5 August 2008

In which a cis feminist has a serious and long overdue rethink.

I want to address some issues raised in Helen’s latest post, issues that I myself have been grappling with recently. The ongoing results* of said grappling have made me feel very ashamed of my past thoughts and misplaced beliefs with… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 5 August 2008 | Comments (42)

3 August 2008

Kyle Payne: how not to support women, part deux

Remember Kyle Payne, the self proclaimed male feminist, anti-pornography and anti-violence activist who admitted to exposing and filming a female student without her consent? Well he’s now released a statement in which he piles up excuse after excuse for his… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 3 August 2008 | Comments (18)

31 July 2008

Dangerous Jobs for Girls: Thoughts on Equality and Liberation.

Intrigued by Barbara’s post and the ensuing comments, I caught up with Dangerous Jobs for Girls. Its merits were very similar to those of the old Channel 4 show Faking It: we see individuals taken out of their comfort zone… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 31 July 2008 | Comments (14)

29 July 2008

Murder law reforms to help victims of domestic violence.

Victims of domestic violence who kill their partners after sustained abuse would no longer automatically face murder charges should new proposals from the Ministry of Justice be given the go-ahead. The new laws would apply to both spontaneous and pre-meditated… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 29 July 2008 | Comments (17)

News flash: paying bills causes ovary shrinkage. Or something.

EDIT: Oops - I see Holly and I are both into late night masochism when it comes to looking for blog fodder and simultaneously posted on the same infuriating article… Please, don’t read it more than once (assuming you’re made… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 29 July 2008 | Comments (17)

19 July 2008

I Kissed A Girl

F Word reader Erica referred to this song by Katy Perry (currently number one in the US charts) in the comments section of the latest Ask A Feminist, and the damn thing won’t get out of my head, for a… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 19 July 2008 | Comments (11)

11 July 2008

Abortion votes postponed until the autumn

From Abortion Rights: Harriet Harman has announced that the Report stage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, which was timetabled to be debated in Parliament on Monday 14th July, will now be debated after the summer recess ending on… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 July 2008 | Comments (0)

7 July 2008

MoD: But the boys need their pin-ups!

A survey of over 2,500 servicewomen has found that sexual harassment and sexist attitudes are rife among the armed forces: Between 2005 and 2007, servicewomen reported a rise in six out of nine types of inappropriate sexual behaviour, ranging from… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 July 2008 | Comments (29)

29 June 2008

Tennis star’s disgustingly sexist attack on Anna Kournikova.

The Times reports that former mixed doubles Grand Slam title winner Justin Gimelstob verbally laid into Anna Kournikova and made sexist comments about other female tennis players during a US sports radio show, resulting in a one match suspension without… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 29 June 2008 | Comments (9)

26 June 2008

Oh noes! The poor white mens!

The Daily Express’ take on Harriet Harman’s announcement: I can’t believe they actually used the word “ethnics”… Hat tip to the ever lovely Alex C…. Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 26 June 2008 | Comments (21)

24 June 2008

Noisy heels + bright lipstick = “rape me”

Yup, once again the onus is being placed on women to prevent rape, with men entirely absent from the equation, this time in the Malaysian city of Kota Bharu: Authorities in Kota Bharu have distributed pamphlets recommending that Muslim women… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 24 June 2008 | Comments (12)

18 June 2008

Assessment is not the answer.

Anyone who’s been through or worked in the state education system over the last decade and a half or so will be familiar with New Labour’s testing obsession, and with its outcomes: stressed children and pressurised teachers, the suppression of… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 18 June 2008 | Comments (6)

10 June 2008

Reform lapdance club licensing

Object and the Fawcett Society are asking supporters to write to their MPs before 18th June to ask them to support an early day motion calling for the relicensing of lapdance clubs: Lapdance clubs are licensed like any ordinary pub… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 10 June 2008 | Comments (0)

7 June 2008

Easy activism, and dickhead of the day.

