All Work
Teen Dating Violence – A Sad Reality
Statistics show that 1 in 3 teens will experience dating violence and more than two-thirds never come forward and tell anyone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teen dating violence is a serious public health problem that is growing in the United States.
Mai Mukhtar, Gang Rape Victim in Pakistan
Gang Rape in Pakistan
The Work Force is Changing! Work Policies Need to Change!
Currently women account for 46.8% of total U.S. labor force and it is projected to increase over the years. The current work place operates in a man oriented way undermining the fact that there are more women in the work place than before the 1970s. Policies as well as employers need to change to reflect the change in workforce.
An Early Grave For Child Brides
Acts of self-immolation have been used as a tool for political protests around the world. In Saigon, a Buddhist monk set himself on fire to protest his government’s intolerance of Buddhism. In Tunisia, a young man also used self-immolation in protest which jump started the 2010-2011 revolution in this region. What would drive a 10 year old girl to set herself on fire in Afghanistan?
A “Bloody” Tradition
I just wept, and called out to my mother for help. But the worst shock of all was when I looked around and found her standing by my side. Yes. It was her, I wasn’t mistaken.
Violence and Media
Homaira Rahman, an Afghan-American, was found face down on the sidewalk as her blood pooled around her and slowly soaked into her chiffon shirt.
Teen Dating Violence: A Growing Problem
Last month was National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month as awareness was being raised among teens and the surrounding community about the signs, as well as to discourage this type of violence.
Empowerment or Equality: Which “E” are we Striving for?
Recently, while driving in the district, I came across an advertisement for a plumbing, heating, and air conditioning company. The right side of the advertisement read: “A Women- Owned & Managed Company!” The phrase was intended to be seen and obviously posted with pride.
Victims of Domestic Violence: the Underreported “Silent” Populations in the Community
Once again an extreme case of domestic violence is reported. This article reacts to a report “Founder of Muslim TV Station Is Guilty of Beheading Wife; New York Times February 8, 2011”, and appeals for enhancing community programs fostering self-report of domestic violence.
Stopping Wal-Mart’s Legacy of Second Class Citizenry
Gender discrimination is demoralizing and being treated as a ‘second-class citizen’ has severe corollaries for women and their families.
Teen Dating Violence – A Reawakening
Raising awareness about teen dating violence.
First Annual Anti- Street Harrasment Day
Street Harassment is at least a daily ocurrence for 80-99% of women and young girls. It seems that a female cannot walk half a mile in any city without receiving some type of cat call, honk, whistle, or unwelcome approach from a stranger. Street harassment is not about sex, it is about power and it serves as a daily reminder that as a woman, you are far more likely to be subject to any range of violent acts. March 20, 2011 marked the first annual Anti-Street Harassment Day and hopefully marks a decrease in this type of behavior.
Are We Still Left in Stitches?
In the fall of 2010, an adult film star reportedly shut herself in a hotel restroom while Sheen reportedly went berserk on a violent tear. The film star actually filed a report, but no arrest followed. Most recently, just a few weeks ago, Sheen threatened to decapitate his ex-wife, Brooke Mueller, and mail her head to her mother. Should we be surprised that the past 20 years of Sheen’s blatant violence against women has not scathed his career? His twitter feed has reached Guinness World Records proportions, with over one million followers in the short period of a few days following the opening of his account.
Celebrate Good Times……Yeah Right!
How did you celebrate International Women’s Day? Did you “celebrate good times?” or Were you a victim of violence?
Boobs at Work
Where do you store your lunch? The refrigerator is the hot spot at my office around lunchtime. However, an infant being breastfeed doesn't store their lunch in the fridge. Their mother produces the meal. Ensuring that the meal is able to get to the infant, we need to support breastfeeding in the work place.
Attack on Reproductive Funding
A republican attack on reproductive rights is nothing new on the federal or state level. Nor is it new for a debate that should focus on comprehensive reproductive health care to be taken over by the soul issue of abortion.
