Articles about Culture and Media
The media and popular culture are practically inescapable, and all the time they sends us messages about women and men. What does mainstream culture say about men, women, and feminism?
Zubeidat Tsarnaeva and the Muslim mother as terrorist
Zubeidat Tsarnaeva, mother of the 'Boston bombers', has become a figure of controversy. Yasmin Gunaratnam argues that blaming Zubeidat for her sons' actions is part of growing resentment against Muslim mothers
Yasmin Gunaratnam // 10 May 2013
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Politics and Current Affairs, Racism, Stereotypes
Lucy Anne-Holmes, heroine of the No More Page 3 campaign
Lucy Holmes has been spearheading the campaign to pressurise The Sun to drop the bare boobs from its Page 3. Sarah Edmonds speaks to Lucy about her inspiration and challenges
Sarah Edmonds // 21 January 2013
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Features, Feminism, Interviews
Bisexual women are the new sexy in pop music
Is recent frankness about bisexuality among female pop stars indicative of liberation of women and LGBT people or merely an extension of sexualisation of the industry, asks Lawrence Allen
Lawrence Allen // 10 January 2013
Categories: Culture and Media, Features
As lesbian space alien as it gets
Selina Robertson reviews New Yorker Madeleine Olnek's debut feature and chats to the director about sci-fi B-movies from the 1950s and the advantages of video over film
Selina Robertson // 21 December 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Interviews
Why The F-Word needs a comedy editor
Sexism proliferates in comedy. Female comedians aren't given enough attention, and male comedians relying on tired stereotypes make a killing, explains Megan Stodel. The F-Word plans to do something about it
Megan Stodel // 19 November 2012
Categories: Culture and Media
Do women dream of electric sheep? Delia Derbyshire and the women of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Delia Derbyshire has enjoyed a resurgence of recognition in the past decade and has taken her well-deserved place as one of the founders of modern electronic music. But she was hardly the only woman to work at the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop. Michelle Drury takes us on a journey through the history of the Workshop and pays tribute to the women who passed through the Maida Vale studios
Michelle Drury // 28 October 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Herstory, Music, Stereotypes, Television, Work and Play, radio
Through the Ngajat: why "I" am important
Anna Sulan Masing talks through her dance performance about migration and home
Anna Sulan Masing // 10 July 2012
Categories: Culture and Media
It's only rock'n'roll but I don't like it
Is it 'only rock'n'roll' when a well known male music star beats his wife or girlfriend? And why do men and women alike afford these stars second, third and fourth chances? Amanda McIndoe investigates
Amanda McIndoe // 1 June 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Feminism, Men, Music, Violence
It's not feminism that hurts men
Jo T examines a recent article supporting claims that men are "the new second sex" and finds it to be a highly misleading piece that fails to consider the role of patriarchal structures in men's suffering and instead opts to blame feminism
Jo T // 21 May 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Feminism, Men
Top 10 tips to make sure your perfect date keeps coming back for more
Study up on how to succeed in the dating game with Jilly Boyce Kay
Jilly Boyce Kay // 3 April 2012
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
Feminism: still excluding working class women?
Working class women talk to Pavan Amara about feeling excluded and patronised by a classist feminist movement where middle class voices are still dominating the debate
Pavan Amara // 7 March 2012
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Education, Family, Feminism, Language, Work and Play
Hot pants or hot air?
Is the 'sexualisation of young girls' really getting worse - or has it been exaggerated for the sake of shocking tabloid headlines? Ruth Whippman reports
Ruth Whippman // 26 February 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Family
Women and the UK music press
Music is a universal language. But don't tell the UK music press, which is marketing itself to a definitively male readership. Cazz Blase takes a look at the marketing materials put out by the big music magazines
Cazz Blase // 12 February 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
Challenging rape myths in the mainstream
Emilia di Girolamo, the lead writer on Law and Order: UK, takes an unflinching view of gang rape in the show's next episode. Siân Norris met her to discuss her motivations
Sian Norris // 29 January 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Interviews, Violence
She gives me fever
Porn is not for everyone: but it can be for feminists, Mia Engberg tells Sophie Mayer, as her programme of shorts screens in London
Sophie Mayer // 13 January 2012
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Features, Interviews, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
You can be anti-porn and pro-sex
I'm no censor, says Lisa Saunders. She talks through some common misconceptions about anti-porn/pro-sex feminism
Lisa Saunders // 13 December 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Sex and Relationships
Are you writing in permanent marker?
