Blog posts by Jess McCabe: 2010
New feature: Writing women back into punk
By Jess McCabe | 15 March 2010, 10:01
In the second installment of her series, Cazz Blase looks at how punk was covered by the music and feminist presses, the work of female journalists, and how women punks came to be largely written out of the history books…
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New feature: Painful vagina? Your poor husband!
By Jess McCabe | 14 March 2010, 12:34
S’s experience with vulvar vestibulitis - which makes penetrative sex painful - highlighted the phallocentric medical establishment and limited definitions of sex For almost 10 years I have suffered from a form of vulvodynia (vulval pain) known as vulvar vestibulitis,…
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Samira Ahmed, behind the scenes with C4 news
By Jess McCabe | 14 March 2010, 10:40
Subtext Magazine has posted an enlightening piece by Samira Ahmed from Channel 4 news, which looks at how international news is reported. Among other things, she talks about reporting on ‘corrective’ rapes in South Africa: There is a challenge there…
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Hidden Herstories: Women of Change, see it for free!
By Jess McCabe | 13 March 2010, 19:53
Hidden Herstories: Women of Change is a documentary which tells the stories of four influential women (Octavia Hill, Amy Ashwood Garvey, Claudia Jones and Jayaben Desai) who haven’t had their rightful place in the history books. It was made…
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New feature: Adventures in self-publishing
By Jess McCabe | 12 March 2010, 10:31
Can print-on-demand and self publishing help feminists today continue the legacy of the suffragettes & the women’s liberation movement? Deborah Withers considers the potential I have recently set up a publishing and information initiative, HammerOn Press, to publish my book,…
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UN climate finance panel a boys’ club
By Jess McCabe | 11 March 2010, 19:18
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has announced a key panel of 19 people, expected to mobilise $100 billion a year until 2020 to support the poorest nations affected by climate change. The panel is entirely made up of men. GenderCC,…
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Welcome to our latest guest bloggers… Josephine and Piyali
By Jess McCabe | 10 March 2010, 16:54
A warm welcome to our latest guest bloggers this month! Josephine Tsui works in women’s rights and international development. As a graduate from the University of Calgary and the School of Oriental and African Studies, her research has focused on…
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Three rape crisis centres to open in London this year!
By Jess McCabe | 8 March 2010, 12:08
London mayor Boris Johnson will keep his promise and open three rape crisis centres in London this year! In a press release today the mayor announced: Islington and Westminster councils have taken the lead to deliver new Rape Crisis services…
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New review: Women
By Jess McCabe | 8 March 2010, 10:06
This three-part BBC documentary has many interesting moments, say Charlotte Cooper and Jess McCabe. However, the series fails to adequately represent women of colour’s involvement in feminism and conceives of the family through a heteronormative lens Vanessa Engle’s three-part documentary…
Million Women Rise 2010
By Jess McCabe | 7 March 2010, 22:48
Eight thousand* women marched through central London yesterday for Million Women Rise, to demand an end to the “continued daily, hourly, minute-by-minute individual and institutionalised male violence enacted against women worldwide”. The third Million Women Rise was just as…
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The F-Word Blog Charter
By Jess McCabe | 5 March 2010, 22:04
The way we work over in the blog part of The F-Word has been changing. For some time now, we (the regular bloggers here) have behind the scenes been running the blog section of the site as a collective. Following…
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January feature, review comments - up now!
