Blog posts from December 2011
UPDATE: The re-emergance of riot grrrl music and politics?
by Cazz Blase // 31 December 2011, 14:32
Since posting Hayley's piece about the possible re-emergance of riot grrrl politics and music, a couple of interesting things have emerged to dovetail with the sentiments of the piece. Serendipity can be a wonderful thing sometimes. Firstly, Hayley did...
Be Social
by Philippa Willitts // 31 December 2011, 11:38
Philippa writes about how you can find The F-Word on different social media websites.
Events listings
by Helen G // 30 December 2011, 09:09
Just a quick reminder about The F-Word's Events listings page - if you are organising, or know of, an event in your area that's of interest to other feminists, please email us with the details at events@thefword.org.uk and we'll add...
New review: Florence + the Machine
by Holly Combe // 29 December 2011, 16:41
Cazz Blase reviews Florence + the Machine's latest album and finds Welsh's ability to follow her own path and confound people's expectations, while soaking up diverse musical genres, to still be in full force I am struggling to think of...
New review: Hey, Shorty!: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Schools and on the Streets
by Charlene Moore // 27 December 2011, 22:06
Girls for Gender Equity, a not-for-profit organisation based in New York City, work to empower youth, fight sexual harassment and address gender violence. Sara Clarke reviews their guide for young people - and those working with them - on...
Weekly roundup and open thread for 2011
by Josephine Tsui // 27 December 2011, 02:44
Happy holidays to everyone! Thanks for a great 2011, we've had a great year at The F-word. The F-word is a collaborative success reflective of all their contributors and readership. We wish everyone a happy new year. Standard disclaimer:...
Hamleys campaign: Part 2 - reflections
by Guest Blogger // 24 December 2011, 18:54
Part 2 of the guest post by Dr Laura Nelson, about the campaign to remove the gender signage from Hamleys.
Herts police poster is offensive to women
by Guest Blogger // 24 December 2011, 08:05
Herts police posted up victim-blaming 'rape prevention' signs. Mel Davis objects I was coming back from a Christmas party the other week, when I saw a poster at my local station aimed at young women. The poster told women "Don't...
New review: Her Naked Skin
by Jess McCabe // 23 December 2011, 20:54
Hazel Tsoi-Wiles reviews a production of Her Naked Skin, a suffragette romance which whisks the audience back to a time of protest on the street, activists smashing windows and police clamp-downs Hundreds of women are imprisoned in Holloway for fighting...
Hamleys campaign: Part 1 - what happened
by Guest Blogger // 23 December 2011, 19:51
A guest post by Laura Nelson, who campaigned for Hamleys to describe their toy departments by type, not gender.
New feature: In defence of fake beauty
by Jess McCabe // 23 December 2011, 18:02
'Natural' beauty demands hard labour to appear effortlessly beautiful and blemish-free. Brash, flamboyant, over-the-top makeup and clothes can let us reclaim our image, argues Shona McCombes Recently I had the misfortune to catch an episode of a programme called Snog,...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: Mark Cavendish wins BBC prize
by Carrie Dunn // 23 December 2011, 14:38
After all the kerfuffle about the BBC failing to include a woman on the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist, cyclist Mark Cavendish picked up the prize at last night's ceremony. Watching the programme, it was very obvious that...
A helpful guide to not being a horrible nagging shrew this Christmas
by Ray Filar // 23 December 2011, 14:35
"Her only fault, and that is faults enough,/Is that she is intolerable curst,/And shrewd, and froward,.../I would not wed her for a mine of gold." - The Taming of the Shrew, circa 1623 Last week BBC Women's Hour asked this...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: Hockey Nation
by Guest Blogger // 22 December 2011, 22:37
A guest blog from Kate Walsh, captain of the GB and England hockey team with her eyes set on gold at next year's Olympics. Kate has captained England since 2003 and they currently stand at fourth place in the world...
Do you dream in chocolate? What's wrong with the new Lindt advert.
by Guest Blogger // 22 December 2011, 20:46
This is a guest post by Noorulann Shahid, who currently studies economics at university. She is the politics editor of Manchester Metropolitan University's student newspaper Pulp, and would best describe herself as an "accidental feminist", as she discovered feminism...
New Review: The Re-emergence of Riot Grrrl music and politics?
by Cazz Blase // 22 December 2011, 20:05
Riot Grrrl celebrated its 20 year anniversary earlier this year, and Hayley Foster da Silva is pleased to discover evidence of its legacy in the form of Atlanta's Coathangers and Oxford's Secret Rivals On the surface, it might seem...
