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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fight Like a Girl...2nd edition!

I'm working on a second edition to Fight Like a Girl and am looking to enlist your help! Send me an email to megan@fightlikeagirl.org and let me know what you'd like me to keep, change, update, and/or get rid of in the next edition of the book. I'm very interested in your feedback. Thanks!!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Supergirl vs. Strawberry Shortcake

My 2 year old daughter wants Strawberry Shortcake (how she knows about her is beyond me). At the store today I wandered down the 'boy aisle' to see what dolls (hmm...excuse me, 'action figures') were offered. A possible alternative to Strawberry Shortcake?? And I found SuperGirl! I snatched her up and presented her to my daughter. She screwed up her face and asked me where Strawberry Shortcake was. I begin to highlight Supergirl's powers, strength...and the awesome fact that she could change the world. I mean c'mon she has both heat vision and freezing breath. My daughter's response...but you can brush Strawberry Shortcake's hair and she smells like fruit. My heart sank...what is a feminist mom to do? Can Supergirl compete with those qualifications? Should she have to?

As if I were not distraught enough...upon closer inspection of Supergirl I was devastated. Not only is she the only girl in the line up of Marvel figures on this particular store's shelf but she has breasts that give Barbie a run for her money. The size of her waist line makes you wonder if she could even hold up those ginormous breasts! And the main movement she can do is bend her knees (as in get down on her knees). And let's not forget that I found her in the 'boy aisle'-- she is marketed to boys...young boys. Package says ages 4+ Seriously?

Strawberry's body is much more girl like (despite the size of her head). And she has a community of young women around her...Plum Pudding, Raspberry Torte, Lemon Meringue, Orange Blossom, & Blueberry Muffin. They come in different colors...a rainbow--gay friendly? A sign of diversity? So they flit around, dress up, and have tea parties...it could be worse, right?

Has it come to this? Am I honestly arguing the redeemable points to Strawberry Shortcake and her girls because Supergirl in toy form is so disappointing? Can there be no mainstream action figures/dolls that support girls as girls? Highlight their strength? Teach them to be empowered by their capabilities? Is this asking too much?

Sunday, September 27, 2009

30th Annual Women Take Back the Night

Join me
for the 30th Annual
Women Take Back the Night
march and rally
Saturday, October 3, 2009
6pm at the West Steps of the State Capitol
Sacramento, CA

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Women Inform the Reform!



From ACCESS:
Women Inform the Reform!
Health Care Reform Campaign
Due to the economic downturn, hundreds of thousands of Californians are joining the ranks of the uninsured or are looking to publicly financed programs for their health coverage. President Obama and Congressional leaders have pledged to seek the adoption of major health care reforms at the national level. Based on this promise, we’re committed to raise our communities’ voices on this issue affecting so many of us!
Photogram Project ACCESS is working in partnership with Raising Women’s Voices, a national initiative to support quality, affordable health care for all, to bring California women’s voices into the national heath care reform debate. We are collecting photos of women displaying their hopes and dreams for health care reform. The photogram will be delivered to members of the California Congressional delegation who play key roles in crafting heath care policy.
If you’re interested in participating in Women Inform the Reform! , please tell us:
What would you like to see in a Health Care Reform plan?
- Accessible, high quality, comprehensive health care for ALL residents
- Affordable for individuals and families in relation to income.
- Culturally appropriate, to vulnerable and underserved communities.
- Address community as well as individual health.
Be sure to include your name, city, state and zip code following the format indicated below. For example: [Your Photo and Comment] [Your Name] [Your City] [Your State] [Your Zip Code] *These photos will be published and or used for the Health Care Reform campaign purposes only* All Rights Reserved. http://www.whrc-access.org/ http://www.RaisingWomensVoices.net

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

What is on your summer read list??

I'm reading...
Naomi Klein, The Shock Doctrine
Riane Eisler, The Real Wealth of Nations
Tilar Mazzeo, The Widow Clicquot

to name a few. Check out GoodReads to keep up with other books on my list.

California Special Election


If you are in California...don't forget for vote today!! For more information about the election, go to California Voter Guide

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

Rosa Sat--song for Obama



Written and performed by Amy Dixon-Kolar (c) 2008 Asharta Music/ASCAP. This was written a few days after November 4, 2008 and was inspired by the quote used as the chorus and the celebrations and photos of this historic day

Friday, January 23, 2009

Woo Hoo! Off to a great start!

Did you hear?? President Obama reversed the Global Gag Rule today (also known as the "Mexico City Policy"). The global gag rule would prohibit U.S. funding for international organization that provide or mention abortion.

Obama is quoted as saying that "it is time to end the politicization of this issue." (cnn.com)

I couldn't agree more! Click here to thank President Obama

For more on the story, see Obama reverses abortion-funding policy on cnn.com.

Have you seen this?

"America's Song"

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Statement of President Obama on the 36th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

"On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.

While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.

On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere."

Blog for Choice: My hope for a new day



My hopes are many. Like numerous others, I see President Obama’s election as a new day in this country. We have survived, barely, these last eight years. And now much remains to be undone – the economic crisis, the devastation of the Iraq war, the global gag rule, the inaccurate, false and misleading SPRANS Abstinence-only program, the wide-reaching and deeply impacting restrictions to abortion access and services, the establishment of “fetushood” as personhood (i.e. see the Unborn Victims of Violence Act)…and the list can go on. But this new day, this new hope brings with it dreams of where we can go from here. Beyond what must be undone, what can we build?

My hope lies here…in what we can build. Not only do I want to see structural changes but I also hope for socio-cultural changes. I want structural changes in the form of federal funding for all reproductive health services (from birth control to abortion to well woman services to prenatal care), fair and unbiased courts, the prioritization of women’s health issues in research funding, stronger oversight and accountability to the FDA, and government subsidies for menstrual health products and baby diapers that are biodegradable and eco-friendly. I also hope for changes in the ways in which our culture, both its people and its government, views women’s health, bodies, and experiences. I want a culture that empowers women and girls in who they are instead of judging them on their appearance. I want a culture that values women’s experience as legitimate information and knowledge. I want a culture that teaches children about their bodies in a non-judgmental, non-heterosexist manner. I want a culture that embraces comprehensive sex education which includes body information, sexualities, gender identity, the full range of reproductive options, and incorporates relationship negotiation skills and personal empowerment training. I want a culture that values women enough to provide accurate, unbiased, and non-judgmental information and then respects them enough to make choices in their lives without shame or blame.

Finally, as we collectively embrace a revitalized sense of community, democracy, and civic commitment I hope for a community who stands together, supports one another’s issues, fights for justice and equality, and refuses to settle for less until we are all afforded the same access and opportunity.

Lofty ideals? Perhaps, but what better time to dream than now?

Click here for other Blogs for Choice