Carolyn Gold Heilbrun

I received a diagnose recently that will effect my whole life, it is largely untreatable, chronic and relapsing medical conditon.  The realities of this condition and the effects on my life so far have lead me to ponder important feminist issues such has interdependence, autonomy, and suicide.  Having complete autonomy over my body, a vital part of a feminist belief system means that if I make the calculated decision to end my life that no outside force should interject: to do so would be forcing control over another, akin to assault.  

Respecting autonomy can be one of the hardest things, I know for myself it has meant asking people what they need, supporting where I can and then letting go even when I really want things to be different, this right now is how I want others to support me has I make choices in how I will live with this condition. For anyone who knows me personally and is reading this please do not be to concerned, has of this posting I do not have an immediate plan for suicide rather I consider it an option if I can no longer function in the world doing what I need to do. 

Today  I introduce to you another feminist scholar. This New York based scholar, feminist and incredibly frank women. Dr. Heilburn.  An outspoken feminist Heilbrun spent a great deal of her activism on women in academics, but also had strong opinions of motherhood and gender roles. I have determined I need to read everything she wrote.  Heilburn also believed in choice in death. She wrote about wanting to end her life at 70, before things deteriorated, she ultimately made the choice to end her own life in 2003 at 77, she was done. 

Carolyn Gold Heilbrun 

• Blue berries

• Red wine

• brandy

• Sparkling water--for a stronger drink hard selzer or for a sweeter drink soda.

I alternated ice and blue berries in the glass then smashed  the blueberries down a bit,  added one shot of Brandy and then filled the cup half and half with red wine and sparkling water. 

The idea for this drink came from a half empty bottle of wine and some blue berries about to go bad in my fringe. 

P.S 

Fun wine spritzer fact, it was decided a while ago that a white wine spritzer is a Susan B Anthony, because it will get you half way there but it is a little to pale. 

Octavia E. Butler

Along the theme of feminist scholars I would like to introduce another writer. I  haven't been feeling well, so I am finding myself unable to give this next feminist the attention that she deserves I will let Wikipedia do the work for me. Check out this feminist  and Si-fi genius here. 

Octavia E. Butler

• Frozen red wine, about one cup.

• One cup frozen mix berries

• Two ounces of Cointreau

• Seltzer water or alcoholic seltzer

• optional grand marnier float

Mix the first three ingredients in the blender then slowly stir in Seltzer, add float if desired and drink well enjoying your favorite feminist novel. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

It is the fourth of July. Thus I was trying to think of a fourth of July related feminist to post about, but beyond Abagail Adams, I could not think of anyone, so I am ignoring the holiday today. 

Before giving up on the fourth of July, I did attempt to make red white and blue fire cracker shots--pictured. Which did not work out but it did not go horribly wrong, so really what kind of an American am I. 

I just graduated. That is right who has more BS in her life? This baccalaureate!!  I have been playing " what do you do with a BA in English over and over since I turned in my last paper. I am also impatiently waiting for my LSAT score so I can figure out my life.  As a result, I decided to do a feminist lawyer today. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg 

This notorious feminist requires no introduction. This cocktail is strong and has a good bite to it. 

• One shot glass of sugar give or take depending on preference

• One shot glass half lemon and half lime juice

• One shot of Whisky

Shake with ice 

This recipe serves one for all the lonely people. If you have friends or are extra lonely feel free to double it. 

Gloria Anzaldua

I just finished the last semester of my degree and feel as if I was just jumped out of Undergrad. Who knew college was blood in and blood out. But really DO NOT TAKE A CREDIT OVERLOAD IN THE SUMMER. I mean you are an autonomous person and can do what you want, but I can not recommend avoiding that enough. Now someone remind me of this next summer. 

Continuing on the theme of feminist scholars I introduce to you, Gloria Anzaldua, a Chicana author most famous for her book Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza.  Gloria's work is about her life experiences and the intersection of race, gender and class. 

Gloria blends English, Spanish, queerness, feminism, and racial issues in an eloquent way that I can never hope to.  I will stop talking now. Just go read her books. 

The Gloria Anzaldua. 

Two jiggers of Tequila--I used Kirkland Brand because only the best for my family. 

One jigger of Cointreau--You could use triple sec as well if that is what you have. I mean I am not sure why you would but you could. 

Jalapeno Lime Aid--IDK to taste about a cup and a half for two here. 

Mix ingredients with ice and shake till your shaker gets all icy 

Pour over ice and serve in a salted glass. 

Drink well contemplating how complex issues around race and gender are and how we can all do better. 

J-Low -- no not that one.

I am waiting for my spring classes to start and cleaning my house. I was thinking of all the women who do not have the same access to education that I do, or those that can no longer continue their education because they have children.  I am so lucky to have the family support that I do, which allows me to do all these things. Certainly, providing women better access to education is one reason that we need feminism. 

