feminist blogosphere

What would happen if Melissa from Shakesville, Garland from Tiger Beatdown (and the Bitch blogs!), and Jessica from scATX joined forces and created a Super Site, like when the Transformers would combine and make a Super Robot? It sounds like the stuff of feminist blogosphere fanfic, but it's actually happening! Introducing: Flyover Feminism.

Friday is linkday!

• Bitch Leadership Council member and Feminist Coming Out Day organizer Lena Chen shares her experiences writing a popular sex blog as a college student on Salon.
• RH Reality Check passes on a video of parents of a killed gay soldier speaking out for marriage equality in Minnesota.
• Marcia Herring evaluates Degrassi's surprisingly (and infuriatingly) poor recent address of date rape at Feministing and Bitch Flicks.
• Bitch contributor Alyx Vesey reviews BrassBastardz' Timeline for Scratched Vinyl.
• HuffPo discusses the argument of whether Facebook postings can constitute fireable offenses.
• Over at Jezebel, Dodai Stewart talks about those ridiculous "Are white people being discriminated against?" polls and shares a powerful clip from the upcoming documentary, Dark Girls, about being black with dark skin in the USA.
• Also at Jezebel, Jenna Sauers reports on Miley Cyrus' recent tweets against Urban Outfitters' anti-gay politics and knock-off fashions.
• Mounia talks about the media's continued depiction of Dominique Strauss-Kahn as the victim on Feministe. ColorLines rounds up the implicit messages of this coverage.
• Also at ColorLines, Thoai Lu reports on a shocking incident by the D.C. Metro Police against an elder in a wheelchair. Trigger warning for video and description of physical violence.
• Bitch contributor Jarrah Hodge reviews Feminism for Real, which is now for sale at Bitch Mart, for her blog, Gender Focus.
• Bitch contributor Emily Manuel talks about that Rapture that didn't happen, and why we're compelled to joke about it, at GlobalComment.
• AfterEllen gives us the news on The United States of Tara and Nurse Jackie. Preview: Only one of these shows is getting another season.
• Cross-posted at Her Blueprint and Racialicious, Simba Russeau writes of Algerian activist Randa and her book of interviews, Memoirs of Randa the Trans.
• Also at Racialicious: "No, Joan Walsh, racial criticism does not equal 'identity politics.'"

Thoughts? What else have you been reading online?

Start your weekend off right: with compelling articles from around the web!

• Bitch contributor s.e. smith discusses asexuality on Tiger Beatdown.
• Katha Pollitt writes for The Nation about the DC Abortion Fund and the right's vendetta against Planned Parenthood. (via AlterNet)
• ColorLines shares three scholars' thoughts on fighting homophobia in hip-hop.
• Check out journalist Barbie Latza Nadeau's piece at The Daily Beast about reporting on sexism in Italy.
• In These Times interviews Sady Doyle, founder of Tiger Beatdown and Bitch contributor, about blogging and online activism.
• Jill at Feministe hopes everyone who celebrates had a happy feminist Passover.
• As the New York Times searches for a new columnist, Feministing has a plea: "Don't hire another white dude!"
• The Root interviews our recent Bitch High Five candidate Joycelyn Elders, who was forced to resign for saying sex ed should include information about masturbation.
• We're keeping our fingers crossed for the Uniting American Families Act, "a bill which would allow same-sex couples to sponsor their partners for legal residency in the U.S."
• 90s Woman praises Heather Corinna's book S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College. I'm personally a fan as well, and we have a copy in the Bitch Media Community Lending Library!
• One year after the BP oil spill, Ms. talks about the danger of the status quo as explored in Antonia Juhasz's new book about the disaster, Black Tide.
• Also at Ms., look at this profile of Bitch contributor Mandy Van Deven's, Joanne Smith's and Meghan Huppuch's group, Girls for Gender Equity, and book, Hey, Shorty! A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets.
• Shakesville shares an excellent quote by Ms. Geena Davis about the power of gendered media images.
• Nick at Original Plumbing reflects powerfully on reconnecting with family members.
• At the ACLU blog, one rockin' woman recalls confronting a street harasser.
  
• Bad news: QUILTBAG-oriented site Queerty has "come to a close."

What have you been reading? Share away!

