EqualityQuilt

Buzzworthy - Time to Play Catch-up, Y'all.

Hello avid readers,

I know I've been a little tardy with the Friday Buzzworthy posts.  If you're like me, you don't have much time during the week to keep up on all the local and national news.  So I've wrangled up some of the most buzzworthy headlines of the week for your reading convenience.  Some are infuriating, some are inspiring.  But they're all worth a quick read - and you'll have something to chat about next time you get caught in a watercooler huddle, or an awkward dinner party.  

 

Ready?  Here we go:

 

Trayvon Martin's death is an LGBT issue, and here's why.  

In kind-of related news, a young man in North Minneapolis was shot to death Monday night for his bike.  While delivering a plate of lasagna to a home-bound neighbor.  My grandma says "don't hate the gun, hate the shooter."  Know what I say?  That's what those guys said, till they shot somebody.  PS - Minnesota almost just had it's own "Shoot First" bill pass - thanks to Gov. Dayton, we dodged that bullet last week.  This time.

Hillary Clinton rules the school.  She's so cool she made a meme about herself.  Mind - officially blown.

Teen pregnancy is at an all-time low.  But wait! Surprise!  It's still pretty common in states that still enforce archaic, denial-steeped abstinence-only sex ed policies.

Too much of a good thing? 1/4 mammomograms may be "overdiagnosing" breast cancer.  Yikes!

 

 

Don't get too comfy over there - the War on Women is totally still happening.  Especially in Arizona.

Democratic political commentator Hilary Rosen made the "mistake" of revealing GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's wife Ann's lack of work-force experience on TV the other night.  

 

While everything she said is pretty much true, her indiscretion is causing an uproar evocative of the "Mommy Wars" of the '80s and '90s.  My two cents?  There's a huge difference between being an average American mom and being a wealthy white politician's wife who has the privilege of not having to worry about providing an income for her family.

PS - If the work of stay-at-home-moms is so valuable to you (like it is to me), how 'bout you legislate it?

Ashley Judd spoke out on TV and in the press after being slammed by the media for having a "puffy face" - striking up speculation that she'd either gained weight (oh noes!) or had "work done" (mind yer own beeswax, anyway).  

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

 

Here's the fantabulous essay she wrote for The Daily Beast speaking out against the cultural attitudes toward women that make our bodies the object of constant public ridicule.  Read more about what kind of an impact this role model's action this week is having on women here.

 

That's gonna wrap it up from the MWC this afternoon.  I'm gonna go get my Friday on.  Be safe and super-smart this weekend, folks.

-Trisha

Buzzworthy

Hey folks!  It's Friday and that means it's time to catch up on headlines you might have missed this week.

• In case you hadn't heard, American women's reproductive rights are under attack.
• On a brighter note, a school is actually getting smart about preventing teen pregnancies and STIs by providing free condoms to students!
• We found out that the Komen Foundation/Planned Parenthood debacle was the result of pressure from the Catholic Church.  Shocking!
• Oh hay, Duchess of Cornwall.  Good to know you're on our team.
• A new report from the Guttmacher Institute found that over 50% of American women live in states that are "hostile" to their reproductive rights.  Dang, America.
• Texas just can't abide Planned Parenthood, so they gave up on Women's health altogether.
• The Women in the World Summit happened.

 

In other news, Hillary Clinton:

 

Have a great weekend, y'all!

-Trisha

Friday Highlights: What You Might Have Missed This Week

"Pregnancy Centers Come Under Fire for Abortion Info"

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota released a report this week which chronicled the types of information given to women who seek help at crisis pregnancy centers. Get the full story from the Star Tribune.

"Birth Control for Men?"

Ms. Magazine's blog takes another look at what new birth control methods developed for men might look like. For the full story see the Ms. Magazine Blog.

"Duluth Joins Campaign to Defeat the Marriage Amendment"

The Duluth City Council just announced they voted to formally oppose the Marriage Amendment which will appear on the ballot in November. Check out MNUnited.org or the Duluth News Tribune for more information.

"Taboos Undercut Nepal's Marital Rape Law"

Some women in Nepal are trying to figure out how to handle marital rape and domestic violence. Get the full story at WomensENews.org.

"Pittsburgh's Milk Truck Breaks for Nursing Moms"

A new organization is blooming in Pittsburgh. Figure out why it might soon be easier to breastfeed on the streets from WomensENews.

Buzzworthy

S&P downgraded the US credit rating for the first time in history.

