Looking back over the year, obviously the big news was the Supreme Court’s destruction of Roe v. Wade in June, and the subsequent laws restricting women’s reproductive choices in red states (and some purple states as well). Almost immediately afterward, anti-choice groups in Kansas tried to use a voter initiative to remove the right to abortion from the state constitution. Politicians across the country were paying attention when choice won by almost 60/40 in a heavily Republican state. Women’s fierce resistance was a large part of the reason that Democrats held the Senate and lost few seats in the House in what was widely predicted to be a “red wave” year.
We have a tough road ahead. Because of the Dobbs decision, we’ve seen sexual assault victims as young as 10 being denied abortions. We’ve seen women with ectopic or otherwise dangerous pregnancies being denied lifesaving care until they were at death’s door. We’ve seen women and girls denied necessary medication because it could harm a fetus — even if they weren’t pregnant. Just being “childbearing age” was enough.
We’re not giving up. And the news isn’t all bad.
From Ukraine to Iran, 6 victories for women's rights in 2022:
1. Columbia legalised abortion for the first 24 weeks.
2. Spain improved several sexual assault and reproductive health laws.
3. Ukraine ratified the Istanbul Convention.
4. India supported women's right to choose, especially single women (previously stigmatised).
5. In Iran, women's rights protests have expanded to protest against strict enforcement of Islamic law on many fronts.
6. Several countries elected or inaugurated their first female leaders.
As always, this diary is a group effort.
Reproductive Rights:
Texas legislature plans further attacks on women’s reproductive freedom in upcoming session:
“...early plans discussed among Republicans include efforts to expand the power of local district attorneys to prosecute abortion providers in counties across the state; penalize online groups that help Texans receive abortion medication; criminally punish companies that financially support out-of-state abortion travel; and other measures that would prevent patients from crossing state lines for care. Often at the forefront of modeling extreme anti-abortion measures, Texas may offer a glimpse of what other states can expect."
In Mexico, the struggle continues to free women jailed over abortion.
Black women are more likely than white women to have their medical concerns dismissed during pregnancy. For Brooke Smith, as for so many others, the result was tragedy.
Violence and harassment:
Bill Cosby says he plans to do a comedy tour in 2023. No, really. Tell me again how #MeToo and “cancel culture” have “gone too far?” Meanwhile, 5 women have filed suit against him for sexual assault, and against NBC Universal for complicity.
The UK is debating a bill cracking down on street harassment, including following someone or blocking their path. and in a London first, a man has been fined for catcalling.
Tory Lanez found guilty on all charges for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the feet.
In the midst of a cholera outbreak, gang violence and rape are surging in Haiti.
Tackling the #MeToo backlash:
While #MeToo has helped more women feel comfortable speaking out and reporting harassment at work, it has also curtailed women's advancement. Research has demonstrated a clear link between the #MeToo movement and male managers being more reluctant to hire, work with or mentor women — which makes it more difficult for women to get ahead.
Health:
Mark Sumner on dailykos: 'Toxic masculinity' may be caused by an actual, infectious, brain-altering parasite.
Women are more likely than men to have their pain dismissed by doctors.
Via Medscape: Jeffrey Teitler’s 7-minute video State of Emergency — Gunshot Wound Women follows 3 female health care workers dealing with gun violence victims at Hartford Hospital.
A state-by-state resource link for caregivers.
And health care resources for women veterans.
Middle East:
“The Taliban are taking away women’s right to learn. The world can’t afford to stay silent.”-Gordon Brown
Zahra Joya had to disguise herself as a boy to get an education 20 years ago in Afghanistan. (There’s a whole phenomenon of this in Afghanistan.) She describes how, if anything, conditions are worse today.
The Taliban has also banned women working for non-governmental aid agencies in Afghanistan. The UN is trying (unsuccessfully, so far) to pressure them to change this.
What to know about the protests in Iran. Activist Narges Mohammadi details the abuse of detained women there.
After playing without a hijab in a world championship, Iranian chess star Sarasadat Khademalsharieh defects to Spain.
Democracy:
The right’s backlash against democracy shouldn’t be a surprise — once you realize it’s a backlash of white males accustomed to privilege.
Uncategorizable:
”Are We Dating the Same Guy?” is a Facebook group where women share information about bad behavior by men they met on dating apps, from cheating to sexual assault.
New study confirms: Wives are less sexually attracted to husbands who shirk their share of household chores.
It started with Greta Thunberg’s classic response to a sneering tweet from professional misogynist Andrew Tate:
Tate responded with a snarky video. Less than a day later, police raided his home in Romania, where he’s wanted for human trafficking. He’s now under arrest, along with his brother Tristan. Early on, it was suggested that the pizza boxes in Tate’s video helped police locate him, though now police are saying that wasn’t how he was found. In any event, considering the stuff Tate has openly bragged about doing to women, I’m glad he’s behind bars.