A Blog Without a Bicycle

Confessions of a Retired Professional Feminist

2010-08-05T19:05:00.006-04:00

Or, Why I left the non-profit world and learned to love corporate life

This is a movement-wide problem: Expecting activists and feminists to work for little to no money isn’t limited to speaking. Anyone who has ever worked in feminist nonprofits knows that the pay is minimal; this is especially true if you’re a younger person or in an entry-level position. Now, low pay for nonprofit work is to be somewhat expected. A lot of organizations, especially smaller ones, don’t have large budgets and struggle for funding. But there are a lot of bigger, mainstream feminist orgs that do have money. And I heard the argument from higher-ups more than once – particularly when people were asking for raises – that this was about the work, not the money, and that working for peanuts was just “doing your part” for the movement. (Never mind that many high-level employees at these organizations had trust funds and/or rich partners that allowed them to work for the sheer joy of it.) It’s the same argument I hear from feminist orgs and publications that expect bloggers (again, mostly young women) to write for free – that we should be happy to be associated with the movement, and to have access to an audience and to this very important work. The feminist movement’s work is done on the backs of unpaid and underpaid young people, volunteers and interns – and it’s not right.

-Jessica Valenti

I will never forget the first time I was introduced as, "My friend, Elizabeth - a former professional feminist." Because, well, I laughed. In many ways, the statement was true. I had opted out of the non-profit world for stock options and a rung on the corporate career ladder (privilege alert!). At the same time, I was a professional and a feminist. As the bemused new acquaintance I was being introduced to wondered, "How does one become a former professional feminist?" Hmm. Not former - just retired.

In my case, Jessica Valenti's post regarding a recent debate about activists' speaker fees pretty much sums up what I learned in my (short) time in the feminist non-profit sector:

The feminist movement’s work is done on the backs of unpaid and underpaid young people, volunteers and interns...

Which is not to say that the work that these individuals do is not important and courageous. Or to say that the organizations doing this work are not important and courageous. It just points out a systematic problem - idealist young folk provide powerful fuel to the activist/non-profit communities...and they burn out quickly.

Or, at least I did.

Let's talk generally about the (note my experience is in the feminist) non-profit world: Unglamorous pay (this happens when your org - with fundraising as its main stream of income - is forced to precariously balance accomplishing goals and operating costs). Limited benefits (this happens when your org has a limited number of employees and/or a limited number of resources). Long hours (this happens when your org lacks the budget to hire more employees and individuals are carrying the workload of 2-3 full-time jobs). Limited resources and lack of infrastructure (this happens funds when are already strained and the computer from 1998 still works, mostly...sort of). Frequent fire fighting compromising the advancement of strategic goals (this happens because, let's face it, the computer from 1998 is struggling). Limited access to career advancement (this happens when orgs are small, budget limits head count, there are a limited number of organizations, there is low turnover in non-entry level positions, etc). Limited access to career development and training (this happens when funds are limited). Office - and external - politics (this happens because people care deeply about their causes and cannot always come to consensus). Lack of recognition (this happens because many orgs lack the resources to be successful PR machines in the current sound bite news cycle and because not all social justice activism is noticed or popularly supported). To be sure, the combination of these factors make for a...um...challenging workplace.

And I'm not talking trash about the awesome orgs I had the opportunity with which to work. I want to raise awareness about the reality of the non-profit workplace - and the challenges the brave folks slugging it out in this field face.

The solution?

For me, the answer was to find a for-profit company whose politics aligned with mine. I was lucky to land a gig where I am working on a project that I believe adds to a larger cultural legacy and at a company that cares deeply about the greater good (again, privilege, like - WHOA!). Doing so has given me access to so much - professional training (from education reimbursement to internal courses), career development (so many opportunities to move up or over), financial stability (401K! dental *and* vision! privilege!), and - for me, most importantly, PEACE of mind (I will make rent! I can make change - socially or monetarily!).

I love going to work each day. I feel like I make a difference (even if I still cringe at bizspeak and the use of the non-word "impactful"). I participate in company-sponsored volunteer days (privilege alert! I get *paid* to participate!) and I am involved in employee resource groups that work on social justice-y issues both internally and externally. (I'm putting my extreme privilege to good work - I hope.)

At the right company, going corporate isn't at odds at being a feminist. Or an activist. Or passionate about social justice. It actually gives me a lot of leverage to contribute to the causes I care about. For example, I can afford to make donations to my favorite orgs and my company has a donation matching program (privilege...it bleeds from me, yes). Or, I can take the skills I've gained through the myriad of training opportunities offered to me and share them with activists I support. And, maybe, in the future, I can bring my knowledge and network back to the non-profit sector full-time (should my career take me there...which would not be a bad thing, one day). I have the bandwidth and resources to give back.

So, a short summary of my career aspirations and trajectory:

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. In college, I quickly learned that I am not brave enough to live in the world without guaranteed (ie, employer provided) health insurance. The writer's lifestyle is precarious and I am risk averse.

When I was in undergrad, I wanted to be a professor when I grew up. In grad school, I learned that academia moved at a slower pace than my idealism/activism demanded.

When I was in grad school, I wanted to make social change at a non-profit. In my non-profit life, I learned that the personal cost of such a career is quite high...and it often feels like trying to move the seashore with toy sand shovels.

When I left the non-profit sector, I wanted to find work-life balance, gain financial stability, and still contribute to the causes I care about. I am beyond lucky - this dream came true.

Maybe I don't always have as much time to blog as I would like. Maybe it will take me a bit longer to write a book. Maybe I wrestle with my privilege and spend some time trying to sort out my subsequent guilt.

But.

I am a professional. I am a feminist.

(And I am grateful to those who are working - full-time - for social justice movements. YOU ROCK!)

Dedicated to ABK, who encouraged me to take the leap.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Online Activism

2010-07-30T14:27:00.001-04:00

What is "real" activism?

Interesting dialogue about online versus "real" activism developing...Check it out and weigh in!

He-Man Woman Hater Feminism

2010-06-01T02:38:00.001-04:00

Jessica Valenti provides a great analysis of Sarah Palin's "feminism" in the WaPo.

TitlePost...Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Content...A Plenty!

2010-05-25T03:04:00.002-04:00

Feeling like the blog is a little sparse? Worried that I've given up blogging? Never fear - content abounds in my Google Reader. See what I'm reading, what I'm thinking about what I'm reading...and join the conversation!

TitlePost...Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog for Choice Day 2010

2010-01-22T12:18:00.001-05:00

Trust women. Nuff said.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Don't get thrown under the bus! Take action on January 13th.

2010-01-12T15:21:00.003-05:00

"It's my abortion, and I'll have a party if I want to..."

2009-07-09T22:32:00.009-04:00

On Alternet's Abortion Party Article

When the feminist blogosphere started buzzing about Byard Duncan's Alternet article about attending "My First Abortion Party." an event the author's friend as a fundraiser for her upcoming abortion, my first thoughts were not about the social etiquette surrounding such an event, the reaction forced pregnancy advocates would have, the personal circumstances of the individual hosting the party, the role of men should or should not play in a female partner's reproductive choices, or what the appropriate appetizers are for these fetes (red velvet cake?). Nope. I was thinking that I wasn't surprised to hear about another individual turn to fundraising to secure acce$$ to health care. Whether it's a large scale, city-wide run for breast cancer research and treatment or a local walk-a-thon to support a family struggling with the cost of care for a sick child, there are many examples of folks hosting events and selling cookies, ribbons, and other trinkets to gather the capital needed to check in to a hospital.

In fact, I know someone who threw a similar party when transitioning genders to help cover the cost of surgeries. In that case, the medical procedures this individual was seeking were very costly and not covered by medical insurance. For that individual, the party was a unique way to celebrate a new identity while also funding it. And the event received similar WTF? responses from both friends and observers (though not media coverage).

When comparing these fundraising events, there are similarities between the level of insurance coverage and a medical procedure deemed controversial in the mainstream. And, most commonly, a general discomfort with fundraising from friends via party (but perhaps the individuals were just trying to offer a service in addition to soliciting funds? or didn't feel any shame about the decisions they were making and support they were requesting from their nearest and dearest?).

Somehow, though, fundraising for an abortion seems more controversial or faux pax to many (in my observation). Which leaves me wondering...Why? While I agree that forced pregnancy activists will have a field day with this article (of questionable journalistic quality and women's and gender studies theoretical grounding)...

But perhaps the real focus should be on the fact that individuals need to have FUNDRAISERS to be able to afford needed medical care? (And, yes, we could debate whether these procedures are "elective." But I think it's problematic that there is a class bias for who can "elect" to make health decisions about their own bodies.) Seems like a strong argument for universal (and unbiased!) healthcare to me.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Beach Reads

2009-06-12T18:41:00.003-04:00

NY Times & Women's Lit

What do you thing of the summer recommendations cataloged in Janet Maslin's "Girls of Summer?" Will any of these books make your summer reading list?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

@LizzyB

2009-06-08T00:08:00.004-04:00

Socially Networking the Classics

First, it was Pride & Prejudice Facebook. Now, @LizzyB, @Darcy, Bingley, @JaneB and the gang are on Twitter.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

TGIF

2009-06-05T23:28:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness - it's feminism!

I can haz...feminizm!

2009-05-31T00:57:00.003-04:00

Even lolz are feminist...

Check out the amazing lolz over at Bitch magazine. No better weekend treat!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

TGIF

2009-05-15T23:52:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness - it's feminism!

...And for all those moms out there contemplating returning an unfortunate but well-intended mother's day present...

TGIF

2009-05-07T22:28:00.004-04:00

Thank goodness - it's feminism!

And just for fun...

