EqualityQuilt

Carolyn Reviews "Juno"

The feminist movie review prize goes to Carolyn Kolovitz, known to EQ as a leader of the Girls Coalition & a Girl Scouts staffer.  Thanks Carolyn!   

My Review of Juno

When a couple kissing on the big screen no longer ignites the gag reflex in my daughter, I will no doubt Netflix Juno for us to watch together.  The lead character is a strong, sensitive, intelligent young woman.  The message can be summed up as “When life gets complicated, trust your own instincts.  When things, or people, turn out to be different then how they first appeared, trust your own instincts.  When you have a tough decision to make, seek any guidance you need, but in the end, trust your own instincts.”  The dialogue, especially in the first half of the movie, can be annoying (home skillet?  pork swords?), but all in all, this is definitely a movie that a feminist can proudly recommend.

I like how the awkwardness of teen romance is realistically portrayed, and the

Our Stellar Sponsors

Here is the final list of the wonderful people and organizations who contributed to make the Celebration 28 event possible and accessible to all.  You can click on the image to see it better.  The Seneca Falls Society gifts make a big difference to the Consortium all year long.  I often picture these donors -- as well as all those who help by presenting workshops, relaying information, sharing their wisdom -- as an invisible army joining hands with the Consortium staff and board.  Thank you, thank you!  - Bonnie

Program for Celebration 28

Here's the program for our 28th anniversary party set for January 31, 6:30PM to 8:30PM.   Admission (if there's still room - write me to see how we're doing) is $45 at the door or "pay your age."   You will get a better view if you click on the image.  Or, you may click here  to download the four-page program.  To glimpse the ambiance from last year, check out the C27 photo album on the  right side of the blog.   

Happy 35th Birthday Roe v. Wade!

Migdalia Loyola-Melendez of Planned Parenthood spoke in the series of talks sponsored by the Women's Center of St. Cloud State University, celebrating the 30 years of activism since the National Women's Meeting in Houston, Texas, in 1977.  Click below to hear her!  Migdalia is director of community initiatives in Planned Parenthood's  education and outreach department for the three-state area (Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota).  She is also a leader with the Asociacion de la Mujer Latina de Minnesota, and the Consortium was honored to have her among the distinguished young women panelists at the November 1977 Women's Dreams Conference.  We will soon be publishing the report from that conference.  Write me to order a copy of the 25-page document for $8, and check the Consortium website "Publications" button for info on other materials useful for changing the world.   - Bonnie

Women's Ways of Leadership

Dr. Mai Moua made this presentation as part of the series, "Still Fighting for Our Rights 30 Years Later," at St Cloud State University Women's Center recently.  I know Mai draws from her doctoral thesis, in which she asked women who define themselves as bicultural what leadership means to them.  She is super smart and connected with at least three of our member organizations - her consulting firm Leadership Paradigms,whose mission is to challenge and transform one's ways of knowing and being;   Hnub Tshiab ("A New Day") which seeks lasting cultural, institutional, and social change for Hmong women; and Professional Hmong Women Association  (nurturing the personal and professional growth of Hmong women).  Ultra-connected women, that's us!   

Anorexia and Feminist Activism

The following is excerpted from a post on Erin Matson's blog, Rad to the Max.  Erin is a recent past president of Minnesota NOW.  I found her thoughts moving and an important reminder that the personal is political - and sometimes the political is lifesaving.  - Bonnie

This is one of my favorite speeches I’ve given, ever. I gave it at a Young Women’s Writing Contest sponsored by Santa Fe NOW in April 2007...

Hi, my name is Erin and I’ve got something to say. Before I do, I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I’m 26 years old and live in Minneapolis. I’m lucky to sit on the National NOW Board of Directors as well as the Young Feminist Task Force. I was also the Minnesota NOW State President for a few years...

Ten years ago I was 17, and life was pretty good. I had great grades and great friends, a supportive family and all the other things you see on happy TV shows. But something wasn’t right. I was uncomfortable in my skin. I didn’t know why. All the boys who got the grades and recognition I did were cool. But I didn’t feel cool. I felt awkward and unfeminine. I didn’t know what to do. So I picked up a lipstick.

I’d chosen not to wear makeup a year before, and I was proud of that decision. “This is who I am,” I would say to my friends. “If someone doesn’t like me just the way I am, that’s their problem and not mine.”

