Blog posts from November 2007
30 November 2007
Hacking off your daughter's clitoris is not 'cultural heritage'
I generally consider myself in sympathy with ideas about not imposing Western ideas onto the rest of the world. But this blog post on the New York Times is a clear example of the manipulation of the concept of cultural… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 30 November 2007
What's the deal about cleavage?
Women have a marginalised position in politics, and this is notable in the UK. The ascension of Harriet Harman to Deputy Leader this year invested me with hope. I thought there would be a proliferation of ladies in Parliament and… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 30 November 2007
Heat! Why would you do that?
If any of you have seen Heat magazine this week then you’ll already know what I’m talking about. For some reason Mark Frith et al thought it would be a good idea to give away free stickers. It sounds harmful… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 30 November 2007
29 November 2007
What, no make-up?
I’ve never been one to wear make-up. More often than not when I do venture into a bag of cosmetics I end up looking like a Labrador that’s eaten a pink lipstick. It’s not a good look. It was… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 29 November 2007
Please, please just stop!
Every time I click on the “Femail” section of the Daily Mail I almost wish I hadn’t. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. Sometimes it’s good to see just how wrong one publication can get it, even if it is to… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 29 November 2007
28 November 2007
More on rape
Following on from Jess’ post about the Government’s proposed changes to rape trials, I wanted to flag a few additional points on the issue of rape. The first is the Fawcett Society’s response to the Government’s announcement which suggests that… Read more...Posted by zohra moosa at 28 November 2007
Finally! Jurors to hear expert evidence on rape
After going backwards and forwards on this issue, the government finally seems to have decided to use expert witnesses to dispell the rape myths that may influence jurors to let rapists go free, reports ePolitix.com. The Solicitor General, Vera Baird,… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 November 2007
The sexual politics of the supermarket
This week’s Cat and Girl strip confronts how snacks get ‘male’ names, while baking products get ‘female’ names. However, the first box is the best bit:… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 November 2007
Should married women change their surnames?
I have a piece today over on Comment is Free on the subject of keeping surnames following marriage. I think it’s an interesting issue considering the controversy surrounding Chery Cole (nee Tweedy’s) recent tatoo, (written about by the lovely Jess… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 28 November 2007
Wonder Woman gets first female writer
Sixty-six years into her reign, Wonder Woman is to get her first regular female writer in the person of Gail Simone, reports Wired. Wonder Woman has become a bit of an icon for feminists, and you can buy a seemingly… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 November 2007
27 November 2007
Perfect post-Christmas present for any teenage girls you know…
It’s not coming out in time for Christmas, but that’s no reason not to pre-order Body Drama for your younger sister/cousin/daughter. As reported on Broadsheet, the book by Nancy Redd is a handbook about “boobs, vaginas, and everything in between”…. Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 November 2007
Sign petition to stop cervical cancer
From smear tests to the new vaccine against the Human Papillomavirus, there’s plenty of options for reducing the number of women who get cervical cancer - yet 25,000 die every year in Europe every year from the disease. The… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 November 2007
The pen holder that you can 'rape'
Sharpening your pencil not misogynist enough for you? Would a rape toy just make your office complete? Why not buy a Lusty Linda pen holder, or stick your lead in this. The second link takes you to a pencil sharpener… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 November 2007
26 November 2007
New television channel to provide sports news for men
When I got this press release earlier, I couldn’t work out what annoyed me more - the poor punctuation, the selfishness of the survey respondents, or the equation of “the nation” with “the nation’s men”. It’s from Setanta Sport,… Read more...Posted by Carrie Dunn at 26 November 2007
Sick of films that pair ugly men with beautiful women? Don't watch Superbad
Superbad is a teen comedy - and therefore it will probably only make you laugh if you have a fairly high tolerance for pretty juvinile humour. Clearly I fall into that catagory, because there were quite a few moments… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 November 2007
Worst tattoo ever?
