News

5 Stories Every Woman Needs To See This Week

by Katie Halper

In this tumultuous era of slutty birth control and legitimate rape, it can be hard for a modern woman to keep up with her feminist news. But Bustle has you covered. Here's a handy roundup and assessment of some of this week's most notable women-related stories — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Or, rather: the Meh, the Almost Funny, the Badass, and the Ridiculous.

Meh: Congress passes bill for a national women's museum in Washington DC

Women's absence from history books, monuments, landmarks, and, oh, BASICALLY EVERYTHING is so undeniable that even the Republican-controlled House has to acknowledge it. This week, the House passed a bill to form a commission exploring the possibility of building a national museum of women's history on or near the Mall. Yes, we're finally at the point where they're willing to even entertain the idea.

Almost Funny: Anti-Feminist rails against museum, unless she can run it

Believe it or not, several organizations and leaders are already opposing the idea of the museum, including Michele Bachmann and Pam Nance of the not-so-concerned-about-women Concerned Women For America organization (CWFA). The conservative group warns that the museum would "indoctrinate" visitors with "a jaundiced view of women’s history." And just look at Michelle Bachman rail against the concept of the museum on the House floor.

When very conservative Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn invited Nance to be on the board of the museum, the CWFA president and CEO explained she'd never take part in such a controversial institution unless — wait for it — she could be or name its chair. As Nance put it, Washburn's invitation is "an exercise in futility and frustration without the chairman being someone who at least is impartial on our views.... One seat would not change anything." But, of course, she added, "I am happy to either serve or find someone else to serve as chairman."

face palm: Charles Barkley makes fun of big women

Charles Barkley, former gigantic basketball player and current gigantic person, dropped some knowledge on his TNT show Inside the NBA this week. "There's some big 'ol women down there [in San Antonio, Texas]. That's a gold mine for Weight Watchers," Barkley said. "Victoria is definitely a secret.. they can't wear no Victoria's Secret down there."

He'll be here all week, folks. Of course, Barkley may have special insight into what draws people to Weight Watchers, since he, himself, is a spokesman for the weight loss company.

Badass: woman posts abortion on Youtube, goes viral

Emily Letts, a counselor at an abortion clinic in New Jersey, decided to film her very non-graphic abortion at the clinic she works at, and posted it on Youtube in March. This week, she wrote about her experience for Cosmopolitan, and the video went viral. As Letts explains, she filmed the procedure in order to "show women there is such a thing as a positive abortion story." Now, all we need a full-length rom-com which also portrays a positive abortion story.

Oh, wait. That's finally happening.

Ridiculous: Republican says Planned Parenthood has nothing to do with women's health

Dan Patrick, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Texas, did some killer mansplaining and misinformation-sharing during a debate Wednesday, when he said:

This is a myth that Planned Parenthood has anything to do with women’s health ... Why are they closing clinics if they’re making money on providing women’s health? They’re closing clinics because they make all their money taking the lives of babies.

Even someone who's anti-choice and anti-birth control should be able to figure out that the services provided by Planned Parenthood (585,000 Pap tests, almost 640,000 breast exams, and nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, per year) have A LOT to do with women's health. I'm not sure if Patrick doesn't know that, or if he simply doesn't care. And I'm not sure which is worse.

Tune in next week for more inevitable conservative ignorance and female badassery.