The Women of Tahrir Square PRI’s The World: “Women have long been told, by the government and even by opposition groups here, that their rights are a priority — but that economic reforms, or security concerns, or cultural considerations must come first.” How Microbicides Could Forever Change HIV For Black Women ColorLines: “This year marks 30 years since this epidemic officially began. During that time, … Continue reading This Week: Miss San Antonio Fights for her Crown & More

Women at Work: A new tally shows how few female writers appear in magazines Slate: “Women may be shattering glass ceilings, but not in the literary world.” Some of us are brave, a reflection on hip hop Feministing: “Hip hop, still, seems regarded as black boogeyman culture that perhaps on a fluke became a global billion-dollar industry.” Rep. Royce plans to push national-level version of … Continue reading This Week: Women Writers, Hip Hop, & more

Black Monsters/White Corpses: Kanye’s Racialized Gender Politics Racialicious: “I’m not surprised that no one has looked at the very specific positioning of white women in the video as opposed to black women, which dives deeply into the history and construction of black women as beast-like and fearsome, the sexualization of violence, and how the video is a win for both normalized misogyny and upholding the … Continue reading This Week: Kanye West, Healthcare, Gay Parents, & more

Year ‘was hell for us’: Will Haiti be rebuilt? MSNBC: “Despite an outpouring of solidarity for Haiti from around the world, billions of dollars of aid pledges and a huge ongoing humanitarian operation, ordinary Haitians say they are still waiting to see a positive impact in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest state.” Ban on Women In Combat Is Discriminatory, High Level Military Panel Says Huffington Post: … Continue reading This Week: Haiti still in peril, women in combat, abortion rates, & more

Black Women Win in Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ ColorLines: “A recent report by the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce found that black women often bared the brunt of the military’s harsh standard of secrecy. ” Strained States Turning to Laws to Curb Labor Unions New York Times: “State officials from both parties are wrestling with ways to curb the salaries and pensions of … Continue reading This Week: Black women and DADT, being an ally, & more

Stigma and Violence Against Transgender Sex Workers RH Reality Check: “Doubly stigmatised as transsexuals and as sex workers, pushed into street work, they become victims of abuse and violence perpetrated by bystanders, customers, their own ‘sisters,’ and (sadly) even by those who should be protecting them – the police.” 21 Companies That Have Excluded Women From Leadership Huffington Post: “The figures are outrageous and point … Continue reading This Week: Georgia prison rebellion, possible HIV cure, & more

A New Nursing Home Population: The Young NPR: “Over the past 20 years, federal laws and policies have established a civil right to get long-term care at home. But NPR’s investigation found that is only sporadically enforced.” Obama Signs Bill to Pay Black and Native Farmers—Finally! ColorLines: “The signing of this bill will provide $1.5 billion to settle claims with black farmers and $3.4 billion … Continue reading This Week: When sexual assault matters & more

“He Needed a Girl, and He Snatched Me Up” American Prospect: “It’s not just the exclusive all-male, all-white clubs or obvious hate-speech but the kind of casual privilege that lets an older, white man touch a younger, black female in a sexual way, and that dictates her continued politeness in the face of such an obvious invasion.” Art and Activism Come Together to Make DREAM … Continue reading This Week: The Racial Politics of Personal Space, Defending the Secession, & more

Paycheck Fairness Dies in the Senate The Nation: “Women fell two votes short on Wednesday to coming closer to getting paid the same as men for the same work. Senate Republicans decided that equal pay for women should not even be considered, as they blocked the Paycheck Fairness Act from moving to the floor.” Prison Economics Help Drive Arizona Immigration Law NPR: “That’s because prison … Continue reading This Week: Racism & Rush Limbaugh, Paycheck Fairness & more

‘I Had An Abortion,’ in 140 Characters or Less: An Exchange With Steph Harold and Aspen Baker The Nation: “The Nation invited the two women to engage in a dialogue about #ihadanabortion, the value of telling abortion stories publicly, and the risks and rewards of online consciousness-raising.“ Treason to Whiteness is Loyalty to Humanity: In Defense of Tim Wise AlterNet: “To some–the sickest and most … Continue reading This Week: Race traitors, consciousness raising, & more