Generally speaking, I don’t like to criticise specific women for their specific choices. But Cheryl Cole has had “Mrs Cole” tattooed on the back of her neck. For those who don’t follow these things, Cole is in Girls Aloud, and… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 November 2007
More female MPs needed, says Labour
Female Labour MPs and officials will be meeting today to discuss plans to increase the representation of women in politics, according to a report by The Guardian. At this summit deputy PM Harriet Harman, along with 50 female MPs as… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 26 November 2007
25 November 2007
Our report on Reclaim the Night 2007
No word yet on how many women took part, [Edit: It was about 1,500 according to the police], but last night’s Reclaim the Night was quite an experience. We were protesting against the epidemic levels of violence against women -… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 25 November 2007
23 November 2007
Reclaim the Night tomorrow!
Another reminder for London readers that tomorrow is Reclaim the Night! Meet at 6pm in Trafalgar Square. Many F Word regulars will be in attendence, including yours truely. So do come and say hi! Edit: Anyone wondering why it’s… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 November 2007
Why would women in Britain seek illegal abortions?
Abortion has been legal in the UK for 40 years. So why has the BBC discovered that illegal abortions are still taking place? BBC Radio 5 Live undertook an investigation, after a discussion in a chat room suggested that women… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 November 2007
22 November 2007
Literary 'bad sex award' longlist
Jeanette Winterson and Ian McEwan have made it onto this year’s long-list of the Bad Sex award - for most cringe-inducing erotic scene in fiction, reports the Guardian. Descriptions of sex in the novel do have a tendancy to veer… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 22 November 2007
Attacking maternity leave and lesbians - 'Femail' roundup
The Daily Mail’s ‘femail’ section is so offensive, there’s only enough hours in the day to do a round up. Maternity pay, shmay First of all, we have a story arguing that because a minority of women in Sweden are… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 22 November 2007
The Page 3 'role model'
This is a bit of an old link, but a seemingly timeless subject: Jordan: why is she considered a role model?. This time it was the Scotsman asking, and I am quoted in there giving my own view on the… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 22 November 2007
Coach to RTN07 from Brighton/Hove
Sussex Uni’s women’s group have organised a coach from the Brighton area to Reclaim The Night in London on Saturday. Tickets are just £3.50: contact rach.george[at]gmail.com if you’re interested (all women wlecome, there’s a mixture of students and non-students going… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 22 November 2007
21 November 2007
New resource for FEMinist activists
Hopefully some of you had a chance to attend the fabulous FEM 07 Conference this year, which featured in February’s round-up by Jess. For those who didn’t make it, you can imagine you were there via Natalie Bennett’s review here…. Read more...Posted by zohra moosa at 21 November 2007
Right wingers obsess over homosexuality
Remember Conservapedia? If not, you might guess from the name that it is a supposed-alternative to Wikipedia, with a conservative slant. Their page about feminism includes plenty of choice quotes from the likes of Pat Robertson. Crooked Timber took this… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 21 November 2007
Un-spice your life
Have you seen the Spice Girls’ new single? Called Headlines (Friendship Never Ends) (no, really), it was exclusively launched by the BBC to promote its annual Children in Need Appeal night. The programme, which aired on Friday, included a… Read more...Posted by zohra moosa at 21 November 2007
GTA for girls?
When I write about games aimed at girls/women, I very rarely suffer any wish to play them. Yet there is something weirdly intriguing about Coolest Girl in the School, dubbed ‘Grand Theft Auto for girls’, even if it does raise… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 21 November 2007
20 November 2007
Fat equals disgusting?
I am fat. I always have been. And while I don’t promote the idea that it is good or healthy to be overweight, I have always felt that disproportionate emphasis is placed on the idea that success is something reserved… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 20 November 2007
Blondes turn men into idiots
We couldn’t really fail to comment on this bit of research. Apparently, after men have been shown photographs of blonde women, they perform poorly on general knowledge tests. Apparently this is due to deeply-held cultural stereotypes of blondes as intellectually… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 20 November 2007
19 November 2007
Don't forget to Reclaim the Night!
Sick of being asked if you’re ‘OK to walk home’ after dark, assuring concerned friend that you are, and spending the whole journey home rehearsing what you’d do if you were attacked while simultaneously telling yourself to stop being silly… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 19 November 2007
Girls prefer Bob the Builder to Barbie
I suspect my own childhood experience of playing with toy cars as well as Barbies may have been out of the ordinary in the 1980s – certainly my younger sister never showed much interest in joining me for a… Read more...Posted by Carrie Dunn at 19 November 2007
Will it soon be tougher to get an abortion in Scotland than in England?