Juliet Gordon Low

Juliet Gordon Low was the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts is a progressive organization walking the line between traditional values and the modern world we live in. Girl Scouts has really led the way for other youth  organizations in areas like Trans and queer rights and supporting communities of color.  J-Low was Born in Savannah Georgia. A peach drink seems to fit this impressive lady. 

• One once whipped creme vodka 
• 1.5 onces schnapps
• Peach slices 

Put the vodka and schnapps in a shaker with ice. Pour into a sugar rimed martini glass with peach slices. 

The First lady of civil rights

It is Martin Luther King day, the national day for white people to share short excerpts from King's speeches out of context. It is a day to check in with our friends of color and to educate our white friends on the privilege those of us with pale skin enjoy each day.  It is also just another day to feel terrified about our new president. Personally, I am knee deep in school work and hoping to use the day off to get ahead. 

Read MLKs letter from Birmingham Jail and remind all your friends who say Black Lives Matter is doing it wrong when they disrupted traffic to shut up study Martin Luther kinds history of Civil disobedience  and support the movement. 

Coretta Scott King 

Coretta Scott King is a hero in the civil rights movement of the 60s and 70s. An early example of intersectionality working with women's rights and LGBT issues. Also simply an incredible women. Seriously read her work and read about her.  Particularly pertinent to today's political climate Coretta spoke out about Jeff Sessions in 1986. Donald Trump has nominated Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General so be worried. 

• One Once Peach Schnapps

• One Once Grand Marnier

• One Cup Sweet tea which is black tea and sugar -- Tip to brew strong tea that is not bitter add more tea leafs not more time.

Shake with ice until it is frosty 

Serve with sliced oranges and cherries. 

The safe back ally abortion

I was up last night thinking about how abortion access is becoming an enormous issue for women and other folks with uteri. I am worried that under a Trump presidency and a Republican Congress it will get worse.  In parts of the US, it is just as hard to get an abortion as it is in countries where it is illegal.  Add in people who induce their abortions and are prosecuted.  Someone who can't afford to travel and pay huge fees for an abortion could face penalties to utilize a procedure that if provided by a physician would be legal. This seems like a horrible power dynamic and just ugh. Why can't we just access abortion privately? Through our primary care and GYN providers like other countries. 

Add to this the shaming, misinformation, and general fucking bull shit spewed by the " Pro-Life"  people who feel it is their duty to haunt people seeking abortion services. 

Since forever collectives have been formed to help people access abortions.  Abortion was part of a traditional midwifery role for centuries. In the 1970s the Jane Collective assisted people in Chicago in obtaining an abortion. Today Women on Waves and Women on the Web offers support for early abortion in countries where it is illegal. 

The Jane Collective

When designing this cocktail I considered naming it after many of the women who have come out as working with the Jane Collective but in the end decided to honor the group of 100+ women as a whole. 
The Jane Collective offered abortion services in the Chicago area in the 1970s, at first by referring to providers but over time the members themselves provided this service.  This group worked to ensure that their services were affordable, also to combat the ongoing issue of women working for free they paid members of the group who provided abortion services. All around a progressive feminist movement and one that I hope never needs to be repeated. 

Pour the coke over ice, add other ingredients to taste. 

• Coke

• Vodka

• Lime juice

• Grenadine

Brunch without Booze is just a sad late breakfast

In honor of signing up for the LSAT I decided to make a drink for a feminist legal scholar.  Being in the calm of no classes before the storm of taking an overload means one thing and that is brunch.  Brunch without booze is just a sad late breakfast.

Mary Joe Frug. 

Mary Joe Frug was a professor at New England Law school. Her book, Women and the Law, is still in publication. A draft article that Mary Joe wrote, "A Post Modern Feminist Legal Manifesto," was published in the Harvard Law Review. The result of this publication was men portraying Mary Joe as bitter. One year later, some detractors published a spoof peace mocking her writing on the anniversary of her death. I mean what the FUCK kinda asswipe does that?  Well, they did later apologize to her husband for the date of the publication. These men never publicly came to terms with their misogynistic views that lead them to belive this was an acceptable thing to do. If anyone asks you why you are a bitter feminist, just tell them about Mary Joe, chug your drink and then yell--YES ALL MEN!  Until they walk away. 

• One-half cup cherry juice

• One-half cup apple cider

• Prosecco

Una mujer fuerte

Need a reason to Drink? Try being a Queer Latina in a conservative state.  People are crazy.

Random story I recently learned a  local acupuncturist I followed on Facebook is a white supremacist. Being a healer and a raciest fuck seems like a conflict, but being a healer practicing a technique that is definitely not created by white people is taking that to a new level. 

