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28whitepeonies · 2 years ago

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Reading that made me realize how much my boyfriend ‚hates‘ woman, too. And it makes me sad.

Hi friend

Firstly I’m really sorry that the world we live in has been built the way it has and I’m sorry that it’s causing you hurt. I just want to start by saying that how you feel is very valid. I can’t offer much in the way of your boyfriend but I can offer some thoughts on how I exist in the hopes that might help you.

The thing about the 1D boys or the vast majority of men in general, and this will apply to your boyfriend too, is that misogyny is systemic. It’s built into the structures of everything around us, but like all forms of oppression, it does not have to be. Fighting it is a fight to make a better world and I think the it’s important to remind yourself that you’re not powerless, although as individuals our actions may not have a significant impact, there’s power in a collective.

And if I were to offer a piece of unsolicited advice, it would be that even beyond wanting to change the world, I have also probably found the greatest comfort in other women fighting for the same thing. There are different ways of finding that but I think there are two good places to start, the first is if you’re in a union - that in itself can be a good way to find likeminded people, but most branches will have a women’s rep and in my experience they will be a fountain of knowledge about local organising groups or book groups or radical knitting circles etc. The second requires a bit more time spent looking for yourself for what’s in your area, for instance there’s a little socialist book shop I have been going to for years that runs community events in my city and they do all sorts of stuff, or there are a couple of direct action groups focusing on women’s safety and buffer zones for abortion clinics - going along to meetings is a good way to work out what you want to get involved in and what you don’t.

I don’t have any other wise words to offer but I will share a couple of things that I have found a lot of comfort in and a couple of things that are a constant source of hope, because I think that matters a great deal. I’m going to put them under a cut before this gets too long!

This is a film about Ireland’s 8th Amendment and the fight for reproductive rights. There’s also a podcast called ‘How the yes was won’ if you’re a podcast fan.

If you haven’t seen ‘Made in Dagenham’ then I’d really recommend it. It’s about 187 women who worked for Ford as sewing machinists going on strike in 1968 over sexual discrimination. They predominately made car seat covers, and their strike brought Ford’s production to a halt. They won that fight and it resulted in better conditions for a far larger number of women than those 187 who walked out. The movie focuses a bit too much on pay and not enough on ford’s discriminatory practices in terms of conditions, grading of skilled work etc but it’s still a good place to start.

I’ve read two books recently that I would also recommend, the first is ‘Striking Women: Struggles and Strategies of South Asian Women Workers from Grunwick to Gate Gourmet’ which focuses on the stories of South Asian women organising and striking in Britain in 1976 and 2005.

The second is ‘Betraying Big Brother: The Feminist Awakening in China’ which starts with the stories of five women arrested in China in 2015 for their activism - the first section of the book tells each of their stories.

#I don’t know if this is at all helpful anon #reading it back #this is probably more than you wanted too so sorry if that’s the case x #but feel free to come back either way #sending love and solidarity #I started to recommend some wider stuff #where the patriarchy harms everyone so wider collective action is important #but this felt too long already #so I was quite strict about my recommendations #anon

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lastsonlost · 5 years ago

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Women’s groups and prominent feminist figures have remained almost universally silent over a former staffer’s accusation of sexual misconduct against former Vice President Joe Biden—including those individuals and groups who came to express regret for how the Democratic Party handled similar accusations made against President Bill Clinton in the 1990s.

The collective non-response from mostly Democrat-aligned groups comes as potential female running mates struggle themselves in responding to the Biden allegation, which has the potential to upend his campaign against President Donald Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women in alleged incidents spanning decades. And it echoes the division among progressives when the #MeToo movement revived scrutiny of Clinton’s own alleged sexual misconduct.

The Daily Beast contacted 10 top national pro-women organizations for this story, including Emily’s List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the National Organization for Women. Most organizations did not respond to a detailed request for comment about the allegation by Tara Reade, a former staff assistant in Biden’s Senate office who has accused the former vice president of forcibly penetrating her with his fingers in the early 1990s. Others replied and did not provide a statement.

One prominent women’s political group cited a scheduling conflict and asked to be kept “in mind for other opportunities!” When pressed if the following day would work better, an associate said it would not, citing another scheduling conflict.

