Blog - Page 91 of 92 - Maureen F. Fitzgerald

Conservatives Withhold Funding To Women Because Of Abortion Link

I feel like we have just lost 50 years of women’s progress. Yesterday I read Juliet O”Neill’s article (Canwest news) about the Canadian Conservative Government (Harper) delaying promised funds to the International Planned Parenthood Federation because it provides abortion advice. The Federation helps millions of women around the world supported by 20 governments and

Half The Sky Is A MUST Read Book!

I have just started reading an amazing book: “Half the Sky – Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. It should be read by EVERY woman and girl. It tells of hundreds of remarkable stories of women and girls who have suffered from misogynist cultures and taken action

Young Girls to Be Taught About Gender – Finally

Good news: according to the Independent, England will be introducing compulsory gender education in classrooms 2011. Lessons on equality and domestic violence will be included in health education and all trainee teacherts must learn about gender awareness and domestic violence. The courses will include strategies to help teachers deal with “sexist, sexual and transphobic

In Germany A Tradition Falls And Women Rise

The New York Times reports (January 18, 2010) that German women are now more able to rise as the traditional half day school day is replaced with full time care. Here is an excerpt from the article by Katrina Bennhold. “The half-day school system survived feudalism, the rise and demise of Hitler’s mother cult,

Great Books For Girls

If you need some help when shopping for the girls on your holiday or birthday lists. Here are a few from my bookshelf that are wonderful and empowering for girls under 10. You will love them too! “Princesses are not quitters” by Kate Lum. “The princesses have a ball” by Teresa Bateman. “The real,

No More Bratz Dolls, Sort Of

I recently saw a documentary on Bratz dolls (those huge headed make-up heavy fashion dolls) that showed the negative impact of dolls on girls’ self esteem. Ten year old girls were interviewed and said they felt that their heads were too small! Really. Although this might sound absurd, the toy industry has always impacted

Please Don’t Buy Bitch Wine!

Amy Rosen of Canwest wrote a great article (Vancouver Sun Nov 21, 2009) about how new wine labels are doing a disservice to female drinkers. I think that labels like Strut, Bitch, Girls Night Out (with a flimsy dress on the front) are doing a disservice to all of us, men and women. It

Gender Bias Has Gone Underground Due To Gender Fatigue

A new book by professor Elisabeth Kelan of Kings College in London suggests that discrimination against women has gone underground. Kelan’s book, “Performing Gender at Work” (Palgrave McMillan) shows that gender bias has become more subtle, harder to spot and tougher to deal with. This is partially because many people think that the issue

Women With Male Names Do Better in Legal Careers: Study

“What’s in a name? A lot if you’re seeking a legal career, with a U.S. study finding that women with male names are more successful lawyers and judges than those with more traditional, feminine names. The study, led by economist Bentley Coffey of Clemson University in South Carolina, looked at the relationship between a

Defining Feminine Intelligence

Good News I bought the URL today: www.FeminineIntelligence.com I think it captures my emerging thinking about bringing “the feminine” to an overly masculine world. I am not complaining about the masculine world (since I make my living as a lawyer and have acted the male part for over 30 years!), but I am saying “enough already!” It’s