Feminist in the City

Vacation Time!!

2009-08-29T00:51:00.002-04:00

Lately, I've been on the verge of losing my mind at work. It has been crazy for the last, lets just say several months, and hasn't slowed down a bit! To top it off I'm actually doing the job of two people, sometimes it feels like more, so it's suffice to say that I'm desperate for some much needed (and I'd like to say deserved) time off and after two years without an actual vacation the time has finally, FINALLY come!

So excuse my virtual absence for a few days while I sit by the beach and sip some cocktails down in Florida. I hope Tropical Storm Danny (he's not a Hurricane yet is he?) doesn't interfere too much! I'll have wifi and my computer so I might pop on by to say hello, but this lady needs some R&R so I'll likely be MIA!

Enjoy your weekends everyone!

Bon Voyage!

Behind Bars: Life Without Parole

2009-08-29T00:48:00.000-04:00

Imagine being sentenced to life in prison without parole at 16-years-old. Your whole life - or what you thought it could of been - flashes before your eyes. That future no longer belongs to you.

Imagine that the circumstances surrounding your imprisonment are completely unjust and down right cruel.

Sara Kruzan doesn't have to imagine this horrific nightmare. For her it is reality.

What happened to Sara? How did she end up in jail? What could she have done to deserve life without parole?

Find out the answers to these questions and learn more about Sara's story at Care2!

Say It Sister!

2009-08-27T10:44:00.004-04:00

To commemorate Women's Equality Day NOW launched a new blog - Say it Sister - "to inform, inspire and instigate feminist activism."

I gave it a quick look and while I'm not crazy about the color choices, it looks like it will be a great new place for feminist minds to gather in the blogosphere to share our thoughts and concerns about this crazy world we live in. I know I'll be checking it out and you never know, it just might get a little space over in my blog roll!

Check out NOW's announcement about the blog below:

NOW Launches Action-Oriented Blog on Women's Equality Day

"These splendid people are hungry, hungry. Oh, for more power to give out the truth!"
— Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1875

The National Organization for Women is proud to celebrate Women's Equality Day this year by launching Say It, Sister! — a new blog designed to inform, inspire and instigate feminist activism.

Women's Equality Day marks the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. For more than 70 years, the foremothers of feminism campaigned for women's equality at the polls, and they finally achieved victory in 1920.

Nearly a century later, the ballot box remains vital to protecting and advancing women's rights, but the way we educate voters and petition our government has changed dramatically. The Internet has brought us unprecedented organizing power, and there's little doubt that suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth would have welcomed this tremendous opportunity to amplify their voices and reach out to women across the country and around the globe.

In the tradition of those great feminists, Say It, Sister! will bring women's rights supporters together to motivate and strengthen each other in our mission to end all forms of sex discrimination. The blog will serve as a place where NOW leaders speak their minds, call women and men to action, encourage feedback and facilitate a lively (no doubt) dialogue.

"I am thrilled to launch NOW's blog, Say It, Sister!, on Women's Equality Day," said NOW Action Vice President Erin Matson. "As Elizabeth Cady Stanton said so long ago, there are many hungry people out there. Well, now we have this incredible power to nourish them and point them in the right direction to make change, and that's just what we plan to do!"

The NOW blog is located at www.now.org/blog

Happy Women's Equality Day!

2009-08-26T23:19:00.004-04:00

Better late than never, right?

I completely forgot about today's significance until I got an email from my sister at work wishing me a Happy Women's Equality Day! I got so busy at work that it slipped my mind until now but I couldn't let it go and it's not midnight yet here on the East Coast so I guess I'm coming in right under the wire.

So thank you suffragists for working so hard to guarantee my right to vote. Thanks to your tireless efforts in ensuring the passing of the 19th Amendment, women like me and those across the country have exercised our right to vote for nearly 90 years and this year I cashed in my vote for the first woman candidate for President - Mrs. Hillary Clinton. That is a moment I will never forget.

Speaking of women's suffrage. I came across a movie - Iron Jawed Angels - with Hilary Swank that is a beautiful portrayal of the suffrage movement. I definately recommend checking it out if you haven't already.

Happy Women's Equality Day all!

Baring it All in Glamour - "Plus-Size" Style

2009-08-26T22:19:00.004-04:00

By now you've probably seen or heard of the woman on page 194.

If not let me introduce you.

Meet Lizzi Miller. She's a 20-year-old model who recently graced the glossy pages of Glamour magazine in nothing but a thong – all 180 pounds of her.

I wrote a post about this picture on Care2 that has stirred quite a bit of buzz in the comments section - some points of which I'd like to address here.

First of all, I do not believe that Lizzi is physically plus-sized, but by modeling industry standards she is considered a "plus-size" model. Ridiculous, I know. Maybe we would make more progress in body acceptance if the runways stopped referring to "average" women (like Lizzi) as "plus-size" and started putting them on the runways! For now though I guess a 3-by-3 inch photo hidden in the middle of a magazine is progress (baby steps, very little baby steps).

Secondly, as a size 12-14 Lizzi does represent the "average" American woman. I hate the word "average" but statistically this is true.

Thirdly, at 5 foot 11 and 180 pounds, Lizzi's BMI is slightly (and I mean slighty) overweight. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Lizzi's BMI is 25.1 putting her in the overweight category. For her weight and height a BMI of 18.5-24.9 would be considered normal. So tecnically Lizzi is overweight, but seriously she's .2 away.

Lastly, I don't think Lizzi looks overweight or plus-sized or fat. I think she looks beautiful and confident. I wish I had a picture of myself like this and am glad I came across this one because Lizzi has given this lady a newfound love for her belly pooch.

Make sure you check out my article on Care2!

And the winner is ...

2009-08-25T15:05:00.006-04:00

On Sunday night Miss Venezuela Stefania Fernandez was named Miss Universe 2009.

During the Q&A portion of the evening Miss Venezuela was asked a question about sexism in the workplace:

Question: In many parts of the world obstacles still exist that impede women from achieving their goals in some corporations?

Answer: "I believe that now a days we women have overcome many obstacles and I do believe that we have reached the same level that men have. We must realize there are no longer any barriers amongst us."

To this answer she received rousing applause and cheers.

I'm sorry what?

There are really no words (except bad ones) so I'll leave it at that.

Hillary Clinton - Another Fav of Mine!

2009-08-21T17:05:00.002-04:00

I know many people have very strong opinions about Hillary Clinton. I do too. It seems that they either love her or hate her. I LOVE her! I think she is a phenomenal woman who champions women's rights around the world tirelessly and for that I am thankful.

She recently returned from an 11-day tour of Africa where she focused largely on bringing women's issues to the forefront of the governments across the continent. Before leaving for her trip she sat down with New York Times to talk about her work on women's issues. Below are my favorite highlights:

"Democracy means nothing if half the people can’t vote, or if their vote doesn’t count, or if their literacy rate is so low that the exercise of their vote is in question."

"I happen to believe that the transformation of women’s roles is the last great impediment to universal progress..."

"... in too many places and too many ways, the oppression of women stands as a stark reminder of how difficult it is to realize people’s full human potential."

"If you look at where we are fighting terrorism, there is a connection to groups that are making a stand against modernity, and that is most evident in their treatment of women."

"President Obama and I and the United States will not tolerate this continuation of wanton, senseless, brutal violence perpetrated against girls and women."

"... so-called women’s issues are stability issues, security issues, equity issues."

Also be sure to check out my post on Care2 about her trip to Africa.

Nicholas Kristof, How I Love Thee

2009-08-19T22:27:00.002-04:00

It's no secret that I love Nicholas Kristof! I've posted many of his columns and today found another gem via the New York Times that has me smiling from ear to ear.

It's a Special Issue called, "Saving the World's Women: The Women's Crusade."

I was a little daunted when I saw that the article was 7 pages long, but when I finished I was disappointed. I wanted more and luckily there will be more next month. The essay featured is actually adapted from Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's (a former NYT correspondent and Kristof's wife's) new book, "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression Into Opportunity for Women Worldwide."

“'Women hold up half the sky,' in the words of a Chinese saying, yet that’s mostly an aspiration: in a large slice of the world, girls are uneducated and women marginalized, and it’s not an accident that those same countries are disproportionately mired in poverty and riven by fundamentalism and chaos."

It doesn't have to be this way. We can reach out and help the women and girls of the world and in doing so help us all. Kristof and WuDunn have the right idea in their essay which is sprinkled with inspiring tales of women and girls from the most remote and improverished regions of the world and innovative ideas to help better the lives of women and girls globally.

Check out a sneak peak to Half the Sky at the NYT now!

On the Road ...

2009-08-14T17:56:00.002-04:00

So, I'm currently on the Bolt Bus (free internet!) on my way to Boston for ....

COUNTRY FEST 2009!!

I know, I know. What's a New York City girl doing listening to country music, but some friends of mine in college got me hooked and I've never looked back. I mostly like pop country, you know, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, etc and this weekend I will get to see 5 great artisits perform at Gillette Stadium including the great Kenny Chesney as well as Sugarland (another favorite of mine), Lady Antebellum (a relatively new group), Miranda Lambert (a solo female fav), and Montgomery Gentry (who I honesty know nothing about). It's going to be a great show and I could not be more excited!

While I'm away for your weekend enjoyment I wanted to leave you with my latest Care2 posts. I've neglected to post them so wanted to play a little catch up. So check them out:

Gym Shooter Targeted Women
Rape Tactic of War in the Congo Target New Victims: Men
Chris Brown Apologizes: Is It Too Late?
Match.com Serial Rapist: Finally Found Guilty 8 Years After First Attacks

ENJOY!

A New Day

2009-08-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about my little virtual home here at Feminist in the City and I've come to some new thoughts on how I'd like to, let's say, decorate it. See, I thought that writing this blog would be something I would enjoy, something that would give me space to express my thoughts and feelings about the world around me, but instead it has become a chore, something always nagging me in the back of my mind. And I think I know why.

It's because I was taking this too seriously, trying too hard to write the right thing and in the right way, trying too hard to sound smart and witty, so much so that I lost sight of what it was I wanted to do, which is be ME! And share MY thoughts no matter how inane or wise. And I learned something: my thoughts, my opinions cannot be edited. They are what I think and feel and no-one has to agree. In fact, if you disagree, please let me know. If I haven't thought of something that you have let me know! I'd LOVE to hear from you.

So, things are going to change around here, hopefully for the better. I may ramble about my day or what's stressing me out. I might get really angry about something sexists or unjust that I read about. I may give you some insight into the little old island of Manhattan that I inhabit - cool spots to check out, restaurants to eat at, exhibits to visit, etc.

So, here's to a new day and hopefully a new look soon (I'm still not digging this layout / colors)!