Crazy Cat Lady School, Class of 1959

TGIF

2009-05-01T00:14:00.004-04:00

Thank goodness - it's feminism!

While my new 9 to 5 (and life in general!) may sometimes get in the way of being as active a poster as I would like, I am frequently inspired by the important insights shared by my fellow feminist bloggers. Therefore, I am rolling out a new feature to honor how grateful I am for feminist activism everyday - by featuring some of the highlights that made me thank goodness for feminism.

...And just for fun: Swine flu

Fly Over Photo Op

2009-04-27T21:31:00.000-04:00

Not cool.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Onion Understands the Hoo-Ha About the Hoo-Ha

2009-03-30T13:30:00.002-04:00

As someone who frequently bemoans the sad state of reproductive health care, this Onion article struck me as brilliant: Renowned Hoo-Ha Doctor Wins Nobel Prize For Medical Advancements Down There.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Buh-bye

2009-01-20T23:40:00.004-05:00

More fond farewells...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

FORMER President Bush

2009-01-20T14:59:00.001-05:00

Need I say more?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Updating the Classics...For Facebook

2008-12-09T19:38:00.003-05:00

Elizabeth Bennet has accepted your friend request.

I saw austenbook pop up in a friend's Google reader feed - and I love this rendering of Pride and Prejudice in Facebook format. Apparently, there is a trend in the adaptation of classic tomes into news feed style posts - and this new form of textual engagement makes me smile. But...I could imagine naysayers making an argument about our sound bite culture's need to chew up and spit out literature as short snippets.

What do ya'll think? The future of the book?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Where are all the jobs for women?

2008-12-09T11:24:00.001-05:00

Linda Hirshman reflects on women and the current economic crisis in the NYTimes.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

For Caffeine Addicts

2008-12-03T18:47:00.002-05:00

I do love me some coffee - and, finally, there is an illustrated recitative about such relationships.

Kudos to KG for the link!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Regulation of the Public Sphere

2008-11-29T15:20:00.004-05:00

The NYTimes Magazine has a great article about regulation of the public sphere of the world wide web. A snippet:

Today the Web might seem like a free-speech panacea: it has given anyone with Internet access the potential to reach a global audience. But though technology enthusiasts often celebrate the raucous explosion of Web speech, there is less focus on how the Internet is actually regulated, and by whom. As more and more speech migrates online, to blogs and social-networking sites and the like, the ultimate power to decide who has an opportunity to be heard, and what we may say, lies increasingly with Internet service providers, search engines and other Internet companies like Google, Yahoo, AOL, Facebook and even eBay.

Unbelievable

2008-11-29T14:55:00.002-05:00

Black Friday has gone too far...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

68th Carnival of Feminists

2008-11-18T00:27:00.000-05:00

Check it!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

OMG OBAMA!

2008-11-04T23:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, we could. Yes, we did!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

GObama!

2008-11-04T00:33:00.000-05:00

I hope you'll all be casting your ballots tomorrow...

...for Barack, please!

Some Levity

2008-10-15T10:18:00.002-04:00

My sister sent me this comic that made me chuckle...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Feminist Carnivaling!

2008-10-13T12:11:00.001-04:00

Check out the 66th Carnival of Feminists!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Shipping Insecurities to CA

2008-10-09T15:33:00.002-04:00

I have to recommend this NYTimes article appearing in the modern love section...It's written by a dear friend and mentions moving to Cali. What could be a more appropriate link for a Thursday afternoon?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

RIP iBook G4

2008-10-08T14:53:00.002-04:00

A dead laptop and a cross-country move does not for regular posting make. Currently mourning my iBook G4, a loyal laptop that I thought would last forever...Praying for resurrection at the Mac store, too.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Girl with Pen Group Blog Goes Live

2008-10-07T14:37:00.003-04:00

Girls with Pens

Yesterday, the new Girl with Pen group blog went live. Because my laptop died (sad! and blog-inhibiting), I wasn't able to share this awesome event in a timely fashion. About once each month, I will be posting a "Blog U" feature on GWP and there are many other great contributors to keep your RSS feeds full between my articles. New format, new bloggers, same great content - there are so many great reasons to check it out! Why are you still here?! (But do come back!)

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Big News, Big Sabbatical

2008-10-03T16:18:00.003-04:00

Moving to the West Country

Big news, ABWAB readers! As if there aren't enough headlines for you to follow as the presidential race gets rarin', I have one more item to add - I will be relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area soon as I begin a new stage of my career. This girl is going tech - interweb search style.

Okay. So...maybe it's not quite major news...I'm not holding my breath about getting on the newscast at six or anything. But I think it's big!

Leaving NYC and my feminist-y life here will certainly be bittersweet, but I am excited by this cross-country adventure I am embarking on. Posting will be light, however, until I get my feet on the ground (perhaps mid-November?). I'm looking forward to experieincing the rich feminist community SF offers - and perhaps meeting a few ABWAB readers out there, too.

Ready or not, Cali, here I come...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Vote, Vote, Vote!!!

2008-10-01T21:44:00.000-04:00

34 Million Friends

2008-09-17T21:18:00.000-04:00

Congrats to Jane on conquering the web 2.0 medium!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

The future of the book?

2008-09-16T10:33:00.002-04:00

Reducing textbook prices through creative commons licenses? To all you higher ed folks out there - what do you think? Is this the future of the textbook?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

The Economy Is a Feminist Issue

2008-09-15T22:54:00.001-04:00

I don't have financial sector expertise, but people of all genders are going to be feeling today's crashes. The economy - a feminist issue. And an election issue, too.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Why are non-college-educated women voting for McPalin?

2008-09-15T14:08:00.003-04:00

The NYTimes reports that a recent poll found that "blue-collar women" see their views most aligned with McCain/Palin. Here's a look at the numbers:

How much do you think each candidate shares your own values and principles?
Non-college-educated women who are considered likely voters:
John McCain - 71%
Sarah Palin - 65%
Barack Obama - 52%
Joe Biden - 46%
Likely voters overall:
McCain - 67%
Palin - 55%
Obama - 58%
Biden - 47%

A Little Monday Morning Reading

2008-09-14T22:39:00.002-04:00

Check out the 64th Carnival of Feminists...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

SNL Says It Best...

2008-09-14T10:53:00.001-04:00

There's a Problem with the Pipeline

2008-09-10T12:30:00.003-04:00

And Who Says the Glass Ceiling Is Broken?

The NYTimes report on a recent study illustrates yet again why getting more women, especially women of color, into the political pipeline is important:

The report, from the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society at the State University of New York at Albany, tallied how many women and minorities were appointed by governors in the 50 states to leadership jobs between 1997 and 2007. The answer is: not enough. Of 1,834 top state jobs — including advisers to governors, department and commission heads — 643 were held by female appointees, or about 35 percent of the total. Minorities held less than 16 percent.

For me, the most important conclusion drawn from this study is that

elective office is still overwhelmingly a white male occupation...that may have less to do with the glass ceiling than with the pipeline: too few women and minorities are being appointed to top state jobs where they can get the experience and the public attention to establish a political career.

Pro-Decision Quote of the Day

2008-09-09T15:46:00.001-04:00

I can't understand a politician who doesn't safeguard the quality of life. It makes no difference if it's a man or a woman. It doesn't make sense for one woman to win if all of us loose.

-Joyce McFadden, on Sarah Palin's reproductive choice policy

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Article On Gender Makes It Into NY Times Science Section

2008-09-09T14:46:00.004-04:00

An historic event???

I was pretty surprised (I'll stop short of saying enthused) to see an article about gender appear in the NY Times Science section. Usually such articles are relegated to the Fashion & Style section. Because, if it's about the ladies or the gender issues, the NY Times just knows it belongs in the same section as coverage about purses, lipstick, and high heels. Duh!

I wasn't really wowed, though, by John Tierny's "As External Barriers Disappear, Some Gender Gaps Widen." Reporting on recently published research, Tierny summarizes the findings of Dr. David P. Schmidt:

“In some ways modern progressive cultures are returning us psychologically to our hunter-gatherer roots,” he [Dr. Schmidt] argues. “That means high sociopolitical gender equality over all, but with men and women expressing predisposed interests in different domains. Removing the stresses of traditional agricultural societies could allow men’s, and to a lesser extent women’s, more ‘natural’ personality traits to emerge.”

In other words...Men are from Mars! Women are from Venus! Let's create some scientific research to back up the planetary alignments - or to at least extend the passe debate! Mars! Venus!

I'm not impressed by Schmidt's "proof" against the social construction of gender. And I'm not impressed by Tierny's lack of interrogation of this study. I actually am not sure if I can see how this story is newsworthy given how overly done the "natural" sex traits/behaviors debate is. I think it must have been a pretty slow week in terms of science news...You?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

ABWAB Redesign...

2008-09-05T21:24:00.003-04:00

Experimenting with Logos

I'm dying to redesign ABWAB, but I don't exactly have the classiest design software in the world (seriously, you can do a lot in PowerPoint, I swear!). What do folks of this logo and color scheme? Is this the new ABWAB?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

My Grandma, More Qualified Than Palin

2008-09-04T16:41:00.002-04:00

Pipeline Problems

Tongue in cheek, my grandmother recently queried my mother about whether she was qualified to be vice president. My grandmother's point? While Sarah Palin was mayor of a town of 6,000, my grandmother was on the board of selectman* of a town of 16,000. So...Wouldn't that make her more qualified? (Gram for president!)