Reaching for the as ever non-existent toilet roll in a club last night, I noticed a sticker on the dispenser which simply read “Sheffield Rape Crisis” followed by the helpline number. Someone had written “Thanks, this really helped me” on… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 June 2008 | Comments (3)

3 June 2008

No blood on the sheets? No marriage.

French front pages have been plastered with the story of the annulment of the marriage of a Muslim couple after the husband discovered his wife had lied about being a virgin: The wedding night party was still under way at… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 3 June 2008 | Comments (59)

Carnivals, and a question for the sex positives.

The Sixth Carnival Against Pornography and Prostitution is here, while the Fourth Feminist Carnival of Sexual Freedom and Autonomy is here. Both offer plenty to get your teeth into, whatever your perspective! While I’m here, can I ask: why are… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 3 June 2008 | Comments (40)

28 May 2008

Hands up if you’ve experienced street harassment.

Cath Elliott has written an excellent piece on street harassment over at The Guardian’s Comment is Free, and once again the comments section has filled up with comments from arrogant little pricks whose thoughts on the matter can be summed… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 28 May 2008 | Comments (289)

25 May 2008

GHD: Dark or Pure?

Is it just me, or is the new GHD hairstyler advert which pops up every time I log out of my yahoo account a little, well, dodgy (aside from your bog standard women’s sexualised bodies being used to sell stuff… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 25 May 2008 | Comments (45)

22 May 2008

March on the Daily Mail offices, anyone?!

Commenter Northern Jess informs us that fans of the band My Chemical Romance are planning to march on the Daily Mail offices on May 31st in protest at the portrayal of the band as a “suicide cult” responsible the death… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 22 May 2008 | Comments (20)

21 May 2008

What next for choice?

Last night was a great victory for choice, but it was only one of many battles that need to be fought and won to ensure UK women have a genuine right to choose. Ready? 1) We need to continue to… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 21 May 2008 | Comments (12)

20 May 2008

Fucking yes!

MPs have just voted against reducing the abortion time limit to 20 weeks by 332 votes to 190. They have also rejected plans to include consideration for the supposed need for a father when allowing women access to IVF treatment…. Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 20 May 2008 | Comments (38)

Anyone else feeling physically sick?

After watching Nadine Dorries and her fundamentalist Christian lawyer sidekick Andrea Williams on Dispatches last night, I am feeling absolutely sick to my stomach about the potential for anti-abortion amendments to be passed today. From the programme it looked like… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 20 May 2008 | Comments (16)

19 May 2008

Where are women in the abortion debate?

The Guardian’s Kira Cochrane reports today on the no doubt delightful experience that was interviewing anti-abortion MP Nadine Dorries, who has been spearheading the move to reduce the abortion time limit. She highlights Dorries’ complete contempt for women who need… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 19 May 2008 | Comments (11)

14 May 2008

Another reason to emigrate to Spain

I’m doing some research for my Spanish oral exam tomorrow, and was pleasantly astounded to come across the headline ‘Man condemned to 27 years imprisonment for locking his wife and children in apartment for two days’. The man locked them… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 14 May 2008 | Comments (8)

10 May 2008

24 reasons for 24 weeks

Penny Red and Jess [ed: credit where credit’s due, I had some minimal input, along with others, but Laurie compiled this herself!], have put together 24 reasons for 24 weeks in response to anti-choice MP Nadine Dorries’ campaign 20 reasons… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 10 May 2008 | Comments (11)

8 May 2008

Emergency protest: MPs vote on abortion time limit

MPs will be voting on whether to lower the abortion time limit from 24 to 20 weeks on May 20th. Abortion Rights is organising an emergency protest outside parliament: Tuesday 20 May, 5.30pm Outside Parliament - details to be confirmed… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 8 May 2008 | Comments (3)

More summery reflections: the boob taboo.

So I haven’t worn a bra for about 18 months now: I’ve never needed one for support and just got out of the habit while in Paris. This was when I decided to stop shaving, so I thought I’d get… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 8 May 2008 | Comments (23)

5 May 2008

Possession of extreme porn to be made illegal this week.

