Workplace discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is now the most common complaint to the Fair Work Ombudsman. Of the 235 complaints to Fair Work over the last financial year, 28% were from pregnant women experiencing issues with their employer, with a further 11% of complaints from employees claiming unfair outcomes at work due to…
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Texas judge rules new abortion restrictions unconstitutional. Despite Wendy Davis’ 11-hour filibuster blocking a super restrictive anti-abortion law in Texas, the law passed in July, banning abortions after 20 weeks and requiring doctors to perform abortions at special facilities. But the good news is that this week a judge ruled that the new regulations are…
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Russia could be the first European country to introduce paid leave for menstruation if a bill is passed in the state Duma. The bill, introduced by Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) member, Mikhail Degtyaryov would see women paid for two days off during their period. These two days would effectively equate to 24 in…
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When you hear things like “workplace discrimination” or “sexism at work”, your thoughts tend to drift towards glass ceilings, high-profile Lean In scenarios or the experiences of trailblazer women working in predominantly male areas. You don’t tend to think of the hospitality industry (AKA dealing with people and cleaning up their mess) as being a…
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‘Since it’s your first time interviewing him, wear a skirt and you’ll be fine.’ This is the advice a female reporter was given as she planned for an interview with a police officer, which she passed on anonymously for the world to see. The majority of the tumblr fare I indulge in is ‘for the…
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It’s a truth universally known by all women that we aren’t trying to “have it all” when we have children and work. We’re trying to have children and live with the dignity and respect we get from being able to pay all our bills. Another universal truth known to all us women is the feeling…
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Last week I earned myself a certificate on fancy fake parchment to certify that I attended and completed a three-hour course in Workplace Bullying, Discrimination and Harassment. As a Gender Studies student, it was an easy course to blitz. My supervisor radiated with pride when I pulled out the big guns (“heteronormativity” got me an…
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A common misconception about feminism is that it only concerns itself with prejudice against women. However, the wide exploration of sex and gender over the past few decades has revealed that men are also often constrained by the macho/hunter/whatever stereotypes so prevalent in the Western world. Cheryl Kilodavis, an American mother of two boys, recently…
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