What happens when a brilliant feminist blog gets deleted, or an online magazine disappears? The Women's Library is ensuring that as many resources as possible leave a more permanent mark through the British Library Web Archive, Inderbir Bhullar explains
Inderbir Bhullar // 20 November 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Herstory
'Who is interested in old women?'
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
Rina Rosselson // 12 October 2011
Categories: Culture and Media
A shocking shade of pink
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 happen
Cazz Blase // 13 August 2011
Categories: Culture and Media
Women's football: a kick in the teeth?
The Women's World Cup is well underway, but the game is languishing for lack of support, argues Joanne Fradley
Joanne Fradley // 6 July 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
A woman called Toothpaste: an interview with Lucy Whitman
Cazz Blase interviews Lucy Toothpaste, who wrote the fanzine JOLT and played a central role in the punk feminist movement
Cazz Blase // 20 May 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory, Interviews, Magazines, Music
The questions journalists ask
Feminism took up many more inches of print in women's magazines last year. But, asks Hannah Mudge, did the media coverage accurately represent the movement?
Hannah Mudge // 4 May 2011
Categories: Culture and Media
The revolution is in you
Chloe Stopa-Hunt looks back to the historical figure of Lucile Duplessis from the French Revolution and considers how she has been 'put back' into history by modern writers
Chloe Stopa-Hunt // 4 May 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Herstory
Women in rock: Tamar-kali
Tamar-kali spoke to The F-Word about sexism in the music, feminism and her inspirations
Jess McCabe // 3 May 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Interviews
Princess Kate's reality TV wedding
Royal wedding fever has overtaken the nation - or at least, it has overtaken the nation's tabloids. Ray Filar considers the implications
Ray Filar // 17 April 2011
Categories: Culture and Media
Punk women write back
Women from the 1970s punk scene in the UK have not stood by as their contributions were erased from the music history books, but have documented that time with their own books and films. Cazz Blase reports
Cazz Blase // 2 January 2011
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory, Interviews
Dark angels
Roxanne Bibizadeh considers the experiences of women who choose to wear the manteau
Roxanne Bibizadeh // 8 December 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Religion
Women in punk: the return
The 1990s brought with them grunge, riot grrrl - and fresh inspiration for the women at the centre of Britain's 1970s punk scene. Cazz Blase continues her series
Cazz Blase // 12 October 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory
Creating a new kind of media for women in politics
The mainstream media's sexist treatment of female politicians was only heightened during the election. Women's Parliamentary Radio provides an alternative, argues Sophie Kainradl
Sophie Kainradl // 10 June 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Politics and Current Affairs
Hit Girl
Hit Girl, the 11-year-old assassin from the film Kick-Ass, represents a subversion of passive ideas of girlhood, argues Tracey Plowman. But at the same time the character poses some uncomfortable questions and contradictions
Tracey Plowman // 23 May 2010
Categories: Culture and Media
Back to burlesque
Has the shine come off burlesque as it mainstreamed? Chloë Emmott revisits her views
Chloe Emmott // 22 May 2010
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Work and Play
Women of the punk era
Cazz Blase interviews women of British 1970s punk on the music - and the politics, in part three of her series
Cazz Blase // 24 April 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory
In conversation with Senzeni Marasela
Last year Senzeni Marasela created an art installation called Jonga: the Museum of Women, Dolls & Memories, in a shop-front in Huntly, Scotland. Here Marasela talks to Claudia Zeiske about Barbie and the ways that beauty standards and pressures impose differently on women of colour and white women
Various Authors // 17 March 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Interviews, Racism, Work and Play
Writing women back into punk
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
Cazz Blase // 14 March 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory
Adventures in self-publishing
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
debi withers // 10 March 2010
Categories: Culture and Media
Women in punk: 'Too Good To Be Forgotten'
Women's involvement in British punk has been marginalised and written out of mainstream histories. In the next few months, The F-Word will run a series of features on women in punk by Cazz Blase. By way of introduction, here she sketches out her own first encounters with the genre, and carries out a vox pop in Manchester to gauge whether the person on the street can name any women in punk
Cazz Blase // 28 February 2010
Categories: Culture and Media, Herstory
Bring the herstory of riot grrrl back into the present
