tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16989428650664754382024-03-05T03:28:39.069-08:00The Hussington PostThe Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-22915588954994538792015-01-26T14:01:00.007-08:002015-01-26T14:03:10.778-08:00She's lost control again - How I got PMeSsed up<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.com/2015/01/shes-lost-control-again-how-i-got.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9FOEI7S_w0mhUwBUCtYcMFh44dIUr2CJ7X4ckgNOflS-tLIE79AQp2ovSCj7QXPgBehUfn_nSqA-Yam9dwbYj_lSkaSkFC3m0sRRIiAY2dW3lzjYK4Mcllmogn2EzMhTxZ4TTUOLg5E/s1600/PMS+lichtenstein+.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It
was at a music festival when I realised something was seriously
wrong. The sun was shining, I was drinking warm cider, the band was
playing, I was surrounded by friends... And I started crying my
bloody eyes out. In a bad way. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
was the culmination of years of putting up with mood swings,
aggression, and random floods of tears. It was at this festival,
hiding behind a tree so I wouldn't have to talk to my friends, that I
decided things weren't OK. Or, more correctly, when my long-suffering
boyfriend looked me straight in the eyes and said "Enough, we're
going straight to the doctor's when we get home." </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
relationship with hormonal birth control began five years ago. In
these five years I’ve tried five different types, each one leaving
me more desperate than before. Femodene made me angry; Microgynon
brought on severe acne; Celeste gave me a hormonal skin condition;
the coil made me irritable and woke me up at 5am on the dot for nine
days a month with severe pain which left me pacing the bedroom for an
hour every morning; and Marvellon, my personal nemesis, turned me
into an anxious, anti-social, weeping nervous wreck with no sex drive
and anger issues. I was unbearable to myself and others. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Which
brings us up to the point where I was hiding behind the tree. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">PMS
isn't something we really talk about, unless it’s to make
‘hilarious’ jokes about ‘lady problems’. I didn't even know
Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder existed (PMDD, essentially PMS on
steroids), yet it's estimated it affects up to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_dysphoric_disorder" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">8% of women</span></a>. <a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/pmdd.aspx" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Professionals can argue all they like over the semantics of calling it a mental illness</span></a>. All I know is that a debilitating cacophony of hormones
left me feeling totally overwhelmed for at least half of every month. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Women
suffering from hormone-related symptoms are working against two
powerful stigmas. Mental illness is widely misunderstood - people
can't seem to understand why you won't just 'snap out of it'. Couple
that with the fact that the phrase 'oooh, must be that time of the
month' is used as a way of undermining women the world over and
you've got yourself a hearty cocktail of stigma sure to prevent women
from seeking help or being treated properly when they do.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As
a feminist I felt I’d rather die than admit that my period makes me
'weak' in any way. It feels wrong admitting it affects me so badly,
when we're all supposed to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpypeLL1dAs" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">roller blade, pirouette, and generally float through our periods in a state of unrelenting bliss</span></a>. "Have a happy period" must be the
most <a href="http://www.dearcustomerrelations.com/best-ever-complaint-letters/always-have-a-happy-period/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">infuriating strap line</span></a> in the English language. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It’s
this stigma around PMS that has meant I haven’t found a doctor yet
who will take me seriously. After telling one GP that I suspected my
hormone cycle was making me depressed he said 'I'm sorry I can't help
you, look up a clinic online,' before ushering me out of the back
door because they'd already locked up behind me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By
the time it got to the point where my boyfriend was having to coax me
out from behind a tree, I realised I’d had enough of being put on
random pills by flippant doctors who didn't listen to my symptoms. I
took to the Internet to work it out for myself. I looked at what
pills I'd had before that had driven me to the brink and <a href="http://www.mims.co.uk/mims_specialist/article/1090752/Contraceptives/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I checked out the hormone combinations in them</span></a>. I learned <a href="http://www.fainamd.com/resources/Which+OCP+is+Best+Handout.pdf" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">which hormones might cause which symptoms</span></a>. I learned <a href="http://contraception.about.com/od/thepill/p/Progestins.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">which forms of synthetic progesterone were in which pills</span></a> and at <a href="http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">what levels</span></a>. I learned how to <a href="http://www.fainamd.com/resources/Which+OCP+is+Best+Handout.pdf" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">figure out equivalent strengths</span></a> of different forms of progesterone and I
looked at <a href="http://www.mims.co.uk/mims_specialist/article/1090752/Contraceptives/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">how much oestrogen was in each pill</span></a>. I spent so much time reading
about oestrogen I nearly grew a third breast. </span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">There's
no hard and fast way to figure out what will work for you. But if you
know what <i>doesn't </i>work, you might learn what to avoid. If
nothing else, reading up on what exactly my options are when it comes
to filling my body with hormones has helped me regain some of the
control I felt I'd lost. </span>
</div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-42061016762859040282015-01-15T15:33:00.002-08:002015-01-26T14:02:11.863-08:00The one new year's resolution every feminist needs. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-one-new-years-resolution-every.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAh4vU_31-Ah23hSgfSvBAg074fTCPQW-4N1087194FyZkwPC_TPuqMDgjhHtGTdzSar78N1AM1NmseUpHcu_ITFrvQS3YB1xUlGZsR7sBlCvsIiX2nB8j2zabrURqYWWxWiB7UOuImY/s1600/what-are-you-doing-300x225.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Ah January, that special time of year
when the pressure of maintaining perfection is cranked up to eleven
by the ubiquitous phrase, "so what's your new year's
resolution?". <a href="https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ditch-new-years-resolutions-day/" target="_blank">By this weekend most people will have given up</a> on whatever Spartan regime they've adopted. Women are no strangers
to the excessive pressure of "must do" lists - at this time
of year we create our own so we can be haunted by our own failure for
the rest of the year.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Let's make 2015 the moment for a new
year's revolution. At Reclaim the Night <a href="https://twitter.com/finn_mackay" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Finn Mackay</span></a> reminded us that "feminism is for life, not just the
Internet." The Internet is a great space for activism, but our
activism shouldn't begin and end on the web. (Yes, I recognise the
irony of a blogger preaching against armchair activism.) As a fellow
HussPost writer pointed out, like him or loathe him, at least Russell
Brand actually gets out there and makes a racket. Can those
responsible for the endless think-pieces on the latest feminist
<i>on-dit</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> say the same? </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Your new year's revolution starts here.
<a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/get-involved/join-us/" target="_blank">Become a member of the Fawcett society </a>and help them raise awareness of
the gender gap. <a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/" target="_blank">Join your local Fawcett society group </a>to find out about feminist
activism in your area. If you're in London, <a href="http://londonfeministnetwork.org.uk/home/join-us" target="_blank">join the London Feminist Network </a>and keep in the loop about gatherings
at the <a href="https://twitter.com/feministlibrary" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Feminist Library</span></a>. Support one of the thousands of feminist charities
across the world - <a href="http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/volunteering1.php" target="_blank">volunteer at a rape crisis centre</a> or a <a href="http://www.watfordwomenscentre.org.uk/5.html" target="_blank">female adult literacy class</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Support feminism in the arts. On the
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/movies/in-hollywood-its-a-mens-mens-mens-world.html?_r=0" target="_blank">rare occasion </a>that a film is directed by, or stars, a woman - make
sure you go. Don't let the industry maintain the excuse that men are
more bankable stars. Last year <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/07/movies/fall-arts-preview-hollywood-has-realized-that-movies-starring-women-can-make-money.html" target="_blank">films with female leads made some significant dosh</a>. We need to make
sure this trend continues. Feminists hold exhibitions, put on plays,
do stand up comedy... If you call yourself a feminist get out there
and support those women who are pushing their way into the
male-dominated arts and entertainment industries. Surrounding
yourself with creative, like-minded women is going to do far more for
your emotional wellbeing this year than sticking to a diet of
beetroot and kale smoothies and promising to clean the shower twice a
week.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 2015, let's take feminism back onto
the streets. Let's swap resolution for revolution. It's going to be a
good year. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
LK</div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-92089631130596666792014-12-14T05:59:00.003-08:002014-12-14T06:09:24.453-08:00Christmas gifts for her*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-gifts-for-her.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTFE1mCDyiO6IQPA_z5igqc7ODQPC_mPN589LGEE2oBNYRJB8couNYaSZcZisTZ2xof50sEXfHT89oFV33J2ZCejIWZeqoekcUUN-Ker2LAn9CAGe9n0xzriI5575Y9OguDpzJveRvws/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-14+at+14.01.00.png" height="320" width="305" /></a></div>
<br />
*<i>If by her you mean an
independent-minded individual with her own unique interests and a passing
interest in feminism.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s that time of year again: the time when we’re bombarded with asinine ‘gift sets’ on
the shelves of every supermarket and Boots (who buys a loofah
and tube of body lotion that costs £15??) and in the pages of every newspaper, lazily collated according to ‘category of people’. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our society makes a lot of noise about
individualism, but come December 1<sup>st</sup> we are suddenly defined by
gender, age, or by single interests (gifts for
‘arty people’, gifts for ‘science buffs’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I personally believe that an individual personality can just about cope
with the contradictions of being simultaneously interested in art <i>and</i> politics without fracturing into a million confused
pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
HussPost’s Number One tip for Christmas gift giving is honour the individual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is
a vaguely fortune-cookie way of saying that gift-giving is all about
identifying what the person themselves likes and buying accordingly - something our wonderful readership surely already know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To counter the endless stream of
adverts implying that all women want for Christmas is perfume,
jewellery, expensive skincare products, and perhaps a few items for the household, we've handily collated some alternative gift choices for the feminist in your life. Oh, and there are
no ‘must-buys’ here - unless you are literally talking about food or
life-saving medicines, nothing MUST be bought. Stick that in your consumerist pipe and smoke
it, women’s magazines. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><a href="http://www.feministapparel.com/collections/holiday/products/baby-its-cold-outside-unisex-sweatshirt-long-sleeve" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS JUMPER</span></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulo1t5YjzSqgZUodO8e7A_ujzYH3aBvsWP9gjaaKg8phL0Bq6n-sJ2BPC-7WkMx_b0_JYWwz8sLgkIqDDNCibtfUfyxgO7lzvHZXTWThpdo8MF1FWG8QXzoNzf4WUvBGJPdlxDc_6TnE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-14+at+13.26.35.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulo1t5YjzSqgZUodO8e7A_ujzYH3aBvsWP9gjaaKg8phL0Bq6n-sJ2BPC-7WkMx_b0_JYWwz8sLgkIqDDNCibtfUfyxgO7lzvHZXTWThpdo8MF1FWG8QXzoNzf4WUvBGJPdlxDc_6TnE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-14+at+13.26.35.png" height="200" width="195" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Or pretty much any from Feminist Apparel, though I thought the parents might balk at my first choice, the ‘Feminist as F**k’ Christmas jumper.<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6597651-the-windup-girl" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS NOVEL</span></a><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyacHDtZbvuxQS57UDIABUFusjH6QWKBwcexpXqXUqMpCa9ZlOK4XpFmOZ0K_Lt8cbCfDykLegtcmQca7yVcQ-JueYniXdktCBich_ok3ycKy2zdAcFL8xJXoSBZ8BJRd0kXidjurNmk/s1600/Wind_up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyacHDtZbvuxQS57UDIABUFusjH6QWKBwcexpXqXUqMpCa9ZlOK4XpFmOZ0K_Lt8cbCfDykLegtcmQca7yVcQ-JueYniXdktCBich_ok3ycKy2zdAcFL8xJXoSBZ8BJRd0kXidjurNmk/s1600/Wind_up.jpg" height="200" width="162" /></a></div>
<br />
If you love
dystopian fiction while having a soft spot for feminist undercurrents (of course you do) this
2009 Hugo-prize winning novel by Paolo Bacigalupi delivers a gripping
narrative in which female characters play a decisive role. Perfect for curling
up with in between Christmas lunch and Doctor Who.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<a href="http://www.zazzle.co.uk/feminist_reunion_of_the_socialist_league_posters-228832964026225962" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS POSTER</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4U3DiNRUx7ur2FwFTH8aRrBCyQCRNw_D5KuFOHh7Yo7S1_a5Wb4TPTzymorTb_i9SHT-ntlW3WR4rJJc8MvEDj_9T_DBI2EQDBtFBdMkobYWNawpE8upcsVOgNbUVXMUnD1AamY4GNk/s1600/feminist_reunion_of_the_socialist_league_posters-r3e5e6d8b59654fc7bb4871b01a3fac1c_wvc_8byvr_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4U3DiNRUx7ur2FwFTH8aRrBCyQCRNw_D5KuFOHh7Yo7S1_a5Wb4TPTzymorTb_i9SHT-ntlW3WR4rJJc8MvEDj_9T_DBI2EQDBtFBdMkobYWNawpE8upcsVOgNbUVXMUnD1AamY4GNk/s1600/feminist_reunion_of_the_socialist_league_posters-r3e5e6d8b59654fc7bb4871b01a3fac1c_wvc_8byvr_512.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This Feminist Reunion of the Socialist League poster is even in a festive red. Who says socialism and the season of rampant consumerism don't mix?<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<a href="http://www.bustboobtique.com/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=357" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS LUGGAGE TAG</span></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWPN2LvL3CI92uBrCzqJ46Q3KwZ1AKDhmO-8xB2aB8ktCRiKioje7D7FNmbGC-q_BvuTudA2MvslM-IaiC2cmdFIQJDHlPeMqbwUjUlX0gyzKgCjlRgsgd7n20pvwpJmrhpwDaerTxkM/s1600/AT-luggage-TL-A-Lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWPN2LvL3CI92uBrCzqJ46Q3KwZ1AKDhmO-8xB2aB8ktCRiKioje7D7FNmbGC-q_BvuTudA2MvslM-IaiC2cmdFIQJDHlPeMqbwUjUlX0gyzKgCjlRgsgd7n20pvwpJmrhpwDaerTxkM/s1600/AT-luggage-TL-A-Lg.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a></div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
For all your new year travels to
international feminist conventions. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://store.feminist.org/empowermints.aspx" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THESE HANDY MINTS</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcTK1XpgaJ41sQSVIrEK_4lRgXa1dSQnuuAsMTFk2st5RWo9WcaFNla98qfTeFHY-ZUSEhBnUnNrDuPjh4CeBU_PNhG1u6ReuLCrh1iIQNJRzzVOPzbiPgfo9MxJser18fCGtSbgEslU/s1600/empowermints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcTK1XpgaJ41sQSVIrEK_4lRgXa1dSQnuuAsMTFk2st5RWo9WcaFNla98qfTeFHY-ZUSEhBnUnNrDuPjh4CeBU_PNhG1u6ReuLCrh1iIQNJRzzVOPzbiPgfo9MxJser18fCGtSbgEslU/s1600/empowermints.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a></div>
The perfect feminist stocking filler... </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br />
<a href="http://www.cafepress.com/feministingstore.577695463" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS IPAD CASE</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRoDwSDXhu-O6KK9booYWcsDWNzv_bLC4VIqXJCw4ybeR2xzNywI_5cRfdiDuM-5e29RCs9BtfK9jzgUNNkZmQYZqFsrlkA0uf76mZfOwdWPkCP6VozmOQOgoexKwD9vewR27YsYREyw/s1600/ipad_sleeve-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTRoDwSDXhu-O6KK9booYWcsDWNzv_bLC4VIqXJCw4ybeR2xzNywI_5cRfdiDuM-5e29RCs9BtfK9jzgUNNkZmQYZqFsrlkA0uf76mZfOwdWPkCP6VozmOQOgoexKwD9vewR27YsYREyw/s1600/ipad_sleeve-2.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
For the technology-loving feminist. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="color: #999999;">THESE ALTERNATIVE GIFTS</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAwKXkOFXHonLHL7tJp4AxlknjCQx4pU4IKt9teB0WM3wHKqitohcMhpqGcqfHV6N3-wef4ASzDrMcsh0fRS0awfWL9km68lME1blccsrdocd1kmAemgedamyzB0F7gBOKv896KsFyMw/s1600/Oxfam-406x507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAwKXkOFXHonLHL7tJp4AxlknjCQx4pU4IKt9teB0WM3wHKqitohcMhpqGcqfHV6N3-wef4ASzDrMcsh0fRS0awfWL9km68lME1blccsrdocd1kmAemgedamyzB0F7gBOKv896KsFyMw/s1600/Oxfam-406x507.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
For those of you who want to feel like
you’re making a <a href="https://www.goodgifts.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">positive difference</span></a> to the world at this ‘time of giving’
(well, a different kind of positive to the happiness created by receiving a
feminist gift…) You also get a free chocolate goat with any <a href="http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">Oxfam Unwrapped</span></a>
order. (On a side-note, I feel the goat
is generally, and unjustly, overlooked when it comes to use as a chocolate
shape).</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.haymarketbooks.org/pb/Men-Explain-Things-to-Me" style="text-indent: -18pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">THIS COLLECTION OF ESSAYS</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmL0W8WnsHpRj8uqSN9rnfNBjvCevBrnClsy6roXmVmKPhyPCJ_SLCCR2UlamLTBNz8UeEqmXQDdISsyVRtrFaHpTkbq9ufi4BU0bCuaYNa1L8FcmfQYF-fVUU9uhOrymhMI0s_yRkCUo/s1600/41edjJkb2DL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmL0W8WnsHpRj8uqSN9rnfNBjvCevBrnClsy6roXmVmKPhyPCJ_SLCCR2UlamLTBNz8UeEqmXQDdISsyVRtrFaHpTkbq9ufi4BU0bCuaYNa1L8FcmfQYF-fVUU9uhOrymhMI0s_yRkCUo/s1600/41edjJkb2DL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="200" width="138" /></a></div>
<br />
This subversively comic collection of essays
feels like the perfect Boxing Day Morning reading with a cup of coffee and/or
glass of bubbly, for later conversational dissection over bubble-and-squeak. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/lukebailey/feminist-cocktails" target="_blank"><span style="color: #999999;">GIN</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogGcpL_eC98rfWjPhrXRo08sdlgxJti2_S_7fWQxGeyKFeXz3KQuYSJVjrw1e1ECaqJLF6YA0kK7syPcZCiS9AqRVS1z05uIwMFZRdDGE4pGr4VH8OTU6RLZdC9KNoQ9cpllzESsAwoA/s1600/longform-original-32212-1412861944-3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogGcpL_eC98rfWjPhrXRo08sdlgxJti2_S_7fWQxGeyKFeXz3KQuYSJVjrw1e1ECaqJLF6YA0kK7syPcZCiS9AqRVS1z05uIwMFZRdDGE4pGr4VH8OTU6RLZdC9KNoQ9cpllzESsAwoA/s1600/longform-original-32212-1412861944-3.png" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center; text-indent: -18pt;">Not specifically feminist in nature, but helps to fuel the tipsy conversations
on smashing the patriarchy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Pro-tip for those of us with more
EastEnders than East India budgets - apparently a test taste with a gin expert
found that an Aldi’s £9.65 was just as good as some of the much more expensive
brands, and knocked the socks off other more expensive supermarket
versions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
Merry Christmas Hussies!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
NS</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ogJfikRxDec%2FVI2T2_A29UI%2FAAAAAAAAApk%2F3kK90ugiy4A%2Fs1600%2Fempowermints.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcTK1XpgaJ41sQSVIrEK_4lRgXa1dSQnuuAsMTFk2st5RWo9WcaFNla98qfTeFHY-ZUSEhBnUnNrDuPjh4CeBU_PNhG1u6ReuLCrh1iIQNJRzzVOPzbiPgfo9MxJser18fCGtSbgEslU/s1600/empowermints.jpg" -->The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-2313802706626544142014-11-11T03:00:00.000-08:002014-11-11T03:02:28.715-08:00Am I a bad feminist? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/am-i-bad-feminist.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8aVg3e1wHTR9euujUn6Pb3vCXWvHFREhoqRTtXz_fWlpW4FV5xlXlOl2WbB-7xtzMMoMJzLTZ1WuZObqzyd8DOGtJKnmifiaEYf69Iu8p0eCu0keEXODjyLaIg3M7XsPu0wyZiSkC5aI/s1600/cover_bad_feminist.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I should preface what I’m about to
say with the fact that I do consider myself a feminist. Like total
badass and all-round babe Caitlin Moran, I believe that all women
simply have to be feminists. It’s a bit strange <i>not </i>to want
equal rights for yourself and your gender.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I am also aware,
though, that I’m not quite up to standard as a feminist. I share
this feeling, which is perhaps becoming a prevailing mood among some
women, with Roxane Gay, author of the New York Times bestselling </span><i><a href="http://www.roxanegay.com/bad-feminist/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Bad Feminist: Essays</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">. </span></i><span style="color: #222222;">This collection
offers a humorous insight into the mind of a woman who believes in
the fundamental aims of feminism but says ‘I read Vogue, and I’m
not doing it ironically’. She alludes in her title to the high
standards some feminists set for themselves and other women when it
comes to the ways a </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>good </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">feminist
should</span><span style="color: #222222;"><i> </i></span><span style="color: #222222;">behave,
think and act. It’s as if she read my mind.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Recent events
have brought my lack of dedication to the cause into stark focus. A
while ago, over dinner with friends, a tipsy debate (read: slanging
match) about feminism erupted. After occasionally interjecting and
positing counter arguments to both sides, I eventually sat back and
watched it unfold. As the Sauvignon Blanc flowed, everyone got
angrier, talked over each other, took the argument round in a circle
and generally spoiled the evening. The boys demanded statistics as
proof of the daily episodes of sexism the girls encountered. The
girls were annoyed that the boys were de-valuing their argument by
saying they’d gone all ‘shrill’. The boys felt personally
attacked because the girls hadn’t specified that they didn’t
include them in the ‘men’ category. The girls said they were sick
of being polite about issues surrounding sexism and misogyny, and
they no longer cared if they came across as rude.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I kept schtum for
an easy life, because I wanted to drink my wine and enjoy my meal and
because I didn’t think the argument was worth having if it was just
going to leave a lingering bad atmosphere. In the end nothing was
resolved, everyone was just quite cross. However, when women are
still getting such a raw deal, should I be a bit more shouty about
it? Was I wrong to clam up? Increasingly I feel as though I'm not a
good enough feminist because I don't fight or shout as loud as I
could.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">These days, the
ways in which one can be a bad feminist are endless. I felt a bit
sorry for Miley Cyrus when she went off on her dental-floss-leotard
bender, provoking the response ‘you only think that because she’s
a woman! She’s empowered!’ from one po-faced acquaintance. My
interest in what one might call ‘girly’ pursuits is frowned upon
by some who think I’ve simply been brainwashed by the patriarchal
media. I buy lifestyle magazines and I enjoy reading them. I like
frivolous things like makeup, clothes and jewellery. I paint my
nails, I pluck my eyebrows and occasionally I wear high heels. What
is important is that it is my </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>choice</i></span><span style="color: #222222;">
and my right to enjoy these things. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Being
proscriptive is not ok, whether you’re telling me I have to look
beautiful because it’s my role as a woman to be ornamental or
whether you’re telling me I can’t possibly be a good feminist if
I do wear makeup or enjoy fashion. I direct you to a </span><a href="http://www.salihughesbeauty.com/columns/note-internet-crusaders-beauty/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">fabulous article</span></a><span style="color: #222222;"> by beauty writer Sali Hughes about
her, and womankind’s, right to express herself through makeup and
how this doesn’t make her a blubbering moron who can’t also talk
about the serious stuff. Being interested in YSL Faux Cils mascara
and BBC News 24 are not mutually exclusive. See also </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/oct/27/reading-fashion-magazines-doesnt-make-you-stupid-ask-hadley?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">this</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">
fantastic bit of writing by Hadley Freeman about why reading fashion
magazines doesn’t make you stupid. Just to throw in another casual
bit of gender stereotyping, do we consider men incapable of coherent
thought just because they blather on about sport? It is so unfair to
judge someone’s entire character and moral code based on one aspect
of their life, man or woman.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">All of my ‘girly’
interests aside, the main reason I fear I’m not a good feminist is
because I don’t fight hard enough for the cause. I grew up in a
household where I don't think I even heard the word 'feminism' before
my teenage years. There were no gender roles to speak of. Both
parents cooked, both parents worked (in the same profession), both
did the laundry. I’m one of two daughters and as kids we
practically lived outside, climbing trees, catching frogs and getting
muddy in our wellies. We had barbies too, but there were no
restrictions on what we wanted to do, or how we wanted to dress or
play. We had both a mini doctor’s kit and a mini mechanic kit. Home
videos are testament to the fact that we sometimes mixed up their
contents, treating all manner of illnesses with a screwdriver and a
chisel. I grew up unaware that there was a problem or that sexism
even existed. I wonder if this has made me complacent.<br /><br />As an
adult- I use that term loosely- I've encountered the kind of misogyny
and sexism which sees women jeered at on the streets or patronised
for 'having an opinion'. The kind where the only way to get a man to
leave you alone is to say your boyfriend is on his way, or the kind
where you occasionally feel scared walking home alone. Aside from
such daily instances, perhaps it has hindered my life in unknown
ways: the job application tossed in the bin on the basis of gender. I
seem to have accepted all of this and live my life accordingly,
planning around it.<br /><br />Is apathy the reason why the cause of
feminism isn't advancing faster? Our grandparents’ views about
gender roles seem extreme when compared even to those of our parents,
so surely the trend will continue and things will continue to get
better? Now I'm not so sure. Young women's apathy might stall things
and even allow for regression. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">There are plenty
of examples of this regression. In recent years the internet, and
social media in particular, has become a place where large numbers of
vile threats are made against women on a daily basis. The experience
of Caroline Criado-Perez is one high profile example. She was
threatened with rape and murder, up to fifty times per hour on
Twitter for a period in July, as a result of her campaign to have
women depicted on banknotes. </span><span style="color: #222222;"><i>The
Guardian</i></span><span style="color: #222222;"> recently reported that
there had been a 21% increase in reported sex offences on trains in
the year 2013-14, a depressing statistic. It shouldn’t be ignored
that many of the perpetrators of this abuse and misogyny, both online
and off, are young men. Young men who don’t seem to be following
any kind of trend to do with the fading away of sexism over time.
