Blog posts from May 2005
31 May 2005
“Women Who Have Abortions Again and Again”
If I may, I’d like to take a moment to refer you to a fascinating blog entry (and ensuing discussion) over at Volsunga. It centres around a “shock, horror” article in the ‘Daily Hate’ about the increasing number of women… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 31 May 2005
Fiction gender gap persists
A new report has revealed that men know that women are writing important books, but don’t want to read them, the Observer reports. The report, which marks the 10th anniversary of the Orange prize for fiction, which is only open… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 31 May 2005
Never Get On A Bus in Calcutta
A new move by the Indian state of West Bengal to employ women as bus conductors (only the second state to have done so) has been a resounding success (scroll down!). Although only 33 of over 1,600 conductors are women,… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 31 May 2005
29 May 2005
Actually, I prefer mine warm
There are some new Fosters billboard ads out at the moment showing people trying to keep their lager (sorry guys, but it’s not beer) cold by holding their pint underneath something which casts a shadow. One shows a bride and… Read more...Posted by Catherine Redfern at 29 May 2005
Part-time Work and the Wage Gap
On 17 May, we reported on a Guardian article that highlighted the pay gap between weekly earnings (i.e the fact that women’s median income is 53% of the median income for men). We’ve decided to now draw attention to the… Read more...Posted by Holly Combe at 29 May 2005
27 May 2005
Sordid Japanese men make sex-ed comic a best-seller
Grown men have made a best-seller out of a realistic sex-education manga comic book aimed at elementary school girls in Japan, Mainichi Daily News reports. Men, generally in their 30s, obsessed with manga depicting young girls’ sexuality are called Otaku… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 May 2005
The Pill may permanantly damage sex drive
The contraceptive pill may permanantly damage women’s sex drives, new research has revealed. It has long been known that taking the Pill led to a loss of libido, but it was thought this was a temporary effect that wore off… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 May 2005
Mexico murders finally to be investigated
The Mexican government has finally taken action to investigate the notorious Juarez murders. The murders were first discovered in 1993, when bodies were found in the desert and by the roadside. The city has seen 350 women killed, and families… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 May 2005
26 May 2005
Buffy academics descend on Yorkshire
Buffy experts are set to flock to Huddersfield University in Yorkshire, to attend a three-day conference on how the show could be used as a teaching aid, Yorkshire Today reports. Anyone who fancies attending the conference, which is already attracting… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 May 2005
Parents must talk to their kids about sex, says minister
Teenage pregnancy is in the news again. Just as the furore started to die down over these sisters, aged 12, 14 and 16, who all gave birth within a couple of years of each other, the new children and families… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 May 2005
25 May 2005
PhDiva not one for female solidarity
Dorothy King, self-titled PhDiva (\x93we wear Manolo Blahniks but we also have doctorates\x94) is angry about academic women who \x93whinge about life\x92s challenges rather than getting up and doing something about them\x94. Indeed, she thinks that those women \x93should learn… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 25 May 2005
24 May 2005
Pitcairn men's sex abuse appeal rejected
Six men found guilty of a series of sex attacks over a 40 year period, from the Pacific island of Pitcairn, today had their appeal rejected. The tiny island only has a population of 47 and has been under British… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 24 May 2005
23 May 2005
Women quoted less in the media
Women are cited far less frequently than men in news stories, a report out today reveals. The study, by the Project for Excellence in Journalism, surveyed nearly 17,000 news reports from all types of media excluding radio, magazines and local… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 May 2005
100 most beautiful women not sexy enough?!
