Beth Ditto

Good morning! Here's a list of feminist news from around the internet to kick off your week. 

• Leaked emails show that immigration officials have set deportation quotas to hit. [Colorlines] 

• Last week the Pope quit, this week it becomes clear that staying in the Vatican shields him from prosecution in sexual abuse cases. [Towleroad] 

• Same-sex couples involving an immigrant partner are in terrible spot. With no chance for getting a green card through marriage, some couples have to leave the country to stay together. [New York Times] 

• Constant phone calls, meshing of identity, guilting and shaming: Recognizing the signs of abusive dating in teens. [Motherlode] 

• Famed South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius is suspected of having been involved in killing a woman. [Guardian]  

• Mapping math: Girls outperformed boys around the world on a math and science test, but not in the US. [Sociological Images]

• For marketers, the default is male: A survey of toys and other products with branded "normal" and "girl" versions. [Sociological Images] 

• Daryl Hannah is using her fame to send Obama a message: Reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. [Guardian] 

• Meanwhile, what's the history of the Harlem Shake? [Racialicious] 

• Beth Ditto has a new video with the Gossip, "Get to Work"! [Queerty] 

• And in closing: This guy is awesome. [Retronaut] 

Some of the sexiest, most soulful singers also happen to be fat women. These are the kind of women who can empower you with their voice to embrace sensuality. From a plus size fashion icon to a musical legend, these singers prove that sexiness has nothing to do with size and everything to do with how you work it.

Happy Monday! I wanted to offer something a little light-hearted to start off the week, so I decided to dedicate this post to a few fierce fat female recording artists that have rocked my world and provided a counterpoint to how fat women are viewed in society. These women are all in control of their own image, their own unique styles, and have managed to find success in an industry that isn't all that friendly to non-Katy Perry looking women.