‘When are you planning to have kids?’ I’d bet you good money that every woman has been asked this question at some point in her life. More than once. This question is almost always well-intentioned but, at the same time, works on the assumption that not only is procreation inevitable, but something that every rational…
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In a recent study conducted by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, dissatisfactions of the physical appearance of the body have been discovered to be evident in children as young as eight years old. These kinds of body image issues, affecting both men and women, are perfect representations of the impact of the media…
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A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, a progressive UK think-tank, has called for greater recognition of the caring responsibilities of older women as they increasingly look after their grandchildren and elderly parents. The report’s authors, Dalia Ben-Galim and Amna Silim, argue that balancing care responsibilities and work is becoming increasingly difficult for…
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Suspected Islamist gunmen have killed at least 27 students and a teacher in a boarding school in the Mamudo village in the northeast of Nigeria. Survivors are being treated for burns and gunshot wounds. Some of the school’s 1200 students fled into the nearby bush to escape the gunmen. Information is scarce at this…
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We’re continuing our series on the Dale Young Mothers’ Program (YMP) from Wyong, NSW. Funded by the Youth Connections program and the Wyong Better Futures Local Solutions Local Advisory Group, the Dale Young Mothers’ Program gives young parents the chance to complete their year 12 certificate and form pathways to further education/work by creating a…
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We’re continuing our series on the Dale Young Mothers’ Program (YMP) from Wyong, NSW. Funded by the Youth Connections program and the Wyong Better Futures Local Solutions Local Advisory Group, the Dale Young Mothers’ Program gives young parents the chance to complete their year 12 certificate and form pathways to further education/work by creating a…
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New figures suggest that the proportion of families travelling to Australia by boat to seek asylum is increasing. The news comes as the federal government seeks to alleviate pressure on the overcrowded detention system by granting bridging visas to families. According to The Australian, approximately 40% of new asylum seekers are now coming as part…
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A new study by Wesley Mission has found that women and children are becoming a pronounced presence in the homeless demographic. Wesley Mission provides support for those at risk of homelessness in Australia. The Homelessness and the next generation study also found that one in five people who were surveyed sought shelter from domestic…
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‘Kids and adults alike will be taken on a journey’ promises Cathy Petocz, the star of Pea. This inventive interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea is premiering at the Street Theatre, Canberra this month. I had a chat to Petocz to find out all about the show, from…
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Disney shaped billions of childhoods around the world. Remember when you were little, and all you wanted to do was dress up in a big pink puff pastry dress and pretend a fairy godmother was coming by to whisk you away in a pumpkin? This, along with sitting around waiting for Prince Charming and “true…
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I not only shamelessly judge books by their covers, but by their titles, too. I’m forever drawn to quirky titles, and What the Raven Saw by Samantha-Ellen Bound, was one of the most intriguing titles I’d read in a while. Add to that the beautiful cover artwork, and I couldn’t wait to rip open the…
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Ida Jessen is a popular and award-winning Danish author whose 2009 work, The Children, has recently been published in English. Beginning in 1992, The Children opens with recently divorced Solvej renting a house in isolated Hvium so she can be with her daughter, Christiane. While Solvej is eager to find a place to belong, her…
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Recently I read Lesley Kinzel’s article over at XoJane magazine – What’s wrong with fat shaming. I related to most of the points and instances she brought up, but one in particular stood out to me. 4. I am out dancing at a club with friends. I notice a small group of guys at the…
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It’s hard to avoid the influence of mainstream commercial media on young girls. I should know: my seven year old daughter is heavily into princesses and ballerinas, while my six year old daughter loves butterflies and wearing pretty dresses. One of the ways I try to combat this is to reduce the amount of commercial…
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