Features

Zines: for when mainstream media lets us down

Feminist blogs are blooming, but many women seeking a creative outlet still turn to hand-made zines. This May, the Women's Library in London will play host to Zine Fest!, showcasing women's zines past and present, as well as providing scissor-and-paper classes for aspiring zinesters. Red Chidgey, who is organising this first-of-a-kind event, explains to Cazz Blase why zines still flourish and picks some of her favourites

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Activism, Culture and Media, Interviews | Written by Cazz Blase

The farmer wants a wife, the wife wants a wife

Women don't want to be lumbered with the housework, but men aren't willing to pick up the bucket and mop. Right? JC Sutcliffe asks why women perpetuate the myth that men are incapable of doing domestic chores

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Men, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play | Written by JC Sutcliffe

Jacky Fleming on drawing for feminism

Jacky Fleming is responsible for one of the most iconic images of the feminist movement - plus a stream of widely-distributed cartoons that poke fun at such unlikely subjects as sexual harassment and the male-dominated workplace, as well as men and relationships. Jess McCabe caught up with her by email

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Culture and Media, Interviews | Written by Jess McCabe

Could Britney Spears be the feminist icon of our generation?

Britney Spears is a strong, confident, self-made woman - in short, she is a feminist success story. No wonder the tabloid's love affair with her finished so abruptly when she cut off her locks, argues Theadora Jean

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Body and Health, Culture and Media | Written by Theadora Jean

A worthwhile women's day

Fed up with most of the events put on for International Women's Day, Angela Brant found herself at an illuminating talk on women living under religious and oppressive laws

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Activism, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence | Written by Angela Brant

Hair today, mad tomorrow

Even when baldness is caused by illness, it is taboo because it flouts conventions of femininity, argues Nichi Hodgson. Britney Spears is only the latest in a long line of reviled, bald women - and, worst of all, she chose to shave off her locks

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image | Written by Nichi Hodgson

Lifting the veil on mothers and daughters

Mother's Day is an extravaganza of flowers and cards. But Rosjke Hasseldine asks why no one is paying attention to real mother-daughter relationships

Published: 14 March 2007 | Category: Culture and Media, Family | Written by Rosjke Hasseldine

From peace camps to protests - Finn Mackay

In the second of a series of interviews with inspiring women, Jess McCabe talks to Finn Mackay, the brains behind the Reclaim the Night marches and the London Feminist Network

Published: 3 March 2007 | Category: Feminism, Interviews, Violence | Written by Jess McCabe

Flicking the Bean

Thanks to the media and canny advertising agencies, we are surrounded by sexualised images of women. Abby O'Reilly asks why actual female sexual pleasure is still taboo

Published: 1 March 2007 | Category: Body and Health, Sex and Relationships | Written by Abby O'Reilly

The Mechanics of Femininity

When her car breaks down, Emma Hadfield discovers that mechanics and salesmen still cling to misogynist stereotypes of women as bad drivers who are clueless about what goes on under the hood

Published: 1 March 2007 | Category: Stereotypes | Written by Emma Hadfield

Suffering in Silence

One woman's story of street harassment turned George Mason from anti-feminist to women's rights advocate. Now, he urges more women to speak out about their experiences

Published: 1 March 2007 | Category: Activism, Men, Violence | Written by George Mason

Reviews

WAG do you want to be when you grow up?

In WAG Boutique, Josefin Skullbacka finds a group of women all-too-willing to define themselves as the wives and girlfriends of footballers

Published: 29 March 2007 | Category: Television | Written by Josefin Skullbacka

Who's to Say Who Understands Us?

From George Clooney to handbag merchant Stuart Vevers, the Observer Woman's list of the 50 men who "really understand" women gets it badly wrong, argues Joanna Tocher

Published: 1 March 2007 | Category: Magazines | Written by Joanna Tocher