Perhaps the problem isn't going away, perhaps it's actually slowly
getting more ingrained, and perhaps my inaction means that I’m part
of the problem.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">A lot of people
like to have a go at feminists, saying they nit-pick, they suck the
joy out of things, they’re killjoys. This nit-picking is actually
simply pointing out the insidious nature of sexism, and how although
we might sometimes feel like we, as women, have it pretty good, there
is still a long way to go. The work of the Everyday Sexism Project
provides the shock we need to remind us how unfairly women are
treated. </span><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b1XGPvbWn0A" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">This</span></a><span style="color: #222222;">
infuriating video is an uncomfortable watch, but an accurate
representation of the harassment many women experience when walking
down the street alone. Just this week, the Global Gender Gap Report
conducted by the World Economic Forum placed the UK in 26</span><span style="color: #222222;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: #222222;">
place on a list of the most gender equal countries in the world,
falling from 18</span><span style="color: #222222;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="color: #222222;">
place last year. This comes in the wake of average wages for women in
the workplace falling by £2,700 since 2013.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I don’t think
that my choice to buy makeup, magazines or beautiful shoes makes me a
bad feminist. Failing to acknowledge the scale of the problems women
still face and deciding that it was easier to stay the hell out of
discussions about feminism definitely did make me a bad feminist. I
am going to try harder to speak up when I hear or see an example of
misogyny or sexism. Although things are moving in the right
direction, I’ve realised that we can only start being complacent
once we have reached the point of total equality. We aren’t there
yet.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Kate MacCarthy</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.thepenintheink.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">www.thepenintheink.wordpress.<wbr></wbr>com</span></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://twitter.com/ThePenInTheInk" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">@ThePenInTheInk </span></a></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-91794346641847575732014-10-29T15:43:00.001-07:002014-10-29T15:43:07.860-07:00Feminism in London Conference - The crafty fight against Patriarchy <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.com/2014/10/feminism-in-london-conference-crafty.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBZ8utpqTUO7Kr_qmXEfNvb9nCE4cndGM3XjjwDKQ50qRjRt-3TbCfZHKaL9uP2yz_8p3Nmwg5u5L9yMR0c1cO1KhkPO1s9xRyExzfkcPdT6-Vvlih6CW8pu5fKY7CvJWyiFyxpG_89A/s1600/8b0ba5725b2a51cefbde7841dcb6019a.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's the difference between craft and art? Is there one? It can hardly argued that they use different mediums - art can be crafted from anything, be it paint, fabric, <a href="http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/chris-ofili-2543" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">elephant dung</span></a>, or a <a href="http://www.damienhirst.com/texts1/series/nat-history" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">thirteen-foot tiger shark</span></a>. Yet there's something about the word 'craft' that leads many people to associate it with primary school projects or baby bonnets handmade by the WI. Most damaging to craft's reputation is that it's guilty of that most heinous crime: being associated with women and children. Stitching and sewing are seen a form of sub-art that women do as part and parcel of their domestic chores. Surely something so innocuous, so much the epitome of female domesticity, can't be used in acts of protest, can it? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year the Feminism in London Conference ran a workshop entitled Crafting Politics. <a href="https://pure.royalholloway.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/laura-price(f372f708-9f6a-473e-a3a7-8f20c3b8311c).html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Laura Price, academic at Royal Holloway</span></a>, chaired a conversation with panel members Sarah Corbett (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://craftivist-collective.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Craftivist Collective</span></a>), Lauren O'Farrell (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.whodunnknit.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Whodunnknit</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://knitthecity.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Knit The City</span></a>),</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> and Catherine West (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.significantseams.org.uk/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Significant Seams</span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">). The subject: craft as a political act.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscU_9Y-92giMt2FGYM0iGBp6kI4pN0gVhDcwt0_msh5ZxZEcUU5u5H4eFl1LpWsTGpnAAnw4vCnaBPjCjtdTszjb7iezr9fPxUeklhebZpPdOMkQxxOGjYoLMbAOicma0wWzT-mYedCE/s1600/logo-header.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscU_9Y-92giMt2FGYM0iGBp6kI4pN0gVhDcwt0_msh5ZxZEcUU5u5H4eFl1LpWsTGpnAAnw4vCnaBPjCjtdTszjb7iezr9fPxUeklhebZpPdOMkQxxOGjYoLMbAOicma0wWzT-mYedCE/s1600/logo-header.png" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of the <a href="http://craftivist-collective.com/" target="_blank">Craftivist Collective</a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Craft's apparent politeness, says Lauren O'Farrell, enables craftivists to take their work to places usually inaccessible to protestors.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> <a href="http://www.whodunnknit.com/2009/07/13/a-yarnstorm-hits-parliament-square/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Police even watched her dress a telephone box in a giant knitted cosy in Parliament Square</span></a> </span>(one of the most policed areas in the country) without making a fuss. If your craft doesn't do any permanent damage (unlike traditional graffiti), then you're more likely to get away with it. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">So how can craft be used to say something about politics? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">According to Sarah Corbett, craft's apparent innocuousness is key. It's deceptively polite. It can engage people without frightening them off with megaphones and shock-tactics. In this form of political engagement, intimate connections forged between individuals take centre stage. For Sarah, the conversations she has with people approaching her to ask what she's making are crucial to getting people talking about political issues. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">In knitting together fabrics, communities are knitted together, too. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">This is something Catherine West well understands. Her organisation, Significant Seams, uses sewing to give much needed emotional support to vulnerable women in Walthamstow. Not only can crafting be used to make a political statement; it can help to bring about positive changes. This was at the crux of the panel's debate: the politics of craft lies not only in the product itself, but in the act of making - in the meeting, engaging, discussing, and organising around an issue. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the attraction of using craft in protest is the rebellious nature of using a traditionally belittled art form to create something that challenges the status quo. The V&A's fantastic <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/disobedient-objects/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Disobedient Objects</span></a> exhibition shows how objects have been used in protest, featuring everything from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVT4T7OR3iQ" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">liberated Barbies</span></a> to the <a href="http://www.guerrillagirls.com/interview/faq.shtml" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Guerrilla Girls' gorilla masks</span></a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2gnee9qo8BW7gowZ7Dh2tnL0N3V7LYC8F72H_xGV6HuBBUkhGxqLJJF96yoDkoogasKzGKeUSBjVGErcD40nObnRu_Nc8Q2fjE5MUQf5RktXhz1InqWwf67OfeeDtovoto0UYA76rbQ/s1600/getnakedshanghai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2gnee9qo8BW7gowZ7Dh2tnL0N3V7LYC8F72H_xGV6HuBBUkhGxqLJJF96yoDkoogasKzGKeUSBjVGErcD40nObnRu_Nc8Q2fjE5MUQf5RktXhz1InqWwf67OfeeDtovoto0UYA76rbQ/s1600/getnakedshanghai.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The Guerrilla Girls wore gorilla masks in public to focus on their protest rather than their personalities. </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.guerrillagirls.com/" target="_blank">Guerrilla Girls</a></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's the textile objects on show that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">perfectly capture how craft can be used subversively to further a cause. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/virtualexhibit/arpillera/art.cfm" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Arpilleras, as they are known, are appliqued textiles originating in Chile</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. They were made by women to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/chilean-arpilleras-a-chapter-of-history-written-on-cloth/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">visually document the horrors of the Pinochet dictatorship</span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and were sold through solidarity networks overseas, bringing in vital income. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Women would sometimes conceal messages in the backing of their work addressing the purchaser overseas, bearing witness to the atrocities. </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWukUZqIPDONFVonSD2FkLrX3bYG-N2AWx8-NMEQmcYXFo5FEGAuDw_on1iUzJ1lo-kC_NWhba03QVxsZgIoTLukPSFx2nmSJLojCYb9AKcvAGWdhytqIOr6qk3yEpu3jpUlSGjOcXYrw/s1600/mst_2550-arpillera-500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWukUZqIPDONFVonSD2FkLrX3bYG-N2AWx8-NMEQmcYXFo5FEGAuDw_on1iUzJ1lo-kC_NWhba03QVxsZgIoTLukPSFx2nmSJLojCYb9AKcvAGWdhytqIOr6qk3yEpu3jpUlSGjOcXYrw/s1600/mst_2550-arpillera-500.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">An Arpillera: Families of the Detained and Disappeared protest before the Supreme Court</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Image courtesy of <a href="http://cachandochile.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/chilean-arpilleras-a-chapter-of-history-written-on-cloth/" target="_blank">Cachando Chile</a></span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exhibition notes echo the thoughts of the workshop panel: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For a time the authorities were blind to the subversive nature </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[of the arpilleras]</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, dismissing arpillera-making as folk art. Women found strength and solace in communal arpillera workshops. When their hands and eyes were focused on sewing, they felt safe enough to speak and share their stories." </span></blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using craft, feminists not only continue the traditions of their foremothers; they subvert the expectations that constricted them. Crafty, eh? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LK </span>The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-47536112444026288712014-10-21T12:52:00.002-07:002014-10-21T12:55:54.835-07:00Don't be a sad lonely feminist - meet some feminist friends at the Feminism in London conference!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.com/2014/10/dont-be-sad-lonely-feminist-meet-some.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAiqbR-QCuN46jkDwjFjGYS0dJyOXBN_eQSCU9KPCmkA5iM0Nrsfr5aKcZlqHbCTQO6hUCRcxWlczttExM5zKDLQt-16_FUTEJR8xc2aAOKp6QiUOrfVacvQmftgsIM4zh2U_z0sQxdzo/s1600/Tickets%20on%20Sale%20Now.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It can get lonely being a sad angry
feminazi, sitting in your house full of cats and weeping into your
keyboard. Three cheers then for rousing feminist get togethers!
