Sociology 101B Party!

OUR THEORISTS

Michelle Obama: A Feminist Review

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, May 10, 2009

"First Lady Michelle Obama's emergence as the nation's "Mom-in-Chief" has sparked lively discussion in the feminist blogosphere. Some say the first lady image plays down her success as a career woman, but others say her presence in that role is, in itself, a sign of progress."

This NPR piece also highlights the importance that race plays in the perspectives among feminists. What may be seen by white feminists as reinforcing stereotypes and placing Michelle Obama in a "feminine box", is actually seen by some black feminists as an affirmation of African American women.

Click Here to Listen Now.

"I am a Superwomyn." Yes she is.

Our classmate Laurice, a student of GSI Abigail Andrews, recently created this amazing video after interviewing three Pilipina womyn involved in one of the Pil-orgs on campus called GABRIELA Network (Gabnet). Gabnet is a Philippine-US womyn's solidarity organization that raises awareness and fights issues facing Pilipina womyn. Check out the video as an excellent example of consciousness raising and then visit Laurice's blog at http://1aurice.blogspot.com/.

Women Protest Legalized Rape

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has backed a law that the United Nations Development Fund for Women claims legalizes rape within marriage and forbids women from leaving the house without permission.

Afghan women protested the law and were attacked by a larger counter protest





Afghan 'anti-rape' women attacked

Afghanistan 'rape' law puts women's rights front and center






Women police linked arms and created a barrier around the protesters to protect them


April 15: Afghan police officers stop Shiite counter protesters in Kabul, Afghanistan. The group of some 1,000 Afghans swarmed a demonstration by 300 women Wednesday protesting against a new conservative marriage law. Some counter protesters pelted the women with small stones as police struggled to keep the two groups apart.