Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths. The good news is that if you follow the screening guidelines for colon cancer, you should never have to worry that colon cancer will end your life early.

Video: The Colonoscopy Procedure

Have you had a colonoscopy?I had mine shortly before I turned 50, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised.  Share your thoughts and experiences on colonoscopy.

Colon Cancer Screening Month originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 10:48:00.

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Depression affects about 18 million people every year in the US. Women suffer from depression significantly more often than men which makes it vital that all women learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression so that they can take action when they see these signs in themselves, their family members, or friends. True depression is more than just the occasional "blues" that most people encounter now and then. Clinical depression affects the whole person -- mind, body, personal life, work life. Learn the facts about women and depression.

Suicide Of Marie Osmond's Son Reminds Us Of The Prevalance Of Depression originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Sunday, February 28th, 2010 at 16:51:48.

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How does having a bunch of needles poked into you relieve pain? Acupuncture is believed to relieve menstrual cramps by stimulating the body's production of endorphins and serotonin. Endorphins are naturally-occurring compounds created by the body during exercise and excitement to produce a feeling of well-being. Serotonin is a chemical produced in the brain that plays a key role in depression when serotonin levels are low.

Does this mean you should rush out and find an acupuncturist? Not necessarily, the researchers say there is some question about the methodology of some of the studies reviewed and that further clinical trials are needed before a more definitive conclusion can be reached. Until then, traditional treatments including exercise, applying heat to the lower abdomen and / or back, and painkillers may be your best bet for relieving your menstrual cramps.

Self Help For Menstrual Cramps

More Ways To Relieve Menstrual Cramps

How To Make Your Own Heating Pad

Acupuncture May Spell Relief For Menstrual Cramps originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 16:35:54.

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What Is PMDD?

The Signs And Symptoms Of Perimenopause

Menopause Self-Testing

Scientists Discover Gene Variant Plays Key Role In PMDD originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 16:51:04.

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Show your support for heart disease awareness and wear your favorite red dress, shirt or blouse, shoes, or other clothes on Friday, February 5, 2010 -- National Wear Red Day^®-- the day when all across the Nation women wear red to show support for heart disease awareness.

Wear Red For Heart Disease Awareness originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 01:39:25.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria that often lives on the skin, and sometimes in the nasal passages, of perfectly healthy people. Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, often shows up in skin infections such as boils and pimples, and more and more often is not healing after a round of traditional antibiotics. This is where MRSA comes in -- when traditional antibiotics such as penicillin-type drugs fail to cure skin infections, as well as other more serious types of infection that can affect the heart, blood, lungs, and bones.

Staph infections of the skin frequently present as red, swollen, and very painful boils on the skin. There may be pus draining from the infection and a fever is often present. Of course, I'd heard of MRSA, but I didn't worry too much about it until a few weeks ago, when a very painful boil popped up on my back in a matter of minutes one evening while I waited for my son to fix his first flat tire. I wasn't sure what was causing the pain -- maybe it was a suddenly painful pulled muscle. Once my son and I got home, he looked at my back and said it was an abscess, which I begged (because, as a medical assistant he knew better) him to "pop." He finally gave in to me, but that didn't really stop the pain or make it better.

Finally, two days later, I called my doctor (who actually often answers his own phone) and he told me to come right in. One look at my back and he knew what it was  and prescribed the treatment for MRSA -- a combination of three antibiotics. Wow, those antibiotics made me feel horrible, but I took them until they were gone and returned to the doctor for my follow up appointment. It was only after I had finished the antibiotics and been back to the doctor that I finally looked up the antibiotics I had taken -- I'd taken two of them before, but had never heard of one. I wondered about the antibiotics, at that point, because over twenty-four hours since I'd finished the medication I experienced the most incredible night sweats ever -- in spite of having a hysterectomy over 10 years ago. As I read the possible drug interactions for the new antibiotic, I saw that it said it could interfere with "female hormones, including birth control pills." It definitely interfered with my hormones, as bad as the sweats were I wouldn't have been surprised to have drowned in my bed. Now I have the deepest empathy for women who experience sweats on a regular basis, or as a result of using medications such as Lupron.

I've learned a lot about MRSA in the last few weeks, especially about how to prevent MRSA. Today, I go back to the doctor, and although the area on my back is still red, I think it's healing.

When MRSA Hits Home originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 10:10:09.

