Author: Feminist Majority Foundation Blog

Women’s groups in Honduras are asking Honduran men to undergo vasectomies. “After all the history of planning by women, it’s only fair that men start planning as well, and I recommend that it be through the vasectomy,” said Alba de Mejia, a leading feminist in Honduras. The Honduras government supplies the population with condoms for disease prevention, but little is done to aid the 5.8 million people living in poverty.

Men in Honduras rarely undergo vasectomy. In a society whose culture focuses on machismo, many adhere to the myth that vasectomies, which cuts sperm flow into semen, decrease virility.

LEARN MORE Click here to read women’s narratives about barriers or successes in accessing reproductive health and family planning services.

A study reports that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to a study released by Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, 45 percent of women in the United States are stricken with a heart-related illness during their lives, while 35 percent die from heart disease.

Diana Pettiti, director of Research and Evaluation for Kaiser Permanente, said “Cardiovascular disease in women is really the silent epidemic.” Pettiti suggested that women avoid high fat diets, exercise regularly, quit smoking, and control their blood pressure to prevent or reduce cardiovascular problems.

Incidents of female genital mutilation are increasing in the United States. Researchers and doctors in the Denver, Colorado area report that at least 6,000 immigrants from African countries that practice genital mutilation have moved to the area. “I know of one patient where it was clear it was performed in this country,” said Dr. Terry Dunn, director of a women’s clinic in Denver. Dunn sees mutilation cases approximately once every three months.

Colorado state Senator Dorothy Rupert, D-Boulder, is pushing a bill that would classify the practice as child abuse and would result in misdemeanor or felony charges. Rupert has proposed three similar bills in the past.

Feminist News Stories on Female Genital Mutilation

A month after women’s groups blew the whistle on a Peruvian government sterilization program, reports of women being forced or bribed to submit to tubal ligations continue. Government health workers reportedly offered gifts, including food and clothing, to poor women for undergoing tubal ligation.

Those who survive the surgery are sent away with gifts of clothes and food, however, fatal complications sometimes arise for women who cannot afford medical treatment. A neighbor of Magna Alva, who died ten days after the surgery, said “When you don’t have anything and they offer you clothes and food for your kids, then finally you agree to do it …. Magna told them that her husband was against the idea, but they told her, ïDon’t worry, we can do it right now, and tonight you will be back home cooking and your husband will never realize what happened.”

The Peruvian government issued quotas for sterilizations in 1995 in an effort to curb the growing population and poverty in exchange for promotions and cash for doctors and nurses. Family planning officials in Peru, where abortion is illegal, say that abstinence, the IUD and tubal ligation are the most common forms of contraception.

A United States Congressional Subcommittee on International and Human Rights Operations has begun investigations concerning the reports of forced sterilization.

LEARN MORE Click here to read women’s narratives about barriers or successes in accessing reproductive health and family planning services.

Retired Cornell University Professor Alice Hanson Cook, a lifetime feminist and supporter of equal rights for working women, died February 7 at her home in Ithaca, NY. Professor Cook was 94 years old.

Born in Alexandria, VA. in 1903, Cook attended Northwestern University, where she co-founded the Student Liberal League and became known as one of “the 38,” whom the Chicago Tribune branded as unwelcome at Northwestern due to their pacifist views.

Alice Cook graduated from Northwestern in 1924. She went on to work for a social service agency in St. Louis, taught at a cooperative farm in Arkansas, organized textile workers and became affiliated with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Enginemen and Firemen, the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen, and the Marine and Shipbuilding Workers.

Cook served as visiting expert on labor education with the office of Military Government in Germany in the late 1940’s, and was chief of the Adult Education Section of the United States High Commission in Germany from 1950 to 1952.

Cook joined the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell in 1952 and began teaching labor history in 1954. Cook was later appointed as the university’s first ombudsman. Jennie Farley, a Cornell professor of industrial and labor relations, said “She was not only interested, but concerned in every aspect of the working woman’s life …. Alice made it clear that these issues were universal in their importance and that they affected every woman no matter where she lived and worked.”

The establishment of Cook’s Grove in Cornell’s quadrangle along with a plaque that reads “Teacher, Feminist, First University Ombudsman,” marked Cook’s retirement in 1972.

A prolific author, Cook wrote on many issues, including: unions, labor relations and sex discrimination. Her works include, Working Mother: A Survey of Problems and Programs in Nine Countries, Woman and Trade Unions in Eleven Industrialized Countries, and her autobiography, A Lifetime in Labor, which will be published this spring by the Feminist Press of New York.

he establishment of Cook’s Grove in Cornell’s quadrangle along with a plaque that reads “Teacher, Feminist, First University Ombudsman,” marked Cook’s retirement in 1972. A prolific author, Cook wrote on many issues, including: unions, labor relations and sex discrimination. Her works include, Working Mother: A Survey of Problems and Programs in Nine Countries, Woman and Trade Unions in Eleven Industrialized Countries, and her autobiography, A Lifetime in Labor, which will be published this spring by the Feminist Press of New York.

