tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22032019651642116892011-07-28T12:26:40.452-05:00Please don't stand still, we must continue to ask questions, seek truths, love ourselves and others...even if this means finding out negative, uncomfortable notions. As one quote states,"Don't lose hope; when it gets darkest, the stars come out."Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comBlogger1221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-8066233980796822642009-11-12T09:18:00.000-05:002009-11-12T09:19:02.442-05:00

Black t-shirt peeled over my head and on to the floor.White and silver athletic shorts pulled down across my thighs and onto the floor.Bike riders abs barely noticeable in the stained glass window reflection.Lavendar sports bra holding my body tight like a second skin tuggedover my strong neck and on to the floor.You ok with this?Yes.Are you?Yes.I will turn my eyes.No. Don't make it uncomfortable

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-82655436734280461102009-11-09T10:47:00.002-05:002009-11-09T11:00:49.147-05:00

Great article, especially because it is In the NYT, which is important because principles and parents and youth and queer folks and straight folks may absorb this mainstream news coverage. I only wish that the writer would have focused more on gender fluidity where the binary is challenged. Here we see that, again, roles in these folks lives are cycling through male and female personas; an, often

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-17148192710035295822009-10-06T15:15:00.001-05:002009-10-06T15:16:44.995-05:00

If you were leaving home to start a new life, what would you take with you?-Collaboration-Splendid Isolation-Communication-Participation-Face Time-Love Monster

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-24363844921806093012009-09-20T22:46:00.001-05:002009-09-20T22:50:51.469-05:00

All of this commotion in my head, but the silence bumps into the isolation outside of my lips. I open my mouth – ready to kiss, to scream, to lick, to feel, to whisper - out rolls a tiny bee – wet with saliva – look how beautiful it glistens on its wings. It pollinates my soul, and allows my being to flower, or maybe de-flower. Like a plant waiting for the reciprocal importance of carbon and

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-55133247600823440802009-08-16T11:22:00.003-05:002009-08-16T11:25:56.031-05:00

Green, orange and purple paint cover the soles of my Chucks, and the soul of my being. Thirteen weeks of design, direction, community, youth, art, love. Breathing it in, soaking it up, adoring the pulsating energy of the way it moves across the concrete and fills in space that is both metaphoric and tangible. I woke up this morning and drank soy-filled coffee and danced to music

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-14337430972929465742009-04-09T07:59:00.000-05:002009-04-09T08:00:14.488-05:00

Shampoo. Rinse. Condition. Rinse. Blowdry. Curl. Pull it back. Use a headband. Clip bangs to the left. Clip bangs to the right. Hide behind it. Flaunt around it. Chop it, I said. But, you will look like a boy. I won’t look like a boy; I will look like me with short hair. She struggled. I struggled. I paid and then repaid and finally paid again to own my own clippers.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-47738201192306313472009-03-27T11:17:00.003-05:002009-03-27T11:31:19.364-05:00

A new report states that queer families are living with less than their hetero counterparts. It is estimated that:One in five children living in a same-sex household is poor compared to one in 10 for children in opposite-sex married families.Nationally, 24 percent of lesbians and bisexual women are poor compared to 19 percent of heterosexual women.15 percent of gay and bisexual men nationally are

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-75648103081536392582009-02-22T18:34:00.001-05:002009-02-22T18:37:00.233-05:00

Recently it seems that gender has been the underpinning of many conversations. The concept of gender, and the need to mark the irrelevance of a binary that is not based on realities for so much of the population, is simply too hard for people to wrap their brains around. The other night, for example, I was at a talk about transgender individuals and a person in the audience was attempting to pick

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-59190167539585083072009-01-30T09:16:00.003-05:002009-01-30T09:27:10.906-05:00

On Masculine Females, as described by Leslie Feinberg in "Transliberation," an anthology of thoughts collected about gender identification.The term masculine female elicits many responses in me. The book written by Feinberg seems to want to eliminate the idea of the binary, but what this term seems to do is perpetuate them - or does it? Meaning, perhaps it's only my thoughts that draw up a curvy

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-26381570288530143052008-12-13T15:11:00.002-05:002008-12-13T15:18:01.663-05:00

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I walked under the radar and the suited professional asked me to move off to the side – apparently gel and hair “smoothing milk” are considered weapons against humanity when taking a flight on an airplane. As he rummaged through my flannels and chuck tailors, he made small talk about how he works out to avoid having, “no offense, boobs;” because it's simply not

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-10779581635776016072008-11-05T12:01:00.001-05:002008-11-05T17:38:49.841-05:00

The world was presented with a historic moment last night: Barack Obama was elected to be the 44th president of the United States. As he stood on a Chicago stage, messages of hope and change dribbled from his mouth. Around me, at the LGBT Community Center in New York City, messages of equality and openness and willingness to adjust frames of mind dribbled from the hundreds of folks who sat and

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-6655677346878579822008-10-20T22:41:00.004-05:002008-10-21T21:51:52.923-05:00

It’s nothing really. It’s just mineral and proteins strung together to create a tangible strand. Hair. We all got it – some more than others, and I was in this category of flowing tresses – tied up, braided, pushed to the side with a clip, pulled back in a ponytail under a hat…the list goes on. A couple of weeks ago I cut it off. It was a Friday night; I just got off work and was walking to a

