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

Published: 19 May 2008 | Written by Jennifer Drew

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

Published: 11 May 2008 | Written by Laurie Penny

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

Published: 6 April 2008 | Written by Jennifer Drew

Stopping violence against women at its primary root

Matthew Provost draws the connections between male violence against women and bullying in the playground

Published: 4 April 2008 | Written by Matthew Provost

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

Published: 2 April 2008 | Written by Alex Brew

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

'I'm no sad victim. I've seen and survived the darkest side of life'

Amina pairs women who have experienced sexual violence with volunteers who have been through the same ordeal - and turns their perceived 'victim' status on its head. Rachel Bell reports

Published: 10 March 2008 | Written by Rachel Bell

Not a happy birthday

Threatened, intimidated, bullied, violated: this is hospital birth as many mothers experience it. Amity Reed reports on the little-recognised crime of birth rape

Published: 7 March 2008 | Written by Amity Reed

UK feminists must address worldwide issues

All over the planet women are denied the most basic rights. Ruthie Samuel asks: where is the outrage?

Published: 4 February 2008 | Written by Ruthie Samuel

Crime and patriarchy

Jo Legg asks, when will feminists take over the Home Office?

Published: 3 February 2008 | Written by Jo Legg

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

Against censorship

Porn should be reformed, not banned, argues Laurie Penny

Published: 2 January 2008 | Written by Laurie Penny

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

Published: 3 December 2007 | Written by Jennifer Drew

From 'oy sexy' to 'frigid bitch' in 30 seconds

The odd wolf whistle might seem flattering, says Abi M, but catcalling and street harassment can easily turn into something more threatening

Published: 31 October 2007 | Written by Abi M

Edinburgh gets ready to Reclaim the Night

A march through the streets can be a powerful thing for women who are often isolated from other feminists, argues Rebecca Heller, one of the organisers of Edinburgh's Reclaim the Night March planned for 11 October

Published: 29 September 2007 | Written by Rebecca Heller

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

Rape - is it our fault?

Anti-rape campaigns spend too much time trying to scare the wits out of women, while perpetrators are all but ignored, argues Dwysan Edwards

Published: 2 May 2007 | Written by Dwysan Edwards

A worthwhile women's day

Fed up with most of the events put on for International Women's Day, Angela Brant found herself at an illuminating talk on women living under religious and oppressive laws

Published: 29 March 2007 | Written by Angela Brant

From peace camps to protests - Finn Mackay

In the second of a series of interviews with inspiring women, Jess McCabe talks to Finn Mackay, the brains behind the Reclaim the Night marches and the London Feminist Network

Published: 3 March 2007 | Written by Jess McCabe

Suffering in Silence

One woman's story of street harassment turned George Mason from anti-feminist to women's rights advocate. Now, he urges more women to speak out about their experiences

Published: 1 March 2007 | Written by George Mason

Fear Factor

Claire McGowan explains how well-meaning Government and media campaigns to protect women could be focussing on the wrong issues. Preventing male violence, she argues, can not and should not be solved by women living in a state of terror, complying with unofficial curfews or restricting their own freedom.

Published: 1 February 2007 | Written by Claire McGowan

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".

Published: 24 July 2006 | Written by Helen Clarke

Where's the real war on terror?

Michelle Wright thinks the Government has the wrong priorities when it comes to protecting British citizens from terrorism. Women are under attack, she argues; not only from the abusers and rapists, but from the institutions and systems that are supposedly there to protect us.

Published: 1 July 2006 | Written by Michelle Wright

Pretending That Men Aren't Grown-Ups

Ellery takes issue with a Times article entitled "Pretending That Women Aren't Grown-Ups", which said that women should change their behaviour to prevent being raped. Ellery argues that that expecting women to take responsibility for rapists' actions is a double standard which sees men as irrational brutes and rape as a fact of life.

Published: 12 February 2006 | Written by Ellery

Take Back The Streets

Ever tensed up when forced to walk past stationary traffic? Cringed when a stranger, out of nowhere, instructs you to smile? Choked down your anger as a passer-by whispers obscenities? Changed your route to work to avoid harassment hot-spots? As these stories show, you're not alone.

Published: 14 April 2005 | Written by Various Authors

How Everyday It Is

Louise Livesey explains how she found herself in Court, giving evidence which would be used to support her own harasser. A by-stander in a violent incident between two men, she recounts how the fact of her own harassment was treated by the system as incidental.

Published: 10 April 2005 | Written by Louise Livesey

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.

Published: 8 November 2004 | Written by Rachel Bell

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.

Published: 1 June 2004 | Written by Jo Knowles

Re-classifying rape

Ilona Jasiewicz argues for re-classifying rape from a sex crime to a hate crime, to make clear that the motive of rape is power - not passion.

Published: 19 December 2003 | Written by Ilona Jasiewicz

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?

Published: 19 August 2003 | Written by Carter-Ann Mahdavi

All About Eve

JoJo Kirtley is astounded and disappointed that British feminists seem to have been distracted by trivia and have forgotten the fundamental feminist issue: stopping the violence.

Published: 16 November 2002 | Written by JoJo Kirtley

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

Grrl Activistas - an introduction

Aoife McBride of the campaigning group 'Grrl Activistas' explains the group's aims and how the group started.

Published: 16 May 2002 | Written by Aoife McBride

Fighting Back: self defence for women and girls

The creator of the fantastic Morgenmuffel zine, Isy, has created an excellent self-defence leaflet aimed at women and girls. The A5 leaflet is all hand-drawn and contains simple and useful guidance. I thought it was so great I had to share it with more people! Isy is anti-copyright so anyone is welcome to print and photocopy it to spread the word.

Published: 16 April 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