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Feminists for Choice
Kristin McRea blogged yesterday about a new Baltimore law that will stop Crisis Pregnancy Centers from misleading women about their services. The center is anti-choice and is upset about having to be open and honest with women in an unwanted pregnancy situation, calling the law "condemning".
Hugo Swytzer
Swytzer is an Episcopal youth minister who yesterday blogged about the controversial right-religious Manhattan Declaration. This declaration is aimed at fighting against abortion and gay rights while trying to bring young Christians back to the conservative veiwpoint. Swytzer calls this "cheap" and thinks more attention should be placed on sustainability and poverty.
Shakesville
Today is World AIDs Day, and Shakesville posted part of Hillary Clinton's speech regarding the matter. In Clinton's speech she announces that discrimination of populations has resulted in less treatment and Obama's plan to repeal the "HIV entry ban".
A Radical Profeminist
This post is about a missing black girl in Blatimore. The post comments on how minority women as well as working class women are less likely to get national media attention due to misogyny, racism and classism.
The F Word
This blog in the UK, with the same name as mine, wrote a post today about victim blaming in a newspapper. The Association of Cheif Police Officers have a "rape awareness" campaign. The campaign stresses that alcohol plays a factor in many rapes, but is mainly warning the women not to become victims as opposed to warning men not to become rapists.

Ashley Troutt- Pathing the way for tolerance at UGA

According to dictionary.com, feminism is the doctrine advocating political, social and all other rights of women equal to those of men. However, because the word “women” encompasses all types of women, from a middle-class Asian to rich black lesbians, the definition of feminism must be expanded upon. Now, most feminists not only focus on the advancement of women in society, but also equality for people of all races, economic standings and sexual preferences.
Ashley Troutt, a 21-year-old junior at the University of Georgia, is founding a club dedicated to promoting tolerance for gays called Young People for Gay Rights. She is a straight white female, but sees herself as an advocate for equality. She has not yet completed registration for the club, but hopes to be fully established at the beginning of spring semester.
Troutt would not necessarily consider herself a feminist, but she agrees with the feminist doctrine. She also believes that women should be sympathetic to the cause the most because women historically have “walked in the same shoes” and should know how it feels to be ostracized or marginalized. Troutt wants to found Young People for Gay Rights so people will be more aware of the issues and become more tolerant.
“It makes me sad and embarrassed that people are so closed-minded,” said Troutt.
Troutt has three close friends that are personally affected by gay rights laws, including her best friend, Joe Beasley. Troutt and Beasley have known each other for close to seven years, and Troutt said that she has witnessed discrimination of Beasley based on his sexual preference. She said that depending on what part of town they are in, Beasley might get looks, be judged, or even be called inappropriate names.
“Joe’s a little flamboyant and out there, but he is who he is. People need to look past ‘gay’,” said Troutt.
Beasley was Troutt’s inspiration for the foundation of Young People for Gay Rights, but she also thinks her parents have helped shape her into the person she is today. Troutt says her parents are tolerant people whose actions, throughout her childhood, spoke louder than words. Her parents are open-minded and try their best not to show any racism or judgment towards people they meet. Troutt believes that the biggest problem fueling homophobia is parents passing on their anti-gay feelings to their children. She thinks that the club will help create awareness and spread tolerance. Troutt knows it will be hard to change the minds of older generations, but thinks the club will make the biggest impact with young people at the university and hopefully break the cycle of discrimination.
Troutt hopes to have 30 to 50 new members by the end of the 2010 school year. She is optimistic about the future of Young People for Gay Rights and is not too worried about being a minority in her beliefs. Troutt understands that her biggest opponent is people with negative views towards gays and gay rights.
“You have to convince people that they are wrong. It’s just hard when the majority feels a certain way,” said Troutt.

