Women's News: equality or segregation?

Ruth Rosen of Alternent.org raises an interesting point today in her posting titled “Gender Apartheid Online”—that female and male media is not only segregated, but that male media remains the “default.” In Rosen’s own words

"The quality of the writing and analysis in these "separate sections" is quite high. So what's my problem? My concern is that gender equality will only emerge when men are educated about women's lives and when women stop being quarantined as "the other.""

Now, this immediately reminded me of male as the “default” in marketing children’s toys (see here, here, and here) and white-as default, but can also be applied on a larger scale—reaching from sports (baseball versus women's softball) to the classroom (history opposed to women’s history).

But in writing this I’ve realized that this kind of disagrees with my previous argument—the idea that there should exist separate spaces for groups who then have the power to act in their own interests without having to accommodate to others. And now I am conflicted—is it a bad thing to create separate spaces for female-centered news/media? I immediately thought this when I discovered Slate’s Double X—how could they separate women’s news from men’s news?! I read Slate, I enjoyed Slate, I did not want to be partitioned into a new site specifically for me because I identify as female. I do, however, find pleasure in reading feministing and Ms. magazine—I think they are valuable outlets, valuable resources for an audience interested in articles on women’s rights, LGBTQI rights, immigrant rights—the list goes on…In fact, maybe that holds some of the answer.

Why are these sources positioned as female news sources when they encompass much more than female-centered stories? Maybe this is somehow connected to popular media and the generalization of all women as consumers of beauty and fashion products (as seen by “women’s magazines” like Glamour and Cosmopolitan)—women are assumed to be the prime audience of human-rights centered media. But why isn’t that the norm? Why does this have to be gendered? (For example, today’s New York Times front page draws heavily on “terrorism” and Petraeus while its specifically "female" section features a story about women and men’s rights in Sweden).

Do you agree that news is gendered? Let me know!

Photo credit: bravenewtraveler on flickr

FEM ACTION NEWS 2009!!!!

HEY FEMINISTS! IT'S THE FEMINIST NEWS YOU'VE MISSED! ONLY ITS GOTTEN A WHOLE LOT BETTER! ENJOY!!!

Calling for Reform that Does Not Limit Access to Abortion

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP) announced today that it has a strong concern regarding an amendment tacked on to the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) passed in the House on Sunday.

The bill has an amendment, the Stupak Amendment, that would severely reduce a woman's access to abortion services, "effectively barring both private and public insurance plans from covering abortion" as described by RHRealityCheck.org. Medical Director of ARHP, Dr. Beth Jordan, is rallying a call for Congress to reject this portion of the bill and "pass legislation that respects women's reproductive rights."

To see President Obama's ideas and views on this particular amendment check out the Feminist News at http://sn.im/t68yd.

Funny how this is a health bill for all, yet the only type of procedure singled out affects women.

Picture Credit: Steve Rhodes on flickr.com

Women are the Majority

Women are the majority of the work force, according to the Shriver Report: A Women’s National Changes Everything. Women currently make up 63.3% of the nations breadwinners or co-breadwinners as reported on Feminist News.

Although women make the up the majority of the nation’s paid workers they are still discriminated against in regards to pay, social security, pensions and other benefits. Over half of all women workers do not have one paid sick day.

A hopeful Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation said in regards to the much needed policy changes, "The changes in social policies, such as paid family medical leave, universal childcare, caregiving credits for social security, and pay equity, to deal with the reality of today's employed women are long overdue… We have been working for these changes for several decades. Hopefully, women becoming the majority of the US workforce is the wakeup call needed to make the changes now."

More information and related articles can be found at
http://feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=11995
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/business/media/29nbc.html
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/04/womans_nation.html
http://www.msmagazine.com/news/uswirestory.asp?ID=11995

Image Credit: www.feminist.org

Good News! Generic Plan B Approved by FDA!

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved emergency contraceptive Next Choice, a generic version of Plan B, for over-the-counter use. Next Choice, manufactured by Watson Pharmaceuticals, was first approved by the FDA for prescription use on June 24, according to the Pharmaceutical Business Review. Next Choice will be available over-the-counter to women ages 17 and older and with a prescription for women under 17 years old.

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) President Nancy Ratzan said in a statement, "Despite recent efforts to increase access to emergency contraception, cost is still a barrier for many women...all women, regardless of age, income, religion, race or geographic location should have access to the full range of contraceptive options. The introduction of a generic for Plan B is an important step toward achieving that important goal." Next Choice is priced around 10% less than Plan B, according to the Reproductive Health Technologies Project (see PDF).

