Disgusting 'purity balls'

Just in case you hadn't realised that women are (preferably 'pure') property waiting to be exchanged by two men, then this makes it crystal clear. Please join me in a big collective 'ewww....'

Blog for Choice

Today is the thirty-fourth anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, as well as the second annual Blog For Choice event. So, why am I pro-choice?

I came very late to the whole abortion debate, basically because I wasn't very politically active as an undergrad and my feminist training was in IR, social policy and economics. So I was quite ignorant of the exact laws and debates, although I always knew I was pro-choice. I had always presumed that if I needed to get an abortion then I just would. I would just walk into a sexual health clinic and say that I had decided that I wanted one and then, presumably, I would have one. It would be a pain but I would be fine. I didn't believe then, and I don't believe now, that having children is my main purpose in life, so I would get on with things I did want to do.

So fair to say, I was very surprised to find out that in the UK I would need to convince two doctors that my (mental or physical) health would be worse if I had a child than if I had an abortion. That basically, in terms of UK abortion law, I did not have the right to make a decision about my own body, but that this right could be extended to (mostly male) medical practitioners. Shocked, I thought things might have been different back home in Australia, but no, the situation is the same there and what little rights we have are constantly under threat by an anti-woman Catholic health minister.

Current abortion law is disgusting and infantilizing on so many levels, but I am primarily pro-choice because I believe bodily integrity, the right to make decisions about one's own body, is a fundamental human right; and that anything less than abortion on demand is therefore unacceptable. Yes, I said abortion on 'demand' rather than 'request', because I certainly don't 'request' any other basic human rights. I don't think we should shy away from using strong language in feminism either!

So on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade I'd just like to thank all those feminists before me who got us this far, and pledge that in the future I will do my best to bring things forward.

******

There is also a fab post about blogging for choice on Alternet by Feministing's Jessica Valenti. Just go here

I Heart Scandinavians

I went out to a friend's birthday party yesterday evening and realised that I love Scandinavians. I was having a conversation with a girl who had also studied International Relations and wanted to get into development. Naturally I started talking about Gender in Development and how nobody studying IR at the LSE seems to know all that much about Feminist IR or any of the thinkers that I consider to be founders (ie. Tickner, Sylvester, Enloe).

So she was asking me who she should read and how you actually study feminism, and I recommended she read non-academic language feminism like bell hooks as well. And then it struck me all of a sudden that this conversation would not be happening with anyone who was not from a Scandinavian country. That the usual reaction to feminism or gender studies is one of absolute horror or ridicule (my personal favourite is the 'I'm a man, you're a women, degree done!' response, grr).

It was so refreshing to speak to someone who was genuinely interested and thought feminism was a great thing. And secondly, was so grateful for what feminism and Norwegian feminists had done for her. She realised, especially from living abroad, how lucky she was to have the kinds of social welfare that is common to Scandinavian countries. It was so nice not to have to remind a female student that without feminism they wouldn't even be at university in the first place.

And this is by no means an isolated instant, all the Swedish and Danish people I have spoken to are exactly the same. Some Scandinavian men I know even do housework voluntarily!

Gender and the Media - Ros Gill

This is the latest book by my fab ex-supervisor Ros Gill. You can read about it here. I came across it today at the LSE Waterstones and will be reading it as soon as I get through a bit of feminist fiction I have lying about the place.

(I am finally going to read Miles Franklin's 'My Brilliant Career' - an Australian classic that I wanted to study for my English A-levels years ago but wasn't allowed to. How's that for a restrictive masculinist cannon! I think I ended up doing Alan Paton's 'Cry Freedom' instead.)

For those of you who are interested in an academic perspective on lad mag culture and advertising (a la Overloaded) then this would be ideal. Though if you are looking for a straight-forward political denouncement of lad mags, then that probably isn't going to happen. From what I remember Ros often takes, like me, more of a Foucauldian position of 'isn't it interesting how....'

As well as being an amazing academic and supervisor, Ros is also a fab all-round nice person and feminist, hence why I will be buying the book rather than just pilfering it from the library.

Angela McRobbie to give talk at the LSE

I will be returning to the LSE, and specifically the GI, for this exciting lecture by Angela McRobbie. And my fab ex-supervisor is chairing it! I really liked Angela's comments last year in the British Journal of Sociology in regards to Judith Butler's latest book. Though I am noticing increased use of the phrase 'melancholia' in academia - Paul Gilroy used it in a talk at the LSE last year on Britain's 'post-colonial' melancholy surrounding race relations. A new academic trend?

Illegible Rage: reflections on young women's post feminist disorders

Professor Angela McRobbie, Goldsmiths College, will give a public lecture at LSE on Thursday 25 January. The lecture provides a new cultural and sociological analysis of patterns of activity such as eating disorders, low self esteem, binge drinking and self harm.

