Every Mother’s Day is wrought with complex emotions for me (as well as thousands of others). Here are two main reasons why: I lost my mother when I was 20. Five years before that, we all knew she was going to die of cancer. I’ve been painfully trying to become a mother for the pastContinue reading “Can We Move on From Mother’s Day Please?”
Category Archives: Society
Breast Cancer and Its Metaphors
After reading Susan Sontag’s Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphor I’m left wondering whether the stories we tell others and ourselves about our bodies are truly ours—especially stories about diseases. Sontag’s work has me reconsidering my mother’s experience with breast cancer and how she carried herself as a woman with this disease. MyContinue reading “Breast Cancer and Its Metaphors”
“Change of Life” Pathologizing Menopause
In my Digital History course we’re moving onto the “doing” or hands-on part of the course. It’s a bit overwhelming but also incredibly exciting. In many ways I feel as though my imagination is the limit for this project, and then I return to reality. Taking two other demanding courses and teaching Mondays, Wednesdays, andContinue reading ““Change of Life” Pathologizing Menopause”
Time for Gender Equality in the Workplace – For Men
Many women (including myself) are faced with the family-or-career tension to varying degrees. We’ve read about these stories in The Atlantic, New York Times, and most recently on Slate.com. Many of us know this issue personally. Maybe we aren’t literally choosing a career over a family (or vice versa) but perhaps we’ve pushed back whenContinue reading “Time for Gender Equality in the Workplace – For Men”
Science Prolonging Women’s Reproductive Years
If you could prolong your reproductive years would you? How do you feel about women having children even later in life than we already do? A few days ago NPR had a segment about new research working toward the ability for women to regenerate their eggs similar to how men regenerate their sperm.The implications forContinue reading “Science Prolonging Women’s Reproductive Years”
Controversies of Hired Help – An Affluent Woman’s Concern
How do you feel about the need among middle and upper class women to hire domestic workers to help with household duties? Growing up in a poor single parent immigrant household, members of my immediate family were more likely be the help than hire the help. Now that I’m a middle class educated woman surroundedContinue reading “Controversies of Hired Help – An Affluent Woman’s Concern”
Men Who Change Diapers DO NOT Change the World. They Change Diapers.
Within one week, I’ve seen a bumper sticker reading, “Men who change diapers, change the world” three times. There’s nothing new about this bumper sticker. In fact I first saw it four years ago and thought to myself Yeah, that’s kind of a cool message. We should applaud those men. Now I’m bothered byContinue reading “Men Who Change Diapers DO NOT Change the World. They Change Diapers.”
The Male Birth Control Pill: It’s About Time, or is It?
In our society women are given a larger share of reproductive responsibility than men. This might make sense to many because men can’t get pregnant. So, it’s logical to make a woman the gatekeeper of her reproductive health, right? Yes and no. Throughout history and across cultures, giving women access to safe methods of contraceptionContinue reading “The Male Birth Control Pill: It’s About Time, or is It?”
The Need for Sociology of Sex and not Just Science to Explain (Female) Infidelity
Earlier this month TIME Magazine came out with an article about “cougar sex” and why women in their “middle years” age 27 – 45 reported having more sex than any other age group. The story started out addressing one of my pet-frustrations justifying infidelity among men. Men who cheat on their spouses have always enjoyedContinue reading “The Need for Sociology of Sex and not Just Science to Explain (Female) Infidelity”
Birth Control Coverage: Why a Debate?
If I was writing this article exploring the debate over whether birth control should be in the health reform bill, I wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of a debate. Here’s why: A woman’s right to choose preventative measures from unwanted pregnancy is between her and her body. It has always been predominantly the woman’sContinue reading “Birth Control Coverage: Why a Debate?”
New Tanning Tax Starts Today
As part of the health care reform bill, starting today there is a 10% increase in fake and bake services. Anytime taxes are raised, there are a handful of people up in arms. This time it’s the tanning salon merchants and some patrons. Like cigarette taxes, this tanning tax is justified by the direct relationshipContinue reading “New Tanning Tax Starts Today”
Condoms for Kindergartners – In Newsweek Blog
Here’s an interesting Newsweek blog post about a bad headline for a good sex ed policy. The policy essential allows students (at any grade level) to get condoms from a school nurse if they are considering sexual activities. Now before you start questioning whether this policy should be implemented in the schools of one MassachusettsContinue reading “Condoms for Kindergartners – In Newsweek Blog”
The Need for More Father’s Days
Growing up, I had a father, whom I reluctantly visited once in a while on the weekends when I couldn’t fake being sick. He never knew my birthday (or didn’t bother acknowledging it), constantly told me how dumb my mother was, and lectured me about being greedy when I wanted juice with my meal atContinue reading “The Need for More Father’s Days”
Society’s Aversion to Public Displays of Breastfeeding
Two dear friends of mine are new moms. Their babies are beautiful, precious, and hungry. Hungry for momma’s milk and lots of it so they can grow big, healthy, and strong. Both of my friends told me that they felt shy about feeding their infants in front of friends or in public, even with aContinue reading “Society’s Aversion to Public Displays of Breastfeeding”
Yuka Polovina 