Don't know what happened to this week's "War on Women" diary. Here's a quick dose of links; feel free to add more in the comments.
Violence:
A female gamer complained about getting harassment and rape threats from male players in a multiplayer game. The CEO said he was "tired of hearing about this problem," and solved it by banning her from the game and hiring some of the abusers as game referees. One of whom proceeded to release the woman's personal contact information and encourage others to harass her.
DC is having an epidemic of violence against trans women of color.
In Seoul, Korea and in Glendale, California, two identical statues memorialize the women used as rape slaves (usually called by the euphemism "comfort women") during WWII.
A painful photo essay on the rape of GLBT people (incredibly called "corrective rape") in South Africa.
Twitter has belatedly responded to pressure to improve its policy for reporting threatening/abusive tweets.
When rape goes viral.
Yale found six cases of "nonconsensual sex" (isn't there a 4-letter word for that?) involving seven perpetrators. They handled it with reprimands and "encouraging" the perpetrators to seek counseling.
The number of women accusing San Diego Mayor Bob Filner of sexual harassment is now up to nine. But don't worry, he's taking two weeks off to get himself straightened out. Also, he'd like the taxpayers to cover his legal bills. According to him, it's all the city's fault for not giving him sexual harassment training. Lemme just quote Melissa McEwan here:
Implicit in feminism/womanism is not only the belief, but the expectation, that men are not brutish nor infantile—nor stupid, useless, inept, emotionally stunted, or any other negative stereotype feminists have been accused of promoting—but instead our equals just as much as we are theirs, capable not only of understanding feminism (and feminists), but of actively and rigorously engaging challenges to their socialization, too.
Feminists, of course, have the terrible reputation, but it isn't we who consider all men babies, dopes, dogs, and potential rapists. The holders of those views are the women and men who root for the patriarchy—which itself, after all, takes a rather unpleasantly dim view of most people.
Reproductive Rights:
Fetus dolls included in kids' candy bags at North Dakota state fair.
RH Reality Check talks to male clinic escorts.
While signing a bill to further restrict abortion rights, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory sent protesters a plate of cookies. I guess he realizes how much he makes people want to toss their cookies?
Indiana finally agrees Planned Parenthood Medicaid ban is unenforceable.
Clear Channel pulls ads for women's clinic in Wichita. Because, you know, "decency."
Court blocks two restrictive abortion laws in North Dakota.
Economics:
Having apparently not learned any shame after their financial shenanigans, Merrill Lynch is now accused of giving new female employees a book called Seducing the Boys' Club and demanding that they attend a seminar with the author.
More reasons why Larry Summers is a bad choice for fed chair.
Misc:
The rapey lyrics and wince-worthy sexism of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video have inspired this gender-reversed parody. Even better is this one, Ask First, which replaces the annoying earworm with a much more enjoyable one:
No way to know I want it
Until I say I want it
Comic-Con tackles sexism.
And since I'm light on action items this week, here are 101 ways to be a feminist ally.