What is it with people getting all het up about women breastfeeding in public? Seriously – what is it about the sight of a small portion of breast, mostly covered by the head of a child, that stirs the masses into a morally outraged frenzy? This Monday saw a protest of hundreds of mothers outside…
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The opening shot of a clear night sky overflowing with stars in outback Western Australia sets the tone for this charming, feel-good film. Breathtaking visuals of a sky we never get to see in our light and smog polluted cities really make you appreciate the simplicity and serenity of it all. From gorgeous sunrises and…
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CLEO magazine has confirmed that the gender pay gap is still very real, particularly for women employed in finance or insurance. CLEO research has revealed that the basic principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’ is still not operating in many of our country’s biggest banks, insurance companies and financial institutions. Although the national gender…
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Someone once told me we live our life around stories. The truth, and what I have come to grasp is that this world has the potential to be a great nightmare like the ones that keep us up at night. This revelation occurred to me whilst watching The Imposter, a confronting documentary directed by Bart…
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Adrian Bayley, the man who raped and murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher has today been sentenced to serve at least 35 years in jail. Justice Geoffrey Nettle sentenced the 41-year-old to life for the murder, and 15 years for what he described as ‘a savage violent rape of the worst kind’. Bayley would be eligible…
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When I first arrived at the ashram, I was surprised and pleased by how social it was. Solo travellers had converged from across India and chatted in that eager way one does after a period of solitude. We had all arrived at the same time to commence a two-week “yoga vacation”. The director of the…
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The rape and murder of Jill Meagher has shocked the Australian people. Now, as the trial against the accused, Adrian Bayley, unfolds and with sentencing set for today, it has become apparent that not only was Bayley known to police, but he held a significant criminal history. This history includes charges of rape, attempted rape,…
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Picture an open sea. Dark, angry waves. Tightly-packed passengers on a rickety vessel – people who are hopeful for a new life, whose present danger is surpassed by the torture and death that is behind them. The raging ocean proved too much for a boat containing asylum seekers last week; it capsized and at least 55…
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When I signed on to write a film column featuring the Studio Ghibli films, I was thrilled. While I may not be an expert – yet – on the expansive collection of animated films, I have certainly seen enough to be hooked. Over the past couple of weeks as my deadline for this review (and…
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‘Love is a virtue’, croons Matt Berninger on Trouble Will Find Me, the title track from The National’s sixth studio album. It is that virtue that guides the narrative of the album, with Berninger offering up his heart and soul for our consumption. What was alluded to on 2010’s High Violet is laid bare, and…
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You know what would be great? Not needing a feminist movement at all. In a week where we saw our Prime Minister get served up as a quail, it’s nice to be reminded there are some species where women are top dog. Well, not technically dog. Not even mammal in all cases… 1. Spotted Hyena…
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Back when I was around fourteen, I was really into Lost. We still had dialup so I couldn’t Limewire it; I did it old-school, waiting for Christmas when my Grandad would buy me the latest season on DVD. I’d chew up four, five episodes at a time. My little sister, who would have been about…
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Three activists from the feminist action group Femen were arrested in Tunisia on June 13. Among the charges was ‘offending public morality’, for which, according to the Femen Germany Facebook page, the women have been sentenced to four months jail time. This contrasts sharply to the suspended sentence handed down to the men responsible for…
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I finished my undergraduate science degree last week. I’ve learnt a lot from that experience. I’ve learnt a lot about chemistry, for starters. But I’ve also learnt that right now, what girls get told in high school about science is a lie. It’s a lie that goes, ‘More women study science than men these days….
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