Rape is an extremely common plot device in the current television landscape. While some shows handle it with great care and intentionality, it is more often filmed to titillate the male gaze, raise the stakes, demonstrate how evil the villain is, provide motivation for a male hero, and make a woman character more likeable. Lately, it has even seemed like any woman on screen will inevitably be faced with at least the threat of sexual violence, if she manages to stay on a show for long enough.

The tides certainly seem to have turned for women in sports in 2015.

(No spoilers here.)

The new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, which has already earned $813 million dollars worldwide, has a fierce female lead and demonstrates how epic movies can be when they utilize a female character fully. Just check out how refreshing, and awesome this movie is! Go see it.

Crossposted on UN Women

Teresita Longcanaya, 51, accompanies her daughter, 26, to the tricycle (rickshaw) terminal early every morning, on her way to work. She then meets up with her again at the same location in the evening, to accompany her home safely.

Crossposted on UN Women

“It’s important to understand CEDAW because it acts as an umbrella, protecting all women across the globe,” said Maria Abrantes, a high school student and women’s rights advocate from Timor-Leste.

Crossposted on  The Radical Notion. 

Feministing’s Dana Bolger penned a harsh but necessary critique of a Sunday The New York Times article on a bogus feminist generational war surrounding Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Forty-three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the United States through the landmark Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision. This decision gives us much to celebrate, because before Roe many states either heavily restricted or altogether banned abortion care leaving few safe options.

i have questions