This column is by Jacq Kelly, our guest Scottish affairs correspondent. Jacq Kelly is 27, comes from Lochgelly in Fife, and currently lives in Edinburgh. She got involved in politics at the age of 16 and stood for election to… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 19 November 2007
Can beauty contests ever be feminist?
Although the traditional beauty contest is probably never going to be salvaged for feminism, there are any number of alternatives that fall into much more of a grey area - and Miss Landmine Angola 2008 is definitely one of them…. Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 19 November 2007
Snoop from The Wire puts out autobiography
I started watching The Wire because of Felicia “Snoop” Pearson (or more properly, this post about her on AfterEllen). She plays a character of the same name on the show, which is probably some of the best television to come… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 19 November 2007
18 November 2007
Top female footballers get £40 a day to compete in World Cup
If we are serious about tackling the health and fitness crisis and encouraging young women to take part in sport, then our best female athletes should be feted, admired, respected and set up as worthy role models for our daughters…. Read more...Posted by Carrie Dunn at 18 November 2007
F-word Blogger in November Issue of Scarlet
I don’t know about you but I tend to get a bit tired and woozy after I’ve had a really good orgasm. In my experience, the difference between the sexes when it comes to getting it on with each… Read more...Posted by Holly Combe at 18 November 2007
17 November 2007
The more married women get paid, the less housework they will do
The number of hours a married woman spends with the duster and mop goes down the more she earns, according to research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Indeed, every $7,500 a married women makes will shave off an hour… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 17 November 2007
Learning And Inequality From An International Perspective
There’s also a good piece about learning and inequality in The Economist, but looking at it from an international perspective, which makes for sobering yet occasionally uplifting reading…. Read more...Posted by Jane Eyre at 17 November 2007
Prostitution and small ads debate
Just thought I’d draw your attention to a fascinating and well balanced piece of journalism in the Economist that explored Harriet Harmon’s recent discussion of small ads for “adult massages” and the like that you so often see in local… Read more...Posted by Jane Eyre at 17 November 2007
Write to The Queen
This is disgusting: Last week King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia was being treated to lavish receptions with the Queen and assorted British dignitaries. This week, one of his courts has punished a women with 200 lashes and six months in… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 November 2007
Eating for feminism!
Women from Sheffield Fawcett Soc gleefully disregard beauty industry dictate on night out…. Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 November 2007
16 November 2007
Frida Kahlo… the moisturiser?
Here’s an good story for a Friday afternoon: a cosmetics firm in the US has launched a range of skin care products inspired by the depressive but brilliant artist Frida Kahlo. They seem to actually have registered Frida Kahlo as… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 November 2007
Buffy actor disappoints even more…
So, yesterday we heard saw that Sarah Michelle Gellar posed for Maxim. Today, Feministing brings us yet more depressing news: she has changed her name to Sarah Michelle Prinze as an anniversay present to her husband. USmagazine.com has more: A… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 November 2007
Welcome to our new blogger… Carrie Dunn
I am pleased to announce that Carrie Dunn is joining The F Word’s blogging team. Carrie was the writer behind a couple of our recent features - including The media has failed women’s football, about the coverage of the women’s… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 November 2007
15 November 2007
Does Strictly Come Dancing play into the myth of catfighting women?
I’m not ashamed to admit it – I watch Strictly Come Dancing every week. So devotedly, in fact, that I also blog about it. And before you start mailing in with comments telling me that reality television is rubbish and… Read more...Posted by Carrie Dunn at 15 November 2007
Buffy wouldn't have posed for Maxim
I have to admit, my reaction to seeing Sarah Michelle Gellar’s photoshoot for Maxim was almost exactly the same as dorothy snarker from AfterEllen: what would Buffy say? Yes, I know, I know - I am over identifying Gellar with… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 15 November 2007
Ho ho ho story a rotten Christmas chestnut
Dollymix alerts us to a story that has taken Australia by storm: a supplier of Santas apparently instructed its recruits not to say “ho, ho, ho” because it would be offensive to women. Of course, it’s already 15th of November,… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 15 November 2007
Thin or healthy - which is it going to be?
