Sarah Palin: Embracing Feminism, or Co-Opting it for Conservatives?
"Mama Grizzly" Sarah Palin is once again proving to be a thorn in the side of the feminist blogosphere, which has recently been invigorated by the debate over her co-opting of the word "feminism." Since her ascension to the coveted status of one of the most visible women in American politics, feminists have engaged in a spirited discussion about Palin's impact on the progress of women's liberation. But her speech last month at a fund-raising breakfast for the Susan B. Anthony List -- a coalition whose goal is to elect female anti-abortion candidates -- has especially drawn the ire of many ...
Tina Fey: Mark Twain Prize Winner and 'Fearless Observer of Society'
In the midst of a news cycle dominated by serious and sobering issues including catastrophic oil rig explosions, continuing economic woes and an ongoing immigration debate, a morsel of good news is still to be found: It was announced this week that Tina Fey, of "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" fame, won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor -- one of the most prestigious humor awards in the country. When Fey is presented the award during a show at the Kennedy Center this November, she will be joining a small club of honorees. Only 12 other comedians have won the award, and of those, ...
Sarah Silverman: Crude Comedian With a Certain Feminist Flair
In case any of you ladies missed it, I thought I'd point you toward Terry Gross' insightful -- and delightful -- interview with the polarizing comedian Sarah Silverman. The comedian was on Gross' NPR talk show, "Fresh Air," last week to discuss her new memoir, "The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee." Gross aptly described Silverman -- and her crude brand of comedy -- when she introduced her as a woman whose "comedy may seem offensive to Jews, African-Americans, Latinos, gay people, you name it, but that's because she's in persona as someone who is clueless, uninformed but ...
Constance McMillen: Mississippi's Pro-Gay Prom Rebel is a Hero
If there's any justice in this world, then Constance McMillen's name and her story of fierce heroism will be celebrated in the annals of the human rights movement in this country. The 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Miss., made national headlines last month when her fight with the Itawamba County School District gained significant media traction. McMillen wanted to bring her girlfriend to the high school prom on April 2, but after contacting the school's vice principal last December in hopes of receiving approval, he told her she was not allowed to do so. ...
'Tis the Season to Exploit College Students
In the current recession, everyone -- students, graduates, blue- and white-collar workers alike -- faces an increasingly competitive job market. College students have always turned to internships, paid or unpaid, for not only the skill development and on-the-job training but also, frankly, for the résumé padding. But a recent article from The New York Times concerning the rise in unpaid internships, and whether such positions are in keeping with state and federal regulatory guidelines, seems to have struck a nerve. "With job openings scarce for young people, the number of unpaid internships ...
California GOP Ad Battles: Pure Genius or Political Suicide?
In the midterm elections taking place this November, Californians will be deciding on not only a controversial ballot initiative essentially legalizing marijuana, but also who our new governor will be and whether to replace one of two Democratic women in the U.S. Senate with a Republican. It is perhaps fitting, given the unfavorable (and record-low) ratings of incumbents in Congress, as well as the unpredictability of California's politics, that the candidates who lead the pack in the races for governor and senator are unconventional politicians. Carly Fiorina, former chief executive of ...
Reaping What She Sews: A Businesswoman of Color Tells Her Story
Some women celebrate their 30th birthdays worrying about their life plans or society's arbitrary expectations. Erica Varize celebrated the milestone with another milestone: She opened a business. EVarize Fashion Café in Berkeley, Calif., is the Bay Area's first "cut and sew boutique." Customers come to the shop for a fashion experience that is unique to them -- they select the fabric, cut and style of their garment, and Varize sews it, tailoring it to the client's measurements. "People love seeing the fabric and what it can become," said Varize, who launched her business four years ago on ...
Jerry Brown and Me: A Progressive's Lament
OAKLAND, California -- Jerry Brown has been part of the political landscape in my home state longer than I've been alive; by the time I was born, in 1985, he had already served two terms as governor, made two unsuccessful bids for the presidency, and one for the U.S. Senate. While I was growing up, he was California's state Democratic Party chairman, served two terms as the mayor of Oakland, where I live, and was elected attorney general, a position he still holds. So when Brown, who's 72, announced earlier this month that he is running for the 2010 Democratic nomination to get his old job ...
Thousands Rally Against California Education Cuts
SAN FRANCISCO -- "No cuts! No fees! Education should be free!" That chant was shouted in every corner of San Francisco State University's campus on Thursday. Later in the day, demonstrators yelled it into their loudspeakers as they marched through downtown San Francisco and into Civic Center plaza. The events were part of the March 4 "Day of Action" long planned by supporters of California's public education system. The state's record budget deficit (a $20-billion gap this year, coupled with $60 billion from last year) has dramatically impacted all levels of public education in ...
At Health Care Summit, Louise Slaughter Put Women in the Picture
The only thing more painfully obvious than the lack of bipartisanship at Thursday's "bipartisan" health care summit was the dearth of women at the table. Of more than 40 participants, five were women: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) Equal-representation issues aside, Slaughter seemed determined to bring women's health care concerns to the forefront, making impassioned comments that ranged from the enforcement of "cruel" and "capricious" policies ...
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