Being serious about the Governor Palin's VP nomination, though, I think what this situation really illustrates is a problem of pipeline. When the GOP sat down to pick a female running mate for Senator John McCain, it seems like they faced some pretty slim pickings (or just failed horribly in the vetting process). While I'm glad to see women moving into the upper ranks of political field, I'm still disappointed by the very limited number of women who are poised to move into executive office. As Emily's List and the White House Project have been saying for years, it's important to get more women into the political pipeline. But even with the efforts of groups like the Barbara Lee Family Foundation, a robust pool of prospective female politicians primed to step into major state and national executive roles is lacking. In the United States, the percentage of women holding elected office seems to hover in the teens. And when you look at the numbers for women of color holding elected positions...

Let's just say we have a long way to go.

And, while I am no Palin-supporter (while we both share certain sex traits, our stances on sex-ed, reproductive choice, family "values," equal pay, and other issues are just too different for us to be in the same sisterhood this election season), the sexist coverage of her vice presidential nomination is a good illustration of just how long of a way we have to go. (I mean, VPILF, seriously? Seriously???)

I would really like to see a woman in the White House - sitting at the desk in the Oval Office, that is - in my lifetime. And I want to encourage all you to get involved in getting women into elected office - nominate your friends or nominate yourself! Because Sarah Palin** and Hillary Clinton*** are not enough...

*Board of selectman are like town councils - but New England style.

**As I said before, I am not a fan of her politics.

***I am a Hillary supporter voting for Obama. I heart Hillary - and I'm pretty proud of Barack, too.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Being Trans at Work

2008-09-04T10:09:00.002-04:00

What do you all think of Lisa Belkin's NYTimes article "Smooth Transitions" which discusses the experiences of transgender individuals' transitions in terms of the workplace? Even if it is an article in "Fashion & Style," I was pretty happy to see a major newspaper giving thoughtful coverage to this issue.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Getting That Girl Power

2008-09-03T11:38:00.002-04:00

We Blog For Woodhull

Reading Hannah Seligson's recent NYTimes article "Girl Power at School, But Not at the Office", I had deja vu - or at least an interesting experience very close to deja vu. Seligson's article read much like the mission statement of the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership, the non-profit organization for which I currently work.

Exploring why some young women find the transition from undergraduate life to the professional work world more "wobbly" than their male counterparts, Seligson notes that

outside forces [ie, sexism in the workplace] are only part of the story. I have also seen young women — myself included — getting in the way of their own success. I have found that we need to build a new arsenal of skills to mitigate some of our more “feminine” tendencies. Having lived in a cocoon of equality in college, we may have neglected these vital, real-world skills.

Wende Jager Hyman, Woodhull's executive director, often explains Woodhull's powerful trainings as giving women the tools to "get out of their own way." Without passing judgment on habits, traditions, and other comfortable ways of being, the Institute's curriculum strives to help women understand how they are being received in the world and what tools are useful to them in helping to shape this outside perception.

Uncomfortable asking for a raise or tooting your own horn? Cringe whenever constructive criticism is shared? Feel paralyzed by perfectionism? Find yourself always taking on the mess in the office kitchen? Hate public speaking? A large number of women feel unprepared to handle such dilemmas and the Woodhull Institute's goal is to provide the skills and empowerment needed to "get over" these issues. In other words,

the Woodhull Institute trains women in the practical steps needed to implement their ideas and transform their ambitions for leadership into reality. There is often a gap between a woman's private aspirations and her accomplishments, the Institute's training is intended to bridge this gap by offering leadership training and providing access to colleagues and mentors who will counsel and encourage these women throughout their careers. Woodhull offers empowerment courses on financial literacy and basic business skills, public speaking, negotiation and advocacy, writing, ethics in the workplace, networking and acquiring mentoring relationships.

Which is exactly the type of professional development that Seligson is arguing that women need to succeed in today's work world.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

DNC, Live Blogging, Coach Potato Style

2008-08-28T22:52:00.003-04:00

Reacting to Obama's Speech...Or Just My Stream of Consciousness

I wish folks had a chance to watch commercial-free events like this one more often. I feel like the conversation Obama is having with his constituents is so important. He's bringing the issues into a larger public dialogue - and people are listening and engaging. Unlike some of those Sunday radio addresses...I guess I wish politics kept people interested at this level of engagement all the time - and not just when there is a glitzy event every four years or so. But am I being negative in the midst of this exciting event? Oops! Back to the enthusiasm...

What happens to a raisin in the sun?

"America - we cannot turn back!"

"We must pledge once more to march into the future."

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA IN '08!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Live Blogging the DNC...Or, At Least Cable Coverage of the DNC

2008-08-28T22:43:00.002-04:00

Conversation From Your Favorite Coach Potato

On Foreign Policy: In terms of improving the standing of the United States in the rest of the world, I strongly believe that Obama is the best possible choice for president. I think his sense of global politics and how the US should behave is right on...You?

"so that American is again our last best hope"

Debatery: Are you looking forward to the presidental debates? I don't know if I am...Debates usually make me want to grind my teeth. As Barack said, "the stakes are too high." And this election has been too drawn out? But I don't diss the democratic process - heck no! I just can't take suspense...

"we all put our country first"

"what has also been lost is our sense of common purpose...and that is what we have to restore"

"I know that there are those who dismiss such ideas as happy talk"

"If you don't have any fresh ideas, you use scare tactics...You make a big election about small things...It feeds into the cynicism that we all have about government"

"I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office...This election has never been about me - it's about YOU"

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Live Blogging the DNC...

2008-08-28T22:40:00.003-04:00

Coach Potato Convos...Your Turn to Weigh In

What do folks thing of the priorities Obama outlined and his plan to accomplish these goals? I'm psyched about many of his ideas to make change - universal health care, equal pay for equal work, better energy policy...Your thoughts?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Live Blogging the DNC...Part 3

2008-08-28T22:23:00.002-04:00

Coach Potato Conversations Continued

Bring It On, Barack! I'm loving this speech...I hope it's just a preview of what's to come in future State of the Union addresses...

More Great Points:

"I don't think Sen. McCain doesn't care about what's going on in the lives of Americans - I just think he doesn't know."
The ownership society = you are on your own
"It's time for us to change America - and that's why I'm running for president of the United States."
Progress (for Dems) = paying the mortage, saving for college funds, 23 million new jobs under Pres. Clinton, average income up for families
Strength of economy (for Dems) = new, small business-honors, economy that honors dignity of work, waitress able to take days off on tips
Veterans need to be respected when they return home
"What is the American promise?" = Freedom + obligation to treat others with dignity, respect + Fiscally responsible and nationally responsible companies + Government should do what we cannot do for ourselves + Gov't should work for us, not against us - and for all + I am my brother's/sister's keeper
Obama Change = Better tax code rewarding smaller businesses, individuals + Cut taxes for 95% of all working families + End dependency on oil from Middle East in 10 years + Create energy policy that is good for environment and easy for Americans to adapt to + Better education for all Americans to compete in global economy + College education for all + Affordable, accessible health care for every American + Paid sick days and better family leave + Change bankruptcy laws to protect pensions + Save social security + Equal pay for equal work so sons and daughters have same opportunities + Close corporate loop holes + Review of federal budget to eliminate bad spending...

Live Blogging the DNC...In My PJs

2008-08-28T22:18:00.002-04:00

Coach Potato Conversations...Continued

Great Points Raised by Obama:

We need to think of future generations
"America, we are better than the last 8 years...We are a better country than this!"
"Enough! This moment...this election is our chance to keep - in the 21st century - the American promise alive."
"We love this country too much to let the next 4 years look like the last 8."
"Eight is ENOUGH!"
Sen. John McCain has voted with Pres. Geo. W. Bush 90% of the time [eek, I say]
"I'm not ready to take a 10% chance on change."
"Sen. McCain has been anything but independent."

Live Blogging the DNC (From Afar)

2008-08-28T22:07:00.002-04:00

Couch Potato Conversations

So, for all of you sitting at home watching the DNC on the teevees right now - what are you thinking? Share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions in the comments section! I'm live-blogging, so I'll pull them to the top, too...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Maybe the Cutest Thing I've Seen at the DNC

2008-08-28T22:02:00.001-04:00

Babies for Obama!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Hillary Supporter for Obama

2008-08-26T22:50:00.003-04:00

Live Blogging the DNC Speechifying

I'm so impressed by Hillary Clinton's speech tonight. I heart Hillary - and I will heed her advice to jump in and support the Dem party and Barack Obama. Vote Dem in '08! And make sure your friends, family, and community do, too.

The sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits...FOREVER!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

This September, Blog For Woodhull

2008-08-26T14:48:00.002-04:00

...Will You?

Okay, okay. So I've always promised to keep my 9-to-5-related postings to a minimum - but I just couldn't resist the urge to tell you about the online action the non-profit I work for will be taking in September 2008. Much like other blog campaigns, or "we blog for..." days, the Woodhull Institute for Ethical Leadership is inviting bloggers to blog about women's leadership and other topics related to the work the Institute does in the month of September. We even have a cool blog badge for the blog leaders who participate to include with their Woodhull-related posts! So, if you believe in women's leadership, join the WE BLOG FOR WOODHULL campaign...Link-love will be shared by the Institute with participating bloggers.

C'mon - encourage a non-profit that's going all Web 2.0 for women's leadership....

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Non-Profits 2.0

2008-08-24T15:38:00.005-04:00

On August 16th, I went through basic training at the Craigslist Foundation's Non-Profit Boot Camp. An annual event on the east and west coast, the goal of this gathering of non-profiteers is to "educate and empower the next generation of nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs, connecting them with valuable industry resources, peers and potential supporters." As a member of that "next generation" who is watching the baby boomers leading in the sector retire, I really enjoyed the opportunity to attend informative sessions and to meet so many people doing great work. On-site, I so wished I had brought my laptop to live-blog the conference. But I did take copious notes - which I will share (late-breaking style) here.