What has happened to the legacy of riot grrrl? asks Heather McIntosh
Heather McIntosh // 3 February 2010
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Feminism, Herstory, Work and Play
Feminism and fat
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
Helen Dring // 31 January 2010
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
A question of (sexism in) sport
Despite plaudits from politicians, women's sport gets less media coverage than men's sport, says Natalie Davis, and sports pages largely feature women as eyecandy not athletes
Natalie Davis // 18 December 2009
Categories: Culture and Media
Girls in the lead
Girlguides can offer girls a respite from pressure of gendered expectations. Clare Burgess offers her perspective as a late-joiner
Clare Burgess // 7 December 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Family, Work and Play
Bright Star and women in film
Producer Jan Chapman spoke to Jess McCabe by phone from Sydney about women in the film industry - and her latest movie Bright Star
Jess McCabe // 16 November 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
Gender and sentencing
Are the scales of justice in alignment? Rachel Thwaites looks at how women and men are so often treated differently by the system if they commit violent crimes
Rachel Thwaites // 14 November 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence
Gender in the playground
Primary schools are no utopia of skipping rope and gender blind comradery. Instead, girls are already learning to worry about their looks - and boys are learning male privilege, reports teacher Kate Townshend
Kate Townshend // 25 October 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Education, Fashion and Image
Feminism and the vampire novel
Much has been written about sexism in the Twilight books and film. Here, Caitlin Brown puts the series in context of other popular vampire fiction
Caitlin Brown // 8 September 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Language, Racism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes
Turn your back on Page 3
Francine Hoenderkamp explains her campaign to ban Page 3
Francine Hoenderkamp // 13 August 2009
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media
How do I look in this, on this, doing this, with this...?
Feminist artists have often used the tactic of exaggerating the objectification of women to the point of parody. But Alex Brew questions how subversive this strategy is in practice
Alex Brew // 11 August 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Calendar girls
Molly Lavender considers a slew of calendars which reduce women to body parts
Molly Lavender // 22 July 2009
Categories: Culture and Media
Britney Spears, daddy's little girl?
Jamie Spears is credited with restoring stability to his superstar daughter's life. But, asks Cila Warncke, does daddy really know best?
Cila Warncke // 26 June 2009
Categories: Culture and Media
Some body to love
Forget which body-shape is 'fashionable' - women are more than just their bodies, argues Lara Williams
Lara Williams // 7 June 2009
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Feminism, Work and Play
Stink bombing the beauty pagaent
Protesters from Smash Miss Contest sneaked into the Miss London University beauty contest, releasing stinkbombs and distributing letters to the audience. Sarah Levack reports
Sarah Levack // 27 April 2009
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Feminism
A woman... and a geek?
Geeky women have a lot to put up with, from sexist portrayals of women in their favourite media to friends, family and coworkers doubting their competence, says Wisrutta Atthakor. But why should female geeks give up on what they're interested in?
Wisrutta Atthakor // 25 April 2009
Categories: Culture and Media
For the good of the species?
If you believe one story on a popular science news site, there's proof that older men "chasing" younger women benefits humankind (or should that be mankind?) Eirwen-Jane Pierrot considers the impact of these sensationalist claims on women in the real world
Eirwen-Jane Pierrot // 15 April 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence
Grassroots feminism 2.0?
Want to make connections with grassroots feminist activists across borders and languages? Melanie Maddison talks to Red Chidgey about an online project that aims to help us do just that
Melanie Maddison // 3 March 2009
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Feminism, Interviews
Feminist progress: undermined by the media?
Anna-Kate considers how the porn and beauty industries impact the self esteem of girls and women
Anna-Kate // 25 January 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Challenging sex object culture: definitely needed, definitely lively and definitely a key issue for 2009!
A recent feature in The Times labelled protests against the Miss University London beauty pagaents "old fashioned". But, argues Sandrine Levêque, if anything campaigns against the objectification of women and girls are more relevant today than ever
Sandrine Levêque // 4 January 2009
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Racism, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence, Work and Play
'Hasn't anybody ever told you a handful is enough?'
