Blog posts from August 2011
Pro-choice and counting
by zohra moosa // 31 August 2011, 23:54
As some readers are already well aware, this time next week, MPs will have debated - and voted on - a series of amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill that could undermine women's right to choose whether...
Arguing with strawmen
by Guest Blogger // 31 August 2011, 21:36
Certain arguments in comments on feminist blogs are as predictable as the rising of the sun, the passage of time, or Dorries being evil. Natalie Dzerins, in this guest blog post, is sick of explaining them repeatedly, so decided to compile a handy list.
Bristol Feminists Network and Bristol Indymedia film night: Africa Rising
by Helen G // 30 August 2011, 10:30
This is a guest post by Sian Norris This collaboration between Bristol Feminists Network and Bristol Indymedia film presents the powerful documentary Africa Rising. From the Horn of Africa to the Western shores of the sub-Saharan nations, everyday 6,000 girls...
Weekly round-up and open thread, 29 August 2011
by Holly Combe // 29 August 2011, 23:59
Welcome to this week's general round-up! It includes the articles and blog pieces we've been reading over the past week but didn't get around to covering in detail on the blog. Please feel free to add more relevant links...
Abortions are not the same as pensions
by Philippa Willitts // 29 August 2011, 21:54
Philippa writes about Frank Field and Nadine Dorries' announced changes to abortion law.
Bank Holiday Paste Up: Mostly music
by Cazz Blase // 29 August 2011, 05:45
Welcome to the mainly music Bank Holiday paste up, usual rules apply: lots of links, and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the author of this entry, or the site generally. Please don't shoot the messenger......
Maggie goes on a diet
by Guest Blogger // 27 August 2011, 15:32
A guest post by Laur Evans about the upcoming publication of a diet book for 4 - 8 year old girls.
Exhibition: 'Artistic Freedom: A Creative Journey of Recovery From Domestic Abuse'
by Charlene Moore // 25 August 2011, 21:46
Glasgow Women's Aid was established in 1973 to provide support to women experiencing domestic abuse. Initially the focus was on women's experiences, but as the organisation evolved the need to include children and young people affected by domestic abuse...
Where are all the feminist lawyers?
by Guest Blogger // 25 August 2011, 16:12
A guest post, wondering where all the feminist lawyers are, and proposing they make contact.
From body hatred to vulva diversity
by Laura // 24 August 2011, 22:29
The Independent today reports that there has been a five-fold increase in NHS genital cosmetic surgery over the past decade, with more than 2000 women undergoing a procedure in the last year. In an admittedly very small study of...
The "choice" that is everybody else's business
by Guest Blogger // 24 August 2011, 15:50
A guest post from Katie Gardner about a tellingly old-fashioned question during a recent debate on a BBC TV programme. Why was the question 'Should women stay at home with their kids?' even considered, and actualized, on BBC's Sunday...
5 Live discussion about politics, partners and CBB
by Holly Combe // 23 August 2011, 23:09
Do the partners of people in politics have a responsibility not to draw too much attention to themselves? This was one of the questions in a debate I recently took part in on Radio 5 Live in response to...
New feature: After Banaz Mahmod, where is the justice for victims of honour-based violence?
by Jess McCabe // 23 August 2011, 23:09
Five years after Banaz Mahmod's murder, it's time for the government to get serious on honour-based violence, argues Fionnuala Murphy from the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation Five and a half years ago, Banaz Mahmod had her whole life...
Transgender e-bulletin No.3 August/September 2011
by Helen G // 23 August 2011, 13:58
Via email from the Government Equalities Office: The third Government Equalities Office transgender e-bulletin has now been released. This includes a third survey which focuses on two other areas which respondents said were important - employment and identity/privacy. We would...
Weekly round-up and open thread, 23 August 2011
by Helen G // 23 August 2011, 11:51
Better late than punctual, here's this week's open thread for discussion and our regular round-up of some of the articles and blogs we've noticed over the last week or so, but not had time to post about. If you have...
