Via Talking Points Memo:

Not only does the Virginia bill appear to be dead, the media frenzy surrounding it has forced top Republicans in other states to take a ...

By zerlina • 11 years ago

People who say more good guys with guns is the solution lack firing neurons

The NRA’s argument that more guns is necessary to prevent mass shootings, or any shootings was always nonsense. The ridiculousness of this argument is on display yet again, with the recent news out of Georgia where a man shot and killed a young Latino man who accidentally pulled into his driveway.

Via NBC Latino:

Rodrigo Diaz, 22, was driving around with his girlfriend and two friends when he pulled into a driveway, thinking they had arrived at another friend’s house, his brother says. But instead he pulled into the driveway of Phillip Sailors, 69, who thought his home was being robbed, his lawyer says. Sailors then shot Diaz, according to the police report, citing what Sailors told officers at the ...