From the monthly archives:

February 2009

Arizona Legislature Considers Numerous Abortion Restrictions

by Cara February 28, 2009

Just as anti-choice, time-wasting nonsense gets cleared up in South Dakota, we find ourselves some more in Arizona.  Indeed, as Miriam and Ann note, anti-choicers seem to be going pretty wild all over the nation. This particular piece of ugly Arizona legislation would impose a whole ton of restrictions: Legislation to impose the first new [...]

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Let Us Pity the Poor Rapist

by Cara February 27, 2009

Via Hoyden About Town comes the story of New Zealand rugby player Jake Paringatai, who committed an act of sexual violence against a woman in at a social function.  Of course, as seems to always happen when a perpetrator is a famous sports star, rape apologism from both the media and the courts has ensued, [...]

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Jim Beam Ad Remakes Even Worse Than Originals

by Cara February 26, 2009

You might have seen the extremely offensive and sexist Australian Jim Beam ad series last year at Hoyden About Town. The Neighbours shows naked women sunbathing outside in their backyard, with men peeping on them.  The Girlfriend shows a doormat of a woman explaining how she likes when men neglect her.  The Tragedy shows a [...]

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Rape Is Cheaper Than Bullets

by Cara February 25, 2009

Yesterday, I came across this new UK ad campaign by Amnesty International, called Rape Is Cheaper Than Bullets.   It’s apparently intended to bring attention to the use of rape as a weapon of war around the globe: This morning I received a text message from a friend who was on her way to work. It [...]

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Hundreds of Adult Sex Workers Arrested in “Child Prostitution” Stings

by Cara February 24, 2009

I love how this headline at CNN reads “Operation Frees Dozens of Child Prostitutes” rather than “Over 500 Prostitutes Arrested Under Guise of Saving Children.” In the three-day operation, which began Thursday night, the FBI, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, took the 46 girls and one boy — all of them U.S. [...]

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Domestic Violence Rates Soar in Turkey

by Cara February 23, 2009

A new report has come out showing that, as in most places, domestic violence is a serious problem in Turkey. But not only are rates of intimate partner violence in Turkey significantly higher than in the U.S., where statistics are already terrifyingly high, women in Turkey are also seemingly significantly less likely to seek help: [...]

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Sexual Violence in Italy Used to Support Racist Immigration Policies

by Cara February 21, 2009

Last month, I wrote a post about how Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made statements which heavily implied a belief that women are raped not because certain men have a desire for control over women, or feel that they deserve permanent access to women’s bodies, but because women are so good looking.  Even worse than [...]

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Yes Means Yes LiveChat at Feministe

by Cara February 20, 2009

I will be participating in a livechat today at Feministe at 3PM EST to discuss the anthology about sexual violence called Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape. The chat will be moderated by Feministe blogger Rachel, and also feature YMY contributors Toni Amato, Hanne Blank, Heather Corrina, and [...]

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Muslim Women Fight For Rights Using Islam

by Cara February 19, 2009

The NY Times recently ran an article that is, if not exactly news (because it’s about something that has been going on for some time), nonetheless interesting and important. On the issue of Muslim women using Islam to make feminist arguments, they write: Ms. Anwar argues that the edict, issued late last year by the [...]

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Happy Birthday, Yoko!

by Cara February 18, 2009

And many more! Thanks to a fab feminist for all that she has done, how she has persevered in all that she has been put up against, and all of the beautiful work that she continues to do.  We love you, Yoko! Image is Yoko Ono at her 75th birthday party from last year, with [...]

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