Some cause for celebration on the feminist front

     In offering a bit of well-earned celebration to the mothers of the world, Mother’s Day is also, by definition, a celebration of women – their triumphs as much as their travails.
     Back in March I wrote a blogpost calling for the resignation of Juan Terranova, a prominent journalist and professor in Buenos Aires who threatened with brutal rape Inti Maria, an activist for the anti-street harassment outfit Hollaback. I’m thrilled to announce that after an international outcry and months of work, this outcome has at last come to pass.
     Hollaback’s initiative began with a petition in Spanish on Change.org, and quickly spread through the usual social media conduits – Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and so forth – until it had garnered over 3,500 signatures from 75 countries. When El Guardian, the publication that Mr. Terranova worked for, refused to follow through on their demands, activists targeted the magazine’s two main advertisers, Fiat and Lacoste. Incredibly, both pulled out, and condemned Terranova’s threat. Reeling from their loss, El Guardian issued a public apology and showed Terranova the door.
     Needless to say, the outcome of this initiative is inspiring not only for its own sake, but also in the precedent it sets for future action, issuing to the Terranovas of the world a message that they cannot expect to operate forever under the mantle of impunity.
     To Hollaback, Change.org, and everyone involved in the campaign, I thank you profusely for a job well done.
     For the full story, click here.