Painful vagina? Your poor husband!

S's experience with vulvar vestibulitis - which makes penetrative sex painful - highlighted the phallocentric medical establishment and limited definitions of sex

Published: 14 March 2010 | Written by S

Piggy banks and budget cuts

Cuts have become politically popular again, but the new thrift is targeted at the most not least vulnerable, says Clare Gould

Published: 16 December 2009 | Written by Clare Gould

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

Published: 8 September 2009 | Written by Caitlin Brown

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

Published: 15 April 2009 | Written by Eirwen-Jane Pierrot

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

Published: 4 January 2009 | Written by Sandrine Levêque

Now That's What I Call Misogyny!

Molly Lavender is exasperated at gender segregation in music – and the way pop songs valorise abusive relationships

Published: 4 December 2008 | Written by Molly Lavender

'The useless organ'

Maggie Lee tells of the devestating effect her hysterectomy had on her sexuality and more

Published: 2 November 2008 | Written by Maggie Lee

Incitement to rape

Denying women's sexuality won't prevent rape, argues Victoria Dutchman-Smith

Published: 13 October 2008 | Written by Victoria Dutchman-Smith

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

Published: 10 October 2008 | Written by Kit Roskelly

In the name of the father...

For many women, getting married still means changing their name. Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams has an alternate proposal

Published: 20 August 2008 | Written by Sarah Louisa Phythian-Adams

What a load of wank

Hordes of girls dream of becoming glamour models, but are too embarrassed to even talk about masturbation. Sophie Platt rages against a taboo which only affects girls and women

Published: 14 July 2008 | Written by Sophie Platt

Kink 101

BDSM may set off red flags for feminists, says Kit Roskelly. But so does sitting in judgment on women's sexual preferences

Published: 5 July 2008 | Written by Kit Roskelly

Cartoon special...

In a break from our usual text-based programming, a selection of cartoons on the theme of men and women, by Yvonne Howard

Published: 9 June 2008 | Written by Yvonne Howard

A slice-by-slice attack on women's right to choose

The campaign to ban women from terminating pregnancies after 20 weeks is only the beginning, says Kit Roskelly

Published: 11 May 2008 | Written by Kit Roskelly

How to get an activist movement to keep women in prostitution

What use are sex worker groups that give out condoms and showers, but can't help women who want to exit prostitution? Ekis reports from Barcelona on prostitution and the campaign for legalisation

Published: 16 March 2008 | Written by Ekis

How the word 'slut' oppresses women

Ever been called a 'slag'? How about 'frigid'? Jennifer Drew explains how such derogatory language is used to keep women in their place

Published: 31 January 2008 | Written by Jennifer Drew

The F Word Podcast - episode three!

Episode three of The F Word podcast - on the tricky topic of pornography - is out now!

Published: 14 January 2008 | Written by Jess McCabe

Against censorship

Porn should be reformed, not banned, argues Laurie Penny

Published: 2 January 2008 | Written by Laurie Penny

Glamour models made me sick

Lads' mags are responsible for my eating disorder, says Hannah Whittaker

Published: 2 January 2008 | Written by Hannah Whittaker

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

Published: 6 October 2007 | Written by Irina Lester

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

Published: 5 October 2007 | Written by Cazz Blase

Sexual healing?

Penetration is not the be-all and end-all of sex, argues Jennifer Drew, so why does the medical establishment seek to pathologise women who just don't like it?

Published: 1 October 2007 | Written by Jennifer Drew

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

Published: 1 October 2007 | Written by Abby O'Reilly

'Who... me? I'm just a housewife'

Feminism is not just for women with high-flying careers, and feminists must do more to engage women who feel alienated from the movement, argues Samantha Jay

Published: 30 September 2007 | Written by Samantha Jay

Maid of the manor

Despite all our advances, men still dominate public life. But if they are so smart, asks Amity Reed, why can't they fathom how to do the housework?