The BBC reports that the bill outlawing the possession of “extreme pornography” becomes law this week. The law forms part of a new Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, and defines extreme pornographic images as those which include any of the… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 5 May 2008 | Comments (6)

30 April 2008

FEM 08

This is my own personal write up and, as ever, views expressed should not be taken as representative of those of The F Word as a whole or of other bloggers. Thanks! Jess, zohra, Catherine Redfern and myself all attended… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 30 April 2008 | Comments (7)

28 April 2008

Hooters update: Round one to the yapping virgins!*

I am delighted to announce that the No to Hooters in Sheffield campaign have successfully persuaded the developers not to take on Hooters in Sheffield’s Leopold Square. Of course, the articles in the local and national press, over one thousand… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 28 April 2008 | Comments (15)

Disability Blog Carnival #36

While I’m on the subject of listening to those who don’t share my privilege, here’s the latest Disability Blog Carnival. Having spent many school holidays working with wonderful, happy children with a whole range of special needs, I want to… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 28 April 2008 | Comments (0)

Feminism and race

I have recently come to realise that I am woefully uninformed on issues of race, particularly as they intersect with feminism and women’s lives. I grew up in what was more or less a sea of white in Cambridgeshire, went… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 28 April 2008 | Comments (52)

24 April 2008

FEM08 this Saturday!

The national feminist conference, FEM08, is taking place this Saturday in my delightful home town, Sheffield. Germaine Greer will be there, people! I’ll be floating around in a lovely purple t-shirt doing various volunteery things, as well as helping coordinate… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 24 April 2008 | Comments (5)

Support the NUT strike

OK so I know this isn’t really a feminist story, although 87% of primary and 57% of secondary school teachers are women, but the BBC News coverage of the NUT’s strike action today has absolutely enraged me. Rather than focusing… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 24 April 2008 | Comments (9)

13 April 2008

Rape Crisis Petition

Please sign this petition to demand the government provide proper funding for Rape Crisis centres. Charliegrrl reports that they need 2,500 signatures in the next week to make an impact. While you’re at it, why not get in contact with… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 13 April 2008 | Comments (0)

12 April 2008

Porn and abuse.

Disclaimer: I’ve had to focus on heterosexual relations and sex here, as I have little experience of anything else. It’s always seemed logical to me that porn use could affect the sexual behaviour of the user. After all, there’s a… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 12 April 2008 | Comments (30)

11 April 2008

Hooters debate on Five Live Tonight

I’ll be discussing the opening of Hooters in Sheffield and nationwide on BBC Radio Five Live tonight at 11pm: listen here. It’s a phone-in debate, so feel free to get involved! Call 0500 909 693 [free from BT landlines; charges… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 April 2008 | Comments (16)

Dickhead of the day

With apologies to dicks and heads everywhere. Union electioneering is in full swing at Sheffield Uni, and as ever, there is one “funny” candidate. Said “funny” candidate has today placed a board in a prominent position on the Union concourse… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 April 2008 | Comments (5)

7 April 2008

Defend the abortion time limit

Abortion Rights are urging all pro-choice supporters to write to their MPs quick smart urging them to protect the abortion time limit. Anti-choice MPs aim to use the Human Fertilisation and Embrylology bill to reduce the time limit from 20… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 April 2008 | Comments (4)

4 April 2008

Hooters: coming to a town near you?

Well, most probably, unless you do something about it! The tacky and sexist US chain is currently on the look out for “high visibility” restaurant locations in (take a deep breath): Aberdeen Basildon, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bournemouth, Bristol Cambridge Cardiff, Chelmsford,… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 4 April 2008 | Comments (14)

21 March 2008

Cissexual?

I’ve been thinking about this concept ever since I read Helen G’s latest article, where she defines cissexual as: […] people who are not transsexual and who have only ever experienced their subconscious and physical sexes as being aligned I… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 21 March 2008 | Comments (30)

19 March 2008

Lap-dancing and objectification.

