As we pass another anniversary of Roe V. Wade, with politicians continuing to search for ways to undermine reproductive rights, we got a stark reminder of just how bad it can get:
In El Salvador, the government is advising women to avoid getting pregnant for the next two years, due to an outbreak of the Zika virus, which can cause severe birth defects. Of course, abortion is illegal in El Salvador under all circumstances, including danger to the woman’s life. Women may be imprisoned for any miscarriage deemed suspicious.
This is where the right wants to take us, and damn the consequences. So we have no choice but to keep fighting.
Here’s this week’s news roundup. As always, thanks to ramara, Besame, officebss, and anyone I forgot, for the links and the inspiration.
Economics & Workplace:
A new survey of women working in STEM fields had depressing results: 87% reported getting demeaning remarks from male colleagues, 60% got unwanted sexual advances, and 33% had feared for their personal safety due to work circumstances.
Some women have tried to remedy the above with networking events and organizations aimed specifically at women — only to get sued by a “men’s rights” organization.
Fox tried to pay Gillian Anderson half of co-star David Duchovny’s salary — again — for the rebooted X-Files. She fought for — and got — equal pay.
The UN launches an initiative for women’s economic empowerment.
Women in Bangladesh talk about their working conditions as they make the clothes that are sold here. It isn’t pleasant reading.
Violence and Harassment:
It’s becoming a familiar pattern: one brave woman comes forward about sexual harassment by a highly-placed man in the entertainment industry. Twitter lights up with responses from women with similar stories, including sexual assault. The man — Heathcliff Berru, CEO of Life or Death PR — resigns, issues a “Sorry if my behavior offended anyone” statement and announces he’s going into rehab for substance abuse. The sheer number of victims raises the question: just how many people in the music business knew about his actions and chose to look away? Another woman decided to give women in the music industry a place to share information anonymously: The Industry Ain’t Safe.
After a series of acid attacks, almost all on women, Colombia closes a legal loophole that had allowed assailants to get off lightly.
Japan, which took until 2014 (!) to outlaw child porn that uses photos of real children, continues to have a thriving market for child sexual exploitation, and penalties remain lenient.
In Egypt, some men see it as a game to get groups of men to surround, harass, and sexually assault a woman.
Britain could be a leader when it comes to supporting the lives and livelihoods of women in conflict zones.
Daniel Holtzclaw, the cop who used his position to get away with raping at least 18 African-american women, was sentenced to 263 years in prison.
A Canadian man was found not guilty of online harassment of two women. The judge said that prosecutors hadn’t proven he “knew” his behavior was harassing — despite doing things like mentioning a bar where the women hung out, while the women were there.
Photographer Leila Alaoui, on assignment for Amnesty International on a project for women’s rights, has died after being injured in a terrorist attack in Burkina Faso which left 30 people dead. She was just 33 years old.
Peace negotiations are more likely to be successful when women are included.
Reproductive Rights:
The EACH Woman Act seeks to strike down the Hyde Amendment.
Anti-choice groups are getting licensed to provide continuing “education”to nurses.
High Court Lookout: upcoming Supreme Court cases will consider abortion restrictions and religious objections to insurance providing birth control.
Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor has proposed a program for free long-lasting birth control (IUD’s) for women with little or no health insurance.
In Peru, the Quipu project enables people sterilized under the Fujimori regime in the 1990s to record their traumatic experiences.
A Missouri politician has introduced a fetal personhood bill with the doubly insulting title of “All Lives Matter.”
Creepy female legislator asks teens if they are virgins.
Carly Fiorina ambushed a group of preschoolers on a field trip and tried to draft them into her anti-abortion event.
The Supreme Court declined to hear an Arkansas case in which a ban on abortions after 12 weeks was struck down.
Bill Moyers interview with Sandra Day O’Connor on Roe V. Wade.
Good news and action items:
Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court struck down provisions in the country's marriage laws that allow girls to marry at 16 and boys at 18. Under the new laws, neither boys nor girls may marry until the age of 18.
The book Rad American Women rightfully honors the female voices who have made an unforgettable, indelible impact on art, literature, culture, social justice and beyond.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on women’s friendships.
The Surprising Way Portraits Of Powerful Women Change The Mindsets Of Girls - Seeing is believing.
Iranian women are fighting back against a law requiring them to wear hijab while driving. They’re posting videos of themselves throwing off the veil and laughing.
Check out pro-choice events at #TogetherForAbortion.
What does feminism mean to you? Send your answer to #theFword video contest.