Women's History in the Making

Mississippi Rejects "Personhood" Amendment

In November, 2011, more than 55% of the voters in Mississippi voted to reject a so-called "personhood" initiative that would have declared that under Mississippi law, personhood begins at fertilization. Supporters seemed optimistic when they introduced this initiative that Bible Belt Mississippians would pass this, and it would become a precedent for other states to follow.

But opponents successfully convinced many voters that the bill would have wide-ranging effects including outlawing some birth control methods, outlawing in vitro fertilization (because if an embryo didn't survive, criminal charges might be filed, and had no exceptions so that women who had been raped or were victims of incest could end their pregnancies.

Major religious groups split on the amendment, with the Mississippi Baptist Convention supporting it, and Episcopal and Methodist bodies opposing it. Roman Catholic leaders neither supported nor opposed it.

Number of Female Presidents and Prime Ministers

As of February 1, 2012, 18 nations had women presidents of prime ministers, with two of those taking office in early 2012. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, had been in such an office the longest, since 2005.

Related:

• Women Prime Ministers and Presidents: 20th Century