Rachel Bell brings us one woman’s story of lap-dancing in The Guardian today: It wasn’t only the earning potential that led Elena to try lap-dancing - she now believes that she, and women in general, are socialised to see it… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 19 March 2008 | Comments (12)

18 March 2008

The BNP stands up for women’s rights! (Or why they’re not only racist, xenophobic ballbags, but sexist as well).

Feel the love oozing from former BNP Youth leader Mark Collett as he proclaims his human right to look at boobies (warning: may make your skin crawl. Starts at 2.00): Not only is he a smarmy, sexist, racist little git,… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 18 March 2008 | Comments (25)

17 March 2008

Callout: Cosmopolitan feature on sexual aggression

I received a message from a woman who is writing a feature for Cosmopolitan on the rise of aggressive sex / imagery in society and its effects on women. She is looking to talk to women who have been in… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 March 2008 | Comments (0)

Sex Educate me!

The Scarleteen book and website are excellent sex education resources: a big feminist thumbs up! When Daily Mail-ites accuse government ministers of “brainwashing”, you know said ministers are probably onto a good thing. Secondary school teachers are being encouraged to… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 17 March 2008 | Comments (35)

12 March 2008

Campaign to stop BNP festival

With Jess’s most recent post on racist anti-immigration politics in mind, I thought readers might be interested to know that a network has been set up to protest against the British National Party’s annual festival, Red, White and Blue (RWB),… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 12 March 2008 | Comments (25)

11 March 2008

Women-only space

Michelle at Lonergrrrl has a great post up explaining the importance of women-only space: Because it is in women-only space that a woman’s voice can be heard on her own terms. In women-only space she is free of the ‘male… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 March 2008 | Comments (37)

Feminist mental health blog up and running

Crazy Like Us? looks set to be a really interesting project. nectarine begins by explaining some of the reasons why she wanted to set up a feminist blog on mental health: When I first put the call out for this… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 March 2008 | Comments (1)

Reproductive Freedoms Teach-In

Feminist Fightback have organised a teach-in on reproductive freedoms: We will be discussing ideas and planning action for a woman’s right to choose on 12 April, 12-5pm at Clement House Building, London School of Economics, London, WC2A (Holborn tube). Every… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 11 March 2008 | Comments (0)

7 March 2008

Huzzah!

Students at the University of Sheffield last night successfully defended our Union’s Women’s Officer position. A motion had been put forward to referenda to change the officer positions, getting rid of the Women’s Officer position and replacing it with an… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 March 2008 | Comments (7)

4 March 2008

Senior Met officer talks sense on rape

From today’s Guardian: Police are contributing to the “appalling” conviction rate in rape cases because officers too often fail to take alleged victims seriously enough and settle for mediocrity in their inquiries, the senior policeman responsible for raising standards in… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 4 March 2008 | Comments (0)

Get your “liberal” rhetoric off my damn body and get a clue.

Oh I am fuming. Absolutely fuming. Just… this: But “pro-choicers” aren’t short of poor arguments themselves. One goes a bit like this: “Male control over birth rights, over women’s bodies, has been a tool of patriarchal oppression for centuries.” True,… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 4 March 2008 | Comments (12)

2 March 2008

Reclaim The Night North

Sheffield Fems managed to survive a rather wet and windy Reclaim the Night march around Manchester last night! I’d estimate that there were probably around 300 people on the march, equally divided between the leading women only group and… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 2 March 2008 | Comments (15)

Hooters comes to Sheffield

Yes, you read that right, the outdated and downright embarrassingly sexist US bar and restaurant staffed by sexyTM women is opening in Sheffield on the 22nd March. Female employees have to acknowledge and affirm the following: 1. My job duties… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 2 March 2008 | Comments (39)

1 March 2008

Fuck you, PETA

I’m a vegetarian, I care about animal welfare but, call me crazy, I’m actually more worried about the oppression and abuse of women across the globe than I am about animals. Not so for the delightful people at PETA. The… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 1 March 2008 | Comments (25)

