31 October 2008

September comments on features and reviews

The comment round-up for September is up…. Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 31 October 2008 | Comments (0)

30 October 2008

P.S. - Notes from an apologetic polyamorist, by Red Chidgey

Last month we published a review by Red Chidgey of Tristan Taormino’s latest book, a guide to open relationships. We ended up changing the headline for this review - in this post-script, Red explains why and elaborates on some of… Read more...

Posted by Guest Blogger at 30 October 2008 | Comments (2)

Times Online indulges in a bit of ‘slut’ shaming

Jonathan Ross has got himself suspended for three months, while Russell Brand quit his radio rob. But The Times is more interested in attacking Georgina Baillie - the butt of Ross and Brand’s joke. In this guest post, Amity Reed… Read more...

Posted by Guest Blogger at 30 October 2008 | Comments (13)

Sexual Assault Referral Centre charges premium rates for helpline.

The Telegraph reports that a government-funded Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Gloucester has been making victims phone an 0845 helpline number for advice on dealing with their experience: Mobile users and callers from BT payphones will have to pay… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 30 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Domestic violence photo and script competition for Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot women in the UK

The Turkish Women’s Speaking Group - IMECE - has launched a photo competition, in order to draw attention to the issue of domestic violence. From the Facebook group: IMECE Turkish Speaking Women’s Group presents… Script and Photography Competition On… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 30 October 2008 | Comments (0)

BUST magazine Craftacular comes to London!

The US feminist magazine BUST holds annual “craftaculars” on the other side of the pond - and this year they’re holding one in London for the first time. Check out the FAQ for more info on the 6 December event,… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 30 October 2008 | Comments (0)

The Femilist

Feminist voices in the media are often… sparse. And when journalists do seek comment from feminists, it’s often the same few voices. Occasional F-Word guest blogger Charlotte Cooper is working on a project which hopes to provide access to a… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 30 October 2008 | Comments (0)

29 October 2008

No prison for young mums?

The conditions in prison may no longer be Dickensian but young mothers are still going to jail for the same reasons they were in Victorian times: poverty, debt, addiction and mental illness. In yesterday’s Guardian, Juliet Lyon set out the… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 29 October 2008 | Comments (13)

Commenters, oh, commenters

Cath Elliot has published on her blog a selection of delightful comments she received recently on a Comment is Free post about strip clubs. Setting aside where we individually stand on this particular issue, the comments left speak volumes about… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 29 October 2008 | Comments (1)

28 October 2008

Lost a tampon?

This instructional video on what to do if you lose a tampon is funny. And informative: I was actually under the impression it was impossible to lose a tampon. Oh well, at least I’ll be prepared for any future eventuality!… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 October 2008 | Comments (2)

Man apologises to other men

It’s taken me a good 12 hours to work out what’s been bugging me about Allen Stanford apologising to the England players. For those of you who don’t follow cricket, Mr Stanford is a very rich man who is currently… Read more...

Posted by Carrie Dunn at 28 October 2008 | Comments (10)

One Million Signatures Campaign For Equality

Women in Iran face widespread discrimination under law. Evidence given by a woman in court is considered only worth half that given by a man. A girl under the age of 13 can be forced to marry a much older… Read more...

Posted by Helen G at 28 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Some things to muse on….

Racialious has an interesting piece here on John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Woman is the Nigger of the World and thoughts on oppression, misogyny and racism. Worth a read and a ponder, really it is. In the same way Stroppyblog… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 28 October 2008 | Comments (8)

Madre one minute video challenge

Madre is a campaign group that focuses on “demanding rights, resources and results for women worldwide”. While US election fevour continues unabated, Madre is gazing beyond election day to focus on what comes next. Whoever ends up in the White… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Rosie the Riveter and more

For those, like me, with a serious weakness for Rosie the Riveter-esque photos, Flickr has become a bit of a goldmine. Loads of Library of Congress photos make their way onto the site: Original caption: ‘Dora Miles and Dorothy Johnson… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 28 October 2008 | Comments (5)

27 October 2008

Models

On the 3rd November, Manchester Cornerhouse is showing the film ‘Models’ as part of ‘Between Heaven and Hell: The films of Ulrich Seidl’ it’s Cert 18, and starts at 18:05 and is described thus: “Far from glamourous and more melodramatic… Read more...

