WIU Disability Awareness Day

Check out the schedule.

For 11/1: More Bad News on the Motherhood Penalty

It has long been recognized that women pay an economic penalty for motherhood in a way fathers do NOT. But according to the link below, which women bear the brunt of this penalty most?

Read at least the first few paragraphs in this link:
More Bad News on the Motherhood Penalty

for 11/1: “Careless talk costs lives”: On Fat Talk Free Week

Can you go a week without Fat Talk?

“Careless talk costs lives”: On Fat Talk Free Week

According to Chloe on Feministing.com, "

This week is Fat Talk Free Week, an initiative of Tri Delta sorority that in the last few years has become a national campaign. FTFW challenges participants to pledge to go one week without criticizing their, or anyone else’s body:

Fat Talk describes all of the statements made in everyday conversation that reinforce the thin ideal and contribute to women’s dissatisfaction with their bodies. Examples of fat talk may include: “I’m so fat,” “Do I look fat in this?” “I need to lose 10 pounds” and “She’s too fat to be wearing that swimsuit.” Statements that are considered fat talk don’t necessarily have to be negative; they can seem positive yet also reinforce the need to be thin – “You look great! Have you lost weight?

The idea behind FTFW is to make participants aware of how often they engage in fat talk, reinforcing, whether they mean to or not, the impossibly high beauty standards that to which women are subject, and reaffirming the disgust and discrimination that are so often directed at overweight people."

Hillary Clinton’s ‘It Gets Better’ video

Hillary Clinton’s ‘It Gets Better’ video:
The blond-haired one in purple is Hillary Clinton, supporting LGBTQ issues.

10/25: High School Cheerleader Kicked Off Squad for Refusal to Cheer for Her Rapist | Women's Rights | Change.org

High School Cheerleader Kicked Off Squad for Refusal to Cheer for Her Rapist | Women's Rights | Change.org:

Miriam, at Feministing.com says, "A high school cheerleader was kicked off her squad for refusing to shout the name of her accused rapist and basketball player. A court has defended the decision, calling her a “mouthpiece” for a school to use to “disseminate speech — namely, support for its athletic teams.” Disgusting."

By clicking the link and scrolling down, you can also sign a petition telling "Silsbee (high school) officials that this is no way to treat rape victims, and insist that they publicly issue an apology to H.S. (the cheerleader and victim of sexual assault) immediately. Furthermore, tell them to instate a policy outlining appropriate treatment of sexual assault survivors, which does not put the onus on the victim to ensure smooth interactions at the school.

for 10/25: Competitive Cheerleading Fights For Official Status : NPR

Why do you think competitive cheerleading, which often requires 12 hours of practice a week, is not considered an official sport?

Competitive Cheerleading Fights For Official Status : NPR

NPR says, "But soccer, hockey and volleyball are all approved by the NCAA, which means they also get funding under Title IX, a federal law that requires universities to distribute their money equally between the sexes. Competitive cheer is not even on the NCAA's list of "emerging sports." But it's trying to be."

U.S. Ranks Low in Female Representation

U.S. Ranks Low in Female Representation
Recommended by student Angela Peterson who says "this is embarrassing."

for 10/24: 5-Hour Energy Commercials

5-Hour Energy Commercials:
Click on this link, and then on the second commercial, the one with the woman holding a lot of groceries. What else could happen, besides only her working so hard that she needs an energy drink?

for 10/24: Privileged boys, impoverished ethics

More analysis on frat. behavior at Yale from Feministing.com and masculinity studies specialist Michael Kimmel:

Privileged boys, impoverished ethics

Quoting Michael Kimmel from the link above, "We can see the men of DKE at Yale not as a bunch of angry predators, asserting their dominance, but as a more pathetic bunch of guys who see themselves as powerless losers, trying to re-establish a sexual landscape which they feel has been thrown terribly off its axis. This is especially ironic, of course, because these straight, white, upper-class Yalie DKEs are among the most privileged 20-year-olds on the planet. And yet now they feel one-down, defensive, reduced to impotent screaming–and all because of women’s equality."

For 10/24: "Sex Talk"

In this linked comic, "Sex Talk", what does the creator, Maisha, mean by the word, "consent?"

What does the line "Can we roleplay abstinent vampires?" mean?

For 10/25: Yale Fraternity stoops to new low

Yale Fraternity stoops to new low: they marched around the Women's Freshman dorms saying, "“No means yes, yes means anal” and “My name is Jack, I’m a necrophil­iac, I f—-- dead women, and fill them with my semen.”

Appalling, but I was impressed with their apology. What I want to know from you is did they really not understand that rape is serious beforehand?

For 10/18: Essence displays photo of lesbian couple in wedding section for first time

Feministing | Young Feminists Blogging, Organizing, Kicking Ass

For 10/18: Best Country For Women? Iceland : The Two-Way : NPR

Here's the Most recent Gender Gap report. The US came in at 19--the first time it's cracked the top 20.
Best Country For Women? Iceland : The Two-Way : NPR

for 10/18 13 Halloween Costumes That Have No Business Being 'Sexy' (PHOTOS)

Look at the slides linked here:
13 Halloween Costumes That Have No Business Being 'Sexy' (PHOTOS)

Why does the title say these costumes should not be "sexy?"

For 10/18: Laney Boggs and Mrs. Landingham want you to watch what you watch

Laney Boggs and Mrs. Landingham want you to watch what you watch
Watch the video linked here. What are they trying to say?

For 10/17: POLL: Do You Miss the Old Shakira? | Latina

POLL: Do You Miss the Old Shakira? | Latina
What is the difference between the "old" Shakira and the new one?

for 10/17: Google Bans “Latina” from Search Results | Latina

Google Bans “Latina” from Search Results | Latina
What do you make of this?

for 10/17: Google Bans “Latina” from Search Results | Latina

Google Bans “Latina” from Search Results | Latina

For 10/17: Birth Control Pills Change Women's Brain Structure - The Consumerist

Birth Control Pills Change Women's Brain Structure - The Consumerist

Why Did She Wait So Long? Later Abortions and the Implications of the New Nebraska Ban | RHRealityCheck.org

Why Did She Wait So Long? Later Abortions and the Implications of the New Nebraska Ban | RHRealityCheck.org: