California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recently appointed actress Geena Davis to a state commission aiming to promote women’s equality.  Sweet!

According to Wikipedia:

In 2004, while watching children’s television programs and videos with her daughter, Davis noticed what she thought was an imbalance in the ratio of male to female characters. From that starting point, Davis went on to sponsor the largest research project ever undertaken on gender in children’s entertainment (resulting in 4 discrete studies, including one on children’s television) at the Annenberg School for Communication of University of Southern California. The study, directed by Dr. Stacy Smith, shows that there are nearly 3 males to every 1 female character in the nearly 400 G, PG, PG-13, and R-Rated movies the undergraduate team of Annenberg students coded.

In 2005, Davis teamed up with the non-profit group Dads and Daughters to launch a venture dedicated to balancing the number of male and female characters in children’s TV and movie programming.

It’s nice to see someone with power, and with a background in the entertainment/film industry no less, acknowledging that this is a problem worthy of attention and taking steps towards change.  Let’s hope that Geena is able to really get the ball rolling and that change starts to happen!

(Check out Alethea Joy’s post on research inspired by Ms. Davis.)

A lot of quotes this week, folks.  People seem to be saying some cool things, and I have taken it upon myself to highlight them for you.

Rush Limbaugh was recently married (for the fourth time after three divorces – this is the sacred tradition of marriage between a man and a woman that he believes he is protecting from the gays, remember?) and he invited the very out and proud Sir Elton John to perform at the wedding.  Perplexing, no?  Apparently the gays make for great entertainment, even if they don’t deserve equal rights.  Classy.  Here’s what Elton had to say about it:

“Life is about building bridges, not walls. [It was a chance] to go where people wouldn’t expect me to go. And maybe if I can make a great impression, people might change their perspectives on life.”

- Sir Elton John

Now that actually is classy.  From Daily Express via Jezebel.

Living in the west means that ignoring SB1070 is impossible, and also that I am living in a bubble where I assume that all people are following it’s progress as closely as I am.  As a privileged white woman, I am not following it as closely as many out here.  Regardless of where you live, the color of your skin, your level of privilege, and whether or not you think you know anyone that could be affected by this law, you should be paying attention.  I should be paying more attention.  Because this law, and laws like it that are in the works in other states, effects everyone, and often in ways that the privileged don’t think about.

Arizona Immigration Law Is An Attack On All Women [jezebel]

And SB 1070 actually increases the threat to women facing domestic violence or sexual assault. Why would a woman call the police to report a crime, why would she ask the police to come to her home, when the first thing they’re going to do is demand her citizenship documentation or that of her family members? This law is a boon for those who would threaten and abuse wives, girlfriends, partners and other women.

Arizona’s Immigration Law and its Effect on Education [equality 101]

The bottom line is this: By taking teachers with varying backgrounds out of public school systems and by further refusing to educate students about the cultures that make America the great country it is supposed to be, we are doing our students an immense disservice.  And this isn’t just contained to Arizona.  What happens, then, when these students graduate and take jobs in other parts of the nation or other parts of the world?

Utah Legislator Stephen Sandstrom to draft illegal immigration bill like Arizona’s SB 1070 [examiner]

The bill would require Utah’s law enforcement officers to ask for proof of citizenship if they had reason to believe an individual was in the state illegally. It would also punish business owners who hire illegal immigrants.

When told the bill is racist:

Sandstrom disagrees, saying that the bill will prohibit racial profiling. “Illegal is not a race, it’s a condition so it has nothing to do with your race,” he said.

Get involved.  Read up on this law and its implications.  Tell your friends.  Talk about why this matters and why we need to stop it.  At the very least, you can sign this petition from the ACLU to tell your state representatives and governor that this law is unacceptable, and send your message to the White House here.

“Some of us grew up dealing with racial profiling, but this law (SB 1070) takes it to a whole new low. If other states follow the direction of the Arizona government, we could be headed towards a pre–civil rights era reality.”

- Zack de la Rocha

From NY Mag via Jezebel.  More about the bill here.  Voice your opposition to the bill by signing this petition.

Y’all are saying it better than me this week:

You’re not a feminist, but … what? [guardian]

“I’m not a feminist, but …” is a way of telling the world that we don’t pose too much of a threat. It’s a way of saying that we don’t plan to rock the boat too much, that we will play nice. And yet, feminists are people who dare to imagine a world in which women are 50% of Congress, where women are paid 100% of what their male colleagues earn and where every person who violates another human being is reported, prosecuted and convicted.