Posted by Barbara Felix at 27 October 2008

And some more….

A few more stories…. A US-Iranian student has been arrested for her work on the women’s signature campaign in Iran which aims to change gender discriminatory laws. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has released some interesting reports on child poverty looking… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 27 October 2008 | Comments (0)

In the news…

A round up of some stories: Firstly violence against women is adapting to new technologies - a stalker used Facebook to facilitate his crimes which resulted in a woman having acid thrown over her. The perp has been found guilty… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 27 October 2008 | Comments (4)

New feature: We’re all in this together

Irish and British women must unite in the battle for reproductive rights, argue Ariel Silvera and Sinead Ahern, as they sketch out the history of abortion in Ireland and the UK As oppression has gone global, so too has the… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 27 October 2008

26 October 2008

New feature: Confidential?

We don’t expect our reason for seeing a nurse or doctor to be broadcast to the waiting room. But that’s exactly what happened to Rachael Halemor, when she wanted to get hold of emergency contraception I live in Nottingham, and… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 October 2008

Photos from Department of Health protest

As we’ve mentioned already, the government blocked attempts to debate liberalising amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. One of those amendments could have extended abortion rights to Northern Ireland, and Northern Irish feminists, supported by feminists from other… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 26 October 2008 | Comments (1)

25 October 2008

Glasgow Feminist Network - readings and discussion against gendered violence

In the run-up to the 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign (for more info see http://www.cwgl.rutgers.edu/16days/about.html) Glasgow Feminist Network would like to invite you to a reading and discussion on Saturday the 8th of November from 6-8pm… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 25 October 2008 | Comments (1)

24 October 2008

Mayuma Oda and more (arts-themed Friday mini-round up)

Mayuma Oda’s work is fascinating - I came across her via AfterEllen’s post about the documentary Who Does She Think She Is? Sounds like a great film. But the image of Oda’s work Mamala the Surfrider struck me immediately -… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 24 October 2008 | Comments (1)

Jezebel interviews Sarah Haskins

Jezebel scored an interview with Sarah Haskins of Target Women fame! DODAI: Do you ever get recognized, and what do people say to you, if so? SARAH HASKINS: My favorite exchange was this - Drunk Guy With Glitter In Beard… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 24 October 2008 | Comments (0)

23 October 2008

Fantastic news: sex education to be made compulsory in all schools by 2010.

A government review has concluded that sex education should be made a compulsory part of the national curriculum in both primary and secondary schools. Religious schools will not be able to opt out of the curriculum, although they will have… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 23 October 2008 | Comments (19)

‘Planet of the guys’

“So long as we live among men, let us cherish humanity” Andre Gide “It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.” Bertrand Russell “The world… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 October 2008 | Comments (15)

Shameless Sheffield Fems Promotion

Just a little heads up for anyone living in or around Sheffield: Sheffield Fems have a new website, which includes details of meetings, campaigns and the group itself. And if you haven’t done so already, get yourself down to the… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 23 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Photos from bittersweet Abortion Rights protest

Tuesday evening’s protest calling for MPs to pass amendments liberalising the abortion laws and extending them to Northern Ireland carried on, despite the government manipulating the debate so they didn’t even have a chance. From the BBC: Labour MP Diane… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Women’s football coaching project launched by England team’s Hope Powell

England’s women’s football coach Hope Powell and England and Arsenal captain Faye White have launched a new project to increase the number of female football coaches. Just one in four coaches in the UK are women, and of these, just… Read more...