The Times today published a truely unpleasant column, ripe with sexism, by Richard Morrison. (Thanks to Londonist for pointing this one out). Morrison comes across as a randy old man, as he salivates over “so much female leg, tit, tum… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 May 2005
22 May 2005
Suffrage, equal pay and feminist celebrities
Women in Kuwait have finally won the vote - although not in time for the upcoming election, unfortunately. The Guardian has some very interesting excerpts from the world’s media on the issue. In Jordan, the American first lady made one… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 22 May 2005
Metro Petty Criticism Corner
(With apologies to Bitch Magazine’s “Jane Petty Criticism Corner”). Ooh, the Metro. Given away free every weekday to stressed out commuters, owned by the Daily Mail / Evening Standard - there’s always some subtle but annoying gender stereotype being perpetuated… Read more...Posted by Catherine Redfern at 22 May 2005
19 May 2005
Fighter pilots and bus drivers break new ground
In Pakistan, the first cohort of women fighter pilots are on course to take to the skies, according to the BBC. This is the first time women have been able to train as aerospace engineers and fighter pilots, although only… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 19 May 2005
17 May 2005
Men's income nearly twice that of women's
The gender pay gap is alive and kicking. The Guardian reports today that men enjoy an income of almost doubt that of their female counterparts, although their incomes are growing at only half the rate of women’s. The figures, from… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 17 May 2005
Correction
It has been brought to my attention that I misquoted some statistics in this piece on millionaire females back in April. I stated that a piece of cebr research (reported in The Telegraph) found that in 20 years’ time more… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 17 May 2005
New parliamentary bills propose progressive policies on parenting
Nifty bit of alliteration there, eh? The Queen\x92s Speech made at the state opening of parliament includes a number of bills aimed at families and finance. The Parental Rights Bill would extend statutory paid maternity leave from six to nine… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 17 May 2005
Swimwear that flatters your face
Bible-belt America is crying out for products such as these. WholesomeWear are a new clothing company, specialising in \x91a modest line of clothing for \x93whenever\x94\x92. Fortunately for all those water babies out there, this fledgling company have decided to launch… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 17 May 2005
School system is failing our young men …
\x85. and the rest of the system is failing our young women. This is my pet peeve. Some of you may have heard me talk about this at great length before. For those who have, please bear with me whilst… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 17 May 2005
16 May 2005
Police hold event to highlight hate crime in London
Londoners: the Southwark Police Hate Crime Unit is hosting an event in Elephant & Castle meant to improve relations between lesbian and gay locals and the police. It is taking place at the Elephant & Castle shopping centre (yes, the… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 May 2005
Index on gender puts UK near the top
The World Economic Forum today launched a new gender gap index, measuring how countries perform on pay equality, economic opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment and access to reproductive healthcare. The good news is that the UK did relatively well, coming… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 May 2005
Women's minister forced to forego equal pay
The new junior women’s minister, Meg Munn, will have to work unpaid, the Telegraph reports. Munn will have to forego her junior minister’s salary, leading to very understandable accusations that the Government is not taking women’s rights seriously. Downing Street… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 May 2005
13 May 2005
US trade embargo devestating Cuban women
The US trade-and-travel embargo on Cuba is having a devestating effect on women, Women’s E-News reports today. Women are bearing the brunt of the sanctions in any number of ways, but mostly involving everyday hardships that make the day-to-day living… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 May 2005
Marie Stopes Targets Men
Coming up the tube escalators this morning I was pleasantly surprised to see a Marie Stopes advertisement (the organisation best known for providing pregnancy advice and abortions) highlighting the role of vasectomy in the family planning canon. Better still the… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 13 May 2005
12 May 2005
‘Barbaric’ Hollywood rejects older women
The Cannes Film Festival opened yesterday with the film’Lemming’, by French director Dominik Moll. In a press conference after the film, Charlotte Rampling - the 60-year old british female star of the film - described Hollywood’s attitude to older women… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 12 May 2005
11 May 2005
Reach for the Mags, Lads
Last week The Guardian reported that Tesco, one of the UK’s most powerful (and scary) supermarkets, plans to move some men’s magazines (Nuts, Zoo, Front, Loaded, Maxim, FHM) higher up the shelves, after having received complaints about the front covers… Read more...Posted by Catherine Redfern at 11 May 2005
Girls who like Girls who draw Boys who like Boys
Spied in Metro today \x96 a review of the increasing popularity in America of Yaoi (\x93yowee\x94) \x96 a genre of new Japanese manga cartoons containing short fantasy stories focusing on male-on-male *erotic encounters*. So far, so gay porn. But the… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 11 May 2005
10 May 2005
Feminism to end terrorism?