The Guardian today has a worrying report on the latest figures that suggest that 80% of women and girls are failing to take enough exercise. A study by the Womens’ Sport and Fitness Foundation has found that social pressures portraying… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 15 November 2007
Pippi creator's 100th birthday
The creator of Pippi Longstocking would have turned 100 yesterday, reports AFP. Astrid Lindgren’s most famous creation was, according to Wikipedia, “very unconventional, assertive, rich and extraordinarily strong, being able to lift her horse one-handed without difficulty”. The first four… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 15 November 2007
If turning an orangutan into a sex slave is evil, what does it mean to do that to a human?
An organutan has been rescued from a “prostitute village” in Indonesia, according to Vice magazine. The magazine interviewed Michelle Desilets, director of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation - incidental to this particular story, this organisation does some really good work… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 15 November 2007
Chuckle chuckle.
It always amuses me when a feminist challenges beauty norms and culture and receives the kind of response I got the other day: …for heaven’s sake get those dungarees off and comb your hair. A bit of lippy wouldn’t go… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 15 November 2007
14 November 2007
Rebecca Gomperts in The Guardian
There’s a fascinating interview in The Guardian’s Women’s pages today with Rebecca Gomperts. The name may not be familiar, but you may well have heard of her ship – Rebecca is the doctor responsible for the Dutch ship Women… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 14 November 2007
UK drops from 9 to 11 in world gender rankings
The UK has dropped two places in the World Economic Forum’s annual rankings on gender equality - although our overall ‘score’ has increased a little bit. Last year, the UK was in ninth place - this year we’re in 11th… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 14 November 2007
Maplin - stereotypes galore for Xmas!
Electronics retailer Maplin is starting early with its sexist Christmas advertising - I spotted this window display in one of its stores in the City yesterday. It’s a bit blurry, unfortunately, but those are video games, toy cars, strobe… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 14 November 2007
13 November 2007
Fancy blogging?
From 25 November to 10 December I will be running a new blog on the 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women on openDemocracy. And you’re invited! This year’s theme is ‘Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles: End Violence Against… Read more...Posted by zohra moosa at 13 November 2007
New female condom not set to take off
The female condom has never caught on. It didn’t in the United States. It didn’t when it was distributed in third world countries during the 1990s, despite hopes that it would help control the spread of AIDS. It didn’t…. Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 13 November 2007
All women are unacceptable, but some women are more unacceptable than others
Further to Jess and Laura’s posts, I felt that I had to leap onto the What Not To Wear bandwagon. Makeover shows such as What Not To Wear give women who don’t necessarily feel good about their appearance tips on… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 13 November 2007
zohra is staying on
This is just a brief service announcement, to let you know that our guest blogger zohra moosa has agreed to stay on as a regular blogger. zohra started blogging for us back in July, and has been responsible for any… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 November 2007
New comments!
All the comments sent in during the month of October are now up and ready for your perusal. And boy, did people have a lot to say this month: in particular about Ruth Moss’ feature on the Facebook ban on… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 November 2007
Afterthoughts, and a quandary.
It occurs to me that I have fallen once again into the trap of misdirected anger. Trinny and Susannah are, after all, also a product of the society that pushes the anti-women values I outline below, and as such should… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 13 November 2007
12 November 2007
Trinny and Susannah: fuck right off.
I see that while I’ve been immersed in mind-twisting Argentinean literature, Jess has beaten me to the Trinny and Susannah interview in the Guardian. But no matter, we seem to have quite different views on the subject, and as… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 12 November 2007
Swedes fight for right to swim topless (…in November?)
Groups of feminists have been swimming topless in pools across Sweden, in wildcat protests against both official policy and social expectation dictating that women must cover up, reports The Local. I know those Swedes are tough, but they must be… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 12 November 2007
Tories set out stall on rape
Cartoon by Jacky Fleming Teach children about consent in schools. Poor money into rape crisis centres. Overhaul sentencing of rapists. David Cameron’s speech today reads like a feminist wish list. Speaking to the Conservative Women’s Organisation in London, Cameron… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 12 November 2007
Making the blog easier for you to use!
