Entries for May 2007

This week's Ledbetter ruling by the high court is a supremely enlightening example of the arbitrariness of the law and the difference one justice can make. Beyond that, it reifies the concept of the Supreme Court as a lagging indicator of American politics.

Job discrimination against pregnant women is on the rise, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Michelle Obama's decision to drastically reduce her high-paying work schedule to stump for her husband, particularly to boost his support among female voters, has riled some feminists.

Feel depressed, gloomy, even? About the state of the world or the state of this country, I mean. You're not alone. In fact, a new Associated Press-Ipsos poll says those of us who fear the sky is falling are in the vast majority.

The Census Bureau released figures this week showing that the number of nonwhite Americans broke the 100 million mark last year for the first time in American history. That means roughly 1 in 3 Americans is black, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian. And Americans of color are also decidedly younger as a group than white Americans.

The Washington Post reports that egg-freezing is on the rise, especially among single career women. More women are using fertility services to freeze their own eggs with the hope of becoming pregnant and bearing biological offspring in their 40s and beyond. The Post quotes a cancer survivor advocacy group that recently surveyed 430 clinics nationwide and found that 138 of them freeze and store eggs, up from 58 three years ago.

Wife-beating is out, but wife-blaming is in—in some circles, that is. Look at how GOP presidential nomination front-runner Mitt Romney last week blamed his wife for writing a check to pro-choice women's health provider Planned Parenthood. C'mon, Mitt. The check was written from the joint checking account controlled by you and Mrs. Romney. And all one need do is head over to YouTube.com and watch the 2002 video of the telegenic Romneys (Mitt and Ann) proclaiming to a Boston TV interviewer their joint support for a woman's right to determine her own biological future. Ah, Internet video is a wondrous thing, leaving little doubt of the 180-degree whipsaw the former governor has done on abortion rights.