Women's Views on News |
- Church of England rejects women bishops
- For Christmas: Scottish feminism!
- Holiday plans? Sri Lanka? Think again
- Women ‘working for free’ till New Year
- Childcare, and breaking the rubber band
| Church of England rejects women bishops Posted: 22 Nov 2012 09:50 AM PST
Guest post by Reverend Biddi Kings. This week saw the General Synod reject legislation which would have enabled women to be ordained as bishops in the Church of England. The General Synod of the Church of England comprises three groups or 'houses': the bishops, the clergy and the laity – made up of those who are not ordained. In order to be approved, a measure needs to receive a two-thirds majority in favour from each of the houses. The final approval stage of the discussion about whether or not women should be ordained as bishops was on the evening of November 20. This measure was passed by an overwhelming majority in the House of Bishops – 44 for, 3 against with 2 abstentions - and a large majority in the House of Clergy – 148 for with 45 against. It failed by a handful of votes in the House of Laity: 132 in favour, 74 against. A majority of six. As an ordained woman priest I share the distress, dismay and disappointment of the overwhelming majority who feel this legislation is long overdue in a society and an organisation where supposedly we espouse equality of opportunity for all people. You would think, wouldn't you, that members of the Church of England, of all people, might listen to the teaching of Saint Paul who, although not noted for his feminism, preached: ‘There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus’, to quote Galatians chapter 3 verse 28. Most of us felt that we had made considerable compromises in the wording of the measure in order to accommodate the spiritual and pastoral needs of those who still find themselves unable to accept women's ministry. Clearly that was not enough for the minority who were bent on sabotaging the measure. Out of the 44 diocese (Church of England administrative areas) 42 have recently indicated through their own synods that they support the ordination of women as bishops. So we can only assume that we have inadvertently allowed traditionalists to subvert membership of the General Synod House of Laity, much as Militant Tendency did with the Labour Party at branch level in the 1980s and 90s. Sadly, it is unlikely that the Synod will consider any similar measure again for another 3-5 years. However, an online petition is already doing the rounds, calling for sanctions against 26 Church of England bishops having the right to sit in the House of Lords unless they include women in their numbers. It seems that it isn't over yet.  |
| For Christmas: Scottish feminism! Posted: 22 Nov 2012 07:00 AM PST
Look no further. The new Feminism in Action calendar for 2013 is now on sale, in aid of the Women’s Support Project. The Women's Support Project is a feminist voluntary organisation, recognised as a Scottish charity, which works to raise awareness of the extent, causes and effect of male violence against women, and campaigns for improved services for those affected by violence. The Project is based in Glasgow but works throughout Scotland. Key themes in its work have been highlighting the links between different forms of male violence and promoting interagency responses to the abuse of women and children. The Project offers support for women whose children have been sexually abused or exploited, and also works at raising awareness of the harmful impact of commercial sexual exploitation and highlighting male demand as the root cause. Its work on improving service responses to violence against women includes delivery of training as well as public education. One example of this is the 11-minute DVD developed by the Women's Support Project and Zero Tolerance, in conjunction with media co-op. 'Pleasure vs. Profit' is one of the first resources to make the connections between sexualisation of children and young people, and the creep of pornographic images and values into mainstream culture, and to focus on the situation in Scotland. With input from young people, police and activists, the film exposes how the porn industry manipulates young people's natural curiosity about sex, and in doing so jeopardises their ability to explore their sexuality in a healthy way and at their own pace. To view the film online, click here. The Women's Support Project is also a founder member of the Scottish Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation (SCASE). If you are angered by the normalisation of porn in mainstream culture, and by the sexual exploitation of women, then join SCASE and make your views count. You can find their Facebook here. And in case you have forgotten the opening paragraphs: the Women's Support Project is currently fundraising by selling a fantastic colourful calendar, available on-line (click here to order), and from a number of local venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling: check the Project's Facebook page or email for details. While you’re at it, Glasgow City Council is campaigning for Scottish legislation to criminalise buying sex in any setting, so check out their Facebook page and sign the petition, which will be sent to your MSP. This is feminism in action.  |
| Holiday plans? Sri Lanka? Think again Posted: 22 Nov 2012 03:26 AM PST
In the week that saw David Cameron being urged by MPs to consider boycotting next year’s Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka in protest at its human rights record, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice has launched a campaign aimed at promoting ethical tourism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a popular tourist destination with its stunning beaches, lush forests, tea-growing hills and many sites of historic and cultural interest. But, as Lucy Popescu wrote in the Huffington Post recently, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice has recently uncovered evidence that a range of British tour operators are offering holiday packages that ‘commercially benefit alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses’. Sri Lanka was wracked by a bloody civil war for almost three decades. During the final stages of the conflict in 2009 an estimated 40,000 civilians were killed. And there is credible evidence that government forces deliberately shelled hospitals and designated no-fire zones, while the opposing Tamil Tigers (the LTTE) used civilians as human shields. Sri Lanka is ranked as the second worst country for involuntary disappearances and the 4th most dangerous country for journalists in the world. There have also been credible reports of coercive interrogation, torture, rape and extra-judicial killings. And at the end of the war 300,000 civilians were illegally detained in inhumane conditions likened to concentration camps. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre’s most recent estimate is that around 125,000 civilians are still living in temporary accommodation. They live in tents surrounded by landmines and without access to basic services, food, jobs and money. Human Rights Asia points out that there was criticism both from within the country as well as internationally of what has been happening in the name of law and order in Sri Lanka. One report in June stated that a rape takes place in Sri Lanka every ninety minutes. Other reports on sexual abuse of children also reveal facts which are quite shocking. The military, meanwhile, confiscates – continues to confiscate – private land and designate it part of a High Security Zone (HSZ) and build upon it their own houses, farms and facilities – including tourist hotels – with impunity. The Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice suggests that if you do intend to go on holiday to Sri Lanka but would like to support the ordinary people and legitimate businesses of that country, then there are ways of trying to ensure your money contributes to local communities not to abuser-backed projects. There are, for example, many family-run hotels and local businesses that can provide you with a wonderfully authentic experience, and in many places there are also community projects, such as turtle watching, that provide fair employment to local people. The campaigners also ask you to raise awareness of the issues. Asks you to please tell your friends and anyone else who is thinking of visiting this beautiful island about the human rights abuses faced by the people of Sri Lanka. You can read more on the campaign’s website or follow the campaign on their Facebook page.  |
| Women ‘working for free’ till New Year Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:58 AM PST
Many women in the United Kingdom still earn less than men today even where they are in the same job grades as men, the Fawcett Society reports. The gap in pay between women and men means on average for every £100 men take home, women are getting £85 . And so, as the Fawcett Society, which campaigns for gender equality, recently pointed out, women in Britain are effectively working for free from the first week in November until New Year's Eve. On average the gap in various sectors of the economy is currently about 14.9 per cent across the country. It is, however, even more marked in London, at almost 23 per cent – and in financial services, majorly occupied by men, it is, the Standard points out, ’a stonking 55 per cent’. And while the salary discrepancy between the sexes has been narrowing – a little – each year, the Standard continues, both Fawcett and the TUC warn that it could soon start growing as the public sector, where the majority of staff are female and the gap between the sexes’ pay is much smaller, is hit by job cuts and a pay freeze. Adding insult to injury, even though legislation regarding equal pay has been in place for 40 years, the gender pay gap in Britain remains among the biggest in the EU. A range of things contribute to it, as the Guardian reported earlier this year. For one, the work done by women is undervalued. Jobs traditionally done by women are generally less well paid than those where men dominate – look at nursing versus mechanics, for example. A term referred to as the “motherhood penalty” can also lead to outright discrimination, with employers less likely to hire or promote women of childbearing age, for fear they may fall pregnant. "It could have a huge impact on the pay gap if men and women had more choice on who cares for the children," the Fawcett Society’s chief executive, Ceri Goddard, said. Another cause contributing to the pay gap is that industries that have traditionally been dominated by men pay more than those where the majority of staff are female, even when they require similar levels of training. This is apparent even in apprenticeships: a UNESCO report published last month showed female apprentices pocketed a fifth less on average than their male counterparts. Also, lack of flexible work opportunities available means mothers, who still tend to do the bulk of unpaid caring for children, can find it hard to reconcile paid work with family responsibilities. The Fawcett Society says the government must stick to its guns on welcome plans to extend the right to request flexible work to all and reform the parental leave system so that caring responsibilities are shared better. The Fawcett Society, however, believes the government isn't doing enough. Goddard wants a "serious review of the law" so that the onus is not on people taking their employers to tribunals to check women are paid fairly. Companies should be routinely forced to publish staff salaries and show – and explain – any pay gap. She takes hope from the fact that women no longer accept a salary discrepancy as just ‘the way things should be’. "The most positive thing is that we're starting to get a generation who believe they are as good as men and worthy of the same pay. “But what is sad to see is they still hit a similar career wall to the one the generation before. That urgently needs to change." The Minister for Women and Equality, Jo Swinson, believes the gender pay gap represents wasted talent. "Everyone deserves equal opportunities at work, but too often women's skills are being overlooked — and in some cases they are still being discriminated against on pay. “Good progress has been made but it's clear much more needs to be done," she said. The Fawcett Society is in the process of conducting detailed research into the current challenges women face in the labour market and will be launching the results early next year.  |
| Childcare, and breaking the rubber band Posted: 22 Nov 2012 02:16 AM PST
Flexible parental leave is set to become law in 2015 as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Cleg claims that the current rules “may have made sense in the 1950′s but not today”. The Deputy PM announced the plan on 13 November in a speech in London. Reporting on the announcement, The Telegraph echoed claims that the plan will allow parents to share up to 12 months of paternal leave when they have a child. Among other changes, such as equal rights for adoptive parents and fathers being allowed to take unpaid leave to attend two antenatal appointments, parents will be given the flexibility to be able to take the 12 months off work collectively and given the right to organise their time as they wish as long as no more that 12 months is taken – but no more than 9 of those months at guaranteed pay. Clegg’s motivation for the plan is to give fathers a right to greater participation in their child’s first year of life. But he also said: ”We, as a society, we have got so much better at telling young women: the sky’s the limit. Get a job; be independent; be the boss; run as far and as fast as your talents can take you.” “Then, suddenly, when they hit their late 20s, their early 30s, despite all their earlier momentum, despite all the endless possibility, they are suddenly stopped in their tracks. “It’s like a rubber band snaps these women back. Because, the moment they start planning a family, their options begin to narrow.” The new plan is indeed a positive one, but it is the seventh parental leave change in a decade and companies will have to adapt quickly ensuring that all employees are aware of their rights. In the speech, which you can read here, Clegg said that the plan will be reviewed in 2018 to asses whether couples are using the combined leave and if adjustments need to be made. Although the change will not come into action for another 2 years, the fact that the government is openly discussing the need for change will hopefully empower and inspire fathers into exercising their existing paternal rights and shake off some of the stigma attached to flexible working. And Clegg admits himself that these changes are “a number of small steps, rather than one giant leap”.  |
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