27 February 2008

Carnival

The second Carnival Against Pornography and Prostitution is here…. Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 27 February 2008 | Comments (0)

Wanky sexist product of the day

“No means no. Well maybe if I’m drunk!” From David and Goliath, who apparently ‘make stupid stuff so you don’t have to’. How incredibly thoughtful of them. As it happens, I’d been hankering after printing a t-shirt encouraging guys to… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 27 February 2008 | Comments (11)

25 February 2008

Cameron attacks women’s right to choose

David Cameron showed his true colours today when he voiced his desire to see the abortion time limit cut from 24 to 20 weeks, citing - like Ann Widdecombe - the supposed significant increase in foetal viability as justification for… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 25 February 2008 | Comments (10)

Reclaim The Night Manchester

Get your stomping boots over to Manchester this Saturday to Reclaim The Night up north! Women (including transwomen) Congregate 6pm, Sackville Street, Manchester Mixed rally 7.30pm, University of Manchester Students’ Union (Sackville Street) A mixed-gender march following a different route… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 25 February 2008 | Comments (0)

23 February 2008

Blood on their hands

I just watched last night’s Unreported World on women’s situation in Nicaragua since the law banning all abortion was passed there in 2006 (you can watch it on 4OD online or catch-up TV if you’ve got it). Once again, I… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 23 February 2008 | Comments (5)

20 February 2008

Feminist mental health blog

nectarine is looking for people interested in running/contributing to a group blog focused on feminist views of mental health: The requirements would be: you are female you identify as a feminist you have now or have had mental health issues… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 20 February 2008 | Comments (1)

13 February 2008

Ann Widdecombe, you will lose!

Defend a woman’s right to choose! I’d say about a hundred of us gathered to chant, wave placards and thrust Abortion Rights leaflets into the hands of unsuspecting pro-lifers outside the Liner hotel in Liverpool on Tuesday night. Widdecombe herself… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 13 February 2008 | Comments (8)

10 February 2008

Amazing

Unfortunately, as Allecto points out, the responses to this piece on YouTube are testimony to the utter hatred feminists and women are up against in our fight against male violence. She also links to a wonderful piece by a… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 10 February 2008 | Comments (0)

9 February 2008

Sharia and women.

I know little about Islam so I’m not going to make any pronouncements on how Sharia law works in the UK, but I came across an interesting story on The Times’ religion blog which is relevant to the current debate:… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 9 February 2008 | Comments (0)

8 February 2008

Insert preferred expletive here.

Smite Me! [.net] informs us that US news programme CNN reported the sexual harassment of a woman by police officers under the headline SLINKY BABE + 6 COPS = TROUBLE. The next day, they changed the headline to BEHAVING BADLY:… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 8 February 2008

7 February 2008

University of York Students’ Union opens Women’s Committee to men.

A motion put forward by the University of York’s Women’s Officer (no less) to open Women’s Committee to men has sadly been passed today. Opponents, myself included, have been battling against this motion, but unfortunately the vote was open to… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 February 2008

No woman is ever to blame for rape. That includes sex workers.

One thing that I would have thought all feminists can agree on is that women are never to blame for being raped. Never. And whatever our position on sex work and porn, whether or not we think these things are… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 7 February 2008

4 February 2008

I heart this poster.

Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 4 February 2008

War on Women

Anji at Shut Up, Sit Down has done a stellar job of pulling statistics together to prove her assertion that violence against women is of such epidemic proportions globally that it should be categorised as a war on women. Just… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 4 February 2008

3 February 2008

“All heterosexual women are rape victims”

EDIT: Debs has an interesting response to this post here. I just came across this quote in the comments section of a feminist blog. The commenter asserted that sex is a means to control and subjugate women, that it is… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 3 February 2008

2 February 2008

Daily Echo abortion article

I have wrongly been quoted as a ‘spokesman’ (no, I hadn’t realised I was a man either) for Abortion Rights in this article. I’d like to make it clear that I am a member of Abortion Rights, but not an… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 2 February 2008

1 February 2008

Lolita bed for girls. Good one, Woolies.

