feminist news round-up 17.06.12
Gillard: Love Is All You Need
This week on ABC programme, Q&A, Julia Gillard appeared alone and answered audience questions. One question came from a war veteran who asked her why his son couldn’t get married. Her response: ‘I think that you can have a relationship of love and commitment and trust and understanding that doesn’t need a marriage certificate associated with it. I mean that’s my life experience and so I’m speaking from that life experience.’ You can see the footage below:
Commentators point out that the issue is one of choice. Gillard has the option of getting married if she wants, but many same-sex couples are not given the opportunity to marry. However, it is an interesting move for her to question the necessity of marriage as an institution.
In related news, the Queensland Newman government has scrapped civil union ceremonies. Campbell Newman has announced that he will amend the state’s Civil Partnerships Act to preclude same-sex couples from having a state-sanctioned ceremony. The move essentially was a bow to Christian lobby groups who didn’t like the idea of same-sex civil partnerships.
Defence Report Reveals Abuse
lip is no stranger to the storm of reports and studies that have revealed the sexist nature of the Defence force. A new review produced by law firm DLA Piper was added to the mix this week . The report revealed cases of sexual assault on victims – both male and female – as young as 13 in the 1950s possibly up to the 1980s. It further revealed that often those who had suffered abuse went on to commit similar crimes against others. Abuse is still a part of the defence force today, with little in the way of reporting mechanisms and a culture that normalises these experiences. The majority of the review has not been made available to the public.
US Female Legislator says ‘vagina’; Banned from Speaking House Floor
State Representative, Lisa Brown, was kicked out of the Speaking House floor when she used the term ‘vagina’. This so offended the Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas that apparently, in the words of Jezebel, ‘”vagina” is another v-word that Must Not Be Named. Like Voldemort.’ Brown also suspects that her mention of her Jewish faith may have also caused controversy amongst deeply conservative Republicans. Brown was speaking on the topic of Michigan’s new proposed abortion law which would criminalise all abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation in all cases, including in cases of defects. There has been a large absence of female voices on this debate and Brown’s ordered departure does not bode well for Michigan women.
Social Networking for Women
Fairfax Regional Media has created a new Social Networking site specifically for women. This is in response to the fact that women use social media in high proportions – as many as 69 per cent of women are active on social media, slightly ahead of men. The site is ConnectPink.com.au
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