By Jess McCabe | 2 March 2010, 11:41
Our comments round-up for your feedback on January features and reviews is up now, ready for your perusal. Massive thanks once again to Helen G for compiling and coding all the comments; and like last month, the delay in…
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New review: The Equality Illusion
By Jess McCabe | 27 February 2010, 17:28
Do you think feminism’s job is done? Kat Banyard’s book will remove your rose-tinted glasses, says Jess McCabe The Equality Illusion, subtitled The Truth About Women & Men Today, aims to blow away the myth that feminism’s work is over,…
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40 years of women’s liberation
By Jess McCabe | 26 February 2010, 22:13
It’s 40 years since the first women’s liberation conference at Ruskin College in Oxford, a significant event in the history of UK feminism. Next month the College is organising another conference to acknowledge the anniversary (more details here). Today the…
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New review: Lighting a fire
By Jess McCabe | 22 February 2010, 22:57
Christiane Inmann’s history of women’s reading and writing is a delicious read, says Jessica Gjergji As all forbidden fruit should be, Christiane Inmann’s cross-cultural history of women’s role as readers and writers is mouthwateringly tempting from the moment you open…
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New review: Hello Kitty Must Die
By Jess McCabe | 21 February 2010, 11:21
The protagonist of Angela S. Choi’s comic debut novel channels the anger of every woman who has been belittled or demeaned, says Kaite Welsh “I hate Hello Kitty. “I hate her for not having a mouth or fangs like a…
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Kathleen Hanna interviewed
By Jess McCabe | 19 February 2010, 13:32
Former riot grrrl Kathleen Hanna is suddenly everywhere again (and very welcome she is too!) Her band Bikini Kill started an archive of stories about what their shows were like, and Hanna has donated her riot grrl archive and correspondence…
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A Place of Rage: coming out on DVD
By Jess McCabe | 19 February 2010, 13:21
A Place of Rage - Trailer from Kali Films on Vimeo. Pratibha Parmar’s documentary A Place of Rage is coming out on DVD: A Place of Rage is an exuberant award-winning documentary film by filmmaker Pratibha Parmar. A celebration of…
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Bristol Feminist Network Reclaim the Night
By Jess McCabe | 18 February 2010, 11:32
Bristol is to host another Reclaim the Night march on: 26 February 2010, 5pm, College Green The march will start at 5pm at College Green with a vigil of remembrance, then at 6pm the march through Bristol will start. It…
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The case of the decimal place: teenage pregnancy
By Jess McCabe | 15 February 2010, 18:45
The Tories published a report meant to highlight inequalities under Labour, which accidentally overstated the rate of teenage pregnancy among girls in deprived areas by a factor of 10, reports The Guardian. The actual rate of teen pregnancy is 54.32…
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More depressing evidence of rape victim blaming
By Jess McCabe | 15 February 2010, 17:12
A survey of just over 1,000 Londoners found depressingly high levels of victim-blaming. The BBC reports that more than half of those surveyed said they believed “there were some circumstances when a rape victim should accept responsibility for an…
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Help design the Ladyfest 10 logo
By Jess McCabe | 14 February 2010, 13:55
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Ladyfest. A celebration is in the works for later this year in London, but the organisers of Ladyfest Ten are searching for someone to design a logo for them: Preparations for Ladyfest Ten…
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Goldsmiths Ladyfest
By Jess McCabe | 11 February 2010, 23:15
Goldsmiths’ student union (in London) is holding another Ladyfest! I don’t have very many details I’m afraid, just this flyer - click below to see full-scale version, which I found via Obesity Timebomb. It’s taking place over 22-26 February. UPDATE:…
Protest in support of Yarl’s Wood hunger strikers TOMORROW, London
By Jess McCabe | 11 February 2010, 12:47
A protest in solidarity with the Yarl’s Wood hunger strike is taking place tomorrow afternoon in London. It’s happening between 2.30pm and 4.30pm, tomorrow, Friday 12 February, at: Serco Offices, 18-20 Hand Court (off High Holborn) (Serco is the private…
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Talk at Tate Britain: Grace Ndiritu, Questions from the past
By Jess McCabe | 11 February 2010, 11:24
