Feminism

This week in BlogHer's Wall of Shame (and Fame): Party on, Canadian hockey jocks, putting the "Madam" in "Madam Governor," and what the hell is a mancake?

Every once in a while, something causes me to take a deep breath and turn down the heat on my boiling cauldron of seething cynicism. The latest campaign by The White House Project, who work to advance women in leadership with the project mission "add women, change everything," is causing me to step back and think. The organization is teaming up with Barbie to inspire girls to aim high - as high as the Oval Office if that interests them.

Here's an idea that is, I think, long overdue: doulas for women who are having abortions.

Have you seen stories such as April Ryan's petty questions suggesting White House Social Secretary Desiree Roger seeks to upstage Michelle Obama? How about the persistent gossip rag rumors that the First Lady and Oprah are feuding? Do you remember the campaign commentary that blamed women's distrust of women for why Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin couldn't win?

I read BlogHer Contributing Editor Suzanne Reisman's post on religion and violence towards women as I was trying to figure out what to write this post about. It made me sad. Then, as I put away my lunch dishes, my eye fell to my five-year-old's ice-cream-cone art project. Next to her list of vocabulary words. And it occurred to me that I had the ability to influence her understanding of words, of expectations for herself as a woman. Do you agree? Let's take a poll.