Boys groped her, men shouted at her on the street, and girls and women reacted with hostility. Samara Ginsberg reports on growing up with large breasts
Samara Ginsberg // 14 December 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Violence
Now That's What I Call Misogyny!
Molly Lavender is exasperated at gender segregation in music – and the way pop songs valorise abusive relationships
Molly Lavender // 4 December 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence
HPV vaccination - the debate isn't over yet
St Monica's in Manchester does not want girls vaccinated against HPV on school grounds. Kit Roskelly argues that all schools have a responsibility to protect their pupils' health
Kit Roskelly // 10 October 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
So, you really think we're stupid, do you?
10-year-old Ananya is frustrated by magazines aimed at girls
Ananya // 4 October 2008
Categories: Culture and Media
It's only a bloody tampon
Is a tampon soaked in stage blood too shocking for theatre-goers? Gemma Bolwell and Harriet Chandler report
Various Authors // 22 September 2008
Categories: Culture and Media
What Not To Wear say to your co-worker
How would you feel if you found out the people around you chat about putting you forward for How to Look Good Naked? Kelly Draper knows all too well
Kelly Draper // 12 August 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Work and Play
Domestic violence and disabled women
Disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic violence, and can face a range of additional barriers - from inaccessible shelters onwards, Clare Laxton reports
Clare Laxton // 12 July 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Stereotypes, Violence
Mama's mop and Bachelor's soup
Although women shoulder most of the housework burden, men also vacuum, wash up and do the laundry. Kristine Bergström wonders why TV advertising persists in pretending otherwise?
Kristine Bergstrom // 9 June 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
Are women and girls vulnerable?
Violent men do not attack girls or women because they are 'vulnerable', argues Jennifer Drew, and it deflects attention from the perpetrators to pretend otherwise
Jennifer Drew // 19 May 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
The Oxbridge sex workers
Laurie Penny considers why so many Oxbridge students are going into prostitution and stripping, and the impact the media coverage of their stories has on women in less privileged positions
Laurie Penny // 11 May 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence
Hip hop ladies
Beyond the mainstream of 'gangster pop', Nino argues hip hop can be - and is - feminist
Nino // 7 May 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism
F.A.T.
Girls and women need to give themselves a break from the endless preoccupation with fat, argues Katie Muller
Katie Muller // 7 May 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
The epidemic of male violence against women
A spate of convictions has put femicide into the headlines again. But, as Jennifer Drew reports, the media is still blaming women - and ignoring 'everyday' incidents of male violence against women
Jennifer Drew // 6 April 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
Walking on eggshells
Approaching men on the street and asking them to undress and be photographed can be frightening - and highlights the struggle for women to find equality. Alex Brew explains
Alex Brew // 2 April 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
UK feminists must address worldwide issues
All over the planet women are denied the most basic rights. Ruthie Samuel asks: where is the outrage?
Ruthie Samuel // 4 February 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Feminism, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence
Why men should care about gender stereotypes
Alex Gibson considers the harm done by stereotypes of men as beer-swilling, emotionally-stunted brutes
Alex Gibson // 2 February 2008
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Men, Stereotypes
Of corset matters
Corsets were bad news for Victorian women, argues Laurie Penny, and modern incarnations are little better
Laurie Penny // 2 February 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Breaking out of the mould
Claire Daly interviews the first editor of pioneering feminist magazine Spare Rib
Claire Daly // 31 January 2008
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Feminism, Interviews
The F Word Podcast - episode three!
Episode three of The F Word podcast - on the tricky topic of pornography - is out now!
Jess McCabe // 14 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Podcasts, Sex and Relationships
Against censorship
Porn should be reformed, not banned, argues Laurie Penny
Laurie Penny // 2 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
Glamour models made me sick
Lads' mags are responsible for my eating disorder, says Hannah Whittaker
Hannah Whittaker // 2 January 2008
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Sex and Relationships
Miss LSE or Miss-ogyny?
