Rachel Natelson is the legal adviser to the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), which provides advocacy, legal services, and policy analysis for servicewomen, women veterans, and their families. She formerly developed and presided over the Veterans and Servicemembers Project at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.

Natelson received her bachelor’s degree from Yale University and her law degree from New York University School of Law.

Blog Entries by Rachel Natelson

Athena Crossing the Potomac

2 Comments | Posted July 10, 2009 | 07:12 PM (EST)


For the past few weeks, the anniversary of the birth of the modern gay rights movement has prompted renewed demands for the full integration of gays and lesbians into the military. Figures ranging from Gen. Shalikashvili to Barney Frank to a self-proclaimed conservative World War II spouse...

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A Tale of Two Contracts

1 Comments | Posted May 26, 2009 | 12:36 PM (EST)


Consider the following two contracts: one binds its signer to a range of financial obligations but can be terminated at will, albeit at a monetary cost; the other commits its promisor to eight years of labor and carries the potential for criminal charges if violated. Both are marketed aggressively to...

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The Fox and the Henhouse

Posted March 23, 2009 | 07:26 PM (EST)


If The Oprah Winfrey Show can be said to represent a microcosm of the contemporary feminine experience, its recent episodes may well illustrate the limits of our progress in addressing violence against women. At first glance, the show has served as a prominent forum for discussions on domestic violence, dedicating...

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