Lego Improves Long-Standing Gender Bias of Figurines Collection by Introducing Female Scientist

Here is an informative but long-winded piece about the gender bias of Lego Figurines and other toys. I completely agree on at least this one point about toys: Why do all toys made for girls these days have to be all pink and frilly? Why can't they just make toys for kids? It's as if they think girls are innately incapable of enjoying toys unless they have pink bows on them. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed our regular sets of legos, tinker toys, Lincoln Logs, blocks, etc. There was nothing pink about them.

Breaking Brick Stereotypes: LEGO Unveils a Female Scientist - Scientific American

Snow Hill, Maryland Liquor Control Board Settles Pay Discrimination Suit

The Liquor Control Board in Snow Hill, Worcester County, Maryland, has settled with three former female employees who sued the Board for pay discrimination. I'll drink to that!

Worcester County Settles Gender Pay Claim; Women to be Compensated - delmarvanow.com

Worcester County Will Pay $60,000 to Resolve EEOC Pay Discrimination Lawsuit - EEOC Press Release

Is NASA Discriminating Against Female Astronauts by Setting Lower Radiation Thresholds for Women?

Some female astronauts would say so.

Well, you know what they say: "One small step for MAN, one giant leap for MANkind." But what happens when a WOMAN wants to take a step, too? She is told that her body is not designed to handle radiation in the way that a man's is, so it's more dangerous for her to go into space. This is basically what NASA is telling female astronauts, and as a result, they are denied equal opportunities in the workplace.

Female Astronauts Said To Face Discrimination Over NASA's Space Radiation Concerns - Huffington Post

NASA claims women cannot handle as much radiation exposure as men, and they claim this is based on NASA's own physiological models. Apparently though, these models are based on 1945 data from Hiroshima:

Female Astronauts Face Discrimination from Space Radiation Concerns, Astronauts Say - Space.com

1945 data that has nothing to do with outer space, wow! Pretty scientific, huh?

NASA also claims that it is merely following the limits set by the National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). As it turns out, these limits are set at about 20% lower for women, which results in a 45-50% percent loss of professional opportunities for women astronauts!

NASA claims the levels are set differently because of the risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer in women. Okay, but aren't there several kinds of cancers that occur only in men as well?

Whether or not this is actually a legitimate biological difference between men and women (tolerance to radiation exposure, that is) is, I suppose, something only NASA and NCRP can know (?). I'm not a scientist, but it seems like a pretty strange notion to me that women's bodies are innately less evolutionarily equipped to handle radiation. It would make sense to me if you were talking about pregnant women, but you know many women never become pregnant! By choice! So that would not apply. Don't get me wrong, I'm not about to sign up for that much radiation. But if someone wants to make that choice, I say don't stop them just because of their gender.

United States Sues New York Company Vamco Sheet Metals for Sex Discrimination

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of the United States Government has sued Vamco Sheet Metals of New York on behalf of female sheet metal workers for treating those workers differently than their male counterparts because of their sex. The EEOC alleges that the company fired the female employees after they sought help from the union for unequal treatment, which treatment included assigning them to demeaning tasks like fetching the bosses' coffee, counting the time they spent in the bathroom, and denying them the right to pump breast milk. Good luck to these courageous women!

EEOC Sues Company Over Firing of Female Sheet Metal Workers - Business Insurance

Rivers Executive Philip Goodman Settles Sexual Harassment Case in Australia

In a sexual harassment suit brought against Philip Goodman of Melbourne, Australia by one of his female subordinate employees, Goodman just decided to settle in the middle of trial, right before two additional female subordinate employees were about to testify against him by talking about how he did basically the same thing to them. Good looking out, ladies!

Rivers Boss Philip Goodman Settles Sexual Harassment Case - Melbourne Herald Sun

New Mobile Apps for Reporting Sexual Harassment

So there is a new mobile app in India called Safetipin that allows people to report sexual harassment with the simple touch of an icon. It sounds like it's being piloted by female students at Jamia Millia Islamia (University). Interesting idea, but as a practical matter, how does it work logistically, and what does it accomplish? Perhaps the thinking is that it will increase the rate of reporting because people will be able to report in privacy and not face the fear or shame of talking to someone face to face? But eventually, they would still have to talk to someone about it, right? During an investigation? And who would they be reporting it to, and what would that person or entity do about it?

It also allows witnesses to report harassment or assaults, but if a criminal assault occurred, then wouldn't the witnesses just call the police? Isn't that who would be receiving the mobile app reports in the first place? I don't know, I'm kinda confused by this. It does look like the app provides a variety of neighborhood and community information and resources, which could be helpful, especially if a victim of harassment was afraid to ask someone for help. Maybe they're onto something! Perhaps this is just a desperate plea for better P.R. in India after all the recent rape debacles. If it proves effective though, I wonder if such an app will make its way to the U.S. and elsewhere.

Mobile App to Help Girls Report Sexual Harassment - Jagran Post

Mobile App to Help Girls Facing Sexual Threats - DNA India

Ah, okay, this article below says a similar app was already launched in New York 10-12 days earlier:

Now, Smartphone App to Report Sexual Harassment - The Indian Express

And here is the scoop on the American app now available in New York City only, called Hollaback, which was released by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, as part of her campaign for mayor:

Christine Quinn unveils Smartphone App Hollaback That Allows Sexual Harassment Victims to Report Incidents - New York Daily News

This article says the reports go to the City Council and the mayor. It will be interesting to see if these apps actually increase the rate of reporting, the rate of accountability, or reduce or prevent harassment in the future.

California School District Superintendent Michael Gonzales Sued for Sexual Harassment

Linden Unified School District Superintendent Michael Gonzales has been sued for sexual harassment by a school principal and an HR administrator.  Sounds like the Sup's about to get 'schooled.'

Lawsuit Targets Ex-school Official, District - Recordnet.com