I was stunned by Ms. Young’s response when Sherry Eskin listed “I cut myself at night” as one of the things tweens cared about. The fact that Ms. Eskin even mentioned this potentially serious situation coupled with Ms. Young’s amused burst of laughter minimizes what may be a symptom of a greater underlying issue in the tween’s life. Some children cut themselves out of “what if” curiosity, but other children–and some adults–use self mutilation as a mechanism to punish what they view as bad behavior or thoughts. While self-mutilators rarely do themselves serious harm, the trance-like state generated during the process can lead injury requiring medical treatment. Moreover, some slip into other behaviors including anorexia and bulimia, which may occur along with the self-mutilation.

While I its clear the host and her guest meant no disrespect to those who suffer from these disorders, its important to note that systematic and repetitive self-mutilation at any age may warrant psychiatric evaluation.

Did you really just support a statistic from the soon to be head of N.O.W. comparing the incomes of EVERY woman in America, to and I quote “White Men”?
Does that sound like a logical comparison?

Hi, Robin here..

I’m going to listen back to the NOW piece,
but I wanted to address Robb’s concerns..
and make clear that I didn’t meant to laugh at the mention of “cutting”, I’m so sorry if it sounded that way!

I meant to exclaim….(and I think I said something about that being more serious than I expected, or words to that effect).. because I was surprised!

But no, you’re right, we had NO intent to make
fun of that disorder!

Thanks for your comment
Robin

How soon we forget! It is really distressing that young women forget how we had to battle for every inch of progress made for women. Women were jailed for wanting to vote & not that long ago. European women have always had rights before us & still do. I marched on Washington, sat at a coffee with Sarah Weddington who won the right for women to have a modicum of control over their own bodies. When I became pregnant in ‘62, pregnant women couldn’t teach (nor could they attend public schools) in Texas. Then, later, we adopted our daughter, because there was no maternity leave where I was a professor at San Antonio College & I would have again lost my job if I got pregnant, so I stayed on the birth control pill for 15 years. During this time I had a half dozen trips to the emergency room as it caused me (unknowingly then) to get migraine headaches & had to be “knocked out” – & was later told I’d been playing “russian rouletter” with having a stroke. In ‘77 I was at a NOW meeting at Trinity U. & volunteered to be a torch relay runner for the 1st Natl. Women’s Conf. in Houston. So what is wrong with giving women full equal rights legally? I remember when I first heard NPR & cried with tears because it was like “radio free America” finally reaching the boondocks here in Texas. Thank you for the work you do. God bless you & God bless the new President of NOW!

In answer to J.P. Hampie’s comment – When you are using statistics it is important to be as clear as possible. Men of color make less on average than white males. Women of color make substantially less than their male counterparts as well as White women. As NOW members we often do not get the opportunity to have lengthy sound bites to explain the nuanced discussion about pay disparity between gender, let alone race.

Thanks for commenting on Hampie’s statement. Right on, sister. You go, girl! Pass it on!

I guess I was not suprised to learn that the new president of NOW is an extremist. She really said that one doesn’t have a right to be a nurse, even though qualified and employed in that capacity. Are you kidding me? Anybody who will not admit that abortion is morally complicated is an extremist.

I used to be a feminist, but I will fight that lady with every thing I have.

How do you submit a story idea to Robin?

TLV

Robin, Love your show and was delighted when our local NPR station started carrying your broadcast.

With regards to your interview with Pete Peterson of Blackstone, who said something to the effect that he would like the American people to march on Washington in protest of the deficit–I’d be more impressed if he had made that suggestion during the Bush Administration!!