It’s that time of the week again! Celebrate the end of what’s been a LONG news week with some #FeministWins of the week – or rather, of yesterday? Oddly enough, all of this week’s wins all happened on Thursday!
And good luck to anyone procrastinating studying for finals!
Arizona teachers end strike after Governor agrees to salary increases
This Thursday, the #RedforEd walkout officially ended as Arizona Governor Ducey signed a plan committing to a 20% overall pay increase for Arizona’s teachers over the next few years. While the striking teachers didn’t get everything they were hoping for, this is a win for public school teachers in Arizona, which ranks #48 in the nation for Pre-K – 12th grade education. Multiple other states have also seen teachers striking (and winning!) over inadequate pay – and as Politico notes, these are notably all states that restrict tax increases.
Polanski and Cosby FINALLY expelled from Motion Picture Academy
In a long-overdue move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences formally removed both Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski from their membership yesterday. In October, Harvey Weinstein became the second person ever to be expelled from the Academy (and the first for sexual misconduct), which prompted the Academy to adopt a stricter code of conduct for its members regarding sexual violence and harassment. Additionally, the American Advertising Federation also voted on Thursday to rescind Cosby’s induction into their Hall of Fame, as well as his 2011 President’s award.
Thanks for doing the absolute bare minimum, y’all!
Delaware anticipated to become the first state to ban child marriage
A unanimous vote in the Delaware state senate yesterday will make Delaware the first state to ban child marriage outright, pending the governor’s signature. The bill will make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to get married, despite having parental approval or not. The bill will also eliminate the statutory rape exception for married couples in which one person is a minor and the other is over 30 years old. Kentucky has a similar bill that has passed the state legislature and is waiting for the governor’s signature.
Abortion ban dies in South Carolina legislature in Thursday night vote
Abortion advocates in South Carolina are celebrating after a long legislative session! In a late-night vote yesterday, a bill that would have banned all abortions (except in cases of rape, incest, or endangerment of the mother’s life) and effectively, contraception, was sent back to committee. With only three days left in the legislative session, this move effectively kills the bill. After a terrible few months for reproductive freedom as legislatures in red states battle one another to be the first state to outlaw abortion – as Mississippi recently passed a 15-week abortion ban, Iowa’s governor is preparing to sign a 6-week abortion ban into law, and Louisiana will vote on a 15-week ban next week – this bill’s death is a major victory.
In the wee hours of the morning, after days of debate, the voices for women’s health, rights, and dignity prevailed over politics. #StoptheBanSC
To all of those who thought we couldn’t, and to all of those who knew we could. This is your victory, SC. https://t.co/aAM3QNeuXi pic.twitter.com/OPrQgXlKj4
— WRENetwork (@WRENetwork) May 4, 2018
The featured image for this Feminist Wins blog post is a derivative; original photo by Charles Edward Miller / Creative Commons.
