Taking 'Pride' in Everything We Do

This year's Capital Pride participants were instructed to "unleash [their] super hero," with Wonder Woman leading the way. Washington's 2013 celebration was filled with masks and capes, in addition to the usual glitter and feathers.

"Super" Grand Marshal Lynda Carter traded her gold crown for a wide-brimmed straw hat, leaving the boots and spandex for everyone else. But she still looked wonder-ful, waving from a pink convertible--

In an interview with Metro Weekly, (one of D.C.'s several LGBT publications) Carter was identified as an influential figure for gays and lesbians "who found something special in her onscreen persona of female strength and straightforward fabulousness."

Of course everyone coveted her amazing accessories; bulletproof bracelets and a lasso of truth. But what seems most memorable is the way she unleashed her super hero; with the twirl--

Carter is a resident of Maryland, where marriage equality was victorious last fall. She's been an LGBT advocate for many years:

It's been a long fight. We can make a difference if we speak with one voice. It's about coming together and looking at our nation and seeing that everyone should have equal rights.

With all the excitement, we can't forget the reason for the season. Gathering people in solidarity is reminiscent of standing together during the Stonewall Riots. We capture the spirit of Greenwich Village in 1969, and the bravery of the gay liberation movement's founders, as we wave our rainbow flags and salute our gay icons.

Activists like Jacob Wilson, a Washington resident and Pride participant, are fully aware of the curbside connections between the past, present and future. Wilson said:

Pride celebrations are a reminder of a not-so-distant past, when LGBT people were forced to the margins of society. It's a time to honor those who fought for basic human dignity, and celebrate the many victories we have won since then.   

However, Pride should also serve as a reminder of challenges our community still faces, like bullying that leads to suicide, or students being barred from their own prom.  

The freedom to celebrate openly in the streets of our nation's capital is a fairly new development, not to be taken for granted. And this action is a stark comparison to the political battles being waged within the buildings we're marching past. When it comes to Congress, marriage equality, workplace discrimination, and other injustices are far from settled.   

Also, the privilege of a parade in a progressive place like D.C. is a far cry from other places where LGBT folks literally risk their lives every time they assemble and attempt to use their voices for change.

Yet, Pride's message is clear; for all the rain, there are plenty of rainbows. And bubbles. And confetti. 

Cornerstones of the city's LGBT community were out in full force. D.C. favorites Nellie's, Cobalt, and Phase 1 rode a fleet of colorful floats.

There were appearances by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, the D.C. Rollergirls, and more drag queens than you could shake a weave at. Each came with a bigger title-- and an even bigger tiara.

Reproductive rights partners Planned Parenthood and Choice USA were there, making the connection between open sexuality and sexual health. The only time it rained on this parade was when Planned Parenthood distributed condoms.

D.C.'s LGBT anti-violence coalition GLOV and national suicide prevention initiative the Trevor Project were in attendance. SMYAL, a support group for youth advocates and leaders, and PFLAG, an ally network for parents, families and friends, marched alongside countless other organizations who work tirelessly to promote the real gay agenda; safety, love and acceptance.

Known as one of the tamer parades in the country, D.C. experienced little-to-no nudity. While more conservative, it was still captivating, and the annual mission was accomplished. Because no matter where or how we're celebrating, June reminds us to take "Pride" in everything we do, all year long.

Megyn Kelly Reads Dobbs and Erickson on Women, Bread, and Winning

Photo by glamourmagazine

Last week, it was widely reported that women have earned a new position in the workforce; breadwinner.

Whether moms are bringing home larger paychecks than dads, or raising children without a partner, they are supporting 40 percent of America's households. And a certain group of pundits reacted with a TOTAL FUCKING MELTDOWN.

The all-male panel featured on Lou Dobbs Tonight tried to disguise irrational fear and anger with "science." They concluded "we're watching society dissolve around us" and it's "hurting our children." Women breadwinners are just unnatural, because "the male typically is the dominant role."

Fervent participant Erick Erickson shared his delusions with Lou Dobbs after sounding the anti-feminist alarm on Red State, the conservative blog where he wrote this:

In modern society we are not supposed to point out that children in a two-parent heterosexual nuclear household have a better chance at long term success in life than others. In modern society, we are supposed to applaud feminists who teach women they can have it all — that there is no gender identifying role and women can fulfill the role of husbands and fathers just as men do.