Disclosure & Choice: When Do We Deserve to Know Someone’s Sexuality? (Handy Flowchart Included) [feministing]

I can’t help but be struck by the hypocrisy of an America that forbids disclosure from their armed servicepeople and demands it to the point of issuing a frenzied media mandate from everyone else. Whether the criticism was coming from other gay men and women or not, rushing to judge the timing or impact of his decision fails to acknowledge his humanity and undercuts the ownership of his decision. As long as our reaction is an invasive, entitled “duh” rather than an informed, supportive “thanks for choosing to share”, our collective privilege is showing, and we’re not making real progress for the LGBTQI rights agenda.

One in Three [this ain't livin']

There is no safe space to be an asshole. When you parrot rape apologies, you do so not only in the knowledge that there might be a rapist in the room who is internalizing those messages, you do so with the knowledge that there might be a rape victim/survivor in the room who is also absorbing that message. Who is being reminded that she did something wrong in your eyes. That she deserved what she got.

The IUD Reborn [newsweek]

“The demographic group that is most likely to benefit from contraceptive use is exactly the demographic that is least reliable,” says Matthews. “Take for example the 17-year-old teenager. There is the greatest negative impact if she gets pregnant. [Old] FDA standards and World Health Organization literature would say she is not a candidate for an IUD, but she is in fact the ideal candidate. “

A friend of mine has been keeping me up to my ears in links, and they’re of quality material so I figured, why not share the wealth?  However, all of this information can be pretty overwhelming, so what can you do?  First, share this information with other people in your lives – and not just the feminists: we know this and how important it is, so pass it on to someone who might not otherwise be thinking about these issues, too.  Secondly, get involved. College campuses usually have student advocacy groups, and communities often have sexual assault and domestic violence shelters that can always use free help.  You can volunteer as a crisis call advocate or get involved in educating the community about rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, and healthy relationships.  You can also contact your local congresspeople and senators and advocate for more attention to be paid to the rape culture that extends to the military.  But most importantly, don’t forget about this a few days after you read the articles.  Empower yourself and others by facing the facts and working towards change.

56% believe some rape victims partly to blame for attack [the independent]

Dr Jan Welch, clinical director at the Haven in Camberwell, south-east London, said: “Unfortunately, women have bought into the idea that sometimes the rape victim is to blame. Under no circumstances is a woman at fault for being raped.  Coping with the emotional trauma of rape or sexual assault is made even harder when the victim is made to feel responsible for what’s happened.”

Violence against women is justified, says pupil study [bbc news]

A study of schoolchildren has found that most of those questioned thought violence towards women was acceptable if there was a reason behind it.  The majority of the pupils said it was justified if the woman had an affair, or if she was late in making the tea.

Myths That Make It Hard To Stop Campus Rape [NPR]

What Lisak found was that students who commit rape on a college campus are pretty much like those rapists in prison. In both groups, many are serial rapists. On college campuses, repeat predators account for 9 out of every 10 rapes.

Women at war: How roles are changing [bbc news]

“You’re supposed to carry your weapon at all times in a combat zone,” she said.  “But I put my weapon down and walked away to smoke a cigarette and that was when I was attacked.”  She was then dragged behind some power generators and raped.  “If I had kept my weapon maybe I would have been able to prevent it,” she says.  “But if I had used it I would probably have ended up in jail.”

Always ready to piggyback on social events, PETA was on top of things this week with their 2010 “State of the Union Undress.”  It’s offensive, objectifying, and irritating so I’m not embedding, and I’m not even linking.  If you really want to see it, you’ll find it, but the screencap should give you a clear enough idea of their theme:

Choice lines include (emphasis theirs):

“A hopeful country looks on while a new leader strives to arouse in us our passion for a better future.”

“As the health care debate rages in Congress, we have urged Americans to take matters into their own hands [actress caresses own breasts] with a healthy vegan diet.”

“While the deficit goes up, our fight for animals goes on … and when necessary, our shirts come off.”

“It has always been our policy to show people as much as they need to see in order to make them … stand at attention.”

Yeah, this goes on for a while.  PETA has used innumerable tasteless and despicable tactics in the past to make their points (badum-cha – you activists aren’t the only ones who can manipulate the double-entendre), so I can’t say I’m surprised. The site includes both a safe-for-work and uncensored version of their “speech.”

It also includes links to the 2008 speech, which featured a white model, presumably because we had a white president at the time, and a link to their Slideshow of Naked Campaigns Worldwide.  Classy.

‘Cause you know, nothing says “I believe in the equal status of all creatures” like objectifying women in the name of animal rights.  Pathetic.