Sidenote: Let it be known that while writing this post I could not get Celine Dion's "A New Day has Come" song out of my mind.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 - Enough Already

2009-08-10T23:32:00.003-04:00

Ok - just like the rest of America I too am sick of the never ending Jon and Kate Plus 8 saga but it doesn't seem like this news is ever going to die, is it so I'm why not put in my own two cents like everyone else?

For the record I'm "Team Kate" on this one. Yes, she has her faults (impatient, neurotic, anal, etc, etc, etc) but she loves her children and takes her job, which provides for her family, a family of 10 (er, 9 now?), seriously. That I do not fault her for. I applaud her. Yes she has an unconventional job and yes maybe she is stretching her 15 minutes of fame, but it is a job that allows her to provide for her family (imagine having to pay for 8 children to attend college, 5 weddings, etc). What's so wrong with that? Is it just that people are threatened by this Supermom breadwinner?

Anyway, I digress. Today, Kate appeared on the Today show to talk yet again about her divorce and soon-to-be-ex-husbands infidelity. We've heard it all before splashed across the pages of tabloids and magazines and what's starting to get me even more infuriated about the whole mess is the media's coverage of the story.

Take for example two stories that ran today about Kate's appearance on the Today Show.

The first from the Associated Press is titled, "Kate Gosselin still wears her wedding ring." Hmm. So the news worthy angle here is two paint Kate as the pathetic, lonely housewife who can't possibly bear to take her wedding band off, right? Wrong. In the interview she explains that she wears her wedding ring for the sake of her eight children - her eight children who naturally are devastated by their parent's separation. This is not a sign of a woman's desperate hope to work things out with the father of her children. No, as always, Kate is thinking of her children first.

The second story from today's news that nearly made my head blow off was from the title of a video on the Daily Beast where you can view a clip of Kate on the Today Show. Above the still image of Kate on TV is the title, "Kate: I Still Love Jon." What? That has got to be one of the most misleading headlines I have ever read. if you actually listen to the interview you will see that after Meredith asks, "Does any part of you still love him?" Kate responds, "When I think back to the Jon I knew yes, um, suffice is to say." That is not a declaration of love for her cheating, foolish husband as the title leads you to believe. Yes, she loved him, at a time - the time before Jon decided he wanted out of his marriage to go off gallivanting with young women in the Hamptons and NYC.

So, that's my two cents. Go "Team Kate" and media lay off the misleading coverage. I've had enough. Unfortunately, with a hit reality show on TV this news story is never likely to go away. At least not any time soon.

Getting Burned in Pakistan: Report Finds Acid and Burn Attacks Against Women on the Rise

2009-07-08T22:19:00.003-04:00

A new report has found that violence against women in the form of burning and acid attacks is on the rise in Pakistan. Women who are seen as dishonoring their families are often the targets of these attacks which leave both devastating physical and emotional scars.

Read more at Care2.

Bye Bye Sarah

2009-07-06T23:04:00.003-04:00

So, as much of the world has come to find out Sarah Palin has resigned as governor of Alaska.

I was on my way out the door to enjoy a nice cold beer on the beach on such a beautiful 4th of July day when I saw the story on the news. I was shocked and instantly suspicious.

Why would she resign in such a hurry (by the end of the month) when she still has 18 months left in her first term as governor?

Why did she wait until a holiday weekend to make the announcement? Perhaps, she was hoping to catch the media off guard? I think so.

Is there some juciy secret ready to be leaked that would have her ousted as governor anyway so she wanted to stay ahead of the game? Maybe.

Whatever the reason I think we all know that this isn't the last of Ms. Sarah. Oh what will she - from the outside in - do next?

Some interesting articles on Palin's exit:

@ Jezebel - "3 Reasons Sarah Palin Was Good — And Bad — For Women In Politics"
@ NYT - " Now, Sarah’s Folly"

Pop Goes Gender: What are the effects of growing up “genderless?”

2009-07-02T10:51:00.002-04:00

In Sweden, a 24-year-old couple has chosen to keep their two-and-a-half-year-old child's sex a secret in hopes of helping him or her help avoid the preconceived notions of what it means to be male or female.

“We want Pop to grow up more freely and avoid being forced into a specific gender mould from the outset,” Pop’s mother said. “It's cruel to bring a child into the world with a blue or pink stamp on their forehead.”

Read more at Care2

Oscar-Winning Composer Accused of Rape

2009-06-25T11:17:00.002-04:00

Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning composer and director of “You Light Up My Life,” has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting women he lured to his apartment for a starring movie role via a Craigslist ad. What a pig!

Read more at Care2!

Bare With Me!

2009-06-24T21:53:00.003-04:00

Your eyes aren't deceiving you! I'm trying out this new blogger template and in the time being things will be changing up a bit while I get settled!

On that note, do any of you savy web experts out there know how I can make the left hand sidebar wider? Any help would be much appreciated!

Also, what do you think? Like the new look?

Rape Kits in Cali May Continue To Go Untested

2009-06-23T22:47:00.004-04:00

A while back on Care2 I wrote about the backlog of rape kits in California that have gone untested.

It was so shocking to me that evidence with the potential of putting rapists behind bars was just sitting in labs without any urgency. With so many women victimized each year this is completely unjust not to mention stupid!

Now it seems that a budget deficiet in Cali could delay or stop the testing altogether. So women continue to be raped and rapists continue to walk free. Someone explain to me how any of this makes sense?

Rape in South Africa Runs Rampant

2009-06-23T22:29:00.003-04:00

1 in 4 men in South Africa admit to rape. Of these almost half admit to being repeat offenders.

I know sexual violence in South Africa isn't a new concept, but that doesn't mean that these statistics become less impactful. In fact, I feel the very opposite. The more I read about it and the more studies that confirm its existence, the more saddened and angered I get!

Read more at Care2!

Good-bye Good-bye Bacardi!

2009-06-22T23:15:00.007-04:00

Ok so I know alcohol companies are notorious for disrespecting women but Bacardi's latest promotional ploy is just too much.

Good thing the blogsphere blew up when this story came out and the website was taken down and now Bacardi has issued the following apology:

Thank you for taking the time to post your story regarding Bacardi Breezer.

The campaign you are referring to ran in 2008 for two months in Israel. Even though Bacardi Breezer is not sold or distributed in the United States, we immediately notified the appropriate Bacardi affiliate and had this website shut down.

Bacardi proudly celebrates diversity and we do not endorse the views of this site. We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by this site and thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Thanks Bacardi. How about instead of sending a lamo apology you stretch your advertising muscles and find some non-offensive ways to sell your products (not that I'll be buying anytime soon!)

Obama Gets His Feminism On

2009-06-09T23:28:00.002-04:00

At his speech at Cairo University last week, President Obama tackled the issue of women's rights in the Muslim world.

Check out what he had to say, and what I think about it, at Care2!

Virtual Vacation Over!

2009-06-03T22:54:00.004-04:00

So, I've been on a bit of a "virtual vacation" the last week for a few reasons. First, work has been the craziest it has been for me in the time that I've been there and secondly I've been traveling a lot. One of my best friends from college is getting married and I've been away for her bridal shower and most recently her bachelorette party but alas I'm back and boy is there a lot going on - and at the forefront of course the murder of a hero - Dr. George Tiller.

I've been so angered, shocked, and saddened by the untimely death of Dr. Tiller that it's been difficult for me to put into words how I feel although I've been reading lots about how other people feel. Both the anti-choice and pro-choice sides are up in arms and I've been utterly disgusted by the things said by anti-choice zealots like Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry and Fox News Bill O'Reilly. This USA Today editorial that I read today describes what happened in a way that speaks to me. My favorite part is the end:

Regardless of personal beliefs about abortion, authorities have an obligation to protect those providing and receiving abortion services, and to prosecute those who harass or threaten them. The tragedy of Tiller's death will only be compounded if it frightens away more doctors and makes a legal procedure even harder to come by.

On a lighter note this article from the NYT put a smile on my face from beginning to end. Maybe every man should be forced to go through menopause to get an intimate look at a woman's life (you're intrigued aren't you??) Check it out!

You're invited....

2009-05-19T14:44:00.003-04:00

...to a memorable evening featuring music by the children of the St. Joseph School band, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres, a silent auction and more!

A friend of mine is organizing the event in support of the school's Music and Extended Day program. As a former band member I know the importance of music in education and its confidence building capacity. I played the flute from 4th grade up through high school and developed great self-esteem in doing so. Being able to master my instrument and play with a group is an experience I remember fondly and one I hope to pass on to my own children some day.

If you are in the NYC area please check out this event and support music education at St. Joseph's!

Check out the invitation >

Get your ticket now >

Read about the St. Joseph School Band in the Wall Street Journal >

For more information, please contact Fiona O'Sullivan at (718) 583-9432 ext 3 or at stjosephbronx@gmail.com

Equality Now Challenges Sale of RapeLay Game

2009-05-19T10:15:00.004-04:00

The sale of a computer game, RapeLay, that simulates rape (yes seriously) in Japan is being challenged by Equality Now!

This game is absolutely appalling! I wrote about it a while back on Care2 and was shocked when I discovered the gruesome details of the game - repeated rape, forced abortions, gang bangs, sexual slavery. All of this is the name of "fun" because after all this is a game, right? What kind of a sick game is this and what kind of a sick person would play?

AHHHHHH! Violence against women and girls is not a game. Trivializing the issue in this matter is reprehensible and only serves to perpetuate the problem, not to mention the slap in the face it gives to the thousands of women that are victimized by sexually violent crimes every year.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that is angry and even more glad that Equality Now has taken the initiative to challenge the sale of the game and all forms of hentia in Japan!

Read more at Care2 and learn what you can do to help!

Another Reason Why I love Nicholas Kristof

2009-05-19T00:00:00.003-04:00

Nicholas Kristof does it again with a compelling op-ed that highlights a women's rights issue that is so often overlooked by the media - maternal mortality.

According to the World Health Organization, Sierra Leone has the highest maternal mortality in the world, and in several African countries, 1 woman in 10 ends up dying in childbirth.

It’s pretty clear that if men were dying at these rates, the United Nations Security Council would be holding urgent consultations, and a country such as this would appoint a minister of paternal mortality. Yet half-a-million women die annually from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth without attracting much interest because the victims are typically among the most voiceless people in the world: impoverished, rural, uneducated and female.

The types of pregnancy-related deaths the women Kristof writes about could be easily preventable at a very low costs but all around the world women are literally dying to become mothers. This is completely unjust and reprehensible. Women can be saved in childbirth but only if, as Kristof says, "...their lives become a priority."

Read Kristof's op-ed in full >

Slap in the Face for Saudi Arabian Women - Literally!