Emergency contraception (EC) is effective up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex, birth control failure, or rape, but it is most effective (95 percent) if taken within 24 hours. Because of the time-sensitive nature of EC, over-the-counter access is crucial to its effective use. EC does not terminate an existing pregnancy.

Media Resources: Pharmaceutical Business Review 8/828/09; National Council of Jewish Women 9/1/09; Reproductive Health Technologies Project 8/5/09; Feminist Daily Newswire 7/14/09
Photo credit: flickr.com/Brooks Elliott

Vermont Same-Sex Marriage Starts TODAY!

Legislation allowing same-sex marriage in Vermont went into effect today, with several couples wed just after midnight. Bill Slimback, who married his long-time partner Bob Sullivan, told the Associated Press, "It's a day I've been long waiting for, and a day I truly honestly thought would never come." He also told United Press International that "I feel like we've been in line for 17 years."

The Vermont state legislature overrode Governor Jim Douglas' veto of the same-sex marriage bill by a 100 to 49 vote in the state House and 23 to 5 vote in the state Senate in April.

Vermont became the first state to give civil recognition to gay and lesbian couples with the passage of legislation that established civil unions in the state in 2000. At the time, this law granted same-sex partners the most comprehensive system of domestic partner benefits in the nation, qualifying them for the some 300 rights and benefits available to married couples in the state. Vermont is now one of four states where same sex marriage licenses are being granted. The other states are Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa. Legislation granting same sex marriage rights has also passed in Maine and New Hampshire. Maine's legislation is facing challenges and New Hampshire's will go into effect in January. Similar legislation is currently under consideration in New York.

Media Resources: United Press International 9/1/09; Associated Press 9/1/09; Feminist Daily Newswire 4/26/00, 4/7/09
Photo Credit: flickr.com/Joshua H.

VA Gov. Candidate's Old Thesis = Anti-Women, Anti LGBTQ!

The recently published graduate thesis of Virginia Attorney General Robert McDonnell, who is also the Republican candidate for Virginia Governor, demonstrates opposition to women's rights. McDonnell spent 14 years in the state legislature before becoming state Attorney General in 2006.

McDonnell has attempted to distance himself from the inflammatory views fleshed out in his thesis. However, current Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, a Democrat, told Politico that the thesis is McDonnell's "political blueprint" and that "After years of working with Bob, I believe this article is an accurate reflection of his sincere and long-standing views."

McDonnell described feminists and working women as "detrimental" to the family and feminism as among the "real enemies of the traditional family" in his thesis. In 2001, he voted against ending sex-based wage discrimination. He has also argued that the child-care tax exemption should be repealed.

McDonnell also called the 1972 Supreme Court ruling in Eisenstadt v. Baird, which legalized contraception by unmarried couples as "illogical" in the thesis and in 2004, voted against allowing student health centers on college campuses to dispense emergency contraception. He voted repeatedly for abortion restrictions and demonstrated he is opposed to abortion even in cases of rape and incest. McDonnell supported or sponsored anti-choice legislation continuously over the 14 years he served the Virginia House of Delegates.

Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal said in a statement, "It would be one thing if this thesis was a satire, but it was a policy directive to the Republican Party. McDonnell went on to enact major planks of the policy agenda developed and described in the thesis. It also revealed that he has a well-developed belief against separation of church and state. One of his defenses on his views regarding working women is that his wife and two daughters work. However, we have seen with other advocates of the religious right that personal lives often have no relationship to public policy positions. We must evaluate McDonnell's views by his actions as a public official, which have furthered an anti-women's rights record."

Media Resources: Feminist Majority Press Release 9/1/09; Politico 8/31/09
Photo Credit: flickr.com/Tony the Misfit

Helen Thomas & Uncle Sam

Helen Thomas is awesome! Most notably, she's been a senior White House Correspondent since the Kennedy administration...and most recently for sitting down for a chat with Uncle Sam.

Check it out!

The Uncle Sam Interviews: Helen Thomas - watch more funny videos

Newsday Tuesday: August 25 Edition

Well the time has come by friends, this is the last Newsday Tuesday that I will be writing as it is my last week interning at FMF. I have really enjoyed writing this every week. It has helped to keep me informed on the week's events, as I hope it has for you, too. I have gotten all of the news that I use for these weekly blogs from the Feminist News Wire that FMF puts out every day. You can get your news this way too! You can sign up for Weekly News E-mails or subscribe to our News feed.

