more normalized bigoted violence

Lesbians sentenced for self-defense
All-white jury convicts Black women

By Imani Henry
New York
Published Jun 21, 2007 2:58 AM

On June 14, four African-American women—Venice Brown (19), Terrain Dandridge (20), Patreese Johnson (20) and Renata Hill (24)—received sentences ranging from three-and-a-half to 11 years in prison. None of them had previous criminal records. Two of them are parents of small children.

Their crime? Defending themselves from a physical attack by a man who held them down and choked them, ripped hair from their scalps, spat on them, and threatened to sexually assault them—all because they are lesbians.

The mere fact that any victim of a bigoted attack would be arrested, jailed and then convicted for self-defense is an outrage. But the length of prison time given further demonstrates the highly political nature of this case and just how racist, misogynistic, anti-gay, anti-youth and anti-worker the so-called U.S. justice system truly is.

The description of the events, reported below, is based on written statements by a community organization (FIERCE) that has made a call to action to defend the four women, verbal accounts from court observers and evidence from a surveillance camera.

The attack

On Aug. 16, 2006, seven young, African-American, lesbian-identified friends were walking in the West Village. The Village is a historic center for lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) communities, and is seen as a safe haven for working-class LGBT youth, especially youth of color.
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[zina lf-ro#2] “Reimaginarea justitiei sociale de jos in sus: Includerea experientelor femeilor rome”

Pentru note de subsol, referinte si intregul text al lucrarii:
– http://projects.essex.ac.uk/EHRR/archive/pdf/51.pdf –
Alexandra Oprea, “Re-invisioning Social Justice from the Ground Up: Including the Experiences of Romani Women“

[Lucrarea se concentreaza pe excluderea femeilor rome din discursurile feministe si anti-rasiste dominante (in mainstream) in Europa. Aceasta excludere este atribuita intersectionalitatii si politicilor de identitate problematice. Autoarea discuta invizibilitatea femeilor rome perpetuata de programe si rapoarte ale organizatiilor ne-guvernamentale (ONG-uri) si explica absenta femeilor rome din discursuri rome si feministe, privirea ne-critica asupra culturii rome si vulnerabilitatea femeilor rome din Romania la violenta domestica. Textul pune accentul pe faptul ca analiza problemelor sociale trebuie facuta de jos in sus, luand in considerare experientele celor care intampina greutati multiple, cum ar fi femeile rome sarace. In concluzie, lucrarea discuta importanta recunoasterii privilegiilor ca fundatie a unor discursuri si a unei cercetari atotcuprinzatoare.]

Femeile rome neglijate de politicile anti-rasiste, politicile feministe si ONG-uri locale si internationale
Dinamicile care tin de rasa, clasa economica si gen plaseaza femeile rome intr-o pozitie precara, a carei consecinta sunt de multe ori casatoria timpurie, lipsa de acces la munca decenta, la servicii de sanatate si la educatie precum si o vulnerabilitate mai mare la violenta domestica. Date statistice dezagregate, o unealta esentiala pentru a adresa acest tip de subordonare structurala, s-au dovedit a fi greu de colectionat in cazul femeilor rome. Deoarece astfel de date sunt adeseori colectionate pe criteriul rasa sau pe criteriul gen, ele nu reflecta cu exactitate situatia femeilor rome. Excluziunea ubicua produsa de rasism, sexism si saracie inseamna de multe ori un acces redus la sfera politica pentru femeile rome. In afara de barierele de rasa, clasa si gen care le impiedica pe femeile rome de la a deveni activiste, odata ce au inceput sa-si implementeze propriile idealuri activiste anti-patriarhale, constructia problematica a politicilor de gen si rasa, in Europa si in alte zone, face ca, in cel mai bun caz, munca lor sa fie relegata la periferie. Cand femeile rome reusesc sa treaca peste aceste obstacole si sa participe in ONG-uri, ele descopera ca problemelor lor nu li se acorda aceeasi importanta ca problemelor “mainstream” ce ii privesc pe romi. Munca efectuata de femei rome pentru a combate tripla marginalizare nu este considerata a face parte din “politici rome”. De asemenea, nu i se acorda respect ca politica de gen, din moment ce priveste romnia [femei rome], care sunt considerate “tigani” si nu femei. Practic vorbind, discursurile feministe din Europa ignora existenta femeilor rome si altor femei minoritare atunci cand propovaduiesc doctrinele de “imputernicire” de gen. Cei doi termeni, “roma” si “femei”, au fost construiti in asa fel incat nu sunt considerati a avea intersectii.
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Saptamana Refugiatilor din Romania

mai sunt cateva zile:

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Consiliul National pentru Combaterea Discriminarii impreuna cu Inaltul Comisariat al Natiunilor Unite pentru Refugiati – UNHCR – Reprezentanta din Romania si Organizatia Femeilor Refugiate din Romania

Va invita sa fiti alaturi de refugiatii recunoscuti in Romania la urmatoarele evenimente prilejuite de Ziua Mondiala a Refugiatului

20 Iunie.:

18 iunie, orele 13:00
Jocuri de societate din Congo, Irak si Iran la Organizatia Femeilor Refugiate in Romania.
Locatie: Bd. Regina Maria nr. 88, sector 4.

19 – 23 iunie in Bucuresti Mall
Bazar de obiecte traditionale din Senegal, Camerun, Iran si Irak.
Produsele sunt confectionate de copii si femei refugiate.
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Radical cheerleaders need your help: fwd widely

Dearest Ladyfest,

Radical Cheerleading is often a part of workshops and performances at Ladyfests across the world and we were hoping for some help through your vast networks to get the word out about our project to document the last 10 years of Radical Cheerleading. Could you please post the following information on your myspace and/or pass the “call for submissions for the Radical Cheerleading Anthology” on to all those that you may think would be interested. Our first deadline for submissions is June 1st and is approaching fast.
If you have any suggestions on how to get more publicity and involvement in our book through feminist networks we would most appreciate your advice. look fwd to your response.
thanks so much.
cheers, brackin firecracker, jeanne vaccaro, aimee and cara jennings
please fwd/ post the following:

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rasismul si sexismul ok, doar sa fie “nepublice”

“Basescu n-a catadicsit sa-si ceara scuze personal ziaristei talharite si insultate”

de fapt, n-a catadicsit sa-si ceara scuze deloc:

„Nu-mi place cand sunt jignit gratuit si uneori izbucnesc. Si nu imi place cand se intra in intimitatea vietii mele. Ca, de exemplu, sa profiti de o discutie pe care o ai cu sotia, in masina, dupa care, ca pe vremea Securitatii, sa fii judecat pentru ce ai gandit nepublic sau pentru o apreciere nepublica”.

minunat. victima si cel jignit in toata povestea e basescu. apelativele de genul “mai, pasarica” pentru o femeie sint doar “izbucniri” firesti in fata unor “jigniri gratuite” ale jurnalistelor care, ca niste “tiganci imputite si agresive”, il filmeaza cind n-are chef. cit despre folosirea “aprecierilor” de genul “tiganca imputita si agresiva”, asta este prerogativul oricarui cetatean in conversatii private cu sotia. iar, pentru basescu, critica publica a atitudinilor sexiste si rasiste, cind ele au fost “nepublice”, e “ca pe vremea securitatii” – o incalcare de drepturi.

eu banuiesc ca basescu confunda “oficial” cu “public” dinadins, ca sa para cit de cit logic cind spune “ca pe vremea securitatii”.

toata reactia/anti-cererea-de-iertare imi suna ca o versiune neironica a parodiei sexiste/rasiste cu “ziua barbatului alb” pe care o asteptam.

23 maiDecizia CNCD: sexismul e ok (7 voturi pro si 2 contra), iar rasismul nu e complet ok (pedepesindu-se, din cite inteleg, cu un fel de incruntare din partea membrilor cncd). bine ca exista cncd sa lamureasca treburile astea si sa faca dreptate! nu stiu de ce nu ma surprinde decizia.

on feminization of poverty

THE FEMININE FACE OF POVERTY
http://www.alternet.org/rights/50727/

Seventy percent of those living in absolute poverty in our world — that is starving or on the edge of starvation — are female. Not only that, in our wealthy United States, women and children are the mass of the poor and the poorest of the poor.