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The Mirena IUD was originally approved for contraceptive use in 2000. Since its' approval, the most serious and rare side effects of the Mirena IUD have included ectopic pregnancy, intrauterine pregnancy (a pregnancy in the uterus with the IUD in place), group A streptococcal sepsis, pelvic inflammatory disese (PID), embedment of the device in the uterine wall, and perforation of the uterine wall or cervix.

More common side effects that were reported by patients in the clinical trial using the Mirena IUD to treat heavy menstrual bleeding included irregular spotting or bleeding, headaches, ovarian cysts, vaginitis, painful menstruation, pelvic pain, and breast tenderness.

Source: FDA News Release. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm184747.htm. Accessed 10/07/2009

Mirena IUD Approved For Treatment Of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 at 11:59:20.

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If you want to lose weight permanently and safely, you must follow the instructions your surgeon gives you for eating after getting the lap band. How do I know? I had lap band surgery over 5 years ago. First I lost 90 pounds pretty quickly, unfortunately I regained almost all of my weight loss when a personal tragedy happened and I discovered how easily I could consume things like ice cream and chocolate.

Right now I'm, thankfully, on track with losing weight again -- partially due to having 9 teeth out and not replacing them yet. So now that I have only two teeth that I can chew with, I'm forced to take the small, well-chewed, bites of food that I was prescribed following lap band surgery. The weight is coming off slowly this time, and perhaps when I reach my goal weight I'll consider replacing the lost "chewing" teeth with implants or partials.

One of the most important things I've learned during my weight loss battle, is that exercise plays a key role in successful weight loss. In my opinion, regular exercise is almost more important than the food you eat. For many women, the thought of exercising is overwhelming, but no matter how overweight and out of shape you are, you can exercise. If twenties minutes of walking is too hard in the beginning, start with just five or ten minutes -- the important thing is that you make the effort, soon you'll be able to increase the time and effort you put  into your exercise routine.

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You?

Tips For Starting An Exercise Plan

Lap Band Makes Weight Loss Easy originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Sunday, January 10th, 2010 at 13:56:59.

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Of course, the biggest New Years resolution we make is to lose weight and get in shape. Unfortunately, the weight loss resolution is also the most quit New Year's resolution. If losing weight and getting in shape is your goal, you are more likely to achieve your goal if you also start an exercise program. If you are severely obese, and you've tried many times to lose weight without success, you might want to explore your options in weight loss surgery.

What is your New Years resolution? Have you been successful with your previous New Years resolutions? What has made you successful? What has hinder your success?

New Year, New You originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 19:50:46.

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Have or will you get the flu vaccines? Either one or both the H1N1 or the seasonal flu vaccines? This year, I decided that I was not getting either type of flu vaccine. While the majority of people who get the vaccine never get the flu, I seem to get the flu within weeks of getting the vaccine. And as luck would have it, it's usually Christmas or New Years when I'm the sickest. This year is different in that I had the H1N1 flu a few months ago, and still have a pretty bad case of bronchitis as a result.

While getting the flu vaccine offers you the best protection against getting the flu,  there are a few other things you can do to lower your risk. Because the flu virus is believed to be spread by being around people who are coughing and sneezing, keep a supply of tissues handy to pass out to others you may see coughing and sneezing around you, as well as to contain your own coughs and sneezes. Always throw the tissue away, don't think you can save it to use again, it's just not worth the risk of spreading the flu virus.

Of course, not enough can be said about proper hand washing hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 15 to 20 seconds  using  mild soap and water throughout the day after eating, using the bathroom, etc. If you don't have soap and water available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers regularly. I avoided hand sanitizers for a long time, because they caused eczema breakouts on my hands. This year, I've found hand moisturizers that work the same as the regular hand sanitizers. The hand moisturizing sanitizers that I've found include ones sold at Bath and Body Works, as well as one made by Gold Bond and available at most drug stores. The CDC has more tips for proper hand washing, that may be helpful.

You should also avoid rubbing your face, eyes, and mouth -- this significantly raises your risk of infection.

If you do get the flu, make sure to stay away from others until you are well. You'll know when you are well enough to be in public when you have not had a fever for 24 hours without taking any fever-reducers such as acetaminophen or aspirin.

Finally, it goes without saying that you should follow all public health warnings that occur in your area.

Have you or your family had either the H1N1 flu or the seasonal flu this year? What are you doing to prevent the flu this year? Share your experiences with the flu, as well as what you are doing to prevent the flu from infecting yourself and your family.

