This week Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez spoke out about her employers telling her she couldn’t report about sexual assault because she was a survivor. This came right on the heels of several outlets keeping Asian-American reporters off the story about the racist mass shooting in Atlanta. Jessica Valenti noted that issues of race and gender, in particular, seemed to be the ones where newsrooms were quick to flag reporters’ life experiences as biased:
In a racist and sexist world, only white men are ‘objective.’ We still live in a culture that doesn’t see straight white men as having a political identity, or being capable of bias—they’re the default.
So when mostly white men run newsrooms, any reporter who speaks openly about issues that deviate from that ‘norm’ identity and experience is labeled a troublemaker. And because cultural messages continue to paint women who speak up about assault as ‘hysterical’, and people who complain about racism as rabble-rousers, management is given all the ammunition they need to bench reporters without too much backlash.
This time, however, there was enough blowback for the WP to reverse the decision. Valenti adds:
The truth is that writers’ experiences with racism and sexism make them better equipped to write about those issues. Their history might make it easier to avoid victim-blaming in a headline, for example, or make them more able to decipher thinly-veiled racist dog-whistles from politicians.
As always, this diary is a team effort. Thanks to Getting1, elenacarlena, mettle fatigue, ramara, Angmar, SandraLLAP, and the WOW crew for links and discussion.
Violence and Harassment:
A woman who was raped during the Bosnian war had DNA testing help prove her rapist’s identity.
Woman Shot by Police Wins Supreme Court Seizure Case. Say her name. Roxanne Torres.
Anav Youlevich, a psychologist who developed a volunteer project helping victims of narcissistic and psychopathic exploitation, explains how to identify gaslighting.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (Q-FL) faces investigation over exploitation of a 17-year-old girl. He also showed other lawmakers nude photos of women he said he’d had sex with including showing them on the House floor. And back when he was in the Florida state legislature, he allegedly participated in a “game” where mmale legislators awarded themselves points for having sex with female lobbyists, staffers, and (preferably married) legislators.
Joyce Maynard on predatory celebrity men with a taste for teenagers — and what happens to women who speak up.
Eleven women sue Eastern Michigan University over mishandling of sexual assault complaints.
Workplace issues:
Top investors call for improved pay and working conditions in care homes.
More women than ever hold state office, but outdated family leave policies haven’t changed.
Health:
Women report worse side effects after COVID-19 vaccinations. Not surprising, since doses are routinely determined by testing on men.
Who is deemed worth saving? Medical rationing in disabled communities.
Law and Policy:
The Biden administration issued a sharp repudiation of the former guy’s policies that diminished women’s and reproductive rights, as well as LGBT rights.
As Egypt’s feminist movement grows, lawmakers seek to further restrict women’s rights.
Good News:
Toni Stone was the first woman to play professional baseball in the days of the “Negro Leagues.”
Women are writing themselves back into history on Wikipedia.
Martha Cowan celebrated turning 100 years old on March 24. 100-Year-Old North Texan, World War II Pilot Martha Cowan Celebrates Lifetime of Breaking Gender Barriers.
The first African-American woman pilot in the US army, Millie Bailey, flew in World War II. She just turned 103.
Uncategorizable:
Swiss army to finally start issuing female recruits with women’s underwear. Yes, in 2021.
The 1954 Miss America pageant included a competition in… ironing?
A really affecting article by Melissa Febos on a lifetime of consenting to touch that she didn’t want. If you only have time to read one long piece right now, this is the one.