Posted by Milly Shaw at 23 October 2008 | Comments (1)

New feature: From the front lines

One in four women experience domestic violence during their lifetime. Ella Alexander spent a day at a women’s refuge learning about the human toll of a crime so common it is no longer considered newsworthy Sitting in her office in… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 October 2008

Fun times with London AnarchaFeminist Kolektiv

The London AnarchaFeminist Kolektiv is holding a creative day on Saturday, with art, screen printing, web design, badge making and more. It’s all at the fabulous Lambeth Young Women’s Project, in Brixton, and the day is women and trans only:… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Latest Carnival of Feminists up now!

The 67th Carnival of Feminists is up at Jump Off the Bridge…. Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 23 October 2008 | Comments (0)

22 October 2008

Feminists, Sarah Palin, Rachel Maddow

Via Feministing… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 22 October 2008 | Comments (1)

Transgender Carnival official launch

The Transgender Carnival website is officially launched today (22 October 2008); with the first Transgender Carnival itself scheduled to be hosted at Bird of Paradox on 16 November 2008. The Transgender Carnival aims to recognize and celebrate the full spectrum… Read more...

Posted by Helen G at 22 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Calling bullshit on Pepsi

You may have seen stuff on other blogs about the recent supposed Pepsi ad, depicting an unconscious ‘hawt’ woman, the lifeguard who has apparently just dragged her out of the sea, and a leery teenage boy. The deal is that,… Read more...

Posted by Lynne Miles at 22 October 2008 | Comments (11)

21 October 2008

Fundraiser for Edinburgh Reclaim the Night!

Reclaim the Night Edinburgh is holding a fundraiser on 30 September, with music (Fool for a Pretty Face, Victoria Bennett), feminist comedian Liz Ely, mini-massages and a clothing swap. Starting 7.30pm at the Forest Cafe (3 Bristo Place), entry is… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 21 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Fawcett action ideas

In Birmingham: Are you an ethnic minority woman who isn’t registered to vote? Come join Fawcett’s femocracy campaign this Thursday morning for an event where you can: speak directly to Birmingham’s ethnic minority women councillors and local activists (including… Read more...

Posted by zohra moosa at 21 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Harman looks set to block tomorrow’s abortion votes.

The Guardian reports that Harriet Harman is planning to block any vote on amendments to the Abortion Act in Parliament tomorrow by invoking a procedural motion to decide the order in which MPs debate the HFE bill. This would place… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 21 October 2008 | Comments (5)

Tuesday roundup

“This is not an invitatation to rape me” is the slogan of a new campaign run by Rape Crisis Scotland. If you’re south of the border, you can see the whole campaign online. It deals head-on with the myths that… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 21 October 2008 | Comments (3)

Last chance - Abortion Rights protest tonight

Just a quick reminder: if you’re in London, get yourself to Westminster from 5.30pm today, to protest in favour of women’s right to choose and control our own bodies. The protest has been organised by Abortion Rights, and they have… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 21 October 2008 | Comments (0)

20 October 2008

Yarl’s Wood staff steal legal guide from asylum seeker

“What does it mean when the authorities can change the rules and deny me help to make my case to the Home Office? Are they aiming to deliberately sabotage our legal cases?” Mercy Wanjiku* ran a clinic in Kenya, to… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 20 October 2008 | Comments (1)

White, heterosexual man is the medicine’s ‘universal model’

Anecdotal evidence abounds that doctors and researchers work from the assumption that the standard body is white, male and heterosexual. But a researcher in the US has conducted a study of the images appearing in text books used in some… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 20 October 2008 | Comments (8)

Maternity leave, flexible working for parents put on hold by Mandelson

Peter Mandelson has put on hold plans to extend the right to ask for flexible working hours to all parents with children under 16, and may ditch an extention of paid maternity leave from 39 to 52 weeks, reports the… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 20 October 2008 | Comments (9)