2009-05-13T10:28:00.002-04:00

Married couples fight for all sorts of reasons, finances at the top of the list especially with today’s economy, but in Saudi Arabia disputes over money may soon take a turn for the worse.

Speaking at a domestic violence conference in the country, Judge Hamad Al-Razine has said that it is ok for men to slap their wives if they spend wastefully.

Yes seriously! Seriously ridiculous!

"Drive-through" Mastectomies

2009-05-12T09:48:00.002-04:00

I am fortunate enough to not know anyone in my family or circle of friends who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Many others are not as lucky as me and when I read of the practice of "drive-through" mastectomies I was horrified and angered.

How is it just (or safe for that matter) to discharge a patient only a few hours after having such invasive surgery? How would you feel if you were the patient? Or it was your mother or sister or friend?

Read more at Care2 and learn what you can do to help! >

Bad Ass Feminist: Jane Fonda

2009-05-08T16:40:00.003-04:00

Jane Fonda is a pretty unbelievable woman and a pretty badass feminist if you ask me.

Not only does she work to end violence against women with VDAY ( Do you remember last year when she said cunt on the Today show and the world freaked out? Priceless.) but did you know that she is also the founder and chairwoman of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention. Amazing!

This week she authored an editorial in the Atlantic Journal Constitution about teen pregnancy that rocked! Below are my favorite highlights:

"...Too often, issues of teen sexuality are described in moral terms, especially by politicians who seem to care more about getting headlines than admitting what does and doesn’t work. But here’s what is really immoral: leaving in place unrealistic ideas and ineffective programs that don’t address the serious problem of teen pregnancy, one whose impact will be felt well into the future...."

"It’s misguided to focus exclusively on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, which have been shown repeatedly, and over time, to be ineffective. All of us should do everything we can to persuade our elected officials to reverse this failed policy.
Let me be clear: I’m not against abstinence. Deciding to wait to have sex is a smart choice for young people. But I wasn’t born yesterday, and I know many teens are going to have sex, like it or not. Given this reality, it’s not the “abstinence” that’s the problem. It’s the 'only.'"

Jane Fonda, you just get it. Amen sister!

Read Jane Fonda's editorial in full >

Check out Jane Fonda on Larry King Live >

Check out Jane Fonda performing the Vagina Monoglogues >

North Korea Women treated as "Livestock"

2009-05-07T10:03:00.001-04:00

Imagine being sold to an older disabled man for $585 – a man who is only the first of a number of men you are forced to marry.

Imagine having to do 100 squats followed by 100 laps around a soccer field only to finish and endure an intense beating.

Imagine being forced to terminate a pregnancy by having two men stand on a plank that was placed on your pregnant belly and then losing not only your child’s life but yours as well.

Women from North Korea know this unbearable treatment all too well – for them it is reality.

Follow my every move

2009-05-06T23:25:00.003-04:00

I have finally jumped on the Twitter bandwagon so now you can follow my every move!

Check out what I'm up to by using the right hand navigation or why not follow me on twitter!

If you have any tricks of the trade or tips for using twitter to publicize my little old home here or at Care2 please let me know! Thanks kids!

National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

2009-05-06T10:14:00.003-04:00

Today, as we recognize the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy we are reminded all too well of statistics that reveal that the teen birth rate is on the rise:

3 out of 10 American teens get pregnant every year
Less than half of these girls finish high school
8 out of 10 don't marry the fathers of their babies

This morning on "Good Morning America" Bristol Palin did her first live TV interview where she advocated and promoted abstinence as the "best" choice for young women. A new teen ambassador for the Candie's Foundation, Bristol's message today is very different from comments she previously made on Fox news. that abstinence was "unrealistic." Today she says her comments were taken out of context and that she believes young women should abstain from sex regardless of what she did personally.

Personally, I disagree. I think if we are going to have any crack at reducing the escalating teen pregnancy rates we are going to have to provide teenagers with comprehensive sex education that teaches them both about abstinence and contraception. We need to power teenagers with knowledge so if and when they do decide to have sex (which many of them do) they have the tools (condoms, birth control, emergency contraception, etc) to avoid an unplanned pregnancy.

Another thing - when I saw that Bristol was a teen ambassador for the Candie's Foundation I had to look it up because I was certain it wasn't the same Candie's that sells sexy shoes to young women but alas I was wrong. It is that Candies and if you take a look at the website and you will instantly see that sex (although teens shouldn't be doing it, right?) sells! They currently have a promotion with Britney Spears - a single young unwed mother whose famous sister is a teen mom herself - where she is pictured with a bikini top and suggestive smile and nothing else. So the message is that you can dress sexy and be sexy but you shouldn't think about sex let alone have sex and if you do, well Candie's is there to tell you all about the "devastating consequences" but not to help you avoid them - nope you're on your own there.

Don't get me wrong. I think it is admirable that Candie's wants to do its part to help reduce teen pregnancy and clever that they are using a celebrity hook to talk to teens BUT while they aim to raise awareness of this serious problem, they fail to give these teens the tools to avoid the very problem - getting pregnant. Someone has too so if you have any teens in your life I suggest you take some time today to talk to them about sex and teach them how to protect themselves!

Lilith Fair in 2010

2009-05-05T17:01:00.005-04:00

This is amazing!!! I may be a little late on this news but seriously amazing!

It has been confirmed at Billboard.com that Lilith Fair will return in 2010! So far it has only been reported that the festival will do a two-week stunt in the UK and Europe. No word on the US yet, but I'm willing to travel to see this!

Let it be known that Lilith Fair raised over $10 million for women's charities when in ran from 1997-1999 and that '97 it garnered a $16 million gross making it the top-grossing touring festival of all time! Talk about Girl Power!

And who knows maybe I'll be able to kill two birds with one stone and get both Lilith Fair and Sister Act in one fabulous UK trip (yes they are remaking Sister Act the movie into a musical in the UK and YES I LOVE IT!)

Another Reason Why I love Nicholas Kristof

2009-05-03T18:55:00.004-04:00

A while back I wrote a post for Care2 about the backlog of rape kits in CA that have gone untested. I was outraged by the Human Rights Report that made this discovery and was even more outraged that the issue wasn't getting the attention it deserved.

Finally though last week I came across a column by one of my all time favorite columnists Nicholas Kristof who was just as outraged as I was!

"Some Americans used to argue that it was impossible to rape an unwilling woman. Few people say that today, or say publicly that a woman 'asked for it' if she wore a short skirt. But the refusal to test rape kits seems a throwback to the same antediluvian skepticism about rape as a traumatic crime..."
"It’s what we might expect in Afghanistan, not in the United States."

The only silver lining:

"New York City has made a concerted effort over the last decade to test every kit that comes in. The result has been at least 2,000 cold hits in rape cases, and the arrest rate for reported cases of rape in New York City rose from 40 percent to 70 percent, according to Human Rights Watch." (emphasis mine)

Check out my piece on Care2 >
Read Nicholas Kristof's column >

Obama Addresses Abortion Issue

2009-04-30T10:53:00.004-04:00

In his news conference last night Obama addressed these issue of abortion. I have to say that I was pleased with some remarks but others fell flat and were inconsistent with my views as a pro-choice woman

What do you think?

Check out the transcript below: (emphasis mine)

Q: Thank you, Mr. President. In a couple of weeks, you're going to be giving the commencement at Notre Dame. And, as you know, this has caused a lot of controversy among Catholics who are opposed to your position on abortion.

As a candidate, you vowed that one of the very things you wanted to do was sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which, as you know, would eliminate federal, state and local restrictions on abortion. And at one point in the campaign when asked about abortion and life, you said that it was above quote, above my pay grade.

Now that you've been president for 100 days, obviously, your pay grade is a little higher than when you were a senator.

Do you still hope that Congress quickly sends you the Freedom of Choice Act so you can sign it?

OBAMA: You know, the my view on on abortion, I think, has been very consistent. I think abortion is a moral issue and an ethical issue.

I think that those who are pro-choice make a mistake when they if they suggest and I don't want to create straw men here, but I think there are some who suggest that this is simply an issue about women's freedom and that there's no other considerations. I think, look, this is an issue that people have to wrestle with and families and individual women have to wrestle with.

The reason I'm pro-choice is because I don't think women take that that position casually. I think that they struggle with these decisions each and every day. And I think they are in a better position to make these decisions ultimately than members of Congress or a president of the United States, in consultation with their families, with their doctors, with their clergy.

So so that has been my consistent position. The other thing that I said consistently during the campaign is I would like to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies that result in women feeling compelled to get an abortion, or at least considering getting an abortion, particularly if we can reduce the number of teen pregnancies, which has started to spike up again.

And so I've got a task force within the Domestic Policy Council in the West Wing of the White House that is working with groups both in the pro-choice camp and in the pro-life camp, to see if we can arrive at some consensus on that.

Now, the Freedom of Choice Act is not highest legislative priority. I believe that women should have the right to choose. But I think that the most important thing we can do to tamp down some of the anger surrounding this issue is to focus on those areas that we can agree on. And that's that's where I'm going to focus.

Domestic Violence PSA Censored in the UK

2009-04-29T12:58:00.002-04:00

This month a PSA starring Keira Knightely was supposed to air on British TVs, but now Clearcast, the company that reviews ads for TV has ruled that the ad is too violent to air!

Guess what? Domestic violence is violent.

Check out my story on Care2 to learn more!

What are the world's 27 million diriest secrets?

2009-04-28T17:43:00.003-04:00

Check out my latest post on Care2 to find out!

When I came across this project I was seriously BLOWN AWAY! Check it out!

Money, Money, MONEY!

2009-04-28T17:23:00.004-04:00

You both went to college, maybe even to graduate school. You both have the same amount of work experience and you both landed the same job, but at the end of the day something doesn’t add up because you only make 78% of what your co-worker makes.

What’s the deal? Oh right, you’re a woman.

It’s seems ludicrous that today women are still not guaranteed equal pay for equal work, but low and behold the wage gap persists. If you're African America or Latin you fair even worse! African American women earn only 69 cents for every $1.00 earned by a man and Latina earn just 59 cents!

Well this Latina is not happy about it, especially considering the Equal Pay Act was passed over in 1963 and since then the wage gap has only narrowed by 19 cents– that’s a rate of less than half a penny a year! Half a penny a year! Seriously?

Over the course of a lifetime this is a significant chunk of change. In fact, the Wage Project found that full-time working women with a high school diploma will lose as much as $700,000 over a lifetime of work. College graduate will lose $1.2 million and professional school graduates may lose up to $2 million – money they would have earned had they been born a different sex.

Today, on Equal Pay Day let us not forget that when it comes to your paycheck women continue to fall short.

