Category: gender/sex/sexuality

Free Seminar for Entrepreneurs

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By , May 7, 2013 7:38 am

 

Female entrepreneurs might be interested in a free seminar about State and Federal Set-Aside Programs. From 9:30am-12pm, participants will learn about using government contracts, including how to navigate the new registration system, System for Award Management.

The May 10th seminar will be held at the Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Hartford, which is located in Butterworth Hall, 1265 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT. Registration is free.

 

 

Celebrating Women in Science Initiative Launched

By , May 1, 2013 7:58 am

In tenth grade I dropped out of Physics during the first week. Not the teacher, guidance counselor, nor anyone else in school challenged this decision, which sprang out of frustration with one homework assignment, despite my finding the classes to be accessible and engaging. One’s plans of  being an astronaut get thwarted by missing Physics credits.

Even while abstractedly knowing about the gender gap in the sciences, it wasn’t until Laura Huerta Migus spoke at the Connecticut Science Center on Tuesday that I heard another female tell a similar story. While at Texas A&M University, Huerta Migus changed majors after having a discouraging lab experience. Nobody challenged her on this decision or offered any kind of advising or mentoring.

Title IX may have removed structural barriers for women, but a culture persists in which females take themselves out of the running, either as adolescents or while in college. Continue reading 'Celebrating Women in Science Initiative Launched'»

8th Annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival

By , April 8, 2013 12:39 am

Lah Tere and Baba Israel hosted the main concert

Things to know about the 8th Annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival: Continue reading '8th Annual Trinity International Hip Hop Festival'»

Current and Former Politicians Want More Women in Power

By , March 20, 2013 10:47 pm

Marilyn Rossetti, Evelyn Mantilla, Susan Bysiewicz, and Beth Bye

To encourage younger generations of women to embrace feminism, Susan Bysiewicz suggested adults “be an example and not afraid to speak up when you see inequalities.”

That’s some real talk right there.

Last week, during Boob B-Rollgate, there was such an opportunity, but according to State Senator Beth Bye, the media squandered this chance to take a strong stance. Not a shocker, given how Bysiewicz described the appearance of the Capitol press room: almost all white, middle-aged men, and, Christine Stuart. Bye, herself, does a daily count while watching Morning Joe– how many male vs. female guests. The results are too predictable to bother typing up.

Here in Hartford, opportunities seem to have presented themselves in local politics Continue reading 'Current and Former Politicians Want More Women in Power'»

Focus on Women, Not Fox News

By , March 18, 2013 7:00 am

Now that the initial sting of Fox-CT’s obscene coverage of Women’s Day has subsided, we can all agree that some reflection is in order. After all, the event did mark the 40-year-battle for gender equality in Connecticut.

The obvious takeaways: yes, the progressives’ disdain towards Fox News has been validated. And yes, the footage highlighted that even in a 21st century, blue state like Connecticut, the effects of misogyny and gender discrimination persist at best. Even though Fox was publicly shamed, I can’t help but wonder if they won this round at the end of the day.

Think about it. For those who weren’t able to attend the event, the only newsworthy piece of information revolved around the news outlet’s unfortunate—but unsurprising—distraction from the depth of the issues and their solutions. In Connecticut, full-time working women earn 78% of their male counterparts. The wage gap is even more drastic for African American women and Hispanic women, who earn 59% and 48% of what men earn, respectively (The Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, Policy Agenda 2013). Violence against women, whether it’s domestic violence or sexual assault, abounds and causes costly long-term health problems for women everywhere.

But what does this mean for Hartford, where poverty and crime are concentrated more than anywhere else in the state? Continue reading 'Focus on Women, Not Fox News'»

Inspiring Action During Women’s History Month

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By , March 11, 2013 10:01 am

“Play to your strengths,” Dr. Lois Brown urged Continue reading 'Inspiring Action During Women’s History Month'»

March Forth to Respect Women

By , March 4, 2013 2:30 am

Sign from Rally for Gender Equality in Bushnell Park, April 2012.

State Rep. Hewett made a corny joke, which some imaginative individuals construed as a sexual reference. Both the intern to whom the comment was directed, and Matt Fleury of the Connecticut Science Center, have said they were unaware of any controversial remark until it was reported on by the news. The politician apologized, the intern accepted the apology, and a rational person would expect this to be the end of story. Yet days later, in what seems more like character assassination than true concern about respect for females, there remain those who feel Hewett will not have made amends until he resigns.

Like the outrage over the Onion’s recent tweet, the outrage over Hewett’s remarks is not about respecting females. It can’t even be called outrage. Armchair activism has been reduced to 140 character spurts of reactionary anger, often not based on any context.

While this rage is blowing up on Twitter and Facebook, attention spans have been whittled down so far that few can digest the actual widespread violence against women.

In January, Connecticut Sexual Assault Crisis Services (CONNSACS) released its 2012 Campus Report Card. The organization surveyed 21 four-year and four two-year higher education institutions in Connecticut last summer. Anything lower than an ‘A’ grade should be unacceptable, but with marks ranging from A-F, this report card was still received as, at most critical, “mixed” by reporters.

According to CONNSACS, “up to one in four women experience unwanted sexual intercourse while attending college in the United States” and “one in twelve college men admit to acts that meet the legal definition of rape.” Continue reading 'March Forth to Respect Women'»

March 2013 Events

By , February 27, 2013 8:55 pm

March 1

  • Dr. Mary Washington will be giving a lecture on Intersectionality and the Reconstruction of Identity and Social Action at the University of Hartford. This will take place at 1:30pm in Regents Commons, located within the Shaw Center of Hillyer. This is free and open to the public. Continue reading 'March 2013 Events'»

One Billion Rising

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By , February 14, 2013 11:53 pm

Down at the Legislative Office Building on February 14th, the One Billion Rising event — speeches and a flash mob — called for an Are you man enough to wear this shirt? end to violence against women.  Governor Malloy, stopping here after speaking at the March for Change, said “this is a day of important rallies.”

Malloy drew the connection between anti-bullying initiatives in schools and the efforts taken to curb domestic violence, along with other forms of violence against women.

Among the participants in the One Billion Rising flash mob were students from Miss Porter’s School.

Cathy Malloy, also asked to speak at the event, said, “we want everybody to wake up.”

Last year, over 57,000 individuals were served by domestic violence programs in Connecticut.

This was not only a call to stop domestic violence. It was also a demand to end rape and sexual assault. Continue reading 'One Billion Rising'»

“The New, Not-So-Quiet Majority”

March for Change at the State Capitol

Hartford is no stranger to actions opposing violence, whether that violence is found in Iraq, a suburban town along the New York border, our streets, or in our homes.

Still, the different causes do not typically spill into one another as seamlessly as they did today, with the March for Change directly preceding One Billion Rising.

March for Change in Hartford, Connecticut

The March for Change marked two months since the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

Among those calling for safer gun laws was actor Christine Baranski, who told the 5,500 activists, “even if you have a gun to defend your home or for sport, thanks for supporting commonsense changes.”

Christine Baranski

Continue reading '“The New, Not-So-Quiet Majority”'»

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