My favorite part of the event was the morning keynote speech delivered by Professor Paul Light of New York University's Wagner School of Public Service. In his address, Light asked what it means to be "non-profit-like" and explored how non-profits are currently perceived and what he hopes they will become.

I cracked up when Light listed the qualities currently associated with non-profits:

Incorporated (woot, tax exempt status!)
Dependent (on the whims of funders, volunteers)
Chaotic (high turnover, unclear leadership, shoestring budgets, and more!)
Heroic (the self-sacrificing employee making little pay, but still keeping investment banking hours)
Cheap (someoone, somewhere, please get those non-profits some matching furniture and a stapler!)
Doubted (71% of the American public thinks charities are wasting money)
Stressed out (employee burn out much?)

For me, the point about the stapler really hit home. I mean, my desk is currently furnished with a mini-stapler. Quite adequate...but still.

After going over these often negative attributes, Light then pondered what non-profits would be like if the dedicated individuals in this sector declared "I'M NON-PROFIT-LIKE!" as a point of pride - instead of shorthand for I-wish-we-were-more-like-those-successful-corporations. Light listed these aspirations for what non-profits need to do:

Be rigorous - in being transparent about finances and outcomes
Be collaborative - by not working for one's cause in isolation
Be innovative - new ideas are needed as much as new organizations
Be agile - by staying young, fresh, and relevant
Be prepared - non-profits should spend wisely, which includes having a reliable infrastructure (the stapler! buy the stapler!)
Be independent - by generating revenue that the organization controls-
Be just - by paying employees a living wage and by taking proactive steps to prevent burn-out
Be audacious - deliver the services necessary while also changing the world that requires those services
Be advocates - and change the world
Be PROUD

These are definitely qualities that I aspire to in my own work - and I appreciate how succintly and powerfully Professor Light summarized the work that non-profiteers have ahead of them. (And he has several books in which you can read more!)

With so many non-profits out there today and with so much change expected as leaders retire, it is an exciting time to be working in this field. But, as always, non-profit life is also tough. So, dear readers, what would the ideal non-profit 2.0 look like to you?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Carnival of Feminists No. 63

2008-08-22T12:00:00.001-04:00

A Little Friday Fun Reading

Check out the latest Carnival of Feminists!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Beware the feminists and their allies!

2008-08-19T14:50:00.001-04:00

Another original attack on women's and gender studies.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Feminist Blogs, Community Style

2008-08-14T10:38:00.002-04:00

Everybody's Doing It!

Trend alert! Now, let's discuss...

What do folks think of the new trend feminist blogs are setting as many move to community blog formats? Feministing lead the way and now Salon has incorporated a community blog/social networking feature as well that Broadsheet is promoting. Further, bloggers like Deborah Siegel over at Girl with Pen are musing about making the move to group blogging. Community blogging seems to be the next wave of cyberfeminism.

As a blogger, I totally understand the benefits of group blogging in a content-driven genre. Keeping a weblog - with daily content, the latest widgets, a presence in the newest networking hotspots, building community among readers - is a bit more work than one person should probably bite off - even if they can devote themselves to blogging full-time. Group blogs offer the benefit of multiple contributors and multiple perspectives. They create go-to sources to find experts in specific areas. Plus, the personalities and their quirky interactions keep us coming back for more as readers. Community blogs offer similar benefits with the boon of empowering readers to become bloggers in their own right (and not just in the comments below the fold) while also keeping a blog community united. They are a great tool for teaching/sharing the power of the blogosphere in creating informed blog citizens actively engaging in public debate.

I think one of the beautiful things about blogging is how fluid the genre is. That which we call a blog...Well, let's just say they come in all shapes and sizes and colors and varieties. But the academic dedicated to the analysis of cyberculture and tracking online activism wonders, Where will community blogs take the blogosphere?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

What Do Women Want?!

2008-08-13T16:39:00.002-04:00

The Center for New Words Wants Politicians to Know

Just had to share this cool new initiative the Center for New Words recently launched...I hope you will follow their lead and let your representatives know what YOU want today!

Tired of being talked about this election season? Done with being represented by skewed polls and stereotypes?

This Is What Women Want is your chance to cut through the spin and tell the media, the candidates and the world exactly what you want this election season. Let’s demonstrate how diverse we are in thought, action, and experience. Let’s uncover what we have in common. Let’s amplify our own and each others’ voices until they cannot be ignored.
This Is What Women Want is a project of the Center for New Words, producers of Women, Action & the Media and many other programs dedicated to developing and amplifying progressive women’s voices.

This News Brief Is Brought to You By...The Women's Media Center

2008-08-11T03:51:00.002-04:00

WMC Daily News Brief: Media Justice, Clinton, Zimbabwe

Are you subscribed to receive the Women's Media Center's "Daily News Brief"? It's a "must-read news source to be fully informed about women's roles in the world." Go get it in your inbox today! And, untuk you do, enjoy this sample...

Long Walk to 'Media Justice' For SA Women
8/8/08
Bizcommunity.com, S. Africa: As South Africa celebrates another Women's Day and Women's Month, the media comes under the microscope, challenged and put to the test by analysts and gender activists who deplore what they call 'unfair', 'sexist' and 'discriminatory' treatment of women by the Fourth-Estate, which is supposed to be the voice of the voiceless and vulnerable groups.

In Wake of Hillary Clinton Bid, Democrats' Platform May Denounce Sexism
8/8/08
LA Times: It's not exactly the language they preferred, but a group of women who had supported Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential bid is happy with a proposed Democratic Party platform plank that denounces sexism.

Rights Lawyers to Investigate Rape in Zimbabwe
8/7/08
VOA News: AIDS-Free World, an international advocacy group, says it is sending a team of lawyers to Zimbabwe to collect evidence of mass sexual violence, which it says is part of an anti-opposition campaign by supporters of President Robert Mugabe.

ACLU, DGA, AFTRA Gang Up on FCC
8/7/08
Broadcasting & Cable: The American Civil Liberties Union, flanked by unions representing directors and actors, told the Supreme Court the Federal Communications Commission has no business regulating any speech short of outright obscenity.

Roles of Clintons at Convention Start to Clear
8/7/08
NY Times: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Barack Obama are negotiating the delicate question of her role at the Democratic convention in Denver and in the campaign beyond. But at least the convention role of former President Bill Clinton, has been settled with the decision Thursday that he would be speaking at the convention.

McCain, Obama Tiptoe Across Vice Presidential Minefield
8/8/08
LA Times: Obama has heard complaints from women's advocates about possible No. 2 contenders whom they do not see as strong supporters of abortion rights. "That is causing a lot of heartburn" for abortion rights supporters, said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women.

Official Says New Rules Are Not Anti-Birth Control
8/7/08
AP via Seattle Times: Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt attempted to ease concerns Thursday that the Bush administration is planning to issue new rules that would limit women's access to birth control.

Kosovo Lives: Not Gone with the Wind
8/7/08
BBC News: The Americans evacuated three Slovenian-Serb women from Urosevac in 2004, to save them from Albanian rioters, who then destroyed the house.
But the Nikolic women have refused to join the thousands of other non-Albanians who fled. They argue that K-For failed to defend their property and removed them against their will.

Violence Linked to Rapid Rise of AIDS in Women
8/08/08
Women's eNews: Health officials at a global AIDS conference in Mexico City this week highlighted the growing feminization of the pandemic and its link to gender violence. The U.N. may form a women's agency that advocates say could mount a more effective response.

Lack of Access to Female Condoms Vilified
8/8/08
GlobeandMail.com, CN: Once touted as a key tool in the fight against HIV-AIDS, a way of empowering women whose partners shun traditional condoms, the female condom has largely been forgotten.The fault lies not with the product itself but with set-in-their-ways policy makers, the international aid group Oxfam says in a scathing new report.

Common Treatment For Infertility Ineffective: Study
8/8/08
AFP: A drug taken by millions of women in recent decades to improve the chances of conceiving a child yields the same results as no treatment at all, according to a study published Friday.

Beginning Her Career Purely By Accident
8/8/08
Boston Globe: A young woman from Philadelphia, an amateur musician with career aspirations elsewhere, writes and sings a few songs for personal use. Next thing you know, Melody Gardot is the new sensation in sultry vocal jazz. But inextricably woven into the blossoming of Melody Gardot is the horrific accident that nearly killed her four years ago.

Olympic Outlook: View From the Executive Seat
8/7/08
Wall St. Journal: Anita L. DeFrantz, an Olympic bronze medalist and a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1986, discusses her role in the Olympics over the years and her push to increase the number of women's events on the Olympic program.

Swimmer Inspires Sisters to Shoot for Beijing
8/8/08
NY Times: At a camp for aspiring swimmers at Stanford University in 2000, Dara Torres met Sandra and Danielle Fong, 10 and 8 years old, who dreamed of one day becoming Olympic athletes. Torres gave them the medal she had recently won for breaking the American record in the 50 meters at the Santa Clara International Invitational.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Feminist Carnivaling

2008-08-10T15:34:00.002-04:00

The 62nd Carnival of Feminists is now available at Rage Against the Manchine!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Carnival of Feminists #61

2008-07-30T17:07:00.000-04:00

Check out the latest!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Lady Bloggers Today - Where Are They Now?