Eagle-eyed readers will have noticed some changes here at The F Word’s blog. You told us that it wasn’t easy enough to find the permanent links for blog posts, so we changed it. Each post now has its own page… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 12 November 2007
11 November 2007
Tampax will protect you from sharks!
In the annuals of tampon adverts, this one for Tampax in France and found on AdsoftheWorld.com is, at least, a bit funny. Swimming in shark infested waters is, I suppose, one of those occasions where a super efficient tampon… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 11 November 2007
10 November 2007
Sweden's new female equality ombudsman paid less than male predecessor
Some stories are enough to make you despair of every seeing the pay gap closed shut in this country, and this is one of them. Sweden, one of the most egalitarian places in the world, cut the wages of its… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 10 November 2007
Get yourself a bonza car insurance deal
Head over to The Independent today for an interesting analysis of how insurance and pension companies use gender-based statistics to calculate premiums and to tailor their products to individual customers. Most of this article is pretty sober and makes a… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 10 November 2007
Sexist jokes cause discrimination - study
Researchers have found that exposure to sexist humour makes men who already have sexist tendencies more likely to discriminate, reports Yahoo’s LiveScience.com. The research was carried out by psychologist Thomas Ford and some of his graduate students at Western Carolina… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 10 November 2007
9 November 2007
Mind the Gap is back - and posting about Trinny and Susannah
The brilliant blog Mind the Gap has relaunched, keeping their promise not to be gone for long. Indeed, it’s only a matter of weeks since we were saying a fond farewell to the Cardiff-based group’s old blog. Based on the… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 November 2007
Carrie from Sleater Kinney has a blog
Here’s some good news for the legions of Sleater Kinney fans who have been pining since the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2006, Carrie Brownstein, guitarist and sometimes-singer for the late, great SK now has her own music blog… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 November 2007
Will Clinton fail at the polls because Americans want their presidents to play football?
Stories about the US presidential elections are coming in to my RSS reader thick and fast, not least from all the US feminist bloggers. But The Guardian adds to the ongoing debate over whether Hilary Clinton could become the first… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 November 2007
Answering the question 'can fashion be feminist?'
If only photographer jeroen020 had also taken some close up photos of the clothes on sale at this ‘performance feminism fashion’ clothes shop in a mall in Gwanju, Korea…. Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 November 2007
Two feminist carnivals for the price of one!
The 47th Carnival of Feminists is up at Ornamenting Away. Also, the latest carnival of radical feminists is ready to read over at Angry for a Reason. Both look really good, and Louise even gets a mention over at the… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 November 2007
HPV vaccination programme given go ahead
Minsters have given the go-ahead for a nationwide programme of vaccination against the HPV virus (a sexually transmitted disease which can cause cervical cancer). The vaccinations will be administered to 12 year old girls at a cost of £100m per… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 9 November 2007
I thought the personal was political
What is the role of personal conviction when carrying out public service? The issue came up when Ruth Kelly MP was Minister for Women and Equalities and more recently in her new role. This week the Government has again provided… Read more...Posted by zohra moosa at 9 November 2007
8 November 2007
Entry for best poster competition?
(Via Feminist Law Professors, who got it from Social Design Notes. It comes with a colouring book on the inside and is called “CrimethInc Gender Subversion Kit #69-B”.)… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 8 November 2007
An open letter to the Abortion Rights campaign
I am posting this blog on behalf of two friends of mine, Laura Rogers and Rebecca Galbraith. Before I continue, I will provide you with some background. Both women are actively involved in the pursuit of greater rights for women,… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 8 November 2007
7 November 2007
Fatties more likely to get cancer
The Guardian today has a report on a new study that suggests that around 6,000 out of 120,000 new cases of cancer a year in women are linked to weight gain, which is a particular danger to post-menopausal women. In… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 7 November 2007
6 November 2007
Failed Femmes: Pity and Scorn in the Daily Mail Part 2
As well as trumpeting the plight of the Unwell Lady, the Daily Mail has also been busy scorning the Brazen Hussies. This piece treats us to lots of photos of drunken women, alongside the usual hand-wringing about their antics…. Read more...Posted by Holly Combe at 6 November 2007
Failed Femmes: Pity and Scorn in the Daily Mail Part 1
I realise I’m probably rising to the bait here but, as ever, it seems the Daily Mail is on a crusade to keep the ladies under control and help the nation to internalise the importance of good old-fashioned femininity. A… Read more...Posted by Holly Combe at 6 November 2007
First batch of November features, reviews!
