Female Journalists Own This Election

Young women are angry and organizing themselves: Jessica Valenti

(NEWSER) - There's no stopping SlutWalks now, and they're starting to look like the "future of feminism," writes Jessica Valenti in the Washington Post . What began as a single protest in Toronto over a police officer's safety tip—to avoid rape, don't dress like a "slut"—has morphed into "the most successful feminist action of the past 20 years," writes Valenti. These marchers are women fed up at sexist stereotypes who are organizing themselves, and they're not doing so under the umbrella of an established women's group. More»

That's 'no impingement on personal rights,' ruling determines

(NEWSER) - German bosses can order female workers to wear bras, and even dictate the length of their fingernails, a court has ruled. "Being told to wear a bra and to keep fingernails to shorter than half a centimeter does not impinge on personal rights," ruled the Cologne court. Bosses also have the right to demand that male workers' beards be neatly trimmed—but can't ban certain hair colors or shades of fingernail polish for any employee, notes the Daily Mail . The ruling was the result of a lawsuit by workers challenging demands of an airport security company, but the decision will affect all workplaces, said legal experts. More»

So much for girl power, writes Ruth Marcus

(NEWSER) - Just when Ruth Marcus was feeling good about the women in the 2010 race, Carly Fiorina had to make that catty comment about Barbara Boxer’s hair. Fiorina tried to laugh it off—“It sort of goes with the territory,” she told Greta Van Susteren. “No no no no no!” writes Marcus in the Washington Post . Attacking your opponent’s appearance never “goes with the territory,” no matter your gender. More»

Happy 25th Anniversary!

(NEWSER) - Larry King celebrates the 25th birthday of his CNN show next week, but the 76-year-old may not have many more years with the network. His ratings have plunged to an average 725,000 a night, putting him well behind Sean Hannity and Rachel Maddow, as viewers opt for more partisan programs—and high-profile guests do the same. CNN won't say if it plans to renew King's contract, which is up next year, but according to the New York Times there's a growing sense within the company that it's time to make a succession plan. More»

Believe it or not, baby boys used to wear pink, too

(NEWSER) - If ever there was a color that stereotypically symbolized the feminine, it’s pink. But the history of the girly shade hasn’t always been so ladylike. Slate takes a look back:

• Financial Times: Its salmon-pink pages have turned “salmon press” into British shorthand for any newspaper business section.
• Boys' rowing: Teams at Eton and Westminster competed for the right to claim pink as their school color in the 19th century.
• Nantucket Red: The shade, which looks a lot like pink, became popular for preppy men and women in 1945.