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Choosing to Abort Female Babies Is the Ultimate Challenge for Pro-Choice Advocates

By Linda | May 10, 2013

Abortion is not a topic that is easily discussed on a 500 word blog post. The legal, moral, ethical and practical issues are far-reaching and complex. Thus, I have avoided it for these nearly 5 years I have been posting on The Brodsky Blog.

But this week, when the North Carolina legislature upheld a ban on gender selective abortions, the ultimate feminist question became even more complicated, more nuanced and more divisive than ever before.

Sure, selective sex abortions in China and India are an outrage to any self-respecting feminist. In cultures where males are favored over females (hmm, educate me as to a culture which doesn’t favor the male over the female), aborting girls is the ultimate in gender discrimination. But these cultures are far away, not in our own more advanced back yards. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Does Governor Andrew Cuomo Really Want to See Equal Pay for Women?

By Linda | May 1, 2013

No one was more excited than I was when governor Andrew Cuomo came out with the Women’s Equality Act. #2 on the list is “equal pay.” Is he serious? Maybe and maybe not.

Let’s look at the contract negotiations presently occurring with the Union of University Professionals (UUP)–the union which represents the faculty at our state universities and colleges, according to state law. While no longer on faculty, I still follow the Buffalo campus’ gender equity list serve. And this is where those negotiations seem to be going. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cuomo equal pay act, gender pay gap, State University of New York, UUP negotiations | 1 Comment

Last “Awareness” for April–Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Linda | April 30, 2013

It was almost 14 years ago I learned about the “It Happened to Alexa” foundation. A family I knew took their 18 year old daughter to college. She had hopes and dreams. But they didn’t include a brutal rape. And certainly not the added brutality that a trial demanded she re-live to get justice but not relief from the erasable memories.

Rape is sexual violence in its most severe form. Mostly everyone (save a few uninformed members of congress) are aware of its much too regular occurrence and its life long devastating effects. But how about other sexual violence?

Let’s talk about sex trafficking for prostitution, date rape and sexual harassment in the workplace. I know I have had a huge education and some involvement (in my own small way) to make sure that awareness will lead to action. A good place to start is PAVE–Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment. Their motto–shattering the silence of sexual violence. This organization promotes the awareness of SAAM or Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Go to the website and look for all the opportunities that are available to help stop human trafficking where little girls, age 9 years, are kidnapped and forced into the ubiquitous slave trade where they serve large cartels in one of the largest global industries satisfying the sexual needs of men illicitly and surely unwillingly. This is happening in American cities, in our own backyards.

Learn about date rape. It could save your daughter, your sister, your friend. Women have to take responsibility and learn to stay out of dangerous situations and learn to say, “No” unambiguously and firmly. And also learn self-defense. Perhaps we should lobby for school health and wellness education include martial arts.

And finally there is the huge topic of sexual harassment. The Catholic church has unfortunately been plagued with the assault on little boys by priests. Women at work may be on the receiving end of both large and small doses of sexual innuendo that permeate some workplaces. The healthcare workplace, where intense emotions are unavoidable, outlets often include release of sexual tension through teasing and other forms of not-so-benign “crossing the line” behaviors. These, too, need re-channeling.

Pretty sobering. But it is thought that April showers bring May flowers. So for all the tears shed over such terrible problems, planted the seeds can take bloom in the form of action to help these advocacy groups highlighted in April get some help from you in May!

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy | Tagged battered women, date rape, It happened to Alexa foundation, Prostitution, rape, sexual assualt | Leave a comment

“Chairman” or “Chair”–It Doesn’t Really Matter, Just Get Me to the Table

By Linda | April 23, 2013

Washington State’s governor has signed the final piece of legislation to make the language of all state laws and statutes “gender neutral.” Will a woman (hmmm, how do you take “man” out of “woman”?) feel better, earn more, have more power and access to leadership because they now teach “handwriting” and not “penmanship”? I really doubt it.

The most pressing problems for women and gender bias are equal pay and access to equal power. Anything that detracts from those two major barriers, is a “feel good” way that legislators and others can say, “Hey, look what we did! Isn’t this great?”

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week April 13-20

By Linda | April 19, 2013

As an otorhinolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat medical and surgical specialist), I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you advocacy for an important problem in my world of medicine.

Among the most rapidly increasing cancers in the US today are those of the oral cavity and the head and neck, especially esophageal cancer. And this is the week to think about whether you, or someone you love, may have a cancer of the upper swallowing and breathing passages or the head and neck–including the sinuses.

71% of surveyed adults reported they had not had a head and neck examination by their primary care physician. But even I will admit, it is a tough area to examine thoroughly, needing special instruments and fancy x-rays (CT scans) to access all the structures properly.