Grace Ndiritu is doing a talk on 12 March at the Tate Britain: Artist Grace Ndiritu works at the intersection of film and performance. This talk uses performance video art using the female body from her Still Life and Responsible…
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Fawcett
By Jess McCabe | 11 February 2010, 10:46
The Fawcett Society are hiring, and asked us to post this: Organisation - Fawcett Society Job title - Head of Policy and Campaigns Closing Date - 5pm on Friday 26th February 2010 How to apply - go to our website…
Another round-up
By Jess McCabe | 9 February 2010, 13:37
Bikini Kill are collecting stories for their archive. The former riot grrrls ask: Please add your Bikini Kill story to this blog! It can be totally off the top of your head and doesn’t need to be fancy. Maybe it’s…
Report from the Yarl’s Wood hunger strike
By Jess McCabe | 8 February 2010, 16:54
The shocking situation for women at the Yarl’s Wood detention centre continues. More than 50 women are on hunger strike, and today the Black Women’s Rape Action Project sent out this report that some women have been beaten, and some…
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New review - Girldrive: Criss-Crossing America, Redefining Feminism
By Jess McCabe | 5 February 2010, 15:41
Nona Willis Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein’s book reclaims the road trip and tells a story about what young women across the US think about feminism and the issues facing them as women, says LonerGrrrl When young feminist writer Nona…
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New review: The Fossil Hunter
By Jess McCabe | 4 February 2010, 22:29
Kaite Welsh reviews a fictionalised biography of early paleontologist Mary Anning The Fossil Hunter, journalist Shelley Emling’s first book, is a fictionalised biography of Mary Anning, a woman whose fossil discoveries helped found paleontology and - although she didn’t know…
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New feature: Bring the herstory of riot grrrl back into the present
By Jess McCabe | 4 February 2010, 20:45
What has happened to the legacy of riot grrrl? asks Heather McIntosh The feminist-punk movement which was riot grrrl was hugely inspiring for me, and countless other girls and women. Riot grrrl created a platform – but what impact has…
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New review: Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism
By Jess McCabe | 3 February 2010, 20:10
Natasha Walter’s latest book reflects her change of heart since The New Feminism, but Melanie Newman argues the result is a mixed bag In 1998, Natasha Walter said young women were fed up with being made to feel guilty for…
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Comments on features and reviews from December 2009, up now!
By Jess McCabe | 2 February 2010, 19:20
Comments on features and reviews from December 2009 are up and ready to read! Props to Helen G for once again coding and sorting out the comments; the delay this month is all mine, as she was done with…
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‘Female arts collective’ launches; Fat Quarter goes from online to print
By Jess McCabe | 2 February 2010, 13:36
Self-professed women-friendly blog/magazine Fat Quarter is launching its first print issue this month with a party in Mile End, London, promising poetry, rock and roll, cupcakes and zines. And, on the same night, Storm in a Teacup will launch: STORM…
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Welcome to Jolene and Joanna, guest bloggers for February
By Jess McCabe | 1 February 2010, 21:58
February is here, and that means we sadly need to say goodbye to our fantastic guest bloggers for January, Syma and Grace. But it also means a massive welcome to our two new guest bloggers for February, Jolene Tan and…
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Birds Eye View programme out now
By Jess McCabe | 1 February 2010, 17:08
Birds Eye View has posted its full programme for its next film festival, running from 4-12 March at London’s ICA and BFI. Tickets go on sale 10 February. The festival closes with Whip It! - Drew Barrymore’s directoral debut, a…
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New feature: Feminism and fat
By Jess McCabe | 31 January 2010, 20:10
Susie Orbach’s classic Fat is a Feminist Issue became suddenly relevant to Helen Dring in the aftermath of a car accident which caused her to lose weight When I first read Susie Orbach’s Fat is a Feminist Issue, I felt…
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It’s a Friday roundup!
By Jess McCabe | 29 January 2010, 18:30
Some diet and beauty ads will be banned on Spanish TV before a 10pm watershed, under proposals going through the country’s legislature. Via Mi blog es tu blog. French gynaecologists have dismissed claims that the G-Spot doesn’t exist. Pierre Foldès…
Want to help with revisions to Our Bodies, Ourselves?
