A new study on gender equality by the Pew Research Center was released last week. Tracy Clark-Flory in "Equality: The global gap between belief, reality" gives us more info about the results (via Salon.com).

Oh joy, a new study on gender equality by the Pew Research Center was released today. The good news first: Most of the world believes in women’s equal rights. "Most also find a marriage in which both spouses share financial and household responsibilities to be more satisfying than one in which the husband provides for the family and the wife takes care of the house and children," says the survey. "In addition, majorities in most countries reject the notion that higher education is more important for a boy than for a girl." You go, world. Rock on with your egalitarian-minded self.

Now, for the bad: Most of the world has a problem when it comes to actually putting that belief in equality into effective action. "People in many countries around the world say gender inequalities persist in their countries," says the report. "Many say that men get more opportunities than equally qualified women for jobs that pay well and that life is generally better for men than it is for women in their countries." Granted, the survey focuses on people’s perception of inequality, as opposed to an empirical evaluation of women’s standing — although those also exist, and they’re also depressing.

Emily J. Martin is wondering, "How Far Have We Come? Not Far Enough" (via Womens Take)

In November of 2005, then-dean of Harvard Law School Elena Kagan gave a speech to the Association of the Bar of the City of New York about the status of women in the legal profession. She acknowledged that women had made a great deal of progress in recent years, but she noted that women were still extremely underrepresented in the top positions across the legal profession. Specifically, she said, “Women lawyers are not assuming leadership roles in proportion to their numbers. And that is troubling not only for the women whose aspirations are being frustrated, but also for the society that is losing their talents. What we have here is a kind of brain drain, and we are all the poorer for it.”

Last week, Ms. Magazine analyzed the Elena Kagan hearings from a feminist perspective (via Ms. Magazine).

Throughout the course of the Elena Kagan hearings, several feminist issues have been addressed.

In an effort to determine Kagan’s stand on abortion, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked her, "Do you believe the Constitution requires that the health of the mother be protected in any statute restricting access to abortion?" Kagan replied, "I do think that the continuing holding of Roe and Doe v. Bolton, is that women’s life and women’s health have to be protected in abortion regulation." In regards to the Gonzalez case, where congress "passed a statute without a health exception and with only a life exception," Kagan said the ruling "was appropriate because of the large degree of medical uncertainty involved. But with respect to abortion generally, putting that procedure aside," she continued, "I think that the continuing holdings of the court are that the woman’s life and that the woman’s health must be protected in any abortion regulation," according to the Huffington Post.

Mata explains us that we should "stop trying to have all." Love what you have and don’t try to have a little of everything (via BlogHer.com).

"I can have it all" is one of the most misbegotten notions. What is "all"? Is it supposed to be a successful and upwardly mobile professional life, an ample disposable income, a loving and richly nuanced relationship with your life partner, a fabulous and full relationship with your children, a lovely organized home, a group of supportive friends, enriching leisure time, firm thighs and a glowing future?

Oh woman, please!

Today I bring great spiritual news –

Give it up! That kind of perfection does not exist! You cannot have it all!

So stop trying!

Doesn’t that feel better?

Not only do many of us long to "have it all," we think something is wrong if we do not have it. We want the great job, the perfect family, the ideal love relationship, the beautiful home. We’ve read the books and magazines, watched the TV shows, and spent time at the video altars of self-help gurus. We have trained ourselves in all the ways we are supposed to be able to "have it all." But something seems oddly amiss.

 You want more feminist links? Check back here next Tuesday! And, if you have links to share, please email them to us or leave them in the comments.
 

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