Across the left there has been an explosion of mockery and outrage at the formation of men’s societies at Oxford and Manchester universities. This is, in part, because of the reputedly dubious activities of the Manchester men’s society in particular. Equally there has been an instinctive – and to some extent reasonable – reaction against [...]
This week the identity of one of the internet’s most infamous bloggers was revealed. Belle de Jour, who wrote anonymously about her life as a highly paid call girl turned out to be Dr Brook Magnanti, 34, a research scientist in Bristol. Cue moral outrage and titillation – the favourite combination of the right-wing press. [...]
Guest post by Ruth Lukom A new coffee bar has opened at the bottom of our road. It is modern, stylish and the smell of coffee and cakes is very inviting. It is a Women Only café. I live in Waltham Forest, an area with a high Muslim population. For the past 20 -30 years [...]
An online site advertising prostitutes received an unexpected boost from the minister for women and equality this week – is all publicity good publicity? On the final day of the Labour party conference Harriet Harman gave a rousing speech where she attacked businesses that exploit women. Chief among her targets was a website called Punter [...]
Well apparently September is fashion season in London. This is probably not common knowledge in the left blogosphere. In fact, as somebody who invariably dresses in bad leather jackets and beanies, catwalk events barely registered on my radar until the shitstorm kicked up a few years ago about so-called ’size zero’ models. It was a strange moment [...]
Pay audits are a start – but the real way to end gender inequality would be to increase paternity leave I’m getting to that age now where friends of mine are starting to have children on purpose. Personally, I don’t want them. Certainly not at the moment – my flat is so tiny they would [...]
As you’re probably aware, reports emerged this week that following medical tests, South African runner Caster Semenya has been discovered to be biologically intersex. This follows weeks of speculation after her 800m victory at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin. On balance, I think these reports are probably true, if only because the International Association [...]
The past week has seen the repitition of a farmiliar pattern. Once again an unacceptably low rate of rape convictions has been revealed. and once again a ‘national disgrace’ has been declared and action urged. In this particular case a parliamentary question from Lynne Featherstone revealed that just 1 in 16 rapes result in conviction. [...]
The media and the blogosphere have been wrrring and grrring over Harriet Harman’s call for new rules to ensure that both Labour’s Leader and Deputy Leader cannot both be men. Harman’s whole approach to the question of Labour’s leadership is, in my opinion, completely wrong headed. I say this not because I am a white [...]
Today the Observer published an extremely alarming report that Dr Denis Walsh, “one of the countries most influential midwives,” has argued that women should be receiving less pain relief in child-birth, in favour of “yoga, hypnosis, massage, support from their partners, hydrotherapy and birthing pools as natural ways of alleviating their pain.” Walsh mixes up [...]
