January 6, 2014 - Tahrir Square; Home Birth in CA; and Pink Ribbon Culture

The Square documentary about Tahrir Square

Jehane Noujaim discusses her film, THE SQUARE, which documents the Egyptian revolution from its earliest days through the overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi.  Jehane also talks about the role of violence against women in suppressing the protests, who was behind it and why.  Is it worse now in Egypt in general and for women in particular? Noujaim has a refreshing veiwpoint. THE SQUARE, on the short list for an Oscar, opens at the Roxie on January 17, and becomes available on Netflix at the same time.
30:00 min.

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New CA law AB1308 and Home Birth

photo from www.cafamiliesformidwives.org

Tara Dorabji talks with midwife Treesa McLean about a new California law which will greatly expand access to midwifery and home birth, but also restricts the ability of women with "high risk" pregnancies to choose home birth and midwifery care.Tara and Treesa discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the new law AB1308. The new law opens the door for midwives and licensed birth centers to bill MediCal. However, the self-determination clause has been removed, which makes it illegal for a midwife to attend a high-risk home birth. California Families for Midwives advocates for more choices including where, how, and who attends women during their children's birth. 17:00 min

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The Pink Ribbon Culture; Narratives on Breast Cancer

And we hear part of Caity Goerke’s interview with Emilia Nielsen, whose research on breast cancer narratives reveals that women feel pressured to "perform" breast cancer in a way that emphasizes optimism. This approach, fueled by the pink ribbon industry, delegitimizes anger and activism, says Nielsen. It robs women of the productive power of anger and focuses only on cure and not causes. This program is excerpted from a syndicated feminist radio show, the F Word, station CFRO out of Vancouver, BC. Click on the link to find archives of previous shows from The F Word. 13:09 min.

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To listen to the entire KPFA show with music, movie clips and more click here. 58:10 min.

July 8 - Coup in Egypt; Saving City College; and a Life in Revolution

Egypt: Military Coup or a Further Revolution?

courtesy:  Shimaa Helmy

Blogger and organizer Shimaa Helmy, who was involved in the January 25 revolution in Egypt from Day One, shares her concerns about the military overthrow of Mohammed Morsi and the epidemic of sexual violence against women protesters.

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Takes an Uprising:  A Memoir in Lesbian Parables

Patricia Jackson walked her first picket line in 1964, as part of a wildcat teacher's strike in Louisville, Kentucky.  That began a life of activism and challenging racism, patriarchy and class inequality from California to the Ozarks.  She lived on women's land, participated in the early Women's Music scene, became a Communist, and is now active in the Gray Panthers and an intergenerational queer storytelling project.

In this interview she talks about her life, the lessons she thinks are most useful for the present, and the adventure of self-publishing her memoir, Takes an Uprising.

Listen to the interview (27:08)

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Saving City College

San Francisco City College is one of the most innovative community colleges in the country.  It had one of the first Women's Studies and the very first LGBT Studies program in the country.  Last week, the faculty and students of San Francisco City College were shocked when the private Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges—the ACCJC— announced that it planned to terminate the college's accreditation in July 2014. The Herculean efforts of the college over a short nine months were rejected as inadequate. The threat of closure could become real unless the College can turn itself inside out and meet the commission’s demands.

Leslie Simon, former Chair of the Women's Studies Department and current coordinator of Project SURVIVE, the campus sexual violence prevention program, talks about what is behind the commission's recommendation and we can stop it.

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Read Leslie's excellent explanation of the roots of the "crisis."

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July 23, 2012: Singer Naima Shalhoub; Revolt in Argentina

Naima Shalhoub, Oakland based singer and artist, shares her vocals and her journey as a musician with Eryn Mathewson. 24:51 min.

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Then we rebroadcast a segment from the Women's International News Service - about Argentina's economic meltdown in 2001. Isabel Zanutigh, from the Housewives Trade Union and Inter-neighborhood Network of Women, offers analysis and solutions for the collapse. 22:51 min.

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You will hear about sexual harassment in Egypt, violence against women in Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia’s first female athletes to participate in the Olympics - courtesy of Al Jazeera. We share a Fox News feature on the execution of the Afghan woman, and analysis from MSNBC about Obama’s campaign strategy. The story on the recent mistreatment of Greek female politicians was produced by the Lansing State Journal. 5:54 min.

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It's summer pledge drive at KPFA. Remember to mention Women's Magazine when you make your pledge. Thanks for your support!

To listen to the entire show click here. 59:50 min.