Amy

Why Women Shouldn’t Trust Ann (or Mitt) Romney

August 29, 2012 By Amy 3 Comments

Last night, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s wife of 43 years, Ann Romney, addressed delegates at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. The speech, which CNN’s David Gergen compared to then-Sen. Barack Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, sought to humanize Mitt Romney, who has struggled with likeability ratings throughout the Republican Primary.

Plenty of pundits echoed Gergen’s gushing praise of Ann Romney’s speech. In fact, most of the conservative commentary that I read seemed to wish, deep down, that it was Ann and not Mitt Romney at the top of their ticket – I mean, if she didn’t have ovaries and the rest of that whole “woman” thing going on.

I didn’t listen to Ann Romney’s speech live, mainly because I care about my health and sanity. I find the GOP’s trotting out of conservative women to line up for Mitt Romney offensive and patronizing, but I suppose it’s better than having Republidudes lined up to mansplain to all us ladies about what is best for us.
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Filed Under: Election Watch Tagged With: Ann Romney, Mitt Romney, Republican National Convention, RNC, women's health, women's issues

Ladies! Get Your Slut Pills Free Starting Today!

August 1, 2012 By Amy 1 Comment

If I had a wacky waving arm flailing inflatable tube man, I’d put it up in front of my apartment complex today. It would have a really cool sign that said:

“FUCK YEAH! FREE SLUT PILLS! THANKS OBAMA!”

Or something like that.

Dubbed “No Copay Day,” today is the day when seven key preventive reproductive health services are now covered without copay. I really think that the Obama Administration could’ve come up with some better names for today, considering that it’s a milestone for women’s health and feminism. My suggestions include “The Day Freedom Died,” and “Slut Pills Liberation Day.”

A Feminist Defense of Louis CK

July 17, 2012 By Amy 9 Comments

Last night, comedian Louis CK (of Louie fame) appeared on The Daily Show. I was actually watching The Daily Show for a change, and was excited to see Louis CK interviewed – he’s always funny and authentic.

If you’ll recall, CK stepped into the big pile of poo that is Toshgate. Sending him a tweet that read “I like your show. You have pretty eyes,” CK was apparently oblivious to the shit-show that Tosh had created in the blogosphere.

Which is easy to believe. Louis CK isn’t exactly web-savvy, and doesn’t Tweet like other comedians like Patton Oswalt or Paula Pell. He’s not a “social media guru” who’s used social media to cultivate an audience. He’s using the web for an inventive ticketing and content distribution strategy, but that’s about it.

His appearance on The Daily Show certainly didn’t have to center around the Tosh controversy, he didn’t have to explain himself to the audience. He could’ve told Stewart to stay entirely away from the subject and just talk about his new show and upcoming tour. But because Louis CK is generally a decent human being, he thought that some clarification was in order. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pop Culture, Sexual Assault Tagged With: apology, comedy, daily show, Daniel Tosh, joke, louis ck, rape, Sexual Assault

Tosh.No: Why Rape Jokes (And Daniel Tosh) Are Never Funny

July 10, 2012 By Amy 53 Comments

Today, a Tumblr called Cookies For Breakfast published the anonymous story of two women who went to see comedian Dane Cook at The Laugh Factory in New York City. Little did they know that they would be treated to a show by one of the douchiest comedians in comedy – Daniel Tosh.

This audience apparently got the pleasure of hearing Daniel Tosh advocate that an audience member should be gang-raped. And that it would be HILARIOUS.

Here’s the breakdown from Cookies For Breakfast:

So Tosh then starts making some very generalizing, declarative statements about rape jokes always being funny, how can a rape joke not be funny, rape is hilarious, etc. I don’t know why he was so repetitive about it but I felt provoked because I, for one, DON’T find them funny and never have. So I didnt appreciate Daniel Tosh (or anyone!) telling me I should find them funny. So I yelled out, “Actually, rape jokes are never funny!”

I did it because, even though being “disruptive” is against my nature, I felt that sitting there and saying nothing, or leaving quietly, would have been against my values as a person and as a woman. I don’t sit there while someone tells me how I should feel about something as profound and damaging as rape.

After I called out to him, Tosh paused for a moment. Then, he says, “Wouldn’t it be funny if that girl got raped by like, 5 guys right now? Like right now? What if a bunch of guys just raped her…” and I, completely stunned and finding it hard to process what was happening but knowing i needed to get out of there, immediately nudged my friend, who was also completely stunned, and we high-tailed it out of there. It was humiliating, of course, especially as the audience guffawed in response to Tosh, their eyes following us as we made our way out of there. I didn’t hear the rest of what he said about me.

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Filed Under: Sexual Assault Tagged With: comedy, cookies for breakfast, Daniel Tosh, joke, rape, Sexual Assault

Yes, We Did! The Affordable Care Act (Mostly) Stands

June 28, 2012 By Amy 2 Comments

After months of nail-biting, speculation, and copious analysis – we finally have it. The Supreme Court of the United States has rendered its decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius.

And the left, the feminists, the Obama Administration, and most of all – the country WON!

In a 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts crossing the aisle to side with the liberal wing of the court, the Supreme Court decided that the vast majority of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act was Constitutional and would move forward.