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-73189471024336754702008-10-07T18:14:00.003-05:002008-10-07T18:33:51.482-05:00

A group of cohorts and I are working on creating an all-gender restroom at Columbia University's School of Social Work, where I am in my second year of graduate school. Of the 11 floors, there are no multi-stall, all-gender restroom where people can feel safe. Some may argue that the single stall facilities should be adequate enough, but how marginalizing is it to have to hide one's self away if

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-64441738186861925802008-09-20T21:22:00.001-05:002008-09-20T21:33:18.413-05:00

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-832916669460478462008-09-06T09:39:00.002-05:002008-09-06T09:45:43.863-05:00

What does it really mean to act like a man, or to act like a woman? Are we constantly adopting to gender expectations that society places upon our bodies, voice, mannerism, clothing and relational connections, or is it an innate persona that shines through based on the anatomy that we have between our legs. For most, it is that reasoning. For others, the binary is blasted out of the water through

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-31968662882607576242008-07-27T19:36:00.004-05:002008-07-28T07:05:31.536-05:00

There have been an interesting string of events that have taken place since I ditched the razor. Well, I guess I didn’t ditch it completely; I just stopped using it above my hipbone. It started with a dare, of sorts. I should start from the beginning.It was a sunny morning in the Midwest, and I lay on my friend’s backyard hammock. The breeze was just light enough to keep my sweat from dripping,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-19963433786686965882008-06-28T08:50:00.004-05:002008-06-28T09:09:09.351-05:00

Facebook is adding a new layer to its identifiers: a gender portion of the profile. The idea is that the mini-feeds and news-feeds will now appropriately describe the users movements. Meaning, instead of saying, "Jane Doe tagged themselves in a photo," it will now say "Jane Doe tagged herself in a photo."And while this may be practical for searching or organizing, Facebook creators understand

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-3819091181156027072008-06-08T15:17:00.003-05:002008-06-08T15:43:06.490-05:00

Joining a dozen other states, New York's powers-that-be agreed with gender identity advocates in the recognition of the necessity for an anti-discrimination bill for folks who fall outside of the gender binary. The GENDA bill will pose as the legislative leg for folks to stand on if they are discriminated against when applying for employment, housing, credit lines and public accommodations,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-48970652642275316752008-06-06T10:00:00.002-05:002008-06-06T10:17:42.218-05:00

This is a great example of how news pundits perpetuate sexism via slams against women who are governmental representatives, journalists, authors, and the like. And while much of these comments were made on Fox, a station that is notorious for being, um, less than politically correct, tears of frustration, anger, fear and overwhelming sadness crept up while watching this. Knowing that women are

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-70347287863360038602008-05-25T13:20:00.003-05:002008-05-25T13:23:49.164-05:00

It's getting a little tiring to hear of people who are homophobic bigots, and it's also tiring to hear of people who think these bigots don’t exist. With the turn of the tide in California, where gay folks can now be legally married, a slew of pundits have risen to the surface. Much of it is so gross that I just stare at the videos and try not to cry. How much work we have, but what message do we

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-74892100389487904832008-05-22T09:42:00.005-05:002008-05-25T13:11:32.015-05:00

Sex and the City Star Cynthia Nixon, who plays Miranda on the show, was recently interviewed in the New York Times. Not only was the title of the interview unnerving ("Chick Crit"), the questions surrounding Nixon's relationship with a woman were equally offensive; I mean how many f'd up perpetuations about same-sex couples having to assimulate to heteronormative standards can they fit in to one

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-24123000278908433712008-05-22T09:02:00.003-05:002008-05-22T09:13:15.308-05:00

Perhaps kids watch to much television these days, but one has to question whether or not it is truly a mind-numbing activity; and decide how many stereotypes are perpetuated daily. A recent study found that while many girls watching cartoons, the lead characters in the shows are males, 2 to 1, which effects both girls and boy viewers because the characters punch up the expected norms that society

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-72427766966492290692008-04-08T13:22:00.007-05:002008-04-08T13:43:52.751-05:00

The View is not a show regularly tuned in to my radar, but it was on today at work and I caught a moment about the latest media craze: a trans man who is pregnant. With the exception of View co-host Whoopie Goldberg, the panel made the hairs on my arms stand up.One View member, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, said [paraphrase warning...] that "if the parents are confused, then the child will be confused."

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-72729465170475373842008-04-08T12:31:00.002-05:002008-04-08T12:53:42.859-05:00

Labels and their perpetuations are a constant theme that should continue to be looked at through the lens of equality, social justice and advocacy. The perceived definition of a person or their identification appears to get in the way of resource allocation and coping mechanisms. Some of those labels are perpetuated in religion institutions. As discussed in previous writings, the idea of dual

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-12117457805383146682008-03-25T11:42:00.004-05:002008-03-25T17:14:08.415-05:00

On Sunday I had the pleasure of attending a performance of Spring Awakening, a musical adaptation from a book written in the early 1900s. The plot stems from a place and time when sexual prowlness was taboo, disgusted and made out to be an unnatural desire. Young people going through puberty sang and danced to the beat of their lustful hearts, while the adults scolded them for being, um, human.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-60181421603087893972008-03-10T22:08:00.002-05:002008-03-10T22:14:39.709-05:00

