Archive for the 'Feminism' Category
From the Editors
What do postfeminism and postracialism have to do with liberation and freedom? The answer is clear: nothing — not a single thing. Postfeminism or postracialism contribute nothing to dismantling the patriarchal systems that spread across cultures and races. Or to inhibit gender violence, deliver healthcare, provide economic relief or increase abortion accessibility. The [...]
The convergence of the different aspects of the crisis of global capitalism today confirms that we are faced with systemic economic, ecological and social crises, which combine to produce a crisis of civilisation.
In this paper* we indicate some of the ways in which this crisis particularly affects women.
Women were already at the bottom of [...]
Based in Kuala Lumpur, Zainah Anwar, a leading Malaysian social activist and intellectual, is one of the founding members of ‘Sisters in Islam’, an activist group struggling for the rights of Muslim women. She is also one of the pioneers of Musawah, a recently launched initiative to build a global movement for equality and justice [...]
Arab women are more likely to win political rights than secure personal and civil status rights, said participants at an international conference on Arab feminism, held at the American University of Beirut Oct 4-7, 2009.
Attracting a strong turn-out that was overwhelmingly female, the conference was organized by the Lebanese Association of Women Researchers, Bahithat, in [...]
The Committee of Human Rights Reporters reports that the bail order for Shiva Nazar Ahari, a human rights, student and women’s rights activist, was reduced from 500 Million Tomans to 200 Million Tomans (roughly $200,000), after follow-up by her family. The reduction of the bail order takes place at the order of Judge Hadad and [...]
Nadje Al-Ali and Nicola Pratt
Berkeley-Los Angeles-London: University of California Press, 2009
Liberating women figured high in the official rhetoric justifying regime change in Iraq, but reality on the ground is a different story. In this carefully researched book, Nadje Al-Ali and Nicola Pratt, both professors at British universities, investigate why the situation of Iraqi [...]
A new generation of Italian women are finding a voice after a ’summer of sleaze’ in Italian politics
After a summer of sleaze in which Berlusconi has been variously accused of “frequenting minors”, sleeping with an escort girl and holding debauched parties at his Sardinian villa, a feminist backlash is gaining momentum. The target is not only Berlusconi but the wider culture of a country in which a prime minister could survive such [...]
Nawal el Saadawi, the “priestess of secular feminism” is back. She returned to Egypt last week, bringing with her a new novel that is set to reignite all of the controversial issues she had left behind more than two years ago while going to the US on a self-imposed exile.
“I came back because I have [...]
The root causes of women’s oppression
– Helen Zille, the DA leader on the real obstacles to female advancement in SA
Failing our women: A tragic loss of human potential
On Women’s Day it is important to look beyond the symbolism of this public holiday, and address the root causes of women’s oppression.
The risk of trinkets, [...]
… I’ve puzzled for most of my adult life about the third wave of feminism, longing for a connection with an organized and active women’s movement that always seemed just beyond my vantage point. I searched diligently for it in my undergraduate and graduate careers, in quests that led me to join women’s groups [...]
The National Organization for Women has elected a 56-year-old Maryland woman as its next president in a close win over a rival who had been endorsed by the group’s current president.
NOW said Terry O’Neill, who is white, defeated Latifa Lyles, a 33-year-old African-American woman from Washington, D.C., during the organization’s three-day national conference in Indianapolis. [...]
Some would say socialist feminism is an artifact of the 1970s. It flowered with the women’s liberation movement, as a theoretical response to what many in the movement saw as the inadequacies of Marxism, liberalism, and radical feminism, but since then it has been defunct, both theoretically and politically. I think this view is mistaken.
Socialist [...]
After years on the defensive during the Bush administration, the National Organization for Women is elated to have a president sharing many of its goals. Yet NOW heads into its own leadership contest — a sharp contrast of age and race — mindful of the need to energize its ranks.
Kim Gandy, a savvy former prosecutor, [...]
