grandma was a suffragette

a week in feminism

1. A terribly nice pro-feminism man called Barack Obama started his new job this week. This made lots of people very happy. The Guardian's Viv Groskop profiles some of the key women in the Obama administration.


2. Diva editor Jane Czyzselska wrote a very awesome piece for the Guardian about why Harvey Milk would be happy about civil partnerships and how it isn't a crime to conform if you're queer.


3. The Fawcett Society's director (and GWaS' personal heroine), Dr Katherine Rake has been shortlisted for the Women in Public Life awards. I want to be her when I grow up.


4. Londonist reported on the 'mega-brothels' that will allegedly spring up when we host the Olympics. Louise Livesey has a very well thought-out post at The F Word blog here.


5. Feminist Fightback wrote a response to Cath Elliot's accusations of their colluding with pimps and traffickers. In the interests of full disclosure, I have campaigned with FF a number of times and once stood next to Cath Elliot at a pro-choice protest. I'm still working on exactly where I stand on this one, so expect debate, ramblings and questions to be popping up on here sometime soon.


6. A nurse in New Mexico who has accidentally-on-purpose been removing women's IUDs without their permission is finally being sued. She claims that "they accidentally come out when I tug." Um...so stop tugging?


7. The Daily Mail's Jan Moir claims that "There's never been a worse time to be a girl." Because FGM is still practised in many countries? Because the media and the judiciary still have a problem believing that 'no means no'? Apparently it's the fault of "computers or crop tops or clubbing on a Friday night." Better stick to partying on school nights, then...


8. Apparently there is a "man shortage" if you're forty-plus. In a rather convoluted way, this is apparently the fault of the economy.

Woman of the Week: Elizabeth Alexander, poet, who read at the Presidential inauguration this week. She was a recent discovery for me, and I'm glad I made it.

posted by Kaite @ 1:16 PM