MILESTONES :-)  and MILLSTONES :-(

        As March rolled in softly and lamb-like in our neck of the woods, we are reminded by the TLC oozing from the media that this is Women's History Month.

        :-)  The Olympic games produced a bunch of gold metals for, of all things, a woman's hockey team!  WNBA is still going strong and S.I. has instituted a women's sports magazine which does NOT compel the women to dress in bathing suits.

        :-(  There is still no woman's face on our paper money.  Italy put Marie Montessori on the 1,000-lire bill; Ireland has Mother Catherine McAuley on a 5-pound note; The Brits et al., of course, have had the Queen. Germany, Israel, Mexico and Switzerland have accomplished women pictured on their marks, pounds, pesos and francs.  Are we afraid of brainwashing our children if they see that women are important people too?

        :-)  Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Collins is slated to become the first woman to command a mission in the 37 years of spaceflight. This Elmira, N.Y. native was also our nation's first WOMAN shuttle pilot.

        :-(  The United States has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).  It continues to languish in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because of the objections to its contents held by several senators including Senator Helms, chairman of the committee.  There is little chance that it will be voted out to move forward in this Congress.

        :-)  The Supremes added clarity and punch to antidiscrimination laws by placing sexual harassment right bang in the middle of them.  Subsequent rulings moved the law beyond overt sexual behavior by stating that a hostile environment may also be brought about by "discriminatory intimidation, ridicule and insult... sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment."   By making it applicable to males, as in the recent decision, the law has been given the teeth that is always lacking when a ruling applies to women only.

        :-(  The first step to abolish women's right to choose has been taken by the Republican majority.  Following the mandate of the irreligious right and the unchristian coalition, it has again passed a bill outlawing certain late term abortion procedures.  President Clinton has vetoed it and they await the next congress to override the veto.  This will surely happen if their majority increases or if more anti-choice democrats are elected.

        :-)  The Senate, by a vote of 58-37, voted to reject the conservative effort led by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to eliminate the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. This is an Affirmative Action plan that helps women and minorities.

        :-(  Only a third of insurance companies treat oral contraceptives as a part of women's health care.

        :-)  Susan McDougal is out of jail, if only for a short time. She has FINALLY been allowed to see her doctor concerning a lump in her breast. We think the reason she was let out of jail to see her doctor is because of the pressure placed on Special Prosecutor, Ken Starr, by GenderGappers and other concerned people.  Keep that pressure on.

        :-(  The so-called "attack ads" are hitting California elections once again and the word is that they will be used throughout the coming elections all over the country. These are the ones that show a month-old, chubby baby with a voice-over claiming that it is the "baby" that is killed by a late term abortion procedure.

        :-)  First Lady, Hillary Rodham, in fine fettle doing a rockum-sockum on the forces of the evil empire without missing a beat in her constant advocacy for women and children.

        Twanda@ConnRiver.net

        1998-009

        Copyright 1998 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@connriver.net.

        G e n d e r G a p p e r s   T M   


        GENDERGAPPERS MEDIA PAGEWhat are your millstones and milestones?  Feel free to send them along to us.  And, keep the pressure up on the media.  Let them know you want honest reporting of the news, not the partisan spin cycle.  Here are some e-mail addresses you've asked for.