Category Archives: Families structures, divorce, etc

Europeans Try to Kidnap Chadian Children From Their Families

I first heard about this case when I was listening to BBC radio on Tuesday. I tuned in during the middle of of this story, and it seemed so bizarre that I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Well, … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, In the news, International issues, Race, racism and related issues | 5 Comments

The Fifties Weren't Better: the effect of feminism on family values

A few days ago, Amanda wrote a comment on a thread at Pandagon that I thought was so smart that I wrote her and asked if I could make it a post on Alas. The context: Amanda and other commenters … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Feminism, sexism, etc | 13 Comments

Some of My Best Friends (and Family) Are Racists

Editor’s Note: I don’t often share very personal stories, but I think there is something instructive in this story, so I am prepared to deal with the blowback. I remember an argument I had with my mother a few years … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 149 Comments

It's About Interracial Sex Folks

Ok, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say something about the latest crime to become a media circus.  I’m sure by now most of you have heard about the murder of Jessie Davis, who was almost 9 months pregnant and was likely killed in … Continue reading

Posted in Duke Rape Case, Families structures, divorce, etc, Feminism, sexism, etc, Media criticism, Race, racism and related issues, Rape, intimate violence, & related issues | 75 Comments

Maggie Gyllenhaal Breastfeeds: Sexists Go Crazy

Some paparazzi took pictures of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal breastfeeding her child in public. Somehow I missed this, when the “scandalous” photos were taken a couple weeks ago. They are posted all over the place at entertainment blogs. I thought I … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-feminists and their pals, Breastfeeding & Lactivism, Families structures, divorce, etc, Gender and the Body, Media criticism, Popular (and unpopular) culture | 26 Comments

Black Mother White Adopted Daughter

A reader (Sekou) at Rachel’s Tavern sent me a link to this fascinating article about a Black single mother who had to file a law suit several years ago to adopt a white child.  I have said before that I don’t … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Media criticism, Race, racism and related issues | 9 Comments

Social Class, Food Service, and Schools

For some reason this post at Women of Color Blog and this post at the way here reminded me of my childhood, and the social class dynamics of growing up poor.  In her post on Women of Color blog BFP … Continue reading

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Families structures, divorce, etc | 40 Comments

Black Intermarriage Trends 1960, 1970, 2000

I thought I would put up a graph depicting the race and gende break down of interracial marriages from the mid-1900s.  We had a debate in the comment section over at Rachel’s Tavern last week, and I promised one of my … Continue reading

Posted in Families structures, divorce, etc, Feminism, sexism, etc, Race, racism and related issues | 15 Comments

The Ashley Treatment: A Feminist and Disability Rights Issue?

I heard about this today on BBC: In a case fraught with ethical questions, the parents of a severely mentally and physically disabled child have stunted her growth to keep their little “pillow angel” a manageable and more portable size. … Continue reading

Posted in Abortion & reproductive rights, Disabled Rights & Issues, Families structures, divorce, etc, Feminism, sexism, etc, Gender and the Body | 479 Comments

The Bible says that God is the only opener and closer of the womb.

Both Newsweek and The Nation have both posted articles about the “Quiverfull” movement – the extremist anti-birth-control movement among right-wing Protestants. (The title of this post is a quote from a leader of the movement, quoted in the Newsweek article). … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Contraceptives/EC zaniness, Families structures, divorce, etc | 28 Comments