Learn more about the wage gap and take action today courtesy of Care2

Violence Against Women Forum in NYC

2009-04-16T12:50:00.004-04:00

The New Agenda is presenting a Violence Against Women forum in New York City on Saturday, April 18, 2009, from 3-5pm at the Benjamin Hotel followed by a cocktail from5-6pm. See the invite below!

If you're in the area you should definately check it out and report back (I'll try to make it but have a friend visiting so may be unable to).

RSVP: tnavawforum@yahoo.com

Learn more about the panelists:

Are there any VAGINAS in the house?

2009-04-14T21:45:00.006-04:00

About a year ago my sister and I went down to New Orleans to celebrate VDAY's 10 year anniversary. It is honestly difficult to put into words what an inspiring weekend it was. Let me just say this - it is possible to make a difference with one idea, one person. I've seen it happen thanks to Eve Ensler who decided it was about time to give the vagina a voice - a powerful voice. In doing so, her play the Vagina Monologues was created and from this tiny seed an idea sprang and an incredible movement to end violence against women, one that has spanned the globe and raised millions upon millions of dollars was born - from one person, one voice, one idea, one vagina.

Eve Ensler you are an incredible woman. Vaginas of the world - you are all incredible women.

Take a look a glimpse at my trip by watching VDAY's video of the weekend!

If you've never seen the Vagina Monologues, don't walk RUN and find yourself a copy! It will change your life!

What's your vagina story?

Face Lift

2009-04-09T15:02:00.002-04:00

So, don't think I've abandoned you this week. I've actually been spending some time looking for a new template to give this blog the face lift it needs! If i haven't mentioned it already, I'm sick of the purple so I've been trying to find something that better suits my little virtual home here. Hopefully I'll be able to settle on something soon so I can debut the new look for you all!

In the meantime, check out my latest post on Care2:

Cut!: Keira Knightley Works to End Domestic Abuse in the UK

NYC Subway Rape

I'm BACK

2009-04-01T23:25:00.004-04:00

Hey KIDS! Sorry I've been MIA lately. Work / life has been crazy so I've slacked on my little virtual home here! I'm also sick of looking at all this purple so need to find time to do a revamp of the look - something that has been on my to-do list forever! Getting on the twitter band wagon (tips anyone?) is yet another to-do list item that has taken a back seat (as well as posting more faithfully - sorry!).

Anyway, while I get my act together over here please stop by and check out my latest post on Care 2 about the backlog of untested rape kits in California that is allowing rapists to walk free! This is seriously ridiculous! Please read, comment, and participate in the poll! I'd love to hear from you!

GATHER - This Sunday

2009-03-19T12:33:00.003-04:00

My fabulous friend Tara is the founder of Gather, a group that aims to bring the "lesbian community under one roof." She hosts regular gatherings around New York to give lesbian women a chance to get together in a public setting and discuss the things that matter to them most.

At the first Gather we discussed commitment and at the one that followed we talked about what it's like to be a single lesbian.

The events are open to women of all sexual orientations so come check it out!

The 3rd gathering will take place this Sunday in Park Slope! Details Below!

TAKE ACTION - Rape is NOT a game!

2009-03-14T00:32:00.002-04:00

Remember the new video game I told you about ... you know the one where the whole point is to rape women?

Well, rape is not a game and it's about time someone say something so do your part and sign the petition at Care2 to ensure games like this are no longer produced! Just a few seconds and you'll make a huge difference!

ACT NOW!

Badass Feminists - Madeleine Albright

2009-03-13T15:14:00.009-04:00

"There is a special place in hell for women who don't help other women."

- Madeleine Albright , Former U.S. Secretary of State,Comment at the discussion session of A Powerful Noise Event on March 5th.

Priceless.

As the first woman Secretary of State under Bill Clinton's administration (who was unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate 99-0! No big deal!) she is as badass as a feminist as they come!

Thank you Ms. Albright - I couldn't agree more!

Good News for Sexually Active College Students

2009-03-13T14:46:00.002-04:00

President Obama has signed a provision in the budget bill that offers incentives to drug makers to offer discount for birth control pills at college health clinics!

This is fabulous news for sexually active students who saw substantial spikes in prices over the last two years!

Planned Parenthood Federation of America president Cecile Richards called the legislation "a victory for women's health and especially for women who have struggled to afford the rising costs of basic contraception in these tough economic times."

Whether drug makers will actually offer discount is still unclear. Fingers crossed!

RapeLay - New Rape Video Game

2009-03-11T22:21:00.004-04:00

A friend recently brought a new video game called Rapelay to my attention the other day. And surprise, surprise the game is in the name. Yes, that's right. Rape. The entire purpose of the game is to rape women. The features are incredibly disturbing and what's even more disturbing is that such a game is available for the profit of others. Disgusting!

Check out more of my thoughts on Care2!

Sisterly Pride

2009-03-10T21:33:00.007-04:00

In my family the women take center stage. Being surrounded by such smart, confident, powerful women is one of the many reasons I'm a feminist and then there's the fact that my father is one of the proudest feminists I know (that doesn't hurt either).

As some of you may already know one of my gorgeous sisters has a design blog that has become quite popular. In it she combines wit and humor with her ideas of style and design and added spects of her everyday life for good measure. She can decorate a room with her eyes closed and arms tied behind her back. I on the other hand am hopeless in the area (blow up furniture anyone?)

She has often joked that when she thinks of the three of us she is reminded of a scene from one of our very favorite movies Dirty Dancing. It goes like this:

Dad: Max, our baby's going to change the world.
Max (Looking at Lisa): And what are you going to do, missy?
Baby: Oh Lisa's gonna decorate it.

Lisa = my older sister
Baby = me and my younger sister

Recently, said younger sister was featured on the Huffington Post with her first op-ed. I couldn't be prouder! Her writing is crisp and clear and she delves into a very important topic that affected us both at our alma mater Boston College.

By denying access to contraceptive resources and restricting open discussion of reproductive health, Catholic schools are putting the sexual health of a significant population of sexually active young adults in serious danger. Students have sex, even on Catholic campuses.

Go check it out yourself!

Death by Stoning in Iran - ACT NOW

2009-03-09T21:50:00.003-04:00

After celebrating International Women's Day on Sunday it was a shock to read that 8 women in Iran have been sentenced to death by stoning after being accused of adultery.

My friend Tracy over at Care2 reported on the incident after learning about it from Amnesty International.

Now, I'm not one to condone adultery but death, let alone by stoning, for committing adultery is extreme not to mention inhumane. I mean talk about cruel and unusual punishment.

Make sure you sign the petition to eradicate the law in Iran now!

Chris Brown Charged!

2009-03-05T12:54:00.002-05:00

After much speculation about what happened between pop star couple Rihanna and Chris Brown, today Brown was charged with felony counts of assault and making criminal threats.

The statement below about what "allegedly" happened is horrifying.

According to the statement: (Thanks CNN!)
"Brown was driving a vehicle with Robyn F. as the front passenger on an unknown street in Los Angeles. Robyn F. picked up Brown's cellular phone and observed a three-page text message from a woman who Brown had a previous sexual relationship with.
"A verbal argument ensued and Brown pulled the vehicle over on an unknown street, reached over Robyn F. with his right hand, opened the car door and attempted to force her out. Brown was unable to force Robyn F. out of the vehicle because she was wearing a seat belt. When he could not force her to exit, he took his right hand and shoved her head against he passenger window of the vehicle, causing an approximate one-inch raised circular contusion.
"Robyn F. turned to face Brown and he punched her in the left eye with his right hand. He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand while steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn F.'s mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.
"Brown looked at Robyn F. and stated, 'I'm going to beat the s--t out of you when we get home! You wait and see!'"
The detective said she then used her cell phone to call her personal assistant, Jennifer Rosales, who did not answer.
"Robyn F. pretended to talk to her and stated, 'I'm on my way home. Make sure the police are there when I get there.'
"After Robyn F. faked the call, Brown looked at her and stated, 'You just did the stupidest thing ever! Now I'm really going to kill you!'
"Brown resumed punching Robyn F. and she interlocked her fingers behind her head and brought her elbows forward to protect her face. She then bent over at the waist, placing her elbows and face near her lap in [an] attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches being levied upon her by Brown.
"Brown continued to punch Robyn F. on her left arm and hand, causing her to suffer a contusion on her left triceps that was approximately two inches in diameter and numerous contusions on her left hand.

"Robyn F. then attempted to send a text message to her other personal assistant, Melissa Ford. Brown snatched the cellular telephone out of her hand and threw it out of the window onto an unknown street.
"Brown continued driving and Robyn F. observed his cellular telephone sitting in his lap. She picked up the cellular telephone with her left hand and before she could make a call he placed her in a head lock with his right hand and continued to drive the vehicle with his left hand.
"Brown pulled Robyn F. close to him and bit her on her left ear. She was able to feel the vehicle swerving from right to left as Brown sped away. He stopped the vehicle in front of 333 North June Street and Robyn F. turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it.
"Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.
"She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.
"Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order."

Celebs Doing Good

2009-03-04T23:40:00.004-05:00

Today in Washington, D.C. Reese Witherspoon attended the Global Forum for Women and Justice to speak out against domestic violence.

As one of Avon's Global Ambassadors, she publicized Avon's new campaign against domestic violence that raises proceeds for the cause with the purchase of an Empowerment Pendant Necklace. For just $5 you can become part of the movement.

Last year Reese helped Avon raise $4 million in support of domestic violence programs with their Women’s Empowerment Bracelet.

For a cause that effects 1 in 3 women, this is a small price to pay for a whole lot of good. Thanks Reese!

Sterilization Discrimination?

2009-03-04T23:16:00.003-05:00

When I came across this story I was angry, upset, offended, confused ...

http://contexts.org/socimages/2009/03/02/differences-in-an-english-and-spanish-version-of-a-kaiser-pamphlet/

What do you think? Is is discrimination or was something lost in translation?

What's the matter with Texas?

2009-02-26T23:56:00.003-05:00

I’m sure happy I’m not a teen living in Texas! If I was I might think that condoms are ineffective or that I could get HIV/AIDS from tears or sweat.

Research from the Texas Freedom Network reveals that an overwhelming amount of Texas schools use “scare tactics and spread myths” instead of teaching accurate health information that students could use to protect themselves and their partners.

The results of the schools included in the sample are startling:

41% of school district’s sex education materials include factual errors
41% of errors are regarding condoms; 38.9% regarding STDs
81% of districts receive NO formal recommendations on sex ed from state-mandated local advisory councils.

This is all sorts of wrong! First, I don’t get the whole abstinence-only education thing. I mean yes in an ideal world abstinence would be, well, ideal but we don’t live in an ideal world do we? No. We don’t. And second, sex is a natural (and might I add fun!) part of life. It’s natural for teens to be curious and experiment, especially when their hormones and bodies are changing.