The near-total lack of acknowledgement from nearly a dozen leading pro-women organizations comes as new corroboration has emerged with respect to the allegation, which the Biden campaign has categorically denied. Neither the Biden campaign nor Reade responded to requests from The Daily Beast for comment Tuesday.

It also is taking place as prominent elected women in the Democratic Party rally to Biden’s side. On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton became the latest to offer her endorsement of Biden’s candidacy—a symbolic passing of the torch from one presidential candidate to another, but a moment that also served as a reminder of moments in recent party history when accusers were almost uniformly dismissed.

In 2017, attorney Patricia Ireland, who served as president of the National Organization for Women for the entirety of the Clinton administration, told The Washington Post that she wished she had “done more to be supportive” of Paula Jones, the former Arkansas state employee who alleges that Bill Clinton sexually harassed her during his time as governor.

“For Paula Jones, there were nice distinctions that people made: She didn’t work for him, he didn’t have the power to hire or fire her,” Ireland said at the time. “But that ignores the reality that he was a very powerful man.”

During the same period, feminist icon Gloria Steinem told The Guardian that she regretted some parts of her aggressive defense of Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, including a New York Times op-ed in which she dismissed accusations of sexual misconduct against the president. “Even if the allegations are true,” Steinem wrote in the 1998 op-ed, “the president is not guilty of sexual harassment. He is accused of having made a gross, dumb and reckless pass. President Clinton took ��no’ for an answer.”

Steinem told the Guardian that “I wouldn’t write the same thing now because there’s probably more known about other women now. I’m not sure… What you write in one decade you don’t necessarily write in the next.”

But neither Ireland nor Steinem responded to a request for comment about Reade’s accusations against Biden. Bill Clinton has long denied Jones’ claims, settling a lawsuit she filed in 1998 for $850,000 with no apology or admission of wrongdoing.

Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Reade accused Hillary Clinton of “enabling a sexual predator.”

“Hillary Clinton has a history of enabling powerful men to cover up their sexual predatory behaviors and their inappropriate sexual misconduct,” Reade said in response to Clinton’s endorsement. “We don’t need that for this country. We don’t need that for our new generation coming up that wants institutional rape culture to change.”

Reade first accused Biden of digitally penetrating her in a podcast interview with journalist Katie Halper in March. Two other people, including Reade’s brother and a friend who has remained anonymous, told various outlets that Reade had told them about certain aspects of the alleged assault and her subsequent dismissal from Biden’s office over the years.

On Monday, Business Insider quoted a former neighbor of Reade’s recounting that the ex-staffer had disclosed details of the alleged assault when she lived next door to her in the mid-1990s. “This happened, and I know it did because I remember talking about it,” Lynda LaCasse, Reade’s former neighbor, told the outlet.

On April 24, Reade told The Intercept that her mother called into Larry King’s cable-news program to discuss “problems” her daughter experienced with a prominent lawmaker in 1993. In the episode, a caller from San Luis Obispo, California—where property records indicate Reade’s mother lived at the time—asked the host “what a staffer might do besides go to the press in Washington.”

“My daughter has just left there after working for a prominent senator and could not get through with her problems at all,” the caller said. “The only thing she could have done was go to the press, and she chose not to do it out of respect for him.”

Reade said on Twitter that it was her mother’s voice. “This is my mom. I miss her so much and her brave support of me.”

Biden’s defenders have argued that Reade’s story has changed over time—she previously had said only that she felt Biden had inappropriately touched her and made her feel uncomfortable. But sexual-assault victims’ advocates have noted that its common for victims to hold back on details as they recount their traumatic experiences.

Various aides to Biden have said they have no recollection of any assault incident happening. And Biden’s deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement this month that “this absolutely did not happen,” and that “Vice President Biden has dedicated his public life to changing the culture and the laws around violence against women.” Bedingfield added: “He firmly believes that women have a right to be heard—and heard respectfully. Such claims should also be diligently reviewed by an independent press. What is clear about this claim: It is untrue.”

Over the past several days, the Biden campaign has signaled that it is paying additional attention to issues that disproportionately affect women. On Monday, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), one of the contenders thought to be on Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates, was a guest on a virtual town hall with black leaders on coronavirus’ impact on women of color. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), another possible running mate and former Biden rival, was also featured in a virtual forum addressing similar women’s focused issues late last week.

On Tuesday, in introducing Clinton during a virtual town hall, Biden declared she is “the woman who should be president of the United States right now.”