Prossy Kakooza granted asylum

Prossy Kakooza has been granted asylum, according to the website set up by a Manchester LGBT church to campaign on her behalf. She writes: Dear friends: I get to stay!! Am still in shock, and am so sure it’s going… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 20 October 2008 | Comments (4)

Your Stories - Rhannu Profiad

Welsh women who have experienced domestic violence are being invited to contribute their stories to a blog, Your Stories - Rhannu Profiad. Set up by Nerys Evans, a Plaid Cymru member of the Welsh Assembly, the “aim is to show… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 20 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Men are from Earth, women are from Earth

Interesting article in yesterday’s Sunday Times (link here) about the Conservative party seeking advice from a marketing agency on “deciphering the female psyche”. Apparently: The consultants use research drawn from brain science, anthropology and marketing to help their clients to… Read more...

Posted by Helen G at 20 October 2008 | Comments (24)

19 October 2008

Target Women does Disney

Latest from Sarah Haskins:… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 19 October 2008 | Comments (10)

17 October 2008

Friday afternoon round-up

Victim blaming carries on as usual: Anthony Francis has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for raping a woman seven years ago. He was caught on DNA evidence. During the trial, reports the Daily Mail, the… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 17 October 2008 | Comments (11)

Feminism in London 2008

Last weekend was the first Feminism in London conference. Charlotte Cooper reflects on the day in this guest post. You can also see Jess’ photos from the day on Flickr While the word conference would normally rouse feelings of fear… Read more...

Posted by Guest Blogger at 17 October 2008 | Comments (1)

Dorries refuses to give up…

MPs Nadine Dorries and Frank Field yesterday tabled an extra amendment to the HFE bill ahead of voting this coming Wednesday. The amendment demands the creation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to review the 1967 Abortion Act. The Committee would… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 October 2008 | Comments (3)

McCain: Women’s “Health” No Excuse For Abortion.

Try getting a damn uterus and hitting us with that again, John. Hint: not wanting to sacrifice my life for something that hasn’t even been born into this world yet is not an “extreme” position. Disgusting. (Obama states that… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 October 2008 | Comments (4)

16 October 2008

‘Love your (drawn) body day’

Rachel at Inside Out has compiled an excellent list of “Five Characters Who Break the Paradigm of Feminine Beauty in Comics”. Because of my hate-hate-love relationships with the graphic novel ouvre, I’ve only heard of a few of these, and… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 October 2008 | Comments (6)

Northern Irish women sold out on abortion

Amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill which could have legalised abortion in Northern Ireland have been shelved, reports the Telegraph. MPs who put forward the amendments: …have changed their minds after being privately warned by ministers that with… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 October 2008 | Comments (10)

Some words of wisdom from Naomi Wolf

Despite controversy Wolf hits the nail on the head with some of this. Her advice to young women (written in 1992)? 1. Redefine what being a woman means. 2. Break the taboo around being self-sufficient including in terms of asking… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 16 October 2008 | Comments (4)

A Place of Rage screening, chat with director Pratibha Parmar

Haringey Independent Cinema is screening a documentary about African American women’s role in the civil rights movement, two weeks from today, followed by a discussion with the director, Pratibha Parmar. From HIC’s description: This exuberant celebration of African American women… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 October 2008 | Comments (0)

New feature: Incitement to rape

Denying women’s sexuality won’t prevent rape, argues Victoria Dutchman-Smith “If a girl goes to a man’s room and takes her clothes off and engages in sexual activity, should she be charged with inciting the crime of rape if she then… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 16 October 2008

15 October 2008

When a beauty contest allegedly isn’t a beauty contest…

Gok Wan continues his controversial and maybe confusing approach to women (see here and here) by hosting a naked beauty contest programme for Channel 4. Channel 4 have claimed it as a way of reintroducing feminism to a new audience… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 15 October 2008 | Comments (12)

Some news stories

There is a film coming out called Trade which covers trafficking of women for sexual purposes into the US. It draws on a phenomenon coined the “Fields of Shame” in which trafficked women are forced to engage in prositution in… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 15 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Royal Mail stamp issue to honour ‘Women of Distinction’

The Royal Mail have issued a special series of stamps to honour six women who “took on the establishment and won”. The stamps feature: Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, both the first female doctor and the first female mayor in England; Millicent… Read more...