Something about our new president elect validating hate speak has brought all the white supremacists out of the closet, which at least lets you know where people stand I guess. I have decided that if you cannot be at least semi-respectful of people from a cultural group you cannot enjoy parts of it. That means if you voted for Mr. Build A Wall--no tacos for you. 

Dolores Huerta

Born in Mexico and then moved to the US, Dolores helped form United Farm Workers. This civil rights, immigration, women's and workers activists won the Presidential Medal of  Freedom, the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights and she just generally kicks ass all around.  At  84 she is still fighting the good fight. Dolores helped campaign for Hilary Clinton this last election. 

• One part Tequila

• One part Kalua

• One part Creme De Coco

Dip the rim of your serving glass into some simple syrup and then rim your glass in a mixture of coco powder and cinnamon.  Pour the ingredients into a shot glass in equal parts. This drink can be served as a shot or added to coffee or hot chocolate. 

To all the Wonder Women

Getting ready for a January 20th inauguration day party, so I decided to make a special drink mix for that event. Thus, a drink to celebrate awesome women.  Why party when such a horrible person is taking office? Because the only way to get through the next 4 years will be with the help of our friends. I mean who else is going to donate to our Go Fund Me pages when we need healthcare?

The Wonder Women 

• Cherry Juice frozen in a Wonder Women ice cube tray. Grenadine would also work.

• 7-up

• Blue Curacao

• Vodka-- I like Titos because it is smooth

• Cherries

Dear Canada thanks for Maple Syrup and Samantha Bee

As part of an epic game of "where is that smell" coming from I decided to clean out my fridge today. I won't go into details but rest assured thanks to my cleaning efforts the world is now safe from what could have been a pandemic of epic proportions. Also, I need a drink--preferably one that does not require anything from the fridge. 

Todays drink is fitting for the winter weather and best served while cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, and trying to get your kids ready for bed--or while watching Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.

Samantha Bee

Current host of the television show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Also a former as well as my favorite ever Daily Show correspondent. Really since Sam Bee left the Daily Show it is hardly worth watching-- sorry Trevor Noah, Sam Bee is just better. 

Samantha Bee is an outspoken Feminist and a hilarious writer.  Seriously just watch her show.  

• Black tea brewed strong and served hot. 

• Honey -- get it because Bee? 

• Canadian whiskey -- or whatever you have.  

Virgin Drinks? On this blog?

A drink without booze?  Before you shout out what the FUCK, allow me to explain.  My pregnant friend asked me to make her a mocktail. Now not everyone chooses to abstain from all alcohol during pregnancy. I can certainly respect the choice.  My friend is also having blood sugar issues, so this drink is low carb. I will include some options for boozing it up for those who wish to. 

Emma Sulkowicz

I am sure most of you remember Emma, the Columbia University student who chose to carry her  mattress around everywhere until her rapist was expelled. Her actions sparked a nationwide protest and brought attention to the urgent issue of rape on college campuses.

• Two large strawberries. .

• Stevia to taste

• 2 drops orange essential oil (EO)--or 1 oz orange liqueur

• Carbonated water-- or Prosecco.

Muddle the strawberries with the stevia and EO, pour carbonated water on top. I chilled the muddled strawberries, glass and carbonated water before serving and this greatly improved the taste. 

Some kind of solution

America has elected a racist misogynistic pig as its next president. This may be a call for some to take up more activism, work hard to donate to causes that protect marginalized groups, or for others to leave the country. Others may just choose to drink. For the latter I present to you Feminist cocktails, a new cocktail named after a famous feminist presented to you on a semi regular basis. 

Week one: The Carrie Fisher 

The leading lady of the Star Wars Trilogy as well as a smart-mouthed activist for mental health has passed. It seems only fitting that we drink to this amazing lady who taught us all something important about speaking one's mind. 

Ingredients

• Champagne to fill glass about 3/4ths of the way.

• 1/4 once 151 rum

This drink is simple to make, but has an awesome effect. Simply pour your champagne wait for the fizzing to settle and then slowly pour the 151 on top so it forms a float on the top of the glass. 

The last step of this process is to light the 151 on fire. It is best to use a long stemmed match or lighter for this. I advise against a Bic lighter or standard match.  Try not to be an idiot with fire. Wipe off the sides of your glass and any booze spilled on the counter before lighting your drink and use standard fire precautions.  

Another note about igniting your drink. Booze burns blue and is hard to see in the light. Your drink may be lit without you even knowing it, so use caution. 

A final note. Some may question whether it is disrespectful to name a cocktail after a person who has struggled with addiction.  After some consideration, I have come to the conclusion that Ms. Fisher would not mind. That being said, if your drinking has become problematic, please seek help.