feminist news round-up 07.04.13
Uganda moves to ban miniskirts.
Uganda looks to ban miniskirts and other “provocative” clothing with the introduction of the Anti-Pornography Bill 2011. Women found guilty of wearing anything cut “above the knee” will face a fine and up to 10 years in prison. The same length requirement does not apply to men. Uganda’s ethics and integrity minister, Simon Lokodo, who proposed the Bill, said: ‘Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?’
Under the bill, internet use will be monitored, and many shows and acts would be banned from performance. The likes of Beyoncé and Madonna will be banned from television, Lokodo added. ‘We are saying anything that exposes private parts of the human body is pornography and anything obscene will be outlawed.’
But the draft bill has already run into trouble at the parliamentary committee stage after some members expressed concern about its implications for constitutional freedoms.
Muslim women launch counter-protest to Femen’s Topless Jihad Day.
The members of Muslim Women Against Femen encouraged supporters to participate in Muslimah Pride Day to show that they do not agree with the Ukraine-based group’s actions, including Thursday’s Topless Jihad Day. ‘Muslimah pride is about connecting with your Muslim identity and reclaiming our collective voice,’ organiser Sofia Ahmed wrote on the event’s Facebook page. ‘Whether we choose to wear hijaabs or not is (nobody’s) business but ours.’
On Thursday, Femen encouraged women to post pictures of themselves topless in support of young Tunisian woman Amina, who was threatened with stoning for protesting with her breasts.
Miles Franklin Award finally acknowledges women writers.
The Miles Franklin Award has copped some serious criticism since 2011, when it revealed its second all male shortlist in as many years. This year’s longlist was released this week and for once, there is barely a male author in sight. Eight out of ten authors on the list are female. Over 50% of the entrants in this year’s Prize were women.
Hilary Clinton vows to continue to fight for women’s rights ‘in all the days and years ahead.’
Delivering the headline speech at The Daily Beast‘s fourth annual Women in the World Summit, Clinton made a clear promise to continue her campaign at home and abroad on what she called ‘the unfinished business of the 21st century.’ Clinton referenced her famous speech from United Nations’ Conference of Women in Beijing saying, ‘let’s keep telling the world over and over again, that yes, “Women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are women’s rights” — once and for all.’
In other news…
Beyonce “guesses” she is a feminist.
The Economist releases Glass Ceiling Index, NZ is best place for women to work
Fears new pap-smear advice puts women at risk
This comment here pisses me off to a level that is above the stratosphere: Simon Lokodo, who proposed the Bill, said: ‘Men are normally not the object of attraction; they are the ones who are provoked. They can go bare-chested on the beach, but would you allow your daughter to go bare-chested?’
Women are not provoking men by wearing clothes that make them comfortable. How about we focus less on censoring our girls and more on educating our boys? If a woman wants to go topless she should be able to do so without fear of assault or prosecution. These laws do nothing more than oppress women, cause body shame, and coddle sexual offenders.
This kind of thing really pisses me off.