My Working With LGBT class put LGBT folks in to the social work perspective: the idea that an individual resides within their social, political and familial environments. Looking at the specifics of “Violence in gay and lesbian relationships,” the title of Christopher Alexander’s article, 25 to 50 percent of same-sex relationships have incidence of domestic violence, yet society is not

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-10781782323229783292008-03-02T21:24:00.004-05:002008-03-02T21:42:58.830-05:00

The Occasional Rufus, a blog I read often, recently posted a piece about Larry King -- the young boy who was shot and killed in California because of his gender identification and sexual orientation -- in which he stated that politicians should not make statements on how they feel about hate crimes:Do we really need candidates for any office to say this is wrong? Other than a select few nut-jobs

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-26732153099615635462008-02-17T21:53:00.003-05:002008-02-17T22:00:40.331-05:00

A teenager in California was killed because the student not only came out to classmates, but also wore clothing and jewelry that was simply unacceptable to those who want boys to boys, and girls to be girls. Since the horrific shooting, many pundits have spoken about the need to implement sound laws that will put these attackers in their place. And while I believe in consequence, I also think we

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-38387454805181130772008-02-17T21:28:00.003-05:002008-02-17T21:47:14.930-05:00

(Assignment completed for my Working With LGBT Clients Class):I love “masculine” women. The walk, the talk, the dress, the personality. All of it. Mainly this attraction stems not from the traditional male role, but rather from the brevity one must endure as they do such things as taking the clippers to their head. In our patriarchal world women are meant to be calm, pretty, mothering, straight,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-84712741225197573432008-02-15T17:46:00.002-05:002008-02-15T17:50:00.016-05:00

(This is a useful tool to show the other side of the coin...because LGBT folks are still being asked these type of questions:)1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality? 2. When and how did you decide you were a heterosexual? 3. Is it possible that your heterosexuality is just a phase that you may grow out of? 4. Is it possible that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-27141482453670889872008-02-10T10:32:00.000-05:002008-02-10T10:38:31.352-05:00

The who, what, where, when and why’s of the coming-out process is incredibly intense. It is different for each and every person. For some it may happen at a young age; other people may not utter a word until they are elderly, and still others may never really come out at all. No matter how it happens, a recent slew of articles for my Working With LGBT Clients class point out the sort of

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-3114257350435114572008-01-22T08:13:00.001-05:002008-01-22T08:24:22.630-05:00

The New York Times published a seriously disturbing article and photo essay about female genital mutilation. The top three reasons to control women (however, the folks backing the procedure see these as benefits) by physically cutting off a part of their labia:“One, it will stabilize her libido.“Two, it will make a woman look more beautiful in the eyes of her husband.""And three, it will balance

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-17301787288785132352008-01-14T14:44:00.000-05:002008-01-14T15:15:06.255-05:00

LEGAL AID FOR LGBT MARYLANDERSIn a world where LGBT folks have extremely limited legal rights, and those who are further marginalized because of their socioeconomic status, Maryland is making huge strides by opening up a pro bono legal clinic to ease some of the burden of partner breakups, homelessness due to family abandonment, custody and foster care issues and more.THE OSTRACIZATION CONTINUES

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-44908077015787688592008-01-14T13:11:00.000-05:002008-01-14T13:17:25.123-05:00

Novelist Isabel Allende talks about writing, women, passion, feminism at TED2007, which stand for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and is a conference that brings together people from those three worlds.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-30687486103548660142008-01-13T22:01:00.001-05:002008-01-13T22:01:14.662-05:00

I have not seen the movie Juno, but this New York Times writer takes an interesting perspective on teenage pregnancy. Well, maybe not all that interesting, but it certainly puts up a few bars on reality. The author of the piece makes a good point that choosing to go forward with a pregnancy or not, and later deciding if adoption is a viable option or not, is not an easy thing to do:“As any woman

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-59175358294973795352007-12-31T15:27:00.000-05:002008-01-01T11:19:39.495-05:00

This article kinda irks me. On the one hand we see that the writer is making a point about men and women friendships that can be platonic; an idea that is often brushed to the side. Meaning, our world is often set up dichotomously – men hang with men, and women hang with women. But this friendship is different; they are two genders that get along well, have good conversation, and yet, don’t want

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-59736465822701834092007-12-21T21:02:00.000-05:002007-12-21T21:19:31.525-05:00

It’s Ladies Night, and that means those who society deems a lady get to waltz in to a bar (often for free), sit down at a stool and order greatly reduced drinks. One has to wonder why these types of specials happen. Is it that the patriarch is finally realizing that women work damn hard and deserve alcohol in cheap quantity? Or is it because bars want to exude their finest chivalry by allowing

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-18595507677736276572007-12-20T11:46:00.000-05:002007-12-20T12:19:32.353-05:00

We are a country made up of both science and religion, of which the two sides are often in contradiction. And while the powers-that-be contend that spiritual and faith-based beliefs are kept out of policy, many would argue that it has indeed permeated into the fabric of institutions, legislation and moral codes. And while religious folks essentially believe a story that has no real PROOF,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-64874706455083838672007-12-17T10:05:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:09:50.184-05:00