Will The Flu Get You Down This Holiday Season? originally appeared on About.com Women's Health on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 12:11:54.

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One of my favorite mom bloggers and political commentators, Joanne Bamberger (aka PunditMom) is in the midst of writing her first book, Mothers of Intention, due out this fall. She tweets that it's been very hard for her to find conservative political moms willing to be interviewed.

That can't be true, can it? C'mon, don't let us liberal moms dominate the conversation! I know your'e out there. That's because when I write about anything abortion-related, I have lots of conservative female (and male) readers posting here to debate my commentary. And intelligent discourse between opposing sides is always appreciated when participants focus on opinion and avoid name-calling.

If you're a conservative mom with kids at home (or kids out of the house that have retained your conservative values) who has raised your family with a strong political awareness and aren't hesitant about sharing your views, Joanne would appreciate speaking with you. Contact her through her blog, and perhaps you'll be featured in her upcoming book.

Conservative Political Moms, Will You Speak Out? originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 18:45:25.

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Having said that, I must admit that today is actually a very important day and  its timing couldn't be better. March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and recognition of this health risk to women is especially important at this time of year, not only because it's Women's History Month, but because it's the month that college campuses traditionally schedule spring break.

More on the spring break issue in a bit, but first, let's put the subject into perspective by looking at the stats. According to the U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy:

Every 35 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States....[Women] now account for 27 percent [of diagnoses].  The HIV epidemic in the U.S. disproportionately impacts women of color:  HIV/AIDS is one of the leading causes of death among black women and Latinas.  Compared to white women, the AIDS case rate is 5 times higher for Latinas and 20 times higher for black women....

It is imperative that HIV prevention efforts take into account the way in which many women in the U.S. become infected with HIV, as more than 80 percent of HIV/AIDS cases among women and teenage girls are attributable to heterosexual contact.

Reducing risky behaviors is essential. And that's where spring break comes in.

With more than 3 million college students heading out for spring break this year, health experts and educators are concerned that unprotected sex can not only spread STDs but AIDS/HIV. And media images of young adults and teens engaging in sex without the use of condoms are influencing student behaviors.

TV series like MTV's Jersey Shore depict casual sexual encounters that may or may not involve contraception; and it's an issue that so concerned ABC's The View co-host Joy Behar that she straight-out asked The Situation -- one of the reality show's stars -- if he used condoms when he was a guest on the show.

Popular college sex educator Shelby Knox is aware of the impact of shows like Jersey Shore. Noting that less than half of young adults use contraception when they have sexy, she wrote  the "Smart Girls Guide to Spring Break" for the Huffington Post to provide concrete advice on how to avoid pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS/HIV.

In an email interview with me, Knox acknowledged:

It's disconcerting to think that this generation could be putting their physical health at risk by copying the behavior they see on TV. Guys and girls should share responsibility for safe-guarding their collective health, whether it be buying the condoms and insisting on use every single time, or having on hand Plan B® One-Step emergency contraception on-hand to prevent pregnancy if the unexpected happens.

On this day of AIDS awareness geared toward women and girls, we need to remember that we can empower ourselves by not engaging in sexual activity unless it involves a form of contraception that protects us from sexually transmitted diseases.

The motto for female students heading off to spring break should be  BYOC -- Bring Your Own Condom. Even if your partner isn't thoughtful enough to provide one, you can respect yourself and your health enough to make sure that if a condom isn't part of sexual activity, it's a deal-breaker.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Condom Use, and Spring Break originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 17:58:26.

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Here's a closer look at three of them:

54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women and "Beijing + 15"

For the past nine days, the Commission on the Status of Women (which falls under the auspices of ECOSOC, the United Nations Economic and Social Council) has been meeting at the UN for its 54th session.

The Commission, which is dedicated to gender equality and the advancement of women, is the principal global policy-making body. The annual session brings representatives of member nations to the UN to review progress that's been made, assess current challenges facing women, set standards and create policies to help advance women.

This year is especially notable as it's the 15th anniversary of the historic gathering of women and member nations known as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This year's CSW session includes evaluation of whether or not the goals set out by the Beijing Declaration have been reached, what new challenges are, and what still needs to be done.

The session continues through March 12.

NIH VBAC Conference

Today is the second in a three-day conference on VBACs (vagina births after cesarian) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Why a conference on VBAC?