Antonia Strachey explains why she took part in a protest against a beauty contest for students at the London School of Economics
Antonia Strachey // 2 January 2008
Categories: Activism, Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Filling the hole
The self-hating mindset, if not the medical condition, of anorexia is frighteningly common, argues Katie Muller
Katie Muller // 6 December 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Feminism, Men
How not to write your policy on transgender rights
A Home Office policy that should help protect transgender civil servants from discrimination? Great news. But, asks Emma Wood, why does it insist that women and men have different brains?
Emma Wood // 5 December 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Language, Work and Play
Does 'gender neutral' language serve to cover up male violence?
Gender-neutral language applies to male criminals, but not to their female victims, argues Jennifer Drew
Jennifer Drew // 3 December 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Language, Men, Violence
High heels with a pointe
A collection of extreme stilettos tells a very uncomfortable story about the high heels many women totter around in every day, says Gloria Dawson
Gloria Dawson // 9 November 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
How many lesbians does it take to sell a t-shirt?
Girl-on-girl action may be marketing gold, but has little benefit for actual lesbians, argues Joanna Whitehead
Joanna Whitehead // 4 November 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Men, Stereotypes
TV for men
Carrie Dunn asks why the TV executives behind new channel Dave assume that only men are interested in 'witty banter'
Carrie Dunn // 3 November 2007
Categories: Culture and Media
The problem with pink
Pink ribbons may raise life-saving funding for breast cancer research. But, Michelle Wright says, October's month of consumer altruism glosses over the reality of the disease - and allows corporations to line their pockets
Michelle Wright // 31 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Stereotypes
The woman behind Persephone Books
Nicola Beauman makes a living from re-printing the forgotten works of female writers. She talks to Cazz Blase about chick lit, the 'surplus' women of the inter-war years and the book trade
Cazz Blase // 31 October 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Interviews, Work and Play
Abortion: still a feminist issue
It is 40 years since abortion was legalised in the UK, yet our right to control our own bodies is still under threat. Irina Lester reports
Irina Lester // 6 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Family, Politics and Current Affairs, Sex and Relationships
The media has failed women's football
Football is supposedly a national obsession. But, from the media's coverage of the women's World Cup, it seems we are only interested when the players are men. Carrie Dunn reports
Carrie Dunn // 5 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Stereotypes, Work and Play
Crinolines and corsets... again
Period drama concentrates almost exclusively on the bonnets and Bennets universe of the 19th century novel, while there are few adaptations of more recent material dealing with gender politics and the sexual revolution. Cazz Blase makes some suggestions
Cazz Blase // 5 October 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
No porn is good porn?
Is it possible to reconcile an appreciation for porn with feminism? Searching for answers, Abby O'Reilly interviews Anna Span, the UK's first female porn director
Abby O'Reilly // 1 October 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
When did it go so tits up?
Facebook has banned photos of breast-feeding. But such images have graced churches and art galleries for hundreds of years. Ruth Moss explores what went wrong
Ruth Moss // 1 October 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
Carmen out swinging: Sally Potter takes on opera's femme fatale
Most productions of the classic opera Carmen would make a feminist wince. Movie director Sally Potter tells Sophie Mayer about her new adaptation
Sophie Mayer // 4 September 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Interviews, Racism, Stereotypes
Skinny porn
The size-zero debate is just another excuse for judging women's bodies, argues Abi M
Abi M // 30 August 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
What does the politics of hair say about modern Britain?
Racism and sexism are intertwined - so feminism must tackle them both head-on, says Veronica Wood-Querales
Veronica Wood-Querales // 30 August 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Racism, Stereotypes
Can burlesque be feminist?
Burlesque may set feminist alarm-bells ringing, but it can help cultivate a love of your own body, argues Chloe Emmott
Chloe Emmott // 30 August 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Feminism, Stereotypes
Skirting the issue
From tampons with skirts to silky pads, sanitary product manufacturers will try anything to hawk their goods. Harriet Reuter Hapgood reports
Harriet Reuter Hapgood // 8 August 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
Coitophobia: who do you trust?
Maria Roberts explains why she bypassed writing about the experience of domestic violence, to craft a play about two women pulling themselves together after their escape
Maria Roberts // 8 August 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
The F Word podcast: episode one!
Welcome to the first ever F Word podcast!
Jess McCabe // 9 July 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Feminism, Podcasts, Politics and Current Affairs, Stereotypes
Yummy-mummy or pramface?
