“Our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.”* During his State of the Union Address, President Obama again reiterated his economic equality message that he eloquently spoke about in his inaugural address and on the campaign trail. His intent is clear. Congress should [...]
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Erin Belitskus
In addition to writing about human rights, Erin is a policy wonk for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania and then relocated to Boston to work in international development and academia. Erin can usually be found volunteering extensively for youth organizations in the greater Boston area. Erin holds a B.A. from Green Mountain College, and an MScEcon in terrorism and international relations from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She is a 2012 New Leaders Council fellow. You can find Erin on Twitter @ErinBelitskus
Recent blog posts written by Erin Belitskus
Singularly Stupid
For a country that built its reputation on the storied rugged individualist, its laws sure as hell don’t match the rhetoric. Are single people discriminated against? According to evidence out there, American singles take a financial hit on income taxes, health care costs, social security, and IRA choices to name a few. And it goes [...]
My Policy Wish List for a Prosperous and Healthy 2013
Another year is winding down and in 2012 we successfully staved off the reactionary right wing’s war on women and common sense. Women re-elected President Obama in staggering numbers and instead of playing defense, it’s time to move the ball down the court. Here, in no particular order, are 13 policy priorities I’d like to [...]
Dog Abuser liked less than Woman Abuser
As an unabashed Pittsburgh Steelers fan living deep in enemy territory going on a decade now, I’m used to getting insufferable emails, Facebook posts, and tweets from friends who are unfortunately, New England Patriots fans. I still love my misguided friends despite this complete lapse in judgement. When I opened my email last week from one [...]
Could Catholic Women’s Ordination Shift Thinking on Human Rights?
The horrific and preventable death of Savita Halappanavar due to septicemia from a miscarriage at Galway University Hospital in Ireland made me once again shake my head in appalling astonishment. Why didn’t licensed health professionals provide Savita an emergency abortion as she requested? The tone deaf response continues to ring in my ears: “Ireland is [...]
Does Identifying as a Feminist in America Matter?
During the Presidential town hall debate last week, Katherine Fenton, a 24 year old pre-K teacher asked a question about the wage-gap to the candidates: “In what new ways do you intend to rectify inequalities in the workplace? Specifically regarding females making only 72 percent of what their male counterparts earn.” As was reported last [...]
Let’s Hear it for the Girls!
The first International Day of the Girl has come and gone and I’m very excited that international agencies, non-governmental organizations, governments, and community leaders are yelling from the rooftops that girls can and are changing the world. As a former girl myself, I totally agree! There’s an old saying ‘when you educate a girl, you educate [...]
Final Call: Deadlines for Voter Registration Coming Up Fast
Are you registered to vote in November? Are your friends and family? Do you know where your polling place is? With just over 40 days till Election Day 2012, the deadlines for voter registration and absentee ballots are fast approaching. It’s even more important this year to be properly registered and, unfortunately, depending on the state, [...]
Accurate and Comprehensive Sexual Education is Our Right
There are a few lessons we can take away from Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) recent outrageous remarks, the first being that you can lack total empathy and be mind-numbingly dense, yet still somehow be an elected official crafting legislation in Congress in 2012. Another is that many Americans truly don’t understand how and where babies [...]
It Worked! Candy Crowley is a Moderator. What’s Next?
Add my big congratulations to New Jersey teens Sammi Siegel, Elena Tsemeris, and Emma Axelrod for having the chutzpah to question their elders at the Commission on Presidential Debates and educate the American public while they were at it. The young women asked why had it been 20 years since the last women moderated a [...]