Volunteers wanted for Women's Liberation Music Archive exhibition
by Cazz Blase // 23 August 2011, 06:54
I received a message from fellow F-Word contributer Debi Withers yesterday, about an opportunity which may well be of interest to a number of you... I am currently putting together a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to...
Adventures in Menstruating
by Philippa Willitts // 22 August 2011, 18:40
Philippa talks to Chella Quint, zinester and comedian.
Rally for migrant domestic workers - London
by Jolene Tan // 22 August 2011, 18:09
Image shared by Nic0 under a Creative Commons license. It shows a group of protesters in London, wearing T shirts reading "Justice for Domestic Workers" and carrying signs, including one reading "FAIR WAGES 4 DOMESTIC WORKERS". The UK government...
Gender pay gap starts with pocket money
by Laura // 21 August 2011, 21:07
A Halifax survey published earlier this week revealed that boys receive more pocket money per week than girls: ...on average boys are earning £6.41 a week compared to girls pocketing just £6.09 - 5% less, but a narrower gap...
New Review: Unhitched
by Charlene Moore // 21 August 2011, 15:14
Richard Ganly reviews a book which challenges the notion that a monogamous, heterosexual marriage is truly superior to all others "A democratic state has no business favouring any particular brand of intimacy or family life." So Judith Stacey argues forcefully...
August Playlist
by Cazz Blase // 20 August 2011, 12:00
Not long after last months playlist appeared on Spotify and Sharemyplaylist, Holly got a comment on her blog post complimenting her on her taste and asking for some Billie Holiday next time. Being an obliging sort of person, I...
Black Roses: The Killing Of Sophie Lancaster
by Cazz Blase // 19 August 2011, 20:21
The radio drama department at BBC Manchester have created some brilliant radio dramas over the years. Radio as a medium being so very different to T.V, the tackling of the sensitive and the tragic tends to be less driven...
Mary on the Green
by Philippa Willitts // 19 August 2011, 18:51
A campaign to fund the creation of a memorial to Mary Wollstonecroft.
Editors wanted for feminist music site
by Jess McCabe // 18 August 2011, 17:44
the girls are, an online feminist music site, is looking for new editors: Independent, feminist online music publication thegirlsare.com is undergoing an invigorating makeover after an insanely busy year, and they are looking for exemplary editors to join the...
Research casts doubt on women's pleasure
by Holly Combe // 17 August 2011, 12:20
It has recently been reported that researchers at the University of Central Lancashire have indicated that the noises women make during sex are not necessarily linked to orgasm. A variety of sources have picked up on this story, including...
UnderWire 2011
by Helen G // 16 August 2011, 12:09
This is a guest post by Sophie Mayer, who is the author of Her Various Scalpels (Shearsman, 2009) and The Private Parts of Girls (Salt, 2011), as well as The Cinema of Sally Potter (Wallflower, 2009). She recently curated a...
Weekly round-up and open thread, 15th August 2011
by Carrie Dunn // 15 August 2011, 20:45
Hello all, and welcome to this week's round-up post. As always, use the comments to contribute your own links and discuss anything that's not been covered in more detail on the site this week. As always, these are just a...
When we are very wrong
by Philippa Willitts // 15 August 2011, 09:53
Philippa writes about how to react when called out on privilege.
Abortion Rights Action Alert
by Laura // 14 August 2011, 11:12
Abortion Rights have issued the following Action Alert encouraging us to contact our MPs to ensure women are not forced to seek counselling from anti-choice organisations prior to obtaining an abortion: As many of you will know, plans are...
New feature: A shocking shade of pink
by Jess McCabe // 13 August 2011, 15:04
Shocking Pink was a magazine for and by young women, that rejected the adult-oriented feminism of the periodicals of women's liberation in favour of a youth-led agenda that prefigured riot grrrl. Cazz Blase talks to the women who made it...