A Polk County jury awarded $80.7 million to Linda Channon, a 22-year-old former United Parcel Service worker. Channon was poked in the breast during an argument by a fellow employee. The driver was fired but then began stalking her. Channon alleged that following the incident she was treated unfairly by the company.

“I had different standards than the men had,” she said. “Every day I was being screamed at, being belittled, being humiliated. Those are things that are hard emotionally when you’ve worked at a place a long time and been very dedicated and done a very good job.”

UPS will appeal the verdict.

The world’s first female war correspondent, Martha Gellhorn, died at the age of 89. Gellhorn covered the Spanish civil war, Vietnam and the Arab-Israeli wars. Gellhorn witnessed the D-Day landings in Normandy, the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, and is also known for marrying author Ernest Hemingway in 1940.

Gellhorn worked until her late 70s and believed that a reporters’ job was “to limit yourself to what you see or hear and not suppress or invent.” Friend and journalist Marie Colvin said of Gellhorn, “Hers was a different kind of journalism. She was very passionate.”

The United States won the gold in the first women’s ice hockey Olympic event. The US women scored 3-1 in their final game, winning all six games played during the Olympics. The win “closed the gap” on a US-Canadian rivalry.

Canadian coach Shannon Miller said, “I had a feeling of joy go through my body because I realized an Olympic gold medal was being hung on a female hockey player …. I couldn’t believe the impact it had on me.”

Filipino women who were forced into sexual slavery during World War II are seeking a meeting with Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko in hopes of sharing their stories. The prince and princess are visiting the Philippines’ during the country’s celebration of independence.

Over 200,000 Asian women were forced to work in brothels provided for Japan’s troops. Japan denied involvement with what they called “comfort women” until recently, and refuses to compensate the women for their pain and suffering. The Japanese government has set up a private fund for the women who are now in their late 60s and early 70s. Most of the women are refusing the funds and insist that the government take responsibility for their actions.

“I hope the prince and princess will help us finally get justice before we die,” said Amonita Balajadia, a former slave.

Results of a new study suggest that girls who received chest radiation for childhood cancer should obtain mammograms starting as early as age 25 because they are more likely to develop breast cancer than other women. The study, published in the journal Cancer, found that women treated for cancer during childhood are 20 times more likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not receive chest radiation during childhood.

Researchers traced the medical records of 3,463 girls treated for cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee between 1962 and 1995. They found that 12 of the girls developed breast cancer, four of them before the age of 25.

The Virginia House Courts of Justice committee approved a ban on D&X abortions and a law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having an abortion. Senators have given preliminary approval to a D&X bill, and are expected to debate on the “informed consent” bill that would require abortion providers to give women information about abortion and alternatives by telephone or in person at least 24 hours prior to the procedure.

U.S. District Judge Charles Wolle ruled that the city of Bettendorf, Iowa cannot use zoning ordinances to block the construction of a Planned Parenthood clinic. In the third attempt by the city to stall construction of the abortion clinic, the judge also ruled that no zoning changes need to be made for construction to begin. Wolle claimed that the city’s obstruction violated the constitutional rights of Planned Parenthood and “women who would be served by plaintiff’s medical clinic.”

Bettendorf is part of the “Quad Cities,” the largest metropolitan area in the country without abortion services. The nearest abortion clinic is in Iowa City, 50 miles away.

National President of Planned Parenthood Gloria Feldt said the decision was a “triumph for the health needs of women in the Quad Cities and a defeat for those trying to use bureaucratic obstacles to deny women access to safe abortion service.”

Communities in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia are giving out cellular phones to victims of domestic abuse and violence. The phones have been pre-programmed to dial 911. Programs to give out cellular phones exist in Arlington and Montgomery counties, Alexandria, Williamsburg, Lynchburg, and Virginia Beach, VA. Some phones were donated by local phone companies, but most were donated by county and city employees through donation drives.

Pendants with buttons that alert local authorities are also distributed to victims of domestic abuse. Although some phones and pendants have been used to prevent or stop attacks, authorities cite peace of mind as the most important factor in the new program. “This has made them feel safe and that’s a great leap forward,” said Sgt. Scott Gibson, head of the Alexandria police department’s domestic violence unit.

