Re-Feminist History (aka Bitchstory)

Last week I told you about Alice Paul and how she was a massive contributor to the success of the 19th amendment and other women's rights battles.  One of her cohorts and co-author of the ERA was Crystal Eastman.  To start, here's a few quotes by Eastman that I really love:  "A good deal of tyranny goes by the name of protection." (this one really hits me, especially in light of current events in the USA) "If I had my way…we would tell the men of this country we were not going to work any more [sic], we were not going to contribute or to assist them with anything until they gave us a share in the government of the country…If this strike were possible I am willing to wager that women would be given the ballot within several hours." (ADDRESS TO THE NEW YORK EQUAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION, DECEMBER 1910) "I believe women have a great deal more mechanical ability than they have been credited with, but naturally when they are allowed to practice with needles an...

  As I was looking for topics for the next episode of  "Re-Feminist History", I noticed that in the month of March, a lot happened, over many years, with women's suffrage and the fight for equal rights in general.  In March of 1875, in the Case of Virginia Minor v. Happersett, the Supreme Court ruled for the 2nd time in 2 years that the 14th amendment did NOT protect a woman's right to vote. In March of 1888 Susan B Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howard, and others, organized the National Council of Women of the US.  In March of 1919, the League of Women Voters was formed.  In March of 1972 the ERA passed, but although it was supposed to be the 25th amendment, that never happened.  In March 1776, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, with her hopes for the new country and its legal system after its independence was gained from Britain.    “I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable t...

  This week I bring you part 2 of our latest podcast episode titled "Detectives and Monsters".  In this entry, I'm talking about monsters in Hollywood...noooo...the other kind...well..both. Anyway... Milicent Patrick was born Mildred Rossi in 1915. When she was 6, her family began living on the property of publisher William Randolph Hearst. Her father, Camille Rossi was the superintendent of construction (that would be an interesting story too, because if you know Hearst Castle, you know that building it was a major feat due to limited transportation at the time and the remote, hilly location. But this isn't about him). During her lifetime she was an animator, actress, model, costume designer, children’s book illustrator, makeup artist and special effects makeup artist. And despite her impressive resume, she’s gone largely uncelebrated in Hollywood over the years. In 1939, Patrick began working at Walt Disney Productions in in their all-female ink and paint departmen...

Listen to the Podcast:  Re-Feminist History Email me:  kelly@thebitchwhisperer.me Hi! So as I announced in my previous post, this blog will now be used to highlight the women we talk about on the podcast, formerly named "Bitchstory", now called "Re-feminist History". Doo-do-dooooo! First up, Isabella Goodwin, the NYPD's first female detective. And what a badass she was! Isabella Loghry was born in Greenwich Village, Manhattan in 1865. Around 1885, aged 19, she married John W. Goodwin, a police officer. The couple had six children, of which four survived. Goodwin was widowed in 1896, when she was 30 years old. Obviously this put her and her children in a precarious position and she needed to find work. The New York City police department had only just started hiring women as “police matrons" to look after female and child prisoners ...so basically, legal babysitting. Goodwin applied and was hired. It was a low paid position, making only $1000/year, which amo...

Dear Readers and Astro Nerds, Bless me readers for I have sinned,  it has been exactly 4 weeks since my last confession/astro obsession.   I'm sorry I haven't posted here.  So, wha' ha' happn'd was... During the New Moon in Aquarius, I did some intense manifesting work around my path forward and what I am supposed to be doing.  I have been feeling burned out and over-stretched for a long time.  I had 3 podcasts and BitchScopes Astrology. The latter was a labor of love, but it was a labor.  Scopes were so much work and so much time.  I don't normally whine about that kind of stuff.  So for awhile I thought, maybe I'll feel better if this wasn't all "free", so I monetized the actual BitchScopes over on Patreon.  That eased the imbalance a little.  But a few days after the New Moon work I did,  I woke up and was struck with "I'm quitting everything!".   BitchScopes is my baby. It is my brainchild, and my passion project....