Blog posts from September 2009
Fifth Carnival of Feminists is up!
By Helen G | 30 September 2009, 19:16
Ace blogger and writer Chally has put together a fantastic Fifth Carnival of Feminists for our enjoyment. She’s hosting it over at her blog Zero At The Bone and with a host of links to click, there’s no shortage of…
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BNP interview on BBC Radio1’s Newsbeat website
By Laura Woodhouse | 30 September 2009, 13:38
BBC Radio1’s Newsbeat website, aimed at young people and renowned for being a little dumbed down to say the least, has today run a pathetically uncritical interview with two young BNP members. The party is described as ‘controversial’ - not…
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Polanski Part II
By Louise Livesey | 30 September 2009, 09:08
It appears this week, and this story, will just keep causing disappointment after disappointment for us all… First Whoopi Goldberg comes out and say that Polanski didn’t commit “rape-rape” in an interview on a US TV Chatshow. Goldberg (yes that…
Roman Polanski
By Laura Woodhouse | 29 September 2009, 16:59
There’s been some discussion going on here about the Roman Polanski case, so I thought I’d do a fresh post on the subject. For those who haven’t been following the news, film director Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland, where…
August comments up now
By Jess McCabe | 29 September 2009, 14:26
Comments on features & reviews from August are up now for your reading pleasure. This month, Francine’s explanation of her campaign against Page 3 drew some controversy and comment, along with Amity and Laurie’s reviews of Ellie Levenson’s book, The…
Ladyfest Edinburgh mini write up
By Catherine Redfern | 29 September 2009, 12:11
Just a quick post to say congratulations to the organisers of Ladyfest Edinburgh which took place over the weekend. I didn’t attend everything, but have a few pics from the things I did attend to share. On Thursday there…
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New sexism column in times2.
By Laura Woodhouse | 28 September 2009, 15:37
I was pleasantly surprised to be sent a link to a new feature in The Times times2 supplement, encouraging readers to send in examples of everyday sexism. This is the kind of thing people who think feminism is now irrelevant…
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Prescott bemoans Harman’s focus on women’s rights.
By Laura Woodhouse | 28 September 2009, 15:07
John Prescott complained in yesterday’s Independent that his replacement as deputy leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, has spent too much time focusing on gender equality issues: “I suppose, if I was being honest about it, I think too…
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Learn about Feminists in Resistance against coup in Honduras, TONIGHT, London
By Jess McCabe | 28 September 2009, 14:47
A bit short notice, but if you’re in London tonight, there’s a great opportunity to learn a bit more about the work of Honduran Feminists in Resistance to the coup going on at the moment. Katherine Ronderos, women’s rights programme…
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The Heart of the Race: Black feminism in Britain.
By Laura Woodhouse | 28 September 2009, 11:09
The Heart of the Race event will take place at The Women’s Library, London on Saturday 14 November, 10am - 5pm: The Black Cultural Archives recent oral history project to collect testimonies of the women involved in OWAAD (Organisation of…
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BBC Three Counties Discussion on Platonic Friendship
By Holly Combe | 27 September 2009, 21:59
Unfortunately, popular wisdom still seems to have it that women and men can’t be platonic friends. Society might oh-so-tolerantly let you off the hook as a so-called “exception” if you’re both gay (if you’re lucky) but if one or both…
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Opportunity to Buy Tickets for Feminist Comedy on 10 October
By Holly Combe | 24 September 2009, 16:53
Kate Smurthwaite has details on her blog about the feminist cabaret show being held at the Comedy Pub in London on 10 October, after the Feminism in London Conference: It’s downstairs at The Comedy Pub on Oxenden Street (between Piccadilly…
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No Borders London call for action in solidarity with migrants in Calais.