The Hyde Amendment: A Legacy of Discrimination
The Hyde Amendment has been wreaking havoc on reproductive rights for low-income women for decades, but where's the outrage?
Poverty & Powerlessness: The Black Family Unit
The black man complex & its significant contribution to poverty & powerlessness in the black family unit
All Kinds of Shenanigans
This past month has shaken comprehensive women’s health to its core and the fight is not over. On the state level, there is a virtual slaughterhouse lined up for women’s healthcare. It will come as no shock to those who follow these issues that there is an inordinate focus on abortion. These zealots continue to pretend that abortion isn’t one of the most common medical procedures for women in childbearing years. Virginia has gone too far. This past week, the General Assembly passed legislation requiring all offices, clinics and centers that perform first-trimester abortions to be regulated as hospitals instead of as doctors' offices. This absurd and devastating new policy could be restrictive enough to force as many as 17 of the state's 21 abortion clinics out of business.
Nursing: Inspiring women leaders in health care
Like many Americans, I’ve spent the last week or so sifting through the media banter over the Obama administration’s 2012 Fiscal year budget proposal. One piece of the proposal that caught my attention was the 28% increase in funding to Title VIII, the Nursing Workforce Development Programs.
Is Single Motherhood Bad for Society, or is Society Bad for Single Motherhood?
Why is it that most forms of family diversity are accepted, yet single motherhood is still stigmatized?
Maternal Mortality in Uttar-Pradesh, India
India has seen a fall in maternal mortality rate (MMR) by 59 percent between 1990 and 2008, but the huge rural urban divide in these rates are overlooked making it home to the highest number of women dying during childbirth across the world. One such state is Uttar-Pradesh, a highly populous state with more than170 million people which continues to have highest reported maternal mortality ratio at 440 per 100, 000 live births and which still remains above the national average. Even within a state, the access to and utilization of maternal health care varies based on region rural or urban, caste, religion, income, and education. Research has identified four important reasons for the continuing high maternal mortality rate in Uttar Pradesh: barriers to emergency care, poor referral practices, gaps in continuity of care, and improper demands for payment as a condition for delivery of healthcare services.
Dear Live Action…
Since when did the abortion debate leave the real world and enter the Real World©?
A Victory for Breasts
Since when is the IRS the good guy? This week they are by changing their minds and making a decision that will affect the health of women and children across the US.
Leading Ladies: The Whore and The Saint
Women leaders are tagged with many names, but nearly all of them boil down to two categories: the whore and the saint, and both are based on female sexuality.
Egypt’s Female Voices
For the past few weeks I have been captivated by the images of retaliation and revolution in Egypt. Interestingly, however, I found myself not only interested in the stories being reported but with the reporters themselves. Two female reporters in particular made a strong impact on me, Shahira Amin and Christiane Amanpour. While they made themselves known to the public over the past few weeks for different reasons, they are both wonderful examples for Egyptian women in particular but also for women around the world. For such prominent women to make publicly bold statements for everyone to see is a display of female power in Egypt that I hope the revolution continues to encourage.
Women in Peace Talks, Still Not Present
Women bear a great burden of war and yet when war is over, their voices and ideas are not part of peace negotiations.
Is the UN Ready to Give Women a Strong and Unified Voice?
The leaders of UN Women are at the forefront of a cultural shift in gender equality. Yet it is not enough to merely give women’s issues a place on the global agenda, they must give women a strong, unified voice.
The Missing Link in D.C.’s Teen Pregnancy Rate: Poverty
Nationally teen pregnancy rates have fallen and hit a new low in 2009. In contrast, Washington, D.C. teen pregnancy rates have continued to climb. In D.C., The Department of Health reports from 2005-2008, teen pregnancy rose from 852 to 1,082 pregnancies. Furthermore, teen pregnancy in Wards 7 and 8 account for over half of these pregnancies. Babies born to teen mothers in D.C. are more than likely to receive a form of public assistance. Of the families that receive the public assistance (DC Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), nearly 50% are teens. DC cannot continue to allow isolation of communities such as Wards 7 and 8 to determine the destiny of many teens and their families. Teen mothers especially in these communities are ill equipped to provide an environment for raising babies. DC must break the cycle of teen pregnancy and stop the generational dependence on public assistance.