2008-07-30T11:06:00.003-04:00

Over at Broadsheet, Rebecca Traister has a thought-provoking article looking at the recent NYTimes coverage of the recent BlogHer and Netroots conference and critiques that BlogHer was represented as a feminized, girly gathering whereas Netroots was presented as a serious, powerful political summit. Broadly considering the position of female bloggers in today's blogosphere, Traister wonders if women bloggers are creating a "blogosphere of their own" in response to how the wild west/old boy's club style interwebs have treated them to date. She writers,

It's interesting that one of [Feministe's] PhysioProf's chief complaints about Jesella's [NYTimes]story [about the BlogHer conference] concerns the shift in conversation away from how to survive the boys' world. If the key to success lies with BlogHer's closing speakers, dating blogger Stephanie Klein and mommy blogger Heather Armstrong, both of whom have become wealthy doing what they do, and if the terrifically screwed-up scheduling conflict between Netroots and BlogHer means anything, then perhaps it's that in some quarters of the Internet, women have decided that all the wheel spinning in a blogosphere unwilling to offer them traction is a waste of their time. Maybe they're ready to pack it in and head back to their own corner, to attend a conference, and create a blogosphere, of their own.

For me, Traister's article is a nice 1-year-later reminder of the work that I did in my M.A. thesis that catalogued how female bloggers fare in the male-dominated blogosphere as well as a good call to action to continue to be mindful of how women bloggers are navigating the blogosphere and how gender (as well as race, class, etc) constructs shape this digital space.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Republic of Gilead?

2008-07-21T16:26:00.003-04:00

Why Americans Should Fear for Their Reproductive Rights

Ever feel like you're trapped in a dystopian novel? The Bush administration's recent push to redefine abortion so broadly that birth control and emergency contraceptive would be considered as such has made me feel a little like I woke up in Margaret Atwood's The Hand Maid's Tale. Don't get me wrong - I love that book - it's a great feminist read. But it certainly isn't on my list of novels to come true in real life (I'm more interested in attending Hogwarts than being re-educated to be a walking womb).

Luckily, Senator Hillary Clinton has a post up over at RH Reality check that gives me hope that I will avoid wearing a red cloak...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Calorie Counting

2008-07-20T20:14:00.002-04:00

How young is too young?

This weekend, I had the luxury of spending a day down the Jersey Shore with my bff. In preparation for our beach trip, we stopped at a local grocery store to pick up some picnic supplies. While we were trolling for a few good snacks, we observed the followiing exchange between a mother and her tween-age daughter:

Daughter: Mom - can we get these? [Holds up a bag of potato chips.]
Mom: What's the calorie count per serving?
Daughter: Um...120 calories.
Mom: And the fat?
Daughter: I don't know - can we get them?

While I think that it's very important to be informed food consumers and I totally agree that parents should be proactive in teaching their children about healthy nutrition, I found this interaction to be a bit jarring. Why were calorie counts and fat grams being discussed instead of the difference between healthy snacks and junk food? The ability to parse a nutrition label is an important skill - but without looking at the whole food picture, you can come to the wrong conclusions. For example, advocados are high in fat, but are a very healthy option for getting "good fat" in your diet.

After watching this mother-daughter exchange, I just had to wonder about what the best way to teach children, especially tweens, about healthy nutrition is in our weight-obsessed culture. What age is too young for calorie counting?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog U: Getting Active Online - Final Thoughts

2008-07-01T19:34:00.002-04:00

Getting Active Online (Part 4)

In an increasingly wired culture, you probably find yourself spending more and more time online – for work, for fun, for shopping, and more. Wouldn’t it be great if you could effortlessly transform some of that time into powerful activism? These simple steps listed below will help you to become an activist on the internet – the easy way.

Crafting Your ONLINE IDENTITY

It is important to be a savvy when deciding how you want to present yourself in the public sphere of the internet. Increasingly, employers and universities’ admissions committees evaluate an individual’s online presence as a part of their decision-making process.

The Way Back Machine: Did you know that the internet is being archived daily? Unlike what happens in Vegas, what happens on the internet stays on the internet, forever – and is publicly available and accessible for years to come.

Crossposted.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Real Men Drink Coffee, Not Cosmos

2008-06-30T10:51:00.003-04:00

Daddy Groups

Oh, the NYTimes Fashion and Style section. I have such mixed feelings about this part of the paper (is it really fit to print?). It's the section I love to hate - and I do have to admit that I would miss it's navel-gazing "trend" reporting (or, more accurately, trend killing) if it ceased to appear on a weekly basis.

My most recent bemusement came from Andy Newmans's "The Wife's at Work, So...," an article that chronicled the morning meetings of a "breakfast club" of NYC dads who gather after dropping the kids at school while the wife whisks off to work. While work-at-home mums have been meeting and greeting over cups of joe for ages, a new species of fatherly bonding has recently been observed. It seems drop-off dads are friendly folks, too. And that find it beneficial to spend time with their peers talking about the ups-and-downs of family life.

Now, I want to be clear - I am by no means down on parents having grown-up moments, exchanging anecdotes and advice, or others having being supportive. I think it's awesome that these particular dudes found “a way to honor fatherhood in the moment that we’re all engaged in our kids starting out in life together, and to blow off some steam doing it.” And I dig the turn towards dads being more involved - and less stigmatized - as active and equal parents.

But I'm just not sure what is so remarkable about guys drinking coffee together? Is it that boys are supposed to drink beer? Or why the ritual was "Sex"-ed up with a reference to the HBO fab four's cosmo-drinking habit? Would it be equally novel if it was a group of moms and dads? Are playground mothers really so clique-y that they shun the fathers in the after-school pick-up crowd? And why is the end-of-school-see-you-in-September sequence so awkwardly portrayed for these fatherly friends?

I guess I'm just wishing that dads could be, well, dads without it seeming so strange - and headline worthy.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog U: Getting Active Online - Blogging

2008-06-29T19:27:00.001-04:00

Getting Active Online (Part 3)

In an increasingly wired culture, you probably find yourself spending more and more time online – for work, for fun, for shopping, and more. Wouldn’t it be great if you could effortlessly transform some of that time into powerful activism? These simple steps listed below will help you to become an activist on the internet – the easy way.

Enter the BLOGOSPHERE.

New media technologies are allowing individuals who would not be able to have a voice in mainstream, traditional media venues to share their thoughts and opinions with a larger public. Weblogs, or blogs, are one example of DIY internet publishing that has created an alternate sphere of reporting and social commentary – and they are becoming increasingly accepted and popular as primary news venues. To be heard in the blogosphere, all you need is an internet connection and a little know-how.

Step 1: Find blogs on topics that you find interesting and that report news that is relevant to your pursuits.

Resources for finding blogs:
-BlogHer lists blogs by topical categories written by and for women on a wide variety of topics.
-BlogCarnival.com lists blog carnivals that provide round-ups of the best blog writing on the web on specific topics.

A Blog What?: A blog carnival is “a type of blog event. It is similar to a magazine, in that it is dedicated to a particular topic, and is published on a regular schedule, often weekly or monthly. Each edition of a blog carnival is in the form of a blog article that contains permalinks links to other blog articles on the particular topic” (Wikipedia.com). Blog carnivals are great if you do not have a lot of time to read blog articles daily, but would like to read a current summary of what is being written on a specific topic in the blogging world.

Step 2: Automate information delivery by signing up for email alerts and RSS feeds from the websites and blogs you most frequently visit.

Popular RSS Feeds:
-Bloglines
-Google Reader

Step 3: Share your opinion on blogs by commenting on blog posts.

Step 4: Submit your own blog articles to blogs for publication as a guest poster or columnist.

Some Places to Get Started Guest Posting:
-A Blog Without a Bicyle
-Girl with Pen (Right here!)
-Huffington Post

Guest Post How-To: Deborah Siegel at Girl with Pen offers great tips on how to write a blog post.

Collect Clips: Are you an aspiring journalist? The blogosphere is a great place to amass your first clips to build your writing portfolio.

Step 5: Start your own blog.

Crossposted.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog U: Getting Active Online - Wikis

2008-06-27T19:16:00.000-04:00

Getting Active Online (Part 2)

In an increasingly wired culture, you probably find yourself spending more and more time online – for work, for fun, for shopping, and more. Wouldn’t it be great if you could effortlessly transform some of that time into powerful activism? These simple steps listed below will help you to become an activist on the internet – the easy way.

Contribute your expertise to increasing web knowledge through WIKIS.

The internet is quickly becoming the premier information repository that people utilize in their daily life. You can help shape what information is available online and how it is presented by contributing your expertise to the creation and editing of wikis.

Wiki Definition: A wiki is “software that allows users to create, edit, and link web pages easily. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites” (Wikipedia.com).

Step 1: When you are using a wiki to find information and seen an inaccuracy, correct it! As open public-created documents, wikis give you the power to edit erroneous information.

The most popular generalist wiki is Wikipedia.

Raise Your Voice: Statistically, female internet users outnumber male internet users. Women are underrepresented, however, as contributors to wikis. This means that women’s voices are left out of the social reality that is created in the catalogues of information wikis contain.

Step 2: Create entries on topics that have been left out of popular wikis.

Women Missing: In a survey of 200 Wikipedia biographies, futurebird found that only 16% were about women. Further, articles on feminist topics were reported to be of poor quality.

Step 3: Start your own wiki on a specific topic.

Crossposted.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog U: Getting Active Online - Social Networking

2008-06-25T19:06:00.003-04:00

Getting Active Online (Part 1)

In an increasingly wired culture, you probably find yourself spending more and more time online – for work, for fun, for shopping, and more. Wouldn’t it be great if you could effortlessly transform some of that time into powerful activism? These simple steps listed below will help you to become an activist on the internet – the easy way.

Join a SOCIAL NETWORKING website.

Social networking websites allow you to quickly and easily connect with individuals who share similar interests. Because of their rhizomatic nature, these websites facilitate strongly networked collaborations between people who may have never otherwise connected because of geographical or other constraints.

Step 1: Find the social networking website that is right for you.

Popular Social Networking Websites:
-Facebook
-MySpace
-LinkedIn
-Second Life

Good News: Feeling overwhelmed by the number invitations to join these websites that you receive? Google is working on streamlining the online social experience with Open Social.

