http://womensissues.about.com/ Get the latest headlines from the About.com http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/ 118 20 en-us 2012-02-16T17:21:51Z Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:21:51 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/21/living-in-the-past-santorums-views-reflect-not-2012-but-1912.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/womensissues/1/H/i/7/-/-/Santorum.jpg" alt="null" /></p> <p>If you consider that presidential hopeful Rick Santorum is running a campaign ahead of <em>his</em> time, then his views on abortion, contraception, women working outside the home and females serving in the military are spot-on. Based on his outdated, out-of- touch approach to the realities of modern life in the 21st century,&#160; "his" time appears to be&#160; somewhere around 1912 -- before Margaret Sanger founded <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/f/What-Is-Planned-Parenthood.htm">the nation's first birth control clinic</a>, before women were <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/od/19thamendment/f/19thAmendment.htm">guaranteed the right to vote</a>, and before <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/od/womenintheworkforce/f/RosieRiveter.htm">World War II introduced middle-class women to the workforce</a> in large numbers.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/21/living-in-the-past-santorums-views-reflect-not-2012-but-1912.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/21/living-in-the-past-santorums-views-reflect-not-2012-but-1912.htm Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:24:41 +0000 2012-02-21T23:24:41Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/16/why-is-rep-darrell-issa-afraid-of-women-no-female-on-panel-of-experts-at-contraceptive-coverage-hearings.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/womensissues/1/H/h/7/-/-/Issa.jpg" alt="Rep. Darrell Issa" /></p> <p>Why is this man so afraid of women? That's the only reason I can come up with to explain why Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) picked a panel of men to testify on the contraceptive coverage controversy before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. His first round of "experts" <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/rep-darrell-issa-bars-minority-witness-a-woman-on-contraception-2/">(shown being sworn in)</a> was all male, and when asked to include a Georgetown law student who wanted to speak in favor of of contraceptive coverage, he said no.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/16/why-is-rep-darrell-issa-afraid-of-women-no-female-on-panel-of-experts-at-contraceptive-coverage-hearings.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/16/why-is-rep-darrell-issa-afraid-of-women-no-female-on-panel-of-experts-at-contraceptive-coverage-hearings.htm Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:21:51 +0000 2012-02-16T17:21:51Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/14/grammys-celebrate-chris-browns-f-a-m-e-ignore-felony-assault-conviction.htm <p>Kids notice the way their parents treat each other. This early exposure influences how they'll subsequently treat their romantic partners later in life. Over time, they'll also pick up cues from what they see and hear on TV, in films and songs. Domestic violence doesn't just spring out of nowhere. When a pre-teen, teen or young adult beats up on his or her partner, that's a learned response. Knowing that pop culture has the ability to reverse and change attitudes, several organizations have sought to appeal to boys and men -- even <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2011/03/08/a-pro-woman-james-bond-film-equals-creative-approach-to-international-womens-day-2011.htm">putting the iconic James Bond in drag </a>-- to encourage them<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/17/more-than-just-a-womens-issue-rape-prevention-involves-my-strength.htm"> to apply their strength to care for their girlfriends and partners</a>.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/14/grammys-celebrate-chris-browns-f-a-m-e-ignore-felony-assault-conviction.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/14/grammys-celebrate-chris-browns-f-a-m-e-ignore-felony-assault-conviction.htm Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:56:57 +0000 2012-02-14T12:56:57Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/obama-exempts-religious-institutions-puts-cost-of-contraceptive-coverage-on-insurance-companies.htm <p>Today President Obama announced that religious organizations will not be required to pay for for contraceptive coverage for their employees; instead, such coverage will be provided by the insurance companies themselves free of charge.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/obama-exempts-religious-institutions-puts-cost-of-contraceptive-coverage-on-insurance-companies.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/obama-exempts-religious-institutions-puts-cost-of-contraceptive-coverage-on-insurance-companies.htm Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:22:23 +0000 2012-02-10T12:22:23Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/contraceptive-coverage-not-a-war-on-religion-but-a-basic-part-of-comprehensive-womens-health-care.htm <p>In politics, timing is everything. So despite the fact that the Obama administration announced back <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/a/Insurance-Preventive-Services.htm">in August 2011 that contraceptive counseling and FDA-approved contraceptive methods be included</a> (without cost or co-pay) by employers in new private health plans written on or after August 1, 2012, it's only become a hot button issue now that we're in a volatile election cycle. The rules were put in place last year then clarified and reiterated <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2012/01/24/index.html">on January 20, 2012 by the US Department of Health and Human Services</a>, but the debate has intensified in the past week. As of this writing, we're waiting to hear from President Obama in a news conference scheduled just past noon today.