Blog posts from August 2005
Poll shows women more hostile to abortions than men
By Lynne Miles | 30 August 2005, 17:05
A survey conducted by well-respected online pollsters YouGov has found that only 27% of UK adults (and only 19% of women) believe that the current legal limit for abortion - 24 weeks \x96 is appropriate. 30% of people (and 35%…
Read 'Poll shows women more hostile to abortions than men'
US withdraws funding from abstinance programme
By Jess McCabe | 28 August 2005, 19:04
Common sense and common knowledge have finally won out over abstinance programmes in the United States - or at least one programme, the ‘Silver Ring Thing’, as the Feminist Majority Foundation reports. The Silver Ring Thing is a religious organisation…
Read 'US withdraws funding from abstinance programme'
Indian guerillas kidnapping rural women, forcing them into porn
By Jess McCabe | 28 August 2005, 15:06
Guerilla fighters in the north east of India have long been known to kidnap tribal women from remote areas. But in a new twist on this practice, the National Liberation Front of Tripura are now known to be forcing them…
Read 'Indian guerillas kidnapping rural women, forcing them into porn'
Men smarter than women?!
By Jess McCabe | 27 August 2005, 11:46
It takes a certain type of person to dedicate their career to proving one gender is brainier than the other. And, following on from headlines claiming ‘It’s official, men are smarter than women’, now we know exactly what type of…
Read 'Men smarter than women?!'
Women's rights in China, India
By Jess McCabe | 23 August 2005, 22:12
China is revisiting its 13 year old legislation on gender equality, it emerged today. While this can only be a good thing in a country which still lacks legal protection against domestic abuse, the wording of this announcement is a…
Read 'Women's rights in China, India'
Voyeurism and misuse of office
By Barbara Felix | 23 August 2005, 17:49
Four security workers employed by Sefton council have appeared in court on charges of voyeurism and misconduct of office, following allegations that they manipulated security cameras to spy on a woman in her own home. One man has pleaded guilty…
Read 'Voyeurism and misuse of office'
Still a Buerk
By Lynne Miles | 18 August 2005, 16:06
Michael Buerk was on the Today programme this morning, trying to set the record straight on what he actually said. He didn\x92t do much to convince me that he\x92s been misrepresented, to be honest. Listen for yourselves here. Just to…
Who's Crying Now?
By Lynne Miles | 17 August 2005, 17:16
Yesterday\x92s T2 covers another story, terribly important and individually upsetting for those concerned, both alleged victim and alleged attacker but horribly familiar to those unconnected with them. The tale is told from the point of view of a father. His…
Michael Buerk shows himself as a real….
By Louise Livesey | 16 August 2005, 16:43
Apparently Michael Buerk has filmed a programme for Channel 5 arguing women have taken over the world and the gender balance has shifted too far in their favour (see the BBC for more coverage). Buerk’s accusations include that men now…
Read 'Michael Buerk shows himself as a real....'
The Editors of Bliss Magazine are hypocrites
By Catherine Redfern | 14 August 2005, 23:45
Whilst doing some research on body image amongst girls and teenagers, I found this report on the BBC site from January which states that four in ten teenage girls have considered plastic surgery, only 8% were happy with their bodies…
Read 'The Editors of Bliss Magazine are hypocrites'
The Machismo Advocates are at it Again
By Holly Combe | 14 August 2005, 02:18
There’s an interesting article by Harry Mount, in Friday’s Telegraph, about a forthcoming book on the future of men in society. However, despite the synopsis of the book sounding promisingly progressive, Mount’s article unfortunately reveals itself to be just another…
Read 'The Machismo Advocates are at it Again'
Feminist play re-tells Ramayana
By Jess McCabe | 14 August 2005, 00:15
Hema Ramakrishna has published a feminist re-telling of the Ramayana, the Times of India reports. The play, Sanctuary, is in English, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to track down anyone selling it online. Rama is an avatar, or incarnation,…
Read 'Feminist play re-tells Ramayana'
Women stand for council election in Pakistan - but do they risk safety for a facade of democracy?
By Jess McCabe | 13 August 2005, 23:58
The president (and military ruler) of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, is not generally known for his commitment to human rights, let alone women’s rights. So it will be, perhaps, little surprise to anyone that although he reserved a third of all…
Fat Isn't Phat
By Barbara Felix | 10 August 2005, 16:27
Sixties style pop band, The Magic Numbers, reputedly walked out of their debut appearance on ‘Top Of The Pops’ after a presenter referred to them as ‘Fat’ Guest presenter Richard Bacon is reported to have introduced the band by saying…
More 'Stupidity Myth' news
By Catherine Redfern | 8 August 2005, 22:59
Whilst I’m on the subject of prevailing theories about men, if you heard anything about the University of Sheffield study, which, as The Mirror puts it, proves that “men’s brains simply aren’t designed to listen to women’s voices”, you must…
Read 'More 'Stupidity Myth' news'
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
By Catherine Redfern | 8 August 2005, 22:18
Gendergeek has an excellent post on recent research on the prevalence of date rape drugs, which found that there were fewer doing the rounds than were originally thought. The research has sparked comments about women’s “responsiblity” when it comes to…
Read 'Damned if you do, damned if you don't'
Nick Ferrari Gets Precious About Marriage
By Holly Combe | 7 August 2005, 22:54
Liberal views don’t seem to be very fashionable right now. The backlash against so-called “political correctness” continues to give self-righteous shock-jocks a much-needed window of credibility and yet it seems there are some issues where even the most vehement rebels…
Read 'Nick Ferrari Gets Precious About Marriage'
"Women's Brains Blown by Orgasms"
By Holly Combe | 3 August 2005, 17:06
It has recently been reported that much of the female brain is deactivated by orgasm. Dr Gert Holstege from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands studied 13 women and 11 men and found that the only element of a…
Read '"Women's Brains Blown by Orgasms"'
Scarlet too Rude for Newsagents
By Holly Combe | 2 August 2005, 23:07
I’m pissed off. The only newsagent in my area to ever stock the women’s sex magazine Scarlet has now permanently taken it off the shelves due to complaints from customers. I’ve been told by the manager that the problem was…
Feeds