Saturday 10th March 2007 saw FEM 07, a national conference for women and men at Sheffield University Union. The third FEM conference to discuss gender inequality in society offered a range of lectures, seminars and workshops ranging from a ‘Bluffer’s Guide to Feminism’ to ‘How to set up a Feminist Group’.
The day was just one example of the resurgence in the UK of the Feminist Movement. Some may have thought the campaign for gender equality was killed of by depictions of bra-burning, hairy legged, dungaree-wearing lesbians, portrayed by Viz’s ‘Millie Tant’ and discussed in the seminal book, Faludi’s Backlash. However, groups and magazines are cropping up everywhere, men and women, desperate to show how women’s inequality remains as entrenched in our society as ever.
The facts are staring at us in the face.
● Only 6% of reported rape cases end in the rapist being caught and punished.
● Two women a week are killed by their current or former partner.
● Men make up more than 70% of local councillors and 80% of MPs. The huge majority of judges are men and so are 96% of executive directors in the UK’s top companies. Black and Minority Ethnic Women are even more excluded from power in all these areas.
● The average woman working full-time is paid 17% less an hour than a man – and 38% is her job is part-time.
FEM 07 was an opportunity to learn about the issues surrounding gender inequality, make links with organisations and to find out how we can make a difference. Founded by Kat Banyard in 2005, the day provided lots of interesting opportunities for attendees. A presentation of films by Vera Media, a Leeds based group, told the history of Feminism in the Leeds area. The film showed how the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ murders in the 1970s caused thousands of women to live in fear of becoming the next victim in Peter Sutcliffe’s reign of terror. Advised by the authorities to stay indoors at night, the women took a stand and decided that they should not be the ones trapped in their homes. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches were formed where the groups marched through the city with banners and torches, proclaiming their right for freedom. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches are still popular, to protest about violence against women.
Seminars gave the chance for attendees to learn more about specific gender related issues, such as women in higher education. Evidence from Sheffield Hallam University Professor, Liz Doherty showed that women working in higher education are subject to a ‘glass ceiling’, often unable to reach the positions of Senior Management. The session provided suggestions to women for how they can improve their own career prospects and implement institutional change.
The most interesting seminar I went to was ‘Porn as the Norm – What can YOU do about it?’, a thought-provoking discussion provided by Dr Sasha Rakoff from the group, Object. Object is a UK group challenging media misogyny, targeting specifically lad’s mags. Passing round examples of Nuts, Zoo and Loaded and hanging up posters of typical responses to the debate (“It’s natural to look at porn”, “the women enjoy it”) was fascinating. But it wasn’t just lads mags that were under the microscope but Tesco and their ‘Peekaboo Pole Dancing kit' aimed at kids.
Charliegrrrl, a feminist blogger also spoke about her own campaign, where she goes into high street shops and defaces lad’s mags with permanent marker. The crusade is not all serious though. Rather humorously, she dresses up as a pink ‘Porn Detective’ and accosts men entering porn shops or buying magazines. Her actions achieved much publicity last year at the Labour Conference when she made banners featuring Tony Blair’s head on bikini-clad girls and shouted Lads mags headlines such as “Get your girl to dress like a Prostititute” (Front) and “Wanted: 100 Hottest Virgins. Do you know a lady who is still ‘intact’?” (Zoo).
Throughout the day, an Exhibition area showcased the work and services of organisations and groups such as The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading campaign for equality between women and men. Supporting the conference, the society traces its roots back to 1866, when Millicent Fawcett campaigned for women’s vote. The group advertise their campaign by getting celebrities to wear their “This is what a Feminist looks like” t-shirts. Other groups included Ladyfest Leeds, a festival supporting female musicians, bands, comedians and poets, and Subtext magazine, a new publication with stimulating opinion about feminist issues.
The day culminated in FemFest 07, a live gig and club night at the Raynor Lounge featuring all female DJs and bands with female members such as Sheffield’s Slow Down Tallahassee, Vile Vile Creatures, and Service Users.
The day was just one example of the resurgence in the UK of the Feminist Movement. Some may have thought the campaign for gender equality was killed of by depictions of bra-burning, hairy legged, dungaree-wearing lesbians, portrayed by Viz’s ‘Millie Tant’ and discussed in the seminal book, Faludi’s Backlash. However, groups and magazines are cropping up everywhere, men and women, desperate to show how women’s inequality remains as entrenched in our society as ever.
The facts are staring at us in the face.
● Only 6% of reported rape cases end in the rapist being caught and punished.
● Two women a week are killed by their current or former partner.
● Men make up more than 70% of local councillors and 80% of MPs. The huge majority of judges are men and so are 96% of executive directors in the UK’s top companies. Black and Minority Ethnic Women are even more excluded from power in all these areas.
● The average woman working full-time is paid 17% less an hour than a man – and 38% is her job is part-time.
FEM 07 was an opportunity to learn about the issues surrounding gender inequality, make links with organisations and to find out how we can make a difference. Founded by Kat Banyard in 2005, the day provided lots of interesting opportunities for attendees. A presentation of films by Vera Media, a Leeds based group, told the history of Feminism in the Leeds area. The film showed how the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ murders in the 1970s caused thousands of women to live in fear of becoming the next victim in Peter Sutcliffe’s reign of terror. Advised by the authorities to stay indoors at night, the women took a stand and decided that they should not be the ones trapped in their homes. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches were formed where the groups marched through the city with banners and torches, proclaiming their right for freedom. ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches are still popular, to protest about violence against women.
Seminars gave the chance for attendees to learn more about specific gender related issues, such as women in higher education. Evidence from Sheffield Hallam University Professor, Liz Doherty showed that women working in higher education are subject to a ‘glass ceiling’, often unable to reach the positions of Senior Management. The session provided suggestions to women for how they can improve their own career prospects and implement institutional change.
The most interesting seminar I went to was ‘Porn as the Norm – What can YOU do about it?’, a thought-provoking discussion provided by Dr Sasha Rakoff from the group, Object. Object is a UK group challenging media misogyny, targeting specifically lad’s mags. Passing round examples of Nuts, Zoo and Loaded and hanging up posters of typical responses to the debate (“It’s natural to look at porn”, “the women enjoy it”) was fascinating. But it wasn’t just lads mags that were under the microscope but Tesco and their ‘Peekaboo Pole Dancing kit' aimed at kids.
Charliegrrrl, a feminist blogger also spoke about her own campaign, where she goes into high street shops and defaces lad’s mags with permanent marker. The crusade is not all serious though. Rather humorously, she dresses up as a pink ‘Porn Detective’ and accosts men entering porn shops or buying magazines. Her actions achieved much publicity last year at the Labour Conference when she made banners featuring Tony Blair’s head on bikini-clad girls and shouted Lads mags headlines such as “Get your girl to dress like a Prostititute” (Front) and “Wanted: 100 Hottest Virgins. Do you know a lady who is still ‘intact’?” (Zoo).
Throughout the day, an Exhibition area showcased the work and services of organisations and groups such as The Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading campaign for equality between women and men. Supporting the conference, the society traces its roots back to 1866, when Millicent Fawcett campaigned for women’s vote. The group advertise their campaign by getting celebrities to wear their “This is what a Feminist looks like” t-shirts. Other groups included Ladyfest Leeds, a festival supporting female musicians, bands, comedians and poets, and Subtext magazine, a new publication with stimulating opinion about feminist issues.
The day culminated in FemFest 07, a live gig and club night at the Raynor Lounge featuring all female DJs and bands with female members such as Sheffield’s Slow Down Tallahassee, Vile Vile Creatures, and Service Users.
No comments:
Post a Comment