Friday, August 21, 2009

Rocking the Nunnery


elle
OK, full disclosure. I am pro nun. I didn't go to catholic school. There are nuns in my family. My mother protested for civil rights with nuns leading the charge. Quite honestly, the nuns I know are some of the most socially minded, powerful women I know. So perhaps that's why my ears perked up at this story about the Vatican investigating American women's orders. Apparently there have been some serious questions being asked about the work and faith of many nuns in this country. And you can be sure that they're not focusing on the conservative groups who stay home and mind their Ps & Qs, they're worried about the ones that are out there loudly advocating for the poor, immigrants, the LGBTIQ community, and so forth.

This may be an effect of an aging nun population--many of the leaders of communities were adults (and nuns) during the 60s when the Vatican II reforms coincided with the social movements of the US. Perhaps many younger women entering convents are much like post-feminists; feeling that that battle has been won so we don't need to be pounding the pavement anymore. It's hard to say, but what we do know is that these are serious inquiries. Really serious, and yet, acording to the report this level of investigation was never held for men's groups during the sex abuse scandal. Now I know that when you become a nun you embrace obedience, but that doesn't mean you can't push back against a blatently sexist structure. Or even, completely within your vows, work to end the suffering of others. Even if the pope doesn't like them.

And if you want a little heretical nun action check out the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group of drag nuns and activists in San Francisco (their vows state that they will dedicate themselves to public service, social activism, and spiritual enlightenment). Apparently Pope John Paul II excommunicated them on his visit to the area in 1987. When asked to comment the response was 'well duh!' They're pretty out there, but they're queens--what do you expect.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

World Humanitarian Day

elle
Thanks to Nicholas Kristof for putting together this special on women's equality as the social justice and moral crisis of the 21st century. While we always appreciate good work and good press on the issues, it burns me that what women have been saying, shouting, dying for, and demanding for years (decades, centuries) only becomes news when it has beautiful pictures and people have realized that it's strategically useful--see the discussion of how everyone has finally realized that working with women is the best way to fight global poverty, extremism, etc. Yup, we've been saying that for years (decades, centuries) as well. I've been saying it, I have a degree in it, and I still can't find a job!!

So here's the real deal. When we invest in women, they invest in others. It's really can be that simple. One study found that women reinvest in their community at 2-3 times the rate of men (as soon as I find that article among the hundreds on my computer I will link to it). A simple example is that if you give a woman money to buy a cow (or chickens, or a cell phone, or whatever) as she begins to make a profit from the milk she is more likely to put her children in school, to repair the water spigot in her village, to organize a collective to bring a nurse to her village, etc. These things benefit everyone and have a lasting effect; possibly through generations.

So, in honor of World Humanitarian Day PAY ATTENTION!! Then, do some small good in your own way. And don't forget to 'remember the ladies'...

Some other awesome things:

A good primer
Global Fund for Women
Guaranteeing enough to live on works wonders in Namibian village
A fantastic animation that shows what I just talked about
A list of orgs working on women's issues in the 2/3 world

Monday, August 17, 2009

Joining the 21st Century

Well, it's official. We are finally 'twitter-ing' (not sure any of us can really say tweeting and respect ourselves in the morning!). Check us out for bite-size feminism; sorry no cupcakes downloadable...

Tweet, tweet, tweetitly, tweet!

Thanks!!

Wow, so I finally started digging around in our web statistics, and it seems we have more readers than we thought (which was 2, thanks family!!). So, thanks to all of you who read us! To show our gratitude, we're going to up this on our priorities and get some more feminist posting out there. Yea us for figuring out that we can use 'the internets'...

Friday, August 14, 2009

Haven't We Had Enough?

elle
So, that Afghan law legalizing marital rape for Shia men has re-reared its ugly head in new legislation allowing these same men to deny their wives food if they feel they say no. President Karzai, please for the sake of all that is human, stop this. Denying food is internationally recognized as torture, SO WHAT DOES THAT MAKE THESE WOMEN!?!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Traveling Pants Indeed!

elle
An inspiring and yet scary "you go girl" moment as former UN press officer Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein challenges Sudan's indecent dress law in court. Arrested with 12 other women for the indecent act of wearing pants, she and 2 others chose to go to trial rather than accept the plea 'bargin' of 10 lashes. The defendents hope to have Article 152 removed from the Sudanese code of law, and al-Hussein has stated her intention to take her case to the land's highest court if necessary. Off with her pants!

The NYT coverage--it has a bit more information