Erickson's self-righteous rant caught the attention of Fox News personality Megyn Kelly. When asked to repeat his position, Erickson came up with this:

We've got to a point in this country where you've got a lot of feminists who think that the male and female roles are completely interchangeable. That there is no need for a man to support his family. You've got men walking away. You've got women becoming single mothers. Not by their choice. You've got a lot of people thinking it's a lifestyle choice. This isn't healthy for society when we think that roles of gender completely can be interchangeable.

Clearly, feminism is the culprit. Lou Dobbs, who may or may not agree with Erickson, was also invited to discuss biological, social and economic factors contributing to the breadwinner crisis.

Needless to say, this is television opining at its finest:



As usual, Kelly only understands women's issues when they affect her. She is no feminist, but her outrage seems to resemble a "click moment." Kelly pushing back against the smug, dismissive commentary that literally surrounds her makes for a delicious talking-head-sandwich.

These are the best moments from this unbelievable cable news three-way:

1) Those shit-eating grins. Excuse me. Something tells me you're not taking this seriously.

2) "High-income lesbian families." I need you to say it again. And then I need you to explain how these women skewed the data in this study and ruined everything for straight people. Yet again.

3) "You are judging them. You are." Seriously, Erick Erickson. You are. But then we learn the truth: he can't tell the difference between facts and opinions. (Sad.) Or the difference between science and not science. (More sad. And also scary.)

4) "Just because you have people who agree with you doesn't mean it's not offensive." That's worthy of a t-shirt. Or at least a bumper sticker. And you know who would buy those? Emo liberals.

5) Then Lou Dobbs hawks an old man loogie in the background. (Gross.) And Erickson warns his phlegm-filled friend, "Be careful, Lou." Because Kelly is coming for you.

But Dobbs doesn't need your caution. He came prepared, with linear thoughts and articulate arguments. Because, YOU GUYS! The Serengeti is on fire-- and this is obviously the fault of working women.

6) We're losing the war on drugs. The economy is fucked. Men's jobs in disappearing industries are, well, disappearing. Marriages are shattering. And who is to blame? Those big-city-no-bra-wearing-hairy-legged-women-libbers. I mean breadwinners. Hey lady! Gimme back my bread...

Kelly notices her challenger starting to sound all ramble-y, like Clint Eastwood talking to a chair. But Lou Dobbs does not like to be interrupted.

7) "Excuse me! Let me just finish what I'm saying, if I may, oh dominant one." Oh, SNAP! To be fair, Dobbs just wants to be sure everyone is on the same page about broken homes leading to mental illness...

Meanwhile, Erickson is still convinced essentialism is actual science and supports his argument with anecdotal evidence. No one's going to convince him those subjective views are anything short of factual information. Not the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Columbia University, or any other study Kelly references with results contrary to Erikson's narrow perspective.

8) "These experts are politically motivated." Don't get me started on pediatrics and politics. But never mind, because--

9) BOOM! Racism. And Kelly suggests Obama is successful. ON FOX NEWS. But drawing parallels between family structures that deviate from a straight, white, patriarchal norm isn't convincing anyone. (Did we learn nothing from Cheerios?!)

Anyway, Erickson still insists working moms and stay-at-home dads are unstable. And then Kelly points out he's denigrating the choices made by others. And then Erickson looks to Dobbs for help patronizing the woman who doesn't agree with him. Yet, in the midst of all this, Dobbs is promised the last word, and we get this gem--

10) Boys from single-parent homes will never make it to law school.

So there you have it. Women with money. Ruining everything. Especially if they get their own TV show.

D.C. Vagina Monologues Help HIPS

While Valentine's Day is a distant memory, the spirit of Eve Ensler's V-Day lives on. Just recently, D.C. revealed its 2013 production of The Vagina Monologues. And as usual, it was a hit.

Proceeds went to the V-Day global fund and local non-profit "Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive," better known as HIPS. Striving to reduce violence, drug use and HIV/AIDS among people engaged in sex work, volunteers drive a van filled with condoms, clean needles and other life-saving tools around the nation's capital.

While people might not be familiar with V-Day, everyone knows the Vagina Monologues.

Looking back, Ensler claims she was just a medium, taken by the Vagina Queens. "I never outlined the play or consciously shaped it," she said. In fact, she interviewed women about their vaginas on the side, while working on her "real" play.

But vaginas demanded the spotlight and the first monologues were performed by an all-star cast of celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg and Susan Sarandon in 1998.

Beginning with the Vagina Monologue's raison d'etre, Ensler offers this explanation:

I bet you're worried. I was worried. That's why I began this piece. I was worried about vaginas. I was worried about what we think about vaginas, and even more worried that we don't think about them.