“I want to add my voice to the many who have endorsed you,” Clinton said during the event to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on women. “This is a moment where we need a leader, a president, like Joe Biden.” Biden, she said, has been “preparing for this moment his entire life.” The former vice president reciprocated by saying it was a “wonderful personal endorsement.”

On Monday, in offering her own backing, House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi called him a “partner for progress in the White House.”

Four years ago, women’s groups threw their weight behind Clinton’s historic campaign as the Democratic Party’s first female nominee. But they remained largely out of the primary in 2020, when an unprecedented number of women campaigned with that similar goal in mind. Still, some groups haven’t been shy about criticizing parts of Biden’s past record relating to women.

In the early stages of Biden’s campaign, Planned Parenthood Action Fund took issue with a position he previously held around support for the Hyde Amendment, a provision that sought to restrict the use of federal money for abortion. In June 2019, the group’s executive director specifically called out Biden by name, reminding him that “the Democratic Party platform is crystal-clear” around repealing Hyde. Biden later denounced his support of the amendment.

Now, as Biden faces a sexual-assault allegation as the presumptive nominee, his past record and prominent female defenders are facing a new round of scrutiny. In particular, the decision to select a female running mate delighted many party activists and women’s rights advocates when Biden announced it in March, but is taking on a new form as the Reade allegation receives additional corroboration.

Already, potential nominees are having to answer questions about the allegation. The Daily Beast recently contacted the most prominent figures thought to be considered as possible contenders about Reade’s claim, including Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams.

Among the seven Democratic women’s offices reached, only Abrams commented, telling The Daily Beast that “women have the right to be heard” and adding, in part, that “nothing in the Times review suggests anything other than what I already knew: That Joe Biden is a man of highest integrity who will make all women proud as our next president.”

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podcastpalace · 5 years ago

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Ep 246: Abortion, Northern Ireland, Amanda Palmer & more by The Irish Times Women's Podcast .... In what was a momentous week for Northern Ireland, The Women’s Podcast travelled to Belfast for our first podcast recording in that beautiful city. It was the week abortion was decriminalised in the North after a long grassroots struggle by feminist activists. So what happens next? Panellists including Alliance for Choice activist Danielle Roberts, performer Kellie Turtle and Alliance party Assembly member Paula Bradshaw discussed the conversation that will happen in the North over the five month consultation period before abortion services are introduced next March. And we were joined in the Belfast Mac by our special guest Amanda Palmer, who told our audience about her own experiences of abortion and sang the song you didn’t hear on The Late Late Show – Voicemail for Jill.

#Podcasts #Audio

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virginiamurrayblog · 6 years ago

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We meet the LCF creatives behind the drop podcast series

the drop is an investigative, mindful, and creative dive into the future through the lenses of fashion and design. Established by MA Fashion Futures graduates Amy Foster-Taylor, Bronwyn Seier, Claire Weiss, Pippa Smart, the podcast series explores some of the biggest issues facing the fashion industry and humans in general. From climate change to ocean plastics to globalisation, this series looks deep into some of our generations biggest issues with industry recognised panel guests.

the drop logo.

The podcast series hopes that listeners will learn to always be open-minded and ask questions about issues facing the fashion industry and humanity as a whole. The first episode features scientist and activist, Dr Lucy Gilliam talking to host Bronwyn Seier about how to use positive stories to change behaviour. Lucy co-founded Exxpedition, a series of all women sailing voyages that journey the globe to uncover the truth about ocean plastics.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-bTkiAmtW/?taken-by=thedrop_online

Other guests on the podcast include Laura Hunter, creative director at change agency, Futerra. Laura discusses how to deliver sustainable products and brands to her clients’ audiences and tells us how Futerra is tackling climate change through optimism, plus designer Richard Malone, who tells his story of campaigning for #Repealthe8th on Ireland’s recent abortion referendum. Richard speaks about fashion’s struggle to get political, and its elitism. the drop also shares his open letter to Vogue.

Listen on iTunes, PodBean, and Stitcher

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The post We meet the LCF creatives behind the drop podcast series appeared first on London College of Fashion News.