Is feminism, or at least human rights for women, the answer to an effective anti-terrorism strategy? Well, that’s what Barbara Ehrenreich thinks. In this article on AlterNet, she calls for the US government to pour resources into education for girls,… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 10 May 2005
9 May 2005
She Makes War
She Makes War could be the next big grrrl band. I caught them last night, supporting Die So Fluid at the Garage for what was only their second gig and was mightily impressed. Think Sleater Kinney. Londonist today carries a… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 May 2005
Homophobic bullying thrives in schools
Lesbian and gay children are being driven out of school by homophobic bullying, the Guardian reports today. Stonewall has estimated that 60,000 children are the victims of abuse from name-calling to “serious physical and sexual assaults”. Although teachers are finally… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 May 2005
6 May 2005
Ladies and Gentlemen… presenting, Miss Manchester!
Organisers of the Miss Manchester beauty contest have been criticised by Object’s Jennifer Drew for treating women as sex objects. The Miss Manchester competition has been in existence for a number of years, according to the Manchester Metro News, but… Read more...Posted by Barbara Felix at 6 May 2005
Figures on women MPs
OK, Fawcett have published the figures: 125 women MPs have been elected so far, a record number for the House of Commons. Conservatives: Number of women MPs up from 14 to 17, or 9% of their party. At the current… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 May 2005
Labour elect historic numbers of women MPs
The votes are in: we all know what happened, but what does it mean for women in the House of Commons? The detailed figures have yet to be worked out (by me at any rate, I’m waiting on the Fawcett… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 May 2005
5 May 2005
New member states lag behind on gender equality
The new EU member states are lagging behind the rest of Europe on gender equality, a report from Open Society Institute has revealed. EUobserver.com reports that Bulgaria, Estonia and Slovakia performed the worst, with a 25-30% pay gap between men… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 5 May 2005
Rapist proposes marriage
A woman in India has rejected a courtroom plea from her rapist to marry him, the BBC reports today. Unbelievably, the judge halted sentencing proceedings at the last minute, to allow the man, who had already been found guilty of… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 5 May 2005
4 May 2005
Need More Reasons?
Need even more inspiration to vote? Check out the women who fought for your right to do so, and the ones still fighting today. Yeah, we know the system’s not perfect, but at least take some comfort from the fact… Read more...Posted by Catherine Redfern at 4 May 2005
Vote!
Only people who have spent the last month on a space station can not know this, but tomorrow is the election. Anyone who hasn’t made up their mind yet (just taking a minute here to beg you not to vote… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 4 May 2005
Masturbation, sex-ed and US development policy
Betty Dodson, masturbation activist and author of Sex for One is interviewed in AlterNet today. It’s a really interesting, but short interview, in which talks she about feminism steeling her thunder in bringing back vibrators and the perils of modern… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 4 May 2005
Nine year maternity pay battle victory
A woman won her nine year battle for fair maternity pay yesterday. Woolwich Building Society, now part of Barclays, had calculated her maternity pay too low, basing it on her income before a pay rise. She finally received the \xA3270… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 4 May 2005
3 May 2005
Hot Child in the City
Over the weekend The Observer ran a story about a trend for girls as young as 5 being taken by their mothers to salons and spas for facial treatments, manicures, pedicures and makeovers. All together now: BLECCH! Apparently, “eyebrow shaping… Read more...Posted by Catherine Redfern at 3 May 2005
Equality under attack in Japan
Women’s E-News reports that Japan is set to pass a constitutional amendment that will emphasise family values and undermine strides towards gender equality in government and business. The story is a bit light on the details of the amendment, but… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 3 May 2005
1 May 2005
Trainee detectives put in charge of rape cases
Trainee detectives without enough experience for the job are being put in charge of investigating rape cases in London because of a lack of resources, The Observer reports today. Could this be one of the reasons that rape convictions have… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 1 May 2005
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