Eleanor Smeal is the President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and its sister political-advocacy organization the Feminist Majority, as well as the Publisher of Ms. magazine. For over three decades, she has played a leading role in both national and state campaigns to win women’s rights legislation and in a number of landmark state and federal court cases for women’s rights. Smeal was formerly a three-term President of the National Organization for Women and is currently co-chair of NOW's Advisory Board.

Blog Entries by Eleanor Smeal

Abortion in Health Care Reform: The Fight is Far From Over

2 Comments | Posted November 9, 2009 | 02:40 PM (EST)


How quickly joy can turn to outrage.

Women had a lot to cheer about Saturday night when the House passed the historic Affordable Health Care Act. Among other major strides in health-insurance reform, it would eliminate "gender rating" in insurance pricing and unequal taxation of domestic partner benefits, ban discrimination...

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Why Is the Feminist Majority Foundation Refusing to Abandon the Women and Girls of Afghanistan?

31 Comments | Posted July 15, 2009 | 08:04 PM (EST)


This piece was co-written with Helen Cho, Feminist Majority Foundation Board Member.

Afghanistan is in deplorable condition. There's no disputing that.

Some feel that we should just walk away.

We cannot endorse this position because the cost to women and girls would be too high and the U.S....

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Obama's First 100 Days: Giant Strides for Women

8 Comments | Posted April 28, 2009 | 06:23 PM (EST)


By any measure, the work President Obama and his team have accomplished for women and girls in the first 100 days is impressive. They not only have reversed some of the most egregious Bush policies, but also have taken some powerful actions to advance and empower women.

I've been...

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This Is What A Feminist Looks Like

Posted January 13, 2009 | 12:45 PM (EST)


It's not every day Ms. puts a man on its cover.

In choosing the cover for this special Inaugural issue, Ms. wanted to capture both the national and feminist mood of high expectations and hope as the 44th President of the United States takes the oath of office.

Expectations have...

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An Open Letter to Senator McCain

Posted October 22, 2008 | 04:36 PM (EST)


Dear Senator McCain,

This week you have lashed out against the "Feminist Left." I understand your frustration. You see that women are not flocking to the McCain/Palin ticket and you don't understand why. Allow me to illuminate you.

The truth is, Senator McCain, your candidacy is the worst for women...

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