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGVWyx9jqQ84LwJ0Tt3UB6KQneMUmOj7JMYhwVsw2u_m-EWle0efvpoZx8L-zDo0dHNIIedNcSqYVBDDOivvjHzXpxyNZLhLswGJshudluZYe1WIqk955FWqS7uTktelDHofkIYGOZAE/s1600/906697_10154667070030593_6198076437833900208_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGVWyx9jqQ84LwJ0Tt3UB6KQneMUmOj7JMYhwVsw2u_m-EWle0efvpoZx8L-zDo0dHNIIedNcSqYVBDDOivvjHzXpxyNZLhLswGJshudluZYe1WIqk955FWqS7uTktelDHofkIYGOZAE/s1600/906697_10154667070030593_6198076437833900208_o.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
On Thursday, some Huss Post writers
headed over to FiLia's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/350143351799501/?ref_dashboard_filter=past" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Art of Feminism in London exhibition</span></a> for a night of ranting
and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> <a href="http://www.saatchiart.com/art/-THE-PERIODICAL-LUXURY-COLLECTION/57887/234499/view" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">repurposed sanitary towels</span></a></span>. We drank wine with loads of fab
women, watched some public rants, and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> <a href="http://www.misspokeno.com/too-ugly-for-words/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">etched misogynistic insults into an old school table</span></a></span>. I hate to use the overused 'E' word but there's no
other words for it: it was empowering. The exhibition is in support
of our awesome friends over at the <a href="http://static.feminisminlondon.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Feminism in London conference</span></a>
which happens this weekend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmeGKUVE7v69JPKpmarufEcvX65aYG8K8JHzGzIF8O_8wD4ycuCTgv1gp_z549O9SRN7y8hqQxkVVyIFjHHF9UxlJnw4pWHcu4s1CBfBkLHrdFs23UeQwdiBgZEngckkby6CNoFnS958/s1600/TABLE-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmeGKUVE7v69JPKpmarufEcvX65aYG8K8JHzGzIF8O_8wD4ycuCTgv1gp_z549O9SRN7y8hqQxkVVyIFjHHF9UxlJnw4pWHcu4s1CBfBkLHrdFs23UeQwdiBgZEngckkby6CNoFnS958/s1600/TABLE-4.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.misspokeno.com/too-ugly-for-words/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-size: x-small;">'Too Ugly For Words' by Miss Pokeno</span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Every feminist needs a bit of
group-support now and then - just a reminder that you're not flying
solo in your fight against the patriarchy! So grab your gal' pals and
head over to the Feminism in London conference this weekend for some
group feminist peace and love. There's loads of awesome stuff
happening - from workshops on protest art to self-defence sessions. The day builds up to a big afterparty in the basement, so get your Riot Grrrl self ready to bust some moves on the dancefloor. Huss Post will be out in force covering the event - we can't wait to
see some of you there!</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
The Feminism in London Conference is on the 25th of October. Details <a href="http://static.feminisminlondon.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">here</span></a>. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Tickets are £30 or £15 concessions. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
LK</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<h3 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #990099; font-family: RamblaRegular, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
</h3>
<br />The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-85978578025880645662014-10-01T14:49:00.001-07:002014-10-01T15:04:11.513-07:00My pants are political <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/my-pants-are-political.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_2GVURi3o2wBKYkFk2Ihz5wULbgyDuXd8QLiJXAsV4ttTMvFJeKKUuCWMXDG659WvtOt7uE4OEum7M9j9vKDlot7NK3BcDzKtPtmhSgsOhp9VoxXUDZA6r-ip978ZSWeyJ_d90hhuQ8/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-09-07+at+20.28.30.png" title="" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Topshop are currently flogging <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=13750746&langId=-1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">these pants</span></a>. The picture above is an arse-view. Now, I don't know about
you, but personally I think my boyfriend would be a bit creeped out
to find his amorous advances towards my nether-regions met with this
whiny school-girl plea. And so he should. As a general rule I don't
consult my boyfriend's feelings on my outfits (as evidenced by a life
lived in my flatmate's cast off Primark tracky bottoms) - but then, I
don't often feel that said outfits would justifiably make him recoil
with horror. Why Topshop thinks one would want to bring one's father
into one's pants I don't know. Even writing that sentence gives me
the creeps.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmxNs5ZTcS3pZOss3QxMThKms5emgcSm5s_N4UvxCl_fMy6V3lgwRDZCam3ROcloWD5uRq5PRuJgxKChjoMWj2oT3DNlfnb9gv4HvVdyoZ7QzU3mxEgb6aPm-NqGFd-pDH8zg0kF4xA/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-09-07+at+20.28.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTmxNs5ZTcS3pZOss3QxMThKms5emgcSm5s_N4UvxCl_fMy6V3lgwRDZCam3ROcloWD5uRq5PRuJgxKChjoMWj2oT3DNlfnb9gv4HvVdyoZ7QzU3mxEgb6aPm-NqGFd-pDH8zg0kF4xA/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-09-07+at+20.28.14.png" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The vag view. 'My Little Pony'... a
euphemism for something?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/undie-ads-revolutionary-or-just-plain.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Sorry to harp on about pants</span></a>, but as our second-wave foremothers would
say, the pants are political (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_personal_is_political" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">or something like that</span></a>). This particular style is part of a line of
kitsch, kiddie-inspired undies - Twilight Sparkle joins Woody and
Buzz, Mrs Pots, and the entire cast of the Wizard of Oz in a
star-studded procession across female bum-cheeks the country over.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I wouldn't have a problem with Princess
Sparkle (or whatever her name is) majestically adorning my crotch per
se. I love a good kids' show as much as the next woman and whilst I
don't particularly want to dress like a 9 year old I don't think
donning some pants in homage to a beloved childhood character will do
much harm. But I would take issue with having the word 'daddy'
plastered all over my arse. Those are two things that should never
meet. Ever.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Much has been said in the media about
the sexualisation of young girls - think push up <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/ashley-push-triangle-bikini-dubbed-worst-product-flop-2011-388242" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">bras</span></a>
and <a href="http://uk.complex.com/style/2013/05/controversy-fitch-a-history-of-abercrombies-most-flagrant-fuck-ups/kid-thongs" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">thongs</span></a>
for pre-pubescents and the infamous <a href="http://www.fringemagazine.org/blog/my-little-stripper-your-childs-very-own-pole-dancer-doll/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Tesco Stripper Pole Incident of 2009</span></a>. I'd argue that the sexualisation
of girls and the infantilisation of women are two sides of the same
coin<span style="font-weight: normal;">. In an</span> (almost) bygone
era, women would be passed as property from the guardianship of
father to husband and kept in a state of perpetual minority. The
problematic cross-over of 'sexualised girl' and 'infantilised woman'
is a hangover from this mindset. (You might be thinking "she got
all this from a pair of pants?!" - but bear with me).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This historic perpetual minority lives
on in the troubling sexualisation of the father-daughter
relationship. Type 'saying daddy' into Google and see what the top
suggestion is:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QUu0SZHwH_pBthbm4O9m_gwL-9Mj_V7CV2ypRmk_DM580DZx6QK3zrjXCN8bk8TSQiYq9mgjUdIdHreV5yop3Fx4rTl8gtOIUmFDrlGjQCwVYC8PK9vKIIVR0XCDVts_G3W8_MO2DAQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-10-01+at+21.40.21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QUu0SZHwH_pBthbm4O9m_gwL-9Mj_V7CV2ypRmk_DM580DZx6QK3zrjXCN8bk8TSQiYq9mgjUdIdHreV5yop3Fx4rTl8gtOIUmFDrlGjQCwVYC8PK9vKIIVR0XCDVts_G3W8_MO2DAQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-10-01+at+21.40.21.png" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
'Daddy talk' in bed is generally
associated with power and submission. The attraction of this kink
lies in the enjoyment of seeing the woman as wide-eyed, young, and
submissive to a dominant 'father figure'(or more troublingly:
illegal, minor, and therefore unable to give full and reasoned
consent)'.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Think, too, of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMOVM83OxiQ" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">Purity Balls</span></a>. No, not some kind immaculate super-bollock (alas). Purity
balls are sort of mass mini-marriages in which girls pledge their
virginity to their fathers. They 'marry' their dad, securing their
chastity, until such time as their dad 'releases' them to their
husband; their next protector (/captor).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I'm pretty sure that Topshop didn't
have the finer points of gender politics in mind when designing these
pants. More's the pity, I say. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't
call out troubling messages when we see them. The mindset which seems
to confuse pre-pubescent girls with grown women and vice versa is
very much alive and well and needs to be challenged. Don't let
infantilisation get into your pants. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
LK</div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-13343755137046793022014-09-08T14:15:00.000-07:002014-09-08T14:17:12.918-07:00Summer 2014 - How was it for you?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/summer-2014-how-was-it-for-you.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN-xN6cU0_GrCqsvNL1iunRJHXTCT3pCG-FRg09Es1Qhz-bNrOo4iEh9lTgx2tO2EUm6-lVIhYXSbF5EMXZCB-LP-RRqrBzIFMzuLhdtJM5T2T0_oqTuTYJoYai0X53NbJ228m9c85PE/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-09-08+at+22.11.23.png" height="310" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Cameron's Cabinet, July 2014. Source: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19475248" target="_blank">BBC news</a></span> </div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Due to a brief sojourn in Croatia on my
part, and a fairly large parliamentary recess, I’ve rolled July and
August in to one great big mega Summer Westminster round-up. Contrary
to popular wisdom, quite a lot actually does happen whilst the MPs
and peers are on their ‘holidays’. So don’t expect a wash-out.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Perhaps the most notable event during the last two months was the reshuffle in mid-July. Just in case you are thinking of stopping reading here, possibly the best bit of comment to come out of it was the Guardian’s satirical take on the type of scrutiny under which female politicians find themselves during events like this: Enjoy the piece <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jul/19/daily-mail-reshuffle-downing-street-catwalk-male-politicians" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Anyway, billed to be the entrance of
THE WOMEN into a largely male Cabinet, the reshuffle took a rather
different form to that which had been expected. The shock
announcement that William Hague was to step down as Foreign Secretary
and not contest next year’s General Election, along with Ken
Clarke’s final departure, instantly sent Twitter into meltdown,
with speculation rife as to what would follow in the coming hours. It
was widely thought that the biggest shock had already been announced,
only for jubilation to spread across the internet, and almost
certainly the vast majority of the education sector, in reaction to
the news that Michael Gove had been moved away from his position as
Education Secretary.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following instalment did see good
news for two women, who were promoted into Secretary of State posts
that had previously been held by men; Nicky Morgan moving to head up
education and Liz Truss to Defra. Despite being tipped for a move,
Esther McVey (DWP) and Anna Soubry (MoD) both stayed put, with a pass
to attend Cabinet for McVey and a promotion up the ministerial ladder
for Soubry. A shame, as Soubry could have been made the first ever
female Defence Secretary, diversifying a still incredibly male
dominated part of Whitehall, but it was not to be.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The day also saw some of the rising
female stars of the Tory party promoted to their first ministerial
positions. Claire Perry went to transport, Penny Mordaunt to DCLG,
Amber Rudd to energy and Priti Patel to the Treasury, increasing the
percentage of female ministers, but still leaving it languishing just
under 24% (<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/government-and-opposition1/her-majestys-government/" target="_blank">the full list of UK government ministers can be found here</a>).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So the ‘women’s reshuffle’ left
the proportion of both female ministers and Cabinet attendees at less
than a quarter; a bit of a disappointment, despite some small
progress, all in all after what it was set up to be.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLQDyetnFF0YGuB218EmzqweuVThw9DdAnzqqbyxYQu2wpck2Kr98yFjv98WSbvPmdpqzyOgpugr8xAgnHvPGtK3_IBsCJ6fP8t5mqvTZuxfg_FCE9vajj7cSQD2DFTn1ezyhRNE0ESM/s1600/gender+composition+tories.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPLQDyetnFF0YGuB218EmzqweuVThw9DdAnzqqbyxYQu2wpck2Kr98yFjv98WSbvPmdpqzyOgpugr8xAgnHvPGtK3_IBsCJ6fP8t5mqvTZuxfg_FCE9vajj7cSQD2DFTn1ezyhRNE0ESM/s1600/gender+composition+tories.png" height="320" width="205" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Source: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/nmen9tz" target="_blank">Institute for Government</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This was compounded by the question
marks that initially arose over the new Leader of the House of Lords'
Cabinet attendance and ministerial pay. Traditionally an important
link between the Prime Minister and the House of Lords, a number of
peers, including former Speaker of the House of Commons Baroness
Boothroyd, railed against the suggestion that Baroness Stowell might
not sit at the Cabinet table. After much conjecture from the press
and the realm of social media, her attendance was confirmed, though
she would still not have full Cabinet status. The story, however,
continued to rumble, as it emerged that she would receive lower pay
than her male predecessor (see this <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-15/cameron-hires-woman-on-less-pay-than-male-predecessor.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg article</a> for more details). After widespread criticism, David
Cameron was forced to top up this diminished salary with Conservative
party funds. However, it was already too late to salvage the ‘women’s
reshuffle’, the gloss of which had long since faded.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Outside of the ministerial realm there
have been a number of positive developments. Revenge pornography has
emerged from its status as a much neglected topic to be considered by
a <a href="https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/revenge-porn-have-your-say" target="_blank">full government led consultation</a>, via an <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2014-15/192" target="_blank">Early Day Motion</a> primarily sponsored by Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert. The
result of said consultation should at least be a better appreciation
of the scale of the issue and understanding of what the term entails,
though any change to the law is unlikely before the next election.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The fight against domestic abuse also
made some headway, as the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-law-on-domestic-abuse" target="_blank">government began to consult</a> on widening the definition, particularly to
include more emotional kinds of abuse. Tentatively the outcome may be
considered to push forward as part of the government’s legislative
agenda. However, it is unlikely that they will push for any changes
that they don’t think will put them in the best possible light in
an election year. So it may be that the difficulty in judging how far
they are able to go, versus what they think will be supported by
their own backbenchers, pushes this agenda back to post-May 2015.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper made a strong point on Twitter
that though the law does need strengthening, the current law also
needs to be better enforced, with prosecutions dropping by 5% in the
last 3 years, despite reported crime levels increasing. Hopefully
measures can be put in place in this vein, if legislation must be
delayed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Continuing from these developments to
the Home Office agenda, in late August, Labour MP Seema Malhotra
became the first ever Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence against
Women and Girls. The role encompasses the home agenda, as well as the
international agenda that has been one of the major focuses of
William Hague in this Parliament. With Hague’s commitment to
continue his advocacy in this area beyond the termination of his
parliamentary career and the possibility of Malhotra’s role being
included in a new government, the profile of this important worldwide
problem looks to be solidifying, which is frankly excellent news.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Before the Foreign Office upheaval,
Hague’s successor Philip Hammond announced a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-of-women-in-ground-close-combat-roles">review
into the exclusion of women from close combat roles in the military</a>.
The review is to include consideration of physiological ability,
attitudes of current military personnel and the role which women have
taken in recent operations. One hopes that the attitudes found within
the military are more progressive than they used to be, but should
other considerations find no bar to women taking on the challenge of
becoming Marines or similar, it does seem concerning that subjective
thoughts of those already part of the establishment might halt future
changes.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In the business world, Vince Cable
continued his crusade to see more women appointed to boards of top
companies, commendably not resting on his laurels following the
inclusion of a woman on to the board of the last FTSE 100 company
without one. He launched an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/women-on-boards-cable-launches-enhanced-code-for-executive-recruiters">enhanced
code of conduct for executive search firms</a> (recruitment companies
that specialise in recruiting executive personnel), the efficacy of
which is yet to be proven, but it’s another step in the right
direction.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The summer also saw the General Synod’s
long-awaited approval of women bishops. Welcomed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Justin Welby, it seemed that the Church had finally
caught up with the rest of society. How many this drawn out process
may have alienated is hard to say, but the inclusion of women in this
part of the House of Lords is an important development, providing an
extra bit of equal representation for as long as Bishops remain a
part of our Parliament. Whether or not said Bishops should be there
in the first place is a contentious subject, but the main point is
that this will hopefully empower and enable women in the Church to
represent those women in their faith at the highest echelons of
power.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Finally, following the <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/pshe-and-sre-in-schools/">Education
Committee’s inquiry in to PHSE and SRE</a>, including whether it
should be made statutory for all schools, the Liberal Democrats
joined Labour in announcing a manifesto commitment to just that. The
Conservatives are yet to join in the party, but with the parties’
Autumn conferences getting into full swing during September there
will be a large number of policies and commitments to discuss by the
end of the month. See you then.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/freyapascall"><b>@freyapascall</b></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-9144217987321411622014-08-22T09:29:00.002-07:002014-08-22T09:30:13.617-07:00The ‘P’ Word (Perfection, not Pussy)<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-p-word-perfection-not-pussy.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/the-p-word-perfection-not-pussy.html" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKYEhAazGVgJ6PC76NkNdIVFdOSWuqLImC5LgCy8JRMbJyY45oajNMTauLtf9sNJaCCeoOZLgZSR1r5ej3_rmiZ9yhFfuekfVKhr_whqbQ7R8Y4KZJGZeVzb_zIC1fGbpl7SrRky4E1M/s1600/glamour+list.jpg" height="320" width="296" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Glamour's list of 30 things by 30</span></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have an addiction to lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a daily work-tasks list, often two
work lists (on super-busy days I have been known to have three), a daily
non-work task list, a beauty/health to do list, food/diet planning lists, a
life-plan list, lists of things to buy in terms of clothes, beauty products,
furniture and other things to turn the new flat I’ve moved into from a shiny
new shell to a ‘proper home’, daily lists, weekly lists, monthly lists,
seasonal lists. I haven’t got to yearly to do lists yet, but give me time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bookmark those listicles that seem to be ubiquitous at the
moment - you know the sort, “top 10 places to visit before you die and realise
you’ve spent 30 years in a bedsit in Streatham not venturing further than the
local Sainsbury’s”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ticking my way
through the BBC 100 books to read list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The other day my list habit got so bad that I actually made a list of
stuff to do before I left my flat for work in the morning, including things
like ‘take rubbish out’, ‘cut labels off new Primark bag’, ‘pluck eyebrows’ and
‘straighten hair’, fairly standard things that should not require a list to be
ticked off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now I’m sure the psychologists among you reading this are
already diagnosing things to do with a need for control, and I fully admit that
I am a control freak and pretty much always have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet recently I’ve been thinking about why I
am constantly seeking control, to be on top of things, or, dare I say it,
perfection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as I write it the
‘p-word’ makes me uncomfortable and I know without doubt that such a thing is
impossible to achieve and a ginormous waste of effort, yet this rational part
of me doesn’t stop me writing another list with the vague, semi-conscious
notion that if I reach the end of it (and all of my other concurrent lists) I
will somehow be the person that I should be, the model of a successful
woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, part of the reason I seem to never be satisfied with my
past achievements or my current situation might be deeply individual, a
personality trait (flaw).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am
inclined to think that it is more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of the drive for perfection that myself and other young women feel
is created or at least exacerbated in my view by what the media and society at
large constantly drum into us we should be/aspire to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To give a brief precis of what the subtle drip-drip of
societal expectations tell girls on a daily basis that they should have: a thin,
tanned and toned body (no hint of cellulite please); constantly stylish
wardrobe; perfect skin and hair; academic achievements, ideally straight As at
school and preferably a First degree from a good university (preferably Russell
Group);<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a good job<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or career; intellectual knowledge but still
be a whiz at household things like cooking, home decorating and baking; an
attractive partner; a group of photogenic and cool friends with which to do
spontaneous yet trendy things of an evening and weekend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, you should somehow be able to fulfil all these
demands of a shallow, consumerist society while simultaneously giving off an
aura of being ‘above it all’:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you should
be gorgeous, but seem more concerned <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about
the plight of the rainforests than the condition of your derriere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be wealthy, but charitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deep, yet accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fun, yet serious. Is it any wonder that women
like me are so confused by the contradictory demands on us that we resort to (multiple)
lists to keep track of everything we feel we should be doing or aiming
for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ztzCOOsetfQa7tMHL3Y7cnPXJ3vzLoLMSD4M2YO3mADtgrxJnYd4WYq754xBzenQREhi3P4jocEVrmHVz_fEhxSFzm3pxu0WsjSeF9XIo2cjwRz4efFbv0NIUKKk657BqBgdSeykxcw/s1600/alam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ztzCOOsetfQa7tMHL3Y7cnPXJ3vzLoLMSD4M2YO3mADtgrxJnYd4WYq754xBzenQREhi3P4jocEVrmHVz_fEhxSFzm3pxu0WsjSeF9XIo2cjwRz4efFbv0NIUKKk657BqBgdSeykxcw/s1600/alam.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">A career in human rights: the latest style accessory?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think of the new ‘Beautiful Humanitarian’ role models
trumpeted across the media recently, such as Lily Cole, Angelina Jolie, Amal Alamuddin
and Natalie Portman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not enough to
have conquered one career, you must constantly seem to be more than that,
walking a tightrope of attractiveness and earnestness at all times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More worryingly, with the rise of the “</span><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/annehelenpetersen/jennifer-lawrence-and-the-history-of-cool-girls#d987gq"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cool
Girls</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">” like Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, you are expected to do all
things, like have an amazing figure and glowing beauty, without seeming like
you ‘try’ too much:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you should just be
‘one of the lads’; never admit to being on a diet, and somehow possess a
gym-honed body whilst claiming you never set foot in one and you prefer downing
tinnies to green smoothies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our modern celebrity culture has always encouraged (some
might say pressured) girls and women to emulate or live up to the standards set
by those in the public eye, according to the current trends, whether these were
the perma-tanned, big-busted models of 1990s WAGs, to the serious (though always
beautiful) celebrity campaigners of today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many articles covering the work of individuals like Jolie - at least in
aspects of the female media - fawn over their dress sense and their figures,
and their humanitarian achievements almost seem an afterthought, so rather than
this growing awareness of social issues on the part of super-celebs diverting
your attention from how you should look or dress towards wider and more
important issues, social activism and public achievements seem to be another
thing that you will never match up to, in addition to their beauty, thinness or
wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is little advice on how the average reader can get
involved in helping with such campaigning, leaving women feeling even more
inadequate and powerless in the face of a new female ideal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We will never be able to achieve the same
impact as her,” we think, “so what’s the point”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The concurrent rise of what I consider to be
pernicious shaming of those deemed to ‘care too much’ about living up to
imposed beauty standards:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the mocking of
those having plastic surgery, the snide comments about those who are clearly
dieting to stay thin, is an even more paralysing trend for women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now unless we are naturally blessed with a
model metabolism or TV good looks, it is seen as shallow of you to attempt to
achieve a higher standard of beauty:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>unless you were born with it and can wolf down fries and a bucket of
fried chicken and still look like Jennifer Lawrence, you shouldn’t even try,
you girly, impressionable creature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not to blame these celebrities themselves for the
myth or narrative that society and the media constructs around them, and I
repeat that the examples of someone relaxed enough to eat a burger or
campaigning against sexual violence rather than posing suggestively in men’s
magazines, are 100% preferable to the alternatives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At one end of the crazy scale, the point of celebrity
ambassadors is to raise the profile of certain social issues, while at the
other end women like Alamuddin are intelligent, accomplished women excelling in
chosen careers, who fall into the public spotlight, not by design but as a
consequence of private relationships. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet
in both cases, the media presents either a genuine interest in supporting a
particular campaign and a career not as just two things that human beings do,
but almost as if both are akin to fashion accessories, a ticked box on the way
to being an ‘ideal woman’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH4FH9-8btDa7WXq9BWIZWKeCYESV1lxDuBbhHxzfRYBe6Hb7QPuZhzqyMefXsVCFh87ZkO-_BWf3SN_iqVY5T5d6WSwDBPW0h9b5b7ac3JOWDgRpDkI-8JlMpZZH5Z2OJWE9PLhCZAw/s1600/jolie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizH4FH9-8btDa7WXq9BWIZWKeCYESV1lxDuBbhHxzfRYBe6Hb7QPuZhzqyMefXsVCFh87ZkO-_BWf3SN_iqVY5T5d6WSwDBPW0h9b5b7ac3JOWDgRpDkI-8JlMpZZH5Z2OJWE9PLhCZAw/s1600/jolie.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">MSN reports on Jolie's attendance at the End Sexual Violence Summit</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my opinion, a way of cutting through such problematic
reporting and obfuscation of the real issues would be if celebrities - even
more than they do now - pushed back against the myths that journalists seek to
construct around them to connect with the average women, and reveal that behind
the supposed perfection is just another flawed human being doing the best that
they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jolie did this very admirably
in an interview a little while ago:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>when
asked how she managed to combine her intense workload, campaigning and looking
after her ‘beautiful family’, she didn’t brush off the question with a vague
truism about multi-tasking or having angelic children, she quietly said that
she was lucky and privileged enough to be in a position to afford a lot of help
and support with both her work and her family, firmly shutting off the
journalist’s implication that she was some kind of superhuman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if Jennifer Lawrence could make it clear(er)
that she doesn’t exist solely off French fries and does actually exercise and
take care of herself to look as good as she does, or celebrities reach out more
in terms of how ordinary people can get actively involved in the causes they champion,
we could all realise that we are not competing for some amorphous notion of
female perfection for which the goalposts are constantly changing, but that we
are all in this together, to support each other in our individuality and faults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if Angelina were to admit that she too uses lists to
keep track of her busy world, my life would be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">NS</span><o:p></o:p></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-40031319388231976452014-08-20T03:15:00.002-07:002014-08-20T03:17:36.021-07:00First Wave<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/first-wave.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylsCS1rBuYUXN1kRR5zm6hZMJLv-ieDsP6HXm_Yl8QyIoxV90UYFgpEkUmX7dP0uVc6E8xAF42u6qgnJGv6gTWX2FeIgbnClb3L9DpWaLAiVGHEeJor8p2tGOq9BOkJOEphW7yZsNMKM/s1600/p16nqd447k1eocuj4v3412st151v0_45873.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Identifying
yourself as a feminist isn’t as simple as you’d think. To some
it’s worse than stating that you vote for the BNP. Often it’s
followed by an exclamation regarding how ridiculous it is for a
sensible girl to have such notions, or a diatribe against man-hating
lesbians with hairy armpits. The media is full of articles that
reduce women and girls to the roles of victim, whore or ball-breaker.