By Laura Woodhouse | 24 September 2009, 16:25
If, like me, you were appalled by the French authorities’ treatment of asylum seekers in Calais and by the UK government’s refusal to take responsibility for our actions in Afghanistan by offering them asylum, you might like to join this…
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Women still under-represented in climate debate
By Jess McCabe | 24 September 2009, 14:40
Out of 146 national delegations at the UN climate talks on Tuesday, only seven were headed by women. Oxfam says this is an example of how women’s voices are still absent from the debate on climate change and what to…
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Ladyfest Edinburgh 25-27 September 2009
By Catherine Redfern | 24 September 2009, 12:13
Just a reminder that Ladyfest Edinburgh is happening over this weekend; you can check out the full programme here. I’m hoping to go to see Sister Spit on friday and spend the Saturday having arty fun. If you’re in…
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The British Fantasy Society admits to ‘lazy sexism’. What now?
By Jess McCabe | 24 September 2009, 11:05
The British Fantasy Society has admitted that it was “lazy sexism” that was behind its failure to include any women in a collection of 16 interviews with horror writers out later this year. It’s actually nice to see that the…
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Dr Kealey and THE Ed respond (you ain’t gonna like it)
By Laura Woodhouse | 24 September 2009, 10:26
UPDATE: The NUS are asking that we write to the Chair of Buckingham’s Governing Council demanding Kealey’s full and comprehensive apology - Mark your email ‘FAO Chair of Governing Council’ and send to qualityassurance[at]buckingham.ac.uk. You can also send your views…
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Lib Dems adopt women-friendly policies.
By Laura Woodhouse | 24 September 2009, 00:46
The Lib Dems have voted in support of MP Jo Swinson’s ‘Real Women’ manifesto, which Melanie Newman guest blogged here, meaning her policies will be officially adopted by the party. They include: * Providing twenty hours of free, good quality…
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Why have there been no great women artists?
By Jess McCabe | 23 September 2009, 20:18
Another interesting screening by Club des Femmes is in the works this week, under the provocative title “Why have there been no great women artists?” It’s a chance to see two feminist shorts from the 1970s and one more…
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University of Buckingham vice-chancellor encourages male academics to perve on female students.
By Laura Woodhouse | 23 September 2009, 10:58
I am absolutely stunned by what I’ve just read. In a Times Higher Education magazine piece entitled The seven deadly sins of the academy, the vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, Terence Kealey, takes on the supposed tradition of female…
Let’s get real
By zohra moosa | 22 September 2009, 22:54
Just came across this useful call to action piece by Katherine Marshall in The Washington Post. As the author points out, it is the season of Big Important Global Political Meetings. Internationally, there is the upcoming G20 Summit in…
The Deal with Disability
By Laura Woodhouse | 22 September 2009, 16:12
The Deal with Disability is a new blog written by Eva, a 26-year-old feminist with Cerebral Palsy. The blog documents her everyday encounters with people who treat her “bizarrely” and insensitively when they see she is disabled. Instead of simply…
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Public authorities’ handling of rape cases to be reviewed
By Catherine Redfern | 22 September 2009, 12:42
Good news: the Government has announced a review of how rape complaints are handled: Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Solicitor General Vera Baird today announced a review into how rape complaints are handled…
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Sexual assault prevention tips guaranteed to work!
By Jess McCabe | 22 September 2009, 10:39
I’ve seen this list posted in several places in the last few days, so I’m not sure who originally wrote it. But I do think it nicely reverses the way these email circulars usually pull out a long list of…
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Mini review, feminist history: The Way to Paradise
By Jess McCabe | 21 September 2009, 22:52
When we talk about the foremothers of feminism on this blog, all too often we skew towards UK history and UK feminism. I’ve just finished reading Mario Vargas Llosa’s novel, The Way to Paradise, a double biography of French-Peruvian feminist…
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Police forces fail to record rape claims.
By Laura Woodhouse | 21 September 2009, 18:16
The BBC reports that police forces are failing to record up to 40% of rape claims, with vast differences in recording across the country. When a victim reports their rape to the police, this should be recorded whether or not…
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July comments up now!