Domestic Violence Information Center

Abortion foes in Portugal are attempting to do away with a bill passed by Parliament last week that legalizes abortion. A national referendum backed by the center-right Social Democratic Party and the conservative Popular party will be voted on next week.

Currently, abortions can only be performed when there is a risk to the mother’s life. If the referendum fails, the new law allowing women to request abortions up to the 10th week of pregnancy will take affect in 90 days.

Feminist News Stories on Abortion

Egyptian Health Minister Ismail Sallam criticized Moslem fundamentalists for opposing Egypt’s ban on female circumcision. Sallam was routinely interrupted by Moslem extremists condemning the ban during a Cairo Book Fair. Sallam replied, “Growing a beard doesn’t give you the right to issue religious decrees. It’s the mufti’s prerogative and he said that female circumcision is not a religious duty …. We must protect poor and peasant girls because we know that the wealthy, officials, and senior clerics don’t circumcise their own,” said Sallam.

Egypt’s State Council ordered in December that a ban on female circumcision would stand. The court ruled that, “henceforth, it is illegal for anyone to carry out circumcision operations, even if the girl or her parents agree to it.” Offenders face up to three years in prison.

During female circumcision part or all of the labia and clitoris are amputated to remove a woman’s sexual desire. More than 90 percent of Egyptian girls are circumcised around the ages of five or six. Around 70 percent of the operations are performed in the home in filthy conditions, sometimes resulting in death from bleeding or infection.

Feminist News Stories on Female Genital Mutilation

Casa Alianza, a non-profit organization that works with street children in Latin America, will begin working with the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department to apprehend men and women who sexually abuse children in Central America. Bruce Harris, Regional Director of the Casa Alianza Programs for Latin America, stated “We have noticed a significant increase in the number of cases of sexual abuse against street boys and girls, perpetrated by foreigners who travel to the countries we work with … the number of Americans is rising.”

It is illegal for Americans to travel to foreign countries with the intent of sexual abuse. If convicted, abusers can face up to 10 years in prison and fines of $250,000.

Dogs trained to detect bomb materials are being used to investigate the Alabama clinic bombing and to track down the lead material witness, Eric Robert Rudolph. The dogs detected possible explosive residue in Rudolph’s truck, and responded to potential residue found in a small warehouse that was once rented by Rudolph.

The FBI also believes that Rudolph may have been in Birmingham, participating in pro-life rallies during the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, five days before the explosion.

Call 1-888-ATF-BOMB with information regarding the bombing.

Pictures of Eric Robert Rudolph

Feminist News Stories on Clinic Violence

“The American tax system mistreats divorced women,” said Elizabeth Cockrell before a Senate Finance Committee hearing, designed to aid in the examination of current IRS procedures and laws. Committee chairman William V. Roth Jr. (R-Del) has suggested that innocent spouse “provisions” will be addressed.

Four women delivered testimony claiming that they have all been pursued by the IRS for their former husbands’ debts. The women all signed joint tax returns during their marriages, but none of them made any tax decisions. The IRS is now claiming that the women owe $300,000 to $650,000 in back taxes. In many cases, when the women’s assets are being pursued by the IRS their former husbands are not.

Under current law, spouses who sign a joint return are responsible for the full amount of income tax due. The Clinton administration has announced plans to provide relief to innocent spouses of IRS investigations.

Anti-abortion militants are once again threatening to strike down attempts to supply an $18 billion relief package to the International Monetary Fund. Abortion opponents are demanding that the U.S. prohibit funding to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that perform abortions or encourage family planning in foreign countries.

Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Al) told Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin that money would not be allocated without the support of anti-abortion Congressional members. New Jersey Republican Rep. Christopher Smith claims that they will not back down. “These will not be de-linked,” said Smith, in reference to relief funding and abortion language.

The March issue of YM features 15-year-old Ariel Fox, owner of Sticker Sisters. Fox designs and sells magnets, buttons, shoelaces and stickers that feature feminist phrases focusing on “girl power,” domestic violence and sexual abuse. Sticker Sisters’ clients range from grandmothers to rock bands and can be found in eight countries and across the United States. Fox, a 10th-grader at Montgomery Blair High School, said, “A lot of girls aren’t really proud to be girls. That’s not something they’re really taught, that it’s fun to be a girl or it’s a good thing.” Fox creates the stickers and other products on her home computer, using the profits to create new merchandise. Fox envisions a world in which girls do not need stickers to proclaim their own self-worth. “What would be nice to see is that they don’t need to feel that they need to rely on the stickers to make the statement …. What I want is for more people to get it on their own,” said Fox. Contact Ariel Fox and Sticker Sisters at P.O. Box 11480, Takoma Park, Md. 20193, at stickersis@aol.com or on the Web, www.stickersisters.com.