Free Art Workshop for the Manchester Pride Parade
by Cazz Blase // 12 August 2011, 16:38
Do you want to be involved in the PRIDE parade and march for refugees and asylum seekers? Freedom from Torture and the Lesbian Immigration Support Group (LISG) will be marching to raise awareness of the persecution that lesbian and...
Women in IT session 17 August
by Holly Combe // 12 August 2011, 16:05
The FDM Group will be running a Women in IT Advantage Session for female graduates next Wednesday 17th August within their London Bridge office, as part of a campaign to encourage more women to pursue a career in IT....
New review: Electrelane at Scala
by Holly Combe // 11 August 2011, 15:32
Louise Allan gives an overview of the 10 year career of Electrelane and attends a gig at Scala on 21 July, one of their first after a three year break You can keep your summer Britpop reunions and your...
Organic Grassroots fundraiser for WfWI
by Helen G // 11 August 2011, 12:49
This is a guest post by Fiona on behalf of Grassroots Organic On behalf of Grassroots Organic, I'm organising a charity fundraiser event for Women for Women International. The event itself will take place on Thursday, 29th September 2011 at...
Always disappoint with transphobia
by Philippa Willitts // 10 August 2011, 11:16
Philippa reports on an offensive video advertisement for sanitary protection.
London riots
by Jess McCabe // 9 August 2011, 08:46
Turkish community rallies in Dalston to chase rioters - photo by @yassin on Twitter I don't even know what to say about the looting and riots in London; lots of people are jumping in with opinions about the causes of...
New Review: Lady Gaga - Born This Way
by Cazz Blase // 8 August 2011, 21:11
Catherine Elms finds Lady Gaga's latest album something of a mixed bag, but remains optimistic about the stars ability to vary her sound and stay strong on sex and sexuality
Quick music news update
by Holly Combe // 8 August 2011, 18:40
Wears the Trousers have announced that No Wavers and feminist rockers Ut will be playing in the UK this September. As feminist Music Geek said last year, there’s not much live footage of the band around and reissued material...
Do you know an inspiring feminist or organisation?
by Lynne Miles // 8 August 2011, 14:04
The Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize recognises women who make outstanding contributions towards ending violence against women. This year EHMP will award £1000 to either a woman, and a UK-based or international women’s group or organisation here. If you think...
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Alicia Izharuddin // 8 August 2011, 12:30
As always, we present to you our weekly list of interesting articles we didn't have time to blog about. Also, feel free to share links and start a conversation on our open thread in the comments section. Feminist critique of...
New feminist magazine launching in September!
by Holly Combe // 7 August 2011, 14:06
A new UK not-for-profit feminist magazine, LIB, is set for its first issue in late September 2011. The magazine is run by volunteers and is also looking for contributors. LIB's Facebook page has more: Have something you want to...
Bitch needs 1,500 subscriptions to stay in print
by Jess McCabe // 3 August 2011, 17:38
I've been a uncharacteristically quiet on The F-Word blog recently, and the reason is I'm guest blogging for one of my favourite magazines of all time, Bitch. Writing for Bitch has been one of those things I've aspired to...
"Sad and cynical... a continuing dearth of feminine voices": A diversity audit of Radio 4
by Guest Blogger // 3 August 2011, 14:32
A guest post by Sharon Jacobs, who spent a day doing a diversity audit of male and female voices on BBC Radio 4
Mystery shoppers expose lies told by crisis pregnancy centres
by Jess McCabe // 3 August 2011, 10:50
A mystery shopping exercise at crisis pregnancy centres found that pregnant women are subjected to "scaremongering, emotive language and inaccurate information about abortion", reports The Guardian. A survey of 10 centres operated by Christian and anti-abortion organisations found evidence...
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Lynne Miles // 1 August 2011, 17:12
Hi everyone! As usual, here's a list of the bits and bobs that we haven't had time to blog in full this week. And feel free to use the comments as an open thread for discussions or bringing up anything...
Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the 