The internet is a place that can demean, demoralise and brutalise a
person for simply identifying as a women. Feminism is under attack,
but it is also a resurgent movement that is gaining activists and
supporters.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But
the movement itself is a complex and sometimes divisive one. Rather
than being a monolithic movement, it has ebbed and flowed for almost
two centuries, with periods of prominence and notoriety, and periods
of comparative quiet. It is a movement that has experienced different
rates of success in different countries at different times. And like
all movements it reflects the concerns of women the time so that,
looking back, we can see just how far we have come and how far we
have to go.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These
(very) brief guides to feminism will introduce both you and I to the
history, good and bad, of the movement to which we belong. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First
up are the waves, and for obvious reasons, we start with the first.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
period covers the beginning of Feminism as a political movement in
Europe and Northern America, rather than a literary or philosophical
one. Figures like Catherine di Pizan in the 14<sup>th</sup> Century,
Aphra Benn and Sophia Elisbet Brenner in the 15<sup>th</sup> Century,
and Mary Wollenstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges in the 18<sup>th</sup>
century had published feminist literature and advocated woman’s
rights, but political activism had not really taken root until the
mid 19<sup>th</sup> Century. It began with a focus on suffrage (the
right to vote), and what are sometimes called legal disabilities,
which means discrimination that is enshrined in law by either fact or
omission e.g woman were not allowed to own property. Dedicated groups
were established to focus efforts on changing the law.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
main platforms for these groups were enfranchisement, political
representation, and worker’s rights. Success varied hugely with
legislation often being piecemeal, especially in the US and Canada
where the federal structure of government made sweeping legislation
more difficult. But soon the movement began to chalk up small
victories such as laws on property ownership, entrance to higher
education institutions and employment rights for working women. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the first decades of the twentieth century militant suffrage would
come to dominate the headlines, causing outrage and inspiration in
equal measure. In England the notorious Cat and Mouse Act, which
allowed the authorities to release suffragettes made weak by hunger
strikes only to re-arrest them once they recovered, was topped only
by the horrors of force-feeding in prison cells. Emily Wilding
Davies’ death at the feet of the King’s horse at Epsom in 1913
and acts of vandalism like the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokeby_Venus#Vandalism.2C_1914"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></span></a><a href="http://www.heretical.com/suffrage/1914tms2.html">famous
slashing of a painting of a female nude with a meat </a><a href="http://www.heretical.com/suffrage/1914tms2.html">cleaver</a>
kept women’s rights in the public eye, not to mention <a href="http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DOM19120720.2.43">Mary
Leigh throwing a hatchet at PM Herbert Asquith</a>. In 1913 militant
suffragettes caused £54,000 worth of damage - equivalent to about £4
million today. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">But
it would be the devastating impact of the First World War that would
help bring the First Wave of Feminism to its end. As a result of
conscription and the length of wartime action, women took on the
burden of work previously unavailable to them, taking their father’s,
brother’s and husband’s places in offices, factories and fields.
All of this helped to reorient (enough of) the political elite's
attitude towards women’s rights and enfranchisement to see real and
radical change implemented. Again this change would vary in its depth
and scope, France for example would fall behind in allowing women
full enfranchisement (they had to wait until 1944) but it would lead
the way in allowing women to practise law.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
first wave of feminism saw the accomplishment of several significant
legal steps towards equality, including the right to vote, gain a
degree, and enter the workplace. A new generation of feminists would
soon pick up the baton, seeking to address inequalities in the home,
workplace and within our own cultural life. </span>
</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>A
Quick Guide to Key Legislation</u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table border="1" bordercolor="#00000a" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="width: 702px;">
<colgroup><col width="92"></col>
<col width="90"></col>
<col width="115"></col>
<col width="115"></col>
<col width="83"></col>
<col width="108"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="9" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vote
(Local)</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Restricted</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vote
(National)</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Restricted</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Vote
(National)</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Full</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Property/</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Income</span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Political
Office</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(National)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Britain</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1894/1869</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1918</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1928</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1882/1922</span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1918/</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1919</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Canada</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1884-1916</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1918
(States)</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">By
1940</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1919</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Denmark</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1906/</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1908</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1915</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1857</span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Finland</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1863/</span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1872</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1906</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1913</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">France</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1907</span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Germany</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1919</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Netherlands</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1919</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1917</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Norway</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1913</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Poland</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1918</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Russia</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1917</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="11" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sweden</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1862</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1919</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1921</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1909</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="TOP">
<td height="9" width="92"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">US</span></div>
</td>
<td width="90"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1869-1918</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">-</span></div>
</td>
<td width="115"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1920</span></div>
</td>
<td width="83"><div align="LEFT">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">1844-1895</span></div>
</td>
<td width="108"><div align="LEFT">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Key
figures</u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Britain
- <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/pankhurst_emmeline.shtml">Emmeline
Pankhurst</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Fawcett">Millicent
Garrett Fawcett</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/davison_emily.shtml">Emily
Wilding Davison</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Garrett_Anderson">Elizabeth
Garrett Anderson</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Becker">Lydia
Becker</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/besant_annie.shtml">Annie
Besant</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Goldman">Emma
Goldman</a>.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">America
– <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Addams">Jane Addams</a>,
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Paul">Alice Paul</a>,
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Cady_Stanton">Elizabeth
Cady Stanton</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_B._Anthony">Susan
B. Anthony</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Foster_Avery">Rachel
Foster Avery</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Fuller">Margaret
Fuller</a>.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: small;">Europe
– <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Adlersparre">Sophie
Adlersparre</a>, <a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-2591308294/schmahl-jeanne-18461916.html">Jeanne-Elizabeth
Schmahl</a>,<i> </i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gina_Krog">Gina
Krog</a>,<i> </i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signe_Bergman">Signe
Bergman</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Brigode">Jane
Brigode</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubertine_Auclert">Hubertine
Auclert</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Hainisch">Marianne
Hainisch</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Luxemburg">Rosa
Luxemburg</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katti_Anker_M%C3%B8ller">Katti
Anker Møller</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Otto-Peters">Louise
Otto-Peters</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clara_Zetkin">Clara
Zetkin</a>.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Key
Groups</u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">French
Union for Women’s Suffrage, Norwegian Association for Women’s
Right, Swedish Society for Women’s Suffrage, Women’s Suffrage
Union (Netherlands), Woman’s Social and Political Union (Britain),
National Union of Woman’s Suffrage Societies (Britain), National
Woman Suffrage Association (US), American Woman Suffrage Association
(US).</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u>Key
literature</u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u><br /></u></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mary
Wollenstonecraft <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Vindication_of_the_Rights_of_Woman"><i>A
Vindication of the Rights of Women</i></a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Olympe
de Gouges<i> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_the_Rights_of_Woman_and_the_Female_Citizen">Declaration
of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen</a></i></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Marie
Stopes <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Married_Love"><i>Married
Love</i></a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Virginia
Woolf <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Room_of_One's_Own"><i>A
Room of One’s Own</i></a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Margaret
Fuller <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woman_in_the_Nineteenth_Century"><i>Women
in the Nineteenth Century</i></a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LMC
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-17347043012605506482014-07-12T02:34:00.003-07:002014-07-12T02:35:18.426-07:00Page 3 - Eleanor Marx<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/page-3-eleanor-marx.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7cEkxc74owlINO6Q-SEHM1WeHo9o3um1HJE7BXU9U3C5I9XU-HF1mY2ouciCH4HJ-EjLArYYP7RmDockIQLssLxAp3gJs2r1OJkhWe8KKGGOlV6-kXz9jRStFiJk66541Y7UbT3DNK4/s1600/marx-eleanor.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Most commonly known as the daughter of
Karl, Eleanor Marx was an impressive figure in her own right. Raised
in a household that unsurprisingly instilled a sense of social
responsibility in its children, she nevertheless took her father’s
towering legacy and diverted it in her own, more practical direction.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Born in 1855 in London, Eleanor grew up
in an era where even the daughter of a renowned intellectual like
Marx possessed no right to formal education or to the vote, but she
refused to let these limitations stand in the way of the socialist
struggle to which she devoted her life. Yet she did not just follow
the footsteps of her father: she linked the struggle of the working
class with the plight of her gender - while women were paid lower
wages, they were used to undercut male workers and cement the power
of employers - and was pivotal in organising key women’s strikes
including the famous match girls’ and Gasworkers’ strikes. (The
perennial gender pay gap that still exists today makes this campaign
seem depressingly current).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Eleanor was a writer and
multi-linguist, travelling across Europe and to America to
investigate employment conditions and spur on the workers’
movement, admirable now but astounding for an unmarried woman of the
period.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yet if Eleanor Marx is an example of
the intellectual force and drive possessed by the female sex and of
what women can achieve in the political sphere against the odds, she
is also a cautionary example of the power relations and violence
women so often face in the personal sphere. Eleanor was found dead
at the age of 43, poisoned by prussic acid. Suspicion fell on her
long-term on-off partner Edward Aveling who had purchased both
chloroform and prussic acid on the morning of her death, and had left
the house later that morning, returning only when Eleanor had been
dead for hours. An inquest was held at which Aveling blamed
Eleanor’s depression and was not charged, leaving with the
remainder of the inheritance Eleanor had received from Engels.
Whether her death was suicide or something more sinister, Eleanor the
person fell victim to a manipulative and possibly abusive partner,
and her legacy to stereotypes about female mental weakness and lack
of resilience.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a>But the sad
circumstances of her passing should not overshadow the achievements
of this early activist and intellectual, who built on a family
heritage but was not dominated by it; who created her own socialist
and feminist inheritance.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i>To read more about the life and work
of Eleanor Marx, please see her biography, ‘Eleanor Marx: A Life’
by Rachel Holmes - which inspired this Page 3. </i>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
NS</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-56188785185346075162014-07-08T09:55:00.003-07:002014-07-08T09:58:27.364-07:00June 2014 - How was it for you? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/june-2014-how-was-it-for-you.html"><span id="goog_1372658304"></span><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rMvmBShoCfJF0210SzTX_7u6yU5e6BK7nLRfrdhyW-P3IXWOdEF5z4WfCvxB7_EBA09RIoqCKehKyQCsDnINa7_slHxmNirOwY18si9B76LYJcouNHbnazQChhvre7w7wAe0fJr2wJU/s1600/master.HousesOfParliament.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a><span id="goog_1372658305"></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
June started with the government
setting out its legislative agenda for the next year in the Queen’s
Speech. For the first time ever both the proposer and seconder of the
Speech were female, with both Penny Mordaunt (Con, Portsmouth North)
and Annette Brook (Lib Dem, Mid Dorset and North Poole) receiving
much praise for their respective work in welcoming the traditional
opening of Parliament. Not being expected to cause any great
political earthquakes, the day conformed to expectations. The
<a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/childcarepayments.html" target="_blank">Childcare Payments Bill</a> and <a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/modernslavery.html" target="_blank">Modern Slavery Bill</a> had already been confirmed in the months leading up
to June, so perhaps the announcements that will have the most impact
on women in particular were regarding the two pensions bills or the
<a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/armedforcesservicecomplaintsandfinancialassistance.html" target="_blank">Armed Forces Bill</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The government is looking to create
more flexibility surrounding how people save for their retirement,
and how they eventually use these savings, with two new bills. This
is certainly good news for those individuals (often, though not always, female) who have not been in continuous employment throughout
their lives. Flexibility, if coupled with the creation of new
products from industry, will help people to build a plan that fits
them, rather than fitting in to a plan designed for a more
traditional working life. The Dutch style ‘collective’ pensions
that will be allowed by the <a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/pensionschemes.html" target="_blank">Pension Schemes Bill</a> will allow savers to pool risk, potentially allowing
for greater returns coupled with greater certainty. Perfect for those
who need a dependable income in old age, yet have been unable to save
small amounts consistently in one of the lower risk schemes that are
currently available.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The <a href="http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/armedforcesservicecomplaintsandfinancialassistance.html" target="_blank">Armed Forces Bill</a> will establish an ombudsman to whom military
personnel can refer their complaints, should they feel that they have
been unfairly treated. Such legislation should be of benefit to
people of all genders, but benefit will certainly be derived by women
and LGBT individuals serving in the forces in light of a number of
terrible bullying and harassment cases that have been brought to our
attention in recent months.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With both these bills having only
recently been introduced there will be plenty of developments to
follow, but given that the Speech was otherwise relatively thin on
the ground, the major debates over the next year are likely to centre
around ongoing manifesto development in the run-up to the general
election.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Westminster was not only setting out
the political agenda for the UK in June, Foreign Secretary William
Hague also brought the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/sexual-violence-in-conflict" target="_blank">Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict</a> to London, allowing
British figures to take centre stage in the fight.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBszuW4PchaGuKVmee3AEYBUDLTXsoxQhLZzSjPWFjuAcFXGKo83fOTgmw6WDHu3Nf2hBfmrzUDrIpE8FZOYXtv4VAkFZGlCzyijOU_mFWl9GnDFkI1JiNrTotY3p4ggKpAtLi-xWzsXA/s1600/global+summit+to+end+sexual+violence+in+conflict.ashx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBszuW4PchaGuKVmee3AEYBUDLTXsoxQhLZzSjPWFjuAcFXGKo83fOTgmw6WDHu3Nf2hBfmrzUDrIpE8FZOYXtv4VAkFZGlCzyijOU_mFWl9GnDFkI1JiNrTotY3p4ggKpAtLi-xWzsXA/s1600/global+summit+to+end+sexual+violence+in+conflict.ashx.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The conjunction of political figures
and celebrities is often toe-curlingly cringe worthy. However, the
pairing of Hague and Angelina Jolie worked weirdly well, perhaps due
to her unapologetic commitment to UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and his good-sense to do his
job and not try to ‘be cool’. Whilst raising awareness amongst
parliamentarians and other political stakeholders, the Department for International Development announced an
extra <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-pledges-more-support-for-victims-of-sexual-violence-in-war" target="_blank">£5m in funding</a> to address the problem and a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/william-hague-and-angelina-jolie-demand-end-to-impunity-for-warzone-rape">new
protocol</a> was launched to increase prosecutions of sexual violence in conflict zones.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a>At the other end
of the success spectrum last month was the ever thorny interaction
between faith and education. Extremism allegedly imposed by governors
at schools in Birmingham snowballed when the Education Secretary and
Home Secretary fell out over the handling of it. In the ‘Trojan
Horse’ scandal, as it became known, it transpired that Birmingham
Education Authority had ignored warnings regarding extremism creeping
in to the day-to-day operation of a number of schools over the last
12 years. Though all relevant, and plenty of irrelevant, avenues were
pursued at length by the press regarding this case, the government
remained focused on the important, though not all-consuming, issue of
national security with an occasional aside to the possibility that
gender segregation had occurred in classrooms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Embarrassingly dragged to the Commons
by the shadow home secretary, Theresa May was forced to give a
statement on the government’s counter-extremism strategy whilst
Michael Gove looked on and waited his turn. A number of important
issues were covered, despite the political wrangling regarding
whether the two secretaries of state could possibly work together
moving forward, but there was a glaring omission. When Julian Huppert
(Lib Dem, Cambridge) asked May about PSHE provision at the Birmingham
schools, she said that Huppert had <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140609/debtext/140609-0001.htm" target="_blank">‘worked hard’ to get this issue in to a debate about extremism in schools</a>, implying that there were no relevant implications of extremism
for the personal, health and social education of children and young
adults at these schools.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As important as different faiths can be
for different people personally; health, social, and the
unfortunately euphemised part of PSHE, sex education, are integral to
progress towards a more equal and respectful society. Without the
provision of unbiased information and education regarding these
integral parts of life, misinformation and misunderstanding will
hinder the empowerment of girls, who will remain unaware of the
choices and rights. It will also allow the myths in the male
community regarding everything from consent to harassment to persist.
This might be preaching to the converted, or perhaps just preaching,
but for the Home Secretary to imply that a perversion of a full and
inclusive education is not a rightful part of last month’s debate
is really quite disconcerting.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM6OqGIgNBMkZgTdAbGdS-EDUKMJx1L-sXIhCPywggBDiiiT2OHgj2KrY2pstiJ-eHiR1bfv41KmgWwqCmjQ8F8B6ona4APsvkvsEQTNYjhhU9L_vFxd9uPtYKF7FfAU51K76UhaQNZc/s1600/patrice-merrin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKM6OqGIgNBMkZgTdAbGdS-EDUKMJx1L-sXIhCPywggBDiiiT2OHgj2KrY2pstiJ-eHiR1bfv41KmgWwqCmjQ8F8B6ona4APsvkvsEQTNYjhhU9L_vFxd9uPtYKF7FfAU51K76UhaQNZc/s1600/patrice-merrin.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Patrice Merrin, Glencore Xstrata's </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">first </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">female board-member</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To end on a positive note, June saw the
last FTSE100 company without a woman on the board, Glencore Xstrata,
appoint one. Have the powers that be been reading <a href="http://thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/may-2014-how-was-it-for-you.html" target="_blank">last month’s edition of How Was It For You?</a> Well, on top of that,
they’ve been listening to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/women-on-boards-ftse100-milestone-reached" target="_blank">Mr Cable and his team</a>. For all the Lib Dems' issues over the course
of this government, not to mention their lack of female
representatives, they have certainly pushed the women’s agenda
harder than the coalition colleagues. More of this please.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://twitter.com/freyapascall"><b>@freyapascall</b></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-65438714992060009692014-06-02T07:47:00.005-07:002014-06-02T07:48:53.208-07:00May 2014 - How was it for you? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/may-2014-how-was-it-for-you.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3r2NfNZg3vWBkc58-2MdLQswAJXUIr-oOd8VNEyARKttJXgopp3xY2arYsvtdXZafVam4-XyPBaY4Fkur_QwH_rW5Nz7AZ8_CpCyZ_2RHGcBGy2v3CO2jxxMfYrcDkZCutNILULGpMI/s1600/natalie-bennett.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Natalie Bennett, Green Party leader.</span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This month was set to be all about the
local and European elections from the start. It would be churlish not
to mention the rise and rise of UKIP, but the obvious points have, at
least for now, been done to death by the mainstream media. Whether
the coverage of UKIP was justified or not, one thing seems fairly
clear: the lack of comparable coverage of the Green Party was
shocking. Now the fourth UK party in terms of MEPs (they have 3, 2
more than the Lib Dems), their leader Natalie Bennett didn’t
feature in the BBC European results coverage until 2.30am, at which
point the presenters were filling due to the delayed London results.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It’s understandable that as a
generally understated centre-left party, they aren’t nearly as sexy
in the eyes of new editors overwhelmed by headline grabbing gaffes
from the likes of Godfrey Bloom et al. However, if a party with, yes
more MEPS, but zero MPs gets the kind of coverage UKIP have,
questions need to be asked. Particularly when we start to see a
correlation between media coverage and electoral success.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Is the Greens’ lack of coverage
anything to do with the fact that the party has had female leaders
since leadership of the party was established in 2007? It’s hard to
say, as a number of factors may well be contributing, but more
substantial coverage would certainly be welcome from both a political
and gender based stand-point.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With Parliament prorogued (shut for the
end of the session) from May 14<sup>th</sup>, all was relatively
quiet on the Westminster front. The month started with a <a href="http://order-order.com/2014/05/01/bercow-email-to-mps-on-parliament-perv-hotline/">letter
from Commons Speaker John Bercow</a> to announce the establishment of
a confidential helpline for parliamentary staff to discuss any
personal or professional issues they might be struggling with. Dubbed
the ‘perv hotline’ by Guido Fawkes, it marked the continuation of
Bercow’s efforts to stamp out sexism and harassment in Parliament.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
However, as the Lord Rennard scandal
rumbles on, we’re reminded of how far off real cultural change is.