Another week, another bunch of thought-provoking articles. Here's some of what we've been reading:

• ColorLines celebrates the U.S.' first integrated all-female band.
• Also at ColorLines, Kai Wright reflects movingly on the still-far-off mountaintop MLK described.
• Jessica Valenti talks about the glorification of basic fathering in The Daily.
• Ms. and NPR each report and discuss Joe Biden's address of sexual assault in schools; what did YOU think?
• Bitch contributor Sady Doyle manages to write smartly (while being, as she puts it, "not-just-totally-mean") about Phyllis Schlafly's influence at Global Comment.
• Bitch Flicks lends their feminist snark to an analysis of Total Film's so-called "40 Greatest Movie Posters" list.
• Futrelle unpacks comic artist Scott Adams' recent douchery—and his bizarre attempts to fix the situation—at Feministe and man boobz.
• Bitch contributor s.e. smith blogs at this ain't livin' about the ageist implications of a younger Miss Marple.
• Vulture goes over the vitriol around Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark and actor Harry Lennix's piece asking why only Julie Taymor is trashed for a show many hands put together.
• In the same vein, 90s Woman looks at the pop phenomenon "Friday" and wonders "WTF is so scary about an ambitious thirteen-year-old girl?" (via feministified)
• Chloe at Feministing speaks out about last week's Slutwalk and the victim-blaming such events protest.
• Greenier at RH Reality Check talks about "Why Insurance Coverage for Abortion Matters;" the piece was then picked up for AlterNet.
• Bad news: Canadian blog Gender Focus is shutting down. At least we'll have Jarrah's upcoming board game projects to follow!
• Liz at Our Turn comments on documentaries about masculinity.
• At Racialicious and Muslimah Media Watch, Diana shares her feelings on the CNN special Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door.
• On HuffPo, Payne explores how derogatory language feeds classism.
• Miss the queer teen drama South of Nowhere? Heaven knows I do! AfterEllen interviews star Mandy Musgrave about playing lesbians and her new webseries, Cowgirl Up.
• In the <3 files: "Family Dog Keeps Missing Baby Alive Overnight," from Jezebel.

Your turn to share!

Hello, hello! Ready for some thought-provoking links? I knew you were!

• Today, in bad taste... anti-abortion group Life Always is comparing aborted fetuses to people killed by the earthquake in Japan. The always-astute ColorLines reports on the wrongheadedness of this tactic.
• TransGriot writes about the importance of having trans* people in US cinema, and not just as characters.
• Did you see the New York Times' claim that all of Washington D.C.'s influential pundits are young men... and Ann Friedman's response? Feministe gives us a run-down.
• Also at Feministe, Chally Kacelnik speaks of voting in Australia and the passing of fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones.
• Alvin McEwan muses on the irony of bishops denying queer people housing, and Frances Kissling talks about the life of Geraldine Ferraro, an influential pro-choice Catholic politician, both on AlterNet.
• Comic lovers, have you heard about the Black Panther's apparent change into the American Panther? Arturo at Racialicious has questions and words for Marvel.
• Some of us at Bitch HQ were unhappy to see this announcement about Mad Men's hiatus. Meanwhile at Philly, Ellen Gray explores the curious decision to include a documentary about 1960s divorce on the Season 4 DVDs. What's your take?
• The Crunk Feminist Collective ponders intimate partners' reactions to the media, asking "How can I get next to you if I can’t get next to your politics?"
  
• At the Atlantic, Sady Doyle asks what many action-film-lovin' gals have been wondering: How did we get to Sucker Punch?
• Nancy Goldstein at the American Prospect discusses the importance of "Preserving the Triangle Factory Fire's Lessons."
• Annette Bourdeau at Moviefone shares her five favorite screen adaptations of literary heroines. It's a start but is too short and limited, methinks. What are yours?
• Speaking of adaptations, AfterEllen interviews iconic lesbian author Sarah Waters about the experience of having one's novels made into TV programs.
• Are you a student? Feministing shares ideas for Sexual Assault ACTIVISM Month on your campus.
• At HuffPo, Linkins argues against the claim that political liberals are silent about invading Libya.
• Recently at a safety seminar, a Toronto cop told students that "Women can avoid sexual assault by not dressing like 'sluts.'" In protest, awesome local women are marching past police headquarters on Sunday for the Slutwalk!