By Jess McCabe | 29 January 2010, 17:23
The seminal women’s health and sexuality book, Our Bodies, Ourselves, is going to be updated and re-released next year. As part of the revisions, they’ve asked us to publish this call for participants: Our Bodies Ourselves is seeking up to…
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New feature: The professional masquerade
By Jess McCabe | 28 January 2010, 16:07
Women working in corporate finance are expected to adhere to sexist and objectifying dress codes, says Amica Lane “Womanliness therefore could be assumed and worn as a mask, both to hide the possession of masculinity and to avert the reprisals…
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Women’s Support Project in funding crisis
By Jess McCabe | 27 January 2010, 15:08
The Women’s Support Project in Glasgow has had its funding slashed by Glasgow City Council, and is now searching for alternative funding. A reader sent in this statement: The Women’s Support Project’s core funding has been affected by local authority…
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Quick hit: World’s Wife
By Jess McCabe | 26 January 2010, 14:26
An adaptation of Carol Ann Duffy’s collection of poems told from the perspective of the wives of famous men in mythology is currently on at Trafalgar Studios in London. From the Guardian review: What Linda Marlowe does in performing these…
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Feminist language in France
By Jess McCabe | 25 January 2010, 16:04
The use of Ms as an honorific free of implications about women’s marital status is pretty well established. But Francophone women don’t have an equivalent. Over at Comment is Free today, Jessica Reed looks at the options, and concludes there’s…
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New feature: In our satin tights, fighting for our rights! But are women really natural campaigners?
By Jess McCabe | 25 January 2010, 11:21
Stereotypes about women drawn to campaigning because they are natural nurturers do more harm than good, argues Mhairi Guild We’re a nurturing, caring bunch, aren’t we, ladies? Not like those mean, power-obsessed, emotionally illiterate menfolk. Things would be different if…
Feminist action, Haiti
By Jess McCabe | 21 January 2010, 11:19
The Association for Women’s Rights in Development is collecting together information on the crisis in Haiti, where you can read about the historical context, the gendered impact of the current disaster, and gather ideas on how to show your solidarity….
Interviewing men who buy sex
By Jess McCabe | 17 January 2010, 20:24
Just over 100 London men who buy sex from prostitutes/sex workers have been interviewed, as part of an international study the Guardian reports. You can also read the full report here. I’ve started, but not finished reading the London report…
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Racism, reproductive (in)justice in Israel
By Jess McCabe | 15 January 2010, 11:57
Health clinics in Israel appear to be pushing a long-term and risky contraceptive on Ethiopian women in what feminist groups have called out as a fundamentally racist policy. The National reports that the research, carried out by Haifa-based feminist group…
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Staying
By Jess McCabe | 14 January 2010, 20:42
House: How is life treating you living in Brixton, compared with your home country in Africa? Bin: I am not living yet. H: What do you mean? Bin: I am not living yet in Brixton, I am staying in…
Haiti earthquake, if you want to donate
By Jess McCabe | 13 January 2010, 15:50
Haiti has been hit by a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake, and thousands of people may be dead. This is just a quick post to note Liberal Conspiracy has a list of disaster relief charities working in Haiti. To add to…
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Spanish government calls for Europe-wide restraining orders to tackle domestic violence
By Jess McCabe | 10 January 2010, 13:18
Spain has kicked off its six-month presidency of the EU calling for an EU-wide restraining order to be developed, to protect (overwhelmingly female) victims of domestic violence across borders, reports the Guardian. Announcing the plan, Spain’s interior minister, Alfredo Rubalcaba,…
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Selling cars with sexism
By Jess McCabe | 9 January 2010, 21:40
Bologna Motor Show: cars are like toys, women are like toys too! Particularly unsubtle use of objectification of women as a sales tactic: Via AdsoftheWorld.com…
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Feminist year ahead…
By Jess McCabe | 8 January 2010, 10:27
The Guardian has briefly rounded up the feminist year ahead today, touching on Million Women Rise, the first Reclaim the Nights of the year, as well as films of interest to feminists. They also profile some of the books coming…
The Body Image Project
By Jess McCabe | 7 January 2010, 23:41
As a brief follow-on from Pippa’s post on resolving not to resolve to pursue thinness, The Body Image Project looks like a good resource. The US site posts videos of people - most women - talking about positive body image…
How the gender binary is fractal - ‘girly’ blue
By Jess McCabe | 7 January 2010, 20:23
We’re familiar with gender as a binary: under this system blue is coded as for boys, pink is for girls, and so on. But sometimes it does get more complicated. Using the gendering of colour as an example, lisa at…
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Monday night round-up
By Jess McCabe | 4 January 2010, 21:20
Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker posts that a former police director general SPS Rathore has been sentenced to six months in prison and a fine, after being found guilty of molesting Ruchika, then aged 14, 19 years ago….
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