Feminist News Round-up 27.01.13
David Koch versus breastfeeding mothers everywhere
It all started during a discussion on Channel 7’s Sunrise about whether a Queensland mother should be allowed to breastfeed at her local pool. Host David Koch attracted the scorn of breastfeeding mothers everywhere when he said that while mothers should be allowed to breastfeed in public, they should be ‘classy’ and ‘discreet’ about it, and not do so in ‘high traffic areas’, including alongside a public pool on a hot summer’s day. Some of his detractors held a nurse-in outside of Channel 7’s Sunrise studios in protest, but Koch wasn’t without his supporters – most of them women. Public opinion aside, however, the law is clear; mothers, feel free to breastfeed your child wherever you please. It’s your right to do so.
Carefree to re-release “controversial” vagina ad
Do you know what the most complained about television advertisement was in 2012? Well if you guessed Carefree’s ad for its Acti-Fresh products – yes, the “vagina” one – you’re right on the money. And last week, Carefree began re-broadcasting the ad to further tackle taboos about women’s health. Women’s Health Manager for Johnson & Johnson Pacific, Michelle Forster, said: ‘With the majority of women experiencing discharge and 66 per cent of them bothered by it, we believe that re-running the commercial will further assist in showing that this often taboo topic is normal and something that we need to speak openly about. We are proud of the healthy dialogue that this campaign has started amongst Australian women and we see real importance in continuing it further in 2013.’
Caulfield Grammar seeks exemption from Equal Opportunity Act
Caulfield Grammar, a private school in Melbourne’s south-east, has applied for an exemption from the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 which, if granted, will allow the school to select students by gender, including granting scholarships to male or female students and advertising for such. According to its website its motivation lies in ensuring “gender balance” and “gender equity” for future students.
Women and girls hardest hit by global recession
According to a report published by an international child protection organisation, women and girls have been the hardest hit by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). The GFC has seen a rise in female infant mortality rates and a drop in life expectancy, and young women were taken out of school at a higher rate than young men. The Chief Executive of not-for-profit children’s organisation Plan International, Nigel Chapman, said: ‘Girls are being treated worse than boys; young women are being treated worse than young men.’ He added that the situation for girls and women is ‘being buried beneath the bigger economic news’.
also covered on lip this week
School tells 13 year old student to undergo breast reduction surgery
Family First to introduce foetal homicide bill in South Australia
Murdered Kurdish activists put spotlight on conflict in Turkey
