University of California’s Berkeley law school, also known as Boalt Hall, held a reunion of 200 of its female graduates to celebrate its history of promoting women and law. Herma Hill Kay, Boalt’s current dean, listed several of the law schools “firsts,” including: the first woman professor at a major American law school, Nachtrieb Armstrong, […]
In recognition of International Women’s Day, the Modern Women’s Foundation released a survey reflecting the growing fear by Taiwanese women for their own public safety. The Foundation surveyed 1,097 women and found that 78.2 percent of the women were afraid for their safety when taking a taxi, and 60.7 percent of the women did not […]
Maryland state officials are proposing a bill that would allow victims of domestic violence to bypass a law requiring couples to wait a year before they can file for divorce. Present legislation already allows a spouse that can prove adultery to obtain a quick divorce. The bill would include proof of “cruelty of treatment” and […]
Victims of domestic violence and abuse receive little protection from law officials or the justice system in Russia, according to a study released by Human Rights Watch. The report, “Too Little, Too Late,” exposes the problems Russian women are facing during the transition from communism to a free-market economy. The report states, “From the moment […]
The Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corp. began broadcasting messages to passengers waiting for a train, warning against committing “unpleasant acts repulsive to other riders.” The warning is directed towards men who routinely grope and/or assault women while on the subway. Results of a recent survey indicate that 75 percent of 1,000 women had been groped on […]
A law passed by the House would reduce penalties to states who have not computerized their child support systems. The legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL), would decrease the penalty to 4 percent of their child support funding this year, 8 percent next year, 16 percent in 2000 and 20 percent each following year. […]
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) officially opened the African Women’s Media Center (AWMC). The IWMF was created to aid women journalists in Africa by providing training and networking possibilities. An IWMF spokesperson said, “African women face enormous challenges in being accepted as serious professionals in a field traditionally dominated by men.” The Center will […]
Eileen Collins will become the first woman to command a space shuttle mission in U.S. history. White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the announcement is, “good news for all of those who are supportive of our efforts in space and who believe it should be a gender-neutral zone.” Collins, a 41-year-old Air Force lieutenant colonel, […]
According to a report published in the journal Medical Care, women, Hispanics and Asians wait longer than white men for organ transplants. The study was conducted by Ann Klassen and associates at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Baltimore. Researchers reviewed 7,422 patient records from the United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement Transplant […]
In celebration of Women’s History Month the Feminist Majority Foundation’s award-winning web site is featuring a special section on Women’s History Month. The Women’s History feature includes: a daily fact about a special event or person in women’s history, a women’s history quiz, research information, event listings, a list of notable 20th century women, women’s […]
Kanwar Ahson was shot and critically injured while entering a courthouse in Karachi, Pakistan. Ahson was to answer charges that he and his wife, Riffat Afridi, had sex outside of marriage. Afridi’s father, brother and intended fiancee were arrested for the shooting. Afridi, a member of the Pathan ethic group, was sentenced to death by […]
The Florida House of Representatives voted to override a veto on a ban of late term abortions. Governor Lawton Chiles had vetoed the ban, stating that although he himself was pro-life, the bill did not protect women’s rights. Chiles believes that abortion decisions should be left up to women and their doctors. Legislatures in 19 […]
Circuit Judge Buford M. Parsons Jr. ruled that Sharon Bottoms will not be allowed to visit her son while her partner, April Wade, is present. The Judge offered no explanation for his ruling. Parsons affirmed a 1993 decision by a juvenile court to transfer custody of the child, Tyler Dustou, from Sharon to her mother […]
The Supreme Court ruled by common consent that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects against sexual harassment in the workplace, includes harassment by members of the same sex. The court ruled in favor of Joseph Oncale in Oncale vs. Sundowner Offshore Services. Oncale had charged the company with ignoring complaints […]
Members of Connecticut’s state legislature are proposing a bill that would require all insurance companies to cover the cost of prescription birth control. Currently, half of all insurance companies in the United States deny payment for contraception. The proposal would require major plans to pay for birth control pills, intrauterine devices, diaphragms, Norplant and Depo […]
Violence against gays, lesbians and bisexuals is increasing, according to a survey published by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. The survey reported 2,445 documented anti-gay attacks, a 2 percent increase over 1996, and 18 murders in 1997. The survey documented 14 areas across the United States, including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. […]
The Bureau of Prisons has agreed to increase its sexual harassment training and provide psychiatric and medical services to inmates who have been assaulted. Prison authorities will also institute a confidential system that will allow inmates to report attacks within the next six months and will stop housing women in the men’s Secure Housing Unit. […]
Abortion rights activists argued against a Virginia law requiring parental consent before a minor can obtain an abortion, before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday. Simon Heller of the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, argued that the law is unconstitutional because it denies mature girls the right to decide what is best […]
Women’s rights activists met at the U.N. headquarters in New York to address the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. The group issued a signed statement, declaring “Heads of state must go on record to all the world about how they will take leadership in making violence against women in daily life unacceptable.” Activists […]
Four women have filed a class action lawsuit against Ingles Markets Inc., the largest grocery store chain in the Southeast. The women claim the store discriminates against female employees by denying promotions, management opportunities, equal pay and desirable job assignments. “When I met with my superiors to discuss my interest in an assistant store manager […]
