Blog posts from April 2011
Guest bloggers for May
by Jolene Tan // 30 April 2011, 20:47
A big thank you to Melanie Jeffs and Tracey Plowman, our guest bloggers for April, as the month comes to an end. Please welcome our guest bloggers for May, Amity Reed and Lara Williams. Amity is a writer and a...
Slutwalk London
by Laura // 30 April 2011, 16:14
[Photo of people marching in Slutwalk Toronto, focusing on a placard reading "Believe it or not, my short skirt has NOTHING to do with you".] Slutwalk London is an anti-rape march taking place on Saturday 4 June in London....
Gagging orders: women being muzzled by rich men
by Mel J // 28 April 2011, 21:38
Gagging orders are back in the media again with one high profile male celebrity after another seeking to protect their anonymity amid accusations of illicit sexual behaviour. Imogen Thomas’ appearance on ITV’s This Morning yesterday has started some interesting discussions...
Paperchase: now catering for sex offenders?
by Philippa Willitts // 27 April 2011, 18:45
Philippa writes about an offensive new greetings card from Paperchase.
David Cameron tells Angela Eagle to "calm down, dear"
by Jess McCabe // 27 April 2011, 14:09
David Cameron told Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Angela Eagle to "calm down, dear" during Prime Minister's Questions: I suppose it should come as no surprise. Via Political Scrapbook Meanwhile, The Telegraph devotes a whole blog post to the...
Call for Papers: Transgendered Feminism
by Helen G // 27 April 2011, 14:04
Via the Department of English at the University of Pennsylvania: Transgendered Feminism full name / name of organization: MP an online feminist jourmal contact email: llhinkle@academinist.org MP: Transgendered (Fall issue) - Deadline August 31, 2011 Can there be a multi-gendered...
Weekly Round-Up And Open Thread, 25th April 2011.
by Philippa Willitts // 25 April 2011, 21:40
Philippa rounds up the links and issues we have missed in the last week.
My gender journey: Sisterhood, femininity and craft.
by Tracey Plowman // 25 April 2011, 14:47
I asked my mother and my sister what the word sisterhood meant to them today. The short answer: “Not a lot”. My sister said it reminded her of hippies and my mother said it conjured up images of nuns. 'Sisterhood' has always been one of those terms that I've regarded with suspicion. Even before I understood the concept of cis privilege (the benefits afforded those whose gender identity is the same as that which they were assigned at birth), it seemed like a special club from which I felt excluded. I don't identify as trans, but like many people who may on the surface appear cis (and access related privilege) my gender journey has been far from linear.
The extraordinary adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec
by Jess McCabe // 25 April 2011, 13:23
Adèle Blanc-Sec has been the star of her own comic book series since the early 1970s and Luc Besson's adaptation of one of her stories is in UK cinemas now. The year is 1912, her character is a historical...
Drawing women: the evolution of Lois Lane
by Jess McCabe // 24 April 2011, 00:06
In 1941, the executives who ran comics juggernaut DC forced the artists behind Superman to change the look of Lois Lane, with the aim of turning her into more of a "tasty dish". Comic Book Resources has posted excerpts of...
Why the Poppy Project is just the tip of the iceberg
by Mel J // 23 April 2011, 21:37
A week ago we heard the news that the Poppy Project, which supports victims of sex trafficking, had lost its funding to the Salvation Army and may be forced to close as a result. The decision to award the funding...
Woman brutally beaten for using women's toilet in fast-food restaurant
by Helen G // 23 April 2011, 11:20
Trigger warning: violence against trans women Restroom panic, sometimes also known as bathroom panic; the terms mean the same. They refer to the sense of moral outrage and indignation experienced by some cis people on realising that trans people (generally...
Abortion amendments: write to your MP
by Jess McCabe // 22 April 2011, 21:18
Want to write to your MP about Nadine Dorries and Frank Field's latest attempt to restrict abortion access? Abortion Rights have put together a model letter. Of course, it's always more effective to write to your MP in your own...
How green is your tiara? Get Miss Earth finals out of the London Green Fair 2011!
by Guest Blogger // 20 April 2011, 12:12
Clare Cochrane is a founder of Oxfordshire Reclaim the Night, and a Green Party member, and lives in an ecological housing co-op in Oxford There is no copyright on 'green values'. Just like the question, 'what is feminism?', exactly what...
Disabled women and sexual assault.
by Philippa Willitts // 19 April 2011, 20:34
Philippa writes about Kier Starmer's intentions to encourage women to report sexual assault, and about how disabled women can be particularly at risk.