But even though I am leaving you as your Newsday Tuesday correspondent, that doesn't mean the news stops happening! Let's catch up on what has been a very busy week, here and around the world!

Afghan Elections

The participation of many Afghan women in last week's elections was threatened by strict polling regulations and fraud. A severe shortage of female workers to staff women-only polling places limited the ability of millions of women cast their ballots. Despite large turnout at many polling places, men greatly outnumbered women voters as a result.

During the Afghan elections, the Taliban allegedly cut off the fingers of at least two Afghan women in the Kandahar providence after they had cast their ballots. (You can read my blog post about particularly repressing voter turnout among women.

National

The US Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau has instated an initiative that aims to encourage women to breast-feed for longer after returning to work. States, such as Vermont, have started launched programs that offers free assistance to businesses in the state to help to comply with this new law.

Last week, a Planned Parenthood clinic, for fear of losing its license, filed for a restraining order against the state health department to prevent it from being revoked. The threat of losing their license stems from an informed consent law passed in 2005 and a disclosure form proposed by the health department.

A federal judge scheduled a January 2010 trial date Wednesday in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of Proposition 8.

Oklahoma confirmed Wednesday that the state will file an appeal with the state Supreme Court of a judge's decision to overturn a controversial abortion law. On Tuesday, an Oklahoma County District Judge overturned a state law requiring women seeking abortions must first receive an ultrasound and a description of the fetus from a doctor.

New York Governor David Paterson promised a group of protesters Tuesday that he will sign a bill that will prohibit incarcerated pregnant women from being shackled while in labor.

The Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa withdrew special defenses last Monday in a lawsuit involving a woman who was raped at gunpoint in the hotel's parking garage in front of her children. In court documents, the hotel originally argued that the woman was negligent and "failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children and proper use of her senses and facilities."

World

Thousands staged a protest Saturday in Bamako, Mali's capital, against a proposed law that would give women greater marriage rights in the country. The law includes provisions that grant inheritance rights to children born without married parents, change the legal age for marriage to 18, and replaces "paternal power" with "parental authority" in family law.

Currently, there is a bill in the Bahamian legislature that would criminalize marital rape. The bill is aimed at combating attitudes about spousal relationships that leave women vulnerable to abuse. As it stands now, charges of rape can only be brought against a spouse if the couple is legally separated or in the process of getting a divorce.

The Danish Conservative Party is proposing to ban burqa and niqab attire as part of an integration initiative. Conservative party officials have criticized the attire as being oppressive towards women and “un-Danish.”

Human Rights Watch released a report last Monday that indicated hundreds of Iraqi gay men have been kidnapped, tortured and murdered since the beginning of 2009. Iraqi authorities have not acted to stop militias that are actively targeting men suspected of engaging in about it too) Extremist election-day violence erupted primarily in the south and southeast regions of Afghanistan, homosexual conduct and may be complicit in some attacks.

...and a friendly reminder

If you're in the DC area, Madam's Organ in Adams Morgan (try saying that 5 times fast!) is the place to be on Thursday night!

FMF Presents: Hell No! We Won't Go - A Networking Benefit for the National Clinic Access Project

Madam's Organ (2461 18th St. NW - Woodley Park Metro) Thurday, August 27 5:00 - 9:00pm

If you are following Feminist Campus on Twitter, please RT! Spread the word! I'll be there, so you better be too!

Photo courtesy of swanksalot on flikr.com

Reforming Health Insurance - Ay ay aaaay!

According to Bloomberg News, there are approximately 6 health care lobbyists (of various persuasions) for EACH Capitol Hill legislator.

That being said, with all the hubub lately surrounding the health insurance debate, we thought we'd try to offer a few of the basics we've come across thus far. Under the existing legislation:

- Young adults would be eligible under family coverage through the age of 26 (woo hoo!)

- Insurance companies would not be allowed to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

- Insurance companies would no longer be able to drop your coverage because of serious illness.

- Insurance companies would no longer be able to charge higher premiums for women.

In all reality, it's hard not to argue that insurance companies are controlling our health care and they have their eyes on their substantial and rising profits, not on our health.

What do you think? Have you read the bill? Have you read any insightful articles?

Photo credit: flickr.com/ProgressOhio

Is it possible - Rush seeks a new low?

