PBS’s upcoming 5-part series, entitled: Women, War & Peace, is a look into the roles that women take when violence and war erupts in their countries. The trailer for the series, which begins airing October 11th, describes the circumstances where it is more dangerous to be a woman than a man when war breaks out. Its parts feature the women of Bosnia, Liberia, Afghanistan and Colombia, who have had pivotal roles in their countries’ wars. The 5th part of the series features subject matter experts, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee, discussing the state of women and war and challenging the notion that war is a man’s domain.
We’ve been noticing a disturbing trend in fashion lately—T-Shirts emblazoned with sexist slogans. Recently, two T-Shirts designed for teen girls indicated that schoolwork was uncool (or for ugly girls). The first, from JC Penny, was pulled after a firestorm of negative feedback. It reads, “I’m too pretty for homework so my brother has to do it for me.” The second, a Forever 21 creation, says “Allergic to Algebra.” Why are these retailers encouraging girls to be bimbos? Even worse is sending the message that fashion-conscious girls aren’t smart.
Mothers everywhere are worthy of celebration. Here are some ways to show appreciation to mothers other than your own.
Every year a staggering sum of money is wasted on Hallmark holidays like Mother’s Day — $14 BILLION to be exact. In 2010 this sum was spent in the US on Mother’s Day cards, celebrations, flowers and meals. When you think of the suffering around the world and the many causes this money could benefit this number is even more mind-boggling.
A peaceful and just society begins when girls are invested in and protected by laws they can count on.
Crucial to the health and prosperity of any democratic society is the fairness and impartiality of its judicial system. In a recent article in the Cornell International Law Journal, former U.S Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor asserts that appointing female judges goes hand in hand with empowering women because they contribute to creating a judicial system that can give girls and women justice. According to O’Connor, “development experts, public institutions, and the private sector alike have begun to recognize that investing in women may be the most effective means of achieving poverty reduction, sustainable development and economic growth…”