In his apology, finally issued at the end of the month, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/29/lord-rennard-apology-for-possibly-encroaching-on-activists-personal-space">Rennard
said he ‘may’ have encroached on the personal space the four
female activists who accused him</a>. Apologising ‘if’ he had
done something wrong, shows a profound lack of understanding of any
wrongdoing and an unwillingness to engage in order to do so. To
apologise is to recognise what one has done and to regret it. It
seems he neither recognises how he made these women feel, nor truly
regrets it, since despite the time that has passed since the
accusations were made (15 months) he still hasn’t made the effort
to really listen to these women’s grievances. Bercow facilitating
discussion of this culture is to be praised, but Rennard’s rhetoric
shows the issue is far from resolved.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Labour also faced criticism this month
for its handling of Austin Mitchell’s tweet comparing Pfizer’s
attempted takeover of AstraZeneca to rape.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pdhLDbOczlybWvnKsH7C1f9Cri-VpmdSJ-bTGij35BOdFMZaRuWHAu_zB26zP6hlcPl8y97pZ5qbZ-hETE-8PtEUitJ47oytY5DXwpR9hlCeuIV6FEvRsPrdIw6fq3RQFqjpKlso6Dk/s1600/HWIFY+May2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pdhLDbOczlybWvnKsH7C1f9Cri-VpmdSJ-bTGij35BOdFMZaRuWHAu_zB26zP6hlcPl8y97pZ5qbZ-hETE-8PtEUitJ47oytY5DXwpR9hlCeuIV6FEvRsPrdIw6fq3RQFqjpKlso6Dk/s1600/HWIFY+May2014.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Why the tweet wasn’t denounced
straightaway by the party’s leadership is anyone’s guess, but it
gave the Tories a rare chance to lord it over Labour on sexual
violence issues. It was good to see the tweet condemned so swiftly,
but it was hard to discern much sincerity past the obvious political
point scoring. A <a href="http://t.co/HIpd1Q2sXT">letter from Women’s
Minister Nicky Morgan</a> said that Mitchell’s tweet trivialised
sex attacks, but didn’t really make up for the government’s
to-ing and fro-ing on the <a href="http://www.rapecrisis.org.uk/news_show.php?id=73">funding
of specialised services for the victims of sexual violence</a>.
Plenty of other MPs got involved with Stella Creasy sarcastically
praising Claire Perry’s ‘politically expedient’ discovery of
feminism, but in the end neither of the parties came out particularly
well, nor was any benefit really derived from any kind of sincere
discussion of policy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Away from tweets and scandals the
government continues to push its economic agenda alongside women’s
issues. Business Secretary Vince Cable highlighted the fact that all
but one of the top 100 FTSE companies now have a woman at board
level. He proclaimed that a “<a href="http://www.libdems.org.uk/more_women_than_ever_on_top_company_boards">diverse
top management team is good for business</a>” and committed to
working personally with the new chairman of Glencore Xstrata, Tony
Hayward, the only FTSE 100 company without a single women on their
board. He’s done something right as <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/may/20/ms-profits-for-third-year-running-uk-inflation-cost-of-living-business-live">Hayward
has since committed to achieving this by the end of 2014</a>.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
However, the picture gets worse the
further you get from the FTSE 100. When one looks at all businesses
registered in the UK, only 21% have a woman on the board. On the
announcement of a £1m fund to support female entrepreneurs a
government press release announced that women-led businesses now
represent 20% of British small and medium sized enterprises. Despite
their achievements in some areas, it speaks volumes that the
government also presents such figures as something to be impressed
by, as if it’s astonishing that even this many women have managed
to launch themselves at this level. Sure any increase is good, but
seeing as the story on this announcement on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/female-entrepreneurs-set-to-benefit-from-superfast-broadband">Government
Equalities Office website</a> doesn’t use this figure, someone else
must have noticed that it was just embarrassing to use in any story
aiming to show off the government’s support of women in business.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Next month sees the Foreign Secretary
William Hague and Special Envoy to the UNHCR Angelina Jolie host the
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/sexual-violence-in-conflict">Global
Summit to End Sexual Violence</a> in London, the Newark by-election
(no female candidates from any party) and the Queen’s speech. See
you on July 1<sup>st</sup>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b>@freyapascall</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-35872229582858446122014-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:002014-05-25T11:36:20.225-07:00Blobbed off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCSnJ8ZjAf9qhyphenhypheniSKg1HLkwUzLaxjcrOBvf121PAZ1IfVMleGrRZqKTFJywgiJJW_X90zWShAeNVf4clRn_JSR69e8dHEqIhAHooMVC_6k14GztfIHqtBGUUvMhK-hkEz8MNY-oLgBQ8/s1600/worst+period+action+aid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCSnJ8ZjAf9qhyphenhypheniSKg1HLkwUzLaxjcrOBvf121PAZ1IfVMleGrRZqKTFJywgiJJW_X90zWShAeNVf4clRn_JSR69e8dHEqIhAHooMVC_6k14GztfIHqtBGUUvMhK-hkEz8MNY-oLgBQ8/s1600/worst+period+action+aid.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Picture the scene, dear reader: there I was, mindlessly flopping into a seat on the Central line after a long Saturday traipsing round in the sun giving out council leaflets. My eyes wandered to the advert directly across from me, read it, and returned to contemplating the floor, my expression one of someone who has stared into the depths of political apathy. Then I had the almost physical sensation of my tired mind doing a double-take. Wait a minute, what did I just read?<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I re read the advert across from me with closer attention. It was not, as you might expect, an ad for a beauty product or one that promulgated an unattainable standard of beauty, my usual complaints about much of the advertising that forms the wallpaper of our modern lives. No, this was, strictly speaking, not an advert but a campaign poster for an international charity. Now I have to admit that my recollection of which charity and exactly which country the advert featured is shamefully hazy, and I have been unable to find out. Google searches and trawls of well-known charity websites have turned up nothing, and the Transport for London media and advertising management centre were unable to enlighten me. If anyone catches sight of this, a shout-out to the Huss Post would be much appreciated! [<i>since been found, above – ed</i>].<br />
<br />
But nevertheless, aspects of the campaign remain crystal clear. On one level, it was without doubt an effective and worthwhile campaign message. The poster was drawing attention to the recent terrible violence and unrest in either the Central African Republic or South Sudan. It was illustrated with the standard picture of a forlorn-looking African woman in traditional dress (I know, I know, but the presentation and paradigm of humanitarian campaigning is a whole other knarly kettle of fish best dealt with elsewhere [<i>indeed, see <a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/gender/2014/03/24/is-actionaid-gender-specific-fundraising-campaign-progressive/" target="_blank">Dr Holmes' blog post on this which went up on an LSE blog yesterday</a> - ed</i>]) but this was not where I took my main issue. The purpose of the article was a worthwhile and indeed even feminist one: it highlighted the fact that women fleeing conflict and forced into overcrowded refugee camps in the country were faced with not only lack of food, clean water and medical supplies, but also lack of sanitary supplies for periods. The campaign asked tube riders to donate just £5 to help get sanitary towels and tampons included in packs of essential supplies being sent to camps. <br />
<br />
Now this is an incredibly important step in terms of the recognition of women’s particular needs in disaster/conflict zones and I fully support the charity’s attempt to bring attention to these needs. However, the specific wording of the campaign ad is where the feminist message became twisted. It asked readers to picture the plight of the individual women in the picture: forced out of her home by conflict, now crowded into a makeshift camp for internally displaced people with uncertain access to food, water and sanitation. So far, so incontrovertible as a rallying cry for support. <br />
<br />
But the main thrust of the ad, the attempted emotional sucker-punch to the chest that would spark tired commuters into actually donating, was how utterly awful it is that this woman not only has to deal with these traumas, she also faces (and this is an exact quote from the ad, being the part that stuck in my mind like bindweed) ‘the terrible humiliation’ of getting her period each month without the requisite sanitary supplies. Reader, EVERYBODY KNOWS. Terribly, this poor women who has survived civil conflict and is faced with a daily struggle for survival and well-being, CANNOT HIDE from people around her - without the tampons and pads and the sprays we in the West take for granted - the fact that her body is experiencing the NATURAL MONTHLY CYCLE that means she will be able to bear CHILDREN. The horror!<br />
<br />
My apologies for the caps, but this message about how periods are something that women should be ashamed of and seek to hide, most often from their menfolk, is one that I feel is unacceptable. I don’t believe that this is a form of cultural imperialism, that other countries just have different attitudes to such things and we should respect them, as our cultures, as far as we seem to have come in accepting women’s bodies and sexuality, still retain a vestigial and prurient attitude to periods. It is seen in the euphemistic adverts for period products (remember the sanitary towel adverts demonstrating absorbency with weirdly antiseptic-looking blue liquid in place of blood?), in the constant trumpeting of the ‘discreetness’ of such products, in the terror that most of us women will recognise when there is a chance we might have leaked blood on our clothes or worse, on bed-sheets in a strange house. <br />
<br />
We need to confront these attitudes and make periods something to be proud of. We should not squirm if someone asks us if we are on our period, but rather proudly affirm this as a demonstration of health, fertility, and as part of many people’s identities as women. Yes, the advert discussed is trying to do good work in recognising women’s basic biological needs, but it should not do so by perpetuating the discourse of shame around a natural bodily function. Points for effort, but nil points for execution I’m afraid.<br />
<br />
NSThe Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-53391557430336790062014-05-07T11:25:00.002-07:002014-05-25T08:32:41.069-07:00Page 3 - Manuela Sáenz, never just a lover<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/page-3-manuela-saenz-never-just-lover.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikEpZ47huoaqoMfYI-jSN2Gpdmhhxrj-991a-LETIE1vWo-YBM7X_s7iZX8CWKLbrn6xHbXCi-WjqCAAdSqkNwiTpB-XvoTiFqM2jE_FPHsOrlnZH_ZnjKc2_m8hufrA6mNRNsrlBGRbI/s1600/Manuela_Sa%CC%81ens_Thorne.jpg" height="320" width="273" /></span></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuela Sáenz is one of Latin America’s ultimate Hussies. She lived her life as a mistress to another man, betraying not only her husband, but also her country. Yet, until 2010 when she was given a state burial, she was one of the region’s unsung heroes, a leader, and a revolutionary. She fought for her own freedom and for the freedom of the people that she loved.</span><div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuela Sáenz was born in December 1797, right in the midst of Spanish Colonialism in Latin America. She was the illegitimate child of a Spanish nobleman and a local girl, and as a result she was sent in disgrace to a convent to be educated. She was forced to leave the convent when it was discovered that she was having relations with a Spanish army officer. The extent to which these relations were consensual is not fully known. It is suspected that they were not. She ended up living with her father Quito, in Ecuador, who ‘kindly’ arranged a marriage for her to an Englishman twice her age when she was only 20. She joined the realms of aristocracy and high society in Lima, Peru. Many would have said she was very lucky to be in such a position, but the pompous charade of colonists was not for her. It was a life that she resented and she spent her life fighting against it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She used her time in that world wisely, though, and learnt about the revolutions occurring around Latin America, and importantly what the Spanish and English were doing about them. She gathered both military intelligence and her own confidence from the rebel stories spread between aristocratic mouths, absorbing and planning. During her time in Lima, Manuela joined the rebel groups and acted as a spy for them, sharing her information for the good of the revolution. Which is in itself awesome…like 007 but in a fancy dress…</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before long she was following her ideals, leaving her husband and heading back to Quito. Simon Bolívar the infamous Latino Hero, know by the people as ‘El liberador’ (the liberator in Spanish – in case your logic is out of sync today) had just won a great battle for the rebels and welcomed Manuela with open arms…if you know what I mean… They fell in love instantly and Manuela spent the next 8 years of her life at his side, but importantly he was also at hers. They exchanged love letters and she visited him while he moved from one country to another. Manuela became known as ‘Libertadora del libertador’ ("liberator of the liberator"), she prevented his assassination in 1828 and helped Bolívar to escape to continue with the rebellion. She also supported the revolutionary cause by gathering information, distributing leaflets, and protesting for women's rights.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, Manuela fought on the battlefield many times, working her way through the ranks until she was honoured with the rank of Colonel on the request of Bolívar’s second-in-command. She had shown herself worthy on her own merit of being an active and brilliant individual, without Bolívar. As one of the first women involved in the revolution, Manuela received the Order of the Sun (‘Caballeresa del Sol’ or 'Dame of the Sun'), honouring her services in the revolution. This award is the highest award bestowed by the nation of Peru to commend notable civil and military merit, and she was the first female to receive such a high honour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately the success of Boliviar’s revolution was limited and he was forced into exile. He died from tuberculosis leaving Manuela behind, alone and unprovided for. However, as the brilliantly strong woman that she was, she continued with the revolution in his name until she herself was exiled to Jamaica. There she stayed for a while before finally settling in the small town of Paita on the Peruvian coast. She made a living writing and translating letters for sailors on whaling ships and by selling tobacco and candy. Amusingly, she had several dogs, which she named after her and Simón’s political enemies. Regardless of her exile, Manuela remained active in revolutionary activities by holding meetings and often being an advisor for those wishing to take the battle further.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With time, she became destitute and disabled after she fell through the stairs in her home. She died in 1856, 25 years after Bolívar, from Diphtheria. At the time she was considered a harlot and a pariah and she was buried as such within a mass grave. Once the fighting was over, Bolívar was recognised for his part in the revolution and honoured for it. It wasn't until recently, however, that Manuela Sáenz was recognised herself. In 2010, more than 150 years after she had died, she was finally recognised for the work that she had achieved. She was ceremonially buried beside her lover Bolívar in the National Pantheon of Venezuela; ‘We are going to unite the remains of our liberator Simón Bolívar with the remains of his immortal companion,’ said Venezuela's vice-president, Elías Jaua. In 2007 the Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa officially promoted her to ‘Generala de Honor de la República de Ecuador,’ or ‘Honorary General of the Republic of Ecuador.’ Many places such as schools, streets and businesses bear her name, and her history is required reading for schoolchildren. There's also a museum dedicated to her memory in old colonial Quito, and she is the subject of multiple books, musicals and films.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As she should be, Manuela Sáenz has finally been immortalised. But I feel that it may be for the wrong reasons. In all the news articles and media surrounding her reburial, she is portrayed as the lover of Bolívar, his confidante. As Pamela Murray, author of For Glory and Bolívar: The Remarkable Life of Manuela Sáenz says, ‘Often she is portrayed as a romantic or superficial figure but she was politically important for Bolívar and a political operator in her own right.’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuela Sáenz may not be a well-known or living feminist leader, in fact the word ‘feminism’ was not part of her vocabulary. But she was a leader before her time, a solider, a politician, an activist, a nurse, a protector, a freedom fighter and, of course, the ultimate Hussy. She may be immortalized as the liberator’s lover in the minds of others, but for me, she will be immortalized as one of the bravest and most influential females of her time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SS</span><br />
<br />The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-51473917161303679012014-05-05T13:15:00.002-07:002014-05-25T08:34:25.900-07:00April 2014 - How was it for you? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/april-2014-how-was-it-for-you.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbfEZc08p0_t4vA5yDIGx8EthiSnmdFg_YsQrIu_W8YZTCh-AN8ny_FyQoAj5OXD3iGNtePLD7oZDRFi5t46W1o1TAcPoUB_jyb2oFrpBrsMXFK1yxMBuPHdce1uzAbKM86gV3Y-wmAq8/s1600/HWIFY+April14+image.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a big month for women in Westminster the idea of disciplining myself to write a monthly feminist round-up seemed like a good one. An awful lot happens in the political world that never hits the new headlines, but April shone a spotlight on the often maligned culture and equalities briefs. Four female secretaries of state became three when Maria Miller resigned after being ordered to repay £5800 of mis-claimed expenses and, embarrassingly, to apologise for her attitude to the investigation into her actions. This meant that we not only lost a secretary of state, but also that a new minister for women and equalities needed to be appointed.</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sajid Javid stepped up for culture and equalities, but even David Cameron recognised that a male minister for women wouldn’t do. However, when Nicky Morgan was announced as the incumbent to the post, it didn’t take long for aspersions to be cast on her credentials, despite her XX chromosome. Having voted against same sex marriage, the almost instantaneous question was whether Morgan had become minister for women, or just heterosexual women. As <a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/04/nicky-morgan-david-cameron-has-just-appointed-minister-straight-women">Helen Lewis pointed out</a>, it’s not as if any of the big pushes for women in this parliament, on FGM, sex and relationship education or raising awareness of body image issues, came from Miller, but to appoint someone who has actively voted against the rights of homosexual women was quite a body blow. Cameron made the provision for her to report directly to Cabinet rather than to a man who reports to him, another man. But until we have a prime minister for women, rather than a lower level minister, the interests of half the population aren’t going to be at the fore of consideration.<br /><br />A bad month for female representation in the Cabinet from Tories was lifted slightly by the Lib Dems when Jenny Willott became champion for women in business, and the first ever female Lib Dem to attend Cabinet when she made a presentation on the coalition’s efforts to close the gender pay gap. This was an important achievement for Nick Clegg and the party following the Lord Rennard controversy, which hit the Lib Dems' reputation on female representation hard. The renewed effort on this issue, led by Willott, was also worthy of celebration, as <a href="http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm:77-294314">according to the Office for National Statistics</a> the gender pay gap has stayed largely static over the entire course of this Parliament at approximately £5500 on average. However, given that getting a female Lib Dem into a Cabinet meeting has taken nearly four years of being in power, and that just one eighth of the party’s MPs are women, it still leaves rather a lot of room for improvement.<br /><br />In terms of the numbers game, it only seems fair that Labour get a special mention in comparison. <a href="https://www.labour.org.uk/labour-shadow-cabinet">Of those attending the shadow Cabinet</a>, just over 50 per cent are female, though of the most senior positions, i.e. secretaries of state, women make up just over one third. The party is working to capitalise on this lead, especially by highlighting the implications of controversial Conservative policy for women. Rachel Reeves stressed the adverse effects of the bedroom tax by pointing out its application to panic rooms for victims of domestic violence; <a href="http://press.labour.org.uk/post/83392241984/labour-snails-pace-not-good-enough-on-judicial">Sadiq Khan, commented on the lack of diversity in the judiciary</a> alongside criticism of the government’s legal aid reforms; and Gloria De Piero looked to capitalise on the aforementioned changes to the women and equalities briefs by <a href="http://press.labour.org.uk/post/82194456878/gloria-de-piero-letter-to-david-cameron-asking-for">writing an open letter to David Cameron</a>. Miliband has also been flanking himself with women on the front bench at all opportunities, after attempting to discredit the coalition’s record on women in government during a PMQs session earlier this year.<br /><br />A mention of PMQs can’t be let slide this month without a nod to John Bercow’s revelation that a number of MPs have told him that they actively avoid PMQs due to the “histrionics and cacophony of noise” that accompanies it. The comments were made to highlight disillusionment with politics that sadly runs far wider than the focus on political issues that affect half the population, or ‘women’s issues’, as they belittlingly tend to be termed. However, the image conjured by women shunning the juvenile boys' club that has become a weekly embarrassment to many MPs, certainly felt like a win for women in politics, even if it did take a prominent male to push the issue in the mainstream media.<br /><br />The fruitcakes were at it again in April, suggesting that women shouldn’t be allowed to wear trousers, promoting rape myths and plenty more of their standard fare. Early April’s televised debates between Clegg and Farage on Europe were a car crash for Europhiles, but failed catastrophically to truly highlight what the UKIP leadership thinks about women. It seems that their thoughts on the ‘fairer sex’ are seen as a side issue, yet again maligned as a minority issue to be brought out for ridicule if the news agenda runs out of steam. One would hope that a quick Google would remind anyone considering them as a legitimate option of their distain, not only for minorities, but, I’ll say it again, half the population.<br /><br />During May the drama of the European and local elections will play out, so there will be plenty to discuss. Until then join the debate by ensuring that you’re registered to vote. The deadline is May 6, despite the election not being until May 22. Find out everything you need to know at <a href="http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/">www.aboutmyvote.co.uk</a>...and tell your friends.<br /><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/freyapascall">@freyapascall</a><br /><br />FP<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-74671343104696710642014-05-01T05:56:00.003-07:002014-05-01T05:59:55.795-07:00What have Workers' Rights ever done for us? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ExWfh6sGyso?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Unless you genuinely live
under a rock, you will have noticed a recent upturn in European Union
trash talking by white male population of this country. Whenever I
hear a middle aged brandy drinker trot out the racist, xenophobic
drivel that UKIP call policy, I cannot help but recall that Monty
Python sketch from <i>The Life of Brian </i>in which Reg asks “What
have the Romans ever done for us?” So on this International
Workers' Rights Day, I’d like to lay out for you a few reasons
why being in the EU is just as useful to women as aqueducts, roads
and the alphabet.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because one day you
may have a child</b></u> – and if you do, the chances are you’ll
quite like to take some time off. Your partner probably would as
well.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"> <a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=40" target="_blank">You can thank the EU for paid parental leave. </a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because there is still
a gender based pay gap</b></u> – <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=30" target="_blank">and the EU hasn’t been letting Britain, France, Germany etc forget about it since 1975</a>.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because
you are more likely to end up in a part time job</b></u> – The
demands of childcare, the impact of poor education and job
opportunities, plus a whole host of other reasons’ mean that women
are more likely to take on part time work or need flexible working
hours. <a href="http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/employment_rights_and_work_organisation/c10416_en.htm" target="_blank">EU legislation protects your right to fair </a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/employment_and_social_policy/employment_rights_and_work_organisation/c10416_en.htm" target="_blank">treatment and working conditions as a part time worker. </a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b><br /></b></u></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because you could lose
your job</b></u> – and the EU
<a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=34" target="_blank">ensures that you receive severance pay and that employees are at least consulted about redundancies</a> before they are implemented. The
EU also
<a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=37" target="_blank">ensures the right to appeal terminations</a> and protection from unfair
dismissal.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because collective
action is the only way</b></u><b> </b>– the EU
<a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=35" target="_blank">guarantees you and your colleagues</a> the right to collective action and
bargaining. It remains the most effective way of promoting,
establishing and protecting your workplace rights. And it’s
seriously under threat.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><b>Because discrimination
still exists in the workplace</b></u> – and the EU
is at the <a href="http://www.eucharter.org/home.php?page_id=28" target="_blank">forefront of fighting it in the UK and Europe</a>. It was
responsible for the bulk of sex discrimination law, as well as the
legislation regarding race and age.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a>In
fact, most of the rights we consider absolute and British based,
exist because the European Union requires its members to uphold them.
