A woman's ability is not adversely affected by how many babies will/have pass(ed) through her vagina.

Hell. Yes.:


Spain's defense minister Carme Chacon reviews troops in Madrid, Monday April 14, 2008. (via Shakesville)

Chacon, who was housing minister in the last government, wore heels, a black pant suit and white maternity blouse as she reviewed troops Monday at a ceremony in which she officially took over her post. Her husband is Miguel Barroso, who in the past has worked in Zapatero's press office.

She called the troops to attention, ordered them to join her in saying "Long live Spain, long live the King," and gave a brief speech in which she said her appointment was a sign of progress.

Look at that shot! That woman looks bad. ass. All business and absolutely in her element. (Psst: I think I have a crush.)

This came just a few hours after I read this article from Scotsman.com, entitled "Pregnancy risk puts employers off women." (via Feministing) Fun fact: 52% of bosses will "weigh up the chances of a candidate getting pregnant" when considering women for employment - specifically, it's women at "risk" for pregnancy (hint: that means young and/or recently-married women. 'Cause, y'know, all young and/or recently married want babies!) who are getting shafted. Brilliant:

Only five per cent of bosses have employed someone knowing the candidate is pregnant and a total of 76 per cent said they would not take on a new recruit if they knew they were going to become pregnant within six months of starting.

Meanwhile Spain is not fucking around:

The surprise appointment of Carme Chacon, age 37 and with no military experience, is the boldest statement yet from a Socialist government that has made gender equality one of its top priorities.

... Chacon is now one of the most visible members of a government that has enacted sweeping social legislation designed to rid traditionally male-dominated Spain of gender discrimination.

It legalized gay marriage, streamlined divorce procedures, forced political parties to field more female candidates and passed a law designed to promote women in the workplace and pressure companies to put more of them in their boardrooms.

This time Zapatero even created a new department, the Equality Ministry, to press these goals. The portfolio went to a 31-year-old woman, Bibiana Aido.

Oh, hell yes. Spain is sounding better and better.

And did we mention RON PAUL?

You'd think Ron Paul was the hero of my fucking generation. At least with college-age dudes who:

1. feel shafted by feminism
2. beat off while reading Maddox's "Greatest Page in the Universe".

His supporters remind me a lot of Paul himself, what with all of the yelling. Paul doesn't yell, of course, but I notice that he's near-hysterical about taxes, the mere existence of any kind of U.S. foreign policy at all, and is terrified of the federal regulation of anything.

And all of his supporters are dudes.


Via Shakesville.

Well, maybe not. But in the video, James Kotecki of Politico.com finds the lone woman in an entire group of perhaps fifty Ron Paul supporters (who are strongly reminiscent of sports fans, really, repeating Paul's name, and only Paul's name, over and over again. That's very persuasive/manly, boys! Keep it up!). "It's just kind of a message that [women] don't really resonate with, I don't know, I'm not sure why," she says in response to being the only woman present.

Maybe it's got something to do with Paul's self-proclaimed status as "an unshakable foe of abortion". Or perhaps women give a shit about things like federal assistance for lower-income families and affordable health care. You know, issues that affect women, but not, typically, white college-aged men who are stuffed to the brim with privilege. Duh.

Wonderful.

Meet Omaha-Bitch. Their music video certainly is charming - what with literally using women as their musical instruments - drums, bass, guitar, even the mic. Classy.

Their Myspace page is also particularly sickening. Who knew that women drenched in blood, wrapping their legs around a pole could be so sexy?

Getting angry at sexism in advertising is like [insert simile here]

I know it's fruitless to get angry at this, but god help me, I do love a losing battle. I can't be the only person who's sick of this. Not only am I supposed to buy my identity, but if Old Navy had its way, I'd only have three choices to pick from. Unfortunately for me, I'm not a "Diva", nor a "Flirt", nor a "Sweetheart".

So where are my "Dragonlady" jeans? My "Ballbuster"s? "Riveter"s? I'd settle for some god damn "Not-trying-to-impress-anyone"s, you know?

Seriously. Next you'll be telling me companies are selling their product with blonde/brunette jokes, talking about battle between the hair-colors.

Oh, wait.