By Jess McCabe | 19 September 2009, 18:00
Comments on features and reviews from July are up now. In July, Anna’s feature on her feminist ‘click’ moment got loads of praise, while Wisrutta’s piece on women engineers also garnered lots of responses. There’s lots more as usual, including…
Guest Post: No, Katie Price is not obliged to name her rapist.
By Guest Blogger | 18 September 2009, 20:54
Reader Anji Capes responds to Abby’s post on Katie Price. Katie Price (the former glamour model more commonly known as Jordan) has stated that she is one of the estimated one in four women in this country who has been…
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NUS Women’s Officer protests sexist student marketing.
By Laura Woodhouse | 18 September 2009, 10:18
The National Union of Students’ Women’s Officer, Olivia Bailey, has written an open letter to BAM student marketing, who are promoting the Miss University GB beauty pageants and pushing for the distribution of lads’ mag FHM at freshers’ fairs: We…
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Katie Price: why she should name her rapist
By Abby O'Reilly | 17 September 2009, 23:48
Glamour model and reality TV star Katie Price was raped prior to her marriage to Peter Andre, according to her column in OK! Magazine earlier this month. In response to the media furore surrounding her revelation, Price stated that the…
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Where does the word misogyny come from?
By Jess McCabe | 17 September 2009, 17:10
Misogyny is now in common usage to describe hatred towards women, but what is the origin of the word? On the Issues has posted an interesting article looking at when the word misogyny first began to emerge in English. It’s…
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Pro-Feminist men’s website needs submissions
By Catherine Redfern | 17 September 2009, 16:01
Long standing pro-feminist, anti-sexist men’s website www.xyonline.net has recently been relaunched and is seeking volunteers and submissions. XY is a pro-feminist website. It is guided above all by a commitment to feminism. XY is intended to advance feminist goals of…
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New feature: How to organise a demonstration
By Jess McCabe | 17 September 2009, 11:06
In this case study, Carrie Supple explains how she and Louise Morris organised a protest to support Sudanese journalist Lubna Hussein - and how you can use the same techniques to organise a demo for your campaign too How it…
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LUZ
By Jess McCabe | 17 September 2009, 10:33
LUZ is a “reproductive justice think tank” in Colorado, in the US, which organises itself on a shared leadership model. In these videos, they tell the story of how the group came together, why they’ve chosen to organise themselves in…
UN approves women’s rights agency; IPS explains why it’s important
By Jess McCabe | 16 September 2009, 15:52
The United Nations has voted to create an agency dedicated to women’s rights, IPS reports. The vote by the 192-member general assembly of the UN is a landmark decision, but if you’re a bit vague on your understanding of how…
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Credit crunch exploited by abusive partners
By Jess McCabe | 16 September 2009, 13:55
The recession is making it harder for women to leave abusive partners, according to Women’s Aid (in Ireland?). The PA story draws attention to ways that abusers have been using money and control over finances to make life harder for…
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Female prison officer wins sex discrimination case
By Laura Woodhouse | 16 September 2009, 12:37
Amit Kajla, a 22-year-old former prison officer, has won her case for unfair dismissal from HM’s Prison Service on the grounds of age and sex discrimination. She was forced to quit her job following bullying from other staff, who accused…
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Getting priorities right second time
By Jess McCabe | 15 September 2009, 17:04
Via Radical Doula, the New York Times ran an interesting piece about a clinic in Peru, which was forced to change how it operated because so few women were choosing to give birth there. That is, in 1999, only 6%…
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Questioning the boundaries of love and lust.
