First Female Football (soccer) game in the West Bank

Football (most Americans know it as Soccer) has always been an important sport in the West Bank. Over 10,000 women flocked to the recent game between the Palestinian Women's National team and Jordan. Before the game, both teams took laps of honor recognizing the importance of the game where social conservatism disapproves of women playing a men's game.

Previous attempts to set up a women's national team in Kuwait was met with outrage and halted by the country's parliament. As cnn.com quoted, "Committee members expressed their indignation...and total rejection of the idea of the women's football team on the grounds that football is not suitable for women. " In Iran women are banned from attending matches and those on women's teams have to wear a hijab.

One of the hardest struggles facing women football players is convincing their families to let them play, the article noted that some players "still face problems."

However,after two years of struggling for social and political acceptance and allowance...the final whistle blew signaling the end of the first game of many. The two teams hugged and took another lap around the field in honor of this historic moment.

Way to go Ladies!

IL Parental Notification Law Challenged

A lawsuit was filed yesterday challenging a parental notification law set to go into effect in Illinois on November 3rd. The complaint (see PDF), filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois on the behalf of the Hope Clinic for Women and Dr. Allison Cowett, challenges the law's constitutionality and states that "the Act severely restricts minors' access to abortion by requiring a physician to notify a parent, grandparent, step-parent living in the household, or legal guardian of a minor's intention to terminate her pregnancy and wait at least 48 hours before performing the abortion."

The law in question mandates that physicians notify a young woman's parents at least 48 hours before performing abortions on women 17 or younger. Illinois law does not require that parents consent regarding the abortion, only their notification prior to the procedure.

The law originally passed in 1984 and was updated in 1995, but has been held up for years by legal challenges. A Chicago federal appeals court ruled in July that the law is constitutional. In its decision, the court described the law as "a permissible attempt to help a young woman make an informed choice about whether to have an abortion". The anti-choice Thomas More Society filed a lawsuit in September with the Illinois Supreme Court that seeks immediate enforcement of a parental notification law in the state.

Source: Feminist News

Image couresty of: NARAL Pro-Choice America

Loud and Proud: I am a Feminist!

Guest post by Ashley Lauren, cross-posted at her wonderful blog http://smallstrokesbigoaks.com.

I don't remember a specific moment of revelation during which I came to the conclusion that I am a feminist; I've just grown up this way. When I was a little girl, my parents - my mother especially - encouraged my assertiveness and independence.

I didn't actually use the term "feminist" to define myself until my undergrad years when a series of wonderful teachers helped me explore the feminist movements throughout history and come to my own definition of feminism. Feminism, as I define it, involves taking note of the marginalization of women, exploring the reasons why women are marginalized, and making an outward effort to minimize that marginalization. As feminists, we should applaud any attempt at social progress, and participate as we see fit.

I have been very fortunate to be welcomed in to a wonderful feminist community through my blog and other social networking sites. The feminist online presence is particularly strong and, I think, a modern form of activism. I didn't become an activist, or an active feminist, until I started blogging, and now I see feminism and being a woman in a whole new way.

I see women differently, now. I see being a woman differently now. When you understand the relationships between women, and when you begin to associate with women who empower you, not with those who cut you down, you begin to see how powerful women could collectively be if we all stopped competing with each other.

I even see my relationship differently. I used to think being a feminist in a relationship was all about asserting your independence, to the point of pushing your partner away. Now, I see that feminist relationships are about having an equal partnership, and that being partners is even more fulfilling than just being independent.

I now see blogging as having a purpose. I started with my personal blog about a year ago, just as a way to update people on the happenings of my life, but I didn't really see a purpose to all the time I had spent on it. Now, thanks to my interaction with the wonderful women who have participated in my literacy interview, I see blogging as a form of activism. We are spreading important information, we are tweeting-up, we are talking about important things, and it can only get better from here.

And all of this has been because of the wonderful women who have shown me how wonderful it is to be, help, mentor, talk to, laugh with, share accomplishments with, and be a feminist with other amazing women.

I feel empowered now, and I want to make a difference, to go out into the world and make a real change. I hope this energy rubs off on a few other women, because that is the first important step toward women's empowerment.

Ellie Smeal: Senator Kennedy, A Champion of Women's Rights

Statement of Feminist Majority president Eleanor Smeal on the death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy:

For decades, Senator Edward M. Kennedy was a champion of women’s rights. For years, when few other Senators would take women’s rights seriously, the women’s movement could count on Senator Kennedy. In struggle after struggle, the women’s movement could turn to Senator Kennedy and his dedicated and talented staff to lead the fight in Congress.

Behind the scenes, Senator Kennedy would sit down with the leaders and activists of the women’s and civil rights movements and strategize. He was indefatigable and, whether in the Senate in the majority or minority, he had the undying hope and the know-how to move ahead, pass legislation to help millions, and work for a better day.

In legislative battle after battle, Senator Kennedy never let down the women’s movement. We did not always win – but we were always stronger because of his passion, wise council, unparalleled legislative skill, and inspiration.

As a women’s rights leader who had the privilege of working with Senator Kennedy in many of those struggles for decades, to say we will miss his brilliant leadership is a gross understatement. But, of course, the dream never dies, the fight goes on, and we will never forget Senator Kennedy and his indomitable spirit.

Senator Kennedy, who was the principle sponsor of more landmark legislation than any other Senator in U.S. history, led the fight in much historic legislation for women’s rights, civil rights, and human services, including:

· The Equal Rights Amendment Extension Act of 1978, which provided more time to pass the ERA.

· Minimum wage laws that impacted women.

· The Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which prohibited discrimination against pregnant women and revered the Supreme Court decision that permitted discrimination against women in the workforce.