It used to be commonly accepted that "once a cesarian, always a cesarian" -- that if a woman gave birth via c-section, her subsequent deliveries would have to be repeat c-sections because she wouldn't be a good candidate for vaginal delivery due to medical issues.

However, in 1980 the NIH re-evaluated that assumption and set up guidelines for medical professionals to determine if a woman could give birth vaginally. After this turnaround, the number of VBACs rose for the next decade-and-a-half, until 1996 when cesarian rates have increased and VBACs have declined.

The reason for the shift isn't clearly understood, and many are concerned that non-clinical reasons are driving doctors to encourage women to have unnecessary surgery -- to automatically opt for a c-section rather than consider a vaginal birth.

As always with issues surrounding women's reproductive health, having a choice is crucial but often denied to women. As one blogger attending the conference wrote:

Why do doctors continue to talk about whether or not we should "allow" certain women to VBAC rather then supporting a woman's right to choose by offering access to VBAC and information on real risks of attempting VBAC or a repeat cesarean delivery?...

Why can't we talk about the difference between VBAC rates based on birth setting (home, hospital or birth center)?...Isn't the fact that access to a "trial of labor" would lead to 9/100,000 fewer deaths a good reason to support VBAC?

The National Young Feminist Leadership Conference

Scheduled for March 20-21 in Washington, DC, the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference is geared toward students and offers two days of workshops, leadership training, and networking with leaders and activists across the country.

Attendees who stay an additional day can put their newly-acquired skills to work during a Congressional Day of Action on March 22, when participants will have the chance to speak to their representatives on Capitol Hill.

Sponsored by the Feminist Majority Foundation's Choices Campus Program, the two-day program is only $25 or $20 for groups of five or more.

Related article:

What is the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action?

Look Who's Meeting - March is Women's Conference Month originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 14:07:46.

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If you're under 30, you might not have recognized that exit theme - a song so overplayed that it's now turned into a cliche.

It was "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy, first released in 1972.

C'mon, can't we do any better in coming up with a soundtrack that reflects the lives of successful, powerful, accomplished women, than a 38 year old song?

Where are all the great female anthems?

If you had to pick the song that would play as you exited the stage following one of the biggest moments of your life, what would it be? I can't help but think that Kathryn Bigelow would have chosen something better.

_{© Kevin Winter/Getty Images}

Related articles:

• What are the Top Female Anthems?
• Readers Respond with Their Favorite Female Anthems
• What Female Anthem Would You Choose?

That's the Best They Could Come Up with for Kathryn Bigelow's Oscar Win? originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 00:59:13.

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Bigelow's win for Best Director and Best Picture was for The Hurt Locker, a film about an American bomb squad unit in Iraq. Her Oscar came after 81 years of white male directors dominating that category, and was a giant leap forward for women directors in Hollywood.

Sandra Bullock's Best Actress performance was for the drama The Blind Side and gave her the chance to flex her dramatic acting chops after being the 'go-to girl' for more romantic comedies than were good for her (as evidenced by another award she won this weekend - the 'worst actress' Razzie for her performance in All About Steve.)

And stand-up comedian and late-night talk show host Mo'Nique won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a violent, abusive mother in Precious.

Bigelow and Bullock both gave gracious, elegant, touching speeches. But leave it to Mo'Nique to appear at the Oscars in an outfit that made a statement -- not a fashion statement but a political one -- and to speak her mind about her win. As Mo'Nique told reporters after the awards ceremony, the reason she wore a blue dress and gardenias in her hair was to pay tribute to Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy Award; McDaniel wore that color and that flower when she accepted her groundbreaking Oscar in 1940.

In an earlier interview with Barbara Walters (who, after 29 years of doing an in-depth sit-down with select stars before the Oscars, ended the tradition last night), Mo'Nique explained why she doesn't shave her legs and why sex outside her marriage to her husband -- a pal since childhood -- would not be a deal-breaker. She even showed her hairy bare legs on camera, saying that it's too uncomfortable to shave.

Later, when a reporter asked what would happen if actresses had "more natural figures and didn't shave their legs," Mo'Nique replied, "They would win more Oscars." Another remarked on her habit of referring to herself as a stand-up comedian instead of an actress; would she change that now that she'd won an Oscar? Her response? "I am a stand-up comedian that won an Oscar."

She acknowledged that there was a part of her in the role that won her an Oscar and stated, "Everybody deserves to be loved even when they're unlovable."