We meet the LCF creatives behind the drop podcast series published first on https://wholesalescarvescity.tumblr.com/

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dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram · 3 years ago

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Hi! As a young woman in America I’m quite horrified by the possibility that Roe v. Wade could be overturned. I don’t know what to think or what I can do to deal with this terrifying trend of reversing the access women have to healthcare that is on the rise in the US. I’m beyond horrified, I’m honestly scared. Scared for what it means for my future and the future of women in the country. Scared for what it may mean for other precedents that protect the rights of the LGBT+ community. I go to a very catholic college where this type of change is sure to championed as “Godly progress.” What can I do to try to make changes and to show why overturning such legislation is a bad idea to people who are deeply, religiously against the idea of abortions? Sorry to ask you these questions but you always seem to know what to say in the face of challenge issues and I want to feel less alone in the world if I could at this time! Love from America!!

Oh anon, I'm so sorry. Huge love to you and everyone else struggling tonight (and tomorrow morning and in the weeks and months and years to come). It is really fucking scary.

One of the most important political ideas for me is one that I heard best expressed by Howard Zinn - hope for a better world comes not from certainty - but from uncertainty. Even now we don't know what's going to happen next and what we do matters. But maintaining that sense of hope can be really hard, we have to actively feed it.

One way that Americans can feed their hope right now is by listening to Irish women. There are Irish women who in 1983 fought against an amendment that gave fetuses equal right to life to pregnant women. Who then worked hard to provide access to knowledge and resources so that those who needed abortions could travel to the UK to get one. Who in 2018, fought and won to have that constitutional amendment repealed. And who are still fighting now for better access and better services. I recommend starting with the How the Yes was won podcast. But you can also just google 'Repeal the 8th' on youtube. That abortion rights were won in Ireland through a referendum really shows that all sorts of things are possible, and worth fighting for.

I also have some more concrete advice - both short and medium term - I hope it's useful.

Short Term

Find your people. You are not alone even in a Catholic college. Find the people who are feeling the way you are - people you can rage with, grieve with, and express your fears to. Remember they will also be looking for you - this is a scary time for everyone.

Fight Back. Collective mobilisation matters right now, angry determined people on the streets matter right now. If you get an opportunity to be part of something big then take it. If you're a long way from anywhere and all you manage is you and the people you know gathering in a park with signs then make that happen. You've been given some time to resist before the decision becomes final - take that time it will make a difference.

Medium Term

Your question about how to communicate to the people around you is a really wise one. I'm trying to give you a very short version of what I know about how to change minds. Connection, curiosity, and compassion are really important if you're going to move people (and this can be very hard to do - which is why my 'Find Your People' advice came first). If you're reactive and judgmental people will be pushed away - so if you're goal is to change someone's mind (and it doesn't always have to be), then try and be as generous as possible. In some ways abortion is a perfect issue for this sort of approach - because it doesn't matter what people believe - making abortion illegal doesn't stop it, it just increases the risk and increases the cost. Don't argue morality, don't argue worldview, you can concede all of that (in an 'even if that's true it doesn't matter way') - making abortion illegal is still a bad idea that doesn't change the number of people having abortion, but does kill people.

If this leaked draft becomes a supreme court decision, then the next step will be building collective social infrastructure to ensure that people can access abortions anyway. What this will look like will depend on where you are - will people who need abortion where you are need to travel? Will people be travelling to where you are? Start thinking and talking about what will be needed and what you can do.

In New Zealand, the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act (at that time the most restrictive law in the OECD) was passed on 15 December 1977. On the 4th of January the first flight organised by SOS (Sisters Overseas Service) to take women to Australia to have an abortion took off. Over the next few years tens of thousands of NZ women travelled to Australia to have abortion with support such as transport to and from the airport and places to stay. After a few years they managed to make abortion accessible within current laws. And in March 2020, the law was finally repealed and replaced.

There is hope, even in this moment anon, and there is hope because what we do matters. Love and solidarity.

#Roe v Wade #or technically Casey vs Planned Parenthood #abortion

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virginiamurrayblog · 6 years ago

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We meet the LCF creatives behind the drop podcast series

the drop logo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj-bTkiAmtW/?taken-by=thedrop_online

Listen on iTunes, PodBean, and Stitcher

More information on MA Fashion Futures

Cordwainers at LCF

LCF is Global

Find out more about other undergraduate courses at LCF

Find out more about postgraduate courses at LCF

LCF Open Days and Events

Find out more about Funding and Mentoring