But I started wearing makeup to fit in. I also started dieting, even though I looked exactly the way I do now.  It was harmless at first, switching from Doritos to apples and going for jogs on weekends. But the dieting started getting more and more intense. The apples I snacked on turned into no snacks at all, and my runs stretched longer and longer. Before I knew it I was running more than an hour a day and going for extra runs if I slipped and ate something outside of my plan. My meals shrunk smaller and smaller, and so did I.

Before I knew it, I was battling full-blown anorexia and could not stop to save my life.

The "chickosphere" on Hillary continued...

Yes, we did say that EqualityQuilt would not devote a large amount of cyberspace on the presidential elections, because EQ (like the Minnesota Women's Consortium), does not endorse candidates or specific legislation. However, Rebecca Walker wrote a post for The Huffington Post in response to Gloria Steinem's op-ed in the New York Times. Check out the articles and let us know what you think.

EqualityQuilt is a place for your voice and we want to hear what you think!

Feminist Movie Reviews Needed: Juno, Knocked Up

I just saw Juno, which my college-age friends think deserves Best Picture, and loved it.  But Allison says we have got to get a feminist review of this show about a pregnant 16 year old - throwing in thoughts about the movie Knocked Up, which the female star has sometimes thought is sexist and anti-choice and now thinks is OK.   I'm not the one to write the review as I love all movies and I'm way too good at turning off all political sensibility for that short period of sheer escapism.  (My standard:  the more explosions, the better.  Sorry.)  SO, your choice of free admission to Celebration 28 on January 31, or a free one-year subscription to the fabulous Capitol Bulletin, for the best feminist review of those two movies sent to Bonnie@mnwomen.org in the near future.  - Bonnie

The "chickosphere" on Hillary

In case you are wondering, EqualityQuilt will NOT be spending a large amount of cyberspace on the presidential elections, in part because EQ (like its mom, the Minnesota Women's Consortium), does not endorse candidates or specific legislation.  Please note tho that several member organizations of the Consortium do endorse, and you are much encouraged to click here to browse the list of "Member Groups" and check them out.

But above the fray tho EQ is, we can't ignore the excitement around a viable female candidate for the presidency, the excitement around several viable people of color also running (though  Gov. Bill Richardson has now dropped out), and the important discussion of media treatment of Clinton and her campaign.   We're reprinting here  a good summary of  discussion among feminist bloggers. Thanks to Chris Halvorson our blogging guru, for sharing it.  And please let us know what YOU think.  - Bonnie

WOMEN VOTERS & HILLARY   by Laura McKenna:

What do women voters think of Hillary Clinton? That’s the question of the moment, though it has been kicking around for some months.

The polls show that women voters in Iowa went for Obama, but in New Hampshire they voted for Hillary. Did she gain some new traction with women by misting up on the campaign trail, by seeming vulnerable, or by talking more about the economy?

It’s insane to make generalizations about American women as a whole based on the primary elections in New Hampshire. There was an 8,000 vote difference between Obama and Hillary. We have to use caution when examining the poll results in these states for clues about the nation at large. 

Instead of trying to understand the female primary voter, let’s look at women pundits and the feminist blogosphere. The chickosphere is a smaller sample than primary women voters (though not by much).

Their reaction to Hillary has also been less ambiguous and is easily Googled.

In the fall, many of the prominent feminist bloggers were supporting Edwards. The feminist bloggers are closely tied to the Netroots, the liberal wing of the blogosphere, and the Netroots were in the hot tub with Edwards....

Lesbian Rights - from St. Cloud

Next in this wonderful series from our friends at the St. Cloud State University Women's Center.  The speakers are Beth Berila, Polly Kellogg, and Angie Witte.  To view the whole list and hear other podcasts from the series, click here.   And please consider connecting with OutFront Minnesota, PFLAG (Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgendered persons), NOW (National Organization for Women-Minnesota), or Calliope Women's Chorus (all Consortium member groups working on lesbian rights).  - Bonnie

Come help us honor...

Dreamers & Doers of all generations at Celebration 28!   Join us for the program (with honorees, listed on continuation page) and please thank the generous Seneca Falls Society & other sponsors listed below.  You can still have your name listed on the program and in updates this month - just contribute online at www.mnwomen.org.  You may also host a signed Ida Wells Barnett table of 8 - $500 for Consortium member groups, $600 for others.  Click here to download the invitation shown below, or click on the images below to enlarge.   See you soon! - Bonnie