Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority, told listeners, “Feminists are everywhere.” She qualified the Democratic platform as “the strongest platform for women’s rights every adopted by a major party in the United States.”
The July 4th weekend is over, and I am still reflecting on where women are in the political and cultural landscape of America. Abigail Adams didn’t get to sign the Declaration of Independence, Betsy Ross sewed the flag, and how many people even know who Deborah Samson Gannett was?
In that moment, Scarborough epitomized every boorish, condescending male that ever tried to diminish a woman…whether it be a family member, a co-worker, or a presidential candidate.
When it was opened up to a group discussion, there was agreement that a lack of consciousness about gender stereotypes was pervasive, which led to the question, “If you don’t recognize it, how do you address it?” Lake believed that it must be “named and pointed out systemically,” adding that reporters “pay no price for being sexist.”
Behind Steinem was a large screen, with her image projected upon it. I contemplated the symbolism of Gloria standing on the podium, alongside her larger-than-life size image. Like other public leaders, she has represented so much to so many. For countless women, she is the personification of their own struggle with gender issues.
Red Buttons had a well-tread act that he used at celebrity roasts. The punch line was about all the famous people in history that “never got a dinner.” It was kind of like Rodney Dangerfield complaining that he didn’t get any respect. On the evening of May 21st, women in New York City had the opportunity to come out and support two events that proved achievers of the female gender were getting their due.
Dorchen Leiderholdt, founder of CATW, has a clear-cut point of view about the motives of the subscription cable giant. She said, “HBO cynically labels ‘Cathouse’ as a documentary, when in fact it packages prostitution as entertainment.”
Amid all the jokes and titters about high priced call girls getting paid $1,000 to $5,000 per hour, sex and politicians, consenting adults, and “What’s the big deal about a guy getting laid?” –...
I don’t understand why black women can’t support Clinton without being accused of “abandoning their race.” Likewise, why are feminists being pushed out of the sisterhood tent for stating that Obama is the candidate who resonates for them?
Perhaps the most starkly emotive narrative of the set is Mukhtaran Mai’s story of survival and redemption. She was gang-raped by four men as retribution for an “honor crime” supposedly committed by her twelve year old brother (allegedly he held hands with a girl from a higher-caste tribe).
"The Jump Rope Line" by Marcia G. Yerman is included in the Seal Press anthology Dancing at the Shame Prom.
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