That is not to say that sex doesn’t have consequences. Of course it does. We all know that which is why it is so important to equip teens with information to prevent these consequences (pregnancy, STDS, HIV/AIDS). Shaming students, scaring them, or worst off, giving them wrong information isn’t going to stop them from having sex. It’s just going to create more young pregnant mothers (if anyone has a greater chance of getting pregnant accidently, it’s misinformed teens who are experimenting) and more teens carrying STDs and spreading them because they don’t know otherwise.

And guess what? I’m right! These tactics don’t work. Texas continues to have one of the nation’s highest teen pregnancy rates despite receiving more federal abstinence funding than any other state! Wasted money and lots of confused and shamed teens!

Texas – get your act together!

Pink Pantie Power in India!

2009-02-25T13:51:00.003-05:00

I'm sure many of you have heard about the pub attack on a group of Indian women back in early February. I was both horrified by what happened and empowered by the reaction of the women and wanted to help raise more awareness.

Check out what I have to say about the attacks and the campaign on Care2.

I read today that 4 more women have been attacked in Banglore in broad daylight with witnesses watching that did nothing to help the victims! Unbelievable!

Penny for MY thoughts ...

2009-02-25T00:14:00.006-05:00

Hello all! I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing weekend and a nice start to your weeks! All I can say is that I'm glad tomorrow's Wednesday!

I've recently come across some interesting articles / projects that I've been meaning to share so here we go:

1. CNN: "Men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say" - Now I'm sure many of you may have already seen this article and thought, "Well gee surprise, surprise" but I thought in case you didn't I'd share so you could at least get a chuckle at the defintion of the researchers of hostile sexism as, "a more adversarial viewpoint which includes the belief that women attempt to dominate men." And what about this gem: "This is just the first study which was focused on the idea that men of a certain age view sex as a highly desirable goal, and if you present them with a provocative woman, then that will tend to prime goal-related responses." I'm glad we've begun research on the fact that men view sex as highly desirable. I had no idea!

2. Vanity Fair: "Plastic Surgery Confidential" - It's also no surprise that many women have warped defintions of what it means to be beautiful. Thanks to our culture's fascination with thinness, many women are willing to go under the knife to attain this ideal, creating a $13 billion industry that only serves to perpetuate the strive for body perfection. This undercover piece offers great insight into the behind-the-scenes business of plastic surgery and leaves you wondering what business any of these doctors have in suggesting plastic surgery for a woman that is 27-years-old, five-foot-nine, and 120 pounds.

3. Intended Consequences: Rwandan Children Born of Rape -

Over the past 3 years photographer Jonathan Torgovnik has traveled to Rwanda to document and tell the stories of women who bore children from the rapes they endured during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. These stories are no doubt heart-wrenching and difficult to share, but ones that need a voice. Depicting them through photos will be extremely interesting and certainly create an eye opening experience for many. Bravo Mr. Torgovnik!

4. Missing Mothers - Every year 500,000 women die from pregnancy related complications that could have been avoided - That's one woman missing for every minute of every day. Unbelievable!

Check out what you can do to help!

Sorry for the scatter brain approach of this post! Just thought I'd share a collection of interesting things that I've read / are going on.

Thoughts?

Int Women's Day - March 5th

2009-02-20T00:29:00.002-05:00

What better way to celebrate International Women's Day then with a viewing of the acclaimed documentary film, A Powerful Noise.

The screening will be followed by a live town hall discussion in 450 movie theatres with:

Madeleine K. Albright
Natalie Portman
Nicholas Kristof
Christy Turlington Burns
Dr. Helene Gayle

You can submit questions to the panelists online and also view a trailed of the documentary at http://www.apowerfulnoise.org/.

Buy your tickets now! I'll be there!

I Now Pronounce you Wife and Wife

2009-02-18T00:39:00.004-05:00

All my Children (AMC) made television history this week with the first lesbian wedding on daytime TV.

Although I have to admit that I'm not a faithful viewer (OK I don't think I've ever seen an episode of AMC in my life), I think this is fantastic news and I might just tune in.

"It is a full romantic, rich relationship between Bianca and Reese, with all the complications that come from any passionate relationship and so it is fully portrayed," Susan Lucci tells ET.

It will be interesting to see how the relationship pans out post wedding. With a married same-sex female couple on the show there is a great opportunity to portray a lesbian relationship on daytime TV. And it looks like this couple also has a child so it will be an even better opportunity to portray a lesbian family on TV.

Here's a segment I found on CNN about the wedding:

Apparently, a lesbian wedding isn't the first first for AMC. They also had the first transgender character on television and first same-sex kiss on daytime television. Bravo AMC!

Here's another video I found with a longer clip of the wedding (actual wedding starts about 6:34 but only goes through one girl's vows - sorry!):

I know soap operas are a unique medium. Let's be serious, soap operas have a lot of ridiculous story lines but this is a great move and one that I hope will pave the way for the portrayal of more same-sex couples across the airways.

Bristol Palin Speaks out on Abstinence

2009-02-18T00:36:00.001-05:00

Check out more about what I have to say on Care2!

A Vagina Story

2009-02-16T21:52:00.015-05:00

I can’t think about Valentine’s Day without thinking about The Vagina Monologues. I lost my Vagina Monologues virginity my senior year of college – I know that’s pretty late for some but I’ll never forget it. I was so moved by the show’s honest and raw appeal and its ability to explore women and their bodies in such a new and exciting way. I’d never heard anything like it and I knew I wanted more.

That same year on a whim a friend and I decided to invite Eve Ensler to our college campus as our Spring Women’s Studies speaker. We knew it was a long shot, but we decided it couldn’t hurt to ask. And I’m so glad we did. Within the hour we had an email response saying Eve would love to come. I could have died.

It was an incredible speech and one of the most incredible moments in my life, especially because it opened my eyes up to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls that developed as a result of the popularity of The Vagina Monologues. The idea is so simple, but it’s impact so great and effective. Performances of The Vagina Monologues, and other plays of Eve’s, are performed in over 120 countries around the world with the proceeds going to local efforts to end violence. In over 10 years V-Day has raised over $60 million in over. Incredible.

Last year I went to New Orleans to celebrate V-Day’s 10-year anniversary. It was an amazing weekend with star-studded performances of The Vagina Monologues, slam poetry, dancing, local New Orleans musicians, speeches from world leaders, a non-violence parade through the streets of the city, and so much more! It was the most inspiring weekend of my life.

Here are some pictures of the weekend:

Here are me and my sister before entering the SuperDome - the Superlove for the weekend (notice the wind blowing in her hair - haha!).

Here is the stage in the Superlove - one of the biggest, most beautiful vaginas I have ever seen.

Second runner up for biggest / most beautiful vagina - that vagina sculptor was the entrance to the Superlove.

Marching through the streets of New Orleans with Code Pink and lots of other fabulous people!

Eve Ensler and Agnes Pareyio, the woman who opened V-Day's first Safe House for Girls in Kenya.

The stage where the star-studded performances of The Vagina Monologues took place with a huge performance of R-E-S-P-E-C-T at the very end with Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson and lots others!

So, to make a long story short I love The Vagina Monologues. I love V-Day. I love Eve Ensler. And well, I love my vagina.

What’s your vagina story?

Dad at 13!

2009-02-13T14:50:00.002-05:00

THIS IS CRAZY:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2233878.ece

More thoughts on it later (since I'm at work - bahhhhh - when will it be 5:30!?)

Does Abortion Change You?

2009-02-12T13:25:00.004-05:00

On the subway this morning on the way to work I saw an advertisement for abortionchangesyou.com

It was a picture of a somber Asia woman with the following next to her:

“I thought life would be the way it was before.”

Abortion changes you.

The word abortion had been crossed out and in its place in blue sharpie was the word MURDER in caps.

Not the way I’d like to start my day off, but there it was smack in my face. As soon as I got to work I looked up the organization and I have to say I have mixed feelings.

While on the one hand I believe it is important for women to share their personal stories about abortion (that’s why I was so excited about the Glamour article!), this site paints a picture of abortion as something that women should regret.

Each story I read talked about remorse, depression, loneliness, and needing to be forgiven, but the truth is that not all women feel this way. Many are relieved and happy with the choice they have made. This is not to say it wasn’t a difficult decision, but I think it is dangerous to portray abortion in this one sided manner.

I’ve never experienced having to decide whether or not to have an abortion, but if I did I know I wouldn’t be comforted by going to this site. I’m sure abortion changes you, or at least it could, but it’s doesn’t automatically mean a change for the worse. Many women feel they are better off having exercised their choice.

I didn’t read all the stories so I’m sure there must be some that have a different take, at least I hope, but I guess the flip side is that these women are able to openly and anonymously talk about a very difficult decision.

What do you think?

Let's Talk About ... Abortion

2009-02-12T00:28:00.003-05:00

Glamour magazine has a great article in this month's issue on abortion that is definitely worth a read.

While we often read about the political debates between the pro-life and pro-choice community in the newspapers, what is often left out of the conversation is women's personal experiences with abortion.

The reality is that 1 in 3 women will have had an abortion by the time they are 45. That's a lot of women who could offer ample advice to those going through the same thing.

What we need to do is create a platform for women to share these stories with one another to give a face to the issue and remove the culture of secrecy we have created around abortion. Hearing women's stories allows people to see the varied reasons why women have abortions and why it is so important to keep Roe v. Wade legal.

Bravo Glamour! We've got to start somewhere.

Have you ever had an abortion? Want to share you story? Please, start the conversation.

Lehman Sisters ...say what?

2009-02-11T23:57:00.003-05:00

Many people (um, everybody) are wondering why the economy took a turn for the worse. It was Wall St. bankers greedy ways that left us in this never-ending hole, but would the same have been true if there were more women financiers?

Hmm. Check out Nicholas Kristof's NY Times column to find out!

...Wall Street is one of the most male-dominated bastions in the business world; senior staff meetings resemble a urologist’s waiting room. Aside from issues of fairness, there’s evidence that the result is second-rate decision-making...

Maybe the silver lining of this dreadful economy is the doors it will open for women in the finance world.

Feeling Overwhelmed!

2009-02-11T23:45:00.004-05:00

So, I don't know about the rest of you but I've been feeling so overwhelmed lately. It seems like there are never enough hours in the day, especially when I count the hours I get to do something for me - like blog!

Work has been crazy for me and I just find myself feeling so frustrated that I can't spend more time here or over at Care2 where I'm blogging as well.

Well I've decided sleep is just going to have to wait (although I have to admit I love to sleep and I've given up coffee) so I can spend a little more me time here!