Baby-making has become a high-pressure pursuit, argues Abby O'Reilly. Celebrity 'yummy-mummies' only raise the stakes further and obscure the realities of child-birth and motherhood
Abby O'Reilly // 7 July 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Sex and Relationships
Girls Aloud, beauty secrets and lies
A recent magazine article on Girls Aloud proclaimed to "reveal their beauty secrets". But, Michelle Wright argues, all it really did was expose the effects of subscribing to patriarchal, capitalist beauty standards on women's self-esteem
Michelle Wright // 3 June 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Female commentator kicks off barrage of sexism
A woman commentating on the beautiful game? Whoever heard of such a thing. Katherine confronts the sexist response to Jacqui Oatley's first stint on Match of the Day
Katherine // 2 June 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
A feminist guide to ballet
From body image to ultra-femininity, ballet has a bad rap with feminists. Returning to classes for the first time in 15 years, Jess McCabe finds her inner ballerina
Jess McCabe // 2 June 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
A hairy dilemma
Women are signed up at puberty for a lifetime of relentless hair removal. But, asks Emma Chaplin, if the alternative is pariah status and the laughter of children, what can a feminist do?
Emma Chaplin // 2 May 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Zines: for when mainstream media lets us down
Feminist blogs are blooming, but many women seeking a creative outlet still turn to hand-made zines. This May, the Women's Library in London will play host to Zine Fest!, showcasing women's zines past and present, as well as providing scissor-and-paper classes for aspiring zinesters. Red Chidgey, who is organising this first-of-a-kind event, explains to Cazz Blase why zines still flourish and picks some of her favourites
Cazz Blase // 29 March 2007
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Interviews
Jacky Fleming on drawing for feminism
Jacky Fleming is responsible for one of the most iconic images of the feminist movement - plus a stream of widely-distributed cartoons that poke fun at such unlikely subjects as sexual harassment and the male-dominated workplace, as well as men and relationships. Jess McCabe caught up with her by email
Jess McCabe // 29 March 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Interviews
Could Britney Spears be the feminist icon of our generation?
Britney Spears is a strong, confident, self-made woman - in short, she is a feminist success story. No wonder the tabloid's love affair with her finished so abruptly when she cut off her locks, argues Theadora Jean
Theadora Jean // 29 March 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
Hair today, mad tomorrow
Even when baldness is caused by illness, it is taboo because it flouts conventions of femininity, argues Nichi Hodgson. Britney Spears is only the latest in a long line of reviled, bald women - and, worst of all, she chose to shave off her locks
Nichi Hodgson // 29 March 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Lifting the veil on mothers and daughters
Mother's Day is an extravaganza of flowers and cards. But Rosjke Hasseldine asks why no one is paying attention to real mother-daughter relationships
Rosjke Hasseldine // 14 March 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Family
Sex and the Music Video
Like the rest of us, Fay Bound Alberti can't seem to escape the soft-core pornography that's become part of everyday life. She ponders what it all means for women, men, girls, boys, and relationships.
Fay Bound Alberti // 1 February 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Dreaming of a Pink Christmas
As Christmas approaches, the children's toy industry goes into overdrive. Rosalyn Ball looks at how girls and boys toys are still unbelievably segregated along strict gender lines.
Rosalyn Ball // 16 December 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Gifts for Her
It's not only children's gifts that are a problem at Christmas. As Emma Hadfield explains, the options presented as 'gifts for him' and 'gifts for her' are laughably old-fashioned, enforcing traditional roles for women and men. Can't we have gift ideas aimed at individuals with different interests rather two-dimensional stereotypes?
Emma Hadfield // 16 December 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Fairy Tales are Grimm
Ugly sisters? Evil step-mothers? Prince charming and happy ever after? Dina Jose argues that traditional fairy tales can cause more harm than good, and suggests we need to tell children fun, inspiring stories instead that teach them the right messages.
Dina Jose // 11 December 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Uncovering The Internet Art Revolution
It's free, fantastic, and you don't even have to leave your own home! Whilst some campaigners focus on getting more female artists into mainstream galleries and museums, Sarah Parry encourages us to open up to a world of talented new female artists on the internet.
