Mujer-isms.

Feminist rants are my kind of thing.

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My Friend Was Raped While She Slept

Tonight my heart feels heavy. My friend Jill* came over to tell me she was raped. Every day I passionately talk about the need to help rape victims, to believe them, offer them support, and not blame them, but when it happens to someone near and dear to you, no amount of reading will prepare you for the shock. We were sitting in my kitchen, she drinking a glass of wine, me munching on cookies while making dinner. When the words “I was raped” came out of her mouth I held on to a half eaten cookie for over an hour. I couldn’t decide if I should eat it, drop it, or offer it to her. That was my way of coping with such a horrendous confession. While she told me her story I cooked enough food to feed a small village. It was the only way I could keep my hands from shaking. But this isn’t a cooking blog. I am writing this because Jill’s story is all too common, and the lack of available support is depressing, so I need your help.

(Source: patriciavaloy.blogspot.com)

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Filed under rape assault victim blaming women feminism sexual assault donate friend

1,258 notes

sex-positive-bitches: obitoftheday: Obit of the Day: Astronaut Sally Ride Sally Ride, who became the first American woman in space in 1983*, has died of cancer at the age of 61 years old. She decided to join the space program, in 1978, after answering an ad in the newspaper. Dr. Ride had spent over 340 hours in space on two separate missions, both on the Challenger in 1983 and 1984. When the Challenger exploded in January 1986 she was training for her third mission, instead she found herself on the panel investigating the disaster. Prior to the tragedy she was one of the only individuals to support Roger Boisjoly’s warnings of an imminent disaster. (Boisjoly died in February 2012.) Sally Ride left the space program in 1987 and worked at her alma mater, Stanford University as well as UC-San Diego. In 2003, following the destruction of the shuttle Columbia, she was invited, once again, to help investigate the accident. (She was the only person to serve on both investigative panels.) Dr. Ride was inducted into both the Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the Astronaut Hall of Fame. And she was an English major. Sources: npr.org, wikipedia.org, and biography.com (Image of Dr. Ride while aboard the Challenger is courtesy of wired.com) * Prior to Dr. Ride’s launch in June 1983, the Soviets had sent up cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1983). RIP :(“and she was an english major.”

sex-positive-bitches:

obitoftheday:

Obit of the Day: Astronaut Sally Ride

Sally Ride, who became the first American woman in space in 1983*, has died of cancer at the age of 61 years old. She decided to join the space program, in 1978, after answering an ad in the newspaper.

Dr. Ride had spent over 340 hours in space on two separate missions, both on the Challenger in 1983 and 1984. When the Challenger exploded in January 1986 she was training for her third mission, instead she found herself on the panel investigating the disaster. Prior to the tragedy she was one of the only individuals to support Roger Boisjoly’s warnings of an imminent disaster. (Boisjoly died in February 2012.)

Sally Ride left the space program in 1987 and worked at her alma mater, Stanford University as well as UC-San Diego. In 2003, following the destruction of the shuttle Columbia, she was invited, once again, to help investigate the accident. (She was the only person to serve on both investigative panels.)

Dr. Ride was inducted into both the Women’s Hall of Fame as well as the Astronaut Hall of Fame. And she was an English major.

Sources: npr.org, wikipedia.org, and biography.com

(Image of Dr. Ride while aboard the Challenger is courtesy of wired.com)

* Prior to Dr. Ride’s launch in June 1983, the Soviets had sent up cosmonauts Valentina Tereshkova (1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (1983).

RIP :(
“and she was an english major.”

