AlterNet.org: Reproductive Justice and Gender

Fetus-Shaped Potatoes? Going Undercover Inside the Weird World of Right-Wing Abortion Foes

Ann Neumann, AlterNet — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

I went undercover to a Pro-Life Federation conference. What I found there was not "middle America" or even conservative America. It was fringe America.

"Restless Vagina Syndrome": Big Pharma's Newest Fake Disease

Terry J. Allen, In These Times — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

The pharmaceutical industry wants you to think that if you don't have sex like a porn star, you're in need of their drugs.

Why It's Not Smart to Call Women Conservatives 'Whores'

Tana Ganeva, AlterNet — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Conservative women should be strongly criticized. But using gendered language to attack them doesn't help progressives.

Boobs to Die For

Elisheva Wolfe, Nerve.com — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:00:01 PST

I love my boobs. I'm going to use them every day until they start to kill me.

How a Racist Judge Inadvertently Made the Case for Gay Marriage

Madison Shockley, Truthdig — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

A bigoted justice of the peace in the backwoods of Louisiana accidentally got to the heart of the issue around a key argument in California's gay marriage debate.

There's No Hope for Afghanistan If Women Aren't Involved

Ann Jones, The Nation — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:00:01 PDT

What happens to women in Afghanistan is not merely a "women's issue." It is the central issue of stability, development and durable peace.

Is the Catholic Leadership Trying to Silence Nuns?

Maureen Fiedler, Ms. Magazine — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:01 PDT

The Vatican's secretive investigations of American nuns is seen by many as attempts to intimidate outspoken, liberal nuns into submission.

Is Sleeping With a Married Man Sexist?

Mandy Van Deven, RH Reality Check — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:01 PDT

How does sleeping with a married man square with feminist politics?

Rape Is a Pre-Existing Condition? The Heartlessness of the Health Insurance Industry Exposed

Danielle Ivory, The Huffington Post Investigative Fund — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:00:01 PDT

By taking anti-AIDS medicine after a rape, Christina Turner discovered that she had made herself all but uninsurable.

Why Do Men Catcall?

Ronnie Koenig, AlterNet — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Screaming at women about their appearances reinforces some men's sense of dominance -- but it's street harassment.

A National Treasure -- The Memoirs of Gay Rights Pioneer Martin Duberman

Doug Ireland, Gay City News — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Father of gay studies programs in universities, Duberman was early to embrace the nascent, post-Stonewall gay liberation movement and join its militant ranks.

Rethinking Marriage. The World Has Changed. It's Time!

Melissa Harris-Lacewell, The Nation — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:01 PDT

We must do more than simply re-integrate new groups into an old system. We need to seriously consider our assumptions about the system itself.

Gloria Steinem: Why We Should Be Both Optimistic and Cautious About a New Report on Women in the Workplace

Gloria Steinem, Women's Media Center — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:00:01 PDT

The Shriver Report stands to attract some serious (and overdue) attention to a woman's role in the workplace. Whether that will translate to action is yet unclear.

Going Green Means Having Fewer Kids

Emily Badger, Miller-McCune.com — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

There are already just too many people on the planet. What are we supposed to do about it?

How to Have Sex Like a Virgin for Only 30 Bucks

Tana Ganeva, AlterNet — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Who doesn't want to have sex with virgins?

There's Another Way to Dress Up for Halloween Instead of Slutty Nurse Outfits

Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Hallow'green is freakier than scarily packaged costumes.

Why Running Can Be a Feminist Act

Courtney Wilder, Minnesota Women's Press — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:01 PDT

Nothing -- especially nothing involving women and their bodies -- can remain politically neutral for long.

Ridiculous Study Blames Feminism for Non-Existent 'Happiness Gap' Between Men and Women

Barbara Ehrenreich, Tomdispatch.com — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Much-discussed study claims that women are more depressed relative to men in recent decades, when it actually suggests that neither marriage nor children make women happy.

Working With the Victims in the Complex Struggle to Fight Sex Trafficking

Noy Thrupkaew, The Nation — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:00:01 PDT

The Philippines suffers from a significant problem with child sex exploitation, but it also provides more fertile ground for US work on anti-trafficking.

Barbie's "Fat Ankles"? 9 of the Doll's Most Embarrassing Controversies

Wendy Norris, RH Reality Check — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:00:01 PDT

The doll's history is filled with gender, body image and racial gaffes.