Also, my wonderful sister is going to take a look at doing a bit of a re-design to my page so if you see some changes going on in the next week or so your eyes are not deceiving you!

Ok, well if anyone can offer some advice or words of wisdom please send your thoughts my way!

Sex (I mean Sexism) Sells!

2009-02-05T09:52:00.003-05:00

I don't know how many of you may have watched the Super Bowl this past Sunday but I only tuned in during commercial breaks to check out the yearly anticipated advertisements. Boy was I unsurprised by the overuse of sexism to sell just about anything and, of course, garner the loudest laughs.

I'm not sure what it will take to put an end to this tradition of monopolizing women's bodies for the funniest and cleverest ads, but it needs to stop.

Maybe we can start by:

1). Explaining to people who mindlessly laugh along why these commercials are not funny and are actually incredibly offensive.
2). Boycotting companies with said offensive ads. They may be selling sexism, but we don't have to buy it.
3). Writing angry emails or letters to the companies themselves or networks that air their ads, demanding an end to their blatant objectification of women.

Any other ideas? I'm all ears!

For some of this year's most offensive picks check out what I have to say about on Care2

What did you think?

One step forward and one step back for women's rights

2009-02-03T01:05:00.006-05:00

I know I’m a little late on this, but I couldn’t help but do my own celebration post on President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act!! This is fantastic news and a victorious day for Lilly Ledbetter and women across the nation! Finally we are on our way to equal pay for equal work and it’s all thanks to women like Ledbetter and her "sorority sisters.” Amen! There is more work to be done, but this is a great first step in the right direction.

Check out Jump off the Bridge for a video of Obama actually signing the act! (Ah, technology!)

Unfortunately, I have some criticism for our new President as well for dropping family planning money from the economic rescue bill. I realize the economy is in shambles and we need something to be done now, but cutting family planning will not solve the problem any faster. In fact, covering family planning will only help this country save money in the long run so this move is both unfair and foolish. President Obama should not have caved in to Republican’s demands so quick, but instead been more aggressive in this matter if not for women’s sake, for the sake of our wallets.

We can’t take one step forward and one step back. President Obama, if you are going to promote women’s right’s you are going to have to be an ally for all of us – and that includes both our paychecks and bodies!

Great GGR editorial!

2009-01-27T11:32:00.002-05:00

I came across this great editorial in the LA Times this morning about the reversal of the Global Gag Rule.

Congress should make it law that this country will fund abortion services as part of its international health aid....

....We're glad to see the pendulum swing back again, and we expect this to be just a first step toward correcting years of ineffective, moralistic policies that sought to roll back reproductive rights at the expense of women's health. Access to safe and legal abortion is one of those rights; better yet, when women have ready and affordable access to contraception, abortion rates drop. The best scenario would be congressional action that positions this country for the long term to favor global health over ideological convictions.

I couldn’t agree more - health should always come before ideology! It’s a good thing we finally have a President that thinks so too.

Check it out!

Exciting News!

2009-01-27T00:19:00.007-05:00

I was recently hired as a blogger for Care2 , a social network website with approximately 9 million members that helps connect activists from around the world and offers a platform for online activism for a variety of issues (women's rights, human rights, civil rights, animal rights, environment rights, etc).

I will be blogging for the women's rights channel, of course, and would love you support. I'll be posting 2-3 days a week so please stop by and check out what I have to say whenever you have a chance. Feel free to post comments to my articles or those of others that interest you.

My first post was published last week: Check out what I have to say about the anniversary of Roe v. Wade!

Thanks in advance for your support! I was very excited to share this news with you and hope that my writing will inform and entertain you (as I hope it has here!). Care2 is a great place to meet new people and take part in the type of activism you seek out so, at the very least, go and check them out and join the community and show that you care too!

Happy Birthday Roe and GGR Reversed!

2009-01-27T00:10:00.003-05:00

What a week for reproductive rights! Just one day after blowing out the candles on Roe v. Wade’s birthday cake we now have yet another reason to celebrate – the reversal of the Global Gag Rule!

AT LAST - we finally, finally have an ally in the White House and it feels great! In just one of his first days in office Barack Obama has begun the long journey of undoing the damage of the last 8 years and women around the world have reason to celebrate!

Cecile Richard’s post on Huffington Post offers a great perspective on the impact of this important step and the more importantly, what more needs to be done and why:

“In the long term, women's health must be a priority not just in theory but in practice, and across the board. Expanding access to family planning is not only good, basic health care; it saves women's lives.”

Amen!

Let us hope that Obama will not stop here but continue to put to practice his support of women’s rights.

Back in Action

2009-01-22T19:54:00.004-05:00

Hello again friends!

After a grueling few weeks of work I'm back and what a better time for it! This week has been chock full of exciting news starting with, of course, the inauguration of our 44th President – Barack Obama (Yes We Can!). I could not be prouder to be an American and more hopeful for the future of our country. Watching the coverage on Tuesday I was awe struck by the amount of people that flocked to D.C. to be a part of this historic day. I only wish I too could have been there, but even watching the coverage from home I was overwhelmed with emotion and pride. Did anyone make it out to D.C? If so, please share your experience – I’d love to hear from you!

More good news came with the swearing in of Hilary Clinton as Secretary of State – another victory for this nation! The Senate approved her overwhelmingly with a vote of 94-2 just a day following Obama’s inauguration. Although I will miss her terribly as a New York senator I could not think of a person better equipped for this position!

And this is just the first week of a new democratically led era in American history. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. What do you want Obama to do in his first 100 days in office?

A New Year

2009-01-09T00:00:00.002-05:00

Happy 2009 everybody!!

I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and are having a fabulous start to the new year. I can say for myself that 2009 has started off with a busy bang and unfortunately I've neglected blogging (sorry!)! But rest assured that I will pick up speed again soon but in the meantime I've decided to take some time to rethink the structure and style of this blog. My intention was to spark conversation about important feminist issues and share my story as a woman living in New York City, and I'd like to think of new, fun ways to do this so stay tuned!

Bush Passes HHS Regs

2008-12-18T12:29:00.002-05:00

After thousands of objections from several medical associations and 13 attorneys general against the rule, the Bush administration today passed regulations reinforcing protections for doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions and other procedures because of religious or moral objections.

Read the AP story!

Today is not a good day for women's health!

More on my thoughts later. . .

Anti-abortion Activists Targeted

2008-12-18T00:55:00.005-05:00

Looks like the streets of NY will soon be safer - for the patients and staff of health clinics that perform abortions at least!

It looks like a bill commissioned by City Council speaker Christine Quinn which would provide protection against anti-abortion protestors has gained support and is expected to pass - possibly as soon as this week!

In a time when the Bush administration is doing its best to pass last minute regulations that would restrict access to birth control, not to mention abortion, this is fantastic news!

Check out the NYT article!

Sex & Tech

2008-12-11T22:36:00.003-05:00

A new study from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reveals that 21% of teen girls and 18% of teen boys have sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves. Among young adults (20-26) the figures are even higher – one-third of participants surveyed have posted or sent racy images of themselves and almost half have received them.

With the culture that we live in today, I’m not particularly surprised by these findings. Last year, naked pictures of High School Musical Star Vanessa Hudgens surfaced and recently Cheetah Girls star Adrienne Bailon had a similar incident. These are two celebrities that young impressionable teen girls look up to and idolize. They go to see their movies, memorize the songs they sing, shop for the clothes they wear. And now they’re taking naked pictures of themselves too – just like their favorite celebrities.

And then there is the slew of celebrities whose sex videos did little to derail their careers but instead increased their popularity and fame - think about Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian. What if teens start making their own sex videos and begin circulating them around school or posting them on youtube or facebook?

We need to teach young girls to respect their bodies and learn the consequences of their actions. If a picture or video is leaked it is with you forever. This is a hard lesson to sell when sex is everywhere in our culture - even our good old “friend” Jennifer Aniston this month graces the cover of GQ magazine with nothing on but a men’s tie around her neck (and that’s just the cover). But we need to try or we will be very, very sorry.

Check it Out

2008-12-11T21:00:00.003-05:00

I found this great article on allAfrica.com that links the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to violence against women - very interesting!

Click here to read!

The UDHR turns 60! (and I'm sick ... again!)

2008-12-11T18:27:00.004-05:00

Ok, ok so it was yesterday, but forgive me for being late. I'm sick . . . again!

60 years is a momentous anniversary, but to me it really signifies how far we have left to go before women's worth and value is really taken seriously. Take for example Article 5: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” Now let’s look at the facts:

- In the U.S. every two minutes someone is sexually assaulted;

- In the U.S. every 15 seconds a woman is battered, usually by an intimate partner;

- Globally, at least one in three women and girls are beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime.

- Fewer than half of all rapes and sexual assaults and only about half of domestic violence incidents are reported to the police.

- When factoring unreported rape cases, only one out of twenty rapists ever spend a day in jail. 19 out of 20 walk free.

How is this humane or just? Let’s hope with the election of Barack Obama that women will begin to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve as human beings.

Private Practice Tackles Abortion

2008-12-04T09:56:00.005-05:00

I know many haven given up on Grey’s Anatomy, and I was well on my way too until the re-surfacing of Denny Duquette (ok I know having the dead fiancé come back to life is a lame story line, but he’s beautiful to look at so I’m ok with it for now), but I have found a whole new love for its sister show Private Practice. This season the show has tackled a number of ethical issues and last night they did something I’ve never seen on TV before – an abortion. Ok, they didn’t show the procedure or anything, but abortion was an unfolding theme throughout the entire episode and I have to say that this sticky topic was handled beautifully on the show.

In the episode, a young woman, Renee, comes in for a termination and of course there is disagreement between the doctors as to whether their practice should perform the procedure. While I would have preferred for all the doctors to have welcomed the idea with open arms, this is not what happened and in reality this wouldn’t have happened either. Instead, the decision divided the doctors, as it divides Americans and people around the world on a daily basis. What was most interesting to me was that two of the doctors – Addison and Violet – shared that they’d had abortions in their past. Violet even expressed that she wasn’t ashamed of her choice and Addision said, “I was. I had one and I was embarrassed and scared. I was everything a woman shouldn’t be.” Right on!

The exchange between Meg, the doctor who would be performing the procedure, and Dell, the intern who was unsupportive of abortion, was also very interesting. Check out the exchange below:

Dell: “We work really hard to create babies here. We are in the business of bringing babies into this world”

Meg: “I don’t know you very well. I certainly don’t know you well enough to judge you for this but you don’t know Renee [the patient] very well yet you were quick to judge her.

Dell: “Was she raped?

