Tuesday, March 22, 2016
You've probably heard before about the nation's rape kit problem: Rape kits often go untested or are destroyed before the case has been closed.
That's right. We put sexual assault survivors through a long and invasive exam to gather evidence before putting that evidence in a box, never to be opened again. Luckily, we're seeing some progress.
My new favorite late night TV host, Samantha Bee, dives into the issue in the video above.
Tags: rape kits , samantha bee , feminsim , rape survivors , Video
Friday, March 18, 2016
And here's a SHORT clip of Emma Watson beatboxing while I freestyle about #HeForShe, if you only have 3 minutes. This was so fun.
Posted by Lin-Manuel Miranda on Thursday, March 17, 2016
How luck we are to be alive right now: Feminist superheros Emma Watson and Lin-Manuel Miranda got together to celebrate Women's History Month.
While I can't seem to embed a video of any of the actual conversations (Damn you, Facebook, and your confusing video rules!), you should hop over to Watson's Facebook page and watch the four part conversation. It's great—they talk about gun violence, storytelling and paternity, sort historical figures into Hogwarts houses and, of course, discuss feminism and gender equality.
In Part 4 (and the short clip above) Miranda gets Watson to beatbox while he freestyles about feminism. Delightful.
Tags: HeForShe , He for She , Feminism , gender equality , lin manuel miranda , Emma Watson , It's a wonder I manage to blog about anything other than Hamilton and Emma Watson
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Pregnancy and babies bring about thoughts of growing families, tiny socks, first steps—and safe deliveries. Sometimes, that's just not how birth happens.
This Thursday, March 10 at 5:30 p.m., the Loft Cinema (3233 E. Speedway Blvd.) presents Birth Happens: An International Look at Birth, an event that looks at birth on a global level.
Tickets are $12 for general admission, $10 for Loft members.
The Loft's description of the event:
Every day, 364,501 children are born worldwide. That is 5 children per second and 300 per minute. All children are born with their own life story, their own family, their own environment, their own culture, and their own place in the world with their own future.The event is presented by the Friends of Midwifery and Sponsored by El Rio Community Health Services-Women's Services.
“The way in which a child comes into the world is a mirror of its society and the place where our cradle is determines our future.” – Birth Day filmmaker Lieve Blanquaert
Birth Happens is a one-time only event that brings together three films, which gives a glimpse into births around the world and what women are facing giving birth in various countries. “No Woman, No Cry” a film by Christy Turlington Burns, “Birth Day” a film by Lieve Blanquaert and “Giving Birth in America- New York” a film by Every Woman Counts showcase the challenges, complexities and conditions that women and families cope with when having a baby.
An informed discussion will take place after the films with international and public health experts to learn about their experiences and what is happening locally. Come join us and be a part of the discussion. Raffle and ManDonna, a black and white photo exhibit of dads and babies also presented this evening.
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Happy International Women’s Day, lovely humans of the Earth. Take a moment to thank the kick-ass women in your life a little bit extra today. Listen to some Beyoncé—you're #Flawless. Also take a few moments to try and understand the apparent and more concealed struggles women encounter on a daily basis.
Society puts women at a disadvantage that varies in intensity due to a variety of factors, be it race, socioeconomic status, religion, disability status, physical appearance, etc. We're conditioned to blame ourselves and are blamed by others for our own rapes, we make less money than our male colleagues, we're sexualized from grossly young ages, we're forced to fight to control our reproductive rights, we're taught "boys will be boys," we're called sluts and whores and unpure for expressing our sexualities, we're labeled as "bossy" for asserting our opinions and ideas—the list of injustices goes on and on.
Listen. I'm not not here to judge if you've never registered any of these realities—though I think that's almost impossible this day in age, with social media, the internet as a whole, the supposed "Media Circus" and what not. I myself wasn't always aware of the inherent bias and discrimination our society imposes against women. I am here to tell you, though, that these realities are, yes, very real, and oftentimes heart-breaking for any woman or girl you may know and love.
If you're feeling rather disheartened, angry or just generally emotional after that last proclamation, good. You should be. But instead of just wallowing and feeling like a shitty person for just realizing this, be curious. Educate yourself and try to understand. Watch and read up on other kick-ass women's opinions and research regarding what it means to live as a woman in today's society. Check out the following educational starting points for your daily dose of Womanhood 101.
Tags: feminism , international women's day , rant , opinion , op-ed , women , gender inequality , Video
Monday, March 7, 2016
The festival aims to illuminate women's issues, nationally unite women and highlight female filmmakers through a variety of film mediums ranging from animated shorts to fictional dramas. Topics explored include motherhood, body image, cultural diversity and breaking gender barriers.
Created and funded by LUNA (yes, LUNA as in the nutrition bar), LUNAFEST benefits Tucson's Breast Cancer Fund and the UA's Women's Studies Advisory Council. The event will also collect money and non-perishable food or feminine hygiene products for the Adult and Youth Programs of the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation as part of the YWCA Southern Arizona. Donors will get one voucher for buy-one-get-one free raffle tickets.
