GWU is failing sexual Assault Victims, Change.org UN
Launches Women’s Organization, VOA News
Abortion Mental Health, Huffington Post
Breast Implants and Cancer, WSJ.com
Among the many issues that Haiti faces currently, violence against women is a major problem. In the many tent cities something as simple as walking around at night can be dangerous for a woman trying to survive sexual violence. Rapes are a common occurrence on many of the camps in Haiti especially the larger ones. Rape survivor, Maricia Jean states, “At first I felt very ashamed to even walk and I did not feel like a human being”.
Violence against women has been the highest among women living Haiti than any other country in the Western Hemisphere. The number of rapes has increased more since the earthquake in January 2010. Many of the camps do not have lights and people are able to move from tent to tent at any given time.
Numerous reports have shown that teenage pregnancy is on the rise on the camp sites. By not having access to health services, medical care, and education makes pregnancy dangerous for these young girls. The earthquake has destroyed many clinics and today many women are having children on the sidewalks. Without the proper medical care and education sexually transmitted diseases will continue to rise.
Haiti is suffering from lack of food, education, jobs and other necessary resources for one to survive. But Violence against women is a far too common problem that is often not discussed. Find out more about this problem and what is being to done to help create safe spaces for the women of Haiti. There are various avenues to donate and support Haiti and the women of Haiti. For more information on the fight against violence towards women check out www.unwomen.org .
Photo from unwomen.org
Abortion-rights group sees tough political terrain , The HIll.com
Time to lift restrictions on Women’s Military Service, The Huffington Post
Health care battle in congress directly affects womens health, Feministing
The Ladies who legislate: a powerful bond between Gabby Giffords and her friends, Emily’s List
Iowa State Increases Abortion Access in in Remote Areas, BlogHer.com
Etsy removes rape congratulations cards, Change.org
Our second interview for the weekly Younger Women Who Rock is with the YWTF-Washington D.C. Outreach Director, Simmy Singh.
Name: Simmy Singh
Age: 24
Where do you live?
2929 Connecticut Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20008
How long have you been involved in YWTF? Why did you join?
A little more than 6 months. I joined because I wanted to work within a women’s organization for women’s rights. Something I am not able to do at my full time job.
What is your role in YWTF?
Outreach Director
What is your profession?
Public Affairs
What other forms of activism are you involved in outside of YWTF?
I am on a event planning committee for the Women’s Information Network.
The Sponsorship Director for NetIP NA’s Conference
Volunteer for RAINN
And on the Young Professionals Board for Break the Cycle
What does the word feminism mean to you?
Equality.
Do you consider yourself to be a feminist? If yes, how long have you thought of yourself as a feminist?
Yes I do consider myself to be feminist, from birth.
What three issues to you care the most about?
Education, Oversea Relationships, Gay Rights
Who is your hero? Why?
My mother, because she single handedly raised my sister and I with little less than $17.
What is your all time favorite book and why?
I have SOOO many, but I do love Pedagogy of the Oppressed.
What sports do you play?
Dance
What is your favorite thing to cook and what is the recipe?
I love making Thai food. And honestly use any recipe that I can find online.
What are your hobbies?
Reading, Traveling, meeting new people, trying new things/foods/etc.
Israel to Join Executive Board of UN Women , Jerusalem Post
Action Urged on Women’s Rights Measure , The Caucus blogs New York Times
International Rescue Committee Launches Wake up Call, Change.org
Obama: The Hopes of the Nation are Here Tonight , White House Blogs CNN.com
Haiti, One Year later , Feministing
Women Still Not fully protected under the Constitution, NJ.com
Gifford Opens Her Eyes, Sees a Room Full of Strong Women, Jezebel.com
We are a few days late but Happy belated birthday, Alice Paul. This week (January 11th to be exact), Alice Paul turned 126.
In honor of her birthday take a few minutes to read up on all the kick-ass feminist things Alice Paul did starting at a young age.
We have a lot to thank Alice Paul for: The passage of the 19th Amendment, The Equal Right Amendment (while it has yet to be ratified by all states, she was the original author), and she initiated gender equality in BOTH the United Nations Charter and in the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
To celebrate Alice Paul get involved with your local YWTF chapter, make a donation, and/or join the National Women’s Party.
A new year means new changes for some and for others it could mean learning something new. If you aren’t into making resolutions try engaging in a new activity for 2011. This year take up a new skill such as cooking learn new recipes to share with your friends and family. Some other awesome hobbies such as crocheting, rock climbing, sewing, or hiking are other exciting things to take up as we embark on a new year.