By Laura Woodhouse | 15 September 2009, 16:29
“I believe in trying to break down power hierarchies in society, and that means breaking them down in my personal life as well,” he says. “If I wish to try to allow others to be free, why would I want…
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World Wide Women, Sheffield
By Laura Woodhouse | 15 September 2009, 14:22
The World Wide Women conference is taking place in Sheffield on Saturday 24th October. It seeks to “place the position of women in relation to economic inequality, injustice, disease, violence and poverty under the microscope of feminism”. Speakers include: On…
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Save Behind Closed Doors
By Laura Woodhouse | 15 September 2009, 10:07
Behind Closed Doors, a Leeds-based service for women who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence is facing closure due to lack of funding. Laura Conrad posted this call for support on our facebook group: Unfortunately despite the team’s very…
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Carnival of Feminist Parenting
By Laura Woodhouse | 14 September 2009, 17:19
The Fourth Carnival of Feminist Parenting is now up at Mothers For Women’s Lib and it’s jam-packed with interesting reads on topics ranging from mental health and maternity to policing children’s gender. Anji has worked really hard to put this…
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Quick update, Moshe Katsav trial starts
By Jess McCabe | 14 September 2009, 13:10
Two years ago we reported the mass protests in Israel over the decision not to indict former president Moshe Katsav on rape charges. Well, I’m a bit late on this, but via womensphere, it turns out that his trial for…
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Only 6.4% of domestic violence cases end in conviction - Lib Dem research
By Jess McCabe | 14 September 2009, 11:02
The number of domestic violence convictions have risen dramatically, but 14 out of 15 cases reported to the police do not result in a conviction, the Daily Mail reports. (Yes, apparently the newspaper once again believes domestic violence is bad…
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The F-Word bloggers’ position on transphobia and cissexism.
By Laura Woodhouse | 13 September 2009, 20:03
As a collective, The F Word blogging team have decided to put together a statement clarifying this blog’s position on transphobia and related discrimination against trans people. Trans women in particular have historically been, and continue to be, marginalised and…
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Birmingham Reclaim the Night…
By Jess McCabe | 12 September 2009, 18:29
We’ve got a whole series of big marches coming up in the next month or so folks, including Gude Cause on 10 October in Edinburgh, which is a re-enactment of a key Suffragette march, up to the London Reclaim the…
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Showing of “This Week: Lesbians”, National Portrait Gallery
By Catherine Redfern | 11 September 2009, 17:13
In London* and looking for something last minute to do tonight? As you may know, The National Gallery is currently showing an exhibition called Gay Icons. Tonight, if you’re looking for something fabulous to do why not go to Iconography…
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Lubna Hussein update
By Catherine Redfern | 11 September 2009, 17:08
In our last update, we reported that Lubna Hussein was found guilty of indecency and refused to pay the fine, prefering to go to jail for a month to highlight and protest Article 152 in Sudanese law, which unfairly…
New review - Dirt: Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House
By Jess McCabe | 10 September 2009, 13:24
Sian Norris reviews an anthology which explores our feelings about dirt (and cleaning it up) Dirt: Quirks, Habits and Passions of Keeping House is an anthology of women and men writers, journalists and commentators exploring their relationship with all things…
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England in Euro Final 2009
By Laura Woodhouse | 10 September 2009, 11:56
The women’s England football team are playing Germany in the Euro 2009 final today, and you can watch the match live at 16.45 on BBC2. The Guardian has an interesting piece on the history of women’s football in England, from…
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New feature: Feminism and the vampire novel
By Jess McCabe | 8 September 2009, 22:00
Much has been written about sexism in the Twilight books and film. Here, Caitlin Brown puts the series in context of other popular vampire fiction Warning: spoilers follow Feminism and the vampire novel have not traditionally been particularly well-suited bedfellows….
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From 1980 to 2009
By Jess McCabe | 8 September 2009, 20:21
Sean Lennon and his girlfriend Kemp Muhl have re-created the famous photo of Yoko Ono and John Lennon taken just before he died. But, as Kittywampus points out, the 2009 recreation is so much more normative and boring than the…
War Zone
By Laura Woodhouse | 8 September 2009, 14:55
I just came across this great documentary on Feministing, in which a woman films and confronts the men and boys who harass her on the street: (For a better quality version of the trailer, click on the link to the…
Lubna Hussein found guilty of indecency.