Posted by Lynne Miles at 15 October 2008 | Comments (6)

14 October 2008

Harry Enfield

The Harry and Paul show is under fire, after it ran a sketch which revolved around encouraging a man to “mount” a Filipina maid. Really, I’m not going to attempt to describe the sketch, but you can see it here:… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 14 October 2008 | Comments (17)

Israeli paper refuses to print photos of PM-in-waiting

An Orthodox Jewish newspaper in Israel has refused to print photos of Tzipi Livni, set to become the country’s second female prime minister, because she is a woman, reports Reuters*. Citing concerns for feminine modesty, the ultra-Orthodox refuse to publish… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 14 October 2008 | Comments (7)

Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Pro-Choice Protest

From Abortion Rights: Protest Tuesday 21st October - 5.30pm onwards Old Palace Yard, outside Parliament, St Stephen’s entrance. Emergency protest to show the strength of pro-choice opinion ahead of the final abortion votes in Parliament the following day. The protest… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 14 October 2008 | Comments (2)

Pregnant women to be targeted under draconian plans to deny medical care to asylum seekers?

The government have relented, abandoning plans to “crack down” on asylum seekers being able to use GPs, the Guardian reports. Plans were afoot to bar the door to GP surgeries to asylum seekers who’s claims have been rejected, but are… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 14 October 2008 | Comments (6)

Defend and Extend Abortion Rights: Lobby Your MP NOW.

The final votes on abortion at the Report stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill will take place in the afternoon of next Wednesday 22nd October. It is absolutely essential that we all lobby our MPs to support amendments… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 14 October 2008 | Comments (16)

13 October 2008

Pharma industry gives less than a crap about women’s health. Quelle surprise.

The American Bloomberg News reports that Johnson and Johnson has spent at least $68.7 million on settling hundreds of lawsuits filed by women who suffered serious illness after using the contraceptive patch Ortho Evra, so avoiding being legally condemned for… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 13 October 2008 | Comments (24)

Feminism in London photos…

No doubt we’ll have a proper write-up soon, but the photos I took at the Feminism in London conference on Saturday are up on Flickr: Here’s a shot I took of the volunteers who organised the whole event, and got… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 October 2008 | Comments (1)

Monday mini-round-up…

This weekend saw National Coming Out Day celebrated in the US and the UK. There’s so many posts on this floating around, it’d be impossible to link everything - but Sinclair’s at Sugarbutch Chronicles is a must read: Like Jesse… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 October 2008 | Comments (0)

New feature: HPV vaccination - the debate isn’t over yet

St Monica’s in Manchester does not want girls vaccinated against HPV on school grounds. Kit Roskelly argues that all schools have a responsibility to protect their pupils’ health All girls aged 12 and 13 will be provided with vaccinations against… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 October 2008

Latest Carnival of Feminists up now!

The 66th Carnival of Feminists is up over at Apu’s World…. Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 13 October 2008 | Comments (1)

12 October 2008

Jess says: Find Me

A treasure hunt is going on today, to raise awareness of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (or XDR-TB). 43 items are being squirreled away in a series of locations, and the clues are spread out across participating blogs. Are you nearby?! XDR-TB… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 12 October 2008 | Comments (0)

11 October 2008

Good News

Some good news at last… it’s an old story, but still worth mentioning, Moving People, a consortium of mental health charities that includes Mind, Mental Health Media, and Rethink, amongst other, has won £18m to continue its campaign to combat… Read more...

Posted by Barbara Felix at 11 October 2008

General round up

Over in Amsterdam, a study has taken place to gain insight into the fit and feel of condoms, …Meanwhile, over in Manchester, the student paper Student Direct is disturbed by the sentiments expressed by a number of university students in… Read more...

