There’s a lot of health-related news this week. Don’t worry, I’m taking care of your blood pressure by saving some good news for the end.
Reproductive Rights:
A study suggests that at least 100,000 Texas women have tried to end a pregnancy without medical assistance — and possibly as many as 240,000.
In Brazil, which already severely restricts abortion, conservative are trying to further limit the circumstances where abortion will be allowable, including requiring rape victims to file a police report and undergo a forensic examination before being allowed access to abortion.
Tennessee’s “fetal assault” law isn’t stopping pregnant women from using drugs.
“Pro-life?” In Ohio, Republicans are trying to block Planned Parenthood from federal grant money. Not for abortion or contraception — that’s already been cut — but money earmarked for STD testing (including HIV) and reducing infant mortality.
Violence:
A painful first-person account of what it’s like getting a rape kit.
Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle sentenced to 15 years 8 months for molestation.
Mexico’s Mothers of the Disappeared.
Psychologist Melissa Farley on changing law enforcement attitudes toward prostitution — there are still places where a child too young to consent to sex can become a “criminal” for being pimped.
The Alpha Phi Sorority comes out against the Orwellianly misnamed “Safe Campus Act.”
Health:
More studies tell us what we already suspected: men’s pain is taken more seriously by medical professionals, and women are more likely than men to be given sedatives instead of painkillers.
67 percent of women in Pennsylvania prisons are classified as mentally ill, compared with 22 percent of men.
Pigeons trained to spot cancerous breast tumors on x-rays.
In some parts of the world, just having access to a toilet is still an issue for women and girls.
Workplace and Economic Issues:
Workplace harassment after giving birth is so widespread in Japan that it has a name, matahara, “maternity harassment.”
The most difficult part of workplace sexism may be the part that’s hard to quantify and prove, like the meeting where you ask a question and the speaker directs the answer to the man on your team.
Paid parental leave can be a matter of life and death. Here’s a way to speak up about it.
After age 65, women living in poverty outnumber men by 2 to 1.
No, the pay gap between men and women can’t be blamed on women being “bad negotiators.”
This year’s Global Gender Gap Report ranks Iceland the highest for gender equality. The US is 28th.
More women in the tech industry isn’t just good for women — it’s good for the tech industry.
Uncategorizable:
The Daily Caller has always been a misogynist cesspool, but this is a new low: an article with pictures of women purported to be Syrian refugees, discussing how “hot” they are. I’m sorry to say it was written by a woman.
Amanda Marcotte once noted that no matter what a guy’s interest is, if he’s insecure, he’ll declare it to be a “guy thing,” whether it’s drumming or playing video games. Apparently this extends even to making mix tapes, according to Jimmy Iovine of Apple’s streaming music service. No, seriously:
“I just thought of a problem: Girls are sitting around talking about boys. Or complaining about boys! They need music for that, right? It’s hard to find the right music. Not everyone … knows a DJ.”
Good News and Action Items:
Some ideas for a feminist constitution.
Meet Maggie Doyne, CNN’s Hero of the Year, who turned $5000 savings into a school, women’s center, and children’s home in Nepal.
Solar Sister empowers women in Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria by putting them in the business of solar power.
75 percent of Syrian refugees are women and children. Tell the Senate to help them.
The White House announces $100 million in funding for women and girls of color, concentrating on revamping the school-to-prison pipeline, reducing teen births, and creating opportunities especially in STEM fields.
Please note that we need a volunteer for next week! Also, thanks to officebss for providing some of this week’s links!