Wednesday, August 28, 2013

“The Women Are Restless”

This essay is mainly serves as an advertising pamphlet for the Freedom Summer of 1992, a movement to bring attention to women’s issues leading up the the 1992 Democratic Convention. Leonard’s wife was a leader in the movement. It was also written right after the Supreme Court handed down their decision on Planned Parent Hood v. Casey, a challenge to Roe. The new, seemingly, conservative majority (including newly appointed Justices Scalia and Thomas) were ready to overturn Roe, when Justice Kennedy switched to uphold at the last minute. Justice Blackbmun, the author of the original Roe decision, was still on the court…he retired from the Court 2 years later.

Protesters outside of the SC in 1992:



Funny story: Leonard went to a screening of Gail Singer’s movie Wisecracks about female comics. It includes the Clichettes (Canadian group) doing a bit about the Supreme Court called “You Ain’t Nothing But A Hound Dog.”…wish I could find a video clip.

…and funny quote, “…the transplant of a baboon’s liver suggest that there’s still hope for congress.”

New word: Peter Meter = slang for promiscuous women, but also used in 1992 as a test for members of congress support of women’s issues.


New learning:  In 1990, Iran had for times as many women in its parliament then the US had in the Senate.

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