Feminist friday

Aloha!  Hope your spring is galloping along nicely. The theme of the day is 'going the distance.'

Rachel Alexandra is one of the favorites to win Saturday's Preakness Stakes race. The 3-year old filly is the only filly in the field, so she has generated a good deal of press coverage. I liked the New York Times's op-ed deconstructing gendered races and measures of success for fillies and colts. We at FMF don't have a position on horse racing, but we wish Rachel Alexandra the best.

Unfortunately, your hard-earned dollars will not stretch as far as they have been. The Times also reported that the cost of living is rising. Food, oil, and gas prices are increasing, so consumers will feel the pinch.

Inflation may be a sign the recession is slowing, but this is still bad news for families, particularly given the poor job market. States facing huge deficits are cutting social safety net programs, which makes folks even more vulnerable to hunger and poverty.

This is why feminism is critical now more than ever. The gender wage gap hurts families. The high costs of insurance and health care mean millions of families go without, which is deeply problematic. The inability for parents to take paid sick days to care for themselves and their families is deeply problematic.

If you agree, then we still need your help. We must make employers and governments go the distance and be responsive to the needs of women and families, especially in a time like this.

Let us know how you're improving your communities. If you need ideas or want to get involved to help women and children here and abroad, visit our website for suggestions or hit us up at campusteam@feminist.org.

Thanks and we'll see you on the flip side.