Lucy Liu

The female dominant (domme, dominatrix, domina, mistress, etc.) may appear to be a more defendable BDSM stereotype than that of the female submissive. On the surface, fem-doms invert negative stereotypes about female sexuality and the "female" personality. They are women who take control, who behave aggressively, who know what they want and demand it with force if necessary. In other words, they take on characteristics traditionally seen as "male." But while they may be accused of letting feminism down less often than their submissive sisters, dommes have it just as rough when it comes to the media.

Happy Leap Year Week!

• Sociological Images outlines how Leap Year Day was used as a day to reverse gender norms in marriage proposals.  
• Lucy Liu has been cast as Watson in CBS's new Sherlock Holmes series and many aren't happy about the gender flip.
• Two cool book projects are looking for funding: Radical Doulas by Feministing's former editor Miriam Perez, and a comics anthology about marriage equality. 
• At Native Appropriations, Adrienne looks at ANTM's clueless stereotyping of Native Americans. 
• The women of Community do a roundtable about the show, women in media, and the future of the series. 
• Joanna Chiu writes about how the recent spate of racism against Jeremy Lin comes as no surprise. 
• Monica Roberts of Transgriot on black transgender trailblazers at Ebony.com. 
• Charlotte Richardson Andrews writes about Iggy Azaela, white privilege, and hip hop.
• What does Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's Oscar win for Saving Face mean for Pakistan? Sadia Ashraf responds at AltMuslimah.
• Does Liz Lemon need a divorce from Tina Fey? Emily Nussbaum responds to the Liz Lemon backlash.   
• Viva la Feminista encourages folks to blog for International Women's Day next week. 
• Verizon Wireless has added Gender Identity protection to its employees. 
• Beyonce has been breastfeeding Blue Ivy (gasp!) in public.

Tell us what you are reading in the comments!