Has the move toward online resources had an effect on source material for the study of black feminist theory? The last forty years have witnessed a critical mass of literary and theoretical writings on the black feminist movement. This article evaluates the coverage of writings by a select group of forty “second wave” (1963–75) and [...]
“They said I was a man hater, and I never defended myself against that, because I do believe that men are to blame for the condition of women”
The Marilyn French I knew Marilyn French was a fierce advocate for feminism. Her books encouraged a generation of women to take charge of their lives Marilyn [...]
Feminist Collective takes aim at male-centered politics
“We don’t like to admit it,” says my interlocutor, “but Lebanon is a deeply prejudiced society. It is racist, sexist and classist.” In response to the intolerant environment in which they found themselves, Nadine, an American University of Beirut graduate who is currently studying for a master’s in philosophy, [...]
The religious order banning women from dressing like tomboys was bad enough. But the fatwa by Malaysia’s leading clerics against yoga was the last straw.
“They have never even done yoga!” said Zainah Anwar, head of a Malaysian women’s rights group called Sisters in Islam.
Anwar argues that the edict, issued late last year by Malaysia’s National [...]
Putting lipstick on a feminist is not the same as a vision.
Feminist Utopias have become personal spaces – spaces for lipstick or not; high heels or not; glamour; children, and dreams small enough to be accomplished by shopping, exercising or getting the right man or the right sperm.
According to Ellie The Noughtie Girls Guide to [...]
Every day we read in the newspapers about new proposals hatched up by Sweden’s neo-liberal government. One day brings cut downs in social funds. Another day it is tax deductions for domestic services, making it cheaper for the well-off to employ a maid or a nanny (this is known as pigavdrag – “maid deductions”), or [...]
Recent postings- Race, Feminism, Our Future – The Issues Magazine
- Trafficking Victims at UN Highlight Need for Recognition
- END FGM European Campaign launches web site
- Rid the world of female genital mutilation
- Lifting Silence on Menstruation to Keep Girls in School in Uganda
- Obama’s attack on abortion rights
- Differences between men’s and women’s health
- WHO calls for action beyond the health sector to improve the health of girls and women
- Malaysian Women’s Groups say Abolish Section 498
- Politics can be a Risky Business for Women in Bolivia
- new on womensgrid
- Rape Crisis Centres Westminster Hall debate 10 November 2009 at 12:30 pm
- Grassroots Co-ordinator – Women for Refugee Women – 23rd November 2009
- Jenny Okojie is doing a 7.2km sponsored walk for CRASAC – Please sponsor her!
- 16 days of action event Greater Manchester
- Football teams needed for special tournament against domestic violence in Barnet
- Be a judge for a day in Truro as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Week
- The right of murder suspects to use their partner’s sexual infidelity as a partial defence in court is set to end
- 100 rapists are let off with a caution: The serious offences that never come to court
- Scotland Yard has instructed officers not to use the phrase ‘gang rape’ to describe such crimes because it is too ‘emotive’ a term
- Government Shelves Measures To Restrict Paedophiles On Facebook because of Human Rights concerns
- new on women in london
- Information added to website September 2009
- Information added to website August 2009
- Information added to website July 2009
- GLDVP January-April 2010 open training programme is now available
- Prostitution Clauses Policing And Crime Bill 2009 – ECP
- Head of Communications – Women’s Resource Centre – 23rd November 2009
- Mrs Goundo’s Daughter – Free Event – Forward – 7th December 2009
- New European Campaign on FGM – Forward
- FORWARD releases an Information Services and Support Guide for Young People in the UK
- FGM is always with us – experiences perceptions and beliefs of women affected by female genital mutilation in London – Forward
“Women Will Benefit From Secularism” – Nawal El-Saadawi
28 October 2009 in Equality, Faith, Feminism, Government, Middle East, Opinion Comment
Controversy stalks dissident writer Nawal El-Saadawi, whose views on women and religion have put her at odds with Egyptian conservatives.
Recently she returned to Cairo after nearly three years in exile, and has already created a stir with the launch of a local chapter of her global campaign for the separation of religion and state.
“God has [...]