Shoutouts to Emily of Jukebox Heroines for the tip!

A number of hopeful stories in the news this week:

Human Rights Campaign Announces Comprehensive Campaign to End Failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Law
From HRC:

“The Commander in Chief sent a clear message tonight that in a time of war, what matters is that our men and women get the job done – not whether they’re gay or straight,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “Our ‘Voices of Honor’ campaign will bring about much needed action to end this law that the vast majority of Americans oppose.”

Research Shows Two Gay Parents Are Better Than A Single Straight One
From io9, Full scientific article available via Journal of Marriage And Family.

Anti-gay marriage activists have argued vigorously that children need a mother and father. Now a new research study shows that kids do need two parents — but that gender doesn’t matter… finding that it’s ideal if a child is raised by two parents who are “responsible, committed, stable,” but that the gender doesn’t cause radical differences.

Florida allows third gay adoption
From UPI.com via Jezebel.

A Florida judge allowed a lesbian to adopt a child while an appeals court decides whether the state’s ban on gay adoptions is unconstitutional, records show.

Huge LGBT Family Law Victory in PA
From Feminist Law Professors via Jezebel.

For some time now, the Pennsylvania courts have been relatively good at handling legal issues involving lesbian and gay families. For example, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has interpreted state adoption law to permit second-parent adoptions, and it has applied the in loco parentis doctrine to allow a former same-sex partner with no legal connection (e.g., through birth or adoption) to a child of the relationship to nonetheless obtain custody or visitation.

This is all great news, and shows that even though a lot of battles haven’t gone so well, some are still being won.  The war to extend equal rights to all U.S. citizens rages on.

Keep fighting the good fight, everyone.

Law & Order: SVU has quickly become my newest obsession (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Thank you Netflix Instant queue! – I should get paid for this), and I have been thrilled to learn that actress Mariska Hargitay is every bit as awesome as her character, Detective Olivia Benson, who could probably fill a 10 Reasons of her own.

1. She’s got her head on straight when it comes to body image:

“I’m a size 8, and I feel proud of that because it’s healthy.  I’ve never felt compelled to be a skinny actress.  I think I’m a very attractive person, but that’s not where I get my esteem.  A guy at ABC told me to change my name and get a nose job.  I said, ‘You get a nose job.’”

2. Although SVU is often challenging, it has inspired her.

“It’s opened my eyes to the plight of victims. And helped me find new ways to make a difference in the world. Without SVU, I would’ve never started the Joyful Heart Foundation.”

3. Yeah, about that Joyful Heart thing…

“I used to call myself the “accidental activist.”  No more.  I have fully engaged in this mission.  It is part of my path, one of the reasons I am here.”

4. She is proud of her character.

“I thought the character was extremely complex and would be a challenge for me as an actor. The second I read the script, I was drawn to Olivia’s strength, passion, humanity, and her desire for change. But what most intrigued me was her past and how she could use it to help others face theirs.”

5. She’s got more than a little of Benson in her.

“I do not condone myspace and it disappoints me that people are posing as me. I think it is unsafe for anyone under 18 to have pictures and personal information on the Internet. You should never ever give out your address, phone number, or full name to someone you don’t know.”

6. She values the importance of knowing yourself as an individual before settling on a partner.

“I wanted to find out where I was going before I found out who was going with me.”

7. When asked to describe her role models:

“People who have the courage and commitment to grow and who think outside the box. People who follow their dreams and who champion the human spirit. People who are true to themselves, who don’t take no for an answer, who don’t give up, and who don’t let other people limit them. People who find out what they’re good at and do it like gangbusters.”

8. She’s proud to be a role model, too.

“I am proud to be a role model for my viewers. I am finding out that helping victims is as or more rewarding the all the awards I wins.”

9. She’s able to take inspiration from tragedy in order to represent something valuable to those who might not otherwise see it.

“My inspiration comes from the thousands of victims of sexual assault who don’t have a voice and need to be heard, and the people who have dedicated their lives to helping these victims. It also comes from the fact that light is being shed on something so prevalent in our society. SVU is a show about hope and new beginnings.”

10. She has hope for our future.

“Though we are to blame for the past destruction, we have the power to change the present and future. As a new mother, I can’t think of a more important thing to do for my child (and to teach him) than to take a stand and make changes in my life to help save the earth.”

I highly recommend checking out Mariska’s personal site, filled with resources, inspirations, and general coolness.  Also check out her Joyful Heart Foundation.

*Note: The citations at the bottom of the post seemed a bit tedious, so for the original sources click on the number before each quote.