feminist news round-up 04.11.12
Historic: Equal Pay
This week, legislation passed which will lock in equal pay increases for 150,000 social and community services sector workers. This legislation means that workers in one of Australia’s lowest paid industries, which comprises mostly of women, will enjoy a pay increase. The increases follow Fair Work Australia’s landmark decision in February to award equal pay for those in the social and community services sector. Under federal government legislation, which passed the upper house of parliament on Wednesday, a special account will be established to fund the changes, which will offer boosts of between 23 and 45 per cent.
The Invisible War
A feature-length documentary, The Invisible War, premiered this year and has recently been released on iTunes with its creators urging feminist organisations to show their own screenings. Earning it a slew of awards, the documentary uncovers the reality of sexual violence in the US military. It reveals that female soldiers have a lot to fear, not from their enemies though, but from their comrades and superiors. Kori Cioca is a woman who was interviewed in the documentary. She revealed that she was hit and raped by her commanding officer. Further, she was told that if she testified against him, she would be court-martialed for lying; her assailant, who admitted the attack but denied rape, then received just 30 days of base restriction and loss of pay and the US Department of Defense continues to refuse to pay for the surgery she needs for the nerve damage to her face. The documentary highlights serious problems in the military, problems that are found beyond the US.
Republican says something outrageous about rape and abortion
It’s barely even news any more, but expected, that a US Republican politician would make an offensive claim. This one comes from John Koster, who (surprise, surprise) is associated with the Tea Party and nominated for a congressional seat in Washington state. He said that he opposes abortions, even in cases of ‘the rape thing’, because it is tantamount to inflicting ‘more violence onto a woman’s body’. He is also against abortion in cases of incest.
Abortion legality in Ireland
This week, The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) has launched a complaint to the Council of Europe over the Republic of Ireland’s refusal to legalise abortion. They argue that keeping abortion illegal is tantamount to gender discrimination. The country currently has constitutional protections for foetuses. The complaint was launched after pro-choice lobby groups failed to get the public on-side. Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have very restrictive laws surrounding abortion, though Northern Ireland’s first abortion clinic has opened only a few weeks ago. An editorial for The Guardian suggests that many Irish women have travelled to England for abortions.
Covered on lip this week
Fujitsu released new lady laptops, because lord knows that we women have problems with those more manly technologies.
