Obama opposes Marriage Act

“Marriage Act can SUCK IT!!” read the text message I received from a very dear friend of mine. My question mark response was followed by a reference to NPR’s All Things Considered with Michele Norris and Robert Siegel. I quickly shared my friend’s excitement when I read that Obama had declared the defense of Marriage Act Unconstitutional. Not to sound pessimistic, but for every step forward, we often witness several setbacks. I’m curious to see what will be done by the republican majority in the House.

Justice Will no Longer Defend Marriage Law by Carrie Johnson

- Guillaume Bagal

Shift in Marriage Ideal Does Not Equal Shift from Traditional Gendered Ones

http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/02/26/022611-opinions-column-parents-valenti-1-2/

Feminist author Jessica Valenti discusses how the American woman is still being subjected to a unequal division of labor in the home – after the birth of a child. She cites how in recent years, American couples are increasingly marrying for “love” as opposed to “traditional reasons” and may have egalitarian marriages, until they become parents. Once they have a child it seems that the traditional gender roles seem to rear their ugly heads once more, leaving the woman the lions share of the labor at home – in addition to being discriminated against in the workplace (even more so now as a mother – the U.S. being the only industrialized country without paid maternity leave). These sobering facts and more are presented in a sardonic humor typical of Valenti, leaving us with an important piece of information with the appropriate aftertaste of the ridiculousness of these issues that for some reason still plague women into the 21st century. -Lenna Jones