Tunisia: A Leader Of Women’s Rights, But No Female Leaders?
How is it possible Tunisia is a leader of women’s rights in the Arab world, but there are so few female leaders behind the women’s rights changes? How do female leaders emerge without any female leaders working for change?
Tunisia: A Leader Of Women’s Rights, But No Female Leaders?
How is it possible Tunisia is a leader of women’s rights in the Arab world, but there are so few female leaders behind the women’s rights changes? How do female leaders emerge without any female leaders working for change?
What Would Rosie the Riveter Do?
When discussing female leadership and the military its easy to pin point the reason for the lack of leadership roles for women while serving in the military. Female roles in combat have been dictated by the restrictions that government places on what they can and cannot do while serving their country; for instance females have long been banned from direct ground combat
Gendered Violence in the U.S. Military
When will the numbers be enough?
Female “Rejuvenation”
Across the globe, there are millions of women at risk every year for female genital mutilation also called female genital cutting, female circumcision, or, in the United States, a hymenoplasty, labiaplasty, or “vaginal rejuvenation”.
Saving Our Women: Are We Really Prepared to Address Intimate Partner Violence?
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a growing public health concern in the United States, which has increased discussion about routine screening for IPV. But, are we really ready to implement this measure?
Having a Baby is No Vacation, But Why Do Employers Pay Us Like It Is?
Staying at home, develop a bond with their newborn infant, and practice breastfeeding and caring for their child(ren) isn't a vacation. Far from it. Yet employers treat women like it is. We have to save up our PTO to be able to wake up at 3am for a feeding and wipe vomit off our shoulders? Really? Really
Federal Provision: Breastfeeding Protected in the Federal Workplace
What does the law providing protection for women who choose to breastfeed in federal buildings really mean?
Working Mothers are Healthier, But Must Pay the Mommy Tax in the Meantime
Research is showing that working mothers who are doing it all and having it all may actually be healthier.
The Third Shift: Employment, Housework, and Now Informal Healthcare
While many women continue to struggle with striking the delicate balance between family household responsibilities and paid employment, an additional shift is taken on by many women, too: informal healthcare providers.
Children Living in Poverty Birthing Children into Poverty: A Continuing Cycle
High rates of youth poverty precede high rates of teenage childbearing. Teens residing in communities with high rates of poverty, welfare use, and single-mother households are at higher risk for early pregnancy.
The forgotten women of Afghanistan
The impact of 30 years of war on the Afghan Women: The harsh realities of Maternal Mortality in Afghanistan.
Essentials in Haitian recovery efforts: food, water and family planning services
Now is the time when family planning services and supplies are not only necessary, but essential to improving and protecting women's health in Haiti. Access to basic, life-saving health care is a human right.
And She Lost Her Dignity…
Nigeria has the highest obstetric fistula prevalence rates in Africa and an estimated 400, 000 to 800, 000 women suffer from fistula in Nigeria. It is common in countries with high maternal mortality rate like Nigeria; where lifetime risk of a woman dying during childbirth is 1 in 18.
Taking Control of Our Bodies- The Enduring Issue of Maternal Mortality
Women around the world are playing their part. Are you? Way to go Burkina Faso for playing their part!
Moving Leadership by Addressing Equality
Women in the U.S. are far better off in terms of rights; yet, the U.S. has not ratified CEDAW, a treaty that issues gender equality. While women leaders still rise out of hardships and inequality, gender equality fosters development and leadership.
Gender: The unspoken prejudice for leadership roles
Why is she a woman first and a leader later?
