Thursday, May 28, 2009

Body Image Event at The Women's Library, London

Upcoming panel event at The Women's Library in London exploring the impact of magazines on body image and featuring Susie Orbach among others. Full details and booking information at their site here


Laura

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Some bits and pieces from The Femilist

The Femilist is my other site, trying to keep abreast of events and information that feminists might like.

Event: Stop Porn Culture Training: London 13.06.09
This is a brand new and updated training course focusing on young people and pornified culture – which gives a grounding in feminist theory and pornography as a form of violence against women.

The Speaker’s Conference on Parliamentary Representation of Women, Disabled People, People from Ethnic Minorities and LGBT Communities
The Speaker’s Conference invites comments on these issues, and if you are a member of one of these under-represented groups, it would especially like to hear from you.

Event: Public Rally in Parliament on Equal Pay 08/06/09
Fawcett and Unison are organising a public rally in Parliament to urge the Government to strengthen equal pay law reforms.

Scottish Transgender Alliance and Gender Spectrum UK Survey on Equality Bill Priority Issues
The Scottish Transgender Alliance and Gender Spectrum UK both recognise there are many sections of the Equality Bill that we wish were better in how they address transphobic discrimination and harassment.

Charlotte

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Trouble With Pretending to Care About Sexism in the Workplace

You may, or may not have been in the position to watch the BBC's The Trouble with Working Women (still available on the iPlayer)

It came in two fabulously titled parts, "Why Can't a Woman Succeed Like a Man?" and "Why Can't a Woman Earn As Much As a Man?" While one might theoretically offer, institutionalized sexism, gender stereotypes in the home and work place.. maybe the onus on women to raise and care for children as it's women's work it is apparently not that easy an answer.

Yes, in between the hand picked stereotyped men and like this, women are like that vox pops and the brain scans between the male and female presenters and the carefully chosen personas of the presenters viewers were treated to two hours of TV that concluded it was a privilege that women could give birth to children, that we all want children, that work places assumptions that all women between 20 and 30 will be intent on popping one out and that post pregnancy will become unable to do anything other than care for a child... am I ranting - well wasn't everyone?

Check out what twitter had to say


tanyagoodin @Hannechr I felt I'd fallen asleep and woken up back in the 80s! V disappointing from BBC2 which usually produces quality programming #twww

marmaladegirl That was a real opportunity missed, some fundamental issues laughed off and ignored = reason I prefer the web to TV -main stream sucks #twww

CathElliott: #twww "women have richer lives" and they "get to give birth to children - nothing better than that" Oh FUCK OFF!!

BitchBuzz There is no simple answer. Part-time/maternity leave aside - if you're at the same level doing the same job, pay should be the same. #twww

bmcmichael Weeping that the only positive message to be taken from this programme comes in the form of Lynne Franks #twww

fjoms I'm not going to watch #twww because just reading the tweets about it is making me angry

CyranDorman No, this programme isn't making me feel less of a woman by largely focusing on mothers. (sarcasm) #twww



I understand why you'd choose cheeky chappy, blonde prefect style wink wink nudge nudge teasing presenters, because, you know, it's too hard and boring to talk sensibly about something quite important, but seriously. Stop It.

Charlotte

Friday, May 15, 2009

Are You Ready?




Issue 7 of Subtext, available May 22nd.