Without EU membership we risk losing them all, as big business
dislikes not being able to fire you because you have a child and need
to leave at five, or because you’re over forty.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The Conservatives have
already made it harder for you to appeal a dismissal, they’ve
overseen the introduction of zero hour contracts, which artificially
boosts unemployment statistics and decreases benefit payments because
as you’re employed you can’t get benefits – never mind that
you’ve also been given no hours this week and can’t get another
job because you allegedly have one. UKIP would tear up the Human Rights Act and
have you cleaning behind Nigel Farage’s fridge until you drop dead.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
International Worker’s Day
isn’t just a token gesture to diehard commies and union members,
it’s a mark of respect to the workers that came before us, who
didn’t have these protections, and who pushed hard to create them.
As a worker in the UK, it frightens me how cavalierly the general
public are treating the upcoming European elections as it’s the
last bastion of worker’s rights we have in this country. As a woman
it positively terrifies me that we could find ourselves having
renegotiate the equal pay act, anti-discrimination legislation and
workplace rights with men who think homosexuality makes it rain a
lot.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I’m not naïve about the
problems within the EU. I am for reform and red tape cutting, and
agree that some of the directives are a waste of money. But women’s
rights are not a nation state issue alone. We cannot have an impact
on the welfare of women even worse off than us, if we don’t have a
cohesive, enforceable and comprehensive body of law for ourselves as
well. The workplace is the most effective place to change our lives
and their lives forever. Equal pay, favourable conditions and
reasonable benefits are basic rights that we, as women especially,
have only just got. And many millions of woman can only dream of them
still. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So I wish you a happy
International Workers' Day and leave you with something I hope will
cheer you up a little, and maybe even inspire you to help fight for a
brighter outlook.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jHPOzQzk9Qo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
LC</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-17671026943896782422014-05-01T00:32:00.000-07:002014-05-25T08:56:55.188-07:00Industries are violating women's human rights. Here's how.<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/industries-are-violating-womens-human.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzljsSu_NtVhnU_tHvR8x5bzJPDDJZxuxNfGlCkgedo29uXmPx-M_GTMPWzHLg5Rlamis0vzzZ4Fx9GdR3ksDx0maHtCQIhlQDKhwj7-mJWLdMWybwvbRhi9Lf4mgR79zASGz2j9TG5cU/s1600/worker-human-rights.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
<br />
Women face MASSIVE human rights violations in the workplace. To mark International Workers' Day, we've outlined some of the biggest issues, and what you can do to help...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sex Trafficking </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GrXcMtSo7pFKdNFUKVHoujUuLpb0TeHQY6ECrqxz7pXN9XnCPTD58yuMXFjlAXj1xrjlQ4yCqD8kVwdmmJUi8MD_xr9MTNNlMSLQg0_2-uozpA_HeodsPahmn6tLMA3Kl7aN4RGmE-w/s1600/6c50d57.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GrXcMtSo7pFKdNFUKVHoujUuLpb0TeHQY6ECrqxz7pXN9XnCPTD58yuMXFjlAXj1xrjlQ4yCqD8kVwdmmJUi8MD_xr9MTNNlMSLQg0_2-uozpA_HeodsPahmn6tLMA3Kl7aN4RGmE-w/s1600/6c50d57.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>What?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b>Women are trafficked in staggeringly high numbers all over the globe. Women are promised job prospects, education, or a visa. They find themselves in a strange country, often unable to speak the language. Forced into prostitution, they must work to pay off 'debts' to their traffickers. This is modern day slavery. <br />
<br />
<b>Where?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b>Worldwide, nationally and internationally. Women are sex trafficked internally from poor to more affluent areas. They are trafficked internationally from poorer countries to richer ones. Traffickers often take circuitous routes to evade authorities or take advantage of looser immigration rules in certain countries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LroVAMPqceaxbwkfyieMH3eqmcffZochC5rR3XYnN2Kk7D8DxKMBCuWEjpLRJ1T3CZ15GmXsw9XMfiloz1gya2NCJqT8dnZyPegL7DktTR3gm40oQhLg2Flt70IyhG4CY1Z0teMIbt4/s1600/1159782366.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LroVAMPqceaxbwkfyieMH3eqmcffZochC5rR3XYnN2Kk7D8DxKMBCuWEjpLRJ1T3CZ15GmXsw9XMfiloz1gya2NCJqT8dnZyPegL7DktTR3gm40oQhLg2Flt70IyhG4CY1Z0teMIbt4/s1600/1159782366.gif" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Trafficking routes into the UK from outside the EU</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What can I do?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Support <a href="https://www.stopthetraffik.org/uk">Stop the Traffik</a> and <a href="http://www.unseenuk.org/">Unseen</a>, volunteer for Eaves and support their <a href="http://www.eavesforwomen.org.uk/about-eaves/our-projects/the-poppy-project">Poppy Project</a>, or make a film for <a href="http://www.unchosen.org.uk/">Unchosen</a>!<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Surrogacy</b></span><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7QhaMkUr3MMP3mg71a_FOHGVWxgNIzY987X1p6a94EuhpmqB_qu2ejPIYtcRuAImVuskJPIqAJ-qoLaj-QyULoW9Yy1BC8mxBIFL4k-xD9MwGo8CTRUon_3bobKwZfx_ayhbdcIbYNw/s1600/surrogacy+.jpg"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7QhaMkUr3MMP3mg71a_FOHGVWxgNIzY987X1p6a94EuhpmqB_qu2ejPIYtcRuAImVuskJPIqAJ-qoLaj-QyULoW9Yy1BC8mxBIFL4k-xD9MwGo8CTRUon_3bobKwZfx_ayhbdcIbYNw/s1600/surrogacy+.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>What?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A surrogacy agreement is the carrying of a pregnancy for intended parents. Rich couples “rent out” the womb of a (usually poorer) woman. To what extent should we be concerned about exploitation, commodification, and/or coercion when women are paid to be pregnant and deliver babies, especially in cases where there are large wealth and power differentials between intended parents and surrogates? Is contracting for surrogacy more like contracting for employment/labour, or more like contracting for prostitution, or more like contracting for slavery? How ethical is it to “rent” another person’s body?<br />
<br />
<b>Where?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surrogate women can be found everywhere, but mostly amongst the poor within developing countries, for example in India or China, whose surrogate services are paid for by rich Western couples.<br />
<br />
<b>What can I do?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/30/familyandrelationships.healthandwellbeing">these articles</a> to learn about <a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115873/fertility-tourism-seeking-surrogacy-india-thailand-mexico">fertility tourism</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Export Processing Zones (EPZs)</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCtkjaKpIJgpg2tt9fHiZZbVIaZCavhddUFrPyIKfmbUdeEk-li-wYiFy-EufKy__Fl0x2jpnHBRxfarOczfaFsCC4hrxBstpvL4urh3eR5q-QmGOiKjwxzADWVw1IKJauIEZsbxUcA8/s1600/EPZ.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCtkjaKpIJgpg2tt9fHiZZbVIaZCavhddUFrPyIKfmbUdeEk-li-wYiFy-EufKy__Fl0x2jpnHBRxfarOczfaFsCC4hrxBstpvL4urh3eR5q-QmGOiKjwxzADWVw1IKJauIEZsbxUcA8/s1600/EPZ.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Workers at the Alltex EPZ near Nairobi </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What?</b><br />
<br />
EPZs are industrial areas set up by government in places strategic to trade and investment. Governments attempt to attract investors by offering duty-free imports, tax concessions, and, most worryingly, "flexible" labour laws. Employees are mainly women on incredibly low pay, with no unions, excessive working hours, and unsafe conditions. In efforts to maximise productivity, mandatory pregnancy testing isn't unusual and women found to be pregnant are fired. Maternity leave is non-existent. <br />
<br />
<b>Where?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over 66 million people work in EPZs globally, mainly in developing countries. <br />
<br />
<b>What can I do? </b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.waronwant.org/campaigns/love-fashion-hate-sweatshops">War on Want</a> say boycotting companies will only further harm the job security of the people you're trying to help. Instead, support their campaigns, or <a href="http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/campaigns/item/1172-what-is-a-living-wage">Labour Behind The Label's attempts to secure garment workers a living wage. </a></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pay gap</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF7vQgX6NUrBwzzQK4f7maLPPK62IN1BSohxLXvcTVfktMMHv6g1PyvqEB4bPkLBb4St6LyCFiNd2PIOiWx0AiZeQkEvCX6U-qMJSnqxBq1UslqD9UcPfKrweTZmOFS_l1kacDhNEB90/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+15.39.53.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF7vQgX6NUrBwzzQK4f7maLPPK62IN1BSohxLXvcTVfktMMHv6g1PyvqEB4bPkLBb4St6LyCFiNd2PIOiWx0AiZeQkEvCX6U-qMJSnqxBq1UslqD9UcPfKrweTZmOFS_l1kacDhNEB90/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+15.39.53.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="text-align: start;">The international gender pay gap, illustrated</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b>What?</b><br />
<br />
Whilst in some (mainly Western) countries equal pay for equal work is the legal standard, women still earn less than men on average. <br />
<br />
<b>Where? </b><br />
<br />
Sadly, the gender pay gap is pretty universal. <br />
<br />
<b>What can I do?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pay gap exists because women's work isn't valued as much as men's. People tend to promote people that will 'fit in'. Women are often overlooked because they don't fit into the already masculine culture, because they might leave and have babies, because of their perceived inability to be 'agressive' enough, because ambition and competitiveness in women isn't prized as it is in men... I could go on. They're often funnelled into jobs which pay less. We need to tackle the root causes whilst fighting for quotas and campaigning for affordable childcare. Learn about the issues from <a href="http://www.closethegap.org.uk/content/gap-closing/">Close the Gap</a> and <a href="http://uat.fawcettsociety.org.uk/women-and-work/#sthash.FTaXgQAa.dpbs">support the Fawcett Society's Women and Work campaign.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://uat.fawcettsociety.org.uk/women-and-work/#sthash.FTaXgQAa.dpbs"><br />
</a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Unpaid Care Work</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HB3xM93rXbY" width="480"></iframe><br />
</b> <b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</b><b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</b> <b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What?</b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/do-mothers-have-toughest-job-in-world.html">Unpaid care work</a> underpins all societies. It's the work that (mainly women) do to keep the home and care for their family and the local community. If unpaid care work were assigned a monetary value it would constitute between 10 and 39 per cent of GDP. When women participate in the paid workforce, they often end up carrying a double burden of paid work and unpaid care work (that they are still expected to do without the help of men). </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where?</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Globally. Even if in more developed countries where women can afford to hire a domestic worker, they're often participating in a system which locks women in low paid jobs (see domestic worker above).<br />
<br />
<b>What can I do?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Support <a href="http://www.carers.org/whats-a-carer">Carers Trust</a> or Oxfam’s <a href="http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/our-work/food-livelihoods/womens-economic-leadership/care-work">Innovations in Care</a> initiative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> Domestic Workers</b></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhPt5cjWdmN5sEfy0KiN8UMx9sZXVbZf5pvbbruKD_jS18UJtRPRvFhlCGm2FEw0M9pVz69u3abJCzC7pyNbk90FArC5KdlTnuVu1OcqXuqnp6WHUzpUvmfSc9DqLRjicP2yoREfGP18/s1600/domestic+workers.jpg"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhPt5cjWdmN5sEfy0KiN8UMx9sZXVbZf5pvbbruKD_jS18UJtRPRvFhlCGm2FEw0M9pVz69u3abJCzC7pyNbk90FArC5KdlTnuVu1OcqXuqnp6WHUzpUvmfSc9DqLRjicP2yoREfGP18/s1600/domestic+workers.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What?</b><br />
<br />
Domestic workers are usually women, and often migrant women, who work within their employers’ household. They perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping. Domestic workers usually come from poorer countries or socio-economic backgrounds and have little legal protection, especially in a foreign country, therefore they are often exploited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Where?</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Domestic workers can be found in all countries, but it is typically women from poorer countries migrating to richer countries.<br />
<br />
<b>What can I do?</b><br />
<br />
Read the recent <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/04/08/qa-plight-uk-s-migrant-domestic-workers">Human Rights Watch report on domestic workers in the UK</a> and support <a href="http://www.j4dw.org/">Justice for Domestic Workers</a> or <a href="http://www.kalayaan.org.uk/">Kalayaan</a>.<br />
<br />
*</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
DF & LK</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Jyu1RP4BZI0%2FU16DU3y641I%2FAAAAAAAAAhY%2FqQhL6U1wVlE%2Fs1600%2F1159782366.gif&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LroVAMPqceaxbwkfyieMH3eqmcffZochC5rR3XYnN2Kk7D8DxKMBCuWEjpLRJ1T3CZ15GmXsw9XMfiloz1gya2NCJqT8dnZyPegL7DktTR3gm40oQhLg2Flt70IyhG4CY1Z0teMIbt4/s1600/1159782366.gif" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-YvcOkokuS_Y%2FU15oTKHI7gI%2FAAAAAAAAAg8%2FRp4XzOzcpJE%2Fs1600%2FScreen%2Bshot%2B2014-04-28%2Bat%2B15.39.53.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF7vQgX6NUrBwzzQK4f7maLPPK62IN1BSohxLXvcTVfktMMHv6g1PyvqEB4bPkLBb4St6LyCFiNd2PIOiWx0AiZeQkEvCX6U-qMJSnqxBq1UslqD9UcPfKrweTZmOFS_l1kacDhNEB90/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+15.39.53.png" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-ju84NFmJgkE%2FU2FurnuD9VI%2FAAAAAAAAAiY%2Fmy6bEi70K40%2Fs1600%2Fworker-human-rights.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzljsSu_NtVhnU_tHvR8x5bzJPDDJZxuxNfGlCkgedo29uXmPx-M_GTMPWzHLg5Rlamis0vzzZ4Fx9GdR3ksDx0maHtCQIhlQDKhwj7-mJWLdMWybwvbRhi9Lf4mgR79zASGz2j9TG5cU/s1600/worker-human-rights.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F--qJeJxTzdcM%2FU15m5YR2QPI%2FAAAAAAAAAgw%2FAd2T_QwfkvA%2Fs1600%2FEPZ.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCtkjaKpIJgpg2tt9fHiZZbVIaZCavhddUFrPyIKfmbUdeEk-li-wYiFy-EufKy__Fl0x2jpnHBRxfarOczfaFsCC4hrxBstpvL4urh3eR5q-QmGOiKjwxzADWVw1IKJauIEZsbxUcA8/s1600/EPZ.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Flvub0MHX4g%2FU2FZ4U_W4GI%2FAAAAAAAAAhs%2FJ-0d3kkcXvw%2Fs1600%2Fdomestic%2Bworkers.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFhPt5cjWdmN5sEfy0KiN8UMx9sZXVbZf5pvbbruKD_jS18UJtRPRvFhlCGm2FEw0M9pVz69u3abJCzC7pyNbk90FArC5KdlTnuVu1OcqXuqnp6WHUzpUvmfSc9DqLRjicP2yoREfGP18/s1600/domestic+workers.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-SOjQdKr6oE4%2FU2FZ4dSa57I%2FAAAAAAAAAho%2FBAhhDLpXrqk%2Fs1600%2Fsurrogacy%2B.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7QhaMkUr3MMP3mg71a_FOHGVWxgNIzY987X1p6a94EuhpmqB_qu2ejPIYtcRuAImVuskJPIqAJ-qoLaj-QyULoW9Yy1BC8mxBIFL4k-xD9MwGo8CTRUon_3bobKwZfx_ayhbdcIbYNw/s1600/surrogacy+.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xTBuWP0z7Og%2FU16BrhdExoI%2FAAAAAAAAAhM%2FKAXovF846Hc%2Fs1600%2F6c50d57.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GrXcMtSo7pFKdNFUKVHoujUuLpb0TeHQY6ECrqxz7pXN9XnCPTD58yuMXFjlAXj1xrjlQ4yCqD8kVwdmmJUi8MD_xr9MTNNlMSLQg0_2-uozpA_HeodsPahmn6tLMA3Kl7aN4RGmE-w/s1600/6c50d57.jpg" -->The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-69057635354071489412014-05-01T00:31:00.000-07:002014-05-25T08:57:39.801-07:00This pair had a feminist marriage... in 1855!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/this-pair-had-feminist-marriage-in-1855.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHi2wh-RhSY38n8XyXBFePyv_uhWRKay-piRuUKVVd_bo8RR-bJUh6Q51DBAKYRbIbRC_9u8PNg58clpAX5LGFgPZUlyJdTZo9AuMxQiZrN3AJLfMhHYFgr-c11majmmmXtCKf2rjkt0k/s1600/H_B_Blackwell_and_Lucy_Stone_speaking_announcement,_1866.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On May Day in 1855 a man and a woman decided to spend the rest of their lives together in ‘an equal and permanent partnership.’ Revolutionary, hunh? Well, I have to admit that before I started this article I hadn’t heard of <a href="http://womenshistory.about.com/library/etext/bl_marriage_stone_blackwell.htm">Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell’s marriage protest</a> either, but what a step it was on the path towards equality.</span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until that point, and in fact far beyond (the first of four England & Wales Married Women’s Property Acts wasn’t passed until 1870), the doctrine of "coverture" meant a married woman lost all ability to own property, keep any salary she earned, sign legal documents and contracts, obtain an education without him upstairs’s permission, or, in some cases, face individual legal liability for crimes and misdemeanours – since obviously she must have been acting on her husband’s instruction. And, most significantly, it had an impact on a woman’s ability to retain custody of her children on divorce, meaning that whatever meagre power women had to leave a marriage was severely curtailed.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Prior to their marriage, Henry Blackwell and Lucy Stone made a dramatic departure from contemporary thinking. They signed a document declaring that ‘this act on our part implies no sanction of, nor promise of voluntary obedience to such of the present laws of marriage, as refuse to recognise the wife as an independent, rational being, while they confer upon the husband an injurious and unnatural superiority, investing him with legal powers which no honourable man would exercise, and which no man should possess… We believe that personal independence and equal human rights can never be forfeited.’ This statement was read and endorsed by their celebrant, the equally admirable Rev. Thomas Wentworth Higginson.<br /><br />By now, clearly, a great deal has changed. Women’s economic, social and family rights have developed exponentially, and Lucy and Henry’s protest sounds a world away. But hang on, now I think about it, it’s taken us a pretty long time to get here. <a href="http://www.e-lawresources.co.uk/R-v-R-%5B1991%5D.php">It took until 1991 for the marital rape exemption (i.e. implied consent where the rapist is the victim’s husband) to be abolished</a>. Only two years before, in the 1990 (that’s right, ladies, NINETEEN-NINETY) case R v Sharples the judge held that the rape could not legally have occurred even though there was a Family Protection Order in place to protect her.<br /><br />As usual in these cases, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia were some way ahead of us. The Soviet Union (1922/1960), Poland (1932), Czechoslovakia (1950), Denmark (1960), Sweden (1965) and Norway (1971) all pipped us quite emphatically to the post. On the plus side, we got there ahead of Greece (2006), Chile (1999) and Turkey (2005). A big welcome to the fold goes to South Korea, Bolivia and Samoa – who all criminalised in 2013. No plaudits to Bahrain, Afghanistan, Tonga, Uganda and (rather surprisingly) Singapore among many others where it still isn’t a crime. And, most dishearteningly of all, only weeks ago, on 1 April, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/apr/09/lebanese-bill-domestic-violence-marital-rape">Lebanon passed legislation that actually creates a ‘marital right to intercourse.’</a> So there is some way to go on a global level.<br /><br />And before we pat ourselves on the back too much for storming into the 20th century in 1991, let’s consider the prevailing attitudes towards women’s rights within marriage in the UK – that abuse is a ‘family issue,’ not an area for the government or police to interfere with; that a woman’s place is in the kitchen and the bedroom, and if she strays out of those then it’s her husband’s prerogative to control her. HM Inspectorate of Constabulary <a href="http://www.hmic.gov.uk/news/news-feed/police-response-to-domestic-abuse/">highlighted this continuing mindset in its recent report of police responses to domestic abuse</a> and Rashida Manjoo, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, <a href="http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/Final_press_statment_UK_15_Apr_VAW.pdf">issued a pretty unflattering statement</a> following her recent trip to the UK.<br /><br />Manjoo argued that these attitudes, with their highly damaging consequences, are a continuance of the everyday prejudices faced by women. That women’s lack of economic empowerment leaves them at the mercy of the sole earner in the house; that the media’s portrayal of women as victims or sex objects influences some parts of the population to stick to these limiting stereotypes as well; and that the constant grind of everyday sexism can cause women to lose their identity and sense of self – just as they did in 1855 through coverture.<br /><br />Sadly, nowhere is this more evident than in the now-standard permutation of the traditional Judaeo-Christian wedding. The bride, in virginal white, is given away by one man (her father) to another (her new husband). In some cases (see: Duchess of Cambridge) she promises to ‘love, honour and obey’ him for the rest of her life. At the party afterwards, three men give speeches on her behalf: her father, her husband and his best mate. And when she leaves, she does so (<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2011/05/08/the-name-change-dilemma/">at least in 80% of cases in the US</a>) with a new surname that will forever bear witness to the fact that she now belongs to a different man.<br /><br />Please don’t think I’m knocking marriage, or even the idea of a wedding. I think it’s a beautiful idea to have a big ol’ party with your nearest and dearest to celebrate the fact that you’ve found someone you love so very much you want to spend the rest of your lives together. But please let’s do so thinkingly, and update the ritual so that it reflects a world where marriages finally can be the equal partnership Lucy and Henry dreamt of.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwG0gtfv6YOGGKPYoaiyv7pZjcqwahnUwKig5QPExR9el2bDPZv_VMpTNgQH4tkYj1iRlCVrcDBCeyZ7dwcbehS80xcQyqvtl9pzx1zSJo9dduhiSfdvFhYvslONYgyfCOBQTaAI18TE/s1600/stone+and+blackwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwG0gtfv6YOGGKPYoaiyv7pZjcqwahnUwKig5QPExR9el2bDPZv_VMpTNgQH4tkYj1iRlCVrcDBCeyZ7dwcbehS80xcQyqvtl9pzx1zSJo9dduhiSfdvFhYvslONYgyfCOBQTaAI18TE/s1600/stone+and+blackwell.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; text-indent: 0px !important;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: 0px !important;">JB</span></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-51083431432522842982014-04-28T06:48:00.002-07:002014-04-28T06:48:38.026-07:00Bird Lines<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/bird-lines.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyJpTTpkZxMTcgqqDCeO42on9gklCMLPVO8pZKmp2Y0b3bg49exJHIfli3aW56yQKrC-YVzPJ8GAT1PSUTXfdKxQIcyJxcWVodGRUqADzX9WUvGgsft_042FvfJknRIAKwjGVjdbEmrI/s1600/angry_eagle_by_walste-d4xsha7.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Recently a discussion amongst a group
of friends turned to a friend’s date night with his girlfriend or
‘bird’ as one of my male friends put it. Fear not, this isn’t
a naming and shaming of that individual fellow, who used the term in
a joking, ironic sort-of-way. The implication was the ridiculousness
of the term, in his use anyway.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTrjeoJsCeOS69L-dtikwgMm4wpYu5UEoyrH3VxDoOAyU4qr5wEjxjvHgDbdoLNphFoYnY2TdHHgNAVDym9H4NQbgyOYDpuBjKJ4R2i8L0jVc0-RLxVvrOk2bUo5NgE_jMbGKrj-ihcM/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+12.25.21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTrjeoJsCeOS69L-dtikwgMm4wpYu5UEoyrH3VxDoOAyU4qr5wEjxjvHgDbdoLNphFoYnY2TdHHgNAVDym9H4NQbgyOYDpuBjKJ4R2i8L0jVc0-RLxVvrOk2bUo5NgE_jMbGKrj-ihcM/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-04-28+at+12.25.21.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But it got me thinking on a general
level about the use of the term ‘bird’ to refer to women, and I
have heard it used in a NON-ironic way on multiple occasions. The main thought really, was where did it come
from? What is it about women that apparently reminds men (for it is
pretty much exclusively men who use this word) of ‘feathered,
winged, two-legged, warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates’? (Thank
you Wikipedia). Who thought, ‘ah, I know what the missus reminds
me of, out of all the possible creatures on this teeming-with-life
planet, a lickle bird, that’s wot.’