And that's exactly the point. Women's most private parts are often very public; on display, but never discussed. It was time to reclaim them with a sense of authority, and more importantly, pride.

After a few college productions and countless viewings, you could say I am vagina warrior. But I'm always surprised how each woman takes a monologue and make it her own.

This year's D.C. show had old favorites and new additions. While discussing floods, hair, sex and "down there," each woman was asked to consider her longest and most turbulent relationship; the one with her vagina.

From positive experiences to embarrassing episodes, audiences always favor the more erotic monologues. Chandler Sherman offered the most memorable interpretation of "The Vagina Workshop" I'd ever seen, blurring the line between orgasm and nervous breakdown.

Sadie Jonath dominated the stage in leather when she "reclaimed" the word "cunt." Usually this is the piece that insists on going over the top, but hers was controlled, concise, and got everyone involved.

The moaning was exceptional in "The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy." During school performances, the college moan was always the favorite, confessing "I should be studying" or "Oh, Professor."

But the D.C. moans were clever and culturally accurate. "Fuck! Hurry up! We're gonna be late for brunch!" has surely been uttered by a Washingtonian or two.

Other District-specific delights were geographically influenced euphemisms for the word vagina. There was the "cherry blossom," and the "oval office," as well as "the red line," and "Mount Pleasant."

And, as usual, "Angry Vagina" stole the show. Local comedian and friend to V-Day Emily Ruskowski got all the great one liners, like "dry wad of fucking cotton.

Other monologues have a more somber tone. We all experienced rape as a tactic of war in "My Vagina Was My Village" and the wonder of childbirth through Ensler's eyes in "I Was There In The Room." New to me was the powerful group piece, "They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy," with trans women describing their childhood befores, and adult afters.

But the show doesn't just raise awareness-- it also raises money. V-Day has helped women in Afghanistan, Haiti, the Congo, and elsewhere. Each year, a spotlight monologue is performed, focusing on the chosen place and the women who live there.

On its 15th anniversary, V-Day has started a new campaign. One Billion Rising is a response to the rape in New Delhi and the shooting of Malala Yousafzai, among other recent tragedies. Now somewhat of an authority on the subject, Ensler explains,"Women don't want violence, they want love. And respect."

Ensler is fighting back against "data porn." She is admittedly tired of statistics describing how many women are assaulted and killed every year, every day, every minute. One particularly frightening fraction inspired Ensler's latest efforts: one out of three women in the world, roughly 1 billion, will suffer violence at the hands of a man in her lifetime.

After reminding audiences these abstract numbers represent real people, she ask just one favor of us. In an act of resistance, Ensler wants us to rise, and dance.



Perhaps this flash mob with a purpose will finally make a difference. It certainly couldn't hurt.

Playwright and activist Eve Ensler will be at Sixth and I on Thursday, May 2, to discuss her memoir In the Body of the World. Doors open at 6 pm.  

And V-Day D.C.'s devoted comedians will continue performing lady comedy (filled with vagina euphemisms) for HIPS. You can catch their next show Monday, April 29, at The Dunes. Laughter begins promptly at 7 pm. 

International Women's Day

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the first woman Prime Minister of Australia, has a very special message for International Women's Day:

"The women who gather today in celebration belong to a global sisterhood of influence, with the opportunity and obligation to act."

D.C.'s Centennial Suffrage Celebration

Happy Women's History Month, readers! We're off to a great start.

Last weekend, D.C. held its Suffrage Centennial Celebration. It had been 100 years since women marched for the right to vote in the nation's capital.

With suffragette artifacts featured at the National American History Museum, the 19th Amendment on display at the National Archives, and a Delta Sigma Theta recreation of Alice Paul's Pennsylvania Avenue parade, it was all the real life Iron Jawed Angels a feminist could ever want.

Not only did I get to be there, but I got to write about it.

Twice.

The month is far from over. There's more women's history fun to be had. If you have an event you'd like to promote, tweet me at @KateThink or leave the details in the comments below. And, as always, thanks for helping celebrate our herstory!

Cecile Richards Speaks at WIN Awards

Last week, the Women's Information Network held their annual Young Women of Achievement Awards and boasted "20/20 Vision." They were celebrating 20 years of WIN and 20 women Senators in Congress.

"Headed towards a perfect vision," spirits were high and the room was full. In an auditorium that quickly became standing room only, Washington D.C.'s best and brightest gathered to praise one another for their commitment to pro-choice, democratic work.