Work, school, family and other activities require a lot of energy, so it is important to find a way to relieve stress. Taking a yoga class is a great way to calm your nerves and relax. Taking time to read a really good book once a day as you come down from your day is another stress-reliever. And the old-fashioned 8-hr sleep rule can also take away loads of stress.
There are so many things to engage in or become more active in this year. If you’re not already active in your community, get more involved this year and if you already are try to find new ways you can help or new roles to better serve those around you. Join community groups that help others and if you’re a young woman join YWTF!
Do you find it hard to stick to the resolutions you make year after year? Here are a few tips that may help you:
1.) Make a list of your goals for 2011. Be specific about what you want to accomplish. But don’t go crazy. Make sure your list is manageable and realistic for what you are able to get done in 2011.
2.) Build a support system. Find a friend or family member that has similar resolutions.
3.) Set incremental goals and reward yourself for those successes.
Our second interview for the weekly Younger Women Who Rock is with the YWTF-Washington D.C. Chapter director, Nikki Nesbary.
Name: Nikki Nesbary
Age: 29
Where do you live? I live in the DC Metro area.
How long have you been involved in YWTF? Why did you join?
I have been involved with/a member of YWTF for almost four years. I was inspired by the ambition of the group to be a voice for younger women within the women’s movement.
What is your role in YWTF? I am the Director of the YWTF – Washington DC Chapter.
What is your profession? Trained in Political Science and Public Administration, I have been involved in activism for the past seven years. My professional experience includes project management, administration, customer service, and event planning.
What other forms of activism are you involved in outside of YWTF? Since I was quite young, I have participated in numerous walks to raise funds and awareness for worthy causes including breast cancer, AIDS/HIV, hunger, domestic violence, and reproductive rights. In March, I was a consultant for the National Immigration Forum during the lead-up to the March for Immigration Reform (March 21st, 2010). I worked on the Youth Organizing team which mobilized over 2000 students, young people and community members from the DC Metro area to participate in the march.
What does the word feminism mean to you? Feminism inspires me because it is about breaking down barriers and creating an equal space for all people to live and thrive.
Do you consider yourself to be a feminist? If yes, how long have you thought of yourself as a feminist? I believe I have been a feminist all of my life. The true realization of this was taking a women’s studies course in college and beginning to understand that feminism encompasses a myriad of values and issues. Groups like the Younger Women’s Task Force are a great example of this. We create a space for young women to develop leadership skills by planning events, volunteering and holding discussions about the issues that matter most to us.
What three issues do you care the most about? Three issues that are close to my heart are reproductive rights, young women’s leadership development and ending violence and abuse against women and children.
Who is your Shero? Why? My mother is definitely my Shero. She is a strong, no-nonsense woman who is committed to helping people and making her community a better place. When I was in grade school she would take me with her to volunteer at local women’s shelters. She also took me to my first rally to stop child abuse.
What sports do you play? I haven’t come across a sport that I don’t’ like to watch or play. In high school I swam on both the women’s and men’s swim teams. Over the past few years I’ve begun running and have participated in Ragnar Relay, Race to Stop the Silence (stop child sexual abuse) and a 5k run/400m swim biathlon. Although not a sport per se, I also practice yoga.
What is your favorite thing to cook and what is the recipe? I love to cook and bake! Here are two great recipes from my kitchen adventures.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut off the brown ends of the Brussels sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves. Mix them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt and pepper (and onion if desired). Pour them on a sheet pan and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly. Sprinkle with more kosher salt (I like these salty like French fries), and serve immediately.
Pioneer Woman’s Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Preparation Instructions
Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.
After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).
When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.
Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.
Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.
Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.
You can follow the YWTF- Washington D.C. Chapter on twitter to keep up with chapter events @YWTFDC.
2010’s Top 10 women’s Rights Victories , Change.org
Democrats, Women’s Rights Leaders Blast Scalia Comments on 14th Amendment, Huffington Post
Free Iranian Human Rights Activist Nasrin Sotoudeh, Change.org
Model Isabelle Caro dies after long battle with anorexia, Feministing
Women fighters willing to die for Gaza, CNN.com
Nearly Every Woman Living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil has Suffered Violence, Feministing
Newspaper Asks Hard Questions: Can a Woman Be Too Hot for Elected Office?, change.org
Reflections on TEDWomen, Feminsiting
The Terror of Successful Women, Salon Broadsheet
Rest Peacefully Elizabeth Edwards, Feministe
Washington’s Unlikely Allies: A Tale of Three Women for Peace and Security, Gender Across Boarders
The Younger Women's Task Force 