(via awomansplace)

2,626 notes

sparkamovement: SUPPORT TEEN VOICES Teen Voices isthe only alternative print magazine created by and for girls in the country. Their local Boston program has a national, and even international, impact through the print and online magazines that reach hundreds of thousands of girls worldwide, and now it’s in danger.  Teen Voices is more than just a magazine; it’s a community institution:  87 Boston teen girlstake part in SHOUT!(Sisters Helping Other Unheard Teens) and work as Teen Editors and writers for the print and online versions ofTeen Voices.”  Girls come from the Boston neighborhoods of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, West Roxbury, and Brighton. Their teen constituents are 14 to 18 years of age; 82% come primarily from low-income families and 93% are girls of color (70% African descent, 18% Latina, 5% Asian), and 7% are Caucasian 110 Boston neighborhood teen girls participate in Poetically Speaking, a forum in the Boston Girls Writing Community. 6 Peer Leaders run programs and public forums. 35 college women and recent college graduates are trained to mentor the teen editors in their production of Teen Voices’ print and online magazines. Like many girls, participants in Teen Voices are dealing with serious issues at home and in their communities. The issues range from racism, sexism, elitism, hunger, violence, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual identity exploration, and unplanned pregnancy. For many, schools are not institutions that support their ability to address these issues, or their self-confidence. They need safe spaces to talk—with adults as well as peers—so that they can feel validated, supported, and informed. Some girls have support at home with parents, grandparents, teachers, or religious leaders; for others, Teen Voices offers a rare source of consistent, supportive adults. Due to a recent decrease in funding, Teen Voices is in crisis and must raise $300,000 by August 1st. Please support this important, brilliant magazine by donating whatever you can and helping to spread the word. 

sparkamovement:

SUPPORT TEEN VOICES

Teen Voices isthe only alternative print magazine created by and for girls in the country. Their local Boston program has a national, and even international, impact through the print and online magazines that reach hundreds of thousands of girls worldwide, and now it’s in danger. 

Teen Voices is more than just a magazine; it’s a community institution: 

  • 87 Boston teen girlstake part in SHOUT!(Sisters Helping Other Unheard Teens) and work as Teen Editors and writers for the print and online versions ofTeen Voices.”  Girls come from the Boston neighborhoods of Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park, West Roxbury, and Brighton.
  • Their teen constituents are 14 to 18 years of age; 82% come primarily from low-income families and 93% are girls of color (70% African descent, 18% Latina, 5% Asian), and 7% are Caucasian
  • 110 Boston neighborhood teen girls participate in Poetically Speaking, a forum in the Boston Girls Writing Community.
  • 6 Peer Leaders run programs and public forums.
  • 35 college women and recent college graduates are trained to mentor the teen editors in their production of Teen Voices’ print and online magazines.

Like many girls, participants in Teen Voices are dealing with serious issues at home and in their communities. The issues range from racism, sexism, elitism, hunger, violence, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual identity exploration, and unplanned pregnancy. For many, schools are not institutions that support their ability to address these issues, or their self-confidence. They need safe spaces to talk—with adults as well as peers—so that they can feel validated, supported, and informed. Some girls have support at home with parents, grandparents, teachers, or religious leaders; for others, Teen Voices offers a rare source of consistent, supportive adults.

Due to a recent decrease in funding, Teen Voices is in crisis and must raise $300,000 by August 1st. Please support this important, brilliant magazine by donating whatever you can and helping to spread the word. 

144 notes

Leslie has taught me that progress is discontent mixed with lots of hope and hard work. Leslie may not identify as an activist, but her commitment to her community makes her the perfect activist role model.  As I became more of an active feminist, I became angrier about the things happening in my community and in the media at large. I found myself in many situations where speaking up was terrifying. But I can’t count the number of times that asking, “What would Leslie do?” has lead me into productive conversations and meaningful experiences. She helps me push through my insecurity and anxiety, it’s nice to know that it’s okay to feel those things. (x)

Leslie has taught me that progress is discontent mixed with lots of hope and hard work. Leslie may not identify as an activist, but her commitment to her community makes her the perfect activist role model.  As I became more of an active feminist, I became angrier about the things happening in my community and in the media at large. I found myself in many situations where speaking up was terrifying. But I can’t count the number of times that asking, “What would Leslie do?” has lead me into productive conversations and meaningful experiences. She helps me push through my insecurity and anxiety, it’s nice to know that it’s okay to feel those things. (x)

(Source: sparkamovement)