Fast fashion is the world’s second largest pollutant, behind oil. This fact may surprise some; the outer appearance between oil and fabric pollutants seeming vastly different – and they are. Still, it’s the sheer volume and waste associated with the process of fast fashion that is making it deadlier than it seems. According to Business…
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International Women’s Day began in 1909 after the women’s suffrage movement protests and since, it has become an internationally recognised occasion for celebrating efforts of the past and planning for the future. For over a century, March 8th has been celebrated as a day we put women on the map. This year, the focus of…
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In 2009 I broke the law in NSW and had an abortion. It was not a decision I made lightly. I discovered I was pregnant and carrying the child of my then-boyfriend, who was someone I deeply cared for. But we weren’t in love. At 27, I was at an age when many women I…
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Feminism is defined as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities”. The broad spectrum of feminist ideologies (from radical, Marxist to liberal) have different expressions of this core belief, but they are all fighting to create an egalitarian society. Many branches of feminism also place emphasis on intersectionality, which considers…
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When it comes to Christmas rom-coms, only two are of any importance. These films are of course Love Actually and The Holiday. Both films give you a slight guilty feeling about watching a rom-com, which quickly dissipates as you become emotionally involved. But why should we feel guilty about our emotional entanglement with such…
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Dear Hillary, It is with a heavy heart I write you. In the days since the election, I’ve grieved with much of the international community. The outcome of this election has left many scared for what the future holds, especially for women and minorities. I cannot tell you how much I wish this were a letter…
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Dear Mr. Trump, I’d like to start by saying this letter does not come from a strongly political place. These days, I find myself heavily disillusioned with politics in my own country, let alone yours. I have no interest in taking sides and my decision to write this letter was not politically motivated. I felt…
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Name: Kait Fenwick Age: 21 Occupation: Full-time student, part-time console operator Location/Hometown: Newcastle, NSW Describe yourself in one word. Curious What is your feminist philosophy? Inclusivity is at the forefront of my feminist philosophy. I’m conscious of my whiteness and the privileges that are associated with that. What inspires you? The writings of the late…
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Name: Sidney (Sid) Shaw Age: 23 Occupation: Student/bartender Location/Hometown: Melbourne Describe yourself in one word. Oddity. What inspires you? I’m inspired most by the women in my life, particularly my mother. She had the most influence on me growing up because for a while, it was just the two of us. I’ve always looked at…
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Name: Eliza Graves-Browne Age: 22 Occupation: I currently work as a Digital Copywriter, Freelance Journalist at VICE and Features Writer at Lip Location/Hometown: Melbourne, VIC. Describe yourself in one word. Me! What inspires you? I think I have a love-hate relationship with humanity. I am horrified by the destruction we are causing to the earth,…
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This is a review of a session held at the 2016 Sydney Writers’ Festival. * When I first entered the room and upon seeing so many older women, I was unsure if I would feel comfortable as a member of the new generation of feminism. I wondered whether Gloria Steinem, a prominent 82-year-old American…
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In 2000, Helen Garner was working on the story of Joe Cinque, a young civil engineer who was murdered by his girlfriend. She felt stuck—she had compiled long interviews with Cinque’s parents but had been refused any access to the two women charged with his murder. ‘I had no idea how to write the book,’…
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This week’s column is dedicated to things that have been helpful during the first two months off the pill. No need to go chasing the end of the rainbow – a pot of gold can be found right here. 1. Sweetening the Pill: How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control by Holly Grigg-Spall You’ll…
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Blackface. Can I still talk about it, or is it dead and buried in yesterday’s news? I hope I haven’t missed the window of opportunity of that “time of year” when a social issue affects a celebrity and we all decide now’s the time for political conversations on Mexican immigration, racism in sport and men…
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