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Reclusive Leftist
Today, the Reclusive Leftist posted a post comparing Sarah Palin to the infamous Andrew Jackson. She comments on Palin's appeal to the working class and her womanly appeal. She is excited about a women becoming such a force in the political world, but compares it to watching a woman become head of the mafia.
Stilleto Revolt
Morgan Elizabeth commented today on the new book by Leslie Sanchez, You've Come A Long Way, Maybe. The book highlights Sarah Palin, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton throughout the 2008 election, revealing sexism and patronization.
Echidne of the Snakes
Echidne discusses in today's post the "elephant in the room", there are no women elected to the U.S. Senate from the state of Massachusetts and there has yet to be a woman as president. She thinks that social heirarchy is anchored at the top, and in order to initiate change, women need to be in power.
Reappropriate
The Asian American feminist writing this blog wrote a post commenting on Lincoln University's fitness requirements. The college requires all students with a BMI over 30 to take a special class three times a week. She thinks this is pointing a finger at overweight students and BMI is not even a good measurement of health.
Confabulous
A post on Confabulous last week talks about the Canadian Women's Foundation. The foundation has been around for almost twenty years and focuses on women in poverty, violence against women and young girls' self esteem.
Feministe
This self-proclaimed "scary feminist" posted on the gendering of non-gender specific items in the marketplace, such as "Man-size" tissues from Kleenex. She describes her reaction to the product, as well as other bloggers' reactions to similar marketing of other products.
Feministing
This post discusses ABC's decision last week to cancel Adam Lambert's interview on Good Morning America after he kissed another man during the Aerican Music Awards. ABC claims they canceled because Lambert showed he was unpredictable on live television, but Feministing thinks otherwise. She also comments on ABC moving Chris Brown's interview to a better time slot.
Appetite for Equal Rights
This post responds to Paul Elam's article in Men's News Daily entitled "The Myth of Women's Oppression". Elam claims that because women have not be physically abused throughout history (what about rape, gentital cutting, domestic violence, etc.?) that they have not been oppressed.
Economic Woman
This post discusses an interview with Michelle Masse about gender and higher education. She talks about women, PhDs and pregnancy for instructors.
Womenstake
This blog highlights an ESPN segment on a pregnant athlete in high school. The post has a clip from the segment and discusses Title IX and discrimination against pregnant athletes.

Interesting Posts

Alas, a blog
This post blasts Fox's new show Glee for the stereotyping of a fat black women and a kid in a wheelchair. The post was in the blog's archives, but is still frequently viewed and for good reason. The author has some valid points and many people have posted comments in opposition.
Stuff white people do
This post comments on the Amazon best seller, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. The novel is NOT recommended to give as a Christmas gift for its false racial dynamics as written by a white author.
WIMN's Voices
In this post, one of WIMN's bloggers comments on how ageism and sexism can work into health plans. She looks at the mammography debate and health care for women is developed.
Two women blogging
Today's post on Two Women Blogging was about sexist paintings in a recently visited restaurant. All of the paintings had a naked woman in a cocktail glass, with a garnish replacing her head. Sexism at its best.
I blame the patriarchy
The most recent post on this blog highlights a woman's attemp in Australia to implement anti-violence-against-women training in public schools. The Australian Family Association spokesperson, John Morrissey, does not approve of the proposed class and thinks it is feminist propoganda.

Black Friday

Once a year, people get up at the wee hours of the morning and head out to the stores to get the best deals of the year. Black Friday. Last night I drove by Best Buy at 10 p.m. and people were wrapped around the building in tents waiting for the store to open at 5 a.m. Toys R Us opened at midnight and had three squad cars on the scene. Fifteen extra police officers were placed in high traffic areas around Augusta, Ga. Tighter security was placed at Wal-Marts across the country, and police were earging people to be safe and patient. Black Friday is the day for mad consumerism. What led to all of the chaos and frenzy? Women will knock over other women to get to the toy aisle, and I have even seen men pushing their way around the store. I have been keeping an eye on the news websites, and hopefully all of the extra security has paid off today. I haven't seen any stories on Black Friday fights yet on my local sight and nothing has occured as tragic as the fatal shooting last year at a Southern California Toys R Us. The lines were long and traffic was in a jam, but I think peace prevailed. "'Tis the season to be happy and safe," said Lt. Pearson in an article for the Augusta Chronicle.

Native Americans and Thanksgiving

Yesterday was Turkey Day! I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and something caught my eye. It was the Onieda Indian Nation Iriquois Dancers. They were doing a creation dance. Native Americans were oppressed by the Pilgrims, yet these Native Americans were joining us in the celebration of "the first Thanksgiving". It is taught in elementary schools that everyone got along so great, and the Native Americans taught the starving Pilgrims how to fish and plant maize, but really there was a lot of bloodshed. I guess the Native Americans are putting the animosity of our ancestors aside and joining in the national holiday. At the end of their performance, they even wished peace for all.

A Few Good Blogs

Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog
This is a blog where FAQ's about feminism are asked and answered. It is a little hard to navigate through, but it has a lot of good background information on what feminism is.

blogher
Blogher is a blog with many authors writing about news and politics. It is a for women/by women forum for news in all topics from general feminism to sports.

Appetite for Equal Rights
This blog is "a blog for the modern feminist". It does not just focus on women's advancement in society (or lack there of) but also other marginalized groups. It has posts about political and news topics as well as how pop culture is shaping society's views.

Jump off the Bridge
This blog is a personal blog by a passionate feminist. She comments on news and culture that effects her daily life. Occasionally there will be a post about the books she wants to read or her baking skills, but there are some interesting and thought provoking posts as well.