If you’ve been busy watching the markets, here’s what you missed in other news:

1. Should we drop the f-bomb?
2. The Super (Man) Committee and Congress
3. Poverty-driven riots in London have turn violent
4. Unfortunately, you still won’t be able to Google Maps “the End of Patriarchy”
5. Reductions in spending for families and elderly are outlined as MN budget gets fleshed out by the legislature.  Stats show that women are more affected by cuts in the programs that are on the chopping block.
6. Fringe Festival is coming to a close… and tomorrow is your last chance to see the solo feminist show that “rastles” with womanhood

 

Buzzworthy

Haven't quite kept up with the news this week? Here's what you missed while you were away:

1. NOW (the National Organization for Women) announces there is not enough female voice in negotiations on debt in the US
2. In the wake of Norwegian tragedy, Feministing explores feminist grief
3. Looks like the continuing recession is still affecting women more than men…
4. The late Amy Winehouse gave a deeper view of a woman in her music than her bubble gum contemporaries

 

Buzzworthy

Here's what you missed if you've been on overdrive in this heatwave:

1. Cuts in foreign aid proposed by the House Foreign Relations Committee would reinstate the Global Gag Rule.
2. The stomping grounds of many great writers past, Granta –the litererary magazine of Cambridge University—covers the F-word.
3. Our own Senator Franken takes on Focus on the Family rep in DOMA proceedings.
4. The effect of climate change on girls is damaging and far reaching.
5. Representative West (R-FL) let’s his colleague know what he thinks is unladylike of his colleague.
6. Could birth control soon be covered for all?
7. MN state government is up and running, but it’s unclear what exactly will be the effect on women that use the many social programs that have seen cuts with the new budget deal. The deal delays $700 million of payments to schools, which will affect some member groups and could impact programs for girls throughout the state.
8. Got offensive advertising?
   
   

 

Buzzworthy

It’s been a wild week at the Consortium, but now that we have successfully completed yet another Annual Meeting, we’ve spent some time brushing up on our current events.

1. Girls geeked out for Google: a step for young women interested in the sciences.
2. Betty Ford passed away this week, leaving a legacy of the feminist FLOTUS.
3. On to the next: The US Women’s World Cup Team goes head to head with Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup Final on Sunday, July 15 at 1:00 PM CST.
4. Women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, so new studies on prevention could be great news for women around the world.
5. The YWCA International Women’s Summit was held in Zurich, Switzerland, this week, where female world leaders focused on “Creating a Safe World” for women and girls.
6.  Court rulings in the last few weeks show the importance of allies of all types in defending reproductive rights.
7. Is it really a surprise to see a gender gap in specific careers? Looks like foreign policy experts are lacking a woman’s touch just like other industries.

Buzzworthy

Did the state accidentally shut down your twitter along with all of its websites?

Don’t worry, here’s what you missed this week:

1. Casey Anthony was found not guilty of the murder of her daughter.
2. Athletes in the 2011 Women’s World Cup are more than just Sugar and Sporty Spice.
3. One small step for womankind.
4. Connecticut passed a transgender non-discrimination bill.
5. Investigations in the Heart of India examine the scary side of child gender preference.
6. Though peace isn’t guaranteed, activists are hopeful for status of women in what will be the world’s newest country this weekend: South Sudan.

Buzz

It’s been quite the week here in Minnesota. Between a government shutdown and weather that makes us all melt, here’s what you may have missed for women in the news…

1. Map highlights disparities in men’s ad women’s health RIGHT HERE in Minnesota. 
2. Big victory for marriage equality: New York becomes the largest state to allow gay marriage!
   And NYTimes dedicates face time to same-sex couples’ announcements on “State of the Unions.”
3. Forbes announces the “Top 100 Websites for Women 2011” to keep us all connected with the happenings of our movement.
4. Norway claims that working women are the key to Scandinavian prosperity.
5. What’s life without a little risqué? Slut walks sweep the nation.
6. Christine LaGarde (France) becomes the first woman to head the International Monetary Fund.
7. Monday was National HIV/AIDS Testing Day. Studies show that some communities are still far more affected than others here in the US.
8. Still following Strauss-Kahn in his proceedings on sexual assault of a hotel staffer in NYC? His newest bogus defense against the accusations: “She’s a liar.”

 

Buzz

Been busy this week? Having a hard time keeping up with the ways of the world?

Don’t worry!

We’re starting a new feature on Equality Quilt to keep you posted on what has been happening for women around the world.

1. Minneapolis, MN - Keith Ellison channels his feminist side
2. Washington, DC – The Supreme Court denied women the right come together in a class action suit on workplace discrimination
3. Cuts in Federal funding pull the plug on several MN Planned Parenthood locations
4. St. Paul, MN – Non-profits around the state brace themselves for potential government shutdown
5. New York, NY – The drama of Dominique Strauss-Kahn (and impact on international sex crime accusations) rolls on
6. Washington, DC – The ERA bill makes a comeback
7. Saudi Arabia –  Saudi women get behind the wheel 
8. Washington, DC - The GOP brought women into the spotlight with Michele Bachman and other pro-Woman congresswomen
9. USA – What the health is happening to female life expectancy?
10. Minneapolis, MN - It’s not just Ke$ha seeing glitter on the floor