The Tila Tequila show is pushing societal boundaries, as it pushes sexuality, and the freedom of being fluid in to the mainstream. It is like other dating shows where there are handfuls of folks vying for the love of a partner – in this case 16 men and 16 women who are seeking the affection of Tila, a woman who says she came out to the world via the TV program. Discussion and articles about the

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-54326046192586914102007-12-11T21:23:00.000-05:002007-12-11T21:29:11.096-05:00

I don't generally put my own thoughts here, but after seeing the "Things We Want" the other night at a small theater in midtown, (directed by Ethan Hawke and starring awesome actors from "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Station Agent"), I wanted to write:Ah, the quest for happiness. What is it? What does it feel like? Who does it feel like? Am I constantly in a state of change; ready to seek out

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-60159330371304769892007-12-10T10:08:00.000-05:002007-12-10T10:14:55.608-05:00

Man Finally Put In Charge Of Struggling Feminist Movement.onion_embed {background: rgb(256, 256, 256) !important;border: 4px solid rgb(65, 160, 65);border-width: 4px 0 1px 0;margin: 10px 30px !important;padding: 5px;overflow: hidden !important;zoom: 1;}.onion_embed img {border: 0 !important;}.onion_embed a {display: inline;}.onion_embed a.img {float: left !important;margin: 0 5px 0 0 !important;

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-4465515210424110732007-12-03T11:22:00.000-05:002007-12-03T11:33:25.379-05:00

Bullying can be a major road block for any kid, and thankfully some states are now taking punishment to a new level by drafting and enacting anti-bullying legislation. And while there are many reasons specific kids are targeted, i.e. race or class, of particular concern are young LGBTQ students because thier identification may often be compounded by the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-32813133055648260512007-11-19T08:25:00.000-05:002007-11-19T08:28:54.651-05:00

Am I woman if my hair is longAm I not a woman if I don’t do anything with it Am I woman if I shave all hair off my bodyAm I not a woman if I wear no makeupAm I woman if I carefully trim my nailsAm I not a woman if I wash with no fragranceAm I woman if I worry about what I eatAm I not a woman if I lift weightsAm I a woman if I wear thong pantiesAm I not a woman if I wear athletic socksAm I a woman

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-13497209181235412002007-11-07T09:43:00.000-05:002007-11-07T09:57:47.664-05:00

An interesting question was recently posed via email in regards to a new song/video by a mainstream artist:Have you heard the song by Ray Lavender, 'My girl has a girlfriend?' Its a pretty track about how he says his girl has a girlfriend and its ok because having two girlfriends is better than having no friends so if she calls her girlfriend he's going to show here how he do what he do. Anyway I

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-2076164231209569892007-11-06T15:37:00.000-05:002007-11-06T15:39:33.742-05:00

A new research study shows that men are having orgasms two and a half times the rate of women, thereby broadening the gender-gap debate to a new level: the bedroom. First, one has to consider the ways in which patriarchy has seeped in to this phenomenon. Orgasms may not be be purely physical -- and if a woman is not comfortable in her body, in her intellect or feel second class because this is

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-39957515373346626532007-10-26T07:06:00.000-05:002007-10-26T07:07:02.326-05:00

Ok. I’m not a mom. But while I don’t know the feeling of having a child running around my legs, I do know that “letting myself” go would be an unfair accusation – however this article points out a step-by-step guide to making sure that post-labor mommies are looking good…and by that I mean wearing hot camo pants.There are so many things wrong with this list.First off, it speaks only to those who

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-89043267257909654202007-10-26T06:31:00.000-05:002007-11-05T16:11:59.302-05:00

The Inmate Sex Change Prevention law DENIES transgender inmates from accessing hormones, etc, which are required to maintain their identity. Prisons can deny inmates these drugs, but as three transgender people state in a federal case against the corrections system, “stopping their treatments would be a form of cruel and unusual punishment, and would violate their right to equal protection under

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-28505590754461549262007-10-09T06:55:00.000-05:002007-10-09T07:01:54.272-05:00

Here we again. Just as we are rounding out Bush’s term, we see that his administration is pushing their conservative, heterosexual agenda. This time, on kids.A new television ad tells young people that they are worth it if they wait to have sex, but like this article points out, it never reminds kids that they are STILL “worth it” if they do engage in sexual activities. In fact, because this

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-22502551733751915702007-10-06T14:57:00.000-05:002007-10-06T15:05:06.852-05:00

Quick update on the ENDA, a legislative bill that ensures discrimination is not happening at the work place:A decision to remove gender identification from the amendments was made, and the bill is now only focusing on sexual orientation marginalization. For obvious reasons groups around the country are in uproar. To only recognize one is unfair, and there does not seem to be a point to removing

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-64988175575026640212007-10-02T06:49:00.000-05:002007-11-05T11:27:44.430-05:00

UPDATE. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIRECTED TO A SERIES OF BOOKS THAT MS. RICH HAS COAUTHORED ABOUT THE SINGULAR INCLUSION OF BIOLOGICALLY-BORN WOMEN IN THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT. SHE HAS FOUGHT (AND IS APPARENTLY STILL FIGHTING) THE TRANSGENDER POPULATION, AS SHE IS OPPOSED TO THEIR VOICE IN THE REALM OF FEMINIST JUSTICE. I CANNOT SUPPORT SUCH HATRED -- ESPECIALLY FROM SOMEONE WHO NEGATES ALL HER WORK BY

