Blog posts from October 2011
Black history event
by Laura Woodhouse // 31 October 2011, 21:11
This Wednesday, Black History Walks & Women of Colour-Global Women's Strike present: FILM: The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 BOOK LAUNCH: Jailhouse lawyers: Prisoners Defending Prisoners v the USA, by Mumia Abu-Jamal, with Selma James, who edited and introduced the...
On 7 billion: imagine if women could choose
by zohra moosa // 31 October 2011, 14:20
So the world's 7 billionth person was born today. Media and policy pundits have been beside themselves in the lead up to this moment, eager to say something remarkable about the event and what it means for the future...
Music for Mukuni
by Guest Blogger // 29 October 2011, 10:33
This is a guest post by Valerie. Earth Rise Music is holding a concert at Bush Hall tonight - you can support the music centre project by coming along. There will also be an auction with items on the...
New review: In Other Worlds
by Iman Qureshi // 27 October 2011, 22:50
Katherine Wootton reviews Margaret Atwood's new work of non-fiction which explores the importance and vast potential of science fiction - a much ridiculed and underestimated genre - in the literary canon, and delves into the significance it holds for...
Eamonn Holmes, victim blaming...no wonder students are scared
by Carrie Dunn // 27 October 2011, 22:46
In the light of Pippa's great blog earlier in the week (and her stardom in the Daily Mail!) I wanted to share a conversation I had with my second-year undergraduates today. As part of their journalism studies, I sent them...
Last call for the next round of guest bloggers
by Lynne Miles // 27 October 2011, 20:47
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we're just about to start programming the next six months worth of guest bloggers so if you fancy a month-long stint, particularly if you feel you represent a perspective that isn't well...
Birds Eye View 2012 - cancelled because of cuts
by Jess McCabe // 27 October 2011, 20:22
A festival that screens films by women film-makers, Birds Eye View, has been cancelled because of funding cuts. Birds Eye View has been going for 10 years. Festival director Rachel Millward explained on BEV's blog: Over the past few...
New feature: Abortion and sexuality, under attack
by Jess McCabe // 27 October 2011, 20:12
Anti-choice campaigners are trying to turn back the clock on abortion - and attitudes to women's sexual identity, argues Adriana Pérez For better or worse, women's lives have historically been forced to centre on our reproductive sexuality. Yet, at least...
African activists on British aid & LGBTI people
by zohra moosa // 27 October 2011, 16:27
A statement has just been released calling on the British Government to rethink its approach to cutting aid as a way to promote human rights. The full statement is available online here. There are about 50 organizational signatories and...
Peaceful protesting options for older women
by Jacqueline Christodoulou // 25 October 2011, 21:47
As I've got older, my social conscience has developed, particularly in the direction of supporting equality. I've climbed the career ladder and reached my goals, found that I have a voice now, and know the path to make it...
Mothers and children OccupyLSX
by Laura Woodhouse // 25 October 2011, 20:52
Slightly late notice, but we received this invitation for mothers and children to join the London Stock Exchange Occupation tomorrow: PLEASE SUPPORT Rachel Mariner, a Harvard educated lawyer and mum of two, who addressed the general assembly at St Paul's...
Good Girls Marry Doctors
by Josephine Tsui // 25 October 2011, 15:56
As Asian diaspora, we've all heard the story before. Culturally there is a small range of acceptable careers, partners need to follow strict guidelines of gender, culture and religion. It often results in heated arguments amongst family. I think...
Victim-blaming on daytime TV
by Philippa Willitts // 25 October 2011, 15:29
Philippa writes about Eamonn Holmes on daytime TV suggesting that a woman shouldn't have walked home alone, after she was successful in helping in the prosecution of her rapist.
Weekly round-up and open thread
by Shiha Kaur // 24 October 2011, 16:44
Welcome to this week's round-up and open thread. The following are links that we have found that might interest you. If you have found anything that you think others will enjoy please add links in the comments section. As...
New review: Tyrannosaur
by Ania Ostrowska // 24 October 2011, 11:21
Finding Tyrannosaur an unremittingly upsetting film, Chloe George salutes its ability to avoid clichés in the portrayal of violence against women Hannah doesn't have much, but she does have wine. And vodka, and gin. Wrought by daily horrors, her decision...
