Carl Riden

Ada Lovelace Day aims to raise the profile of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by encouraging people around the world to talk about the women whose work they admire. This international day of celebration helps people learn about the achievements of women in STEM, inspiring others and creating new role models for young …

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American Sociological Association blog Contexts Discoveries discusses new research on gender and activism in Appalachia. Environmental justice movements, which seek to help those who live, work, and play in polluted areas, have long been dominated by women. In Gender & Society (December 2010), Shannon Bell and Yvonne Braun try to get at how Appalachia’s traditional gender …

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Continuing today’s British focus….From the BBC program Thinking Allowed comes a podcast that examines the history of suffragism in Great Britain. The panel delves into the origins and evolution of the movement including the role of working class women and the difference between suffragists and suffragettes.  

British rowing champions create campaign to raise awareness of testicular cancer.  Since the video is age restricted (due to mild nudity) I cannot embed it. View it here.

From the Cyborgology blog at the Society Pages comes this interesting look at body modification in today’s society. What is the relationship between gender, patriarchy, and body modification? And what are the costs of using indigenous iconography and rituals in one’s body modification practices? Read the story here.

Saudi Arabia’s king announced on Sunday women would be given the right to vote and stand in elections beginning in 2015. The New York Times examines the decision and its impact here. (Thanks to Wade Edwards for the link)

Women are being showcased both in front of the camera and behind the writers desk on television this fall. What kinds of shows and characters are we seeing? Do they represent progress from previous attempts? Does having women behind the scenes, particularly in comedy, really make a difference? NPR recently aired two programs on the …

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Bill Patrick from XYonline.com talks about relationships between gay and straight men and what feminist straight men can learn from their gay brothers. Its an interesting read.

Sociological Images discusses these clips from 1950’s commercial in which husbands criticize their wives coffee. The sense of entitlement to the wife’s services on the part of the husbands is quite shocking to the contemporary ear. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VssO5bKFJU0&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Björk   Guðmundsdóttir has formed a powerful creative collaboration for her new album Biophilia.  With her current efforts she seeks to “define humanity’s relationship with sound and the universe; to pioneer a musical format that will smash industry conventions; and to make good on an ambition that, at the age of 45, she has harboured …

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