September 21, 2014
- Saturday marked a national day of action for reproductive rights. Jarrah Hodge explains why access to abortion in the maritimes ought to be of national concern. If you are in New Brunswick, check out these resources before voting tomorrow: a public service announcement on the state of abortion in the province, and the findings of Reproductive Justice New Brunswick’s survey on reproductive justice (use the map to find out which candidates support repealing NB’s unjust regulations on abortion).
- At a conference dedicated to feminist action in the post-Lean In workplace, Colorlines talked to Tressie McMillan Cottom about her approach to feminism and economic reparations for African Americans, an issue that doesn’t start with Sheryl Sandberg, but began 300 years ago. Says Cottom:
The typical woman I talk to is doing shift work. In places like Atlanta that usually means at a bank so it has a slightly higher status but it’s still shift work. She’s working from 2pm-11pm Tuesday through Saturday, usually customer service. Then she’s going over to [for profit university] Strayer twice a week trying to get a degree. She’s hoping it’ll lead to her becoming a manager, which comes with a more stable schedule. The women I work for, they’re hustlin’—that’s how they describe it. So if I go and tell them something like, “You should Lean In” or, “I think Sheryl Sandberg reinvigorates the policy conversation around the work-life balance,” these women would laugh me out the room. What do you mean work-life balance?! It ain’t no work-life balance. It’s work. All of it is work! Their man is work. Their kids are work. Work is work. They’re not having it. But! Those are also the women whom I think are living feminism in ways that we don’t talk about.
- In response to the official opening of Winnipeg’s Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a group of First Nations people are holding a sacred fire to educate visitors about lack of access to fresh water in Aboriginal communities. Says Chief Erwin Redsky of the Shoal Lake 40 First Nation:
- “We often gender technology, and sentient technology might not have gender. What would that mean? How would it express desire? How would it understand humans?” The Hairpin talks to Toronto-based artist and developer Kara Stone about gender, technology, and gaming.
- Roxanne Gay’s “The Books Who Made Me I am”
- In a long but well worthwhile conversation, two NPR senior editors talk about popular culture’s embrace of feminism, and what opportunities, as well as barriers, this presents.
- The Jacobin’s Johanna Brenner on the history and promise of socialist feminism.
- The New Yorker’s fashion issue has some must reads, including a profile on Misty Copeland and an essay on the future of the plus-sized fashion industry.
- If you are feeling down that you don’t have tickets to see Broad City at Toronto’s Just For Laughs, take comfort in Illana and Abbi’s new web series.
- Alison Bechdel officially became a genius this week. Read her reaction to receiving the MacArthur grant here.