Step 2: Use your new network to connect with individuals doing similar work, to support causes you believe in, or to raise awareness about important issues.

Organizing Activism: Ms. Magazine (Winter 2008) recently reported on “an underground movement” of individuals who organized via Facebook to protest sexist advertising in the tube system by placing stickers with messages on them has gained national attention in the United Kingdom. Increasingly, off-line activism is being organized online.

Find Your Cause: Facebook allows users to create “Causes” around specific issues and to fundraise for specific non-profit organizations. Many individuals and organizations report success in social networking-based fundraising.

Crossposted.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Non-Profits Networking and Using Web 2.0 Tools

2008-06-24T15:46:00.004-04:00

Share Your Success Stories!

I've spent a lot of time during at my day job thinking about the best ways for non-profit organizations to utilize social networking and web 2.0 tools. I've had great success with Facebook, mass e-communications clients, pitching to bloggers, and other tools. And I always enjoy the opportunity to share tips with other folks working hard for their non-profit and its mission. In fact, I'm working on a guest column over at Girl With Pen on the topic of making new media technology - specifically blogs - work for individuals, organizations, and their causes.

But that doesn't mean I know it all - or that I don't want to learn new tricks! The world wide web gets a bit wider every day and keeping up with all of the latest trends can be quite a marathon. So, I'd really love to hear some "case studies" about successes you've had making online activism work for your non-profit's cause. I know there are a lot of experts on this topic out there.

Did you twitter and get your constituents to sign a petition about an important piece of legislation? Did you raise a big chunk of change using a Facebook cause? Has your website won an award? Did your blogging radically raise your organization's profile?

Share those success stories down in the comments...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Blog U: An Introduction

2008-06-23T18:44:00.000-04:00

I will be guest-posting over at Girl With Pen. In true blogging fashion, I'll also crosspost my writing here in ABWAB.

Hey, GWP readers! This is new guest blogger, Elizabeth M. Curtis here. Loyal GWP readers might remember my previous posts that provided cultural critique and gender analysis. Well, now I'm returning to GWP - as a regular like Courtney Martin and Laura Mazer - to talk about blogging and you.

Many folks want to get more active online and make web 2.0 tools work for them and their causes. But sometimes a lack of tech know-how gets in the way. So, I'll be sharing the secrets of online activism and the blogosphere that I've learned since I started blogging way back in 2006 (ages ago in online time!). My goal is to break down the blogging basics and to demystify web 2.0 technology for the folks who can't wait to get active online, in the blogosphere, and beyond. A "Blog U," if you will.

My first two tutorials offered to "Blog U" students will focus on getting active online and deciding whether or not your organization (or yourself!) is blog-ready. I'm looking for future tutorial topics as well. Let me know what you're interested in exploring in the comments section or email me your queries.

Also, I'll be cross-posting my "Blog U" posts on my own blog. Stop by for PDFs of "Blog U" material.

Crossposted.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Morning Session (Post 4)

2008-06-06T23:39:00.003-04:00

Evelyn Hu-deHart: Evelyn Hu-deHart reflects on her own career and how personal and poignant this discussion is to her own experiences in academe. She speaks about Duke University’s lacrosse team scandal and its effects on Duke’s women of color faculty. Hu-deHart notes that Duke University is on the “good list” of institutions but that such crises really exemplify the leadership’s position and the real status of minority faculty at such universities. She worries that issues of diversity are just a “numbers game” in terms of institution’s PR. Hu-deHart muses on her personal job searches as a women of color candidate. As someone in the trenches, she shares anecdotal evidence as to why we must move to the next step in diversifying higher ed. She speaks to the power of the practice of a diverse institution. Hu-deHart identifies the “culture piece” as the most important element to work on in effecting positive change. She also notes that “higher ed.” is a term that is too amorphous and imprecise. Her final thoughts focus on the question of how to make the decision-makers care deeply about these issues and read the pertinent reports (or attend these panels!).

Q&A

Audience Member: What would a truly diverse higher ed. institution look like?

Veronica Aerrola: What is the most effective way to present our data? How can we ethically show our demographics and deal with the lack of clarity that results from the manipulation of data?

Audience Member: Brings up the issue of institutional culture and access to elite universities. What can we do since not every student can go to Harvard?

Audience Member: Brings up the question of the “trailing spouse” in terms of dual academic couples. What about partner hiring issues? What can we do about the fact that women are continuing to be the trailing spouses?

The conversation gets exciting and resources are recommended.

Allison Kimmich, National Women’s Studies Association Executive Director: Allison Kimmich points out the need for a collaborative communications effort organized among stakeholders to get this information out into the public domain and to make it a mainstream issue.

Homework Assignment

The panel leaves us with a homework assignment – a call to go back to our campuses and:
• Be sure that there is a group on your campus that is asking these questions and keeping track of how all women are doing.
• Learn about your own institutions policies and share this information with peers and colleagues.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Morning Session (Post 4)

2008-06-06T23:39:00.001-04:00

nCRW Morning Session (Post 3)

2008-06-06T23:37:00.000-04:00

Presentation by American Council on Education

Gloria Thomas: Gloria Thomas piggy backs on the morning plenary’s discussion of work/life policy and focuses on the institutional level of the university. She explains that she will talk about where/when women PhDs are lost in the academic system. She notes the mismatch between women’s lives and the structure of higher ed. careers. Take-away points:
• PhD recipients – men are more likely to move up the ladder to full professors whereas women remain down in the lower ranks. But this is not a problem of pipeline, as McTighe Musil proved. Family status seems to be the big issue in this disparity. Why is it that women have to sacrifice their family status to have an academic career? (Compare to female lawyers and doctors who also struggle with these issues – but who generally make more money and can outsource domestic work.) (Boo to family life being such a detriment to women’s careers whereas men face very little, if any, burden. But, luckily, men are taking on this issue as they become more involved in families and assert their right to participate more fully in their families. Balance issues are relevant to both men and women!) WE NEED TO CHANGE THESE INSTITUIONS!
• There are a lot of leaks in the academic-track pipeline (marriage, babies, and chromosomal status are the big holes).
• Solutions to break the baby barrier and other pipeline problems? We need active service-modified duties or partial relief from duties, tenure clock stops, paid leaves for parents, disability policies for serious injury/illness, memos of understanding for expectations of faculty members on leave, and benefits for same-sex partners.
• Exemplar institutions: Duke University, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, Lehigh University, and University of Florida.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Morning Session (Post 2)

2008-06-06T23:36:00.000-04:00

Presentation by the Association of American Colleges & Universities

Caren McTighe Musil: Caren McTighe Musil opens her presentation by connecting it to the morning’s plenary by emphasizing the link between education and economic security and the importance of education to our society. She states that deploying women into leadership is one way to make change in higher education. She notes that HIGHER EDUCATION NEEDS TO BE FRAMED NOT AS A PRIVATE GOOD BUT A PUBLIC GOOD. McTighe Musil points out that education is an important civic mission and cites the democratization of higher education as an important innovation of the 20th century. But we’re not where we need to be yet! McTighe Musil advocates for benchmarks and analysis for holding the higher ed. system accountable for continuing to increase access for all individuals. Interestingly, women have been proven to be some of the strongest advocates for diversity inclusion – and McTighe Musil argues that getting women into positions of power in higher ed. needs to be a priority.

Katrhyn Peltier Campbell: Katrhyn Peltier Campbell presents the status of women from high school to college graduation to PhD attainment to faculty appointment – and beyond. (Keep your eyes open – the aforementioned AACU report will be available around November 2008!) Juicy tidbits:
• Citing the recent (and much blogged about) American Association of University Women survey, Peltier Campbell emphasizes that there is no crisis for boys. Women’s success does not equal men’s demise.
• Who is earning doctoral degrees in terms of minority groups? Well, it’s mostly white women.
• In what fields are women earning degrees? (Sigh.) It’s the traditionally feminized fields like nursing and teaching. Science and technology come in dead last for degree attainment – women are obviously still struggling in the sciences. But don’t lose hope – some improvements have been made and there is some progress.
• How do babies effect academic careers? When women enter the tenure track, if they do not already have children, they are highly unlikely to have children. For college presidents, female presidents are far less likely to have children than their male peers. In other words, family and academic careers don’t mix for women scholars.

Caren McTighe Musil: McTighe Musil steps up to summarize the information Peltier Campbell so succinctly presented. She reminisces about her academic career, which began 35 years ago, versus her daughter’s career, which began in fall 2007. (In other words, thank goodness for Title IX!) Important points:
• Women account for 39% of full-time faculty. But! 3 out of 4 full-time positions are contingency contract work. (Need I give any more reasons for why I am personally skittish about committing myself to an academic life?)
• Women are making the most progress at community colleges in terms of being tenured and attaining leadership positions. (Do the Ivy League and Research 1 Institutions remain old boys’ clubs? Methinks…)
• In terms of faculty ranking, women have made great progress in lower ranking positions (lecturers, assistants, etc) – but not at in the upper ranks (full professors, etc).
• There is parity when folks are hired – but within five years gaps begin to exist (think chasms, continental divides, etc).
• Women of color college presidents aren’t on equal footing in terms of length of tenure or pay.
• Women college presidents are more likely to be divorced or never married than their male colleagues.
McTighe Musil ends on the link between education, prosperity, health, etc – and the systemic problems with who does not have access to higher ed. with a focus on young men of color.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Morning Session

2008-06-06T23:35:00.000-04:00

Transforming Higher Education: Access, Inclusion, and Diversity

This morning, I decided to go with the education plank of NCRW’s 2008 agenda and I am attending a panel on higher education and diversity.