Music paste up
by Cazz Blase // 24 October 2011, 01:30
It's that end of the year when things start to heat up, musically speaking. I don't know if it's the Christmas rush to get an album out, or if it's because the new intake have arrived at the Universities...
New review: Be the same; be the change: Maple Bee and her world
by Holly Combe // 23 October 2011, 16:48
Cazz Blase reviews the career of Maple Bee (AKA Melanie Garside from Mediaeval Baebes), taking in the albums Hello Eve, Home and Chasing Eva along the way Back in the early to mid 1990s, somewhere in the unclaimed hinterland that...
SlutWalk 2012
by Jess McCabe // 23 October 2011, 10:09
A plan is in the works for SlutWalk London 2012; this is interesting because one of the questions - implicit criticisms - we heard as SlutWalks were taking off was, is this movement a flash in the pan or...
Blue Roses
by Cazz Blase // 22 October 2011, 17:43
David Wilkinson salutes the talents of Laura Groves, otherwise known as Blue Roses, and finds much to marvel at in her precocious debut album A gentle intake of breath opens the debut album of Laura Groves, aka Blue Roses. It's...
Are we there yet? The menopause and older women's lives.
by Jacqueline Christodoulou // 20 October 2011, 21:37
When it comes to the menopause, women need to be in control of their own bodies and their own choices. Although for some women the menopause, which literally means the cessation of menses, occurs earlier, the average statistical age...
October's Playlist
by Cazz Blase // 20 October 2011, 20:00
Dear Diary, Heather says she teaches people Real Life... Disclaimer: This months playlist features excessive and enthusiastic use of the other 'F-Word'. You have been warned... This months playlist began with a desire to organise some kind of musical...
Reach for the stars, girls.
by Philippa Willitts // 20 October 2011, 18:07
Philippa talks about women in astronomy, and Marks & Spencer marketing their astronomy toys to boys only, until twitter intervened.
Ageism in Hollywood: Actor sues as IMDB reveals her age
by Jess McCabe // 19 October 2011, 18:59
An actor is suing Amazon because its Internet Movie Database posted her date of birth, which the suit claims has led to her struggling to win roles: The lawsuit alleges that Amazon's "actions have had a double-whammy effect on...
The Language of Women in Politics
by Guest Blogger // 18 October 2011, 14:12
A guest blog post by Joanne Fradley. Women are up for grabs. We're making the political headlines and apparently we're for sale. Well if not for sale then for persuading. There's currently a discussion in government about whether to continue...
Weekly Round-Up and Open Thread, 10 - 17 October 2011
by Abby O'Reilly // 17 October 2011, 13:00
Hello Lovely F-Word Readers, Here's this week's round-up of interesting news articles and happenings around the blogosphere that we've not had time to write about in detail. As always, if there's anything we've missed feel free to share with...
We are the 49%?
by Philippa Willitts // 16 October 2011, 16:32
A collaborative blog post by Helen, Jess, Philippa and zohra about yesterday's Occupation of the London Stock Exchange, and the decision to ask Julian Assange to speak.
You are invited to a tea party
by Jess McCabe // 14 October 2011, 18:59
Why let the US right wing have all the tea parties? Ms Fawcett Would like to extend her cordial invitation To a tea party to tell David Cameron "Don't turn back time on women's equality!" Because: On average, women earn...
Ghanaian women driving success
by Helen G // 14 October 2011, 13:46
"Behind every great man there's a great woman": surely one of the most irritating clichés routinely used to devalue the contribution of women in this global sexist patriarchy of ours. That it still has traction nationally and at an...
New Review: Falling for Me
by Charlene Moore // 13 October 2011, 21:41
Anna David devoted a year of her life to following the advice set down in a classic book from the 1960s, but Diane Shipley questions the self-empowerment message in a book bogged down with regressive ideas and strict gender-roles Following...
The myth of the 28 day cycle
by Guest Blogger // 13 October 2011, 20:14
A guest blog post by Saranga about the myths of the 28 day menstrual cycle.
New review: She Monkeys
by Ania Ostrowska // 13 October 2011, 11:48
Hailing the coming-of-age story of adolescent sexuality and fierce competition between female equestrians, Ania Ostrowska has her heart set on the youngest of three heroines Enough films have been made to remind us that growing up to become a 'woman'...
