Imagine: you’re a young woman about to embark on a journey that will see you tested mentally, physically and emotionally. A doctor examines you, checking to see if you are physically prepared for the path ahead. Your strength of character is linked to the purity of your body – and so the doctor’s examination requires…
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The Italian parliament has adopted a draft bill to tackle violence against women, prompted by increasing rates of ‘femicide’ in the country. A number of femicides in the media, namely the murder of 16-year-old Fabiana Luzzi who was stabbed and burned alive in May, and pleas by the United Nations to tackle the issue have…
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Russia could be the first European country to introduce paid leave for menstruation if a bill is passed in the state Duma. The bill, introduced by Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) member, Mikhail Degtyaryov would see women paid for two days off during their period. These two days would effectively equate to 24 in…
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So often in life I am a walking exhibition of a mini tornado behind reinforced concrete: listen closely and you may hear it rattle and rile me up. I refer to, in perhaps not the best metaphor, my aim to portray myself stoically and negate all evidence of emotion in my places of work.This isn’t…
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Elaine Riddick’s uterus was removed without her consent when she was 14 years old. Doctors sterilised Riddick following the caesarean birth of her son, who was conceived of rape. It was 1968 and the decision to sterilise was authorised by the North Carolina Eugenics Board. Riddick’s story is just one of an estimated 7,600…
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Calling all Lipsters: want to work towards abolishing rape culture with the chance of having your creativity seen? Newcastle-based consent workshop instructor, Nissa Lee of Secret Strength Self Defence is spearheading a grassroots project which aims to do just that. The OK Danger community collaboration of consent inspired artworks is broadly themed around sexual agency…
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For ages, stone has aided humans in their everyday life. But for some, a.k.a. hippies or the open minded, these stones are more than just an ancient tool to crush berries or spear a feed. Crystals are held by new age spiritualists as holding healing powers for matters of body and soul. Just as gender…
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Almost every day, junk mail makes its way into my email account, and almost all of it is related to men’s junk. From requests from ‘Adriana <3’ for live sex chats to offers of ‘Free lifetime sex pass (get pussy tonight)’, there is little spam that doesn’t revolve around the male libido. I’m sick of…
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If no means no and yes means yes, then what about all the tricky little nuances of intimacy that aren’t vocalised? With little discussion on how to communicate consent in wider Australian society, people are attending consent workshops to learn how to say yes, no, maybe and use other methods to assert themselves in their…
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Celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson has been photographed allegedly being abused by billionare husband, Charles Saatchi. Disturbing images of Saatchi gripping Lawson by the neck and flicking her nose at London restaurant Scott’s were circulated on Sunday in British tabloid the Daily Mirror’s weekend rag. Restaurant goers watched on in disbelief during the incident but failed…
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I turned 20 recently and I am so ‘old’. Old, old, old. Or at least, that’s how the majority of my 20-going-on-80-year-old friends would lead me to believe. I am the youngest in my circle, and as such they kindly passed on some knowledge of the other side (of adolescence, that is) to me: ‘You’ll…
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‘Since it’s your first time interviewing him, wear a skirt and you’ll be fine.’ This is the advice a female reporter was given as she planned for an interview with a police officer, which she passed on anonymously for the world to see. The majority of the tumblr fare I indulge in is ‘for the…
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There is nothing I like to do more than talk. Well, perhaps it’s tied with writing, but on the whole I live to communicate. Having a D&M, a conversation of depth and meaning, is my cup of tea and to a certain extent I like to push the boundaries. So when sitting amongst a co-ed…
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It’s a Saturday night in Newcastle. I stop off for a coffee along one of the city’s café strips, hoping to keep up the high from the roller derby bout I have just seen. Upon spying the local league’s shirt I wear, a male waiter prods me with questions I am ill-suited to answer as…
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