Meg: “Would it matter if she was? Would that make it ok? Does that make her more or less worthy? We don’t get to know why. That is her business; that’s her choice Dell. That woman agonized over a difficult choice, made it, and came in here. I guarantee you she was already worried about people out there judging her only to have you make her feel ashamed, but we are medical professionals. It’s part of our job to support her after she has made the hardest choices imaginable.

Meg couldn’t have said it any better! Like her I’m unapologetically pro-choice too and believe it’s a woman’s choice, and no-one else’s, to decide what is best for herself and her body. On the other hand, I understand that this is not a black and white issue and I am tickled pink that Private Practice took the issue of abortion, with all it’s complexities, head on. There are not many other shows or movies that would have done the same. Bravo!

Check out the episode on abc.com!

Catch Up!

2008-12-03T00:00:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving! Unfortunately, I was under the weather most of the weekend, but of course that didn’t stop me from eating non-stop! It did, however, stop me from blogging – sorry! But I’m back and have lots of interesting things to report that may be a little out dated so forgive me!

1). It really bothers me that people often forget about adolescents when it comes to discussing reproductive rights, and dare I say it – abortion. But the fact of the matter is that teenagers have sex and sometimes make risky decisions, so when I saw this article in London’s Daily Telegraph I was extremely impressed. In turns out that in the UK, the Family Planning Association has made it a priority to look out for the rights of young women and educate them on their right to choose an abortion. The group is urging schools to show girls a film called Why Abortion? that shows a range of scenarios that tackle the issue of abortion which are then debated by Northern Ireland teens. In the U.S., women under 18 can’t even buy emergency contraception! Maybe with our new President we’ll begin to give teens more reproductive choices.

Make sure you check out this article!

2). When I went abroad my junior year of college I was afraid to go to Amsterdam. I couldn’t imagine walking through the infamous racy Red Light district with women lined up in windows on the street luring men in for peeps shows or live sex shows. Anyway, I never realized that this openness with sex could have a positive effect until I read this article in the Times (London). Now, don’t get the wrong idea – I don’t believe in the whole empowering philosophy behind women flaunting their bodies, but when it comes to talking to teens about sexuality, the Netherlands is blowing us all out of the water. In fact, they have the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the West and the lowest rates of sexually transmitted diseases among young people! Now, the UK will look to the Dutch as an example as the country tries to reduce the number of abortions.

Check out this excerpt from the article:

Next year, 12-year-old Sasha explains to me, they will learn how to put a condom on a broomstick (she says this without a trace of embarrassment, just a polite smile). Across the city, nine-year-old Marcus, who lives in a beautiful 18th-century house on a canal, has been watching a cartoon showing him how to masturbate. His sister, 11, has been writing an essay on reproduction and knows that it is legal for two consenting 12-year-olds to make love. Her favourite magazine, Girls, gives advice on techniques in bed, and her parents sometimes allow her to stay up to see a baby being born on the birthing channel.

Then there is Yuri, 16, who explains to me in perfect English that “anal sex hurts at the beginning but if you persevere it can be very pleasurable”. When I ask whether he is gay, he says “no” but he has watched a documentary on the subject with his parents.

Do any of these scenarios ring true in the U.S.? I think not!

Some other interesting findings from the article:

In the Netherlands – at secondary school sex education is formalised and children are shown how to use various types of contraceptive and how to have “safe and pleasurable sex.

In the U.S. - President Bush proposes that funding for abstinence-only programs reach $270 million by 2009.

In the Netherlands – the average teenager loses his or her virginity 17.1 years old.

In the UK – the average teenager loses his or her virginity at 16.

In the Netherlands - about 93% of young people use contraception.

In the UK – 53% of young people use contracpetion.

Seriously check out this article! It looks like being open about sex with teens works! Who knew?

3). Planned-Parenthood of Indiana is offering holiday vouchers for basic healthcare services for the network of 35 clinics across the state. The vouchers can be used for exams, insurance co-pays, medication, including birth control, and even abortions. This move has angered many pro-life folks (surprise, surprise), but I think it’s fantastic! Yay PP!

Ok well that’s all for now! Comments welcomed and encouraged!

Girl Effect

2008-11-24T23:49:00.001-05:00

A friend sent me this youtube video and I was blown away! What an amazing organization! Take a look! What do you think?

Bushisms

2008-11-19T21:59:00.002-05:00

My roommate sent this to me at work today and while it is absolutely hysterical it is also completely pathetic and embarassing - and not only for Bush but for this country! We elected this man - twice! Seriously?

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/blbushisms.htm

And that's just for 2008. There are lots and lots more. Could January 20th come any sooner?

Congrats CT!

2008-11-18T11:04:00.004-05:00

While I was away CT legalized gay marriage! YAY CT!

After the slew of anti-gay ballot initiatives passing on Election Day in California, Arizona, Florida, and Arkansas this is a hopeful move!

Massachusetts and Connecticut are now the only two states that allow gay marriage.

Who’ll be next? (New York, fingers crossed!)

Oh what a night . . .

2008-11-18T00:01:00.004-05:00

Sorry for the hiatus away. I was distracted by some other stuff going on in my life, but now I’m back.

So, the Obama victory – what are my thoughts? Well, I’m thrilled! I know people keep saying how historic it is, but it really, really is and saying that isn’t going to get old anytime soon. Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States – thank God! He will undoubtedly lead this country in a drastically different direction – far from what we’ve endured the last 8 years. And I’m not just talking about his policies; his presence in office will undoubtedly change the course of history. A Black woman in my office has little kids and she kept talking about how different her children’s lives will be. For them having a Black man in the White House won’t be something to dream about, it will be a reality. Through their eyes the whole world will be different because of this historic (there I said it again!) victory. It’s incredible.

On the flip side, one Black president doesn’t erase years and years of racism or mean we’ve reached full equality by any means, but it’s a step - an important baby step.

Yes We Can

2008-11-05T01:12:00.005-05:00

What a historic night - there are no words. I need some time to process and then I'll report back.

We did it!

For now though, I call bullsh*t on the anti-gay/lesbian ballot initiatives!

It looks like California, Arizona, and Florida's bans on gay marriage will pass as well as Arkansas' ban on gay couples adopting children.

Bullsh*t mama! Let's hope the morning will look more promising, although this is rather unlikely! Barack, it's time for the change you promised! January 20th couldn't come any sooner!

Time to ROCK THE VOTE

2008-11-03T23:13:00.004-05:00

Although I wish I were casting a vote for Hillary tomorrow, I've officially found love for Obama and am confidant that he is the best person to lead this country in a new direction. The alternative is frightening and not an option so go out and rock your vote for OBAMA!!

And if you need more convincing check out Hillary in the Daily News!

A Message to Defeat CA Prop. 4!

2008-10-28T14:13:00.003-04:00

Dear feminist activist,

We're emailing you together for the first time, because the situation is critical. Never before have all of us - leaders of the National Organization for Women (NOW) , NARAL Pro-Choice America (NARAL) , Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Feminist Majority Foundation - joined together to ask for your immediate help.

Our message is urgent. We must defeat Proposition 4 in California. Right now polls show we are down by just two points - 46-44 percent - so we can still turn it around. This draconian, deceptive so-called parental notification ballot measure will endanger teens, especially vulnerable teens. Please donate today so we can make the final push we need to win.

We have twice defeated such a measure in California. But this time, the proposal is far more dangerous and deceptive. It is reputed to be the most deceptive measure on the 2008 California ballot, and we can't let them fool the voters into hurting at-risk teens.

You can be sure that if we lose this anti-abortion measure in California, it will sweep the nation. Scared, pregnant teens who cannot go to their parents may feel forced to take matters into their own hands, seeking back-alley abortions, or even considering suicide. This law puts these vulnerable young women in danger. That's why we've joined together to ask for your help.

We must act now, before it's too late. Please join us by donating now to help us defeat Prop 4.

The Knights of Columbus just put in an additional $175,000 to pass Prop 4. We must match the Knights of Columbus and then some, to make our final ad buy for the No on Prop 4, Protect Teen Safety TV ad campaign.

Together, we can stop this dangerous ballot measure in its tracks. We're counting on you for our last crucial media buy. We don't have a moment to lose.
If we don't stand up for teen safety, who will? Please donate right now .

For Women's Lives,

Eleanor Smeal,
Feminist Majority Foundation

Kim Gandy,
National Organization for Women

Cecile Richards,
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)

Nancy Keenan,
NARAL Pro-Choice America (NARAL)

P.S. We promise every dollar will go immediately toward No on Prop 4 media ad buy. Please donate now before it's too late.

McCain-Palin Ticket will Make Criminals Out of Women

2008-10-28T10:57:00.003-04:00

There is only 1 week left until Election Day and now more than ever a woman's right to choose is in jeopardy!

Please send this video to any undecided voters or John McCain supporters that you know and re-post widely!! If we don't step up to protect women's lives who will?

From A-Z’s to the Birds & the Bees

2008-10-24T00:42:00.000-04:00

In the U.S. President Bush proposes that funding for abstinence-only programs reach $270 million by 2009 (could January come any sooner?). This is an enormous amount of taxpayer funds to support programs that have been scientifically proven ineffective. To date 16 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming) have declined funding for such programs, yet the government’s position on the issue remains the same: abstinence-only education is here to stay.

Meanwhile in the UK, the British government is bringing sex education to schools starting as soon as kindergarten! That’s right - along with learning how to read, write, and share, kindergartens in the UK will be introduced to reproduction as part of their science curriculum. Requirements as to what the lessons will specifically entail haven’t been released yet, but we do know that schools will be asked to cover age-appropriate discussions on relationships and contraception in their lesson plans. By 11 students will be taught about developing respectful relationships and how risky sexual behavior can lead to STDs and unplanned pregnancies.

I could not be more thrilled at this prospect! The sooner we begin introducing comprehensive sex education the better off we will all be! Sex is a natural part of life and everyone has a right to live a safe sexually fulfilling life at any age. This isn’t to say that I’m an advocate of kindergarteners having sex (Um no!) but I think we all too often forget that young women have the right to control their bodies and get the information necessary to make safe and healthy decisions. By remaining silent on the topic or, worse yet, delivering inaccurate information (abstinence-only programs teach that condoms don’t prevent HIV, touching someone’s genitals can cause pregnancy, having an abortion will make you infertile) we are putting young women at incredible risk. In a time when teen pregnancy rates are on the rise and the economy is in shambles, we cannot afford to waste another minute or dollar on ineffective and inaccurate abstinence-only programs.

What will it take to get government mandated comprehensive sex education in the U.S.?

For more info check out: http://www.aclu.org/reproductiverights/sexed/12604res20080612.html

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

2008-10-23T00:42:00.000-04:00

I wish I’d known sooner that October was Domestic Violence Awareness month, but it’s better late than ever.