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-54924068401236137222007-09-29T20:19:00.000-05:002007-09-30T02:38:15.302-05:00

For the past 33 years proponents of a bill– created to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers – have been trying to get it passed in to legislation, but to no avail. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act was created to stop discrimination based on sexual orientation, as well as gender identification, and instead, push employers to hire and fire based on merit alone. Unlike other

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-49065706735389202082007-09-15T18:43:00.000-05:002007-09-15T19:21:45.584-05:00

Some notes from Bell Hooks' handy feminism guide, "Feminism is Everybody:"- Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression.-In this country, feminists are made, not born, just as demur, mold-fitting women, are.-The big problem with combating sexism is the FALSE idea that it is all about men-haters. Rather, the truth is that sexism permeates all of us.- The "enemy within"

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-41636054628874178642007-09-12T09:25:00.000-05:002007-09-12T09:34:37.195-05:00

When will the body image self-loathing end? I mean, will it? As much as I say that I am comfortable with my body, I still find myself feeling guilty for eating something fattening, or when I miss a day at the gym. As a feminist, I think I surprise myself when I find myself worrying about these stereotypical ideals that women think about. Is it my fault though? For every one person that says it’s

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-75277399661171295802007-09-09T09:12:00.000-05:002007-09-09T09:29:26.862-05:00

So life in NYC is exciting. There are tons of things to do, a variety of people to do things with, and access to culture all around. Yet, close-minded folks still abound.Friday night a group of us went out for drinks, and found ourselves in a trendy martini bar on the lower west side. Beautiful outfits surrounded me, fancy people talking about fancy things, while sipping their cosmos. Not my

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-43090429553840279542007-09-03T08:19:00.000-05:002007-09-03T08:20:20.820-05:00

Finally, the gears are a changin’. In a recent report, docs are saying that maybe vaginal rejuvenation is not the best form of cosmetic surgery a woman can opt for. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said “the procedures are not medically necessary and are not guaranteed to be safe as there is little known about their potential complications, such as infection, altered

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-89725855117631565922007-08-20T22:06:00.000-05:002007-08-20T22:33:25.527-05:00

In a very interesting study, researchers found that while most men benefit from marriage in terms of health, many women are often silenced, experience irritable bowel syndrome, and are depressed.This is not new news, as many folks say that marriage is often pushed in this country because it is good for both the man, and the capitalist machine: when men come home from work they get a good meal,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-35593646614022596012007-08-19T05:20:00.000-05:002007-08-19T05:26:02.150-05:00

I am here to begin my master of social work program at Columbia University, and it is taking me a bit to get settled, and back in to my regular agenda, so please be patient on the (lack of) posts.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-72230457222636412482007-08-12T13:07:00.000-05:002007-08-12T13:22:42.692-05:00

A report out today about the second young woman in the last couple of months who have died due to complications arising from banned female circumcision surgeries. The procedure, which many refer to as female genital mutilation, usually involves the removal of the clitoris and other parts of female genitalia. Advocates say it tames a girl's sexual desire and maintains her honor. Opponents say

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-79014559208287885982007-08-09T07:41:00.000-05:002007-08-09T08:04:51.278-05:00

It's summertime, and for many that may mean vacations, relaxation and golf. This year's outing can be spruced up with the help of some [warning...this is annoying] good-looking ladies: If you're a golfer then you know that lugging around those clubs can be a pain. Thankfully the caddy thing caught on. Well now this concept is being taken to a whole new level. Allow us to introduce... the "Caddy

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-41391957992171316442007-08-07T08:14:00.000-05:002007-08-07T08:41:48.994-05:00

Here is an interview with a writer who is making attempts to smash some of the stereotypes between the sexes. In many ways, Robert Dubac, who created the theatrical performance, "Male Intellect: An Oxymoron", is admired because he first attempts to find some of the differences, and then he applies this to life lessons: he basically says that when men admire the idea of putting "a few notches on

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-37985930819042835512007-08-06T21:04:00.000-05:002007-08-06T21:21:58.328-05:00

Glen Beck wants a journalist to pose nude:Please educate our younger sisters...Why do people keep mixing feminists up with folks fighting against equality? It's not about one being more anything than the other -- no real feminist would say that ONLY men are aggresive, oppressive, violent, etc. This video, which focuses on women-only fighting (and I am sure they could have found just as many

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-37389824849678718682007-08-01T21:05:00.000-05:002007-08-01T21:30:50.807-05:00

There has been a lot of coverage about Hillary Clinton's choice of wardrobe. She decided to wear a v-neck shirt on the Senate floor, and was thus, exploited by a Washington Post columnist because she has (gasp!) female anatomy. In fact, this line really sticks out in Robin Givhan's article, and really pisses me off: "There wasn't an unseemly amount of cleavage showing, but there it was.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-38360055005971526122007-08-01T20:44:00.000-05:002007-08-01T21:44:17.441-05:00