Ireland: woman wins workplace discrimination case
by Helen G // 19 April 2011, 15:12
Via NewsTalk (also The Journal and RTE): In the first case of its kind, the Equality Tribunal has awarded €35,000 to a transexual worker who was discriminated against on gender and disability grounds. Louise Hannon complained that after she told...
Policing boys for masculinity in Malaysia
by Jolene Tan // 19 April 2011, 09:56
(Trigger warning for child abuse, transphobia, homophobia, enforced gender performance.)Via @huiminmagdala, here is an utterly horrifying article from Malaysia's New Straits Times, about a camp in the state of Terengganu for boys who, according to their schools, "have displayed feminine...
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Laura // 18 April 2011, 20:17
Usual disclaimer: the links below do not represent the views of TFW collective members, and are included only because we thought they might be of interest to readers, not because we endorse the piece/website/writer linked to. Feel free to...
New feature: Princess Kate's reality TV wedding
by Jess McCabe // 17 April 2011, 22:59
Royal wedding fever has overtaken the nation - or at least, it has overtaken the nation's tabloids. Ray Filar considers the implications "It would be extremely unwise of anyone to try and spoil a happy day of national celebration." -...
Poppy Project to support sex trafficking victims loses funding, may not survive
by Jess McCabe // 17 April 2011, 10:47
The Poppy Project has lost a £4 million contract to support victims of sex trafficking - to the Salvation Army, and may be forced to close. A story in the Guardian today sets out the crucial work the organisation does...
DSM-5: will everyday worries be medicalised into Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
by Helen G // 16 April 2011, 14:34
Over the past three years I've written at length about the likely impact on TS/TG people of the revisions proposed for the forthcoming fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Although the DSM originates in...
So when will we stop pimping our kids?
by Mel J // 15 April 2011, 17:52
For the last few years I’ve been a co-parent to my partner’s two children. Her daughter is 12 years old and being part of her world has given me a greater awareness of the pressures put upon young girls and...
Friday LOLz
by Jess McCabe // 15 April 2011, 14:53
This is funny because it isn't so far off from the reality of how tech has been marketed to women......
'Budget for growth' leaves women out in the cold
by Helen G // 15 April 2011, 09:28
The Impact on Women of the Budget 2011, a UK Women's Budget Group report produced in partnership with the Fawcett Society warns that the 2011 Budget will do little to help those faring worst in the face of drastic public...
France's burqa ban: fighting oppression with oppression?
by Laura // 15 April 2011, 08:38
As you will know, France's ban on the wearing of the burqa and niqab in public came into force on Monday, and was met with protests by some Muslim women. This issue has caused much debate among feminists, including...
Feminism and relationship structure: What does non-monogamy mean for feminism?
by Tracey Plowman // 14 April 2011, 20:28
This post will be loosely based on an excellent workshop I attended at last year's Polyday on the subject of feminism and polyamory - a workshop I had been meaning to put together myself and that was well facilitated by a member of the Bristol Feminist Network. Polyday is an annual community event for those who believe “happy and honest relationships don't have to be monogamous”. Being in multiple relationships myself, I appreciate this chance to meet other people in various non-monogamous and polyamorous relationship structures and to share skills and ideas both personal and political.
Government asks if it's a good idea to repeal the Equality Act 2010
by Jess McCabe // 13 April 2011, 21:27
The Cabinet Office is consulting on whether to "scrap" the Equality Act 2010, which bundles together and (theoretically) toughens pre-existing anti-discrimination legislation, including on gender. Many of the provisions of the act only came into force last week. Meanwhile, staff...
Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating VAW and DV adopted
by Helen G // 12 April 2011, 13:24
Via a Council of Europe press release: At their 1111th meeting on 6 April 2011, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence and agreed to open it for...
UK Government Equalities Office online survey of transgender people
by Helen G // 12 April 2011, 09:01
In its first Transgender e-bulletin, the coalition Government's Minister for Equalities, Lynne Featherstone, says: We recognise transgender issues are distinct and need to be addressed separately. This is why we will also be publishing the first ever cross Government transgender...
Weekly Roundup and Open Thread [April 11th 2011]
by Josephine Tsui // 11 April 2011, 23:04
Hiya folks! It's your weekly roundup and open thread! Please remember these are links that we've found over the week and do not express the opinion of the collective at The F-word. Here we go! 1. Comment is anything but...
New feature: That's not my name
by Jess McCabe // 11 April 2011, 15:49
Changing name is a hassle. But what is rarely acknowledged is just how much the current systems place a burden on cis women and trans people that is not shared by cis men. Jane Fae reports Tried changing your name...