PMS: a square peg in a round hole?
by Jacqueline Christodoulou // 12 October 2011, 23:10
Women who have Pre Menstrual Syndrome are seriously affected by a patriarchal system that often trivialises PMS. The majority of women of childbearing age have menstrual cycles of approximately 28 days. Up to 85% of women report changes in...
New feature: 'Who is interested in old women?'
by Jess McCabe // 12 October 2011, 22:06
Rina Rosselson describes the journey that took her from getting an MA in film and television in 1998 to blogging about old women and films at 74 It is through films that I became aware of the all-pervasive toxic combination...
[Don't] shop an illegal
by Laura Woodhouse // 11 October 2011, 22:26
In a blatant attempt to divert attention from the disastrous NHS bill currently going through the Lords, David Cameron yesterday urged us all to shop an illegal immigrant. Not wealthy, well-educated immigrants, of course, just those who have the...
New feature: The politics of office dress
by Jess McCabe // 11 October 2011, 21:27
Melanie Davis usually wears grey trousers suits to work. Switching to a smart, clingy dress prompted a disconcerting change in her colleagues The spate of SlutWalks around the world have highlighted a powerful message: no matter what we wear, no...
All I want is to buy a doll...
by Carrie Dunn // 11 October 2011, 16:03
My nephew turns one at the end of the month. I already know that his presents consist of various toy cars and trains and a workbench, despite the fact that currently his interests primarily encompass tapping his thumb on things,...
New review: The Painted Lady
by Iman Qureshi // 11 October 2011, 14:54
Sian Norris dissects the problems behind mistress narratives in historial fiction, and explains why Maeve Haran's The Painted Lady doesn't fall into the typical traps As a big fan of historical fiction, I was looking forward to reading Maeve...
Weekly Round-Up and Open Thread
by Catherine Redfern // 10 October 2011, 19:17
The weekly round-up of news and posts we have missed.
It's World Mental Health Day, so stop stigmatising my pills.
by Philippa Willitts // 10 October 2011, 11:21
Philippa writes about World Mental Health Day and the stigmatisation of women who take psychiatric medication
Obligatory X Factor post
by Laura Woodhouse // 9 October 2011, 08:22
This year is the first time I've been sucked into The X Factor, and I'm going to come right out and admit it's because I think Tulisa is, in the language of yoof, well fit. Now I can't stop...
Offence for Offensiveness' Sake
by Philippa Willitts // 8 October 2011, 20:58
Philippa writes about t-shirts promoting rape on sale online.
Love It!: my bargain boob-job shame!
by Guest Blogger // 8 October 2011, 17:49
A guest post by Michelle Williams and AJ McKenna about a magazine which is running a competition to win breast enlargement surgery.
New Review: The Future of Feminism
by Charlene Moore // 7 October 2011, 20:54
Sylvia Walby's book provides a comprehensive rebuttal of the notion that feminism is dead. Rachel Benson reviews this definitive account of feminism's present and future forms, and the progression of feminism into the mainstream Typing "Daily Mail" and "feminism" into...
Nobel Peace Prize winners announced today
by Holly Combe // 7 October 2011, 20:30
It was announced today that this year's Nobel Peace Prize has been jointly awarded to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman in recognition of "their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to...
Channel 16 launches 'Green Scarves For Solidarity' campaign
by Helen G // 7 October 2011, 09:34
Further to my recent posts (7 October: 'green scarves' campaign in solidarity with Afghan women and Women in Afghanistan: 10 years on), today sees the launch of the Green Scarves For Solidarity campaign in support of women in Afghanistan. Via...
October 16 is Blog Action Day
by Helen G // 7 October 2011, 09:06
Via the Blog Action Day website: About Blog Action Day is an annual event that unites the world's bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day. Our aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion...
Let's talk about it...
by Jacqueline Christodoulou // 6 October 2011, 22:17
When I found out I was going to write blog posts for The F-Word I was delighted. Following the old adage of 'write what you know' I decided that, during October, I will write about the oppressive situations women face...
Ada Lovelace Day 2011 has begun!
by Helen G // 6 October 2011, 18:02
Via email from Suw Charman-Anderson: Ada Lovelace Day has already begun in the island nation of Kiribati! One of the curious things about a 'day' is that, due to various dateline shenanigans, it's Ada Lovelace Day somewhere around the world...
