I really was happy when I read the news the other day that NASA’s new astronaut recruits are half women. Four men, four women. Then–as I often do–I questioned my enthusiasm. Does this mean that being an astronaut means lower pay and status because the Shuttle Program is no more? Is that why more women are now in the field? I hope that’s not the case, as it has been in other areas. But regardless, it’s good news that more women are in engineering and science. Like these little girls, I’m optimistic. Here is my Forbes piece on this topic.
Tag: women
Women’s RIghts Global Cartoons
Women Deliver is an amazing non-profit organization that is all about helping women and girls. They are having their third conference in Malaysia this year and I was invited to curate an exhibit and book of international cartoons about women’s rights. Here is a link to a slide show of the cartoons and my essay about them and the conference.
Angelina Jolie and Audre Lorde and The Body As Symbol
Yesterday, the top news in the morning was Angelina Jolie’s breast surgery. I wrote about it on my Forbes column. My thoughts were inspired in part by a book I read several years ago, Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde. In the book, she explores the choice women have of breast prothesis. Written in the 1980s, Lorde was one of the first feminists to write about how breast prothesis “seems like a cover-up in a society where women are solely judged on their looks.” (Wikipedia)
A New, Good Normal
Amanda Berry is a hero, rescuing her daughter, two other women and herself from the monster Ariel Castro. His acts are on the extreme end of controlling behavior that many women around the world experience.
Facebook CEO, Sheryl Sandberg’s New Book, “Lean In”
Sheryl Sandberg is the CEO of Facebook, and she has been in the news a lot lately. Primarily because she wrote a book about business and women and why there are not more women at the top of companies (or countries). “Lean In” is part memoir, part advice book, and I enjoyed it. She doesn’t discuss humor, but she does mention Nora Ephron, thankfully! Read my full piece on my Forbes column
Are Vaginas Necessary?
Today is International Women’s Day around the world. It is a day to celebrate and join together with others to help women across the globe. I wrote a piece for Forbes which I would love you to read. Let me know what you think. It sort of went viral yesterday when I posted it!