Published: 30 August 2007 | Written by Amity Reed

Abby Lee - girl with (not just) a one-track mind

Sex-blogger Abby Lee faces down the double standard that would label her a slut on a regular basis. She speaks to Abby O'Reilly about being 'outed' in the press, fan mail and her new role as spokesperson for the next sexual revolution

Published: 8 August 2007 | Written by Abby O'Reilly

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

Published: 8 August 2007 | Written by Maria Roberts

'Honey! Your vagina needs a mint'

The Vagina Institute purports to provide a public service to curious women. But Samara Ginsberg detects a rather different agenda

Published: 7 July 2007 | Written by Samara Ginsberg

I did it my way

The word spinster seems woefully out-dated. But, when Emma Hadfield exited a long-term relationship, she found some people still can't come to terms with women who choose to stay single and child-free

Published: 7 July 2007 | Written by Emma Hadfield

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

Published: 7 July 2007 | Written by Abby O'Reilly

A Bride by Any Other Name

When Eleanor Turner announced that she would not be changing her name after walking down the aisle, and instead her new husband would take on her surname, reactions ranged from shock to annoyance. She considers why breaking with tradition provokes such strong feelings

Published: 2 May 2007 | Written by Eleanor Turner

The farmer wants a wife, the wife wants a wife

Women don't want to be lumbered with the housework, but men aren't willing to pick up the bucket and mop. Right? JC Sutcliffe asks why women perpetuate the myth that men are incapable of doing domestic chores

Published: 29 March 2007 | Written by JC Sutcliffe

Flicking the Bean

Thanks to the media and canny advertising agencies, we are surrounded by sexualised images of women. Abby O'Reilly asks why actual female sexual pleasure is still taboo

Published: 1 March 2007 | Written by Abby O'Reilly

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.

Published: 1 February 2007 | Written by Fay Bound Alberti

A Real Alternative?

As feminists fight to expand the frontiers of sexuality beyond the one-size-fits all, bland world of lad-mag culture, do 'alternative porn' sites have something to offer the feminist cause - or are they the same old objectification with extra tattoos? Jessica Bateman discusses some of the possible pros and cons of 'alt-porn'.

Published: 3 January 2007 | Written by Jessica Bateman

The Food of Love?

When a man insists on paying for all your meals, what's the real motive? Claire McGowan examines why she fights for the right to pay her own way.

Published: 16 November 2006 | Written by Claire McGowan

Declaration of Independence

You're female, successful, single, and prefer your life that way. So why are you still seen as an object of pity? Abby O'Reilly argues that women are still put under immense pressure by friends, family, and the dominant culture to 'bag a man'.

Published: 26 September 2006 | Written by Abby O'Reilly

New Rights, Old Wrongs

Civil Partnerships being restricted to same-sex couples is more than a strange and irritating political decision - it's an indefensible refusal to create real legal equality for all citizens. Susan Hunter explains how the Equal Partnership Campaign is fighting to end 400 years of sexual segregation - and how you can help.

Published: 29 May 2006 | Written by Susan Hunter

Oh, Mr Darcy!

Why do so many heterosexual women still find the Darcy figure attractive? Sheryl Plant ponders the influence of romantic fiction on women's expectations of love and relationships. She discusses how lusting after the dominant male archetype can be interpreted both as resistance to patricarchy and compliance with it.

Published: 29 May 2006 | Written by Sheryl Plant

Why men suck (and the women who have to)

When teaching English in Cambodia, a country with a pervasive, exploitative sex industry, Laura Carr was shocked to discover that almost all her western male friends were happy to participate.

Published: 17 September 2004 | Written by Laura Carr

Just a Stripper

Can sex work ever be truly radical when money is involved? Exploring how feminists and feminist sex workers are often forced into opposing camps, Natasha Forrest argues that a simplistic 'for or against' divide does not reflect the true complexity of the issue.

Published: 11 August 2004 | Written by Natasha Forrest

Every Girl Wants a Stalker

Films, pop songs and mainstream popular culture all push the same message: that men must pursue women to ridiculous extremes, even if the attention is unwanted. Yet if women pursue men, they are seen as desperate, needy, and sad. Rachel E exposes the double standard.

Published: 1 August 2004 | Written by Rachel E

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.

Published: 20 July 2004 | Written by Laura Baldwin

Growing up or giving in?

Ms Razorblade is sick and tired of being told that being a lesbian-feminist and a vegan is boring, prudish, and dull, dull, dull. Is refusing men, meat and porn a sign of immaturity - or is 'growing up' really just giving in?