Jarrow marchers, then and now
by Cazz Blase // 6 October 2011, 04:45
In October 1936 200 men from the North East town of Jarrow marched, along with their MP Ellen Wilkinson, to London in protest against mass unemployment and extreme poverty. 75 years later, the youth group Youth Fight For Jobs...
"Saint or she-devil?" How about neither?
by Holly Combe // 5 October 2011, 23:49
The case surrounding the horrific murder of Meredith Kercher and subsequent reporting on the convicted (now acquitted) killers is well-trodden ground in terms of feminist critique. I've tended to avoid comment or speculation myself on the basis that I...
Music paste up post
by Cazz Blase // 5 October 2011, 22:52
Whilst it can in no way be considered a weekly round up, the intermittent music paste up post, of which I've done, er, one so far I think, could be considered to be related. Think of it as the...
New review: From riots to riot grrrl: Heavens to Betsy revisited
by Holly Combe // 5 October 2011, 11:50
Are you a fan of Heavens to Betsy or riot grrrl? Artist Katie Hare has put together a sound and video installation based on the seminal band's 1993 album Calculated, to appear in London on 14-16 October. Cazz Blase reports...
Things that are not like rape *Trigger warning*
by Philippa Willitts // 5 October 2011, 11:38
After Johnny Depp describes being in a photoshoot as like being raped, Philippa writes about these comparisons, and about how the word being used in this way is diminishing the experience of survivors.
Funny for a girl: interview with Ava Vidal
by Philippa Willitts // 4 October 2011, 20:50
An interview with comedian Ava Vidal about the representation of women in comedy.
Introducing our October guest blogger and call for new guests
by Lynne Miles // 3 October 2011, 22:51
Update: Huge apologies for misspelling Jacqueline's surname in my initial post. It should be Christoloulou, not Christodoulu as in the original version of this post. Spelling has now been corrected below. Massive thanks to September's guest bloggers, Jane Fae...
New feature: What is a family friendly government?
by Jess McCabe // 3 October 2011, 21:03
When David Cameron promised to form a family-friendly government, you may have got the impression he was talking about a particular and narrow type of domestic arrangement. But Milena Popova imagines how policy would change if support for all families...
New review: Radical rockers UT at The Lexington
by Holly Combe // 3 October 2011, 20:33
Famously name-checked by Le Tigre in 1991's 'Hot Topic', feminist rock pioneers UT originally came from the downtown New York no-wave scene in 1978. They moved on to London, touring with The Fall in the early 1980s and releasing...
Women in Afghanistan: 10 years on
by Helen G // 3 October 2011, 18:27
As I mentioned in my earlier blog post, this Friday (7 October) sees the 10th anniversary of western intervention in Afghanistan and ActionAid UK is marking the date with its Women in Afghanistan: 10 years on campaign. As part of...
Baby friendly - but is it woman friendly?
by Guest Blogger // 3 October 2011, 14:10
A guest blog post by Lorrie Hearts about the issue of women's choice, with regards to breastfeeding, following a news story about a maternity hospital who will no longer provide formula milk.
Weekly Round-Up and Open Thread
by Philippa Willitts // 3 October 2011, 09:09
The weekly round-up of news and posts we have missed.
New review: I don't know how she does it
by Ania Ostrowska // 3 October 2011, 00:12
This Hollywood blockbuster's heroine is a high-flying finance executive, but Diane Shipley argues that women across classes and careers share parts of her predicament and can applaud her small victories over a lazy husband and an over-demanding boss Allison Pearson's...
Wearing a pair of tottering heels...
by Philippa Willitts // 2 October 2011, 17:12
Philippa writes about the double standards visible in the reporting about female vs male politicians.
New Review: Evangelista - In Animal Tongue
by Cazz Blase // 1 October 2011, 22:22
Sophie Mayer reviews Evangelista's In Animal Tongue and is enraptured by the lyrics, vocals and productions of charismatic frontwoman Carla Bozulich "Tonight I rode her broken back." A single-note throb of electric guitar over bass drone . It's an arresting...
Feminist (and storytelling) lessons for comic book artists via costume redesign
by Jess McCabe // 1 October 2011, 16:27
If you could redesign the costumes of the major superheroines, what would you change? Complaints about how female superheros are represented in comics are hackneyed. But the issue has been resuscitated after a particularly ludicrous, 'sexy', reinvention of the...
Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the 