In the room are the panelists:
Donna Shavlik, The Timberline Group (Moderator)
Kathryn Peltier Campbell, Association of American Colleges & Universities
Evelyn Hu-deHart, Brown University
Caryn McTighe Musil, Association of American Colleges & Universities
Gloria Thomas, Amercian Council on Education

And now the session begins…

Donna Shavlik: Donna Shavlik opens with an appropriate joke about how transforming higher education is “somewhat of an oxymoron.” She frames the presentation to follow in terms of the fact that women make up more than half of students in higher education, but that has not translated into faculty appointments and higher education leadership. She notes that Kathryn Peltier and Caryn McTighe Musil will be sharing the first public presentation of a study by the Association of American Colleges & Universities on “Reaching Higher Ground in Higher Education: A Report on the Status of Women.” Shavlik also introduces Gloria Thomas and Evelyn Hu-deHart. She concludes this introduction with a CALL TO HOLD INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACCOUNTABLE FOR INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 9)

2008-06-06T18:37:00.002-04:00

Final Thoughts

Joan Entmacher: Entmacher ends on the importance of early childhood education, and her concern for older women and he available social programs for the aging, as raised by audience members.

Gina Wood: Wood draws a connection between “sickness and wealth” and shares her organization as a resource for getting more information on the issues discussed in the plenary today.

Kate Kahan: Kahan expresses the fact that our system is not prepared for increased life expectancy levels and our need to pay attention to this neglected policy area.

Sandy Morgen: Morgen ends by pointing out how aging is really an area where we can see the intersectionality of gender, race, class, ability, age, etc. She notes is a great place to do “both-and” work.

What a great and informative session on the need to do intersectional work and to powerfully frame the issues that are important to us!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 8)

2008-06-06T18:37:00.001-04:00

Q & A

Vernoica Aerrola: What counts as a “job” when we are doing this research? How do define “jobs” in our research on job creation?

Joan Entmacher: Entmacher points out that it is difficult to tell when analyzing DOL stats and observes how the question points to the nuance of evaluating job creation, etc in terms of what it means for women. For example, in the rebuilding of New Orleans, did women receive the high paid jobs that were created through construction projects? She ends by asking what we are doing for women to assure that women have access to the jobs that are being created.

Sandy Morgen: Morgen points out that older policies – that might need to be updated – that worked in the past to help women access new and lucrative jobs. She notes that there is a road map we could use to shape our work in the future. She doesn’t think we should re-copy old policies, but that we can learn from them – and the US has done this work in the past. It’s not a blank slate!

Audience Member: An audience member requests information on the relation of poverty statistics for women versus men.

Audience Member: Another audience member points out how effective social media can be in translating statistics into powerful policy movements.

A general discussion about useful resources follows. (How great - like thinking and linking, but right here in person!)

Jane Wishner: Jane Wishner echoes previous discussion and asks Linda Basch about the NCRW’s Corporate Members Circle and their feelings about the issues we’ve been discussing in terms of employment benefits and employee needs. Wishner sees this as a point of possible positive change making.

Linda Basch: Basch agrees that we need to use our networks to work on such policy issues as well as looking to organizations, such as those for women’s entrepreneurs,

Mev Miller: Mev Miller asks about how we can work on issues of education, including financial literacy and health care literacy. How can NCRW’s research speak to education?

Audience Member: An audience member raises the issue of aging and how that effects an individual’s economic position.

Audience Member: Another audience member brings up early education for children growing up in low-income situations in terms of the legacy of No Child Left Behind.

Valerie Ann Johnson, Bennett College for Women: Valerie Ann Johnson brings up issues of ability in terms of access to prosperity. (An important point, for sure!) She asks how we can make ability issues more visible.

A general discussion among panelists in regards to these questions follows. High school drop out rates, transportation issues, land use policy, and other topics are raised.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 7)

2008-06-06T18:35:00.002-04:00

Panel Discussion on What the Implications of Their Work on Policy and Women’s Lives

Sandy Morgen: Morgen points out the long tradition of putting responsibility on the individual in the United States. Citing a feminist economist, she notes that welfare has been all about making women job-ready – instead of making jobs women-ready, mother-ready, etc. She emphasizes the need to change the rhetoric around what is really wrong – with the system. She also discusses the “nonexistent” Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare program.

Joan Entmacher: Entmacher looks at the way “the Right” has portrayed tax cuts and growing the economy in the Bush administration. She points out that even the Right can’t cite the tax cuts as effective – even if they are presented as such in political rhetoric. Entmacher notes that given this legacy it is a hard sell to develop such social programs – but it is a critical issue. She recommends evaluating such investments like tax cuts on an individual and local level to shape policy debate and to effect change. She also muses on the difficulty of re-authorizing the child welfare bill and how it was effective to compare the tax cuts for millionaire versus funding for the childcare funding block grant to powerfully frame this debate. Entmacher urges advocates to refuse to accept when politicians say that there is no money for social programs – if there is money for millionaire tax cuts…well, it’s a persuasive (and proven successful!) argument to make in hearings. She ends by asking how the United States can position itself as not being able to afford robust social programs – when other countries with fewer resources are doing more (she cites Cuba as one example).

Linda Basch: Bacsh follows up on these comments by asking, “HOW CAN WE PUSH THE IDEA THAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS TO START INVESTING IN ITS PEOPLE?”

Kate Kahan: Kahan points out the need to recognize that individuals are worried about the state of the economy at the level of their own pocketbooks. She notes that we need to point out not only the fact and figures but also the SOLUTIONS. For example, the US is only one of four countries that does not offer paid family leave (like Swaziland and Liberia). She also makes the important point that there are so many other areas like pay equity and discrimination that need to be addressed as well – on a social, cultural, and political level. Kahan really makes a case for why the fight for all of these issues need to happen together – leveraging the intersectionality of all them. (I agree!) And she ends on the IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

Gina Wood: Wood shares data about the lives of women of color. These sad statistic make a strong case for working to end institutional racism and to increase social policy to assist these women.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 6)

2008-06-06T18:35:00.001-04:00

Gina Wood on Health Disparities

Gina Wood discusses HEALTH DISPARITIES and the need to guarantee the inalienable right to live healthy lives to all individuals, especially women and people of color. She points out how troubling it is that the presidential candidates’ health care plans have not yet been analyzed in terms of how they will effect individuals lives.

What are the social determinents of health? Wood points out that disparities occur on personal, social, economic, and environmental levels.

Looking to the work done in Appalachia, she frames HEALTH AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE.

Wood ends on striking statistics around maternal and child health. She points out that the US is ranked 29th (after Cuba) in terms of infant mortality – which is a drop from previous levels.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 5)

2008-06-06T18:34:00.002-04:00

Kate Kahan on Economic Justice

Kate Kahan reflects on her personal experience with poverty as a single mother and transitions into discussing HOW TO FRAME “WORK AND FAMILY ISSUES.” She discusses the triumph of passing the Family Medical Leave Act, while also pointing out its shortcomings, especially for women who do not qualify for FMLA benefits (such as those who work part-time).

Kahan expresses her frustration with work/family balance framing of these issues, as it put the onus on individuals and does not put enough focus on the system creating less than optimal situations. She cites the importance of paid sick days for workers.

On a positive note, Kahan points out that things are starting to shift in terms of work/family policy. She notes that all 3 presidential candidates have put forth strong platforms on work/family policy as well as various federal legislation that will be considered in 2008. She also cites several local and state and advances, such as paid sick days being mandated in San Francisco and paid leave being adopted in Washington and New Jersey. She is especially excited about the new definition of family member that has been included in the FMLA in terms of expanding caregiver options. (I wonder about the implications of the expansion of the definition of family in federal law…hm!)

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 4)

2008-06-06T18:34:00.001-04:00

Joan Entmacher on Social Policy

Joan Entmacher raises the issues of health care and child care as well as tax issues, such as raising the earned income tax credit and the child tax credit. She also discusses the need to create comprehensive employment insurance and reforming the unemployment system. Briefly, she touches on “predatory lending” in terms of home equity.

Entmacher cites “two elephants in the room” in terms of economic security:
• Bush tax credits
• War in Iraq

She ends with musings on WHO IS THE MIDDLE CLASS? Currently, politicians are citing individuals who make updwards of $200,000 each year and she asks if those individuals are truly “middle class.” (On a personal note, by these standards, I definitely do not qualify as middle class, which I find quite troubling – considering my current privilege in terms of my education level and job security.)

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 3)

2008-06-06T18:33:00.000-04:00

Sandy Morgen on Economics

Sandy Morgen recognizes the need to get issues of race, class, gender, and other areas into public debate. She also points out the importance of working on the issues of ALL WOMEN – not just some women. Morgen meditates on the historical failure of the women’s movement to address all women – and urges us to push ahead to do better in the future.

Concentrating on economic issues, Morgen points out the need for basic economic literacy for women, especially women of lower socioeconomic status and students of women’s and gender studies.

Morgen also discusses the enormous debt created for the United States by the Iraq War.

She went on to point out several statistics about poverty in the United States:
• 1 in 4 African-American, Native American, and Latina women are poor
• 16% of immigrants to the United States are poor
• 1 in 3 women are poor

Morgen emphasizes the need for AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary (Post 2)

2008-06-06T10:03:00.000-04:00

Introduction by Linda Basch, NCRW President

NCRW President Linda Basch introduces the panelists on the plenary session this morning, which includes:
• Sandra Morgen, Penn State University
• Joan Entmacher, National Women’s Law Center
• Kate Kahan, National Partnership for Women & Families
• Gina Wood, The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

She also introduced the five critical issues that the Council is putting forth at this conference and in this panel:
1. Economic Security
2. Health
3. Violence
4. Immigration
5. Education

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

NCRW Friday Morning Plenary

2008-06-06T09:45:00.001-04:00

Setting the Agenda for 2008 and Beyond: Bringing Women’s Voices to the Center

I’m sitting here at the second plenary* in the 2008 annual conference of the National Council for Research on Women. I’ll be refining my live-blogging skills and recording the panel discussion. So bear with me as I relay the exciting on-goings...

