The Third Wave Foundation just released their Fall 2007 newsletter issue. Get a copy of it here: http://thirdwavefoundation.org/file_download/34.

What is the Third Wave Foundation?

Third Wave is a feminist, activist foundation that works nationally to support young women and transgender youth ages 15 to 30. Through strategic grantmaking, leadership development, and philanthropic advocacy, we support groups and individuals working towards gender, racial, economic, and social justice.

Third Wave is led by a board of young women, men, and transgender activists striving to combat inequalities that we ourselves face as a result of our age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or level of education. By empowering young women and transgender youth nationwide, Third Wave is building a lasting foundation for young feminists around the country.

Visit their website for more information: http://thirdwavefoundation.org/.

Visit them at Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/7421.

We took the summer off and now it’s time to get back to meeting to discuss feminist issues in the area!

The September MN Valley NOW chapter meeting will take place on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at the Prior Lake Public Library located at 16210 Eagle Creek Avenue South in Prior Lake.

A general business meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. and all MN Valley NOW members are welcome to attend.

Our presentation, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Shelley Madore, Minnesota House Representative from District 37A will address the group regarding the status of the 35W bridge collapse, transportation funding, and the special session. She will also discuss her current legislation regarding regulating misleading “pregnancy clinics”.

Bring your political questions for an open discussion on feminism in the Legislature!

Sex Wars, by Marge Piercy

August Book Club - Book Review

By: Sharon Anderson

The Minnesota Valley NOW Book Club meets monthly.  In August we read Sex Wars by Marge Piercy. This work of historical fiction chronicles the post civil war era, with an emphasis on the women’s rights movement. The narrative gives the reader a vivid picture of late 19^th century life in New York City. It is an interesting story albeit not necessarily true. It was hard to tell the difference between fact and fiction. The main characters were Susan Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the Woodhull Sisters and their nemesis Anthony Comstock. While these are real historical personages and many of the events chronicled in the book are documented, the narrative of day-to-day life and conversations are fictional.  Piercy also created a fictional immigrant woman Freydeh who could have existed at that time.

The book was written in a style that portrayed the character’s lives separately by chapter.  It was only later in the book that some of the characters and their actions had an impact on each other’s lives. Piercy used the same technique in The Longings of Women, to much better effect.  There were fewer characters to follow and it was apparent earlier in the novel how they were connected.  I found this technique was harder to follow in Sex Wars. I also found myself following one character’s story - in essence reading ahead and skipping chapters rather than reading it in the order Piercy intended.  If I had not been reading it for book club I would not have made it through this book.

That being said, Piercy did manage to weave a story that could be a starting point for further examination of Women’s Suffrage and immigrant life in America.  She did bring a personality to these characters and told an engaging story of how things might have been.

In September we are reading Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross.  In some circles there has been a belief that a female pope existed in the 9^th century. The legend is that Pope John VIII was in fact an Englishwoman.  She reportedly was Pope for two and half years starting in A.D. 854.  It is thought that she was Pope until her labor pains betrayed the fact that she was a woman.  She was later stricken from papal records.  Pope Joan, by Donna Woolfolk Cross, a fictional tale of how this could have happened.

Check out the videos on our right sidebar from the Feminist Antipornography Conference: Pornography & Pop Culture - Rethinking Theory, Reframing Activism held at Wheelock College in Boston on March 24, 2007.

Thanks to MN Valley NOW’s Media Watch Activist, Micki Lechner Riehle, for bringing these videos to our attention.

Here are direct links to the videos on YouTube and our pod at VodPod:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22feminist+antipornography%22

http://mnvalleynow.vodpod.com/

March 22, 2007 - Prior Lake Public Library, 16210 Eagle Creek Ave. S.
7:00 pm General Membership Meeting
7:30 pm Women’s History Month—Feminist Forum
This is your opportunity to speak out on an issue that you are passionate about. What keeps you involved with NOW and working for the equality of women? What motivates you to action? What do you want to learn more about?

Several MN Valley members have already signed up to participate in the forum to give us an update on the state of feminism in their lives. Some of the topics include health freedom, history of women’s suffrage, and theocracy. Each member can use 5 to 15 minutes to share their thoughts. A lively discussion is sure to follow!

If you would like to participate in the forum, please send an email and include a description of your topic. If you are unable to attend but would like to submit something in writing, please email it to us by March 19 and we will make copies and distribute them at the meeting.

Click on the image to send an E-card in honor of International Women’s Day.

To learn more about International Women’s Day go to:

http://www.internationalwomensday.com/