What else have you been reading this week?

Phew! This week saw lots of compelling internet content, including the following:

• Queerty speaks of the problems with intersex kids' parents choosing their gender identities for them.
• NPR, and Jos at Feministing, remind us of "Why BMI is bogus." Woo-hoo!
• cate j at Questioning Transphobia explores the assumptions behind declaring "Welcome to womanhood."
• "That's Gay"'s Bryan Safi talks about THAT KISS on Glee.
• Did you catch Byron Hurt's piece "Why I Am a Black Male Feminist" on The Root? G.D. responds at Feministe and PostBourgie.
• ABC reports on this week's violent outburst by a famous domestic abuser. You're probably sick of hearing his name, but I'll just say it sounds like "Fris Frown." (via Jessica Valenti). Jay Smooth has also made a video in response.
• The Korea Herald explains Cambodia's recent limitations on foreign marriage. (via Racialicious)
• Sure, the late Nate Dogg was a beloved rapper, but... ColorLines reminds readers of the performer's more problematic legacies.
• At Womanist Musings, Renee calls for George Lopez to apologize for his transphobic remarks toward Wendy Williams--not just his fatphobic remarks toward Kirstie Alley.
• At Global Comment, Tiger Beatdown's Sady Doyle discusses the Wal-Mart lawsuit saga.
• Jeff Biggers writes about Arizona's disturbing budget cuts and Ethnic Studies ban, and about the documentary Precious Knowledge.
• Got plans this Sunday? Bitch Flicks looks forward to the Mildred Pierce miniseries' debut!
• Speaking of anticipation: who's looking forward to the release of Bumped by Megan McCafferty? I am, I am! Check out Phoebe North's insightful review in which she describes the dystopian satire as "sex positive" and "a biting comedy with a tender heart."
• The Huffington Post remembers Elizabeth Taylor's activism.
• Jason Linkins recalls a provocative piece about journalism that seeks to create and criticize candidates' personae rather than report on their politics. Sounds like most news stories about female politicians, doesn't it?
• Tom Tom Magazine, the magazine for female drummers, is under attack from Tom Tom GPS, since, you know, people might confuse tracking software with one of the only independent publications covering women and music.
• Poor Knut. I don't know about you, but I was dismayed to learn of the famous polar bear's passing. As always, this song is for him.

Meanwhile, in the land of blogdom...

• Tiger Beatdown's Garland Grey reports from SXSW!
• On Salon, Bitch contributor Page McBee talks about not fitting into the gender binary.
• At Racialicious and Bold as Love, Rob Fields explores the limited film-buzz surrounding I Will Follow.
• Ms. and AlterNet look at how budget cuts could affect HIV-positive women.
• Matt Kailey talks about the class dynamics of clothing on Womanist Musings.
• At Trans/plant/portation, Bitch contributor EvMaroon discusses redefining terrorism.
• Helen at Questioning Transphobia reports on some bad reporting regarding the supposed average lifespan of trans* people.
• RH Reality Check continues to keep us up-to-date about anti-choice politicians with a profile on Republican maybe-candidate Chris Christie. In the humor category, Colbert has something to say about all this maybe-running business.
• Still furious about the New York Times' awful coverage of the gang rape in Texas? So are we, and so are the folks at Bitch Flicks, who talk about rape culture, the media, and the defensive chorus of "You just want to be offended!" (via Gender Focus)
• The Drop the I-Word video campaign continues at ColorLines with "I Am... Undocumented."
• Jos at Feministing shares and discusses the LGBT documentary "Always My Son."
• If you're in the San Francisco area, be sure to attend next week's Girl Talk, A Trans & Cis Woman Dialogue, co-curated by Gina de Vries, Elena Rose and Julia Serano!

