Recommended Reading 4-28-2010
Color-blind racial ideology linked to racism, both online and offline by Phil Ciciora
Images from racial theme parties that are posted on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace not only elicit different reactions from different people based on their race and their attitudes toward diversity, they also represent an indirect way to express racist views about minorities, according to published research by a University of Illinois professor who studies the convergence of race and the Internet.
Wal-Mart Faces Largest Gender Bias Lawsuit in U.S. History
Yesterday, the happy news came that the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that Wal-Mart must face a gender-bias lawsuit filed by six of its female employees. The women claim that Wal-Mart, the world’s largest private employer, pays its female employees less than their male counterparts for doing the same jobs and that promotions are few and far between for the women of the Wal-Mart workforce.
Two Ways About It by Becky
Abby and Carolyn give conflicting advice about what to do with unmarked wedding gifts.
DEAR ABBY: My daughter was married last weekend and received several unmarked gifts. When sending out thank-you notes, how do you know what to say and to whom? There were several guests that would never have come empty-handed, yet there is no way to match the mystery gifts to the right guests. Not sending a thank-you note to someone I’m sure brought a gift seems awkward and embarrassing. — AT A LOSS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
I’m getting married very soon, and I absolutely did not think of this at all. Thanks for more anxiety, Becky. 😉 I kid. This was good advice, and I def never would have thought of it!
The Blind Assassin discussion is going on at Radical Readers and Feminisms for Dummies! Check out this early post by Amanda
I got a little ahead of myself and finished this selection early (love, love, LOVE Margaret Atwood – we could do an entire book club just around her!). Here are some things I think are worth keeping in mind as you read…
How is education (in both the most literal and broadest senses) passed on between characters? Who is teaching, and what is being learned?
What is the relationship between violence and silence? How do each manifest throughout the novel?
My post is coming soon!
What Does Feminism Mean For You? and A Reader’s Response to FAB Blog Debacle from Emily at Gender Across Borders
So I’ve been called a “troll” on one blog–named called “fabulous fab stuff” where the author Miska declares that feminism is only for women, not for “gay men, or black men, poor men, or disabled men.”
I disagree. I made a comment stating that:
I am totally for feminism having different definitions for each person, so I will disagree with you because our definitions are very different. I believe that feminism is not just about women, but equal rights for all. By excluding men and the like, you are making feminism exclusionary. Just my two cents.
I thought sharing opinions was part of the Feminist community online, and I also believe Emily was unduly attacked.
“My Deaf Family” (And My Hearing Life) from Danine Spencer
I’m hearing impaired. I was born with a 60% hearing loss in my left ear and an 80% loss in my right ear. I have worn a hearing aid in my left ear since I was three years old and in my right ear sporadically. It’s hard to explain but wearing a hearing aid in the right ear doesn’t really help all that much. It sort of provides a surround-sound effect that is distracting, like background noise that doesn’t really add anything to my listening experience. For instance, when you’re talking with a friend in a café, do you want the radio turned up or down? It’s easier to hear your pal when the radio is turned down, right? Well, it is for me, anyways. Wearing the right hearing aid is a lot like that.
Thanks for sharing this, Danine!
Wage Disparity Not Just Between Men And Women, New Study Says Blonde Women Make 7% More Than Non-Blonde from Sophia
From the Telegraph, a new study out of the University of Queensland states that a survey of over 13000 women revealed those with blonde hair make on average 7% more than women with other hair colors. The study also revealed that women with blonde hair (in the UK) are more often married to wealthier men.
Whaaaaat?!
What Does Blogging Mean To You? by Colleen at Gender Across Borders
I was moved by this post at The Pursuit of Harpyness and wanted to share it. The author shares honestly, allowing the reader to accompany her/him while s/he struggles through some convoluted, but important, thoughts. S/he struggles with the idea of blogging as activism, and wonders, as we all have, what role it takes in our work for equality. Later the same day I read this post by Amy at Science & Sensibility also exploring her thoughts about blogging but with a decidedly more positive tone. Her post also resonated with me because I, like her, have turned from a non-believer to a preacher of the power of social media to inspire social change.
Blogging is as draining as it is important, but never doubt that it is important!
And…. RMJ at Deeply Problematic is back! Yay!
What have you been reading and writing this week? Post some comments!