Out-spoken Democrat Liz Chadderdon was the hilarious master of ceremonies, taking shots at Marco Rubio. Bob Woodward, and the Pope. WIN president Andrea Gleaves represented her organization and told the story of their founders.

WIN was born around a kitchen table in 1989. Now it's a fully-functioning network with sub-categories helping women find their way, and hopefully, their career. Every February, members gather for the YWAs to celebrate one another and their  amazing accomplishments.

It takes a certain kind of celebrity to impress a room full of WINners. This year, the keynote speaker was Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards.

Richards opened by remembering the increasing resistance to reproductive rights over the past few years. She confessed at one point she thought she had woke up in an episode of Mad Men.

"I love the vintage look, but not when it's running the U.S. Congress," Richards said.

Reminiscing over Glenn Beck's notorious suggestion "only hookers go to Planned Parenthood," Richards retorted, "we are proud to serve hookers."

Planned Parenthood has always provided affordable health and reproductive services for all, free of discrimination. And no one favors the organization like young women living without health insurance.

Fully aware who their strongest supporters are, Richards said, "Young women prove that if Congress won't give us a platform to testify on our behalf, we'll build our own."

Of course, men also contribute to restoring reproductive rights. Richards own son took time off from college to get in a van and drive to Ohio to rally for Planned Parenthood.

But 2012 proved one thing once and for all. As Richards put it, "Anyone who wants to run for office has to answer to women in this country."

Richards comes from a legacy of fierce, political, pro-choice women. Her mother, Ann Richards, was first woman Governor of Texas. Currently, Holland Taylor is performing a Broadway show titled "Ann" about her time in office.

Richards had one last thing to say to the WINners: "What you've accomplished is awesome and you're going to go on to do so much more. More than you can imagine."

She finished by granting them permission to take risks and say yes-- two things that will inevitably get them even further. 

VAWA: What's the Hold Up?

When House members oppose the Violence Against Women Act, what are they really against?

One Billion Rising (VDAY in WeHo) Flash Mob by Rebecca Dru

Stalking wasn't always a crime. But thanks to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), this creepy behavior is now a punishable offense in every state.

And raping someone you knew used to be a lesser offense than raping someone you didn't know. But thanks to the VAWA, sexual assault is sexual assault, whether you're acquainted or not.

But that's not all the VAWA has done since it was first enacted in 1994.

Thanks to this legislation, "police respond to crisis calls and judges understand the realities of domestic and sexual violence." Funding for the VAWA trains over 500,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, and other personnel every year.

Because the VAWA insisted people should be taught how to deal with a crisis before they actually encounter one, survivors are finally getting the help they need. And the proof is in the data.

Between 1993 and 2010, the rate of intimate partner violence declined 67%. Any legislation reducing a problem by more than half in less than 10 years would be viewed as successful, right? Not necessarily.

According to GOP members of the House, the VAWA isn't helping women. It's victimizing them, and men, as well as threatening the sanctity of marriage, and family values.

There are many ways to report the frustrations felt when obstinate legislators inexplicably hold up progress. Alternet decided to focus on Sheila Thomas. In an effort to urge House members to reauthorize the VAWA, the grandmother from Dayton, Ohio started a petition and shared her own story:

In 1983, I was a victim of rape at gunpoint. My rapist had already raped four women in my community, I was his fifth victim. He has never been captured. At the time, I was a single mother of a five-year old daughter and attending a local community college. The Violence Against Women Act initially strengthened federal penalties for repeat sex offenders, mandated that women don't have to pay for their own rape exams, and helped communities develop law enforcement units dedicated to violence against women. 

Alarmed her lawmakers were moving backwards, Thomas refused to stay quiet. She spoke up and found several others willing to do the same. Over 200,000 people have signed the online petition.

Apparently prosecuting serial rapists is important to people.

Another benefit, besides safer communities, is more accessible assistance. According to the White House VAWA "Fact Sheet," the National Domestic Violence Hotline receives over 22,000 calls every month and 92% of callers report that it’s their first call for help. The implications of the legislation are all too familiar for those answering the phones:

The passage of VAWA in 1994, and its reauthorization in 2000 and 2005, has changed the landscape for victims who once suffered in silence. Victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking have been able to access services, and a new generation of families and justice system professionals has come to understand that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes that our society will not tolerate.

Help is literally just a phone call away. But speaking up is the first step many still won't take.

Reauthorizing the VAWA is about shattering the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence and empowering those who feel powerless. If the House stays silent, or continues to ignore the issue, they are telling women to do the same.

