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51% #1589: Anti-Sexist Men, There's A Group For Them

Courtesy of Felix Poon

On this week’s 51%, we learn about an anti-sexist men’s group; a documentary about formerly incarcerated mothers is in the works; and Dr. Jeri Burns returns with an essay on bathroom message art.

What is an anti-sexist men’s group? And, if a man identifies as progressive with feminist values, isn’t that enough? Felix Poon explores these questions by talking to a few members of a men's anti-sexism group in Boston, MA.

A jury has found that Johnson & Johnson's talcum-based powder did not cause a St. Louis woman's ovarian cancer. In late December, the jury ruled in a lawsuit brought by 56-year-old Vickie Forrest, who testified she has used Johnson & Johnson's baby powder for 32 years. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. The lawsuit is among several filed on behalf of thousands of women who have sued the company, claiming its talcum powder caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. Johnson & Johnson has said its products are safe and do not cause cancer. 

For 60 years, Cuba's communist government has monopolized virtually every aspect of life on the island, including state-controlled organizations that serve as official advocates for groups ranging from LGBT people to animal lovers. In 2019, that monopoly began to loosen with the appearance of independent activist groups. One of the most important is women's rights. Women loosely organizing over Cuba's year-old mobile internet have successfully pushed the government for new protections against domestic abuse, and publish statistics on gender-motivated killings. An online campaign brought international attention to Cuban women claiming assault and harassment by partners and co-workers. 

A State University of New York at New Paltz professor is working on a documentary about formerly incarcerated mothers in New York and their challenges in reentry and finding affordable housing. I spoke with filmmaker Megan Sperry about “Beyond Shelter.”

And now writer Dr. Jeri Burns delves into message art… in bathrooms. 

Dr. Jeri Burns is a storyteller, writer and educator living in New York's Hudson Valley. You can find her at storycrafters.com. Burns also is an adjunct professor in the Department of Communication at the State University of New York at New Paltz. 

That’s our show for this week. Thanks to Tina Renick for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio

“Contributions to 51% #1589 come from the Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.”

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