In the words of Johnny Knoxville, "He explained: "I don't like it when girls do disgusting things. They should leave that stuff to the guys." Whatever dude. I guess he has not been surfing the numerous feminist sites that are angry that comic book superwomen have not been getting their due process (in fact old school characters, such as SuperGirl, have been stripped down and sexed up). There is,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-85593893760466623922007-07-30T15:51:00.000-05:002007-08-01T21:46:15.940-05:00

Hmmm. It is unbelievable that an unborn fetus has more respect and humanity than a walking, conscious woman. If you askme, those same pro-life advocates -- who are obviously religious in their reasoning -- are so caught up in the patriarchy of Christianity that they cannot even see the marginalization of women. Meaning, the religion appears to tout men as the dominators, and women as unimportant

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-76018493211739009932007-07-26T10:10:00.000-05:002007-08-02T23:13:46.054-05:00

A bit of a news roundup:A radio show in California gave Aerosmith tickets away to “dudes who look like a lady,” and “ladies who look like dudes.” No real problem with creating a themed contest, but I must say that one line in the news station’s coverage truly irks me, as it perpetuates a negative perspective on transgender women and men: “The freaks do not just come out at night.” More, the

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-4764084974212903172007-07-20T19:13:00.000-05:002007-07-20T19:24:42.894-05:00

Some say that my hometown (Pittsburgh) is in the mid-west, which also means that a lot of folks believe that the city is backwards or behind the times. Well, a recent article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette appears to smash that perception.The article states how all of Pittsburgh’s local TV affiliates have canned a new Trojan ad, which depicts a bar full of pigs (males), and one human woman. As a

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-17428608433415004622007-07-11T09:32:00.000-05:002007-07-11T09:35:20.665-05:00

We all live under deadlines. Lawyers have to collect evidence in time for trial, writers have to submit edits in time for publication, and rape victims have to secure their future in time before conception.However, unlike lawyers or journalists, women who have been raped – or involved in any situation where unprotected sex took place – have to jump through hoops to get the needed tools to ensure

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-59379484852254627942007-07-10T22:17:00.000-05:002007-07-10T22:23:30.718-05:00

Oh my F'n goodness.This video clips makes me ask whether folks can actually believe how utterly sexist and gross MSNBC's Mika's co-horts are? Ugh. First, they SMELLED a Paris Hilton story script (the actual paper it was printed on) -- as if the balled up tree-product was an actual woman. And as if they have any right to stick their noses on another person.Second, they say that Mika is fighting a

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-11622207947568079622007-07-08T10:46:00.000-05:002007-07-08T10:47:33.262-05:00

Yesterday I attended an orientation at Planned Parenthood, as I will embark on my volunteer journey at the downtown Pittsburgh office this upcoming Tuesday. I arrived at the intersection of Smithfield and Liberty Avenue about 10 in the morning, dressed casually, head high, and ready to meet my fellow advocates. Then I saw it.The poster was massive – I would say six by six in size. I could barely

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-48538169335581442562007-07-03T08:25:00.000-05:002007-07-03T09:20:51.353-05:00

I just wanted to point out the reprimandation women face in other countries as they fight for their rights. In Iran, a woman who protested the country's discriminatory laws was sentenced today to not only THREE YEARS in jail, but also TEN LASHES.In France, a woman who is "sometimes mistaken for a man," was kicked out of a restaurant after a customer complained that there was a male in the ladies

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-43499903782293237732007-06-26T08:19:00.000-05:002007-06-26T20:15:57.584-05:00

Twenty percent of women who die while they are pregnant, are murdered by their boyfriends or husbands, according to a Washington Post article, as stated on ABC News. This is a very interesting phenomenon, because while the article says these men are psychopaths, and that the women simply get in the way, this appears to be a strong example of the ways in which men still continue to not only

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-18098643017786626202007-06-20T09:05:00.000-05:002007-06-20T09:57:38.104-05:00

CareerBuilder.com composed a survey asking female employees to rate discrimination (if there was any) in their office environments, and the company found (somewhat unsurprisingly) staggering results. A quarter of those interviewed felt some sort of discrimination in the workplace -- either sexually, economically or otherwise. The numbers go up if the woman is a minority, over 50 years old, or if

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-58213726605398077392007-06-19T22:31:00.000-05:002007-06-19T22:36:41.851-05:00

This past weekend I moved between Miami and Pittsburgh, as I am staying with family for the summer before transferring to NYC, where I will begin my MSW tenure at Columbia.Because I had to pack up my life and move, the posts have been slacking. I apologize. Please don't stop visiting...I will have something up tomorrow (June 20). Thank you for the continued support.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-76484067487812243662007-06-13T18:13:00.001-05:002007-06-14T11:15:55.454-05:00

I read an interesting quote today: Marriage is a sentence, not a word. All jokes aside, I have to wonder if it is true. Personally, I am not interested in joining holy matrimony, changing my name (or hyphenating it for that matter), and becoming one with my life partner. Instead, I truly enjoy my independent self – I have had this name for all my life, and I don’t see the value in changing it –

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-66502435785269237642007-06-13T08:51:00.000-05:002007-06-13T09:16:53.962-05:00