But , as Jezebel pointed out, some House members are vocalizing their reservations in the media. For instance, John "Jimmy" Duncan Jr., a Representative from Tennessee, believes the VAWA is just another bill with a "motherhood-and-apple-pie-title." 

Despite overwhelming support in the Senate, Duncan feels he will have to look past the pie and give this (seemingly obvious) vote more careful consideration. Not one to quit while he's ahead, Duncan explained he is more opposed to violence against women than violence against men, because men handle it a little better. 

Sexism and essentialism aside, if the VAWA isn't actually about violence against women, then what is it about?

Rachel Maddow found one conservative opinion leader insisting the VAWA was more ammunition for the Democrats fictitious "war on women," and part of an elaborate plot to hold the Senate majority, maybe even take the House next year. But Maddow responded:

Nearly two decades ago, Democrats and Republicans easily approved the Violence Against Women Act. It's been reauthorized since with overwhelming, bipartisan support. (As recently as 2005, there was a GOP majority in the House, and VAWA was reauthorized on a vote of 415 to 4).

So what is it, really?

As the National Network to End Domestic Violence points out, this is a year of expansion. The reauthorized VAWA would extend protection and services to Native American women, LGBT individuals, and immigrant survivors. It would also guarantee safe housing for low-income persons experiencing violence and offer campus resources for college students. 

Perhaps the Republican party's resistance to this year's VAWA is just another reflection of their their distaste for all the not rich, not straight, and not white people. 

Turns out, they were right. The VAWA is no longer just about helping women. It's more inclusive. And the GOP is hesitant to assist anyone outside their narrow understanding of domestic violence; the image of a middle-class white woman with a black eye. That's why they're dragging their heels.

As Duncan said, the newest version most certainly is not "motherhood and apple pie." The VAWA now has a definition more fitting of 2013, including more of the sexualities and more of the cultures existing within the United States. Not just the ones Republicans prioritize. 

Always resistant to change, of course the GOP is holding up progress. But, as usual, not for the reasons they're claiming.

Happy New Year

Girls' Voices Around the World

Femen by Joseph Paris

Women around the world are expressing themselves.

And paying the ultimate price. 

When freedom isn't free, women of all ages face social persecution, imprisonment, or death as punishment for living as outspoken feminists. October has brought media attention to incidents in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and the Ukraine where religion, culture, and gender norms continue to stand in the way of women's equality.

Pakistani Teen Triumphs Over Taliban

 Just 10 days after her attempted assassination, Malala Yousafzai showed the world she could stand again. The 15-year-old, an advocate for young women's access to education, was shot in the head by Taliban members who boarded her school bus earlier this month.

She had been on their hit list since 2011 for promoting secularism and idolizing President Obama.



Once his target was identified, the gunman fired a total of four times, wounding Yousafzai and two other girls. CNN reported a near-fatal bullet entered above the back of her left eye and traveled through her jaw and shoulder before lodging in the tissue above her left shoulder blade.  

Giving a first-hand account of life in the Swat Valley, Yousafzai kept an anti-extremist blog for the BBC under the pseudonym Gul Makai.

Some feel the West used her (rather carelessly) as a pawn. Asif Ezdi, a former member of the Pakistan Foreign Service, condemned this selfishness in Pakistan's publication the News International:

Malala Yousafzai was a child soldier who was sent unarmed and alone into battle against the Taliban on the propaganda front of what used to be called the “global war on terror”. She was placed in a role similar to that of the teenage suicide bombers of the Taliban and her chances of survival were a little better. It is nothing short of a miracle that she is still with us.

Yousafzai was reunited with her family on Friday. Doctors determined she will need skull reconstruction, but suffered no brain damage. While the heroic young girl recovers in a hospital in England, the Taliban promised they will attempt to murder her again.

Lady Rapper Blazes Trails in Afghanistan

The same week Yousafzai paid the ultimate price for her academic activism, Sosan Firooz was gaining momentum as Afghanistan's first female rapper. She, too, has an anti-Taliban message and a creative platform for her criticism.

Making history while making music, the 23-year-old's single "Our Neighbors" just dropped exclusively on YouTube:



Aware of the dangers facing outspoken women, Firooz's father quit his job to be her full-time escort. After living as a refugees in Iran and Pakistan, the Firooz family returned to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan seven years ago.

According to the Daily Mail the up-and-coming artist is releasing her songs with very limited resources: 

She lives with her family in a mud brick house in a poor neighborhood in north Kabul. She uses an old desktop computer to write music and was given an electronic keyboard as a gift from one of her supporters. She does not have the money to make CDs or a more elaborate music video, but she is determined to keep going.