The first batch of features are out of the oven and ready to munch. Or, if you prefer to ignore my over-stretched metaphor, read. First up, Joanna Whitehead considers why it’s not so great for femme lesbians when advertisers exploit… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 November 2007
Feminists are selfish lovers, apparently
Does anybody else wonder if the Femail section of The Daily Mail exists primarily to piss women off? There’s an…ahem…interesting article featured today, written by one Dr Pam Spurr, claiming that feminism has done nothing but propagate generations of self-centred… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 6 November 2007
And while I'm on the subject…
If I want to binge drink (and bear in mind that I need only consume a measly 6 units according to the government in order to do so) I will bloody well binge drink, and if some bastard decides to… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 6 November 2007
Dear Neighbours writers:
If, as I fear, you are indeed leading up to another ‘evil, conniving gold-digger cries rape for selfish personal gain to detriment of poor, upstanding, heart broken man’ type story line, I will reach out my infamously long limbs all… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 6 November 2007
Pay gap hits graduates
Just a few days after Laura’s merry-go-round antics comes an infuriating report in The Guardian. A survey from the Higher Education Statistic Agency reveals that the pay gap between men and women reveals itself as soon as students graduate, with… Read more...Posted by Samara Ginsberg at 6 November 2007
5 November 2007
And talking of new media and sexual assault…..
Viewers of Big Brother in Africa have been complaining about what appeared to be a rape shown live on the show. After a protracted drinking session Nigerian medical assistant Ofunneka Molokwu appeared to pass out at which point Richard Benzuidenhout… Read more...Posted by Louise Livesey at 5 November 2007
A new Liberal Conspiracy
This is a brief announcement: I am going to be blogging on feminist issues for Liberal Conspiracy, a new ‘super blog’ of the left. You can read more about the project, set up by Sunny of Pickled Politics, over here… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 5 November 2007
Internet Reduces Rape?
Over at ifeminists.com is this short news item: Commentary and Opinion: Porn a catalyst of sexual violence? No No one would say the current level of violence against women is acceptable. But the enormous progress in recent years is one… Read more...Posted by Louise Livesey at 5 November 2007
Female Artists - blog post of interest
Over at The Daily (Maybe) there is a post about the perceived absence of female artists and why that might be…. Read more...Posted by Louise Livesey at 5 November 2007
4 November 2007
Wonder if Lauren Henderson could extract any new style feminist enjoyment from this…
In response to Abi’s piece about sexual harassment, couldn’t help but be reminded of an incident that happened on a bus I was on earlier this week. As we were crawling along the rat run route from Oxford Road to… Read more...Posted by Jane Eyre at 4 November 2007
2 November 2007
Merry-go-rounds and badge wearing coppers
The Sheffield branch of the Fawcett Society got down to some damn fine campaigning on Wednesday to raise awareness of the pay gap between men and women. Armed with home made placards, piles of leaflets and fistfulls of badges, we… Read more...Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 2 November 2007
Damned if you do, doomed if you don't
There is no perfect way for women to act in the workplace, if they wish to get ahead - that is the conclusion Lisa Belkin comes to in this New York Times article on the contradictory research on the issue…. Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 2 November 2007
1 November 2007
Joss Whedon, Faith back with new TV series
Joss Whedon is to film a new TV show with Eliza Dushku (who played Faith on Buffy), according to The Hollywood Reporter. The self-proclaimed feminist who created both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly has nabbed a seven episode commitment… Read more...Posted by Jess McCabe at 1 November 2007
Commons committee validates pro-choice position
Well the Commons Science and Technology Committee has published its report following its inquiry into scientific developments relevant to the time limit for abortion. You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been all over this one (I describe the purpose of the… Read more...Posted by Lynne Miles at 1 November 2007
Women speak about abortion experiences
Abortion is a subject that is spoken about at great length, although we rarely hear from the women who are either considering a termination, or have had a termination. This is an aspect of the debate I have been thinking… Read more...Posted by Abby O'Reilly at 1 November 2007
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