Featured LUNAFEST films include the following:
- Balsa Wood by Dominique Lecchi
- Beach Flags by Sarah Saidan
- Boxeadora by Meg Smaker
- Finding June by Anna Schumacher
- First World Problems by Hanna Maylett
- Raising Ryland by Sarah Feeley
Tags: lunafest tucson , balsa wood movie , beach flags movie , boxeadora movie , finding june movie , first world problems movie , raising ryland movie , feminism , women in film , Video
91.3 FM KXCI's Women's Day programming will feature the Old Pueblo's best female DJs, public affair programmers, and community creatives' voices and music to celebrate National Women's Day.
KXCI is teaming up with a menagerie of local organizations including the Marshal Foundation, the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Unidas, YWCA Southern Arizona, the UA of Journalism and more in order to put on Women's Day programming that will encompass all things feminism, KXCI's Amanda Shauger wrote in a press release.
Women's Day originally started in socialist and communist nations to illuminate the social and economic injustices women face on a daily basis, according to the press release. In 1977, the United States began to recognize the day as well. KCXI aims to preserve and celebrate the significance of Women's Day through its specialty programming, according to the press release.
Ladies from the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona Unidas, a social justice group made up of high school girls, will talk about their International Women's Day research, feminism, inspirational women, and women's modern struggles.
Tags: KXCI , 91.3 KXCI , women's day , international women's day , feminism
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Time to start clearing out your closet: the Body Revolution called, and it wants you to attend a Pop-Up Clothing Swap this weekend.
Never been to a clothing swap? The basic idea is this: Go through your wardrobe and pull out the gently-used clothes you never wear these days—you know, the clothes you're always surprised to see Buffalo Exchange pass on. Bring 'em to the exchange, go through somebody else's former favorites and come home with a bunch of new-to-you goodies.
Typically, clothing swaps are events organized between friends. The Body Revolution is taking it to the next level.
For starters, they're emphasizing inclusivity: clothing of any size or style, and the event is open to all genders.
In addition to whatever clothes people bring to swap, local designers and retailers will be hanging out in a Pop-Up Shop. Among them will be Erin Cox of Southwestern Belle Alterations & Design and Elizabeth Denneau of Candy Strike—our first and second place 2015 Best of Tucson finalists for Best Local Designer.
Cox is bringing something different to the mix—live alterations.
"That way, if you find something that doesn't quite fit, you can make some quick adjustments and still take it home," says Erin Jaye, one of the people leading the Body Revolution in Tucson.
Tags: clothing swap , body revolution , I never have anything to wear , lets get some new clothes and support a good cause
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Watch Lady Gaga perform Til It Happens to you at the #Oscars here https://t.co/ptBYEAIKqq
— Lady Gaga Facts (@LGMonsterFacts) February 29, 2016
Tonight at the Academy Awards, Oscar-nominated performer, Lady Gaga, took the stage in support of the millions of victims of sexual violence. In an incredibly passionate performance of her song "Til it Happens to You," Lady Gaga laid it all on the table and it was spectacular. I was moved to tears by her conviction, courage, vulnerability and, of course, her beautiful voice.
Lady Gaga, a victim of sexual violence herself, was joined on stage by several dozen survivors who each had their own statement written on their arm. Those included sentiments like "unbreakable," "not your fault," and "it happened to me."
The song was introduced by Vice President Joe Biden who represented the White House's It's On Us campaign to end sexual assault.
Every day, I become more disillusioned with our society's unwillingness to end the abuse experienced by one in five women and one in 71 men. In the light of these feelings, I was so happy to see this years' Oscars would be used as a platform to discuss important issues as well as glamour, talent and fame.
Tags: sexual violence , sexual assault , lady gaga , music , rape , survivor , oscars , academy awards , joe biden
Friday, February 19, 2016
"Karokhail had to battle the prejudices of Afghan society to get where she is today, namely that women should not hold public office," said reporters Sylvain Lepetit and Miyuki Droz Aramaki in an article for France 24. "Every day, the lawmaker risks her life to help her fellow citizens and promote women’s rights."
Karokhail will be speaking about her experiences breaking into the Afghani political process, the challenges she has faced, and her successes fighting corruption and misogyny. The event is tonight (sorry, newsletter readers!) Friday, Feb. 19 at 7:35p.m.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
To learn more about Karokhail, click here.
Tags: Afghanistan , middle east , islam , muslim , feminism , women's rights , corruption , lecture , parliament , politics , election
Friday, February 12, 2016
Like most women in their mid-20s, I've got a soft spot for the Powerpuff Girls. Those flying children were tough, cute and complete badasses. Their villains were ridiculous and ruthless. They exploded into existence because The Professor was an idiot who didn't understand spacial relationships. I couldn't get enough.
I was obviously delighted when I found out Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup would once again be using their Ultra Super Powers to fight the forces of evil. We don't yet have a release date, but we do have a preview of Buttercup losing her damn mind when a lumberjack bent on getting Townsville back to its "manly roots" tells her to "go play with her dollies, princess."
And once again, the day is saved...
Tags: powerpuff girls , buttercup , don't call her princess , feminist fury , feminist justice league , Video
