Abstinence 1, S-Chip 0

The House of Representatives is considering increasing funding for abstinence only education by $28 million. Abstinence-only programs, the only form of federally-financed sex education, could receive $200 million a year if the bill passes. In an effort to pass the State Children’s Health Insurance program, democratic leaders are offering a trade off that would increase funding to the abstinence-only programs despite their having been proven ineffective. Please click here for more.

Birth-Control Foe To Run Office on Family Planning

The Bush administration has appointed Susan Orr, an opponent of contraception, as chief of family planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services. Orr has supported proposals to stop health insurance plans from covering birth control and appears to be as controversial as her predecessor Eric Keroack, who also opposed support for contraception. In her new post, Orr will oversee $283 million in annual grants to provide low-income families and others with contraceptive services, counseling and preventive screenings.

Unilever Shuns Stereotypes of Women (Unless Talking to Men)

Unilever, makers of Dove and Axe, promote two competing images of women. The Dove campaign celebrates women of all shapes and sizes while the Axe campaign features underfed and over-sexualized images of women. Is this hypocrisy? Some consumer groups say that Unilever should be criticized for its imbalanced messaging. Please click here for more.

Deadly Deliveries

Maternal mortality is increasing nationally. A total of 54 women died in 2004 and it is estimated that more than 13 women will die for every 100,000 babies born in the United States. A number of factors are contributing to the increase in maternal mortalities, including: the rising age at which women have children, the obesity epidemic, and a decrease of practicing obstetricians. In New York, where rates are among the highest in the country, another leading factor is the growing number of poor and immigrant patients. Please click here for more.

Outlawing Abortion Does Not Lower Rates

A global study of abortion rates around the world has concluded that rates are similar in countries where abortions are legal and those where they are not, suggesting that banning abortion does not deter women from seeking the procedure. The study shows that in Uganda, where abortion is illegal, the estimated abortion rate is more than twice the rate of that in the United State. The lowest rate was in Western Europe where abortion is legal and contraception is widely available.
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Afghan Women Jailed for Safety

Women in Afghanistan who have been jailed for “moral crimes” such as adultery or being in the company of a man who is not a relative are believed to be safer in prison. The annual festival of Eid, that brings the prospect of presidential pardons, puts these women at risk of being released and put in the custody of relatives who may carry out “honor killings” and other serve punishments. Warnings from international organizations about the risk of releasing these women follows an early September report by the U.N. that found at least half the women in Afghanistan's largest jail are there for so-called moral crimes. Please click here for more information.

M.B.A. Programs Pay Off for Women Seeking a Return to Wall Street

Women returning to the workforce after leaving to fulfill family obligations are now being aided by executive MBA programs. Programs like Back in Business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth offer a curriculum that combines academics and career opportunities. With a median age of 47 and an average of eight years out of the workforce more than half of the programs participants found jobs with high-level companies such as Goldman Sachs.
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