—-
wage gap news: April 24 was the 11th Equal Pay Day
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Various information and data on gender and economic status in Romania:

  • “Wage Determination and Gender Discrimination in a Transition Economy: the Case of Romania” (abstract)
  • Enlargement, Gender and Governance Report: Romania Summary 1
  • “The Feminisation of Poverty in Transition Countries: Evidence from Subjective Data”
  • “Gender and Political Periphery: The Romanian Case”
  • “Your Sex and Race Matter. Romani Women’s Employment in Romania: Fact Sheet 2006”; “Broadening the Agenda: The Status of Romani Women in Romania”
  • [ro]

  • “Raporturile de gen in contextul societatii romanesti”
  • Barometrul de gen 2000. Capitolul 5: Gen si economie
  • Anuarul statistic 2005 (INS): Piata fortei de munca; Veniturile, cheltuielile si consumul populatiei
  • reading on feminism(s) and rroma women

    “Re-envisioning Social Justice from the Ground Up: Including the Experiences of Romani Women” by Alexandra Oprea, a paper that:

    … centres on the exclusion of Romani women from mainstream feminist and antiracist discourses in Europe. This exclusion is explained through the lens of intersectionalism and problematic identity politics. It discusses their invisibility as perpetuated by programmes and reports from non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It explains the absence of Romani women from Romani and feminist discourses, the uncritical view of Romani culture, and the vulnerability of Romanian Romani women to domestic violence. It emphasizes that analyses of social problems must be performed from the bottom up, looking at the experiences of those who are multi-burdened, such as poor Romani women. The paper concludes by discussing the value of recognizing privilege as the foundation for inclusive scholarship and discourse.

    Several other analyses in addition to the sources here:

    “The Erasure of Romani Women in Statistical Data: Limits of the Race-versus-Gender Approach” by Alexandra Oprea

    “Child Marriage a Cultural Problem, Educational Access a Race Issue? Deconstructing Uni-Dimensional Understanding of Romani Oppression” by Alexandra Oprea

    “Double Discrimination Faced by Romani Women in Europe” by Angela Kocze

    “Breaking the Barriers – Romani Women and Access to Public Health Care”: European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia report

    Also discussing mainstream bias and reactionaryism to anti-discrimination work, the fact that “anti-Gypsyism is often combined with other types of discriminatory practices such as xenophobia, sexism and homophobia”…:

    “Fourth arm of the state. Romania’s press becomes a willing partner in prejudice” by Valeriu Nicolae

    update sept. 2008; a few other good materials:

    “Economic Aspects of the Condition of Roma Women”, Berliner Institut für Vergleichende Sozialforschung, 2006 [PDF]

    “A Place at the Policy Table: Report on the Roma Women’s Forum”, OSI, 2004

    “Broadening the Agenda: The Status of Romani Women in Romania”, OSI, Laura Surdu and Mihai Surdu, 2006

    “Romani Women: Between Two Cultures” in Bending the Bow. Targeting Women’s Human Rights and Opportunities. OSI, Network Women’s Program, 2003 (thanks c.)

    “The Situation of Roma/Gypsy Women in Europe”, Nicoleta Bitu, 1999 (thanks c.)

    more: Roma Women Association, Romania: Reports

    Stop the Clash: 90 seconds to change the world

    From New York to Baghdad, Madrid to Beirut, talk is rising of a ‘clash of civilizations’ between the West and Islam — no end in sight to the catastrophe in Iraq, war brewing between the US and Iran, Lebanon torn apart again, and still no real Israeli-Palestinian talks. But we know this clash is not about religion or culture. The real cause is politics – the politics of divide-and-rule, on all sides.

    This is not the world we want. But it’s the world we’ll end up with, unless we act now. It’s time for the peaceful majority – us – to make a stand. So watch our new ‘Stop the Clash’ video now for a fresh, empowering take on these conflicts, and a concrete first step we can all take today:

    www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_clash

    According to the UN among others, the Palestinian- Israeli conflict is the driving symbol of this “clash” between Islam and the West. But opinion polls show most people around the world agree that policy is the problem – big majorities everywhere want peace in the Middle East, as do most Israelis and Palestinians. If progress toward peace is made there, it will spread.

    So let’s take the first step, and call for REAL Middle East peace talks now.

    Join the campaign

    Tens of thousands of people have already signed the petition and supported an ad that ran on the front page of the Financial Times worldwide and in major Palestinian and Israeli newspapers.