Sarah Parry // 2 October 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
World Cup WAGs
Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams argues that the irrational focus on the 'Wives and Girlfriends' of footballers during the World Cup demonstrates a wider dismissal of women's sporting prowess and of women's role in society in general.
Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams // 24 July 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Sexual Harassment is Not Trivial
Helen Clarke is disappointed with Germaine Greer, whose comments about events on Australian Big Brother seemed to dismiss sexual harassment as "trivial".
Helen Clarke // 24 July 2006
Categories: Culture and Media, Violence
Don't cha wish pop was more empowering?
As more and more female music artists such as Beyoncé and The Pussycat Dolls declare themselves to be empowered, Kerry-Lynne Doyle analyses asks whether these artists, and the music industry itself, can ever be feminist-friendly.
Kerry-Lynne Doyle // 2 July 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Real Female Heroines
As FHM publishes its '100 sexiest women' list, Maxine Frances goes for an antidote and pays tribute to her own female idols, whilst pondering the effect female heroines can have in inspiring young women and girls.
Maxine Frances // 29 May 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Challenging The 'Sex Sells' Cliche
Everywhere you turn these days there are sexualised images of women's bodies as porn becomes more and more mainsteam. Rachel Bell investigates the growing protest movement against the normalisation of porn in everyday life.
Rachel Bell // 12 February 2006
Categories: Culture and Media
Ordinary Ads, Everyday Images
Catherine Redfern takes her camera out and about in London to analyse the imagery shown in ordinary adverts. Do the representations of men and women differ? And if so, how?
Catherine Redfern // 28 November 2005
Categories: Culture and Media
Feminism and Popular Culture
Sarah New explains how anti-feminist ideas are utterly pervasive in modern culture today, and calls for a fresh wave of feminism to counter this backlash.
Sarah New // 5 November 2005
Categories: Culture and Media
Attention Seeker
The Radio 1 broadcaster Sara Cox recently complained about not getting whistled at and "leched" after by men in the steet. Rosa wonders what affect her example is having on young women and takes issue with Cox's insistence that there is "no such thing as unwanted attention".
Rosa // 1 August 2005
Categories: Culture and Media
Subvert the Dominant Pimpiarchy
How did the abusive, exploitative role of Pimp become the epitome of cool? Rachel Bell comments on this outrageous trend in modern culture.
Rachel Bell // 8 November 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Language, Violence
Sick of Celebrity
Why is it assumed that all women want to emulate celebrities? Against the suffocating celebrity-worship culture, Nicky Raynor argues in favour of glorious anonymity, individuality, and a greater variety of female role models.
Nicky Raynor // 5 November 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Sports Illustrated
When Maria Sharapova won the women's final at Wimbledon this summer, her success was covered extensively by the press. However, the majority of the coverage focussed excessively on her appearance, as Ealasaid Gilfillan explains.
Ealasaid Gilfillan // 10 August 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
Why It's time for the 'battle of the sexes' to end
Lad culture has done nothing more than perpetuate petty hatred between the sexes. Enough is enough, says Laura Baldwin.
Laura Baldwin // 20 July 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships
Crime and Punishment: Maxine Carr and other 'evil women'
Jo Knowles explains how the media's demonisation of Maxine Carr is symptomatic of stereotypes often attached to women: either Angels or Monsters, not flawed human beings.
Jo Knowles // 1 June 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence
A Perfect Delusion
What effect are men's magazines having on men's views of women and heterosexual relationships? Samantha Lyster thinks men who fall for the magazines' propaganda about women are setting themselves up for a fall.
Samantha Lyster // 19 April 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Men, Sex and Relationships
Hollywood Women
Lorraine Smith ponders the role of women in film-making. What will it take for women to be accepted behind the camera - and how long will it be before a womans win the Academy Award for Best Director?
Lorraine Smith // 19 March 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
Cutting Women Down to Size
Is Michelle's victory in Pop Idol a sign that we're starting to reject the impossible beauty standards imposed on us? As much as she wants to believe, Jo Knowles isn't so sure.
Jo Knowles // 19 January 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Stand Up For Equality
Women can be as witty, confident and funny as men. So why there are so few women in stand up comedy, asks Kadie Armstrong?