Woolworths has withdrawn a line of bedroom furniture for girls called “Lolita” after pressure from members of an online parenting forum, RaisingKids.co.uk. Yes, Woolies (or at least the designer) thought it would be a great idea to brand a little… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 1 February 2008

31 January 2008

Liverpool pro-choice protest, February 12

There will be a picket of Ann Widdecombe’s anti-abortion meeting in Liverpool: To join the picket, assemble outside the Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street (next to Lime Street Station) Liverpool. Tuesday 12th February, 6.15pm. This follows a successful protest against… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 31 January 2008

30 January 2008

Excellent news.

The rapist who won £7million on the Lottery can finally be sued by one of his victims, The Times reports: One woman’s quest for justice against the so-called Lotto rapist ended in victory this morning with a court ruling that… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 30 January 2008

29 January 2008

Front Page Murder

This news story is on the BBC news front page today. It’s nasty: a man was left partially deaf, blind and with brain damage, in need of 24 hour care, after his wife tried to kill him by poisoning him… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 29 January 2008

Carnival

The first Carnival Against Pornography and Prostitution is here!… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 29 January 2008

26 January 2008

Pro-choice protest, February 6, London

Abortion Rights has called a peaceful pro-choice protest against anti-abortion MP Ann Widdecome’s road show ‘Not on your life . .. or anyone else’s’ which is promoting anti-abortion goals around the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Assemble outside Central Hall… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 26 January 2008

23 January 2008

You know you're living in a patriarchy when…

…you can’t walk down the street of an evening without having groping motions made at you, being called both ‘ugly minger’ and ‘sexy bitch’ and just generally being laughed at in an aggressive manner. This all happened in the ten… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 23 January 2008

22 January 2008

A case in point.

Remember how I was saying that some men refuse to recognise that violence against women is a gendered crime? Well the same goes for prostitution; witness this comment from one of the posters on this Guardian Comment is Free piece:… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 22 January 2008

Reclaim The Night Manchester, Saturday 1st March

The first national Reclaim The Night March of 2008 is taking place in Manchester on Saturday March 1st. NUS Women’s campaign are working hard on this and it should be big, so don’t miss out (this means you too, Londoners!)… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 22 January 2008

21 January 2008

Blaming the man.

Do you know what I’m sick of? Men complaining that they are somehow being victimised by feminists pointing out that male violence against women is a problem. Sarfraz Manzoor’s response to Abby’s last Comment is Free piece is a perfect… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 21 January 2008

10 January 2008

Glamour and the blame game.

Reading Hannah Whittaker’s recent article on the link between glamour models and her own body image and low self esteem really struck a chord with me. It wasn’t long ago that I felt just the same. I saw these images… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 10 January 2008

8 January 2008

Can I just say (close your ears, Grandma!) …

This quote, from Jess’s post below, is possibly one of the sickest, most angrifying things I’ve ever read: Aubert pictures men by the hundreds praying, chanting — and waving signs: “I regret my abortion.” It’s not your fucking body, and… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 8 January 2008

5 January 2008

More on surrogacy

Apu at Cubically Challenged makes some interesting points in response to my post on commercial surrogacy in India. She raises some issues that hadn’t occurred to me, such as the fact that Indian women often engage in heavy work while… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 5 January 2008

2 January 2008

The latest in outsourcing: cheap wombs.

What to do when you can’t have a baby yourself, IVF isn’t working and a surrogate from your own country is just too expensive? Well, you could hire an Indian womb. For less than £5,000, couples from the US… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 2 January 2008

1 January 2008

Pill could be made available at pharmacies

Bit late on this one, but the Department of Health is thinking about running a pilot scheme to allow pharmacists to dispense the contraceptive pill without the need for a doctor’s signature. Pharmacists would be trained to deal with the… Read more...

Posted by Laura Woodhouse at 1 January 2008