Weekly Feminist Reader

Ontario has launched a $1.4 million campaign to educate girls about dating violence and sexual harassment.
Scott Lemieux on the Supreme Court’s consideration of the two “partial-birth” abortion cases.
A Brazilian model died of complications related to anorexia.
There’s a new anthology of women’s writing about science and technology.
A key adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton told pro-choicers that the Democratic Party “has to be big enough to accommodate a wide range of views on this issue.” (UPDATE: Some pro-choicers are calling this article misleading. I’m posting a letter to the editor after the jump.)
A new report indicates Bush’s funding of abstinence programs to prevent AIDS in Africa may have actually reversed progress made in curbing the disease.
The Chilean congress rejected a bill to reconsider the country’s draconian abortion ban.
According to the BBC, 60% of Japanese women experience “Retired Husband Syndrome,” meaning that retired Japanese men “having spent years ‘married to their jobs,’ are having an extraordinary effect on the health of their partners.”
The Guttmacher Institute has a new report (PDF) on women who have more than one abortion.
The Nairobi East Aftican has a story on illegal abortions in Uganda.
The police department in Madison, Wisconsin will pay $35,000 in restitution to a woman who was raped. When she tried to report the crime, officers told her they didn’t believe her and refused to pursue an investigation. On the same day the city council ordered the restitution, it also mandated pharmacists to give notification to customers if they are out of emergency contraception or don’t carry it.
The Indian state of Tamil Nadu employs all-female police battalions that specifically focus on crimes against women. The state has also had some all-women police stations since 1992.

An Open Letter on Howard Wolfson’s Address to Family Planning Advocates
On November 16, Howard Wolfson gave an insightful and invigorating address at Family Planning Advocates’ Annual Meeting in Albany, New York. It was a speech that brought pro-choice advocates to their feet in applause.
I can say with certainty that every person who heard that address was as shocked as I was to read the Times Union headline this morning inaccurately pointing to an “abortion shift” by Democrats.
Mr. Wolfson’s message was just the opposite: the Democratic party plank that supports a woman’s right to choose was overwhelming affirmed by voters November 7.
Congress gained 22 new pro-choice members – the vast majority of whom are Democrats. Of course, not every Democrat is pro-choice, but there is clear evidence of increasing support for women’s health and rights throughout the party and the nation.
Mr. Wolfson emphasized the opportunity that we in the pro-choice community have to work in partnership with elected officials to advance a positive agenda for women and families.
His passionate and open speech was met with thoughtful questions from his audience. They received honest answers – often met with cheers – that affirmed their daily work and energized them to move forward in their mission.
It is unfortunate that such a strong speech was distorted in such a way.
Sincerely,
JoAnn M. Smith
President and CEO
Family Planning Advocates of NYS