New Review: All the TARDIS Ladies
by Mathilda Gregory // 22 December 2011, 17:50
Before you settle down to digest your Christmas Dinner with the Doctor Who Special, you might like to consider how the show treats its female characters. Hope Dinsdale investigates Remember 2010? Remember when Amy Pond hit our screens as the...
All I want for Christmas is... presents that aren't bloody pink
by Guest Blogger // 22 December 2011, 13:45
This is a guest post by Helen Lewis-Hasteley The rigid gender division of toys is a problem for both boys and girls Many things terrify me about having children - no day that involves an episiotomy can be a good...
December's Playlist: Seasons greetings to all our readers... and listeners.
by Cazz Blase // 20 December 2011, 23:59
This months playlist was compiled as gale force winds lashed the UK and, on a more immediately local level, amidst episodic torrential rain and half hearted hailstones. It was perhaps for this reason, as I observed shop fronts damaged...
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Jolene Tan // 19 December 2011, 11:42
Image shows some dominoes. Shared by Kristy Johnson under a Creative Commons license. Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to our weekly round-up and open thread. All the usual disclaimers apply: a link here doesn't imply endorsement or agreement with everything...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: The Great Britain women's sitting volleyball team
by Guest Blogger // 19 December 2011, 00:36
This guest blog is by Emma Wiggs, the team captain. She is part of the GB Women's Sitting Volleyball team who are currently working towards gaining a slot at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. If you would like to support...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: the best thing to happen this year?
by Guest Blogger // 16 December 2011, 12:31
This guest blog is by Tim Woodhouse, head of policy at the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation Although it didn't feel like it at the time, the announcement of the all-male BBC Sports Personality of the Year short list may...
All I want for Xmas is a stocking full of really arousing feminist porn
by Ray Filar // 15 December 2011, 21:53
Wrongheadedly, I visited Anne Summers the other day. Hidden at the back of the store next to the 'Dominatrix' range (exclusively advertised with pictures of submissive women - I don't think they get it) was the section marked 'Porn...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: what do we do next?
by Guest Blogger // 15 December 2011, 12:29
From the Sport, Gender and Media Conference organizing team We are delighted to invite the readers of The F-Word to our Sport, Gender and Media Conference, to be held at the University of York on 10th March 2012. Partly influenced...
One Size Fits All?
by Guest Blogger // 15 December 2011, 10:45
A guest post from Hennie Weiss and Elin Weiss about the use of computer animated models in an H&M campaign
Tonight, Susie, I'm going to be... a bossy, maternal, virginal sex kitten
by Guest Blogger // 14 December 2011, 17:23
A guest post from Chrissy D reflecting on some of the issues brought up in the Susie Orbach lecture on Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival Listening to Susie Orbach addressing the idea that overwhelmingly rapid change and choice are the...
Two free pairs of tickets for 15 December Gaggle show
by Holly Combe // 13 December 2011, 18:06
We had two pairs of free tickets to Gaggle's gig at The New Empowering Church to give away. NB: This offer has now expired. Congratulations Suswati and Kirsty!
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Jess McCabe // 12 December 2011, 23:09
Here's a collection of interesting links we didn't have time to blog about this weeks - feel free to add your own in comments! Disclaimer: Some content may be triggering. Linking does not imply endorsement. H&M puts real model...
From Tiny Furniture to Girls
by Jess McCabe // 12 December 2011, 22:20
Tiny Furniture has the funniest, most cringe-inducing sex scene set in a metal pipe you will see on the big screen. Lena Dunham wrote the film, directed it and plays the lead character, Aura, who has just finished university...
New review: Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part One)
by Ania Ostrowska // 12 December 2011, 21:53
At pains to defend the latest chaotic and confused installment of The Twilight Saga, Mathilda Gregory reads it as a transgressive anti-fairytale about perils of femininity Twilight: Breaking Dawn (Part I) opens with shoes. Well, it actually opens with hot-werewolf...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: triathlon
by Guest Blogger // 12 December 2011, 12:57
Here are a few more thoughts for regarding the recent "mishap" with the final 10 SPOTY list. I am a male triathlete and follow many of the male and female stars of the sport on Twitter and Facebook and...
YouFem domestic violence campaign
by Guest Blogger // 11 December 2011, 20:53
This is a guest post by YouFem introducing their domestic violence campaign The Sixteen Days to End Violence Against Women are upon us. White Ribbon Day has come and gone, yet where is the press coverage? Where are all the...
Free state childcare more than affordable
by Laura // 11 December 2011, 20:00
Hidden away in the Money section of today's Guardian is this article containing a tag line that all feminists should be shouting from the rooftops: The revenue generated by working mothers would far outstrip the cost of free nursery...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: roller derby
by Guest Blogger // 10 December 2011, 16:55
After the BBC announced a female-free shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, throughout December we are running a series of features and guest blogs celebrating the achievements of sportswomen from the UK. This guest blog is by Jamie Potter....
