Author Archives: Eryn-Ashlei Bailey

Rewriting Madams back into Herstory

As I’ve discussed in previous posts, a widely held misconception is that men are responsible for holding women against their will in brothels. However, I have found that women are also  in fact running the brothels that are sexploitating so many helpless victims around the world. When I thought about this, I was so perplexed. [...]
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My life was so boring til’ I started whoring-NA

Carol Leigh, better known as the “Scarlot Harlot” is an activist, film-maker, and prostitute. She has worked with the COYOTE organization and coined the phrase “sex work” in the late seventies during the sex workers equal rights movement. I learned about Carol’s work when I read the book Sex Work which is a collection of short [...]
Posted in Creating Solutions, Culture & History, Current Events, Politics & Economy, Gender & Feminism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Human Trafficking Domestic and Abroad

Somaly Mam is a Women’s Herstory Heroine who we covered earlier in the series. Yesterday, she spoke at the Levin Institute in New York City at an event hosted by the United Nations Association of New York. The UNA has established human trafficking as the main initiative of their advocacy committee. There is a sense [...]
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Women complimenting other women

All women are beautiful in unique and undeniable ways. With the toxic level of  homophobia that still exists in our culture, it becomes uncomfortable when a woman wants to compliment another woman on her physical appearance. Unless two women are more than acquainted and have established a friendship, comments on attractiveness are often off-limits. This [...]
Posted in Mind & Body, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Is it still the man’s job to approach a woman?

During this Women’s Herstory Series, I want to discuss relevant issues that women face today while also honoring great women of the past and present. As the economy has changed from an agrarian foundation into the industrial sector, more women have left the conventional roles of homemaker, housewife, and other domestic occupations. Now, we see greater numbers [...]
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The Herstory of Madame Mao

Madame Mao was on the of the most powerful figures in the People’s Republic of China during the Cultural Revolution from 1966-1976. She held significant influence and political power in Communist China under her husband’s Mao Zedong regime. Before becoming one of China’s “Gang of Four” that would create upheaval during its reign, Madame Mao [...]
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The Herstory of the Taj Mahal

The modern woman is most likely jaded by love. The institution of marriage has been defiled by a perverse false commitment in so many instances. How do women reclaim their school girl notions that such a passion can exist for two people? Perhaps, if the story of Arjumand Banu Begum (also known as Mumtaz Mahal) [...]
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The Bonnie Behind Clyde

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker was the Camel chain-smoking, rifle handling evader of the law from West Dallas, TX. Bonnie goes unrecognized if her name is not accompanied by Clyde and the converse is also true. In the history books, she goes down as merely an accomplice of Clyde and an outlaw. But there was more to [...]
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What it takes to make a modern woman

a 7 year old girl was allowed to be the drum corps queen at Brazil's infamous Carnival celebration. Most male bachelors that I have met fantasize about hosting their "last night as a single man" in Brazil. Brazilian women are considered incredibly exotic and beautiful and they are. The Carnival celebration in Brazil is often a celebration of debauchery and lawlessness. And yet, we see a 7 year old girl allowed to be the center of attention at this event. The role of drums corps queen as cited by several articles and critics of this issue, is reserved for "sultry actresses and models". It is a traditionally "sexy" role. Men at the carnival are driven there to see the scantily clad gorgeous Brazilian women move their bodies in sensual rhythm. The young Julia Lira was placed in the limelight and absolutely sexualized to an immoral degree.
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The Herstory of Somaly Mam

On September 8, 2008 I was fortunate to hear Somaly Mam speak at Fordham University in New York. Somaly is a survivor of rape, forced prostitution, and a forerunner in the fight against human trafficking. She was Glamour Magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2006. She’s been a guest on the Tyra Banks show alongside Susan Sarandon. Somaly Mam has even [...]
Posted in Creating Solutions, Culture & History, Gender & Feminism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hawaii’s Queen

I begin the Women's Herstory Series with a study of Queen Lili'uokalani. She was the first and only female regent of Hawaii and she was the last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Queen was born on September 2, 1838. Her birth name was Lydia Kamaka 'eha Paka. She was one of fifteen children and in line with Hawaiian custom, she was adopted by Abner Paki and Laura Konia. She was educated at Hawaii's Royal School and learned English. The Queen Lili'uokalani Children's Center has record that her motto was: " "E onipa‘a...i ka ‘imi na‘auao" which translates to "Be steadfast in the seeking of knowledge." Her Majesty was indeed very intelligent.
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Black fraternities present opportunities

Alpha Phi Alpha was the first black fraternal organization in the United States. It was organized by the “Seven Jewels”. These seven individuals were extraordinarily intelligent and were said to present extreme “scholarship, leadership and tenacity”. In Ithaca, New York at Cornell University in 1906, the racial climate was incredibly tense. The “Seven Jewels” originally [...]
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Awakening A’Lelia Walker

She traversed the world and gazed her brown eyes on the pyramids of Egypt, saw the coronation of a pope in Rome, and was in the company of the Ethiopian Empress Waizeru. The colorful history of A’Lelia Walker has been graciously shared with me by her great-granddaughter and biographer A’Lelia Bundles. A’Lelia Bundles, who [...]
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Savagely Celebrating the Negro National Anthem

The Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the great United States of America. As a country, we have our flaws, but I still believe it is great to live in this land. Once known as the Negro National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is currently the African-American National Anthem. Lift Every Voice [...]
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Branding the Black Woman

Throughout the Black History Month series, I have reviewed historical figures, events of importance, as well as pieces of culture that are distinctly African-American. As the series continues, I plan to uncover the perception of black women in the United States as shown in advertisements, movies, and media etc…Today, I will specifically discuss the vision [...]
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