    Now we need to raise the pressure, ratcheting up to a major international day of action on June 5th – the 40th anniversary of the
    1967 war that began the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. We want to hit every international summit and decision moment from now till then with the same demand. Can you help get us to 50,000 new voices for peace in the next 24 hours?

    We agree on what matters most. We all oppose war, tyranny, terror and the killing of innocent civilians. We know these conflicts are caused not by some inevitable culture clash, but by bad politics. The ‘Stop the Clash’ video is a good way to remind friends, family and colleagues of the big picture of all we share – and signing the Real Talks petition is a step every one of us can take.

    Avaaz.org | Contact | Media & Press

    International Women’s Day 2007

    DON’T FORGET to: Blog Against Sexism Day (sign up here)

    “8 martie – ziua femeilor militante” (2006) [ro]
    “march 8th – day of women’s activism” (2006) [en]

    Global Women’s Strike 2007
    Celebrating International Women’s Day around the world

    INVEST IN CARING NOT KILLING! Women & girls do 2/3 of the world’s work, most of it unwaged. $1 trillion/year is spent on the military worldwide, more than half by the US. 10% of this would provide the essentials of life for all: water, sanitation, basic health, nutrition, literacy, and a minimum income.
    The Global Women’s Strike network, with national co-ordinations in 11 countries and participating organisations in over 60 countries, is demanding the return of military budgets to the community, beginning with women the main carers of people and the planet. Women, and men who support our goals, take action together on 8 March, International Women’s Day, and throughout the year. In this way each grassroots struggle is backed by our collective power. …

    “Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls”
    Is the theme for International Women’s Day 2007

    Learn more about how United Nations celebrate IWD

    In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women’s Day. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. For the United Nations, International Women’s Day has been observed on 8 March since 1975. The Day is traditionally marked with a message from the Secretary-General.

    Why dedicate a day exclusively to the celebration of the world’s women?

    In adopting its resolution on the observance of Women’s Day, the General Assembly cited two reasons: to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, the Day’s symbolism has a wider meaning: It is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize for meaningful change.

    Read more about the International Women’s Day:
    * History of International Women’s Day
    * “Engendering the Global Agenda: The Story of Women and the United Nations”, a book by Hilkka Pietilä
    * UN Cyberschool Bus page about International Women’s Day

    Previous years and themes:
    2006: Women in decision-making
    2005: Gender Equality Beyond
    2005: Building a More Secure Future
    2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
    2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
    2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
    2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
    2000: Women Uniting for Peace
    1999: World Free of Violence Against Women
    1998: Women and Human Rights
    1997: Women at the Peace Table
    1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future

    body image related stuff

    AnyBodya website giving women a voice to challenge the limited physical representation of females in contemporary society

    About-Face
    : Everywhere girls and women look, they see messages about their bodies and their selves, telling them they must be tall, blonde, tan, and sexually available. In fact, a woman can rarely separate her feelings about her physical body from her self-worth, especially in our media-saturated society. And the messages even the youngest girls are seeing and hearing are skewed, sexualized, and sexist.
    These messages — part of what About-Face calls the “toxic media environment” — are contributing to a host of girls’ and women’s ills, including low self-esteem, depression, persistent anxiety over weight and appearance, extremely unhealthy diets and exercise regimens, and eating disorders. All of these problems interfere with a woman’s ability to function to the best of her abilities.
    About-Face’s mission is to equip women and girls with tools to understand and resist the harmful stereotypes of women the media disseminates. There are three components to About-Face’s program, Education into Action: media-literacy workshops, action groups, and this resource-filled web site. ….

    “girl for all seasons”, northern state

    song lyrics

    “a girl like me”, short documentary by kiri davis

    “video”, india.arie

    song lyrics

    “typical girls”, a documentary film on women in (punk) rock:
    “Women were finally seen as equal in the punk movement. If you could pick up a guitar and play it – great. If you could sing and form your own band, even better. Women were finally getting a voice and not just as backing singers. We look at the women who rocked and discuss the great female punk performers – Siouxsie, The Slits, Pauline Murray, Poly Styrene, Debbie Harry and the seminal Patti Smith – and find out how true the idea that punk emancipated women from rock’s macho posturing really is.” – part 3, on poly styrene, riot grrrl, and images of women and femininity in music today:

    the butchies modeling for a photo shoot (kaia’s shirt says “PRADA”) :)
    Butchies-04-10.jpg