Petula Dvorak writes for The Washington Post: "Kathryn wanted pants. And short hair. Then trucks and swords. Her parents, Jean and Stephen, were fine with their toddler's embrace of all things boy...But it kept getting more intense, all this boyishness from their younger daughter. She began to argue vehemently — as only a tantrum-prone toddler can — that she was not a girl."

Sarah Kliff of The Washington Post interviews a local obstetrician: "What would it mean for Washington to outlaw abortions after 20 weeks?"

Megan Kearns writes for Fem 2.0 and asks: "In a genre that exhibits strong female characters yet often objectifies women's bodies or reduces them to ancillary love interests…how was 'The Avengers' portrayal of women?"

A New York Times editorial weighs in: "Despite the persistent gender gap in opinion polls and mounting criticism of their hostility to women's rights, Republicans are not backing off their assault on women's equality and well-being."

Irin Carmon writes on Salon: "We are at a political moment that yields headlines like Politico's recent 'GOP scrambles to assuage women's groups.' Such copy must have delighted Democrats on the Hill: It means they had managed to back Republicans into a corner."

Leticia Miranda reports for Colorlines: "When Martha Wright’s grandson was moved to a prison outside of her hometown of Washington, D.C., she didn't expect that a short 5-minute conversation with him could cost up to $18. . . . Prisoners can usually call home in two ways: they can call collect or use a debit card issued by the prison. Debit cards are usually the cheaper options, but they're not available in all states and still costly. In March, Wright's grandson didn't have enough money on his card for their usual phone calls, so they only spoke about three minutes one week, she says. That call cost $18, including taxes."

POLITICO's Jake Sherman interviewed NOW President Terry O'Neill about her opposition to the House Republican version of the Violence Against Women Act: "Unless I see really a decent set of amendments to the [House Republican bill], the vote on the floor for House bill 4970 is a vote against the Violence Against Women Act and will be scored by this organization."

The editors of The New York Times write: "In an all-too-rare show of bipartisanship, 15 Senate Republicans joined with the Democratic majority last month to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, the landmark 1994 law that is key to efforts against domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking."

NOW Action Vice President Erin Matson interview with the Washington Post about NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan's decison to step down and make way for a younger generation of pro-choice leaders: "I’m so thankful and grateful that this is the legacy she’s leaving. After so many go-arounds on these issues, it’s hugely important for her to say, ‘I’m going to step aside and fill this position with someone younger."

USA Today quotes NOW President Terry O'Neill in an article about the media's judgement of Hillary Clinton and other women in politics' appearances: "The Drudge Report headline is really saying to all women, don't you dare step into the public sphere, we will savage you for what you look like."

NOW President Terry O'Neill quoted in this POLITICO article about the House Republican version of the Violence Against Women Act: "The agenda that is being promoted by the Adams bill is racist and homophobic and leaves women behind, and it’s not OK."

NOW President Terry O'Neill was a guest panelist on The Diane Rehm Show discussing the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. The landmark domestic violence bill passed the Senate on April 26 after many rounds of haggling. But as it heads to the House, it could be held up by a fight over politics.

Democracy Now! interviewed Sister Simone Campbell, head of the Catholic social justice group NETWORK, a group that was harshly criticized in the recent Vatican report for focusing too heavily on issues of social justice, while failing to speak out enough on "issues of crucial importance," such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Barbara Hannah Grufferman writes on The Huffington Post: "On Saturday, April 28th, the Unite Women March, will take place in every state across America. This incredible event is happening because two extraordinarily ordinary working women got mad about a lot of things, especially how women are being treated in this country. Instead of just complaining on the phone to each other and letting their passions fade away right there, they started something that is no less than revolutionary."

L.A. Times' columnist Michael Hiltzik interviewed NOW President Terry O'Neill about the annual report released by trustees for the Social Security Trust Fund.