When Elle announced their campaign to “rebrand” feminism, it was met with mixed feelings. Many expressed gratification and pleasant surprise that such a high-profile magazine should deign to take notice of a little old campaign for gender equality like feminism, taking the view that the only thing better than publicity is free publicity on a…
Read more
In August 2013, a fashion report was published by two Australian companies, Not for Sale and Baptist World Aid. This study provides an overview and statistics of how 41 clothing companies in Australia source their garments, and how they treat the workers that help to make them. This report is much needed after a slew…
Read more
The Stella Prize, in conjunction with Books+Publishing, a new source for the book industry, have compiled Australia statistics to reveal the number of women and men both being reviewed and doing the reviewing in newspapers and literary journals from 2012. This effort was also produced in a count for 2011, and, sadly, the count from…
Read more
The transition to a new government always brings with it some challenges and this seems to be particularly true of the Abbott Government, especially in relation to the choices for Cabinet. For the last few years it has been reported that Tony Abbott has an image problem with the female voting demographic. This sentiment has…
Read more
In this robust piece of political journalism, the few women who got past Tony’s door into the upper echelons of the new government are thoughtfully analysed and critiqued for their policies and stance on national affairs. Lol JK, ladies bring a plate, because this is a good ol’ fashioned ho-down of unnecessary and superficial sexist…
Read more
On the 2nd of this month, Neil Mitchell took to Twitter to share this gem: ‘about to do the chat room on Nine. Any views on women who cry at work? Weakness or tactic?’ This upset quite a few people, for good reason. After all, weakness and tactic are both very negative words with a…
Read more
It would be easy to assume that the bulk of prospective candidates put forward for romance at the Shanghai Marriage Market are men. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, by 2020, there will be 24 million more Chinese men between the ages of 20 and 44 than women. But in fact it is the…
Read more
This is probably History 101 for most people but it doesn’t hurt to look at where we’ve come from next to where we are now. Women in Australia have been able to vote since about the turn of the 20th century, and to stand for election to parliament since the end of the first…
Read more
Last week in London, Australian entertainer Rolf Harris was re-arrested on suspicion of further sexual offenses. He has been released on bail again until a date later this month. Despite the ongoing police inquiries into historic sex abuse claims, Harris has still yet to be formally charged. These claims are related to the case by…
Read more
In a blue polka-dot dress Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton stood on the steps of Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital holding baby George. Seems like a straight-forward scene. But this entirely simple act of introducing the newest royal to the world via the media has sparked wild debate about Kate’s post-delivery baby bump. OK…
Read more
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…
Read more
So, do you want to hear the good news or the bad news? Well, the good news is that UK feminist campaigner and journalist, Caroline Criado-Perez was successful in her push for the inclusion of women (other than the Queen) on British bank notes, with Jane Austen to feature on the £10 note from…
Read more
With his announcement of Labor’s new refugee policy, PM Kevin Rudd has ensured that instead of doing away with ‘old politics’, his party continues to insist on fighting the coalition on its own turf. For the last decade, at least, the ALP has allowed the Liberal-Nationals to dominate the political discourse, dictate the agenda,…
Read more
The morning of July 24, hundreds of paparazzi and thousands of fans wait outside St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, after hearing confirmation that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will soon introduce their new baby to the world. At 7.15am, one of the largest doorstop press conferences in the world begins when Prince William and…
Read more