At the center of the controversy, the so-called “individual mandate,” or requirement that most Americans carry health insurance or face a financial penalty, received the most attention. Initially, CNN, FOX News, and even NPR had reported that the mandate had been declared unconstitutional. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Judicial Watch, Legislative Watch Tagged With: aca, affordable care act, constitutional, decision, obamacare, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, verdict

Self-Righteousness, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Celebrity Gossip: Why Jezebel Is Ultimately Bad For The Feminist Movement

September 8, 2011 By Amy 12 Comments

Like many other young feminists, I have been reading Jezebel for a few years now. I’ve never been a “Jezzie,” or a frequent commenter and community member, but I found myself logging on frequently to get the scoop on good feminist news and opinion. In between articles on access to birth control and the rape culture, though, you’ll find a lot of celebrity gossip, lifestyle, and cat stories – all of which I have zero problem with. Who doesn’t love a cute cat or a Teen Mom recap? What I do have a problem with, though, is the fact that what the site has become just isn’t good for the feminist movement, or young feminists.

Perhaps you’ll recall the 2008 controversy where writers Tracie Egan Morrissey and Maureen “Moe” Tkacik were interviewed for Lizz Winstead’s “Thinking and Drinking” show. The two showed up visibly drunk, and made some pretty terrible statements about rape and just all-around acted like jerks.

In a Huffington Post article titled “Jezebelism,” Winstead wrote a pretty scathing criticism of the two authors’ actions, noting that they “had no regard for the people who came that night and paid money to hear them speak,” and that they “do not understand the influence they have over the women who read them, nor do they accept any responsibility as role models for young women who are coming of age searching for lifestyles to emulate.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pop Culture Tagged With: anti-feminist, controversy, feminist blogs, gawker, jezebel

Judge Blocks Texas Forced Sonogram Bill, Texas Women See Glimmer of Hope

August 30, 2011 By Amy 9 Comments

NOTE: This is an update to fabulous Feminists For Choice blogger Maureen’s post. You can read it here.

I’m sure you read the horrific news coming out of Texas over the last few months. Our governor (and GOP presidential candidate) Rick Perry signed a bill requiring women seeking abortions to view a sonogram of their fetus. And that’s not even the bad part – these women would be forced to watch the sonogram with their physician describing the images to them and listen to an audio of the fetus’ heartbeat.

Yeah. Pretty terrible stuff, right? Luckily for Texas women (and children) though, the Texas Independent has reported that U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks has blocked the bill and struck down 2 of its more egregious provisions. In response to a petition from the Center for Reproductive Rights petition, Judge Sparks found that provisions of the bill violated the free speech rights of both patient and physician. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Judicial Watch, Legislative Watch Tagged With: Abortion, fetus, heart beat, Judge, overturn, rick perry, sonogram, Texas, Unconstitutional

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Is Released, Meanwhile, I’m Losing My Mind

July 1, 2011 By Amy 7 Comments

I really have come to believe that my brain is just functioning on a different wavelength than everyone else’s today. From Michael Vick being re-hired by Nike to the news that Dominique Strauss-Kahn had been released on his own recognizance, I really just can’t understand what the hell is going on.

I understand that there are certainly political motivations for wanting Dominique Strauss-Kahn out of the IMF picture. I get that. But what I don’t understand is why the young woman who accused him of forcing her to perform oral and anal sex is getting such a bum rap – and this time, not only from the usual suspects.

We know that victim-blaming and doubting is a major problem in the U.S., especially among the media. Comparisons between Strauss-Kahn and the Duke lacrosse team are emanating from the men’s rights types, and we heard today that the case could be dropped due to credibility issues from the victim – but what are those issues? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sexual Assault Tagged With: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, DSK, IMF, rape, Sexual Assault, Victim-blaming

Lizz Winstead is Standing Up for Planned Parenthood

June 23, 2011 By Amy 2 Comments

If you’re not watching The Daily Show, we just can’t be friends. Jon Stewart provides some of the smartest political commentary on television, and he’s funny as hell.

If you do watch, you’re definitely aware of Lizz Winstead. Lizz is a blogger, stand-up comic, writer, and all-around feminist badass. Lizz is currently touring the U.S. to raise funds for Planned Parenthood affiliates. As you know, jerks across the country are threatening reproductive freedom by defunding Planned Parenthood, making sonograms mandatory, and even reducing access to birth control! (And they say they want to reduce abortions.)

Because Lizz had been touring the US selling out comedy venues, she decided to bring crowds in to raise money for the organization that had impacted her life so profoundly. If you’ve ever volunteered with your local affiliate, you know that they’re not exactly swimming with cash. In fact, most of them are having to reduce services and close additional days in order to pay the bills. (If you haven’t gone and volunteered…hey, go do that!)

I wanted to know why Lizz had chosen Planned Parenthood, and what she hoped to accomplish. I spoke with her about Planned Parenthood, anti-choicers, and how you can help. Follow me after the jump to find out what Lizz has to say! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Activism Tagged With: funding, Lizz Winstead, Planned Parenthood

Weiner’s Wiener, and Why It Doesn’t Matter

June 7, 2011 By Amy 12 Comments

If you weren’t lucky enough to see the circus that was the Anthony Weiner press conference yesterday, do yourself a favor and watch the video. As I sat listening while I worked, I was more shocked and disappointed as awkward moment after awkward moment dragged on.

The US media really made an ass of itself yesterday. Between inane and too-personal questions, no one bothered to care that Weiner’s personal life has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not he can legislate.

In situations like these, I think feminists are in a bit of a hard place. As women, we’re sort of grossed out and annoyed by the fact that he would send anyone a (hopefully solicited) picture of his junk, but ultimately, I think we realize that it’s just another part of the role that patriarchy has created for men. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pop Culture Tagged With: Abortion, adultery, Anthony Weiner, infidelity, marriage, pro-choice, progressives, scandal