But low production quality doesn't make her any less controversial. Firooz is taking risks just to dress the part. As Hip Hop Wired reported:

She defies many traditions, taking photos without her hair wrapped, wearing bandanas and other fashion not usually seen amongst Afghan women. A budding actress as well, some of Firooz's family has cut ties with her because she's breaking the old rules. Violence against women who don't follow the traditional ways is not uncommon, and [the] young rapper's life could be in danger.

While her rap identity is problematic, Firooz believes it is "the best way to tell her story." And she isn't the only woman making political statements with music.

Members of Pussy Riot Imprisoned in Russia

Back in the (former) U.S.S.R. women are using punk rock to protest. And after their notorious demonstration cost them dearly, the band Pussy Riot is as well-known in the United States as Bikini Kill. 

In February, three masked members were arrested and charged with hooliganism for this performance:



Their actual crime? Criticizing the government.

Pussy Riot's punk prayer in the Russian Orthodox church asked the Virgin Mary to rid their country of President Vladimir Putin. Instead, Putin attempted to rid Russia of Pussy Riot.

Media favorite Yekaterina Samutsevich was released earlier this month. With her sentence suspended, Samutsevich filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

Fellow members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Maria Alyokhina, 24, were given two years in jail. The New York Times reported Tolokustonnikova and Alyokhina were sent to Mordovi and Perm respectively; the harshest possible facilities. Located in desolate regions, these institutions echo the Stalin-era prison camps. 

Both women are mothers to small children and asked to suspend their sentences as well. Untouched by their maternal pleas, the judge decided to "correct them" with immediate isolation from society. 

Pussy Riot, accustomed to anonymity, must adapt now that several of their identities have been revealed. Following her release, Samutsevich told the Atlantic:

Yes, unfortunately, the criminal case exposed our faces -- the faces of the three defendants from the group. But that happened against our will and, naturally, now we are recognized. This is the new situation and we are just going to have to work with it. But there are other members of the group and they remain anonymous. 

Known to speak out behind ski masks, Pussy Riot shares tactics with the Guerrilla Girls of the United States. Self-described as "a bunch of anonymous females who take the names of dead women artists as pseudonyms and appear in public wearing gorilla masks," they wreak havoc in museums-- and elsewhere.  

But not all feminists like to hide. In fact, some prefer full exposure.

And when it comes to being heard, Pussy Riots biggest fans depend on it.

Femen Goes Topless in the Ukraine

Inna Shevchenko, leader of the notorious group Femen, protested the Pussy Riot arrests by sawing down an Orthodox Christian cross in August. After showing solidarity with her Russian sisters in Kyiv, she fled to France.  

Shevchenko called the country providing her asylum "the center of feminism" and has made herself quite comfortable.

After opening their international headquarters in Paris, Femen launched a training camp for activists protesting in high-risk areas. In the city of love, their topless troops are preparing for "sextremism":




Most recently members of Femen were spotted at an Ikea in France, protesting the removal of women from catalouges sent to Saudi Arabia. 

Shevchenko told NPR she's been demonstrating for years, but only after the girls removed their shirts did people start paying attention. She said:

In a protest like that I see a great potential of women's nudity [being used] as a weapon. And I understand every time, more and more, that it works. That it is a peaceful way.

Despite Femen's commitment to peace, their adversaries often react with violence. Caught by the KGB after mocking President Alexander Lukashenko, "they were hooded and driven into a forest, stripped and covered in oil, menaced with knives, and told they would never make it out of the woods."

Started in 2008 to combat the sexual exploitation of women, as well as patriarchy in religion and dictatorships, the BBC reported the group now works with 40 members in the Ukraine and 100 abroad.

Femen shares notions of "new feminism" with the women who participate in Slut Walks. Hard to ignore, the overtly sexual tone refutes any claims of living post-feminist and may be indicative of yet another wave-- on a much larger scale.

Women Going to War

Whether with words, music, or a physical demonstration, women are protesting inequality across the globe. And they're suffering the consequences in hospitals, prisons, or constant fear.

But these incidents are anything but isolated. What the United States understands as "the War on Women" cannot be contained. It transcends borders, and though it may look different, the demands are essentially the same.



Women are struggling for their rights on every continent. So this November, remember to protect yours.

And when you vote, do it for all the women fighting the same war on fronts far more dangerous than our own.     

Elizabeth Warren Speaks the Truth

Because no one else will.