"Many commentators, wondering aloud where all the strong female voices are, close their eyes to how normal this sort of threat has become."

The World Economic Forum's take.

The World Bank's take.

Shocking, but essential reading.

Grim reading.

"As I may, inadvertently and indirectly, bear some responsibility for the extrapolation from authentic text to familiar paraphrase, I would like to confess and set the record straight. "

Fascinating and slightly disturbing.

Good overview of latest Orson Scott Card controversy #fb

(1) She's not a sidekick, arm candy, or a damsel to be rescued... (2) Ripley isn't a fantasy version of a woman... (3) The character is strong enough to survive multiple screenwriters... (4) Ripley was lucky enough to be played by Sigourney Weaver.

"In the unlikely event that a woman does not want to become a prostitute, my theory, which is mine, recognises there are other ways a woman can cash in on her erotic capital."

Gender in the new Libya

I really do not want my teenage sons unconsciously absorbing notions of male privilege and entitlement in stories where a woman’s importance is always defined by who she might choose to sleep with, or better yet, save her precious virginity for. Where women who transgress male authority are invariably punished by supposedly indifferent twists of f…

McSweeney's pieces don't always work for me, but this one did.

An exhaustive list of literary treatments of this important topic.

"Pratchett was very much aware of some of the dreadful sexism in his source material, and the female characters he wrote were often in direct response to what he saw in the fantasy genre. His intentions to point out the silliness of the portrayal of women in fantasy, sadly, backfired somewhat."

Conservative commentator David Frum: "...the case against same-sex marriage has been tested against reality. The case has not passed its test."

Too tired to read this so bookmarking it for tomorrow.

Careers advice from zombie Marie Curie!

"Sure, I knew I was taking a risk. I stated that in the original HuffPo piece. But knowing there is a risk doesn't mean you realize how great a risk it is, or what the consequences will be. And the consequences, in a word, have been devastating."

"A recent poll shows a huge shift in American attitudes toward gay marriage, from a 32 percent approval in 2004 to 53 percent today. I am one of those people who changed their minds."

Competition to create an ad that says No to Violence against Women. Competition is open to all citizens and residents of the 48 European countries. Voting is open to everyone.

"Have you ever seen a piece of paper clean a bathroom?  I'd love to see that."

The Little Match Girl

"I, for one, am fed up with following behind with the bucket. I think it's time for women to reclaim our history, so I am really excited about Women's History Month."

"He was *trying* to *flirt* with you!" "Well, he wasn't very good at it!"

Lesbian couple, married in Iowa, denied driving licences in South Dakota.

"How have the Wilkinsons achieved virtual martyrdom status in UK conservative evangelical circles in the space of about 12 hours since Archbishop Cranmer reheated the story? Either they are as naive as they are projecting, or alternatively they knew the law, knowingly broke the law, and have little to complain about if they are then subject t…

Looking at the question objectively, I think we'd have to agree that the female breast, however interesting in situ, would make for a singularly misshapen champagne glass. But you know how it is with these male fantasies.