Mo'Nique's acceptance speech reflected on the very thing which made Katheryn Bigelow's win such a big story -- the politics of the Academy, the issues of gender and race, and a voting process that can get bogged down in controversy. Mo'Nique thanked the Academy "for showing that it can be about the performance and not the politics."

More women of color were represented last night than I've seen in a while. More younger, first time nominees as well. Whether Hollywood is changing its tune has yet to be seen. But the 82nd annual Academy Awards provided much inspiration and many role models for up-and-coming women in film. What Hattie McDaniel did for African American actors, Kathryn Bigelow is doing for women directors.

But while the African American community had to wait nearly a decade for another African American to be nominated for an Oscar, let's hope the same doesn't hold true for upcoming female directors.

_{Photo of Mo'Nique © Jason Merritt/Getty Images}

Related articles:

• Hollywood Doesn't Get Female Directors or Female Audiences
• Will Kathryn Bigelow Be The First Woman to Win Best Director?

Oscar Winners Kathryn Bigelow, Sandra Bullock, Mo'Nique Prove that Women Can Handle More than Romantic Comedies originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 15:43:17.

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As forward-thinking as we may believe the U.S. to be regarding women  -- after all, the Seneca Falls Convention was the first women's rights convention on the planet -- we do fall short in several areas.

The most glaring omission is the failure of the United States to ratify a little something called CEDAW - the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Regarded as a sort of international bill of rights for women, CEDAW is a UN treaty that has been signed by nearly all of the nations on the planet...yet the U.S. is one of a handful of holdouts (and the company we keep in that regard isn't very flattering.)

If you do just one "women's issues" related thing on this International Women's Day, it should be to learn as much as you can about CEDAW if it's unfamiliar to you -- and understand why bipartisanship not only impacts healthcare reform and Wall Street bailouts but also the basic recognition of women's rights as human rights.

That's why I'm providing a wealth of links that serve as CEDAW 101 -- everything you need to know to realize what's at stake with this international treaty.

First, the basics:

• What is CEDAW?
• Why Won't the U.S. Ratify CEDAW?
• What is a 'Clean' CEDAW? How Would Restrictions Limit Women's Rights?

And then additional info from Kavita N. Ramdas, President of the Global Fund for Women, an international women's rights expert whose global perspective informs the issues:

• Why CEDAW and Women's Rights is a Human Rights Issue
• What Would Happen if the U.S. Ratified CEDAW?
• Where Does the U.S. Rank in the Global Gender Gap? Not Very High
• What is Obama's Position on CEDAW?
• Want the U.S. to Ratify CEDAW? What You Can Do

And finally, a more granular perspective: reflections on International Women's Day from Eugene Yakub, a commentator whose heartfelt joy in celebrating women past, present, and future is tempered by first-hand knowledge that "women are still far too often living with little or no choice regarding their womanhood."

Choice, after all, is what women's rights are all about. Having the ability to choose politically (by exercising the right to vote ), choose financially (by earning a living wage), choose socially (by selecting a life partner and not having one forced upon you), and choose emotionally (by becoming pregnant with intentionality, and not under duress or pressure) -- those are the hallmarks of freedom.  If you enjoy these freedoms, don't ever take them lightly; generations of women fought for you to be able to not think twice about them. And if you're lacking in one or more areas, keep pushing for change and remember that there are women around the globe working on your behalf.

On International Women's Day, we are all one large family of sisters. Even I, an only child, can feel the love today.

International Women's Day - Women's Views from Global to Granular originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 07:49:43.

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Self-infliction: A bizarre case in Utah, in which a 17-year-old girl who was 7 months pregnant paid a stranger $150 to beat her up to induce a miscarriage, has resulted in that state introducing a bill to criminalize illegal abortions. Legal abortions performed by a doctor would not be criminalized, but if a woman attempted to end her pregnancy through other means or self-infliction, she would be held criminally liable.

Self-starvation: Eating disorders aren't restricted to teens and young women. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that an increasing number of women in their 30s, 40s, and older are seeking treatment for anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.

Self-sacrifice: A Women's eNews commentary takes on the book that everyone's buzzing about - Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough - which tells women to stop being so picky and lower their expectations when looking for a lifelong partner. Commentator Caryl Rivers, a Boston University journalism professor and author of Selling Anxiety: How the News Media Scare Women, says that cultural messages for men and women are different, and that men are encouraged to aim high and go for "hotties" while women are told to lower their sights and make some sacrifices to get a guy.