Posted by Barbara Felix at 11 October 2008 | Comments (4)

Satire round up: Private Eye and Schnews, mainly…

Private Eye’s current issue is an absolute blinder, I believe Catherine has already blogged on their Roger Alton/Independent story, but I specifically wanted to mention M.D’s column this issue (Eye 1220). It’s very short, but is a follow up to… Read more...

Posted by Barbara Felix at 11 October 2008 | Comments (4)

10 October 2008

First public statue of a black woman in England

This week the first ever public monument in England representing a black woman was erected in Lambeth, as part of Black History Month. (I briefly mentioned this sculpture last month, as part of a post on the lack of statues… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 10 October 2008 | Comments (16)

9 October 2008

The Independent: “Pictures of semi-naked women…”

A bit late on this one, but I read in Private Eye today (No.1220) that the new-ish Editor of the Indpendent, Roger Alton, previously Editor of the Observer, has said: Froth is fun. Pictures of semi-naked women basically make the… Read more...

Posted by Catherine Redfern at 9 October 2008 | Comments (9)

Dispatches’ The Hidden World Of Lap Dancing

Just caught this on the wonder that is Catch Up TV. Unsurprisingly, the hidden world of lap dancing was revealed to be highly unregulated, full of very naked women simulating sex acts on entitled menfolk (actually pretty shocking if you… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 9 October 2008 | Comments (49)

Polish women may be forced to register with government if they become pregnant

The Polish government wants to introduce a database of pregnant women, in an attempt to stop illegal abortions, we learn from Feminoteka, by way of the Feminist Peace Network. Effectively, Feminoteka points out, this would put pregnant women under state… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 October 2008 | Comments (13)

Get involved: disABILITY in feminist, queer & DIY communities

This project, organised by members of the Feminist Activist Forum, sounds interesting: We are writing to invite people to become part of an organising committee who are planning on creating a series of resources & discussions around disABILITY issues in… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 9 October 2008 | Comments (1)

8 October 2008

The Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize 10th Anniversary Awards Ceremony

The Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize is awarded each year to an individual woman who has worked to stop violence against women; there is also an annual group award. These awards were set up in memory of Emma Humphreys: writer, poet,… Read more...

Posted by Helen G at 8 October 2008

Hallowe’en fun in aid of RTN

This sounds really fun: Spend this Hallowe’en drifting through the bat-black night on London’s dark canals. Shiver as ghost stories, songs and poems merge with the sounds of the unknown… Performances Beauchamp Lodge Electric Barge Thursday 30th and Friday… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 8 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Working towards non gender-specific legal and social recognition in the UK

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Christie Elan-Cane’s request for support in per fight for legal and social recognition outside the societal gender system in the UK. Christie’s now provided an update of per progress: Working towards non… Read more...

Posted by Helen G at 8 October 2008

Save Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Helpline

Barnsley Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Helpline is facing closure following the withdrawal of government funding. Please show your support for such a vital service, and for the women who dedicate so much of their time to providing it, by… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 8 October 2008 | Comments (0)

“She’s a powerful woman; he’s a powerful man. It’s basically the female equivalent of the Clinton cover”

Via Jezebel: The photographer, Cliff Watts, composed the cover featuring Halle Berry because she has been named Esquire Magazine’s “Sexiest Woman Alive”. It’s a homage to the older cover, featuring Bill Clinton, on the left. But are the images equivalent,… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 8 October 2008 | Comments (22)

Target Women: ‘Number Two’

Sarah Haskins, hilarious as always:… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 8 October 2008 | Comments (3)

7 October 2008

Only 85% of high court judges men

The number of female High Court judges is set to rise to “record levels”, reports the Independent. While this is good news, don’t get too excited - 85% of them are still men. Baroness Prashar, JAC [Judicial Appointments Commission] chairman… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 7 October 2008 | Comments (7)