· The Civil Rights Restoration Act, which restored the scope of Title IX and reversed the Grove City Supreme Court case that had gutted Title IX.

· The Voting Rights Act of 1965

· The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), which protected reproductive health care providers.

· The Family Medical Leave Act, which provided 12 weeks unpaid job-protected leave to workers for newborn care, adoption or faster care, or illness of the worker or her/his spouse, child, or parent.

· The Civil Rights Act of 1991, which provided to women workers the right to collect damages in sex discrimination cases.

· The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which reversed the Roberts Supreme Court decision that gutted the ability of women workers to sue for wage discrimination.

· Numerous health care measures including stem cell research, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Mental Health Parity Act, and reproductive health funding

Sorry, you're only the wife

Word on the street is that Michelle Obama wants to be more active in her husband's administration, and Jeremy Mayer has a problem with that. Mayer posted a piece on Politico today about how being the First Lady and invovled in the government is disastrous.

According to Mayer, despite the fact that Michelle Obama is highly qualified woman with a lot of experience, she should not be significantly involved in the government (after all, look what happened with Hillary!). Mayer points out, "Marrying a top policymaker doesn’t magically grant you the rare skills necessary for your spouse’s profession, any more than marrying Serena Williams would enable you to win Wimbledon." While that is true, Michelle Obama is an educated, skilled woman who has something to offer this administration.

Being elected president, or really any elected official, is about the circumstances. Who you are, where you are, and when the election is play an enormous role in becoming elected. Michelle Obama is an intelligent and successful woman who is married to our president, and the events that led to his election also put her in a position to make a difference.

If she was not married to the president, would her offered skills and passions be more acceptable? Are we really going to say that being married to the head of state is something that disqualifies her interest and efforts?

When her husband was elected, her life changed and she had give up some of the power she had in her career. It is ridiculous to keep her from using her skills and pursuing her interests just because she is the First Lady. And frankly, I'd like to see more in the news about Michelle Obama other than that she wears sleeveless dresses and what events she attends.

March to the Beat of your Own Drum--this summer in DC!

• WOMEN

• Empowerment

• Expression

• …Drumming

Combine the above elements in this summer’s the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project's 8-week workshop beginning on July 8th. The workshop is called the Summer Enrichment Program and strives to increase participants' confidence, creativity, and expression.

Participants of this workshop won’t just be sitting around beating a conga, though. The rigorous schedule includes meditation, yoga, team-building, and healthy snacks/lunches provided by Whole Foods.

The conclusion of the workshop will feature a concert for the public in mid-September, showcasing the participants' hard work while celebrating their raw creativity.

Apply Now!

Day One of the Green-Pink Regional Training Conference Inspires Activism

Last Friday, FMF and Ms. interns, along with about 20 feminist and environmental activists from across the Western states, participated in the Green-Pink Regional Leadership Training conference on Reproductive Rights and Health and the Environment, co-sponsored by FMF, the Sierra Club, and Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. The fusion of these three powerful groups resulted in a conference that was both informative and inspirational.

The first day of the conference served as an opportunity for FMF and the Sierra Club to explore the ways in which the issues of environmental responsibility and women's empowerment are inter-related, through info sessions as well as fun activities. In particular, the Global Reproductive Health and the Environment session outlined the connection between women's empowerment and ability to access and afford family planning, and environmental issues as they relate to overconsumption and population growth.

One issue that really sparked our interest was the impact that access to clean water (or lack thereof), has on women. We also learned some startling facts about the fate of women in Afghanistan. 1 in 6 Afghan women will die during childbirth and many more will suffer from obstetric fistula, which is an easily repaired medical condition, and results due to lack of access to medical care and skilled attendance during childbirth.

To give you a glimpse of some more of the shocking statistics and issues we discussed, consider the facts that:

- 200 million women around the world want to access family planning services, don't have them.
- Education is the single most important factor in determining how many children a woman will have.
- In democratic societies around the world, women only comprise 18% of parliamentary seats.

The list of depressing realities went on and on, but by examining these truths and injustices we were able to see that women's empowerment - through education, household bargaining power, political power, equal wages, employment opportunities, equal access to health care and nutrition, ability to access family planning despite financial or sociological barriers, and equal representation under the law - is absolutely crucial to changing the fate of the world!

After hearing about the reality of the problems facing women and the environment, we were all eager to discuss some solutions. The West Coast FMF interns took the stage as we presented our research on the United Nation's Milennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were agreed upon by 189 nations in 2000 to develop efforts to combat poverty, hunger, discrimination and more. They truly consider issues of gender and the environment in all of their approaches. Unfortunatley, in our research, we discovered that while some progress has been made, more must be done to ensure that the lives of women have dramatically improved by 2015.

Throughout the day we also came across the fact that the U.S., the richest nation in the world, has consistently fallen behind on its promise to commit, at the bare minimum, .7% of its Gross National Income to international family planning funding. We must urge the U.S. to uphold its promises to the women of the world!

Cassie Gardener of the Sierra Club encouraged us to host a Green-Pink Party. This event raises awareness of the inter-relations of women's empowerment and environmental issues while raising $300 to pay for the life-saving surgery for a woman with obstetric fistula.

To conclude the day, Allie McDonald, FMF National Campus Organizer, and Cassie discussed how we can form effective campus organizations to address these issues. This was an opportunity for those who've been involved with campus activism to share helpful advice and ideas, and for those who want to launch a new group to learn the tricks of the trade.

Overall, day one of the conference was an excellent opportunity to discuss important issues with fellow social justice activists. In addition to learning more about these problems, we were inspired to implement solutions on our campuses and communities.

-Danae Garfield, FMF Campus Intern & Hastings College student

Photo: FMF interns Bonarene Wakam and Mary Kwan make their way through the "Barriers to Family Planning" obstacle course.