Self-protection: Remember Pri-losophy and her edible panties discussion? She's back with another video, Protect your sexy self, which explains why you shouldn't carry your cell phone in your purse, along with other tips to keep women safe.

Self-promotion: You'd never know UC Berkeley student Maggie Fuller has Crohn's disease. She spent her junior year studying abroad in Ireland and Costa Rica, then stayed in that country to help an organic farm cooperative that assists single mothers. Living in a remote village without pain medication or nearby health services, Fuller endured increasingly painful flare-ups of her disease that eventually required surgery after she returned to the U.S. Now a senior, Maggie wants to service developing economies and assist impoverished populations after graduation. And she'd like to continue to roam the globe by winning a travel internship. Meet Maggie and see her video describing some of her adventures.

Self-indulgence: Sarah Palin, fresh off her Tonight Show appearance and shopping around a reality show with TV producer Mark Burnett (of Survivor fame), allegedly found her way into the Oscar gift suite (set up for tonight's Academy Awards) and grabbed plenty of swag. Although she's supposed to donate it to the Red Cross, the Huffington Post reports that several celebrity news sites are saying that Palin and her entourage of 20 or so are not letting go of any of it.

Sunday Shorts - It's All About Self originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 01:01:19.

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But Women & Hollywood blogger Melissa Silverstein thinks that the trend is about to end. Writing for the Women's Media Center, she observes:

[C]hances are very good that for the first time a woman--Kathryn Bigelow--will have won the best director Oscar for The Hurt Locker. Three other women (Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola) have been nominated in the 82 years that the Academy has held its awards, but with due respect to them and their films, none of them had a shot.

This year is different....the consensus is that Bigelow is at the front of the pack to win the award.

Silverstein notes that Bigelow's rise -- and her success with The Hurt Locker, the film that earned her the Best Director nomination -- is as bizarre as a movie script. If she wins, she'll beat out Avatar, a high-budget film that's broken all box office records and was directed by her ex-husband James Cameron.

But in "Oscar's Sexist Plot Against Kathryn Bigelow," Nicole LaPorte at the Daily Beast worries that if Bigelow wins, it'll be because she's a woman:

[T]here's no denying that Bigelow and her film are being viewed through a distinctly sexist lens. Her admirers in the so-called industry, in applaudingHurt Locker, give Bigelow kudos for making a "man's movie"....The Los Angeles Times' Pete Hammond has said, "She made a movie that looked like it was directed by a man."

Which, in the context of the Oscar race, is a back-handed compliment drenched in machismo that essentially boils down to: How cool is that? A chick made a dude flick!

But does that mean that had Bigelow made Under the Tuscan Sun she wouldn't have been nominated? And does it explain why--sigh, is there no better phrase than chick-flick?--directors such as Nora Ephron and Jane Campion have yet to win?

Hollywood reflects what the corporate sector once required of women -- that they be as masculine and as tough as their male counterparts. Women had to 'act like a man' to play a man's game..or so it was believed.

If Bigelow wins Sunday night, it'll be a personal victory and a symbolic one for women working in the film industry. And women need all the encouragement they can get after years of fading into the background within the Hollywood power structure.

Want to see who the other Academy Award-nominated women are this year? Included in Jane Fonda's commentary, "Show Me the Women...in Hollywood" for the Huffington Post is a video that acknowledges and honors the women who brought us some of the greatest moments in film in 2009.

_{Photo of Kathryn Bigelow © Dave Hogan/Getty Images}

Related article: Hollywood Doesn't Get Female Directors or Female Audiences

Will Kathryn Bigelow Be the First Woman Ever to Win an Oscar for Best Director? originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 23:52:13.

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ESPN radio show host Tony Kornheiser trash-talked his colleague, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, because he didn't like what she was wearing, and has subsequently been suspended for two weeks. That's the short version of the story.

But Kornheiser didn't simply say her outfit was "horrifying." As quoted by TheBigLead.com, Kornheiser criticized her for being too old to carry off her attire:

She's got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt ... way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.....She's got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body ... I know she's very good, and I'm not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won't ... but Hannah Storm ... come on now! Stop! What are you doing? ... She's what I would call a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point.

Ummm, Tony? You were critical of an ESPN person and a professional colleague, so strike one against you.