The awesome folks at Media Matters called our attention to what appears to be Rush Limbaugh finding new ways to debase himself. Apparently, sexism, racism, and xenophobia aren't weildy enough tools to be used individually.... So, in his infinite disregard for all things enlightening, Limbaugh has managed to combine all three (and more!) into 1:29 of soul-crushing ignorance!

Not only does Limbaugh refer to Secretary Clinton as the "sex-retary of state," but he talks about her being "somewhere over there" on her "meaningless" trip focused on calling attention to rape as a tool of war in the Congo.

I'm all for free speech. But seriously, THIS is who gets a microphone and a bully pulpit?

Our voices matter! And, in a way, as much as it pains me to admit it, I'm grateful to bloviating buffoon's like Limbaugh that remind me to SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT! So, here it goes...

#1 - I * heart * Secretary Clinton and aspire to someday be as amazing and powerful a voice for human dignity and human rights as she!

#2 - I think, no matter your political views, on some minute level, one must respect the office of the Secretary of State. (Remember about 7 years ago when anyone *ahem, Limbaugh?* would go on and on about loving one's country at all cost...yeah, if you preached it then, I'm assuming that should still apply now?!)

#3 - Secretary Clinton is in the Democratic Republic of the Congo addressing the life and death matter of women (and men) being relentlessly threatened and afflicted by the use of rape as a tool of war. Not only is this an issue in the DRC, it's an issue AROUND THE WORLD. It's an issue that affects ALL of us because it affects ANY of us.

That's where I am, right now. What would you add?

Illustration by Rex Lameray, courtesy of Belltown Messenger/flickr.com

Newsday Tuesday: June 16 Edition

Greetings from one of the lovely FMF interns! Another week of exciting feminist news has come and gone. Here are your top stories from the US and around the globe.


The big news story of the week was the shooting death of Stephan Tyrone Johns, a security guard at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. The suspect in the shooting, James Von Brunn, is a Holocaust denier and white supremacist. This is the third politically-driven shooting death in the recent weeks following the cases of Army private William Andrew Long and Dr. George Tiller.

National:

• Last week, the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009 passed in the House of Representatives by a 235 to187 vote as a part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. This act would help to end child marriage in developing countries. This issue is a very dire matter as the number of child brides is expected to be at a staggering height in the next ten years.

• The Healthy Families Act was discussed at a congressional hearing in the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee last Thursday. This bill would require business that had 15 or more employees to give workers 7 sick days per year to be used to recover from illness or to help a family member who was ill.

States:

• The Florida High School Athletic Association is in danger of being handed a Title IX lawsuit in response to its plan to save school districts money by reducing the number of scheduled games. The Florida Parents for Athletic Equity is upset by this because female athletes would be disproportionately affected: 36,000 boys to 4,600 girls.

• Virginia’s largest women's correctional facility allegedly segregated inmates on the basis of actual or assumed sexual orientation over the past year.

• Virginia's Democratic primary election last Tuesday ended in the nomination of two pro-choice candidates, Creigh Deeds for governor and Jody Wagner for lieutenant governor.

• In Arizona, the Senate Public Safety and Human Services Committee suggested that the Arizona Senate pass two-anti choice bills last Wednesday. Currently, there are five anti-choice bills under consideration in the Arizona legislature.

• The Tiller family, of Dr. George Tiller, announced last Tuesday that the Women's Health Care Services clinic in Wichita, Kansas will be permanently closed following the shooting death of Dr. Tiller on May 31.

Global:

• Women's rights has been a hot topic in Iran's presidential race. Since women make up more than half of the electorate, their votes, views, and opinions matter more than ever to candidates in this election. Iranian women are increasingly involved in voting and campaigning, and their political activity has been really interesting to follow.
  

And just for fun...Arts and Media!:

• Disney is finally adding some diversity to its classic princess fairy tales. It has been announced that Disney will be releasing a new animated movie called The Princess and the Frog, which will feature their first African American princess, named Tiana, in the history of the media company. The release date has been announced for the 2009 Holiday Season. However, women in general, as well as racial diversity still have a long way to come to creating equality in its representations in TV and movies.

Newsday Tuesday: June 9 Edition

Hey there, feminist folk, here's your Tuesday roundup of the hottest feminist news this week:

In the US, the death of Dr. George Tiller and related news has dominated the newswire. However, a few other domestic things have come across our radar:

• The Supreme Court will not hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, banning gays and lesbians from openly serving in the military.
  
  
• In New Hampshire, legislation legalizing same-sex marriage was signed into law by Governor John Lynch.
  
