News & Critical Thinking

Single Mothers a Public Health Problem? Depends on Who is Asking the Question

Bristol Palin holding her brother Trig while pregnant with her son Tripp.

“Unwed mothers suffer long-term health woes,” read the headline in the Los Angeles Times on June 2. I felt myself cringe as I took it in, not just because of the significance of this statement, but also because of the use of the term “unwed mother.” After reading the full article, my initial cringe turned [...]

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Goodbye Hymen, Hello Hyphen!

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Each generation has their heated issue when it comes to marriage. Once upon a time, it was imperative to maintain the virtue and innocence of a young woman (i.e.: the presence of her hymen) on her wedding night. In present times, the average age of sexually active women is 17. Therefore, contrary to the repressive [...]

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Selling Sex: How Abolitionist Feminists Hurt Sex Workers

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Today, March 3, is International Sex Worker’s Rights Day. Millions of women, men, and trans people around the world choose to sell sex, and the topic of sex work is one that sharply divides feminists and women’s rights activists. In this series of articles I will explore the links between globalization, migration, the ‘rescue industry’, [...]

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Where is the Feminist Revolution?

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The world had been rocked over the past few months by the cataclysmic changes brought about by the Jasmine Revolution. Across the Middle East, seething, roiling masses of humanity are realizing their collective power, and as they spread their wings and test their strength, the earth trembles. Looking around and seeing corruption, oppression, and inequality, [...]

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What Target’s Recent Stumble can Teach us About Ourselves

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“No! Where am I supposed to go to buy cheap goods now?!” read the comment on a link posted by one of my friends on Facebook. The posted link opened to a breaking news story about the recent scandal surrounding Target Corporation, the home goods darling of young liberals and hipsters alike. Back in August, [...]

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Sarah Palin, Fear, and Mama Grizzlies

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Sarah Palin’s “mama grizzlies” video fans the flames of fear that already fuel the over-parenting trend in this country. In an apparent effort to reach out to middle of-the-road women, Palin’s PAC video launches a vague attack on the “fundamental transformation of this country,” embedded with a challenge for moms to take action toward preserving [...]

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South African LGBT Hate Crimes

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Imagine living every day of your life in fear, afraid to venture into public places because you do not know if and when you could become the next victim of a hate crime solely because of your sexual orientation. Every 26 seconds, a woman is raped in South Africa. As this disturbing [...]

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Feminism in a Capitalist Society

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Destigmatizing sexuality in an American capitalist society set women up for deeper and even more damaging exploitation and disempowerment.

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Social Networking Sites’ Popularity Poses Problem for Users

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If you’ve ever stared blankly at your “status update” window, wondering what you could possibly write that would be both clever and appropriate for all of your 267 friends, including Mom, you are not alone. Many sites, like Facebook, which began as a way for college-age kids to keep in touch and post photos of [...]

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Who Owns the Feminist Label?

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Sarah Palin has generated a lot of controversy as a result of a speech she gave calling for a new brand of feminism. Palin argues that the true feminists are anti-abortion, and unwilling to compromise on the position. This speech has understandably outraged liberal and progressive feminists, and it raises an interesting question: [...]

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