So what can you, the everyday person do? Educate yourself. As an otolayngologist (ear, nose and throat guy), I have the expertise to help you help yourself. So here are a few things that you might think about. Read More »

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Advocacy in Disguise: A Parent’s View on Exploitation of the Vulnerable

By Linda | April 15, 2013

March was Trisomy Advocacy Month. How could I have missed that one? I hate to admit that I have a favorite trisomy, but it is true. Trisomy 21 a/k/a Down syndrome.

People with Down syndrome are increasingly integrated into the mainstream of life. And this is because parents and others have been incredibly successful in advocating for this unique group of people. The results have been astounding. But there is so much more to do. And no one knows that better than the parents of kids with Down syndrome. So any chance for advancement re-ignites the hopes that this person will have a more a “typical” (normal) life.

This week one of the parents of one of my hundreds of patient with Down syndrome told me of her adventure in advocacy regarding several articles written about a research grant given to a reputable and very productive laboratory at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. While I understood how genetic research in a cancer institute might have great value to understanding developmental disabilities non-cancer conditions, I also could see the legitimate reactions of a parent with a child with Down syndrome. Read More »

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy, On the Job, Telling Stories | Tagged advocacy, Cancer research, Down Syndrome, Roswell Park Cancer Institute | 7 Comments

April is Autism Awareness Month. Step 2. Choose Your Impact Point

By Linda | April 10, 2013

People with developmental delays are increasing in number. Our societal response to integrating these people with dignity and compassion is critical to the welfare of all of us. But a society doesn’t respond. The individuals in a society respond. And that is how we move the needle so that change is effected. Everyone should have a cause that they care about and work for.

Why autism? There are many reasons to get involved in solving problems in our world. When we pick a cause, most of us pick what we do when it affects us or someone we know or love. Chances are you know someone who has a family member with autism. But if you don’t, or don’t know that you do (so many are “shamed” to admit that their family member is not “normal/typical”), then you need to wake up to the reality that caring for this population is going to directly and significantly impact your life, no matter what you do.

Why now? Autism is increasing. It’s cause is unknown. That means it is likely to continue to affect greater numbers of people. Time is of the essence. And that means you need to think how you are going to make an impact now. Read More »

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy, Worthy Causes | Tagged advocacy, autism, developmental disabilities, political action | 1 Comment

April is Autism Awareness Month. Step 1. End Social Isolation, Talk with a Parent of an Autistic Child

By Linda | April 8, 2013

When I started practice 30 years ago, autism was not a problem I saw. No, it wasn’t that I didn’t recognize a child with autism, it was just very rare. And now a week doesn’t go by when I don’t treat or sadly “recognize and refer for diagnosis” a new child with autism. As a pediatric otolaryngologist who deals with children who have delayed speech, a hallmark of autism, I need to be tuned into the early signs and have become remarkably accurate at diagnosis.

Being aware is not enough to tackle all the facets of this problem. But it is necessary and can start by getting educated. Here are a few serious and scary statistics: Read More »

Posted in Adventures in Advocacy, Worthy Causes | Tagged advocacy, autism, social isolation | 1 Comment

You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be a GREAT Mom!

By Linda | April 2, 2013

Role modeling is one of the cornerstones of good parenting. Most of us find this to be an overwhelming responsibility and worry if one misstep or a cross word is going to result in a “ruined” child.

Stop your worrying because you don’t need to be perfect to raise healthy children. You don’t have to look perfect or act perfect or be perfect. In fact, trying to be too perfect may result in a child who just never feels good enough and suffers in another way. This is especially true for our daughters who are constantly bombarded by so many competing, powerful messages.

We need to think carefully about the core values we want to impart to our children. With seemingly limitless choices, more attention can be paid to the décor of the nursery than to the values we want to impart to that little person who will occupy the crib.

How many of us have sat down and really thought about the lessons we want to teach our daughters? Most of us haven’t, but I think we would benefit if we did. Read More »

Posted in My Family/My DNA | Tagged Add new tag, being perfect, good enough mom, mothers, role models | Leave a comment

Will the Real Feminist and Champion of Women’s Rights Please Stand Up? Part 3 of 3.

By Linda | March 21, 2013

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, writes a book and creates a program encouraging women in business to Lean In, to take risks, to move their careers by overcoming their own internalization of gender stereotypes that keep us down. Heavy press follows, and with it an (un)fair share of criticism. Jody Greenstone Miller, in the Wall Street Journal, re-frames the problem as a misdiagnosis of what women need. They need better scheduling and more time. Valid point, short on concrete ideas. Sandberg trumps Miller. What’s wrong with this picture?

While at Yahoo, CEO Marissa Mayer, has a problem to solve. Mayer, another high profile woman executive, is burdened with the mantle of representing the needs of all women. So when she makes a tough decision to limit telecommuting at Yahoo, she gets blasted by feminists as not bearing the flag for their scheduling needs. She is vilified.