Oh! And I’ll be cross-posting at Girl With Pen. I hope you many conference attendees join Deborah and me at our workshop on blogging tomorrow. (And kudos to Deborah for this opportunity to share my passion for blogging for social change with NCRW members!)

*Wanna know what happened at the first plenary? Check out the awesome coverage on Girl With Pen.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Hitting the Ground Running

2008-06-05T23:28:00.000-04:00

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, I will be at the National Council for Research on Women's annual conference - Hitting the Ground Running. Live blogging to come!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

"I won't be making any decisions tonight."

2008-06-03T21:52:00.002-04:00

No matter where you stand on the current state of the primary frenzy, you have to admit that speech was courageous.

Note to Dems: Let's pull it together, people. We have an election to win!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Ladies Who Lunch

2008-05-08T14:53:00.002-04:00

Leaders, That Is

Just couldn't resist sharing this Girl With Pen post about a recent event hosted by the Woodhull Institute (full disclosure: where you can find me from 9 to 5).

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

and then, the feminist interwebs exploded

2008-05-05T21:43:00.005-04:00

You may have noticed that ABWAB has been a little quiet of late. It could be that i am horribly addicted to Google Reader and have been substituting sharing for full-fleshed posting. Or it could be that I've been out of doors enjoying the cheerful spring weather sans computer. Or that, as someone experiencing her first year as a non-student, I have an unhealthy relationship with a few bad TV shows.

Or it could just be that recent events in the feminist blogosphere have given me pause. And I've been thinking.

I'm still pensive. Despite careful consideration, I don't know if I want to weigh in, if that would be productive, or how I would want to respond. Of course, my silence - in and of itself - could be an expression of a certain privilege. And, given my personal politics of location, witnessing (without commentary) may or may not be appropriate.

What I can offer, though, is a place is cyberspace for folks to productively discuss the ongoing effects of these events - as well as larger implications for the future.* I am not staying silent because I think that there is nothing to say and I would like to instead offer space for collaboration for working through these issues. By being "quiet" as a blogger, I can amplify the comments ABWAB readers would like to share. And I really love that about blogging - the fact that it's bidirectional and creates lots of opportunities for exchange.

Another beauty of the blogosphere is that it allows for almost instaneous reaction (and, perhaps as we saw in this situation, that characteristic of the blogosphere can be complicating, too) and mobilization. Meaning we can all work together - quickly and effectly - to move forward.

So, yes. The feminist interwebs exploded. But maybe it was just the big bang...to get us all motivated to make some positive change. I'd like to think that this "interweb explosion" isn't a moment of community breaking, but is instead an opportunity for community building.

*Groundrule: Keep it productive - no ad hominem attacks!

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

omg kidz 2day inc txt tawk in skul wrk

2008-04-25T11:09:00.003-04:00

Electronic Informalities v. Academic Tradition

Okay, so text language is clearly not my native writing tongue. But it is becoming the first language of the wired generation of young folks in school today, as the NYTimes reports. And this does create quite an interesting situation for educators - when to insist on "standard English" and when to let a few LOLZ slide by...that is the question.

While I find it very interesting to consider how emerging technologies evolve language and communication (like silent reading and the printing press), the statement in this article that really caught my attention was,

More than half of the teenagers surveyed had a profile on a social networking site like Facebook or MySpace, 27 percent had an online journal or blog and 11 percent had a personal Web site. Generally, girls dominated the teenage blogosphere and social networks.*

So, where are all the girl bloggers? Where are the women online? Like the proliferation of txt-style writing across mediums, forms, and spaces, it seems that tech-savvy women are everywhere - if we just recognize them.

*Emphasis mine.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

OMFG

2008-04-17T12:33:00.007-04:00

The Gossip About Those GossipGirl Ads

I was taking a leisurely jaunt in Manhattan when I first came across the controversial GossipGirl ads that have created so much buzz for this CW show. Promoting this TV series based on the popular teen books about an elite prep school, the advertisements I saw were poster-size and plastered all over a construction site. My response? OMFG, for sure. And WTF, too.

Now my reaction to these ads is not negative because I am prudish or "sex-shaming." I'm just struck by how "soft-core" these mainstream images are. Like Ariel Levy, I'm concerned about how "pornified" society seems to be these days. But my take on the consequences of this "pop culture gone wild" is more in line with the views of Jessica Valenti. As Jessica smartly states in her book Full Frontal Feminism,

I think that while the fast-growing focus on sexuality [in popular culture] certainly has the potential to be dangerous for young women, it's not necessarily all bad. What is bad is that young women seem to be confronted with too few choices and too many wagging fingers...We're all trapped by the limiting version of sexuality that's put out there - a sexuality that caters almost exclusively to men.

Jessica goes on to make a call for young women to critically engage with mainstream images promoting an impossible and often unattractive version of female sexuality and to then make informed decisions about their own sexual lives.

I think that the GossipGirl ad campaign is a perfect example of the type of analysis Jessica advocates. What is going on in these ads? Is it just a shameless use of sex to sell an already racy series? Is female pleasure exploited or privileged by featuring an actress's "o-face"? What's up with the social mores contradiction of this television show being marketed to the very same American teenagers who are being taught abstinence-only sex ed. in school? WTF, you know?

Luckily, feminist scholars/thinkers like Levy, Valenti, Kathleen Sweeney, and Deborah Siegel are writing about these issues - and brining more to the conversation than just WTF.

Some Recommended Reads:
-On "raunch" culture: Ariel Levy's Female Chauvanist Pigs
-On feminism and activism today: Jessica Valenti's Full Frontal Feminism
-Girls, girls, girls: Kathleen Sweeney's Maiden USA: Girl Icons Come of Age
-Blogging about girlhood: Patti Binder's What's Good for Girls
-For some female-friendly, sex-positive inspiration: Rachel Krammer Brussel's Dirty Girls: Erotica for Women

Share your recs and takes in the comments section, too!

Cross-posted at Girl With Pen

Image Cred

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Carnival of Feminists #57

2008-04-11T01:15:00.000-04:00

Some great weekend reading...

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Misogyny v. Sexism

2008-04-08T14:10:00.003-04:00

Misogyny:Sexism::Institutions:Individuals

I think this NYTimes article provides an excellent argument for why women's and gender studies courses should be required curriculum...or at least for NYTimes writers.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Chocolate Cake...Marital Rape...I Fail to See the Similarities

2008-04-03T20:04:00.003-04:00

I think Finally, A Feminism 101 Blog's (trigger warning) March 18th post completely debunks the horrifying comments made by the British National Party member Nick Eriksen comparing marital rape to being forced to eat chocolate cake.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Cool Women, Hot Jobs

2008-04-03T19:52:00.002-04:00

I spent today at the Young Women's Leadership School, Bronx Campus participating in their "Cool Women, Hot Jobs" career day. I can't say enough about the wonderful young women I met there - I was so impressed by their professionalism, poise, and passion for doing their research about their career possibilities. The TWYLS program definitely puts its students a step ahead; when I was 13, I don't think I was contemplating my professional path as seriously as these young women students are at this progressive public school.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Feminist Carnivaling!

2008-03-31T14:27:00.001-04:00

Check out the Carnival of Feminists #56 over at Redemption Blues.

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

Women Who Tech Telesummit

2008-03-31T11:26:00.003-04:00

Today!

I still have LOTS of blogging to catch up on after the productive WAM! conference over the weekend, but - because I just can't get enough women and tech - I'll be participating in today's Women Who Tech Telesummit. See you there?

Please note that as my M.A. thesis project is complete, the George Washington University is no longer overseeing research conducted in conjunction with this blog (effective June 2007 to present). The Informed Consent Materials created while this blog was under GWU's IRB oversight are still available for your information and the principles outlined in them are still being used as a general guide for my continued work.

I Heart Helen Thomas

2008-03-29T19:47:00.003-04:00

Helen Thomas delivered WAM's opening keynote address last night - and wow! Ann Friedman introduced this White House Press Corp trailblazer as "the patron saint of not shutting up" because of her courageousness to ask tough questions to US presidents.

True to her reputation of being authentic and bold, Helen delivered a powerful speech - which I wish I could share with you in full here. Lacking the full transcript, I leave you with these quick quips and food for thought from her speech that exemplify why I heart Helen Thomas:

On the 2008 Presidential Election in the US:

We are facing the dichtomy of our prejudices in our next presidential election.

What's wrong with diversity? What's wrong with division? Do we all need to be in lockstep?

On the Iraq War:

My solution: Get out of Iraq - yesterday. Bring in UN peacekeepers...Allow Iraqis who collaborated with us and whose live are now in danger to come inte our country.

We want a world where the weak are secure and the strong are just.

I've reserved my greatest criticism for Congress and the Press.

On Presidents & the Press:

Too much is at stake to throw the president a softball [question].

Presidents have to be watched.

I look at the president - you're a public servant. I pay your salary. [On havingt the courage to ask critical questions.]

What Public Figures Have Had to Say About Helen Thomas:
Castro, on the difference between Cuban and US media -

I don't have to answer questions to Helen Thomas.

Colin Powell, when approached with a difficult question at a reception -

Isn't there a war we could send her to?

Inspiration for Women Leaders:

Outrage is my adrenaline.

We should never look back in anger or revenge and should instead move forward.