A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Inspirational Woman Of The Day
May 17, 2012 by 2 Comments
Homa Khaleeli
The Guardian March 7, 2011
Article History
Brenda Hale
The first woman and youngest judge to become a law lord, Hale is currently the only female justice of the UK supreme court
Trailblazer and troublemaker Brenda Hale was the first woman and the youngest judge to become a law lord, and is currently the only female justice of the UK supreme court. Calling herself a “softline” feminist, she has campaigned to increase the diversity of the judiciary, worked to overhaul family law, and to protect victims of domestic violence. Savaged by the rightwing press for trying to bring in a no-fault divorce, in the 80s she wrote the first comprehensive survey of women’s rights at work, in the family and the state, and was instrumental in introducing the Children’s Act 1989 – the most important piece of legislation in the UK protecting children.
As well as speaking out about the exclusive way judges are picked, Hale, 66, is not above fighting small skirmishes: after dinner in judge’s lodges she, along with a female barrister, refused to withdraw to another room while the men continued their port and conversation. As one panellist marvelled: “She’s a real troublemaker. She’s brilliant.”
Women In The News
May 17, 2012 by 4 Comments
By Lucy MadisonTopicsDomestic Issues ,Congress
May 16, 2012 6:07 PM
Violence Against Women Act passes in House, but partisan battle looms
(CBS News) The GOP-led House on Wednesday voted to approve the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a piece of legislation that is the subject of partisan controversy despite the fact that both parties hope to see some it passed in some form.
After an impassioned debate on the House floor Wednesday, the bill passed with 222 members voting in favor and 205 voting against. But now, both chambers of Congress must figure out how to reconcile the House bill with the Senate-passed version.
VAWA, which aims to protect victims of domestic violence, was originally passed in 1994 and has been reauthorized twice since then, with broad bipartisan support. The bill’s reauthorization has become a source of strife this year as Democrats and Republicans squabble over the scope of its protections.
In April, the Senate hammered out legislation that included protections for Native Americans, undocumented immigrants, and gay, lesbian and transgender victims in addition to those already protected under the legislation. That bill passed late last month with bipartisan support.
The House version of the bill, however, stripped out those expansions. Even with the last-minute addition by Republicans of an amendment aimed at quelling criticism over the discrepancies between two versions, Democrats decried the legislation for excluding certain groups and undermining its broader purpose.
“Let’s call this bill what it’s really is. It’s not the Violence Against Women act, but the Open Season for Violence Against Women Act,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., in a press conference Wednesday.
n debate on the House floor, Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., recounted her own experience as a rape victim when discussing VAWA.
“As a member of this body, as a survivor of sexual assault, battery, from age five through my teenage years, through my early adulthood, I can tell you that it is very traumatic to be here in this body today and to find my colleagues not taking the recommended updates — that people who work with domestic violence victims, those advocates, law enforcement, DAs, the FBI, the Department of Justice, have put in front of them as best practices of what we need to defend all women from violence,” Moore said.
In addition to outcry over the lack of protections for Native Americans and LGBT victims, Democrats have expressed particular concern about the Republican bill’s measures pertaining to undocumented immigrants. They argue the bill would it make more difficult for some victims of domestic abuse to stay in America after reporting acts of domestic violence.
Another issue is the bill’s mandate that work authorization be denied to immigrants who are the subject of a pending investigation or prosecution, which could prohibit some abused immigrants from finding work. Opponents say that would also discourage battered women from filing charges or leaving a situation of domestic abuse.
“Instead of seeking to expand protections, this new House bill puts victims of domestic violence in greater danger and excludes vulnerable populations from critical protections,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, in a statement. “This House bill does not advance protections against discrimination, but would further stigmatize particular populations.”
Republicans, however, contend that their bill is gender neutral and protects all – so there’s no need to single certain groups out.
“This is a victims centered bill,” said Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Fla., the sponsor of the GOP bill and a survivor of domestic abuse. “As we look to reauthorize VAWA, we want to make sure that we’re not politicizing this issue, but just reauthorizing it. If you look at the bill, and what is in it, you will see that it is centered around our victims.”
In remarks on the House Floor, Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx, of North Carolina, accused Democrats of politicizing the fight to protect victims of violence.
“It really pains me to see my colleagues across the aisle make the kind of accusations that they make about Republicans being unconcerned about the issue of violence against women,” Foxx said. “How could they possibly accuse us of not being concerned about that issue? All Republicans are concerned about violence against anyone.”
Despite the distance between the House and Senate version of the bill, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed confidence Tuesday that the two chambers would be able to reach a compromise.
“I’m confident that we’ll renew the Violence Against Women Act,” he said. “As you may recall, it passed the Senate a few years ago on a voice vote. This is not something about which there should be any real controversy.”
Inspiration Of Motherhood
May 17, 2012 by 4 Comments
Stay-at-home mom fights new credit card rule
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — After nearly five years managing her family’s finances, Holly McCall, a 34-year old stay-at-home mother of two from Vienna, Va., never thought she would have trouble getting a credit card.
She makes the majority of family purchases, has an excellent credit has been approved for several cards in the past. But when McCall applied for a Target card last fall, she was denied.
She blames that denial on a recent Card Act rule.
The law was passed in 2009 to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive credit card practices. But some stay-at-home parents argue that a Card Act rule that took effect last October has made it harder for them to get approved for credit cards.
Aiming to protect consumers from racking up too much debt, the Federal Reserve now requires credit card issuers to consider individual income from applicants instead of household income.
As a result, stay-at-home parents who rely mainly on their spouse’s income have a harder time getting approved for credit cards on their own.
“I think it’s demeaning — I don’t want to ask my husband’s permission for a credit card,” McCall said. “Just because I don’t get a direct paycheck for [my work], doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile work that I’m doing.”
Outraged by the new requirements, McCall created an online petition at Change.org a couple weeks ago and has already received more than 30,000 signatures — many of which are from other stay-at-home mothers and fathers.
“I used to be CEO of a small software consulting business and am now staying at home to take care of a toddler and first grader. If you had to pay someone to do what I do now, it would cost you at least $120,000, which is a lot less than what I used to earn,” one stay-at-home mom wrote on the online petition. “BTW, it’s a 24×7, not a 40 hour per week job. Don’t you think I should be allowed to get a credit card on my own?!”
On Tuesday, McCall said she and about half a dozen other petitioners delivered the signatures in thick binders to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C.
Some petitioners dressed up as housewives from the 1950s — complete with A-line skirts, pearls and tightly pulled back hair — since the rule “feels like a flashback to the 1950s because of the way women aren’t empowered financially.” One petitioner held a sign in the shape of a credit card with the word “DENIED” stamped on it in red.
McCall said she hopes the petition will push the CFPB to amend the Card Act rule in order to protect the rights of all stay-at-home parents — both moms and dads alike.
“It’s about fair and equal access to credit,” said McCall.
The CFPB inherited the Card Act rules from the Federal Reserve last summer, when the bureau was launched.
The agency said it is looking into the issue.
“We recognize that stay-at-home spouses have significant financial responsibilities and play an important role in the U.S. economy,” said CFPB spokeswoman Jen Howard.
LadyRomp 