What does Barack have to say about this issue?

"We'll stop treating this as just a woman's issue, and start recognizing that when a woman is attacked, that abuse scars not only the victim, but her loves ones, sending currents of violence that ripples across our society."

Well said. Domestic violence isn’t just a woman’s issue and we have to stop treating it that way. So many solutions are centered around what a woman can do to end violence (don’t walk home late at night alone, don’t dress slutty, don’t drink too much, etc.) when they should really be focused on what we need to do to change the culture we live in that condones this violence.

What especially angers me about domestic violence is the enormous amount of victim blaming that is centered on the wives (not that victim blaming is exclusive to domestic violence – it’s not – it’s rampant in all sorts of violence against women). People always ask, why didn’t she just leave? Well, it’s not that easy. The circumstances surrounding each situation are so complex and different and asking why someone didn’t leave is incredibly insensitive, not to mention condescending. The better question is why couldn’t she leave; what made it so difficult to leave that she risked her life by staying?

Raising awareness just one month out of the year won’t end domestic violence. We need to raise hell about this issue every single day and we need a President who will make ending violence against women a national priority.

Pro-Life Pharmacies Endanger Women's Health

2008-10-21T23:40:00.000-04:00

You’d think birth control pills and condoms would be staple pharmacy items, but it looks like this may no longer be the case – at least not in Virginia where a pharmacy opening next Tuesday in a Chantilly shopping center will carry neither, not to mention the “morning after pill,” cigarettes, or pornographic magazines.

Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy, the pharmacy in question, has declared that it will be a pro-life business that does not provide these items on the basis of morality. They also argue that birth control and condoms can endanger a woman’s health and cause abortion. As it turns out this logic is completely off base. Birth control methods actually promote health by protecting women and men from contracting STDs and HIV / AIDS and from having unplanned pregnancies that ultimately reduce the need for abortion.

Refusing to stock these essential health care items places the political agenda of the pro-life movement squarely before a woman’s right to health. NARAL Pro-Choice America’s Virginia branch has asked opponents to boycott the store saying, “Birth control is basic health care for women.”

Ain’t that the truth! A pharmacist’s job is to look after its customer’s well being - not become an obstacle to their health.

Palin no longer a feminist (was she ever?)

2008-10-21T10:45:00.000-04:00

One day she is a "role model for women," the next she is "a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America" . . .

Looks like John McCain has finally given up on his Palin feminist branding technique - not that it worked much anyway!

P.S. Someone should tell Johnny Boy (and Sarah Palin for that matter) that if it hadn't been for the "liberal feminist agenda" the possibility of a female vice presidential candidate wouldn't have even been possible.

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

2008-10-20T22:30:00.000-04:00

On Friday Jocelyne Voltaire, a Queens Village resident, was sure her luck was out. She’d lost her oldest son, a Marine, in Iraq, she was unable to pay her skyrocketing mortgage payments, and was scheduled to lose her home – a home where she raised her four children in for 20 years – that very day. As her house was being put up on an auction block, CodePink received word of her story via a video on the American News Project and Jocelyne’s story quickly changed. After sending out an urgent call to supporters, CodePink raised over $10,000 within the hour! By 11am the mortgage bankers stopped the auction with a promise of $15,000. By the end of the day 650 donors had raised over $30,000 with money still pouring in!

It is the generosity of these ordinary people that got Jocelyne back on her feet. In these hard financial times, countless people just like Jocelyne are falling victim to the crippling economy and losing their homes, not to mention their sons and daughters overseas. Unfortunately, most of these people are not as lucky as Jocelyne was and many are finding themselves with no place to turn. It’s time for the government to step in and bail out these Main Street Americans, not Wall Street!

Palin a role model for women?

2008-10-17T18:06:00.001-04:00

I wonder how this young girl felt when McCain told American that Sarah Palin is a role model for women . . .

This ad literally brought tears to my eyes and drove home one of the many reasons why Sarah Palin does not belong anywhere near the White House.

We also have a choice in who we elect in November so make the right one.

A Role Model for Women . . .

2008-10-16T00:39:00.000-04:00

Puh-lease!

When McCain said in tonight’s debate that Sarah Palin is a “role model for women” I wanted to ripe my TV off the wall! Seriously? Seriously?

Would a role model for women . . .

Force a woman to carry a fetus to term even in cases of rape or incest?
Make a woman pay for her own rape kit?
Oppose the Violence Against Women Act?
Endorse ineffective abstinence-only programs in schools?
Promote the teaching of creationism?
Oppose the Fair Pay Act?
Ban marriage between same sex couples?

Sarah Palin believes all of these things, yet still claims she is a feminist. Does anyone else see a problem here? Um, hello? She may be a woman but her policies are completely anti-woman and her rallying cries of shattering the glass ceiling are insulting and make me want to throw up! She is not a role model for women and she is not a feminist! John McCain please stop trying to fool female voters! It won’t work!

Sun, Sand . . . Digits?

2008-10-15T23:31:00.000-04:00

When I saw this story in the Daily Mail I was shocked. I realize that girls are exploring their sexuality at younger and younger ages these days, but this is an invitation for trouble. It turns out that teenage girls in Australia are turning heads at the beach by painting their phone numbers on their backs while sunbathing to meet boys.

This new trend frightens me on many levels. First of all, these girls are willingly and deliberately objectifying their bodies to attract boys in a most unsafe way. Making a billboard of your half-naked body at a public beach opens the door for anyone - boys, men, predators, rapists, etc. – to get your private contact information. This is incredibly dangerous. These girls are minors – some as young as 14 years old – who are inviting strangers to check out their body and take down their number if they like what they see. And what if your phone number gets in the hands of a predator or rapist and something goes awfully wrong and a young girls is assaulted. Will people turn around and say she deserved it? We need to stop this trend in its tracks now before more young girls are put in danger.

Condom Dresses? Yes, condom dresses.

2008-10-09T23:25:00.001-04:00

Who knew that condoms could make such fierce dresses? Maybe if teenage girls saw these they would stock up!

Halter condom dress.

Purple condom dress.

(This one's my fav!)

Rainbow condom dress.

Who knew! Imagine someone showing up to high school prom in one of these!

Which one's your fav?

Get Your Condoms!

2008-10-09T23:16:00.000-04:00

It took a so-called “pregnancy pact” and nearly 20 pregnant teens, but last night Gloucester, MA’s school board voted unanimously to allow contraceptives to be distributed in the high school’s heath center. There’s only one small catch – parental consent. And let’s face it - that can be a big catch if parents aren’t too careful. I understand not wanting your children to have sex, but if teens want to have sex they’re going to no matter what their parents tell them. Maybe having condoms at school would give parents the opportunity to have the awkward sex talk at home sooner rather than later. Why the school offered pregnancy tests, but not condoms to begin with is a mystery to me. If you’re offering pregnancy testing at school that means you suspect students are having sex. If you suspect students are having sex, why wouldn’t you offer condoms to not only avoid pregnancy in the first place but HIV and STDs too? Regardless, this is great news. Let’s hope the next trend in American high schools is not more teen mothers, but lots and lots of condoms and open and honest sex education at school and home.

Seriously?

2008-10-09T23:11:00.001-04:00

On my way home from work I saw this in big bold letters on the street:

GOD BLESS MCCAIN

I wanted to scream!

Make it Work Ladies

2008-10-08T22:00:00.000-04:00

For the first time in Project Runway history the women have come out on top! This year the ladies – Korto, Leanne, and Kenley – will rule the runway at Bryant Park to determine this season’s winner. With only one female contestant winner (Chloe, Season 2) in the past four seasons, this victory is sweet.

May the best woman win!

Shopping for Change

2008-10-08T01:14:00.000-04:00

I came across this cool new campaign while skimming through the latest Marie Clare at the gym. It’s called the Girls m.powerment campaign and it’s an initiative of mark, a network of young women who sell exclusive make-up, skin, body care, and fragrance products, as well as accessories. One of the company’s latest accessories is the “Have a Heart Necklace” whose full net proceeds will go to ending the cycle of dating abuse and violence. The necklace was designed by Lauren Conrad of MTV’s hit reality TV show the Hills.

Join the movement to empower young women everywhere now by purchasing your very own heart necklace.

The campaign is being managed by the Avon Foundation which also has campaigns for breast cancer, domestic violence, and emergency relief. (Thank you Avon!)

Vagina Warriors

2008-10-07T00:03:00.000-04:00

Registration opens today for V-Day’s 2009 campaign events! Become part of the global movement to end violence against women by staging one (or more!) of the five benefit events offered this year:

· The Vagina Monologues
· Staged readings of V-Day’s A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer
· Staged readings of Any One Of Us: Words From Prison
· Screening of V-Day’s documentary Until the Violence Stops
· Screening of What I Want My Words To Do To You

After 10 years of vagina victories - and many more ahead - it is time for you to join the movement!

Sign up TODAY

V-Day’s spotlight campaign this year will highlight the Democratic Republic of Congo and the atrocities women and girls are enduring every day. Here rape is being used as a weapon of war to torture women and girls who suffer in silence and are often left with devastating emotional damages, painful physical wounds, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. What’s worse – most perpetrators walk free. It is time for someone to stand up against this violence once and for all! Why not you?

Learn more NOW

Say It Ain't So - This is TOO GOOD!

2008-10-03T14:52:00.000-04:00

A bunch of friends forwarded the chart below to me this afternoon and I thought it hilarious enough to stop my busy day at work and post! This is just too good!

ENJOY! (I betcha will!)

For further entertainment:

And finally:

www.palinwink.com

Can I Call You Joe?

2008-10-03T00:35:00.000-04:00

Tonight, Sarah Palin revealed that she is way out of her league and quite frankly possibly the worst Vice Presidential nominee in history. As she walked out to the stage she blew a kiss out into the audience and immediately asked Senator Biden if she could call him Joe, instantly setting the down-to-earth, home town vibe that she continued to jam down our throats throughout the 90 minute debate. She repeatedly emphasized her desire to speak straight to the average American people – all the Joe six packs and hockey moms out there – although she was unable to directly or clearly answer any question asked of her. She may have filled her speech with folksy language like “darn,” “straight up,” “you betcha,” and “we’re gonna,” not to mention personal mannerism like winking at the camera (yes more than once), but her desire to talk straight to the American people was overshadowed by her over-rehearsed and robotic delivery. Her lack of experience was evident too, 5 weeks and counting, as was her ignorance, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan is David McKiernan not Gen. McClellan.

All in all it was not a good night for the Republican Party, but that doesn’t mean the race is over yet. There are still 32 days and countless undecided voters to sway, and you betcha were gonna do our darndest to get their votes!