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 [...]
Tag Archives: features
Toned Arms & Tight Shirts: Media Coverage of the Petraeus Affair
National news coverage this month has been dominated by the exposure of the extramarital affair of CIA director David Petraeus. Oddly enough, Petraeus is not the key player in this story – at least as told by the media. Rather, a national spotlight has stalked not Petraeus, but his mistress: Paula Broadwell. And it’s been [...]
I’m Thankful For FemEx
Besides the obvious things like family, friends, food, and shelter, there’s one more thing I am incredibly thankful for this year; FemEx. Signing up for FemEx, a 16-week women’s empowerment course, has been the most meaningful and best decision I’ve made since moving to DC. There’s so much about FemEx that I’m thankful for, especially [...]
TEDxWomen 2012: No Matter Where You Are
The worldwide phenomenon known as TED was started in 1984 when designer and architect Richard Saul Wurman noticed the complex, dynamic and culture-changing confluence of Technology, Entertainment and Design. What began as a conference featuring powerpoint presentations about 3D computer technology and mapping systems has turned into an unparalleled, planetary-wide platform for artists, philosophers, designers, [...]
There Are Bigger Issues At Stake Than Petraeus
Everyone seems to be following the Gen. David Petraeus affair in I-can’t-tear-myself-away fashion. But are we getting caught up with what is appearing to be a run of the mill affair that got over-hyped and sensationalized? And are we such a prude nation that in our eager attempt to punish adulterers we are A-OK about [...]
One Man’s Struggle To Teach UN Forces How To Stop Rape
Patrick Cammaert is often quoted as saying that it is now more dangerous to be a woman than it is to be a soldier in war. But perhaps he should be quoted more widely on another startling fact: that UN peacekeepers the world over turn away when they witness rape.
Savita Halappanavar’s Death Will Not Be In Vain
Wednesday November 13th the entire country of Ireland and most of the world was rocked by the news that a woman in an Irish hospital died after being denied a termination for a baby she was already miscarrying. She was 31 years old, she was a dentist and her name was Savita Halappanavar. As an [...]
What It Means To Be Adopted: In Celebration Of National Adoption Day
I was born on April 20th, 1984. On June 5th, nearly two months after being placed on an adoption list in Montreal, I met my parents and became Kathleen. I can’t be sure what occurred during the two month gap between my birth and the introduction to my family; perhaps it’s an ‘adoptive limbo’, a [...]
Is Feminism Funnier and Less Serious? How Snarky Feminism Is Making Strides
Is feminism becoming funnier and less serious? Is that a blow to women’s rights? Last month, Slate Double X’s Katie Roiphe wonders “if the era of earnest popular feminism is over.” She declares a new era of “Mockery Feminism,” in which feminists use humor to ridicule sexism. Roiphe bolsters her argument by using best-selling feminist [...]
This is where life happens—the places in between!
What do we remember about our neighborhood and the people we pass on the street each day? What do you remember about the street? These places and people make up the diversity of a neighborhood community. Physical geography and memories show that, while they share the common ground of Adams Morgan, they are ever changing [...]