6 October 2008

The homophobic rants of the LSE chaplin

Rev Dr Peter Mullen, chaplain to the London Stock Exchange, posted vile homophobic rants and “satirical” poems on his blog, reports The Daily Telegraph. One of Mullen’s posts stated that gay people should be tattooed, a comment which calls up… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 October 2008 | Comments (9)

Podcast addresses race & gender in the US election

Addicted to Race tackled some interesting issues in the latest episode on “Race, Gender and the Election”. Carmen is joined by Jenn from Reappropriate, and they talk through claims that Sarah Palin is a feminist, when so many of her… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 October 2008 | Comments (0)

Combahee Survival

A project is underway which invokes the spirit of the Combahee River Collective, which was a key US, black, lesbian feminist group active from the mid-1970s to 1980s. Combahee Survival includes resources for study groups, a zine and more: In… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 October 2008 | Comments (0)

This is a shampoo ad?

There’s no explanatory text on the ad itself, but according to the commenters at AdsoftheWorld, it may have run with the caption: “Ensure that your hair will be the second thing he will look at”. See also the “blond”… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 6 October 2008 | Comments (26)

5 October 2008

ASA - lets do something about this…

You can’t have failed to notice that the Advertising Standards Agency (in the UK) has absolutely no conception of gender issues at all. In fact it really, really, really doesn’t get why women get so angry at both advertising and… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 5 October 2008 | Comments (28)

Book Club Choice #1: We Need To Talk About Kevin

The first choice of the F-Word book club/reading group is Lionel Shriver’s ‘We Need To Talk About Kevin’. This book was nominated by Aideen Johnston, who described it as being “Not only [is it] a very interesting critique on motherhood,… Read more...

Posted by Barbara Felix at 5 October 2008 | Comments (18)

4 October 2008

New feature: So, you really think we’re stupid, do you?

10-year-old Ananya is frustrated by magazines aimed at girls There are quite a few magazines available in the shops aimed at girls of around the ages of seven to 12. These magazines suggest that girls only be interested in certain… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 4 October 2008

3 October 2008

Petition on prostitution legislation

Just a quick note - the Feminist Coalition Against Prostition are petitioning the Prime Minister “to criminalise the purchase of sexual services so as to curb demand for prostitution and reduce sex trafficking; to decriminalise the sale of sex, and… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 3 October 2008

Sarah Palin debate strategy [pic]

Diagram created by Daily Kos… Read more...

Posted by Milly Shaw at 3 October 2008 | Comments (19)

Victorine Meurent

Victorine Meurent has, for the most part, been known to the world only as Edouard Manet’s model in a number of controversial paintings. Over at the Guardian today, V R Main provides a different perspective: It was more than a… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 3 October 2008 | Comments (6)

Feminism in London 08 approaches…

Only a few short days until the first Feminism in London event takes place! The organisers sent us this message: FEMINISM IN LONDON 08 An exciting event will take place on Saturday, 11th October, 2008. It is called Feminism In… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 3 October 2008 | Comments (0)

2 October 2008

On spinsters

Spinsters - not a word you hear so often anymore. I’ve always understood it as a term of abuse for women who don’t marry men, a cultural archetype meant to keep women in their place - the flip side of… Read more...

Posted by Jess McCabe at 2 October 2008 | Comments (7)

1 October 2008

Obit - Louise Armstrong

I first came across Louise Armstrong when I read Rocking the Cradle of Sexual Politics. I’m not going to say that it changed my life in a moment, but it had a pretty profound impact on my work and on… Read more...

Posted by Louise Livesey at 1 October 2008 | Comments (3)

Gay people have a “duty” to vote Tory!?!

Prospective Tory parliamentary candidate Margot James yesterday urged all gay people to vote Tory, arguing that: “Gay people are net contributors to public services through their taxes, because very few of them have children. I think gay people have got… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 1 October 2008 | Comments (11)