Happy Spring, friends.
Here’s a very bad joke: How can you tell Women’s History Month is underway?
Because the TV networks run historical vignettes celebrating women from the past who overcame obstacles to achieve great things, in between the news segments about how poorly we treat women in the present day.
That’s one of the many unfunny, if often ironic, aspects of life as a woman. And as usual, the jokes are on us.
This week, the country turned its eyes toward Atlanta as the details unfolded of a killer who went on a murderous spree aimed at women working at Asian massage spas.
Six of the confessed Atlanta killer’s eight victims were Asian women, and New Jersey has been among states seeing an uptick in crimes targeting people of Asian heritage. Yet we listened to a police official talk about how the shooter was a sex addict having a very bad day, and not a racial terrorist.
But, as others have pointed out, sex addiction leads to disordered sexual behaviors, not to gendered, racially-targeted violence. Sexism and racism do that. It can feel surreal as a woman to hear a man in a position of power so fully reject reality and lived experience. It would almost be funny were it not so exhaustingly sad.
It’s not just television. On NJ.com we’ve been proud to bring you stories about women’s achievement and success, like Ivonne Roman, who broke barriers in law enforcement, and Adena Bayoh, who arrived in the U.S. as a young refugee from Liberia and has built a mini-empire in real estate development and restaurants.
Then there’s Debra Derrick, whose story ended on her 63rd birthday when she died of gunshot wounds. The mother, grandmother and daughter died in the crossfire of a gun battle on the street near her Newark home.
We also brought you this affecting look at how the pandemic year has changed the lives of some women in New Jersey. Dr. Bindu Balani, an infectious disease specialist at Hackensack University Medical Center, experienced the COVID pandemic in ways few of us can imagine. Michelle Maldonado balances her career as a child welfare worker with the demands of her own young children.
In the coming months, our journalists will continue seeking out and sharing the stories of how women in New Jersey are living, working and dealing with the struggles, joys and absurdities of life right now. Tell us how you’re doing by filling out this survey. We want to hear from you.
Also this week: Rutgers is ready to dance, an update on last week’s forest fire and more:
- RUTGERS MADNESS: By the time you read this on Saturday, we’ll likely know whether the Scarlet Knights men’s basketball team will advance past the first round of its first NCAA Tournament in 30 years. Whatever happens, you know our Rutgers Tournament Special Insider will have all the details -- sign up now!
- NO ACCIDENT: The forest fire that scorched more than 160 acres in Ocean County was intentionally set, authorities say. High winds and a stretch of dry weather helped the blaze spread quickly, and several structures were damaged or destroyed.
- WHAT THEY LOST: Among the losses in that forest fire were the belongings of a couple who had been living in the woods behind the Target store in Brick. Find out how you can help Adam and Kathleen get back on their feet in this story by our Avalon Zoppo.
- ADDS UP TO GREATNESS: Mathematician Avi Wigderson, of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, is a co-winner of a major award for complex work that has had real-world effects on how we use computers. He shares the 2021 Abel Prize, and an $880,000 award, with colleague László Lovász.
- SECRETS ARE POISON: New Jersey legislators are considering changing laws around police misconduct investigations to bring more transparency to the process and make more information public. Read this guest column on the issue by Kevin Richardson, one of the “Exonerated 5.”
Finally this week, I’m headed back to Moorestown Mall in a few days for my second COVID vaccination and keeping fingers crossed the side effects don’t kick my butt. Our Steve Strunsky’s experience sounds pretty common -- if you’ve had both jabs, how did it go? Drop me an email with an update.
Don’t forget, you can always get the latest on the COVID situation, all in one place, right here.
That’s all for now. Keep it Jersey, my friends.
P.S.: I say it every week, because it’s always true: Our subscribers make it possible for us to do our work. Join us and be a part of what we do.
Amy Z. Quinn is NJ.com’s Audience Editor, Newsletters and Briefings. To get a Letter From Your Editor every Saturday, add your email here.
The Link LonkMarch 20, 2021 at 09:32PM
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When the joke’s on women, but we’re not laughing | Letter from your editor - nj.com
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