Abortion: buckle up for a fight
by Jess McCabe // 11 April 2011, 08:22
Another attempt to wear down abortion rights in the UK is underway. Nadine Dorries and Frank Field have tabled a series of amendments to the Health and Social Care bill. Yes, the very same NHS 'reform' bill set to ditch...
AV - good, bad or neutral for women's representation in the Commons?
by Jess McCabe // 10 April 2011, 20:37
Next month the electorate will be asked to vote on whether to shift from first past the post to the alternative vote. Does AV promise greater numbers of women in Parliament? Personally I'm feeling a little vague on the subject....
Blaming black, asian and minority ethnic lone mums
by Jess McCabe // 10 April 2011, 15:04
Farida Yesmin, director of the Limehouse Project, in the forward to the organisation's report on BAME lone mothers: The figure of the lone mother still continues to be disparaged, looked-down upon and in some cases, even blamed by academic, economic...
Comments on features and reviews - February and March 2011
by Jess McCabe // 8 April 2011, 14:38
What did readers have to say about our features and reviews in the last two months? You just need to click here to find out. Popular topics: Kitty's musings on gender and language: do we speak differently, and if...
New review: Bloody marvellous
by Jess McCabe // 8 April 2011, 12:12
Horror films can be slash-fests that linger over torture of female victims. Or they can be feminist and subversive. Mathilda Gregory reviews the Bloody Women strand at this year’s Bird’s Eye View Film Festival This year the Bird's Eye View...
Are all cancers equal?
by Mel J // 6 April 2011, 18:02
Sunday was Mother’s Day. Finding a card meant the usual struggle through a sea of pink cards but I did manage to find something that suitably conveys how proud I am of her - and how lucky I feel to...
Guest Bloggers for April
by Josephine Tsui // 6 April 2011, 16:16
As you may know, the F-word has guest bloggers that come on a month by month basis. This month I'm introducing two new guest bloggers for the month of April. Please welcome Melanie Jeffs! Melanie is a multi-talented person. She's...
Interview with Mick Foley: wrestler, writer, VAW activist
by Carrie Dunn // 6 April 2011, 11:00
After my blog yesterday, Mick Foley very kindly got in touch with me, and I asked him whether he'd have a quick chat with me about his work with RAINN - the US's Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Not...
Iman al-Obeidi: released but under threat
by Jolene Tan // 5 April 2011, 13:03
According to the Guardian, CNN have spoken to a woman they believe to be Iman al-Obeidi, who reports that she has been released from detention but continues to receive death threats:The CNN interviewer Anderson Cooper said the network was satisfied...
Mick Foley's $10 for RAINN campaign
by Carrie Dunn // 5 April 2011, 10:18
Just wanted to highlight this - I know it's been covered by other feminist blogs in the past but thought it was worth reiterating. Legendary wrestler Mick Foley, a hotline volunteer for the US's Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network...
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Jolene Tan // 4 April 2011, 14:15
Hello! Here are the first weekly round-up and open thread for April. As always, please remember that linking doesn't equal endorsement. If you think we've missed anything out, do feel free to post in the comments. How to Write an...
An open letter to Cameron, Clegg, May and Featherstone
by Helen G // 4 April 2011, 13:37
Via email from Sian Norris: I am writing to ask you, as feminists living in the UK, to sign a letter I am writing to Cameron, Clegg, May and Featherstone, regarding the funding cuts to domestic violence support service providers,...
Iman al-Obeidi: Amnesty action alert
by Jolene Tan // 3 April 2011, 09:22
Amnesty International have put out an Urgent Action alert asking for appeals to be sent in relation to Iman al-Obeidi (previous F-Word posts here and here). Click through for details. Women Living Under Muslim Laws have also commented here....
Thank you!
by Amelia // 1 April 2011, 21:29
March ended yesterday, and with it my month as a guest blogger. I'd like to thank everyone who has commented over the past month, the F Word for inviting me in the first place, and especially Laura Woodhouse, who has...
New feature: Why feminists should join the fightback against higher education cuts and fees
by Jess McCabe // 1 April 2011, 21:24
Critical skills taught on university humanities courses challenge the world view of students and make them a breeding ground for resistance to the status quo, argues Nola Kay It is strange and troubling to look back and realise that 1997...
Via email from Queer Resistance - an independent collective of queers and allies across the UK coming together to fight the cuts - we've received this update about upcoming activities building on the success of the March for the Alternative:...
Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the 
