With the passage of Health-care reform, Nancy Pelosi has been proclaimed by many as the most powerful woman and Speaker in U.S. History.  That may well be the case but she is not the only successful congresswoman according to a recent study from Stanford University and the University of Chicago that shows that on average, women in Congress introduce more bills, attract more co-sponsors and bring more money for their districts than their male counterparts do. Politico reports that the study examined the performance of House members between 1984 and 2004 and found that “women delivered roughly 9 percent more discretionary spending for their districts than men.” In addition Stanford researcher Sarah Anzia writes that, “Women sponsor about three bills more per Congress per term than their male counterparts…They co-sponsor more bills than other members, and they also obtain more co-sponsors for their own bills.”

Women make up only 2 percent of the total congressional population but they achieve more probably because as we all know they must work twice as hard to be regarded as successful as their male counterparts. So, imagine how much would get done in Congress–for a change, if more women were elected. I am not suggesting that women should be supported just because they are women but given that it’s been shown that they achieve more of their goals, wouldn’t it make sense to support them when we agree with their political platforms.  That it why it is important to have and support organizations like EMILY’s list that work to elect more women at all levels of government. Only with the support of women outside of political institutions, will the chances of more women holding elected office increase.

Politico: Study: Women lawmakers outperform men

Despite Republican opposition and misinformation, last night, speaker Pelosi made history when she announced that the senate version of health-care reform legislation passed 219-212.  Thirty-four Democrats joined all Republicans to vote no on the bill. The package of so-called “fixes” was voted on and passed afterwards 220-211. The legislation becomes law as soon as the president signs the bill while the package of fixes goes to the senate to be voted on.  Once again, Republicans are promising mayhem. The ridiculous cry of “baby killer” heard by a Republican member of Congress during Stupak’s floor speech is only the beginning of Republican backlash. Obama himself admitted that he is placing his own presidency on the line  and must realize the the promise of a “postpartisan” Washington is long gone.

It should not be lost on anyone that it took the first woman speaker and first African American president to extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans and regulate the way insurance companies do business.  The public option did not survive, federal funds still cannot fund abortions, and several of the options won’t take effect for a few years, but this is without a doubt a historic vote in more than one way.  In the words of Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina,  “This is the Civil Rights Act of the 21st century.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/health/policy/22health.html?th&emc=th

There has been a lot of controversy recently over a mural by twenty-five year old Sophia Maldonado that went up this month on West 42nd Street as part of the Time Square Alliance public art project. While Maldonado believes the work displays vibrant images of Caribbean women with strong and powerful bodies, some believe the piece depicts Black and Latina stereotypes.

Maldonado defends her piece explaining that her “artwork intends and aims to represent brave, strong, and tough women who have to overcome struggles in their daily lives and sometimes impose themselves in a male-dominated world. In a post-feminist society these women can own their bodies in a powerful way without being depicted negatively.”

While Maldonado seems excited that people are talking about her work, she has been clear that the art is not intended to be disrespectful or offensive but rather embraces different types of beauty and strength. However, a group of New Yorkers including hundreds of minority women gathered last night to protest Maldonado’s mural and ask that it be removed from Times Square. The controversy has also been heightened by Fox News coverage of it (see below) which features bystanders complaining about the piece. While Maldonado’s right to free speech should allow her mural to be displayed, the bigger question is whether the piece is stereotyping women or representing the diversity of women?

What do you think? Do murals like this one spread negative stereotypes?

Time Square Alliance

Sofia Maldonado Website

If your rich (and dumb) you can try the “revolutionary” la gym métabolique (metabolic gym) that promises to burn 800-1,000 calories in a half hour without you lifting a finger. It will cost you 45 euros (yeah these days thats over $60 bucks) each time you step into this pod but they claim 30 minutes inside is the same as an hour and a half of gym time. Great, I am so sure this thing works without magically giving you cancer in the first ten minutes.

Apparently every french magazine including Glamour and Elle have tested the thing out and they all claim the process is completely natural. Infared waves dilate the blood vessels bursting of water molecules that surround fat and calorie burning. The machine raises the heat up to 51 degrees celcius and poof, you are skinny! Oh but you apparently won’t see any results until over a month of sessions twice week….riiiight. Hunny sounds to me the only thing getting lighter in your brain and your wallet!

Glamour.com: The Test of the Metabolic Gym

The Itawamba County school district’s board in northern Mississippi decided this week to cancel its prom because of what they referred to as “recent distractions,” alluding to an 18-year-old high school senior Constance McMillen’s interest in bringing her girlfriend, also a student, to the dance. Apparently school policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex. Yeah rules like these still exist–talk about not treating all students equally.

McMillen along with the ACLU of Mississippi urged the district to change their policy arguing that banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen’s constitutional rights. And what does the school do? They decide they would rather cancel the event for everyone than let in someone they feel is not worthy of participating because of her sexual preference. What a way to teach kids to hate gays and lesbians from the start! The worst part is that instead of supporting her against this blatant act of homophobia, McMillen said that her fellow students have been attacking her and even blaming her for ruining their senior year.

After the board’s decision, the ACLU filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Oxford to force the school district to sponsor the prom and allow McMillen to bring whom she chooses and wear what she wants. I look forward to the outcome of this lawsuit and am at least happy McMillen has some support in this ordeal although I wish it came from within her own community. McMillen’s case is a sad reminder that in many places throughout this country, children and young people are not taught to accept each other’s differences and respect them. I wonder when we as a country will change our mindset but when the majority of states won’t even recognize same sex marriage, it seems that we still have a long way to go before we can even approach the Bible Belt.

Associated Press: Lesbian teen sues over prom flap; back at school

The gap being your  your loosey goosey vagina???

Why does almost every advertisement in pink end up being offensive to women? Oh that’s right, because the use of the color pink is only the start of the stereotypes used to target women in advertising. The vaginal gel known as Benostan can be used as a lubricant, while at the same time offering firmness to your vagina during intercourse. They should team up with the folks at “My Pink Button” and sell this crap as a two for one special.

copyranter: Ladies (and Gentlemen): PINK!

Would you call this hypocritical?

After presenting a full collection of autumn and winter outfits at London Fashion Week, top designer Westwood told the press that she hopes people stop buying clothes all together.

“Stop all this consumerism,” said Westwood, “I just tell people, stop buying clothes. Why not protect this gift of life while we have it? I don’t take the attitude that destruction is inevitable. Some of us would like to stop that and help people survive.”

Westwood did use her fashion show to call attention to the crisis in Haiti in support of Naomi Campbell’s cause to help mothers and babies displaced by the earthquake there. However, you can’t have your cake and eat it too and while Westwood has expressed interest in climate change and plans to pursue other work beyond fashion, you can’t present a show of highly priced couture and then act as if people are wasting by buying your product!

Yahoo News: Westwood condemns consumerism after London show