SPOILED – the Film Version. Watch it NOW!

I first began developing the concept that would become SPOILED when I lived in India. I became convinced we needed to look at gender-based violence from a male perspective; it was clear we needed to do more to understand how our societies produce attitudes and behaviors so hostile to women and gender-nonconforming people. Some of you will remember the premiere of SPOILED in 2015 in NYC. Others will recall that UN Women USA was planning to promote a live showing of SPOILED in 2020 during CSW (pre-COVID!) Yet events every day, every week, right here in the USA, remind us…

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Cuomo and Women – Is this Corruption? My .02

Many are struggling with the abuse of power vis a vis women aspect of the Cuomo scandal (I am not addressing the nursing home issue here). People are trying to weigh and value these alleged abuses, often comparing them to the “good” Cuomo has done. They are trying to figure out, in effect: "how bad is this, anyway?"  Our ability to weigh and understand these alleged abuses  - and thus assess Cuomo - relates directly to how we understand and how we weigh women’s rights.   We are in a time of rapid social change around our understandings of the role…

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Root Causes of Gender-Based Violence

Helping victims of gender-based violence is something everyone can get behind: rape crisis centers, domestic violence hot lines, self-defence classes for young girls. No. Just no more. I refuse to support this. Because until we start talking about the root causes of GBV, and addressing those, we are not really helping end the problem. In fact, we may be enabling it's continuation. Sarasota Herald Tribune November 2020.

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Montessori Leadership Magazine: Gender Equity in the Classroom: What it Looks Like and What You Can Do

Teachers, parents, school administrators: listen up. Gender biases and stereotypes start EARLY, and you are the key people who can help us raise a new generation with fewer prejudices, more freedoms, and happier lives. Read how - and why - combatting gender bias helps us all. Montessori Leadership Q3 2020.

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No More Superwomen – Why I’m Not Cheering for Buffy Wicks

Understanding Gender Equality Part I: "This Woman is a MF Boss!" The image of California state assemblywoman Buffy Wicks voting while holding her newborn last month seemed destined to go viral. That slightly harried-looking working mom, that one-month-old swaddled in a color-coordinated striped blanket – it was perfect clickbait. And in case you missed it, on August 31st Assemblywoman Wicks was voting late at night with a nursing baby in her arms because there were no provisions for proxy voting during maternity leave. Many news outlets and social media posts rightly chastised the California legislature for such rules, tsk-tsking them…

  • Post category:MusingsWomen
  • Reading time:6 mins read
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Open Letter to Sarasota County and the City of Sarasota

Discrimination Lawsuits – There is a Better Way Sarasota County just paid $68,000 to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit, and reports indicate the City of Sarasota has paid $220,000 to settle similar claims in the past five years. The City is looking at ways to encourage employees to “express concerns” and will “emphasize the importance of speaking up.” This may be helpful, but there is a more direct approach. The City of Sarasota is already on that path. Cities for CEDAW* is a nationwide effort that provides tools and structures to help cities become more gender-equitable, proactively. The idea is…

  • Post category:CEDAWMusingsWomen
  • Reading time:2 mins read
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Join me Wednesday 9:30 AM WSLR 96.5

  We hear that women are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. What does that even mean? Isn't EVERYONE affected? And even if that is true, why is it an issue? Join me Wednesday, July 19th at 9:30 AM on the Peace and Justice Report, WSLR 96.5 Community Radio to find out all this and more. Bob Connors, Tom Walker, and I will help you sort out all you need to know about women and COVID-19.

  • Post category:HealthMusingsWomen
  • Reading time:1 mins read
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Join Me Tuesday July 14!

Join me for a webinar on Parenting and Gender Equity this Tuesday, July 14 at 1 PM Eastern. Montessori Family Life will be hosting this fun and informative discussion. "PARENTING TOWARD GENDER EQUITY" Tuesday, July 14, 2020, 1:00 PM EDT Pre-registration required. Register here now! We'll talk about why awareness of gender equity is so important plus offer lots of practical tips. Tune in for ideas on gift-giving (pink toys? trucks?), what to do about those teenage slurs, how your attitude toward gender affects your child's reading, and why you might want to skip those gender-reveal parties. If you're a…

  • Post category:MusingsWomen
  • Reading time:1 mins read
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TWE Film Festival

Sarasota Magazine: WOMEN IN FILM Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival Celebrates International Female Filmmakers The festival will showcase women-inspired films and celebrate International Women’s Day from March 6-8. By Allison Forsyth  2/27/2020 at 2:58pm Queen of Hearts Documentary Feature at the Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival. IMAGE: COURTESY PHOTO Herald Tribune: Through Women’s Eyes brings international female filmmakers, stories to Sarasota Your Observer WMNF Interview; Mary Glenney, March 5, 2020 WSLR Interview; Peace and Justice Report, February 26, 2020                    

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