Professor McRobbie who has written many books and articles on young women and popular culture, will draw attention to the normalisation of such malaise, she will argue that overall this comprises a form of ‘gender melancholia’. With young women encouraged to repudiate feminism, and the values it entailed including solidarity and love between women, the loss of this force for change and critique gives way to self-beratement, and harsh self- judgement as women are once more ‘confined’, this time in a restricted space seemingly of their own making.

The lecture will draw on material from fashion magazines, popular culture, films and contemporary post-feminist art. Angela McRobbie is professor of media and communications at Goldsmiths College. Dr Rosalind Gill, LSE, will chair this event.

Illegible Rage: reflections on young women’s post feminist disorders is on Thursday 25 January 2007 at 6.30pm in the Old Theatre, Old Building, LSE, Houghton Street, London WC2A. The event is free and open to all with no ticket required. Entry is on a first come, first served basis. Visit the event link here

Fawcett Society Veil Report

The Fawcett Society has a new report out on the issue of the veil and ethnic minority women. It covers:

• Choice: Should women have the right to choose to wear the veil in all situations?
  Secularism: Where does the veil fit within a secular British culture? How do we reconcile religion and democracy?
• The veil as a sign or symbol: The veil can signify meaning to others and signs can be powerful. What does the veil communicate in Britain?
• Feminism: What is the 'feminist position' on the veil? How can feminists work in solidarity with women who wear the veil?
• Policy recommendations: There are nine ways that policy makers can meet the needs of Muslim women. It is especially important to focus on: women's rights, gender equality, practical action from government to grassroots, and evidence rather than theory.

To read the full report of the debate and learn more about Fawcett's new 'Seeing Double' project on ethnic minority women go here

Vogue's strict rules for working out

It's January and there is no way that I am even going to venture near a gym in the next two months, but for those of you who do, the lovely people at Vogue have some 'rules' that you need to follow. Apparently when women go to the gym it is not so much to exercise as it is to transmit a multitude of social signals to the world. So for those of you who think that throwing on a t-shirt is ok, here are some strict regulatory rules a la Vogue:

1. "Make a priority of what you're wearing to the gym," she says. "It's not just a work out – you might be meeting friends there, or networking, or even getting a date. So it's important that you've given some thought to what you're wearing."
2. "Everyone doesn't want to look like everyone else these days so try to customise your looks – it's all about showing off your own attitude. My favourite piece of Nike's spring collection is the 8-in-1 top, which you can literally wear in 8 different ways, depending on your mood and the stage of your work out. It really lets you get creative."
3. "The key to wearing sportswear both outside and in the gym is layering. Then you look chic outside in your long-sleeved top but when you strip down to the Nike Airborn top as you get into your workout, you still have the look."
4. "Comfort is of course key but I would say that keeping the look streamlined is really important. Baggy leggings and over-sized T-shirts are not always the way to go, just because you're in the gym. Try to balance the comfort and fit of your wardrobe as equal priorities."

Honestly, it's a wonder these women manage to leave the house ....

Subtext Magazine Issue #2

Yay, my copy of the second edition of Subtext has arrived! And it has a fab glossy cover! Now I have no excuse to read Heat magazine ...

Researching Violence Against Women

Having completed a gender research degree, I am abnormally interested in research methodologies. My friend Jennifer, who specialises in gender-based violence in a development context, will love this. And its free on the net! My knowledge of the issues is sadly lacking, so I think this might be a good entry-point for me practically speaking.

Researching Violence Against Women: A Practical Guide for Researchers and Activists

This manual, written by Mary Ellsberg and Lori Heise from PATH, is a co-publication of PATH and WHO, published in 2005. It draws on the collective experiences and insights of many individuals, and in particular from the implementation of the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women in over 10 countries.

The manual has been developed in response to the growing need to improve the quality, quantity, and comparability of international data on physical and sexual abuse. It outlines some of the methodological and ethical challenges of conducting research on violence against women and describes a range of innovative techniques that have been used to address these challenges.

Direct Link to 259-page Manual: http://www.path.org/files/GBV_rvaw_complete.pdf

World Bank and IMF Gender reports released

I am trying to get in touch with my roots, as in why I was interested in feminism in the first place, (answer: feminist international relations theory) and so will be reading these newly released reports as 'light reading'. I might have been out of IR for a while but I remember enough about the World Bank and the IMF to know to read very critically and cynically ...

Improving women's lives: World Bank (WB) actions since Beijing
This Report describes the role of the World Bank in the international effort to promote gender equality and empower women. Looking ahead, the WB's support to empower women and girls will emphasize three areas:
1) supporting gender-relevant policy analysis, dialogue, and operational work
2) promoting greater gender equality through private sector development
3) working more closely with civil society and development partners.

The Report is available online here

Gender Guide to World Bank and IMF Policy-Based Lending
This Gender Guide, prepared by Suzanna Dennis and Elaine Zuckerman, describes the impact on people's lives, particularly on women, of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) policy-based loans: loans to developing countries that require governments to reform economic, financial and trade policies. These “reforms”—also known as loan conditionalities—generally bypass local democratic processes and contribute to the feminization of poverty.

