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Canadian New Democratic Party Elects Female Leader

On October 14th, Canada’s left-wing party elected Alexa McDonough, 51, as its new leader. For the past fourteen years, McDonough has led the Nova Scotia New Democrats and now faces a large challenge in resuscitating the national party. After winning a race in which she was considered the definitive underdog, McDonough commented, “We have a […]

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Men Three Times More Likely to Make Partner in Large NY Law Firms

A study commissioned by the New York City Bar Association and released in late September found that large law firms are three times more likely to promote men to partnership positions than women. Alarmingly, the difference in promotion rates occurs even though firms hire both sexes in roughly equal numbers. Women’s numbers among partnership positions […]

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House Passes Medicare Overhaul, Clinton Vows Veto

House Republicans, and four Democrats, passed an historic ove rhaul of Medicare yesterday. The measure, which becomes part of the budget reconciliation bill going to the floor next week, cuts spending dramatically and encourages the elderly to turn to private managed care organizations. In a press conference, Pres ident Bill Clinton renewed his threat to […]

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Clinton Backs Anti-Discrimination Bill for Homosexuals

White House officials announced Thursday that President Clinton supports a bill which would outlaw workforce discrimination against homosexuals. Clinton wrote Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), the chief sponsor of the bill, that “Those who face this k ind of job discrimination have no legal recourse, in either state or federal courts. This is wrong.” Clinton’s […]

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Nearly Two-thirds of Elderly Women Fail to Get Mammograms

Despite increased risks of breast cancer with age and Medicare coverage of the procedure, nearly two-thirds of women over the age of 65 fail to get regular mammograms. Health officials from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the H ealth Care Financing Administration announced yesterday that only 37% of women receiving Medicare […]

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Navy Officer Acquitted of Sexual Harassment Charges

A panel of five admirals and three captains, which included two women, found Captain Everett Greene innocent of “unduly familiar personal relationships.” Two of his subordinates accused Greene, who at the time processed sexual harassment claims for th e Navy, of making them feel uneasy at work by repeatedly sending them cards and gifts. One […]

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European Court of Justice Strikes Down Affirmative Action Law

The European Court of Justice handed down a landmark sex discrimination ruling yesterday, finding an affirmative action law illegal The German law encouraged state agencies in Bremen to promote women over men, when both had equal qualifications. Earl ier a German Court had found the law consistent with employment practices and promoted equal opportunity for […]

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Wilson Vetoes Contraception Measure Law

California Governor Pete Wilson vetoed a health insurance bill yesterday which included coverage of federally approved contraception methods. He stated that the increased cost to health insurance could hurt small businesses. But, Assembly woman Jacki e Speier (D-Burlingame) who sponsored the bill, commented at a press conference, attended by representatives from many women’s groups, that […]

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Women’s Sports Foundation Nominates Sportswomen of the Year

At its annual dinner Monday, the Women’s Sports Foundation named basketball star Rebecca Lobo and speedskater Bonnie Blair “Sportswomen of the Year.” Lobo led her Connecticut team to an undefeated season and the 1995 NCAA title. Blair has won five Olympic gold medals and broke her own world record last year in the 500 meters […]

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Supreme Court Rejects Appeal from Anti-Abortion Demonstrators

The Supreme Court yesterday, without comment, turned down an appeal claiming that a San Jose ordinance banning picketing near a doctor’s private residence violated the free speech clause. The ordinance disallows demonstrations within 300 feet of targ eted private residences. The Court’s ruling is consistent with previous rulings which allow the bans on picketing near […]

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California Law Bans Pricing Differences Based on Gender

Governor Pete Wilson signed a bill into law yesterday which bans charging men and women differently. As of January 1, 1996 the law bans charging different prices for services such as haircuts, dry cleaning and tailoring. Violators can expect to pay $ 1000 or up to three times the actual damages and attorney’s fee. The […]

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Senator Mikulski Mugged Outside Home

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski’s (D-MD) office said today that someone mugged the Senator outside her home on Sunday night at approximately 11:45 p.m. A man in a blue sweat suit approached her as she headed inside. He knocked her down, stole her purse and left. Mikulski dislocated her hand while trying to defend herself.

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Eighteen Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame

Eighteen women were inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame on Saturday. They are: Virginia Apgar (1909-1974) – Invented the Apgar Scale, a life-saving health assessment test for newborns. Physician. Ann Bancroft – First woman to reach the North and South Poles across the ice. Amelia Bloomer (1818-1894) – Founded the first newspaper concerned […]

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Tamoxifen Study Launched

An organization of British doctors have asked 20,000 women to volunteer for a four-year cancer study. The Cancer Research Campaign plans to study the drug tamoxifen to find out if four years is enough time to take the treatment. Tamoxifen is an anti-hor monal compound, available on the market for twenty years, which doctors use […]

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UC Students Demand Restoration of Affirmative Action

Students across the University of California school system protested yesterday their Regent’s summer decision to repeal affirmative action. During the summer, when school was not in session, Regents voted to drop race and gender as factors in admissio ns, hiring and contracting against the advice of all nine chancellors. Thousands of students held class walkouts, […]

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Navy Officer Responsible for Handling Sexual Harrassment Claims Accused of Sexual Harrassment

The Navy officer responsible for handling sexual and racial harrassment complaints is undergoing a court martial for allegedly sexually harassing two female subordinates. Captain Everett Greene, who was in line for promotion to rear Admiral, faces acc usations of having an “unduly familiar personal relationship with a junior subordinate,” of “creating a hostile work environment,” […]

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Navy Officer Responsible for Handling Sexual Harrassment Claims Accused of Sexual Harrassment

The Navy officer responsible for handling sexual and racial harrassment complaints is undergoing a court martial for allegedly sexually harassing two female subordinates. Captain Everett Greene, who was in line for promotion to rear Admiral, faces acc usations of having an “unduly familiar personal relationship with a junior subordinate,” of “creating a hostile work environment,” […]

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New Compounds Tested for Post-Menopausal Women

Early tests of new synthetic compounds show that they could protect women from heart disease and osteoporosis in the same way estrogen does. Taking estrogen hormone supplements after menopause helps reduce the risk of heart disease in women and bone-t hinning osteoporosis. Some women don’t take estrogen, however, because of its possible side-effects — increased […]

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New Compounds Tested for Post-Menopausal Women

Early tests of new synthetic compounds show that they could protect women from heart disease and osteoporosis in the same way estrogen does. Taking estrogen hormone supplements after menopause helps reduce the risk of heart disease in women and bone-thinning osteoporosis. Some women don’t take estrogen, however, because of its possible side-effects — increased risk […]

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Supreme Court Hears Gay Rights Case

The Supreme heard arguments yesterday in Romer vs. Evans, an appeal from the Colorado Supreme Court. That court ruled last year that a state, voter-approved constitutional amendment that banned laws which protected homosexuals against discrimin ation denied them equal protection. Both sides received help and tough questioning from the justices, with only Justice Thomas failing […]