Women's Issues

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." This is the wording from the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, that upon ratification 90 years ago, granted women the right to vote. Think about it: How would the world be different if this amendment never happened?

The three above terms are what immediately came to mind when I first saw the cover of this week's Time. Pictured is Aisha, an 18-year-old Afghan woman who was sentenced by a Taliban commander to have her nose and ears cut off for fleeing her abusive in-laws. Her story will certainly make you think, and might even make you cry. But in the Middle East today, women's rights have never been in more peril, and it's vital that stories like Aisha's be told to as many who are willing to hear them.

Time, in its July 12 issue, brought to light a long-simmering issue for women who have served in the U.S. military and who need to take advantage of the veterans' medical and hospital system: the problem is this system, designed to serve men, hasn't changed much since almost World War I; the VA didn't begin providing medical or mental-health services to women until 1988. There are efforts being made to bring the VA into the 21st century, as far as women's health is concerned, but more needs to be done. Our veterans all deserve the best care they can receive, no matter what their gender.

This week, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan appears in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the start of her confirmation hearings. While at times a spectacle of bloviation, these hearings are part of an interesting process that's worth following; in the end, it could mean that the Supreme Court will finally meet the 30%-women mark.

An exciting development in the field of cancer prevention: the results of an extensive study offers positive signs that a specific blood test can successfully detect ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest forms of the disease, considered a "silent killer" of women due the difficulties in detecting it early enough for proper treatment; more than 75% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when cure rates are less than 30%. So here's to hoping this test succeeds, and lives can be saved as a result.

Jennifer Love Hewitt, that is. She's dominated television, movies, music, television again, the tabloid media, and the perceptions of her own love life. Next up for Love: a new book!

Today is International Women's Day, its one-hundredth anniversary, in fact. On this occasion of this globally-recognized event, today New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof offers three ideas for raising the status of the world's women, and asks readers for more suggestions. So chime in! And take a moment today to send good vibes to women around the world.

For anyone who has ever judged a woman who broke up with her serviceman boyfriend or husband, this article is for you.

First, I will cop to my frequent perusal of tabloid magazines—it's a long-standing habit that I'm a bit sheepish about (although late 70s-era National Enquirer dished it out like nobody's business). What leads me to this admission is that there is a disturbing trend in these magazines, where the focus of celebrity moms are concerned. Baby weight, more specifically, the race to remove it. The Daily Beast has a great piece about this meme, and I'm curious to hear people's thoughts about it.

At the time when many people resolve to pay more attention to their health and well-being, NBC Nightly News is airing a special series this week entitled "Eye on Women's Health." Monday's installment is a must-see for every woman who has put off going to the doctor to check out a nagging ache or pain because they are too busy or don't think a doctor visit is worth the time or money. Watch in good health! And best wishes from all of us at Voice for a healthy and happy 2010.