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a>I fully
acknowledge that on a scale of words used to describe women, it falls
near the pretty harmless end, and is most often used in an
absent-minded, almost affectionate way, rather than to purposefully
belittle. However, it still associates women with small-brained
animals (sorry to all the bird-lovers out there), implying a certain
level of shallowness and inferiority. Indeed, the ‘gentler’
alternative to bird used is ‘chick’, raising additional issues of
infantilisation by equating women with fluffy, helpless bird babies. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But the real nub, for me, was that I could not
think of ANY male equivalent. Dick? Prick? No, ‘bird’ doesn’t
equate women with their genitalia (we have ‘pussy’ for that).
Plus I don’t think that women in relationships tend to refer to
their other half as ‘the prick at home’ on a routine basis. Guy?
Dude? Neither has the same connotation. I could be being really dim
and missing an obvious patronising, animal-based moniker for the male
of the species, but I can’t for the life of me think of one. (Any
suggestions to put me out of my misery, please share in the
comments).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So basically my peeve is this: why is
it OK for women, no matter what the specific intention, to be
addressed in this way while men are clearly missing out on an
equation with a common garden animal? I say we address this
imbalance immediately by referring to men as say, ‘toads’ from
this point forward.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Sorry, got to go, the toad is bugging
me out, man.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
NS</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-68984925391267001042014-04-22T02:23:00.002-07:002014-05-25T08:58:42.898-07:00Earth Day 2014 - Why women should fight consumerism<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/earth-day-2014-why-women-should-fight.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY16dU1eH5IuTKcYzg9xmP8F_13a_UJWU0OMT7he81-kULZVyqs3tRp5EgBmA8mJ5PzpitxRvw3Dmx0-IK5W5hKhF2KLme_0TQVyYRV4-ucCFak4-Bm9U6kRb9T08leNbEa2uCeaCwEPY/s1600/earth-day.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Somewhat appropriately timed to fall
right after the orgy of excess food, cheap chocolate and plastic
wrapping that characterises the modern celebration of Easter, today
we mark a newer annual tradition: <a href="http://www.earthday.org/" target="_blank">Earth Day</a>. Instigated in 1970 by
a United States senator as a day of environmental education, the
event spread worldwide by the 1990s. Now individuals and
organisations all around the globe stop and pause for a moment,
consider the impact they are having on the Earth’s delicate
ecosystem, and use this moment - when the fickle mind of the world’s
media is briefly focused on environmental issues - to promote
awareness, start and accelerate campaigns ranging from tree-planting
to eating less meat, and generally pledge to focus less on themselves
and more on the future of the planet.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a>If you happen to
be in possession of a vagina, chances are that the way in which you
are usually asked to ‘do your bit’ to help the environment is to
consume. That sounds odd I know, but bear with me. Aside from a few
revolutionary products which, after a one-off purchase, are designed
to actually reduce consumption, such as the Mooncup, or more
traditional reusable items like linen nappies, women are often
informed that in order to be ‘green’ they should purchase more,
not less. Products such as the Mooncup or reusable nappies are often
treated in the media with kneejerk squeamishness and tarnished with
an unmerited ‘ewww’ factor that prevents consumers from gaining
meaningful information about the use of these products and mainstream
discussion of alternatives to the disposable sanitary products that
have been internalised as the norm. While these products are
dismissed as environmentalism ‘gone too far’ or even ridiculed,
what has been embraced, in contrast, is the idea that women shouldn’t
stop buying things, heavens no, instead they should replace their
bad, unsustainable wardrobes with ‘good’, ethically produced and
‘green’ products and somehow, magically, the world will be saved.
From ‘green’ clothing ranges to ‘green’ beauty products, the
answer to the problem of climate change given to women seems to be
not the more obvious ‘don’t buy so much’, but ‘buy this
instead’.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9zj4NhC8ahM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
This is not to say that environmentally
friendly clothing and products are a bad thing, on the contrary, they
are categorically a GOOD THING, and the ultimate hope must be that
one day in the not too distant future ALL products and clothes will
be environmentally friendly, or at least less environmentally
damaging than the vast majority are at present. The problem is
rather that the growing provision of green fashion and green beauty
products has not been accompanied by overt challenges to the
predominant narrative of perfectionism and the attendant required
consumption with which women are bombarded in the modern world.
There is little suggestion that women should not worry so much about
maintaining a perfectly stylish and fashionable wardrobe at all
times, or indeed about spending a sizeable proportion of their
salaries on beautifying products to live up to the image of groomed
female beauty. These requirements are the necessary ones; being
green in the pursuit of these is more optional.
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
To be clear, the subtext here is not
that to truly ‘care’ about being green, women should renounce all
worldly goods, stop caring about buying clothes that they like or
indulgent products that make them feel good. This would just
represent a throwback to the old stereotype of environmentalists as
hemp and sandal-wearing, strange-smelling oddballs, and prevent the
spread of green issues into our mainstream, daily consciousness which
is to be unreservedly welcomed, and which stylish green brands should
be praised for championing. Nevertheless, the recognition that being
green does not mean exclusively attiring yourself in old potato sacks
and replacing your facial moisturiser with mud from your back garden,
should go hand in hand with an emphasis that not having clothes that
match the latest trends or the latest ‘must-have’ alphabet-based
make-up (here’s looking at you, ‘CC’ creams) is not actually
that important in the scheme of things. I am as guilty as any woman
of succumbing to the niggling suggestion of adverts and media, and
have gone through stages of being perfectly happy with my wardrobe,
feeling that I have all the clothes I could possibly need for every
eventuality, from paint-balling to the reading of wills, only to have
this rare moment of consumption satiety shattered by an article on a
new style of shoe which I suddenly wonder if I might need for the
office, as we are heading into summer after all...</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHR0j7-bs9IPudMXEdlvJ-_DAgiBdv5MpqIu2QlaF8bKvXMG_pNHrVj6gM9Pi0g0p-6-U6BjDFKGwEzrBJpIxSrdDnS1dS1JUDYG8WCcS6TbRfEJQ9DkH6JoBzcUS_qvXpvKnZK1hn-Y/s1600/OrganicCosmeticsviaSstock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHR0j7-bs9IPudMXEdlvJ-_DAgiBdv5MpqIu2QlaF8bKvXMG_pNHrVj6gM9Pi0g0p-6-U6BjDFKGwEzrBJpIxSrdDnS1dS1JUDYG8WCcS6TbRfEJQ9DkH6JoBzcUS_qvXpvKnZK1hn-Y/s1600/OrganicCosmeticsviaSstock.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of the new ‘eco-lifestyle’
brands replicate the fundamentally non-green (brown?) idea portrayed
by lifestyle brands in general - that to live up to some idea of what
life should be like and what you should be like as a woman, you must
possess more and more things, rather than focus on your achievements
or interests. On top of which, they are (by dint of more ethical
production) usually much more expensive than their non-eco
counterparts. For instance, a standard T-shirt from Primark costs a
maximum of £4 (and usually goes for about half that), whereas a
quick search of available environmentally-friendly wear on the
internet finds the cheapest going for £10.95. Now that might not
seem like much of a jump for those on decent salaries and in secure
employment, but for those on minimum wage, in short-term contracts,
or even students, it is a price hike that all too often you cannot
afford. Women are <i>still</i> told that they should buy the new
shirt style for the season, and those who can’t afford to buy the
green version of this are given one extra thing to feel guilty and
inadequate about, alongside their appearance, wardrobe, figure,
social life, and so on and so forth, ad infinitum. The divide that
is becoming more pronounced between rich and poor in areas of
physical and mental health, rates of obesity and life expectancy
risks is just being replicated in the area of ‘environmental
health’. We do not want to entrench a situation in which only the
rich can afford a low carbon footprint, in effect by purchasing one
to order.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
It is of course not realistic for those
companies that have (rightly) prioritised ethics and sustainability
to attempt to replicate the ridiculously cheap prices of shops
specialising in fast, throwaway fashion (and dubious manufacturing
and employment practices). And of course, those who have the funds
should categorically buy from these green brands rather than other
more wasteful luxury brands. But we should also take more of a leaf
(figurative, of course, leave that valuable plant-based eco-system
alone) from the way that men can have, say, one suit, and it is
perfectly acceptable to wear said suit to work, to family occasions,
on evenings out for years and years, rather than having the
disquieting feeling that wearing the same dress to two events in a
row somehow means ‘giving up’ on some elusive ideal of womanhood,
on the mystique of the flawlessly attired and turned out female. If
we instead aim for a culture in which women are no longer made to
feel so conscious of every imperfection and inadequacy, where it is
no longer seen as somehow ‘brave’ to upload a photo of yourself
to social media without make-up, we can recognise that perhaps we
don’t need to buy a different type of moisturiser for every part of
our face, whether or not the packaging is made exclusively from
bamboo shoots that have been naturally felled by mountain winds.
Then we would truly be able to change the terms of the debate from
the perfectionist, consumption-fuelled economy that has been one of
the biggest drivers of overuse of environmental resources.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In this manner more positive engagement
with green issues could be felt by all women, across all income
levels: a change in the prevailing terms on which women now engage
with society would have the side effect of enabling them to focus
more energy on the truly important issues like climate change and
economic sustainability. In the meantime, alternative methods which
mean that we don’t have to go the other extreme of an ascetic and
wholly self-denying lifestyle and are still able to enjoy the
self-expression that experimenting with clothes, make-up and other
happily indulgent products represents (when not part of a pressure to
look a certain way), are thankfully gaining ground. ‘Freeganism’,
‘upcycling’, the excellent Freecycle networks, clothes swapping
parties and other eco-friendly grassroots campaigns are becoming more
and more popular and mean that we can continue to try new things,
change up our wardrobes, try new beauty treatments by re-using or
repurposing unwanted or no longer needed items, neither breaking the
bank nor continuing the cycle of endless demand for new products, no
matter how virtuous these may be in themselves. In short, we as
women are in a position to have our cake and eat it too; we can
challenge the treadmill of consumption that damages both our own
sense of worth and our planet. We can champion the environment and
in so doing champion ourselves.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
NS</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-72228127247995485702014-04-17T13:37:00.002-07:002014-04-17T13:48:32.927-07:00Do mothers have the "toughest job in the world"? <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HB3xM93rXbY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
So the point of this video (which went
viral earlier this week) is to tell everyone in America how great "moms"
are (psssst, buy a card from Cardstore). Cynicism aside, celebrating
mums is great! We all need reminding of the amount of blood sweat and
tears that goes into birthing and nurturing sprogs, and women
definitely <b>do not</b> get enough recognition for the work they do.
In fact, UN Special Rapporteur Magdalena Sepulveda said that <a href="http://www.unwomen.org/ru/news/stories/2013/10/special-rapporteur-positions-unpaid-care-work-as-major-human-rights-issue" target="_blank">women's unpaid care work is a major human rights issue</a>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The people being 'interviewed' for the
hardest job in the world were quite rightly outraged at the job
description:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"the job requires that you
must be able to work standing up most or all of the time"</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"you must be constantly
exerting yourself" for "135 hours to unlimited hours a
week"</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"There are no vacations - on
holidays your workload will increase"
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"There is no time to sleep"
</div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"If you had a life we'd ask
you to give that life up"
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
One perplexed candidate for the 'job'
asks "is that even legal?" Well, quite. For 'real jobs' we
have labour laws making sure we get leisure time, breaks, comfortable
working conditions, and fair pay. When those things are absent, we're
used to interpreting the situation as a human rights violation (one
interviewee calls the requirements "inhumane").
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Just the fact that they can pull this
stunt off, with a big reveal at the end that the 'job' is actually
motherhood (haha, who'd have thought it, motherhood being touted as a
<i>job</i><span style="font-style: normal;">!)</span>- proves the fact
that we simply aren't used to thinking of childrearing as 'proper
work'. Why not?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Society sees it as just something that
women do, because they're biologically programmed to do it. It's
still considered somewhat weird and deviant not to. If I ever tell
anyone I'm not sure if I want kids, they have an infuriating
propensity to smile knowingly and tell me that "the time will
come". This sounds to me like a death knell of impending doom,
but no matter.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The point is that women are mothers by
default. As soon as girls are born they're born <span style="font-style: normal;">to
be mothers</span><i>. </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Whatever
else they may turn out to be professionally, their reproductive
capacity means that society expects them to settle down and have
children. And j</span>ust as girls are assumed to <b>like </b>playing
with dolls, so motherhood is always assumed to be something women do
because they <span style="font-weight: normal;">just love babies</span><b>
SO. FRIGGIN. MUCH</b><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>!!! OMG!
Babies!!!</b></span><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>EEEEE!!</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">"But
you </span><i>enjoy </i><span style="font-style: normal;">your job, so
it's not a job really, is it?" Imagine if your salary decreased
as your job satisfaction went up. "Don't look like you're
enjoying your career too much, we'll assume it comes naturally to you
and make you do it for free for the good of mankind." That logic
is very warped. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">So what
are the merits of recognising women's care work as 'proper work'?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How about increased welfare payments to
primary carers? Mandatory creche facilities in the workplace? Free
childcare facilities? Dads sharing more of the workload?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Now, before I stand accused of inverse
sexism, check out <a href="http://eige.europa.eu/content/gender-equality-index#/country/UK">these
statistics from EIGE </a>and pipe down.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What's the problem with <i>not </i><span style="font-style: normal;">viewing
women's unpaid care work as work? Well, for a start it leads to the
wealth ignorance displayed on the YouTube comments page. More
importantly, it means that, where increasingly women work </span><i>and
</i><span style="font-style: normal;">raise children, they end up with
a double-burden to shoulder. Because the caring part isn't seen as a
legitimate job but rather something that women do by default, men
simply don't help out as much as they could. Don't argue, it's in the
stats. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
whole unpaid care-work thing might not be such a big deal if you live
in a welfare state, or a state whose legal system recognises that
women often take time out of work to care for children in divorce
settlements. Or even, shock horror, a legal system that recognises
that, post-breakup, children still cost money and women should get
financial assistance for with their upkeep. But what about women
whose governments don't provide for them? Whose legal system denies
them rights to property, equal employment rights, or even equal
status under the law? </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">The
fact that their care work doesn't count as 'real' work has massive
repercussions. Take, for instance, <a href="http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke:8080/xmlui/handle/11295/41563">the
homemaker who tried to claim for an equal share in the property with
her husband only for the judge to accuse her of trying to "sit
on her husband's back with her hand in his pocket.</a>" Think
about all the micro-finance schemes for developing nations which all
focus on </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>women's</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">
apparently infinite capacity to make bracelets for tourists and
create their own pottery start-ups while the men are out doing 'real
work'. Did the people who came up with these schemes consider the
fact that women's time is </span><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>not
</b></span><span style="font-style: normal;">infinitely elastic?! Just
because they're working in the home doesn't mean they're not working.
</span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Taking
care of children may not be 'work' in the eyes of society, but it's
just as exhausting. Plus, w</span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">hatever
the ad might say about "the meaningful connections" and
that "feeling that you get from really helping your
'associate'", it's often a pretty thankless task. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
"The position is going to pay
absolutely nothing". Too right. Still, if you're lucky, you
might get a card. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/VVW858gQHoE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
LK</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-84150195696575057752014-04-09T04:28:00.003-07:002014-05-25T09:00:23.919-07:00In Defence of FEMEN<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/in-defence-of-femen.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-V83vLMo9SovHeWn-0Uj8Lw8lHNiJ9UJ_tQUR0nhI5SyzV5W_4je6sH69XgEjhs4QOW9Xq9BnWXDApoHAnYj5ydS4xuumivbS-DxntXWm0EWDt2-4Doiw_4T2ElHxuVP_CBaUBG9bvs/s1600/femen-parigi-16.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;">
<u><br /></u></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
FEMEN – the marmite of
feminist organisations. At first I thought “what the hell? How on
earth does this help?” which was followed closely by “when did
the Page 3 girls get together and form a political organisation?”
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a>My main issue was the
nudity. I’m no puritan but going topless is one of the fastest ways
of making sure nobody pays any attention to what a woman is saying.
So when photos of pretty Slavic blondes began to appear with slogans
across their bare chests, I dismissed this as mere attention seeking
from a group that would go away when the cameras did. I derided the
idea of public nudity as a means of reclaiming the female form. I
felt that it detracted from the aims of most feminists to reduce the
objectification of women in the media, and fed the misogynistic
critics eager to slap down yet another generation of harpy feminists.