This is just cool: In a giant leap to "bring peace, love and respect back to reggae music," three major musicians in the genre (Sizzla, Beenie Man and Capleton) have signed The Reggae Compassionate Act.Those who sign the Act must adhear to three rules of thumb:In the Reggae Compassionate Act the three singers pledge to:■ “respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-91242276141247858232007-06-12T14:07:00.000-05:002007-06-12T14:16:08.417-05:00

The Associate Press reports that Dan Rather made sexist remarks about his replacement: Katie Couric. Apparently, he believes the news – since her arrival – has been “dumbed down,” and that her appearance has “tarted up,” CBS’ Evening News.She is the first female anchor to hold this important nightly news position, and just like comments made about the possibility of a female president, it is not

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-52664144496756836602007-06-11T10:23:00.001-05:002007-06-11T10:23:40.348-05:00

A couple of nights ago a group of us were out on South Beach’s Lincoln Road, having drinks, eating, and laughing. And then, the whistling began.Lincoln Road is a closed-off-to-cars street where tables and chairs line a six-foot-wide pedestrian walkway. We were on one side – closest to the bar – and a table of four (three men and one woman) sat on the opposite side. I realized that every time I

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-32149899728806689752007-06-09T13:12:00.000-05:002007-06-09T13:26:12.919-05:00

Following yesterday's blog about sexist ads, a commenter pointed out that NPR did a piece on the way women feel about the new Camel cigarettes that are advertised toward women, or probably YOUNG women, as this sleek black and fuchsia box will be attractive to the bounds of youngsters who are reading the ads in Glamour or Cosmo. One woman at the promotional party actually said they taste better: "

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-76204835373252797632007-06-08T11:25:00.000-05:002007-06-08T11:43:04.927-05:00

This is an interesting article because Congress is trying to get the beauty-bible magazines such as Cosmopolitan to stop using cigarette ads in its magazines, as it forms an unhealthy relationship with the cancer-causing sticks. Particularly, the attempted ban is pointed at a new Camel box, which is black with teal and fuschia highlights to attract the ladies. Wow. That is some sick advertising (

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-90117966893169314182007-06-05T09:16:00.001-05:002007-06-05T10:01:19.877-05:00

Last night I finished reading Full Frontal Feminism, a book by author Jessica Valenti, 28, who founded Feministing. It is meant to be a young woman's guide to feminism, and I think she did an excellent job reigning in the younger crowd as cohorts. She does this by explaining things conversationally, as well as sprinkling cuss words in here and there, while still respecting the seriousness of

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-9261637947880288942007-06-01T09:43:00.000-05:002007-06-01T10:03:25.216-05:00

An Indian Airliner asked its flight attendants to drop any extra weight because while the carrier holds cargo, the powers-that-be do not want junk in the women's trunk. When the ladies complained, saying the qualifications were demeaning, and misogynistic, the company (and the subsequent court who ruled AGAINST the attendants) said, "I do not understand how it is any way unfair, unreasonable and

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-19998825086988233662007-05-31T10:48:00.000-05:002007-05-31T17:29:59.210-05:00

My good friend Leah Charles chatted with me on Instant Messenger about her experience as a woman in the army. She enlisted post 9/11, has served three years, and was recently married to a soldier. She is in the United States until June 18th, as she came home to recover from a surgery (unrelated to the war zone). For now, she is hanging around the Fort, doing busy work. The conversation about

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-71716868765743604672007-05-30T11:46:00.000-05:002007-05-30T12:11:12.157-05:00

The new Big Brother will begin with only women contestants; slowly men will be added to the mix. The reason? "It will be a hilarious start,' one insider tells the Daily Mirror. 'The girls' behavior will be fascinating. The first man in will be a real hunk - so the girls can flirt and fight over him.'" Yeah so tune in if you want to watch a group of ladies demoralizing each other, and being catty,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-66916644044901613912007-05-28T00:37:00.000-05:002007-05-28T01:05:15.840-05:00

This is an interesting take on a woman who made her way to the top by being aggressive and power hungry, but when she found herself in hot water, turned herself back in to a "little girl."For many, this is a grand example of the manipulative nature of women. Many will use this woman as an example for a continuance of hatred; for a perpetuation of the idea that women are not genuine or strong

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-91875156297353347532007-05-27T15:25:00.000-05:002007-05-27T15:29:34.931-05:00

An impactful video that asks hip hop artists to start respecting women. I think this is a beautiful film that reminds us that it is the everyday misogyny in seemingly small things -- i.e. videos and advertisements -- that perpetuate the hate.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-56554473793949312732007-05-27T13:20:00.000-05:002007-05-27T14:00:10.332-05:00

Men asking Men: What is a feminist. Warning, these men (and women) are (mostly) ignorant -- believing that all feminists are militant, lesbians, hate men, hate children.Bill Maher's explains his view of feminism. Personally, I hate that he equates feminism to holding men down, being the authoritarians, being overly sensitive, untruthful and ball breakers.Quite the contrary, NO feminist would kick

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-73176896861890368152007-05-25T17:13:00.000-05:002007-05-25T18:05:13.623-05:00

As if women did not have enough to worry about: the ideal is to have big, perfect breasts; be skinny; have perfect hair and teeth; no stretch marks or fat; be wrinkle free, and must please society by being ultra feminine, demure and conforming, they also need to have perfect genitals. More and more women are having surgery to make their labia more "normal." What in the world is this? Once again