  
• The US House passed the Federal Paid Parental Leave Act, which would provide 4 weeks of paid parental leave to Federal Employees after the birth or adoption of a child.
  
  
• Recent polls are showing that Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor has public support - Sotomayor would be the third woman and the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court, if confirmed.

On the Global Front:

• Meira Kumar, an Indian parliamentarian, is expected to become India's first female Speaker! In other India-related news, Pratibha Patil, the country's first woman president, announced an initiative to pass legislation to empower women in government by reserving a portion of seats for women.
  
  
• President Obama's speech in Cairo addressed global women's rights, including rights of women in Islam.
  
  
• The number of reported rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo is soaring, with incidences caused primarily by the Democratic Forces of the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a Rwandan Hutu rebel group.

Newsday Tuesday: May 26 Edition

Another week of feminist news has gone by, so here's a quick week-in-review!

National:
The US Supreme Court ruled that maternity leave taken prior to the 1979 Pregnancy Discrimination Act does not have to be credited to pensions on a pregnancy discrimination case.

President Obama announced his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States, replacing retiring Justice David Souter.

International:
The Nepalese Supreme Court ordered an expansion of access to abortion, particularly for poor women.

State by State:
A proposed anti-choice constitutional amendment in the state of Tennessee passed the state house of representatives, specifically stating that "nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion."

The State Assembly of California passed a broader state-level version of the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, expanding the statute of limitations on pay discrimination claims runs from the receipt of each discriminatory payment.

The Louisiana state House passed a health care "conscience" bill, allowing providers to withhold abortion, emergency contraception, and other services and medications on the basis of religious or moral objections.

In response to legislation earlier this month by the DC City Council enabling the District to recognize same sex marriages performed in other states, a bill was introduced to the US House of Representatives that would institute a Defense of Marriage Act for the District of Columbia defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

And the big news from California - the state's Supreme Court upheld the results of Proposition 8, an anti gay marriage ballot initiative which passed in November 2008.

Photo Credit: Official WhiteHouse Flickr Stream and Val protesting Prop 8 in DC last fall.

Newsday Tuesday

Another week gone by, another week's worth of feminist news to roundup.

Lots of good news on the domestic front:

• Same sex marriage became legal in Maine! New England is quickly becoming a haven for LGBT marriage rights (so come on Rhode Island, what's your excuse?).
• The DC Council voted 12-1 to recognize same sex marriages performed in other states (the only opposing councilmember being Marion Barry, noted beacon of morality in DC politics).
• The proposed 2010 FY budget eliminated the majority of abstinence-only funding (team science ftw).

International news was mixed. On the negative side:

• Afghan girls and women continue to struggle for their rights. Most recently, scores of girls became ill after gas attacks on their schools (outraged as I am? Join the Afghan Women's Health Campaign and visit FMF to learn more).
• A Saudi judge stated that it was okay for husbands to hit their wives for overspending.

But! Lest you think the global news was all bad:

• Spain announced the legalization of over-the-counter emergency contraception (with no age limits)!
• And finally, American journalist Roxana Sabieri was released from prison in Iran. Sabieri was initially convicted on baseless espionage charges and sentenced to 8 years in prison. We are all celebrating her freedom.
  

This has just been a sampling, but you can sign up for weekly emails from the Feminist Majority Foundation's newswire here. You can also follow @feministnews on Twitter.

Newsday Tuesday, April 21st Edition

Here at FeministCampus we want to make sure that all our readers are staying in-the-know on recent feminist news, so we're going to kick off a weekly sampling of feminist news tidbits, the Cliff's Notes version, if you will! Here goes:

Good News!
We'll start off on a happy note - the Washington state legislature passed a bill expanding domestic partner rights. Although passage in the NY Senate is iffy, at the very least the New York governor announced a same sex marriage bill. I love it when public leaders take a stand! Along the same lines, let's hear it for the leaders in Sierra Leone who signed a female genital mutilation agreement. Finally, the Oregon House tips its hat to women's health by Oregon House passing an HPV vaccine bill requiring state-regulated insurance companies to cover the vaccine.

Bad News!
And the not-so-great news includes the ongoing tale of the brave Afghan Women that we wrote about last week - hundreds pelted the women in the clash between protestors and counter-protesters of a highly restrictive new Shia family law. On the home front, unfortunately the Indiana State House amended an anti-choice bill to include a fetal pain provision.

That's all for now - those of you who want a daily dose of feminist news should be sure to check out the Feminist Daily NewsWire, and @feministnews on Twitter!