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/contraceptive-coverage-not-a-war-on-religion-but-a-basic-part-of-comprehensive-womens-health-care.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/10/contraceptive-coverage-not-a-war-on-religion-but-a-basic-part-of-comprehensive-womens-health-care.htm Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:01:21 +0000 2012-02-10T12:01:21Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/09/new-rules-on-women-in-combat-open-up-more-jobs-for-military-servicewomen.htm <p><img class="alignnone" src="http://0.tqn.com/h/womensissues/1/H/g/7/-/-/WomenMilitary.jpg" alt="women marines" /><br class="spacer_" /></p> <p>Nobody wants to see any of our "boys" or "girls" get hurt in combat, and longstanding rules in the military bar women from being assigned to fight on the front lines. Yet a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have blurred the distinction of what a "front line" is, while at the same time <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.npr.org/2012/02/08/146611671/officials-new-military-roles-to-open-for-women">women serving as medics, military police, intelligence officers</a> and other support positions have nonetheless been <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/02/pentagon-to-lift-some-restrictions-on-women-in-combat/">caught in the thick of battle</a>.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/09/new-rules-on-women-in-combat-open-up-more-jobs-for-military-servicewomen.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/09/new-rules-on-women-in-combat-open-up-more-jobs-for-military-servicewomen.htm Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:09:11 +0000 2012-02-09T13:09:11Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/07/handels-resignation-from-komen-due-to-power-of-the-people-especially-women.htm <p>The news that Susan G. Komen VP Karen Handel - the woman whose tinkering with "what ain't broke" at the nation's leading breast cancer charity has given the pink ribbon a black eye -- <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/02/komen-publicity-executive-resigns-wake-planned-parenthood-fiasco/48401/">has resigned in the wake of the Planned Parenthood fiasco</a> shouldn't be a surprise to any of us. It wasn't to me, because clearly any woman who supports comprehensive women's health care (which included breast care and reproductive care) <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72435_Page2.html">could not comfortably give</a> to a non-profit that placed such a controversial, anti-choice, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://colorlines.com/archives/2012/02/turns_out_komen_exec_is_whole_heartedly_anti-gay_too.html">anti-gay failed gubernatorial candidate</a> in a highly influential position.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/07/handels-resignation-from-komen-due-to-power-of-the-people-especially-women.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/02/07/handels-resignation-from-komen-due-to-power-of-the-people-especially-women.htm Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:13:49 +0000 2012-02-07T12:13:49Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/single-sex-education-counters-stereotypes-of-boys-as-well-as-girls.htm <p>Where do we pick up gender stereotypes? Despite our best efforts, children still develop ideas that boys are better at some things and girls are better at others.</p> <p>Some things have changed for the better. Our children now see that women are running for President and that doctors can be female as well as male. (The latter point was driven home when I visited a private school in New York City to <a href="http://womensissues.about.com/b/2010/09/09/ill-be-on-good-morning-america-this-sunday-heres-why.htm">tape a segment for <em>Good Morning America</em></a> back in September 2010; the question involved the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://patients.about.com/b/2010/09/12/riddle-me-this-who-is-the-surgeon.htm">"boy and his father are in a car accident"</a> riddle. Most of the kids easily answered a question that stumped most adults.)</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/single-sex-education-counters-stereotypes-of-boys-as-well-as-girls.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/single-sex-education-counters-stereotypes-of-boys-as-well-as-girls.htm Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:17:24 +0000 2012-01-31T22:17:24Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/february-is-for-v-day-that-v-word-and-ending-violence-against-women.htm <p>I always look forward to February. Not just because my birthday falls in February as does Valentines Day, a couple of presidents' birthdays and a winter break for school-age kids. No, I like February because of the following story:</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/february-is-for-v-day-that-v-word-and-ending-violence-against-women.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/31/february-is-for-v-day-that-v-word-and-ending-violence-against-women.htm Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:29:33 +0000 2012-01-31T11:29:33Z http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/24/everyday-and-extraordinary-women-are-special-guests-at-state-of-union-address.htm <p>The<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/24/guest-list-first-ladys-box-state-union-address"> 23 guests</a> who joined Michelle Obama in her viewing box for tonight's State of the Union address included several notable and recognizable faces: Rep. Gabby Gifford's husband Capt. Mark Kelly;&#160; Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Steve Jobs; Dr. Jill Biden; and White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. But there were many "everday" folks as well.</p>...<p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/24/everyday-and-extraordinary-women-are-special-guests-at-state-of-union-address.htm">Read Full Post</a></p> http://womensissues.about.com/b/2012/01/24/everyday-and-extraordinary-women-are-special-guests-at-state-of-union-address.htm Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:51:18 +0000 2012-01-24T22:51:18Z