Jaime-Alexis Fowler

Writer, editor, feminist, reproductive health advocate, marathon runner for change, red velvet/chocolate lover and all around new media fan. Views are my own :)

Posts Written by Jaime-Alexis

Three must-reads for International Women’s Day

Full disclosure: I grew up with a mom who gave me book after book about powerful women. She was intent on cultivating my feminism (and love of historical books) from an early age. It worked. I love historical and inspirational books about women. And I spend my days working at an international nonprofit focused on reproductive health…way to go mom!

But I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to read (or to have just finished) so many books. With International Women’s Day coming up on Friday, here’s a hit list of three kick-ass must-reads (and two oldies but goodies).

Mary Robinson, Everybody Matters

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, starts her new memoir, Everybody Matters, with a wonderful quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Where, after all, do universal rights begin? In small places, close to home…” And so Mary Robinson’s quest for human rights began, in a small town, in a “small country on the western periphery of Europe.”

The only girl of five children, she was poised to become a nun before she found her true calling: an activist on behalf of those who need it most. As a lawyer, she won landmark cases advancing the causes of women and marginalized people. She started to make an impact and become recognized for her impressive work. In 1990, she became president of Ireland, the first female to hold that role. After her presidency, she continued her work as a global ...

Choices for women

Twenty pregnancies before the age of 38—with no access to contraceptives. That is not a world in which a woman has choices. But it’s what Georgette, a mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo faced until last year. That’s when Georgette met Pascasie, a community health worker who was trained to share information about family planning. Georgette said, “family planning saved my life.” Her story—and those 20 pregnancies—make me shudder. I thought of Georgette and her children today as I read the special edition of The New York Times Sunday Magazine.

The Magazine focused on a range of women’s issues, but what’s missing? Choice. Nicholas Kristof focused on some strong, ambitious American women making a difference; Deborah Solomon interviewed Melinda Gates; ...

Twenty pregnancies before the age of 38—with no access to contraceptives. That is not a world in which a woman has choices. But it’s what Georgette, a mother in the Democratic Republic of Congo faced until last ...