So Long, Farewell

By Jessica Valenti

I just wanted to say thanks so much to The Nation for having me kick off their great new blog - it's been so much fun. (An especially big thanks to Peter Rothberg.)

You can always catch more of my writing at Feministing and (shameless plug alert) in my book, Full Frontal Feminism.

On another note, I'm really looking forward to reading the upcoming blogging from Dave Roberts so keep watching this space...

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February 4, 2008

Segregating Women to "Save" Them

By Jessica Valenti

Last week Mexico City unveiled women-only buses as a way to battle the increasing sexual harassment on public transportation.

Some men treat women so badly that the subway system has long had ladies-only cars during rush hour, with police segregating the sexes on the platforms.

But that hasn't helped women forced to rely on packed buses, by far the city's most-used form of public transportation -- until this week.

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January 28, 2008

Commemorating Roe's 35th Anniversary

By Jessica Valenti

For the past two years, I've blogged for choice on the anniversary Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal. Today, on the 35th anniversary, NARAL Pro-Choice America is calling on bloggers to answer this question: Why do you vote pro-choice? I'll be featuring links to blog posts throughout the day, but to kick things off - here's why I vote pro-choice.

I vote pro-choice because I believe in bodily integrity;

I vote pro-choice because I want the Hyde Amendment to be repealed;

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January 22, 2008

Sexist Hell Freezes Over

By Jessica Valenti

I never thought I'd see the day when career sexist Chris Matthews would apologize for his comments about Hillary Clinton.

In a nearly four minute mea culpa, Chris Matthews apologized for saying that Hillary Clinton only got to where she is because of sympathy over Bill's indiscretions.

Was it fair to imply that Hillary's whole career depended on being a victim of an unfaithful husband? No. And that's what it sounded like I was saying and it hurt people I'd like to think normally like what I say, in fact, normally like me.

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January 18, 2008

Huckabee Visits Crisis Pregnancy Center

By Jessica Valenti

I'm a bit late on this, but I think considering how horrifying Crisis Pregnancy Centers are--definitely better late than never.

Last week Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee toured the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina:

"Sometimes those of us in the pro-life community have been known for what we're against -- that we don't want to see an unborn child have his or her life ended prematurely and unnecessarily. And yet it's not enough to be known for what we're against. We have to be known for what we're for, which is being for life," Huckabee told volunteers after touring the center.

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January 14, 2008

Feminist Election Survival Tips: Privileged Political Pundits

By Jessica Valenti

Watching campaign coverage can be trying. Especially when the talking heads seem hell-bent on relying on racist and sexist sound-bites in lieu of substantive commentary. So to get you through the hard times, my Feministing co-blogger Ann and I proudly present ....

The Privileged Political Pundit Drinking Game

• Drink anytime someone refers to Clinton's teary moment in NH as "crying," "sobbing," "weepy," or "contrived."

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  January 11, 2008

• What's Violence Against Women?

  By Jessica Valenti

  Mitt Romney is asked a question about the ground-breaking Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and responds: "I'm not familiar with the act."

  Clearly the guy asking the question is an asshole MRA who is trying to get Mitt Romney to say that VAWA is flawed, but it's still pretty fucking terrifying that Romney has never heard of the Act that provides for $3.9 billion in funding to help survivors of intimate partner violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. I'm also not quite sure why anyone, even Romney, would feel the need to pander to someone who obviously thinks that women have gotten too uppity with the whole not-wanting-to-be-hit thing.

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  January 9, 2008

• Conservative Myths and the Women Who Love Them

  By Jessica Valenti

  When it comes to thinking about the people who are ruining this country, I've always reserved a bit more disdain for women who do the very easy work of bashing feminism--often for little more than a patriarchal head-pat. (After all, what's easier than reaping the bountiful rewards of telling conservative men that women indeed are inferior, different, and desperately in need of their guidance?)

  Organizations like the Independent Women's Forum, which exist solely to further conservative, anti-woman nonsense--like their insistence that the wage gap is actually good for women or that the biggest danger to young women on college campuses is The Vagina Monologues--piss me off like little else does. Perhaps it's unfair that women's anti-feminism irritates me more than men's, but there it is nonetheless.

  The latest in anti-women diatribes comes from Wendy Wright, from Concerned Women for America. In a recent Fox News Special Report, Wright said that proponents of comprehensive sex education are encouraging young people to have sex because "they benefit when kids end up having sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies and then they lead them into having abortions…You have to look at the financial motives behind those who are promoting comprehensive sex ed."

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  January 7, 2008

• The Daddy State? No Thanks.

  By Jessica Valenti

  Firstly, I just want to thank The Nation for giving me the opportunity to guest blog. I've been reading the magazine since I was a teenager – obsessing over Katha Pollitt's columns much in the same way that other girls were swooning over their Teen Beats. (Though I never got my Katha pull-out, very disappointing.)

  Since a lot of my feminism started here, I figured what better way to start my guest-blogging stint than to point out a bit of a sexist election trend.

  We all know about the waxing misogynist over Hillary's hair or "cackle," and Chris Matthews' ability to insult women in the most ridiculous ways while keeping a straight face. But what I'm finding most interesting is the perpetual paternalism that's been driving the Republican candidates as of late.

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  January 3, 2008

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