Published: 20 July 2004 | Written by Ms Razorblade

Contraception and Control - Teenage Rights

Megan argues that teenagers deserve the same control over their bodies and rights to contraception as any other women - without having to go through their parents.

Published: 1 June 2004 | Written by Megan

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.

Published: 19 April 2004 | Written by Samantha Lyster

Are you married? If not, why not?

Why isn't she married? Because it's a patriarchal, homophobic institution, and always will be, says Victoria Dutchman-Smith.

Published: 19 March 2004 | Written by Victoria Dutchman-Smith

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.

Published: 19 December 2003 | Written by Lorraine Smith

Body Language Speaks Volumes

Reading feminist research on the subject of non-verbal behaviour was a revelation to Anna Sandfield. Here she explains how women and men's subconscious body language (touching, sitting, even smiling) can reinforce gender roles - without even being aware of it.

Published: 19 October 2003 | Written by Anna Sandfield

There is no Groom

Can a traditional wedding ever be compatible with feminist principles? Beth Anderson negotiates the minefield of surnames, dresses, cakes, throwing the bouquet and "bad luck" - and chooses not to blindly follow tradition.

Published: 19 October 2003 | Written by Beth Anderson

The Name of the Game

Can you be a 'Mrs' and a feminist at the same time? Mrs Angela Everitt explores.

Published: 19 October 2003 | Written by Angela Everitt

Sexual Healing

Ben Thurgood wonders why the feminist concept of equality in sex hasn't entered into the mainstream - after all, equality is just common sense, surely?

Published: 19 September 2003 | Written by Ben Thurgood

Reproductive freedom in the UK.

Andy Roberts wonders why so few of us are aware of the threats to reproductive choice in the UK.

Published: 16 June 2003 | Written by Andy Roberts

25 Burning Questions

Holly Combe answers the questions men are "too embarassed to ask"

Published: 16 April 2003 | Written by Holly Combe

Dysfunctional, moi? The Myth of Female Sexual Dysfunction and its Medicalisation

Jennifer Drew tears apart the the myth of 'female sexual dysfunction', and looks at how female sexuality is becoming increasingly medicalised.

Published: 16 April 2003 | Written by Jennifer Drew

Smug Intentions: Richard and Judy on Chivalry

Holly Combe examines the hidden motives behind the calls for a return to chivalry. When Richard and Judy joined the debate recently, did they really have anything constructive to add?

Published: 16 February 2003 | Written by Holly Combe

What's Up Baby?

Missmogga explains why she objects to the commercial sex industry and modern culture's representation of black women.

Published: 16 October 2002 | Written by Missmogga

More responses to 'Whose Slut?'

Natasha Forrest's article "Whose Slut?" in The F-Word in July prompted many responses - probably the most on one specific article this site has ever had. Here are the latest comments received during August-October.

Published: 16 October 2002 | Written by Various Authors

Bend Over Girls - he's in Freak Mode

Society needs to stop thinking of men as slaves to their sexual urges, argues Holly Combe. She examines the damaging common idea that, once aroused, men become an unstoppable force that it would be rude - even immoral - to try to stop.

Published: 16 September 2002 | Written by Holly Combe

Response to 'Whose Slut?'

Natasha Forrest's article "Whose Slut?" in The F-Word in July prompted many responses - probably the most on one specific article this site has ever had. Here are the comments received and below, Natasha responds.

Published: 16 August 2002 | Written by Various Authors

Whose Slut?

The female body has always been associated with sex, ensuring that even straight women find images of women sexy. Natasha Forrest explains why censorship is not the answer and how objectification is not necessarily a bad thing.

Published: 16 July 2002 | Written by Natasha Forrest

Big Brother, Virgins, and Female Singleness

Kristin Aune looks at society's attitudes to virginity and celibacy.

Published: 16 June 2002 | Written by Kristin Aune

Pornography

Rearrange the words "worms", "can", and "of" into a well known phrase or saying...

Published: 16 January 2002 | Written by Catherine Redfern

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.

Published: 13 July 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern

The Morning After

In January Baroness Young tried to stop emergency contraception being sold over the counter in chemists. Here's why the House of Lords were right to reject her arguments, says Catherine Redfern.

Published: 18 March 2001 | Written by Catherine Redfern