The guide is available online here

Banana Skirts

Courtesy of the Women in London message board, there's a new radio show called 'Banana Skirts' which unearths lesser known and marginalised female pioneers of blues, country, bluegrass, and jazz.

It's currently on every Tuesday night at 10.30-11.30pm at Resonance FM (which is on 104.4fm, or can be listened to online at www.resonancefm.com)

It's OK to hate Condoleeza

Article over on Alternet by Gloria Steinem which makes the rather obvious point that women do not have to back anti-feminist women. But because this is Alternet you then have a ridiculous comments section where everyone thinks equality of opportunity is all that feminists want and so what is left to complain about? Grr.

http://www.alternet.org/stories/46621/

Doomsday Clock nears midnight ...

My god, human beings can be so ridiculously sensationalist sometimes ...

"The keepers of the so-called Doomsday Clock - which counts down to nuclear Armageddon - will on Wednesday move its hands forward for the first time in four years.
The Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists magazine said it was now the "most perilous period" since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Since 1947 the clock, with midnight representing nuclear apocalypse, has appeared on the cover of the magazine, which was founded by University of Chicago physicists alarmed about the dangers of the nuclear age.

The minute hand was last moved in February 2002, when it was pushed forward by two minutes, to seven minutes to midnight.

Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking will be among scientists who speak when the Bulletin announces how far the hands will be moved this time. The magazine said the "major step" reflected growing concerns about a "second nuclear age" marked by grave threats including nuclear ambitions in Iran and North Korea and unsecured nuclear materials in Russia and elsewhere.

The continuing "launch-ready" status of 2,000 of the 25,000 nuclear weapons held by the US and Russia, was also a problem, as was escalating terrorism.

The magazine said new pressure from climate change for expanded civilian nuclear power could increase proliferation risks.

The closest the clock has come to midnight is just two minutes away. That was in 1953, when the US and the Soviet Union tested thermonuclear devices within nine months of each other.
In 1991, in a wave of optimism at the end of the Cold War, it was set the furthest away, at 17 minutes to midnight."

Nadine Dorries blog

Stare into those vacant eyes if you dare ...

Ever since I did some pro-choice work mobilising against her crazy anti-choice Ten Minute Rule Bill I have become dangerously obsessed with Conservative MP Nadine Dorries' blog. If you want a really good example of how feminist discourses are re-appropriated via the 'we are just concerned for women's (mental) health' argument then view some of her entries here.

Although I must admit I agree with her 'Too Posh to Push' entry. However, it seems she is continuing with her mandatory 'cooling-off period' anti-choice offensive ...grrr. I am sooo tired of defending the limited gains we have made - this energy could be better used to push things forward. You know, to a stage were women had rights over their own bodies. Double grr.

Observer any better? Er no ..

Over on the F-word they were wondering if this weeks offering of the Observer Woman magazine would be any better than its usual poor standard. Much as always, we are back to clothes, food and skincream advertisements. For why the magazine is a complete shocker click here.

On the cover of today's edition was the promising proclamation that they would reveal the 'truth about female stereotypes' - but to be honest I wasn't terribly impressed. Whilst there were instances of 'cliche busting' there was no analysis of why these kinds of steretypes exist and how they become ingrained, so I consider it a pretty pointless exercise.

The worst part in my opinion was the 'Sex, Shoes, Money and Men - what do women want?' section where the presumption was obviously that all these women were heterosexual and the questions thrown at them included 'how many shoes do you own?' and 'who helps you?'. You can bet good money that men never get asked either of those questions.

The abortion ban article looks a bit more promising, so I'm off to read that. Hopefully I won't get distracted by the hard-hitting editorial on the first page waxing lyrical on the 'Return of the Scrunchy'.

Female Chauvinist Pigs

After my dalliance with British lesbian authors, (I read Sarah Water's FABULOUS 'The Night Watch' and Radclyffe Hall's depressing 'The Well of Loneliness' over Christmas) I am now going back to non-fiction. I resisted reading this when it first came out because its cover looked too chic-lit, but since simply every feminist in anti-porn debates seems to reference it, I'm going to give it a go. Will let you know how I find it.

Playboy Superstore coming near you!

Apparently London is getting its very own Playboy Mansion on Oxford Street this Spring. Lucky us!

Vogue UK reports that:

Hugh Hefner will open a 2,400-square-foot store on Oxford Street where we'll be able to buy rabbit-emblazoned lingerie, denim, sportswear, swimwear, cosmetics, jewellery and accessories, as well as the label's more exclusive Icons collection of eveningwear.

The London store will be going one-step further than sister stores in Melbourne, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur by featuring "a room in which shoppers can play video games and watch archive Playboy footage on plasma screens" thus giving us the full inter-active porn experience!

How much would you like to bet that they place the store at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, directly across the road from the Disney Store? Also, what on earth is a Playboy store doing in supposedly conservative Muslim Kuala Lumpur? Surely further proof at how depressingly mainstream porn is now.