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-73235210275588779512007-05-25T15:10:00.000-05:002007-05-25T17:12:36.794-05:00

Feminist icon Gloria Steinem speaks out about domestic violence, and the need to not only advocate for its victims/survivors, but that our society needs to take a good look at the ways in which gender roles play a part in the abuse.It is men who most often are perpetrators of domestic violence, she said, but this is not their fault. Men are not innately more violent creatures, as evidenced by the

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-46562129970075911972007-05-23T19:50:00.000-05:002007-05-23T20:43:49.250-05:00

Dr. Diana Blaine talks about the ideological creation of being normal, and societies DEMAND for conformity. Once one realizes that by putting labels on who or what is normal, we automatically decide who is not abnormal.She asks what/who are you PERFORMING, and who is going to benefit from NOT speaking up for those who are "not normal" (i.e. the LGBT community, women who are not mothers, couples

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-3309924480019287892007-05-22T07:55:00.000-05:002007-05-23T08:32:27.135-05:00

The International Herald Tribune explores the topic of post-abortion stress disorder, which includes the emotional roller coasters of those women who have had abortions in the last 30 years since Roe vs. Wade. It cites last month’s Supreme Court decision that banned partial birth abortions. The main reason? Because women are too emotional and unstable to make a decision about her life, or the

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-56011029185856794412007-05-19T11:58:00.000-05:002007-05-19T12:07:19.626-05:00

While I think it is a good thing that society recognizes that women no longer need to live only to procreate, new drugs to completely eliminate monthly periods seems a bit unsafe, as it goes against our natural body cycles. Then again, is the period’s natural cycle only set up to encourage pregnancy? According to this source, the number of women who have regular mammograms are dropping,

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-71890172564228820102007-05-18T10:00:00.001-05:002007-05-18T10:00:56.199-05:00

As if women need more reasons to be marginalized, one hotel is now offering women-only floors to guarantee their protections. What about in the lobby, in the taxi, at the ice machine, in the elevator. Or what about the other women on the floor who also know how to be aggressive? I mean, come one, do we really need this added level of ostracization? Instead of locking us away, why not focus on the

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-60165515775656106802007-05-17T14:43:00.000-05:002007-05-19T12:05:33.355-05:00

Women Paid Far Less Than Male Counterparts, Study Says — Especially in FloridaBy Bonnie Schindler (Miami SunPost)The typical full-time female worker does not make as much as her male counterpart in any state, according to a report issued by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, a nonprofit research organization affiliated with graduate programs in public policy and women's studies at George

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-20495913830770273252007-05-15T10:12:00.000-05:002007-05-15T10:21:50.404-05:00

Newsweek explores what it means to identify with being female or male in its cover story this week. I will say that while I think it is valuable to show the world that lines should be able to be crossed, there are points in the article that seem to perpetuate the issue. For example, the author talks about what makes things feminine (heels, makeup, dresses), and what makes things masculine (blazer

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-9502180438094609712007-05-13T09:31:00.000-05:002007-05-13T10:44:21.915-05:00

Today is Mother's Day, and I am feeling thankful for the women in my life. It started with my great-grandmother Bessie. She came to the United States from Kolomyia, Poland (now Austria) so that she could do better for herself, and her future family. Little did she know, the Nazi party would sweep through her country and assassinate her remaining family (including her mother and father), her

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-14334423784113467682007-05-11T22:22:00.000-05:002007-05-11T22:29:07.887-05:00

She graduated from Princeton and Harvard -- where she says she was surrounded by white professors, and never quite felt like she fit in -- and later moved in to a top law firm in Chicago, where she was making big bucks as the sole black female. Now, she is grappling with the decision to "opt out" of work so that she can raise her kids, and prepare for the adventure of standing next to her husband

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-5619059927333782112007-05-10T23:48:00.000-05:002007-05-10T23:57:09.387-05:00

Because this is my hometown -- and maybe representative of many blue-collared towns in the United States -- I wanted to point out that Pittsburgh women make NOT the national average of 77 cents to every dollar men make, but instead, make a mere 69 cents.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-20054145162933040782007-05-10T22:25:00.000-05:002007-05-10T22:38:32.142-05:00

This ad for whitening cream (yes, this is 2007) tells young Indian women that the only way they can get a man, be popular, and please their daddies is to be light skinned. Gross.

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-13089616060295054262007-05-10T20:13:00.000-05:002007-05-10T21:51:00.385-05:00

A gender-detecting pregnancy test tells parents-to-be which sex their baby will be. The difference between the old and new testing methods is about 14 weeks: the old ones gave results at 20 weeks (via ultrasound) and the new one gives it at the sixth week (via DNA testing). Articles highlighting the product, tell of opposers, such as the director of the Bioethics and Human Rights Program at

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2203201965164211689.post-78445649053040832512007-05-06T10:29:00.000-05:002007-05-06T10:38:19.648-05:00

Last night I watched “The Groomsmen,” an endearing film about a group of guys who get together the week before one of their best friends gets married. Like many movies, the film offers various characters to balance out the film: the partier, the serious one, the funny one, the insane one, and so one; but what this film really pulls off is something way deeper than that.In the movie the men are

Social Justice Feministhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09165193575451876967noreply@blogger.com