By Laura Woodhouse | 8 September 2009, 09:43
Lubna Hussein has been found guilty of indecency for wearing trousers in public. She was spared a flogging - an achievement in itself - but ordered to pay a fine of 500 Sudanese pounds. Supporters outside court - mostly women,…
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The financial sector, where women are paid less, get 80% lower bonuses and face entrenched sexist culture
By Jess McCabe | 7 September 2009, 11:01
Women working in leading UK financial companies receive around 80% less in ‘performance related pay’ (ie bonuses) than their male colleagues, a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission has found. The report is based on a survey sent…
England v Netherlands in Euro 2009; national newspaper website has live text commentary
By Carrie Dunn | 6 September 2009, 17:28
Just a quick post - England’s women footballers are playing the Netherlands in the first semi-final of the Euro 2009 tournament. Times Online are running live text commentary (by me!) if you want to pop along and see what’s happening….
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New review: Feminist or misogynist?
By Jess McCabe | 5 September 2009, 13:46
Steig Larsson’s thrillers have been described as feminist, but Melanie Newman argues they are just the latest in a line of novels which aim to titillate readers with graphic depictions of men raping and murdering women This may be triggering…
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New review: Bluestockings
By Jess McCabe | 4 September 2009, 16:18
England’s first college accepting female undergraduates was established in 1869. In 1948, Cambridge became the last university in the country to grant degrees to its female students. Alexandra Roumbas Goldstein reviews a book which charts the years in between Originally…
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Filament magazine flies the flag for the female gaze
By Laura Woodhouse | 4 September 2009, 12:24
I’m delighted to announce that the makers of Filament magazine successfully sold sufficient numbers of their first issue to change printers and become the first UK women’s magazine to feature an image of a naked man in all his erect…
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Protest in support of Lubna Hussein, tomorrow lunchtime, London
By Jess McCabe | 3 September 2009, 13:51
Tomorrow there will be a protest opposite the Embassy of Sudan in London, in support of Lubna Hessein, who faces trial next week for the crime of “indecent dressing” (ie wearing trousers). More on Lubna’s situation and the background to…
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Sex work and sexuality group blog launch
By Helen G | 3 September 2009, 12:41
The sex work and sexuality group blog which I mentioned last week has now been launched as planned. It’s called Harlot’s Parlour and can be reached via this link. From Caroline’s introductory post on the site (link here): In the…
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Erotic Film With Feminist Aims Wins Award Despite Ban
By Holly Combe | 2 September 2009, 22:36
The film Matinée, directed by Jennifer Lyon Bell, has been given the “Best Short Film” prize by an official jury at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival 2009. The August 26 scheduled screening was halted by the OFLC (Australia’s Office…
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‘Women given less subjectivity than cats’
By Jess McCabe | 2 September 2009, 20:14
Sociological Images highlighted this ad for perfume, noting that the cats “actually look at the camera and definitely appear to be alive, giving them more subjectivity than the women have”. See the full series of ads over at Sociological…
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Oxfam campaign to save mothers and babies worldwide
By Laura Woodhouse | 2 September 2009, 17:00
One woman dies needlessly in childbirth or pregnancy every single minute worldwide due to a lack of basic healthcare facilities; Oxfam are urging supporters to help change this by asking Gordon Brown to push for free public healthcare for mothers…
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1/4 of teenage girls suffer physical violence, 1/3 sexual violence in relationships
By Jess McCabe | 2 September 2009, 15:00
One third of girls age 13-17 have been forced or pressured into “unwanted sexual acts”, and a further one quarter have suffered physical violence by their boyfriends, according to a study by Bristol University and the NSPCC. A smaller number…
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Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday
By Jess McCabe | 1 September 2009, 14:54
In what is planning to become a monthly event, the first international Same-sex hand holding (Sshh!) Saturday starts on September 26: On this day, same-sex couples and friends all over the world are encouraged to hold hands in public to…
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‘No Impact Man’ - or was that ‘No Impact Family’?
By Jess McCabe | 1 September 2009, 13:15
‘No Impact Man’ is yet another one of those projects where someone stops/starts doing something for a year - you might cynically say with the aim of getting a book deal/film. This latest example of the genre, dubbed “annualism”,…
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