Today in History...

Today is the 38th anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision of Roe v. Wade.
This was the case that decided to legalize abortion in the first 3 months of pregnancy in cases other than rape or incest. 

Norma McCorvey a.k.a Jane Roe was pregnant with her 3rd child and wanted to get an abortion. A few of her friends suggested that she lie and say she was raped so that she could get an abortion legally.  Since there were no police reports documenting the rape, her plan failed.

She recieved help from two attorneys by the names of Linda Coffee and Sarah Weddington. 

Some pro life supporters suggest that personhood begins at fertilization(conception), and should be protected by the constitution and others argue that, in the absence of consensus about when meaningful life begins, it is best to avoid the risk of doing harm.

Advocates of Roe say that the vital preservation of women's rights, personal freedom, and privacy is what is important and that by denying the right to abortion has violated the 13th amendment.

Opponents of Roe have said that the decision lacks a constitutional foundation.

In response to this, most states have enacted or attempted to enact laws limiting or regulating abortion, such as laws requiring parental consent for minors, spousal mutual consent laws, laws requiring abortions to be done in hospitals rather than clinics and laws barring state funding.

Where do you stand?  In general, do you favor or oppose this part of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion?

AW

browsing...

while browsing on the web this is what one of the headlines were. http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/111874/gm-taps-first-woman-as-product-development-chief?mod=career-leadership

cj

THE WAVES OF A MOVEMENT

The women's movement is often referred to as "in waves".
The first wave was started by the suffrage's and was focused on the right to vote.
The second wave was focused on abortion rights and equal pay.
The third wave is focused on looking at our past and building a good future.
All of these "waves" are much more involved than just the basics that I am listing here, but I guess what I am wondering is why does it have to be referred to as "in waves"?
Why can't what women, feminist or anybody that is concerned with women's rights, equal pay or just plain equality for all just be involved and want to change things?
Why can't we all just unite, come together and accomplish something wonderful that would benefit everybody?
It shouldn't matter our sex, race, skin color, size shape or sexual orientation.
We should ALL be able to just live peacefully together.


CH

Focus On What Matters

   We just enjoyed a three day weekend thanks to the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr.'s many  achievements. I do not think this is the time to review those achievements, nor do I think I am the best person to give such a review adequately.

     What I do think is that if Martin L. King Jr. would have been Martina instead, someone would have been asking, "Does he shave he legs?" " Boxers or Briefs?" "Gay or straight?"

     I would really like to know how my political views relate to whether or not I shave my legs, wear a bra or have sex with a man or woman or even both? Does my outfit match? Have I worn it before? Who designed it? Makeup or no?
  
      Why does any of this matter? It doesn't. When I vote, I don't care if I have hairy legs. What I care about is the election outcome and how it will affect myself and others. When I talk to someone about  legalizing same sex marriage, I am not wondering if I have worn this outfit before or if I have on mascara.  What I wonder is if they can see the injustice of exclusion?

      Dare I say the man pictured above was a feminist? Perhaps. He fought for equal rights. He stood up, spoke out and died fighting for what he believed in. ( He didn't answer questions about his underwear choices!)  I can't know that he would approve but I believe that qualifies MLK Jr.. as a feminist.
 
      I don't think it matters so much what a feminist looks like. He or she. Shaved or hairy. That is all just hype to try and keep us from what really matters in the choices we make each day.  What matters is what we, (male or female) stand up for and stand up against. If we are spending all of our time defending our personal choices, we can be sidetracked.  I ask myself do I care if someone else thinks I am; ugly, old, fat, hairy, queer, bitchy, crippled and/ or braless? Actually I no, I don't care what others are thinking about those things... I care whether or not they think there are injustices in our society that are worth fighting against.    

J. Dean
    

Now that I think about it,...I just robbed a bank...

     My morning started off like any other, except I had to take my car into the mechanics because I was seriously lacking in that department and knew I was way over due. I was quoted an amount for just the basic tune up and figured it will probably be a little more because it has been a while. Well almost 4 times as much as I was quoted later, the gentlemen who quoted me is listing off everything that is wrong. I need a car, one that is dependable especially since I have a child,  so I agree to have all that is needed done. 
     
     Well what set me off was this older gentleman who was in the waiting area who just started drilling me about my car:


     First he was friendly about it, just asking what type of car and how old it was, when I told him a '93 Buick he got all upset like he was offended, asking if my car is even worth $750


 "you know a simple oil change every 3 months could prevent some of your problems, it's only $30 or $40..." 


I just shook my head and then he asked me my opinion on getting oil changes. It was almost like he was baiting me!  I responded even though I had no reason to, 


"I know it is a key part of owning a car, but when you are a single mother going to school full time, there are usually more pertinent things that needed to be taken care of."  


WELL, that was like a slap in the face to him, his whole body went rigid and firmly asked, 


"How the hell can you afford $750 when you can'f afford an oil change? It's a lot cheaper!" 


I held my head up and looked him right in the eye and said,


"I just got my financial aid and it was time to have my car taken care of!" 


Then I walked away. 


     Looking back now, it irritates me that some man can judge me about my owning an older car and not taking care of it. I had no need or reason to even give him the time of day by the time our conversation was over, but something in me just made me feel that I needed to defend myself. It was NONE of his damn business why or how I was paying for my car to be repaired. Now that I think about it, I could have been a real smart-ass and just told him, "I just robbed a bank but my get-a-way car needed a little boost!"


CJ

Thought for the evening...

While looking through a discussion board, this sentence caught my eye and now I just can't stop thinking about it:
(the poster shall remain anonymous; was a male)


"Women with more education are coming close to earning as much as men with less education when they hold the same job and have the same amount of experience."


Why should women have to be higher educated to earn "close" to what a man with less earns? Now don't you think if you have a higher educated WOMAN OR MAN, you know that they have the drive to further themselves? If it were two men, and one had a higher education than the other, the higher educated male would earn more. 

WOMEN HAVE THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT TO THANK IF.......

You vote.

You read.

You wear pants, skirts above your ankle, short-sleeved shirts, or any clothing that shows your skin.

You travel without a male chaperone or you drive a car.

You use, or have ever used birth control. Or if your birth control is covered by your insurance company or by state or federal funds.

You own property or have credit cards or a bank acount in your name.

You participate in sports.

You go to college.



For the full quote read "Fight like a Girl" by Megan Seely

We have made headlines

Second term of great classes, I think we started a new trend with articles in the paper after every class! We are on to something great!!

The article above is an article that was posted Spring term 2010: First women's studies class offered at Clatsop CC. I was very privileged to be a part of this great class. 

Womanly Perfection