Anonymous personal recollections of sexism in the media
by Guest Blogger // 8 December 2011, 15:42
Anonymous personal recollections of sexism in the media; a comment on Kira Cochrane's Guardian article on the lack of women in public life and the media. Kira Cochrane's article on the lack of women in public life and the...
Advancing transgender equality: a plan for action
by Helen G // 8 December 2011, 13:30
The UK government's Home Office yesterday (7 December 2011) published its Transgender action plan [direct link to PDF download, 1mb]. The document describes "the specific actions we will take across government to advance transgender equality and it includes firm commitments...
Gauge your victim-blaming
by Philippa Willitts // 8 December 2011, 12:01
Philippa writes about yet another victim-blaming campaign focused on telling people not to get drunk instead of not to rape.
New Review: Batwoman: Elegy, By Debi Linton
by MarinaS // 8 December 2011, 12:00
In Gotham City, a new caped crusader is prowling the rooftops; a woman in black and red, falling hard on the followers of the Religion of Crime, and looking for information about their new leader. She is Batwoman. Her...
Women and mental health
by Chloe Miriam // 8 December 2011, 07:42
I shall be blogging about women and mental health this month. I'd like to start with a vague introduction to the subject. When I was first diagnosed with depression about 6 years ago I didn't really think of it in...
Festive contraceptive cheer
by Laura // 7 December 2011, 20:19
Maybe it's just me, but any campaign that the Torygraph refers to as "vulgar" and the Fail as "brazen" has got to be on the right track. Our outraged friends refer to BPAS' decision to offer women the opportunity...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: Claire Taylor
by Guest Blogger // 6 December 2011, 21:19
As we announced last week, after the BBC announced a female-free shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, throughout December we will be running a series of features and guest blogs celebrating the achievements of sportswomen from the UK. This...
New Review: The Opiates: Billie Ray Martin returns!
by Cazz Blase // 6 December 2011, 21:01
With a career spanning over 25 years, Hamburg-born singer, DJ and label owner Billie Ray Martin is a woman with an impressive history in both dance and soul music. Holly Combe salutes her return Hailed as the "ice queen of...
Families are not factories
by Ray Filar // 5 December 2011, 21:54
My parents have been married for thirty years. I grew up in a semi-detached house in a suburb, one of three kids. The only surprise in the set-up is that we don't have a picket fence. It was a Tory...
Weekly round-up and open thread 29 November - 5 December
by Holly Combe // 5 December 2011, 20:20
A general round-up of 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
#Bonn2, day 2, part 2
by zohra moosa // 5 December 2011, 15:12
In an effort to make sure women's rights were kept clearly on the agenda, Chitra Nagarajan and I crafted and raised the following question during the civil society press conference at Bonn: My name is Chitra Nagarajan, I'm a...
#Bonn2, day 2, part 1
by zohra moosa // 5 December 2011, 14:36
The second day of the civil society conference on Afghanistan in Bonn on Saturday was a packed day. We had an early start as Chitra and I had to collect our media passes as official The F-Word representatives to...
You're frightening me
by Philippa Willitts // 4 December 2011, 14:58
Philippa talks about marginalisation and hate.
Wears The Trousers Yearbook: Exclusive offer for F-Word readers
by Cazz Blase // 3 December 2011, 22:00
I am currently in the process of researching a piece for the F-Word about gender and the UK music press, in the course of which I have been in touch with those lovely people at Wears The Trousers.The Trousers...
Welcome to our December guest bloggers
by Lynne Miles // 3 December 2011, 10:20
From now through till summer 2012 we'll be running another programme of guest bloggers, one or two per month, kicking off this month with Ray Filar and Chloe Miriam. Ray Filar is a feminist blogger and freelance journalist, interested...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: Women, not tokens
by Guest Blogger // 3 December 2011, 00:24
As we announced earlier in the week, after the BBC announced a female-free shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, throughout December we will be running a series of features and guest blogs celebrating the achievements of sportswomen from the...
#Bonn2, day 1
by zohra moosa // 2 December 2011, 11:53
Attended the first day of the civil society conference on the future of Afghanistan being held in Bonn, Germany today. The civil society conference is a 2-day event that is preceding the international foreign ministers conference on Afghanistan occurring...
Sportswomen of the Year 2011: The England cricket team
by Guest Blogger // 1 December 2011, 11:06
As we announced earlier in the week, after the BBC announced a female-free shortlist for Sports Personality of the Year, throughout December we will be running a series of features and guest blogs celebrating the achievements of sportswomen from the...
Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the 
