ABORTION HAPPENS, SO KEEP IT SAFE Worldwide, abortion rates compare—but where the procedure is illegal or restricted, the price is women’s safety, according to a
study released last week by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization, the New York Times reported. It found lower abortion and maternal mortality rates in areas with access to contraception and safe abortions. In this country, 92 percent of abortions are safe, while only 6 percent in Latin America and 2 percent in Africa are safe—both have anti-abortion laws. But the U.S. contributes to reproductive problems overseas by funding abstinence-only programs under the “global gag rule” reinstated by Pres. Bush in 2001.
BARBIE CREDIT CARD PLAYSET?It's too sad to be true, but it is: The Mattel Barbie play set, the Fashion Fever Shopping Boutique,
according to Feministing comes with an adult-size debit card that, once it hits a balance of zero, refills automatically so girls can keep racking up debt. The
TV commercial features a girl exclaiming, “I love shopping—you never run out of money!” as the talking cash register announces account balances. With more women in poverty than men, and women’s earnings stuck at 77 cents for every man’s dollar, the last thing girls need is romanticized debt.
LOCAL REPORT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING“The Realities of Human Trafficking in Cook County: Strategies for Ending the Exploitation of Women and Girls” is a
report released last week by the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues based on 2005 testimony from experts, including Chicago Foundation for Women. It outlines steps the Cook County Board of Commissioners can take to prevent the sexual and labor exploitation of women and girls who have been trafficked. Read the report online–flip to the end for their recommended actions, including training first responders in key county systems such as emergency rooms and law enforcement.
ARE MEN HAPPIER THAN WOMEN?Recent studies find women’s reported happiness is lower than men from young adulthood onward.
In Saturday’s Chicago Sun-Times, two women debated the issue: Is it feminism’s fault? We will let you decide--but we must say that if we were talking about a society that valued child and elder care enough to have laws, policies and compensation in place for this work that holds up society, helping make sure that women who stay home do not suffer lower Social Security payments perhaps we wouldn't be debating staying at work or working at home. Or, if we had a society that compensated women for their work on the same par as men, maybe it would all be a moot point. But again, we will let you decide.
HOUSE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMENDenouncing domestic violence, female genital mutilation, “honor” killings and other violence against women, the U.S. House of Representatives spoke out against “gender-based persecution” by unanimously passing House Resolution 32 last week,
reports Women's Policy, Inc. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) said, “No matter where one lives, and no matter what their race, religion or culture, we are all human beings who deserve the opportunity to live in dignity and free from oppression or abuse based solely on our gender.” Thank you.
A FEMINIST ROMANCEIf you are heterosexual and feminist, you’re in luck:
A new study by Rutgers University researchers says feminists in straight relationships—both men and women—report better sex lives and happier partnerships than non-feminists, according to Science Daily. Using anti-feminist stereotypes as a jumping-off point—misogynist myths of feminist women as sexually unappealing to men—the researchers concluded feminist do, indeed, have it better.