feminist blogs in english

First Woman President of Chile Score Points on Gender Front – IPS News
Malaysia Canes Women for Adultery – AWID
Honoring Dr. Mildred Hanson – Physicians for Reproductive Choice & Health
Did the US Military Spy on Planned Parenthood? – AlterNet
Rachel Maddow on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – Pam’s House Blend

...along with men.

I have always believed that if given a chance to truly follow our own initiative, instincts and learning from our life experiences, we women could make tremendous progress in correcting all sorts of inequality in the world.

Here is a website and book that illustrate just that.

I heard about this movement on, of all shows, The Colbert Report.  We happen to be big fans of Steven Colbert, one of the premier satirists of our time, but his interview with Sheryl WuDunn about the work she and Nicholas Kristof have been doing to change the way we see activism was truly enlightening.

I am looking forward to reading this book.  While women in the United States do have it better than most in the developing world, we still have a problem with being undervalued.  We see it in our education system, in commerce with the lack of pay parity with men and in the area of health care and child care.  Women in our country have so many advantages yet we still have so many women, children and families in poverty.  Just take a look at these statistics on hunger and poverty from Feeding America:

"In 2007, households that were more likely to experience food insecurity were households with children (15.8%), households with children headed by single women (30.2 percent) or single men (18 percent), households with incomes below the poverty line (37.7 percent), Black non-Hispanic households (22.2 percent) and Hispanic households (20.1 percent)."

We all need to do more about this.  Everywhere.  This website and book share alot of information to point the way.

Posted by Kate Tinnan, WRC Volunteer

I came across a central figure of a Venezuela indigenous religion (a mix of African and Catholic religions– similar to Santería) called María Lionza, in a fictional book that I just finished that takes place in Venezuela called The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos (by Margaret Mascarenhas). María Lionza is known as the mestiza goddess [...]

Oh, man. I LOVE me some Hillary Clinton. We’re talking full on girl crush here. In fact, Hillary Clinton is the reason I’m a feminist. Back in 1995 she spoke at the Beijing Women’s Conference and I was so inspired by her proclamation that “women’s rights are human rights.” I know now that she wasn’t the first person to say that, but when I was 15, I thought that Hillary was a rockstar for saying it. I still do. Which is why I’ve assuaged my disappointment over her not being the President with the consolation that we’ve got a women’s rights advocate serving as Secretary of State.

Yesterday I swooned as I watched Hillary on “Meet the Press.” I liked hearing her remarks about foreign policy topics, but it was her discussion of women and leadership that really made me perk up my ears.

I agree – it will take the right woman to become president. Hillary certainly has what it takes, in my opinion, to lead the nation. But she obviously doesn’t intend to make another run for it in 2012. I think it would be a joke to see someone like Sarah Palin in the White House. It takes more than a vagina to make a person qualified to be the first woman president. We need a president who is going to strongly support women’s rights, including the right to control one’s body, and we need a president who will be a good role model for young women. I don’t think that women are inherently peaceful and nurturing – just look at Margaret Thatcher. But I do think that women are socialized to be less aggressive than men. This can only be a good thing. For too long this country’s foreign policy has been based on brinksmanship, deterrence, and pissing contests. It’s time to shift our priorities and start addressing domestic issues, like health care and education, instead of spending all our money on the latest weaponry.

Hillary might be counting herself out of the presidential race in 2012. But I don’t think that women are down for the count. What’s your opinion? Do you think we’ll see another strong woman candidate for president in 2012? If so, what would make her the right woman for the job?

more about “Real Woman vs. Real Big Company“, posted with vodpod

More coverage of Dr. Vandana Shiva by Democracy Now! Vandana Shiva on Farmer Suicides, the U.S.-India Nuclear Deal, Wal-Mart in India and More Shared via AddThis

She was only 13 when her father died. She was her mother's main companion until the latter's death when she was 28. Nevertheless, she earned a Bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in Psychology. And out of that generic preparation, she would create a career in corporate communications and marketing.

After a few years as a copywriter and in public relations for nonprofits, she opened her own public relations and marketing business at the age of 28. In a competitive market in Charlotte, where there are a number of large agencies established and still opening, she has had a successful business for 24 years. She even received the Public Relations Society of America/Charlotte Chapter Infinity Award for lifetime achievement in 2002.

I admire her for having the courage and persistence to attempt all of this on her own. She is my little sister, Dorothy Waterfill Trotter.

--submitted by Betty Waterfill Stone, WRC Board member

Posted by Kate Tinnan, WRC Volunteer

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 3, 2009


WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, 2009
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

With passion and courage, women have taught us that when we band together to advocate for our highest ideals, we can advance our common well-being and
strengthen the fabric of our Nation. Each year during Women's History Month, we remember and celebrate women from all walks of life who have shaped this
great Nation. This year, in accordance with the theme, "Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet," we pay particular tribute to the efforts of women in preserving and protecting the environment for present and future generations.

Ellen Swallow Richards is known to have been the first woman in the United States to be accepted at a scientific school. She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1873 and went on to become a prominent chemist. In 1887, she conducted a survey of water quality in Massachusetts. This study, the first of its kind in America, led to the Nation's first state water-quality standards.

Women have also taken the lead throughout our history in preserving our natural environment. In 1900, Maria Sanford led the Minnesota Federation of Women's Groups in their efforts to protect forestland near the Mississippi River, which eventually became the Chippewa National Forest, the first Congressionally mandated national forest. Marjory Stoneman Douglas dedicated
her life to protecting and restoring the Florida Everglades. Her book, The Everglades: Rivers of Grass, published in 1947, led to the preservation of the Everglades as a National Park. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1993.

Rachel Carson brought even greater attention to the environment by exposing the dangers of certain pesticides to the environment and to human health. Her landmark 1962 book, Silent Spring, was fiercely criticized for its unconventional perspective. As early as 1963, however, President Kennedy acknowledged its importance and appointed a panel to investigate the book's
findings. Silent Spring has emerged as a seminal work in environmental studies. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 1980.

Grace Thorpe, another leading environmental advocate, also connected environmental protection with human well-being by emphasizing the vulnerability of certain populations to environmental hazards. In 1992, she launched a successful campaign to organize Native Americans to oppose the storage of nuclear waste on their reservations, which she said contradicted Native American principles of stewardship of the earth. She also proposed
that Americans invest in alternative energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar power, and wind power.

These women helped protect our environment and our people while challenging the status quo and breaking social barriers. Their achievements inspired generations of American women and men not only to save our planet, but also to overcome obstacles and pursue their interests and talents. They join a long and proud history of American women leaders, and this month we honor
the contributions of all women to our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as Women's History Month. I call upon all our citizens to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the history, accomplishments, and contributions of American women.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.


BARACK OBAMA

The most influential African American woman in my life is my mom, Frances Willette Goode Dula. My mom, known by those in our community as Willette Dula was born and grew up during the Great Depression. She and her...

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