Kadie Armstrong // 19 December 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
The Feminist Minefield?
Lorraine Smith doesn't think feminism is incompatible with a penchant for pornography. She argues that the industry is finally beginning to benenfit women, both as participants and viewers.
Lorraine Smith // 19 December 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
It's rude to point: blame culture's easy way out
New crime statistics show that reports of rape are on the increase - yet the conviction rate remains pitifully low. Why, asks Carter-Ann Mahdavi, are the female victims still being blamed, and the actions of male rapists ignored?
Carter-Ann Mahdavi // 19 August 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Violence
Real Men Drink Pints
Andrew Bowden goes searching for a Father's Day gift that doesn't involve socks, football, beer, DIY or Homer Simpson.
Andrew Bowden // 16 June 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Men
Page 3 - Ban It!
Page 3 is odious - ban it! says Kate Allen
Kate Allen // 16 March 2003
Categories: Culture and Media
Body Image
Lorraine Smith explains the pressures the media puts on women to be thin and beautiful.
Lorraine Smith // 16 March 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
What's Up Baby?
Missmogga explains why she objects to the commercial sex industry and modern culture's representation of black women.
Missmogga // 16 October 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Diet Grrrl - Feminism and Women's Magazines
Kate Allen looks at women's magazines today - and thinks enough is enough.
Kate Allen // 16 August 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
Diet Grrrl: An Example
A reader of The F-Word has kindly allowed us to reproduce the complaint she wrote 'in a moment of anger against Marie Claire magazine'. Be inspired! Grab that pen or send an email and give them a piece of your mind.
Name Supplied // 16 August 2002
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media
Big Brother, Virgins, and Female Singleness
Kristin Aune looks at society's attitudes to virginity and celibacy.
Kristin Aune // 16 June 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships
Grrl Activistas - an introduction
Aoife McBride of the campaigning group 'Grrl Activistas' explains the group's aims and how the group started.
Aoife McBride // 16 May 2002
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Violence
The Spice Girls
The 'fab' five?
Catherine Redfern // 16 April 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Soundbites
Show Girls: The State of
Marion Beach investigates why the best feminist theatre groups have rejected the 'f' word.
Marion Beach // 16 February 2002
Categories: Culture and Media, Work and Play
The UK Press - Time for a change
Lorraine Douglas scans the shelves of WH Smiths but fails to find anything of interest.
Lorraine Douglas // 16 January 2002
Categories: Culture and Media
Response to 'The Signs of Ageing'
Lyn Cicada responds to the article The Signs of Ageing.
Lyn Cicada // 16 October 2001
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media
'Just call me Bob.'
The 1975 Mandy Annual was about as subtle as a sledge hammer in its attempt to stop young girls becoming feminists. The resulting portrayal of a 'women's libber' has got to be seen to be believed.
Catherine Redfern // 16 August 2001
Categories: Culture and Media
Letters
A simple example of what you can do with a pen, some paper, and envelope and a stamp. Catherine Redfern gets scribbling.
Catherine Redfern // 16 August 2001
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media
Why Irma Kurtz is wrong about rape
In the June 2001 issue of British Cosmopolitan, the agony aunt Irma Kurtz replied to a reader's letter about rape. I think Irma's advice was irresponsible, insensitive, and re-iterates all the old myths about rape that we have tried so hard to break down over 30 years of feminism.
Catherine Redfern // 13 July 2001
Categories: Culture and Media, Sex and Relationships, Violence
'The Eminem defence'?
Eminem's recent and highly publicised visit to the UK promoted a storm of debate and discussion. Were his homophobic, misogynist lyrics offensive, or not? Some claimed he was simply being ironic. So does irony mean we can't be offended?
Catherine Redfern // 16 April 2001
Categories: Culture and Media
Teenagers and Cosmetic Surgery
Why are more and more young women opting for breast implants? Catherine Redfern offers an explanation.
Catherine Redfern // 16 April 2001
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image
How To Create a Woman's Glossy Magazine in Five Minutes
I've been addicted to magazines since my teenage years, but they are just so, so frustratingly predictable! I reckon you could cobble one together very easily in five minutes, and here's how.
Catherine Redfern // 18 March 2001
Categories: Culture and Media