Strike two - your comments were not only sexist but ageist as well. (Kornheiser is 61 years old. Hannah Storm is 47.)

And strike three -- your Holden Caulfield comment may have compared Storm to a whore. As Jack Shafer notes at Slate:

What's probably appalled ESPN is Kornheiser's literary reference about Storm being "a Holden Caulfield fantasy at this point," a reference that probably went over the heads of 99 percent of his listeners. Is Kornheiser referring to Chapter 13 of The Catcher in the Rye, in which Caulfield hires a prostitute but makes the procurer promise not to send him "any old bag"?

The "old bag" reference is significant because it reflects an existing attitude toward aging women: don't try to be sexy because it's inappropriate for someone your age.

That's code for "women of a certain age." Namely, women past 40.

Yet older women are laying claim to their sexuality with greater confidence as evidenced by milfs and cougars -- powerful images of sexy older women desired by younger men. While relationships between older men and younger women rarely raise eyebrows, the reverse often elicits reactions of scorn, disdain, and disgust.

When I asked readers if the term cougar was positive or negative, billy bob responded, "you're old, none of you look as good as when you were in your prime...you are used and damaged goods." Donovan wrote, "It seems the older women get...the more they're in denial about aging."

I suspect Kornheiser wouldn't have said a word if that "horrifying outfit" had been worn by a female ESPN colleague half Storm's age. Men rarely have an issue with anything worn by a young woman who's attractive. It's only when they get older -- and judged not so 'easy on the eyes' -- that a woman gets criticized by a man for what she wears.

Yet as many older women can tell you, we tend to dress to meet the expectations of others when we're younger, and take more liberties with style -- and dress more to please ourselves -- as we get older. Hannah Storm has been there, done that, and knows what she's doing. As she told the Huffington Post in 2008:

My on-camera style has really changed over the years. When I was one of the only female sports anchors in the country, at CNN and NBC Sports, I used to wear a lot of suits....When I moved into hosting the CBS "Early Show," suits were a staple along with tailored skirts and dresses....Now that I'm back in sports, I can go much more with my personal style....My preference is fitted and feminine clothes and I am really happy with my style now because its much more reflective of my personality and a lot more fun, rather than being so anchor-ish!

Storm appears quite comfortable in her skin and with her wardrobe. And comments posted at TheBigLead.com suggest that others are as well. Mike NYC said, "Hannah Storm looks damn good for 47." TheSportsHernia agrees, adding, "Seriously. Had no idea she was that old, " while ThatsSoTaguchi responded, "I think the point is that Tony is angry that elderly women are dressing this way. He's fine with the young selling sex."

Good point. Let ESPN viewers determine whether or not Hannah Storm is suitably or "horribly" dressed. It's the audience that matters, not the opinion of one mean-spirited, snarky, grumpy old man.

_{Photo of Hannah Storm © Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images}

Tony Kornheiser's Hannah Storm Comments - Why the Hate for Sexy Older Women? originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Thursday, February 25th, 2010 at 00:59:12.

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SadandUseless.com has posted 14 vintage sepia-toned photos of a man and woman re-enacting some of the worst possible things a single lady could do on a date, at least according to commonly-accepted standards 72 years ago. Here's a sample:

• Careless women never appeal to gentlemen. Don't talk while dancing, for when a man dances he wants to dance.
• Don't be familiar with your escort by caressing him in public. Any open show of affection is in bad taste, usually embarrasses or humiliates him.
• Don't talk about clothes or try to describe your new gown to a man. Please and flatter your date by talking about the things he wants to talk about.
• Don't drink too much, as a man expects you to keep your dignity all evening. Drinking too much may make some girls seem clever, but most get silly.
• Don't be conspicuous talking to other men. The last straw is to pass out from too much liquor. Chances are your date will never call you again!

All I can say is this: what would the authors make of the wildly promiscuous, self-proclaimed "guidos" and "guidettes" of MTV's popular reality show Jersey Shore -- especially its breakout star Snooki, who violates even today's standards of behavior?

The Way We Were - Advice for Ladies on a Date originally appeared on About.com Women's Issues on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 18:54:53.

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• This Photo
• Settlement Houses
• Jane Addams

More Wordless Wednesday:

• Wordless Wednesday - Women's History in Pictures
• Wordless Wednesday around About.com
• See more Wordless Wednesday images on the Net

Wordless Wednesday - The Sewing Class originally appeared on About.com Women's History on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 01:36:26.

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