What a week! Here's some of what caught our attention in the blogosphere:

• At Racialicious, Bitch contributor Latoya Peterson speaks of how Planned Parenthood has helped her personally. On Saturday, people across the United States rallied in the Walk for Choice to save PP's funding; see some of their signs here.
• After a hate crime including arson, couple Carol Ann and Laura Stutte have gotten the runaround from their insurance. Join change.org in telling American National Property and Casualty to pay on the claim.
• Comments in Brittany Shoot's posts have shown our readers' interest in the topic of adoption. What did you think of Adam Pertman's opinion piece in the Huffington Post?
• Also at HuffPo, David Sirota points to a number of '80s films that he claims influence modern thinking about race and government. Care to weigh in?
• Good news from Feministing: no more so-called conscience clause!
• The long-running, QUILTBAG-friendly Lyon-Martin Health Services in San Francisco needs support; see how you can help.
• Immigration Impact debunks the myth of undocumented workers raising unemployment and lowering wages. (via AlterNet)
• Katz at Original Plumbing discusses depictions of trans* people on television.
• Jamilah King at Colorlines talks about the importance of black workers to the fight for public employee unions.
• Excited for South by Southwest (SXSW?) Us too! Don't miss Bitch contributor and Deeply Problematic creator RMJ and Tiger Beatdown's Garland Grey in Dealing with Internet Drama in Feminist Discourse.
• Meanwhile, Tiger Beatdown's creator, Sady Doyle, has thoughts at The Atlantic about that Jezebel-parodying 30 Rock episode and other instances in which TV responded to online criticism.
• Over at Feministe, our recent guest writer and Zero at the Bone blogger Chally Kacelnik opines about one of my favorite topics: books!
• WTF-turned-good news files: a fetus?! RH Reality Check keeps us up-to-date on Faith 2 Action's, er, odd choice of testifier for Ohio's anti-abortion bill. As it turned out, the fetus "testified" via ultrasound and a heartbeat that was arguably not audible.

Need some awesome links to start your weekend? Thought so!

• First, the great news, in case you didn't hear: Obama declared DOMA unconstitutional!
• Feministe links to the full list of events for the Walk for Choice. Mark your calendars for Saturday! At Feministing, Ann Friedman talks about her experience on MSNBC talking about Planned Parenthood and points to ways to speak out and donate.
• Also at Feministing, Rose describes a feminist's fraught feelings about Malcolm X.
• Like Nadra Kareem Nittle recently did, The Detroit News talks about the relationships between race, names and discrimination, focusing on one loaded name in particular: Washington. (via Racialicious)
• Did you miss blogger extraordinaire s.e. smith on the Glee panel at Western Washington University? Keep up with ou's reviews, collected on Tumblr!
• Vampires on the mind? Dr. Sayantani DasGupta discusses the bizarre supernatural-BFF-as-Other trope on both Racialicious and Stories are Good Medicine.
• The New York Times reports that Ablene Cooper, who used to work as a maid for author Kathryn Stockett, is suing for appropriation of her name and image in The Help.
• Huffington Post covers the history of Petfinder.
• Jezebel pokes some bitter fun at the politicians clamoring to legislate our bodies.
• On Tiger Beatdown, Grizzly Fetus continues to rant from the womb by naming some anti-abortion a-holes... including Kanye.

Another week, another roundup! Here's what caught our eyes this week around the Internet:

• In the "Beyond WTF" file, Mother Jones dissects the proposed law in South Dakota that could have legalized the murder of abortion providers. Fortunately, Feministing announced Thursday morning that it's already been shelved.
• Racialicious editor (and Bitch contributor) Latoya Peterson has announced her conference and speaking schedule!
• After distasteful comments about Lara Logan's assault, the Huffington Post reports that journalist Nir Rosen has lost his NYU fellowship.
• Also at HuffPo: hurray for Facebook? The "Relationship Status" droplist now includes "In a civil union" and "In a domestic partnership!"
• The Riot's Catcaller Form reveals the misogynistic assumptions behind street harassment. (via Feministing)
• MTV EXIT debuts their "When Will I Feel Love" video about human trafficking by Black Iris and Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast.
• At RH Reality Check and Tiger Beatdown, Bitch contributor Sarah Jaffe continues to profile the ten Democrats who co-sponsored HR3.
• VivirLatino explores the misleadingly-named Secure Communities program, which targets immigrants under the guise of protection from crime.
• Yet another Bitch writer, Anna Clark, discusses the erasure of female voices in global literature over at Book Slut. In the same vein, author Eileen Myles responds to the Vida pie charts at The Awl.
• And last but not least, Sparky at Womanist Musings comments on the fierce heteronormativity of a recent holiday.