It was nothing more than Page 3 with politically charged chanting
that made it that bit harder for the rest of us to counteract the
systemic objectification of women as sexual objects. But over time
and listening to many different arguments over the issue of
appropriation of the female form and its reclamation from the male
gaze, I have changed my mind. I have come to admire the sheer bravery
of going topless in such a public manner when the consequences can be
so damaging.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAsntTtIZ-sW2kNcNIIytu9W9d1dCE97vrzZOfsXPn7JrcP0RnX57ZGKNXy9kewz6eQVMXdJZQdlbLyOIdx372Hue4Q5TflhwYSifgUHPKaKFXGJgxGP3UUKBoCqS0jXjPB8FiZifRlM/s1600/femen+urination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAsntTtIZ-sW2kNcNIIytu9W9d1dCE97vrzZOfsXPn7JrcP0RnX57ZGKNXy9kewz6eQVMXdJZQdlbLyOIdx372Hue4Q5TflhwYSifgUHPKaKFXGJgxGP3UUKBoCqS0jXjPB8FiZifRlM/s1600/femen+urination.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
FEMEN activists paint their
chests with political slogans making billboards of their breasts.
They then interrupt political meetings, protest in public or
post photos online. Most of these events pass by largely unnoticed,
perpetrated by no more than two or three activists. But while many
dismiss this as exhibitionism (the fact that they described
themselves as ‘sextremists’ doesn’t help) it has produced acts
of immense bravery by some. For example, the case of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/16/amina-tyler-escapes-family_n_3092916.html" target="_blank">Amina Tyler</a> in which she had to flee both the Tunisian authorities and
her family, because she posted a picture of herself topless with the
words ‘My body belongs to Me’ scrawled across her chest. A
cursory glance on the FEMEN website or associated online articles
shows a number of young women taking part in similar protests in
Europe and the Middle East. All of these women feel driven to extreme
protest by extreme regimes or oppressive and misogynistic cultural
and religious attitudes. The act of exposing themselves is a defiant
gesture. One that says ‘Here is what you fear and I’m you making
look at it.’ An act that deliberately stands in contrast to the
rhetoric, double standards and laws that women live with. An act that stands against attitudes
that enable the existence of justifiable rape in the eyes of a jury
and laws that repeatedly legislate against female freedoms. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Topless
protests may seem a juvenile act to some but these women risk a lot
to make these protests.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSogKnk1UNIrR55rh-3EAYSBX2bDBIGbTbhTqH0XTdtBUtaU8c9-CY037LEhmgxLmbkCMJ4DIXLLzwwvOvFiWg7bEh-6F-uUzuFHSgxbLsngOO-UZfj7YjcAJnG6ttji3wbmoGUWOrPrI/s1600/FEMEN3_FRANK151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSogKnk1UNIrR55rh-3EAYSBX2bDBIGbTbhTqH0XTdtBUtaU8c9-CY037LEhmgxLmbkCMJ4DIXLLzwwvOvFiWg7bEh-6F-uUzuFHSgxbLsngOO-UZfj7YjcAJnG6ttji3wbmoGUWOrPrI/s1600/FEMEN3_FRANK151.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16275566" target="_blank">Belarus</a>
a trio of FEMEN activists were allegedly kidnapped, stripped naked
and doused in oil. In Turkey FEMEN’s twitter has been blocked and
two activists protesting Recep Erdogan’s re-election have been
ordered to leave the country. There have been many accusations of
harsh treatment, of groping by authorities when under arrest and
FEMEN’s Paris HQ has been subjected to protests, one that ended
with a stabbing. The main leaders of the group have spoken of
stalking, abusive texts, phone calls and emails, of physical threats
and other attempts at intimidation. It’s clear there is a high
price to pay. Some will trot out the old ‘they’re asking for it
argument’ and I can understand to some degree that when faced with a
topless woman refusing to stop sawing down a cross, a police officer
may not know where to put his hands without unintentionally groping
the protester, but we’re talking systematic intimidation
post-arrest and when walking the street and living their lives. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yet
they continue. They were there protesting the referendum on the
annexation of Crimea. They are still in Turkey, in Tunisia, in
France, in East Europe and looking to set up ‘outposts’ in
England and America.</div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
But all this doesn’t mean
I wholeheartedly endorse the group. There are some serious questions
regarding the <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/12/femen-s-abusive-patriarch-victor-svyatski-exposed-in-ukraine-is-not-a-brothel.html">s</a><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/12/femen-s-abusive-patriarch-victor-svyatski-exposed-in-ukraine-is-not-a-brothel.html" target="_blank">tructure</a>
of FEMEN and its real leadership. Inna Shevchenko has <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/05/victory-svyatski-femen-man" target="_blank">defended</a>
the involvement of Victor Syvatski in an article for <i>The Guardian</i>.
There are Facebook groups dedicated to protesting FEMEN’s depiction
of Muslim women as a collectively oppressed whole, in need of saving
by enlightened western women. The organisation is still not taken
seriously by most feminists, the media or the establishment, and is
unlikely to ever be. Questions about their contribution to the
movement as a whole are often negatively answered, and it’s
impossible to actually point to a concrete example of progress
achieved by the organisation.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
A film by Kitty Green
entitled <i>Ukraine is Not a Brothel </i>is the result of a year
spent with the group and apparently is a candid look at their workings and
motives. One scene shows a conversation between Green
and a former FEMEN activist, who complains that FEMEN used to be a
real protest group (wearing clothes) and that the topless aspect is a
market strategy. If that is true, it’s a clever one, combining both
a guaranteed photo opportunity with a potent form of female protest. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I can’t say I support FEMEN but nor can I say I don’t respect
them. It takes guts to stand up for something you believe in and do
whatever you think it may take to achieve those aims. Regardless of
personal opinion, I have to take my hat off to them. But maybe not my top. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1698942865066475438" name="_GoBack"></a>LMC</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 1.27cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-50519392503417269902014-03-26T05:06:00.002-07:002014-05-25T09:05:11.609-07:00"To crack the glass ceiling you don’t need a sharp stick , you need a sharp suit."<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thehussingtonpost.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/to-crack-glass-ceiling-you-dont-need.html"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin140E73I_rg3fzXt7iphK_ewnSWNWibChu6PBprjOpj8W4bEvUkcKTfsPrH3dLK_vNgCkoKUTuVgXicwW_unUm0aC30fMHIMWTw5bYhDINWW3nWKlh_ChYW7cV-nyU-jMf_RqWlhGi4/s1600/Glass-Ceiling+wonder+woman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
"To crack the glass ceiling you don’t need a sharp stick , you need a sharp suit."<br />
<br />
This was the sage advice administered by clothing company Wardrobe as I waited at Waterloo.<br />
<br />
For starters, suggesting that women are robbing themselves of top jobs as a result of their imprudent fashion choices is irresponsible, especially when so many barriers to women's participation in male-dominated spheres exist. What about lack of affordable childcare, bosses undervaluing women's contributions, unequal domestic burdens, nepotism, demeaning media coverage that adds to an overall societal impression that women are unable to contribute anything meaningful, etc. etc...?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Is it helpful, Wardrobe, to suggest that women are responsible for these inequalities because of their failure to buy an expensive suit and dazzle their way into the boardroom?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1sdyPOcrNmYIRFL4UKX1CAFVYlLiuI5-ptbbO0M8eFtiI-5fa9v0ISNGk2lq1JXShC-Xn96-OLiNfpmhW-HIml8ozz_SasN8r-wSmupoM6t1GL7RbPW4MQvGhLaV5MYn_GbqCcNkH98/s1600/Glass+ceiling+Wardrobe+advert.png"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1sdyPOcrNmYIRFL4UKX1CAFVYlLiuI5-ptbbO0M8eFtiI-5fa9v0ISNGk2lq1JXShC-Xn96-OLiNfpmhW-HIml8ozz_SasN8r-wSmupoM6t1GL7RbPW4MQvGhLaV5MYn_GbqCcNkH98/s1600/Glass+ceiling+Wardrobe+advert.png" width="326" /></a></div>
<br />
I understand that this is what advertising does. It exploits fears or problems in society then sells us the solution. This latest piss-poor effort is an attempt to capitalise on women's inequality in the workplace and refocus our attention on the important things in life: clothes and shoes. It's far more convenient (and profitable) to make the glass ceiling a 'women's problem', one which they can ostensibly fix alone, rather than analysing the structural inequalities which keep women out of boardrooms.<br />
<br />
Yes, in some ways it makes a refreshing change to see women's clothing marketed without the customary abundance of nudity and florals. But the underlying premise is the same: women must have a certain 'look' to be tolerated in a male world. It is women who must change. As Wardrobe simpers in their ad, "In no time at all, you'll be in a fitting room with an armful of pieces that will change not only how other people see you, but how you see yourself."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8xLdCo0qPz8GiC3VLXC4YyK69XwyALosPXZZabLYoTJgPrQN4hLJM_NKayrokvU9Ko_SKkmi77DwznXOpa53HgobQogjKAjf5CG1cH6K1DFpSDaUajXaho1Pj49t3xuczUX4OuLqcyc/s1600/dress+for+success+book.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8xLdCo0qPz8GiC3VLXC4YyK69XwyALosPXZZabLYoTJgPrQN4hLJM_NKayrokvU9Ko_SKkmi77DwznXOpa53HgobQogjKAjf5CG1cH6K1DFpSDaUajXaho1Pj49t3xuczUX4OuLqcyc/s1600/dress+for+success+book.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />
In 1977 John T Molloy wrote The Women's Dress for Success Book which popularised the concept of 'power dressing'. In the preface to the book, he writes this little nugget of wisdom:<br />
<br />
"Sometimes [dressing for success] specifically involves dressing to make the right impression on men. This is not sexist. It is a stark reality that men dominate the power structure - in business, in government, in education. I am not suggesting that women dress to impress men simply because they are men. My advice to women is based on the same principle as my advice to men: Your clothes should move you up socially and in business, not hold you back.<br />
<br />
If women control a substantial hunk of the power structure in ten or fifteen years, I will write a book advising men how to dress in a female-dominated environment.<br />
<br />
It is not sexism: it is realism."<br />
<br />
Newsflash, John. Reality is sexist. It was then, it is now. So simply reflecting reality and not attempting to call out the sexism and change it? That's sexist too.<br />
<br />
Nearly forty years later, the same problem crops up in Wardrobe's advert. It suggests that women rather than businesses should change. That women should take pains to fit into that world, rather than attempt to change it. And it's a fine line to tread. As the ad reminds us, professional women must look "confident, successful and ahead of the game - while every inch a woman". We all know the tiring and exacting double-standards that game involves: Women should be smart, but not sombre; chic, but understated; business-like, but not drab; not too feminine, but never too masculine.<br />
<br />
Let's get something clear right now. Women can play this game but rarely can we win. We will always be "too this" or "too that". It doesn't matter if we're in a suit or a skirt, it doesn't matter if we wear black or fuchsia. We will always be sub-par because we are women and as such are scrutinised, picked-apart, and shamed in ways that our male counterparts simply are not.<br />
<br />
"OK", you might say, "so the Wardrobe thing was one crappy advert on a tube station and Molloy's power dressing manual was a crappy book published almost forty years ago. In the grand scheme of things, is it really that important?" Well, yes.<br />
<br />
Wardrobe's advert perfectly illustrates the same dangerous yet pervasive understanding of workplace (in)equality that Molloy capitalised on in the 70s, and which is still refusing to die. It's an understanding of equality that wants women to adapt, and business to continue as usual.<br />
<br />
I don't want a world where equality means participating equally with men in a male culture. I didn't become a feminist to get equal rights to something men made for other men. For me, "equal" doesn't mean "the same", doesn't mean "as good as", doesn't even mean "like". Why do I have to be "like" a man in order to be equally valued? In the words of Catharine MacKinnon, "this traditional notion of equality does not ask why men do not have to be the same as anybody except one another to be treated as equals or why women are regarded as the ones who are different from men."<br />
<br />
Why should we settle for smashing through a glass ceiling into a masculine world? We should be putting pressure on the establishment to change, not endlessly scrutinising our own conduct in the hope of changing ourselves. Adverts like Wardrobe's and how-to manuals like Molloy's (still very much in existence today) manipulate feminist concepts of power, empowerment, and gender gaps and create a distracting noise which obscures the reality of the issue.<br />
<br />
Feminism should be about grand visions for society - a space where women's priorities, experiences, and needs are woven into the social fabric on an equal footing with men's, not hinged in awkwardly as an afterthought. The feminism of our mothers didn't want to settle for anything less than revolution. What has happened to that fighting spirit?<br />
<br />
Wardrobe wants you to "take a long look in the mirror and ask yourself: could the wrong packaging be limiting your potential?" If you're naked, and happen to see a vagina in the mirror, then yes, I agree, your packaging is limiting your potential. Unfortunately, it's going to take more than a couple of expensive suits to solve that problem.<br />
<br />
<br />
LK
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-P4wXHn-Tj5Q%2FUzK-rz5MXSI%2FAAAAAAAAAe8%2FEmBVWq_AQow%2Fs1600%2FGlass%2Bceiling%2BWardrobe%2Badvert.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1sdyPOcrNmYIRFL4UKX1CAFVYlLiuI5-ptbbO0M8eFtiI-5fa9v0ISNGk2lq1JXShC-Xn96-OLiNfpmhW-HIml8ozz_SasN8r-wSmupoM6t1GL7RbPW4MQvGhLaV5MYn_GbqCcNkH98/s1600/Glass+ceiling+Wardrobe+advert.png" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-x69i3-mpojw%2FUzLBZSEz_VI%2FAAAAAAAAAfI%2FpOcbabcT2ZU%2Fs1600%2Fdress%2Bfor%2Bsuccess%2Bbook.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8xLdCo0qPz8GiC3VLXC4YyK69XwyALosPXZZabLYoTJgPrQN4hLJM_NKayrokvU9Ko_SKkmi77DwznXOpa53HgobQogjKAjf5CG1cH6K1DFpSDaUajXaho1Pj49t3xuczUX4OuLqcyc/s1600/dress+for+success+book.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-sMz87n2nahg%2FUzK7xn83r0I%2FAAAAAAAAAew%2FrKR_rC-krlQ%2Fs1600%2FGlass-Ceiling%2Bwonder%2Bwoman.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgin140E73I_rg3fzXt7iphK_ewnSWNWibChu6PBprjOpj8W4bEvUkcKTfsPrH3dLK_vNgCkoKUTuVgXicwW_unUm0aC30fMHIMWTw5bYhDINWW3nWKlh_ChYW7cV-nyU-jMf_RqWlhGi4/s1600/Glass-Ceiling+wonder+woman.jpg" -->The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698942865066475438.post-85539406252433918822014-03-21T06:57:00.003-07:002014-03-21T06:59:43.791-07:00Can porn be empowering?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lzWDPOKdq40?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">I have recently
watched one of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzWDPOKdq40">the
most fascinating interviews I have ever seen</a> with Belle Knox, the
18 year-old Duke University student in the United States who has
become a porn actress in order to pay for her education. She is doing
Women’s Studies and Sociology. That makes me assume that she
considers herself a feminist, although the “f word” is not
mentioned anywhere in the interview. Belle speaks out against all the
hypocrisy around sexuality in our patriarchal society. Which I
applaud. She also claims that she enjoys doing porn very much because
it is “freeing” and “empowering”. Now I have a few problems
with that.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Don’t get me
wrong, the last thing I want to do is make moral judgments about
anyone’s life choices. Like Piers Morgan (the interviewer) does in
typical old-white-conservative-man fashion. The condescending way he
talks to her (“You’re obviously very bright cos you got into
college, right?”) and the judging tone in his every question (“I
have no moral hang-up about what you do or the industry you’re in”
– yeah right) makes my blood boil. No, I think Belle stands her
ground very well against this knobhead. I appreciate her honesty and
courage. My problem is that while she thinks she is standing up
against patriarchy, she is actually doing the exact opposite of that.
</span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Let me first look at
her claim that she loves doing porn (“Shooting pornography brings
me unimaginable joy”). I think sexual fetishes and fantasies
should be embraced and celebrated. Every single person in the world
likes different stuff in bed (or wherever). If what really turns
Belle on is having sex with strangers while being watched by others
then go ahead sister! Have orgies and knock yourself out. Or maybe it
is the ‘being recorded’ aspect that gives her earth-shattering
orgasms. Great, get someone to record your sexy time and if you want
even upload it on this website: <a href="https://makelovenotporn.tv/">Make
love not porn</a>. It is a website created for people to upload and
share their sex videos </span><span lang="en-GB"><b>FOR FREE</b></span><span lang="en-GB">
in order to celebrate </span><span lang="en-GB"><b>REAL</b></span><span lang="en-GB">
sex. Belle also makes some very valid observations about society that
I, as a feminist, applaud. “In our society we are so repressed. We
are told sex is bad, we are told not to have sex, we’re told not to
show our bodies.” “After thousands of years of patriarchy and
religion we so deeply fear sexuality.” “The porn performer is to
be shamed. The porn consumer is to be celebrated.” All excellent
points!</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">However, what I find
extremely problematic is her claim that porn is “freeing and
empowering”. I believe porn is the exact opposite of those things
and I will explain why. Let me start with the fact that porn actors
and actresses get paid to do porn. By selling sex, porn actresses
(and also prostitutes) commodify their bodies, which, in my opinion,
is the ultimate form of objectification. It is also true for porn
actors but I am not going to discuss that here as in our patriarchal
world men’s objectification is not yet such a wide-spread problem.
What is objectification? Objects are used by people in order to serve
a purpose. For example, I use a spoon to eat soup. When a woman is
objectified by men, she is no longer viewed as an autonomous person
but as an object whose function is to give men pleasure. Selling sex,
selling your body like a commodity, just perpetuates that view. </span>
</div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Belle also argues
that it is a mistaken belief that women are used or exploited in porn
as most porn actresses love doing it. I find that very difficult to
believe. Belle says that she earns $1200 per scene. If doing porn was
such an enjoyable experience then people surely wouldn’t get paid
so much to do it. Also, books could be filled with the differences
between porn and real sex. Real sex is (or should be!) about giving
pleasure to both male and female participants. Whereas the acts shown
in porn are designed to excite male viewers and usually have nothing
to do with things that women actually enjoy.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Moreover, Belle is
mistaken in thinking that porn empowers her. The overwhelming
majority of porn movies are produced by men for men. The overwhelming
majority of consumers of porn are men so its primary purpose is to
please them. Belle is young, skinny and beautiful. She fits the
criteria of what is currently considered “sexy” in our society.
Would she still find porn to be empowering if she was overweight or
old? Her career in the porn industry entirely depends on how men view
her. Her “value” is based on men’s perception of her. If your
“power” depends completely on other people then it is not real
power. It is very similar to situations where women sleep with men or
manipulate men in order to achieve things. They may say that they
feel “empowered” when they get what they want from men, but what
they are really doing is temporarily leeching onto men’s power
resources rather than having their own.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">Belle criticises
patriarchy but, sadly, she is aiming to be empowered by conforming to
it, rather than rebelling against it and achieving empowerment, not
through men, but in her own right. One of her statements that I found
extremely sad was when she talked about how she experienced more
hostility from women because they were probably “jealous” and
“maybe they caught their boyfriend watching my porn”. That’s
not very sisterly, is it? It is proof that she is playing by the
rules of patriarchy where women fight each other for the attention
and power resources of men, rather than saying “fuck this shit”,
sticking together and changing the system.</span></div>
<div lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">So my conclusion is
this. Belle, I hope you will learn this soon in your Women’s
Studies and Sociology classes: true empowerment means having your own
power in your own right, independently, and not relying on men’s
perception of you. I know you said in the interview that it costs
$61404 per year to go to your university, which is an insane amount.
Perhaps porn is the best available option to you. But that doesn't
mean it's a free choice. Money clearly acts as a coercive factor.
Participating in bullshit male structures that promote the
commodification of people because the similar bullshit male
ideological/political structures have also commodified education and
made it unaffordable for the vast majority is </span><span lang="en-GB"><i>not
</i></span><span lang="en-GB"><span style="font-style: normal;">challenging
that system. It's perpetuating patriarchy. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="en-GB">If you find having
sex with strangers exciting and enjoy recording it and posting it
online then do it! Be safe and have fun! Just make sure that you are
doing it for your </span><span lang="en-GB"><b>OWN </b></span><span lang="en-GB">pleasure
and not for others. Don’t conform to patriarchy and don’t try to
be “free” and “empowered” on men’s terms. I hope that when
you finish your degree you will join the feminist movement and never
again let your career be based on how men view you.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #30353b;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-GB">DF</span></span></span></span></div>
The Hussington Post http://www.blogger.com/profile/11816821573835807664noreply@blogger.com1