Women's Views on News |
- Play on if you are tall and blonde
- Sports round-up: July 1-7
- Events 8-14 July 2013
- Miliband backs women’s equality
| Play on if you are tall and blonde Posted: 08 Jul 2013 07:29 AM PDT
Even before she had hit her first serve in the Wimbledon Women’s final, Marion Bartoli was being judged by her looks and not her play. BBC commentator John Inverdale was forced to apologise after describing her as "never going to be a looker" in his pre-match commentary. He said: "I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, ‘listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker. “You are never going to be somebody like a Sharapova [read: slim, long-legged, blonde], you’re never going to be 5ft 11, you’re never going to be somebody with long legs, so you have to compensate for that." Bartoli shrugged this off with a good natured: "It doesn’t matter, honestly. I am not blonde, yes. That is a fact. “Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. I’m sorry. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely, yes.” However Inverdale’s remarks proved relatively knockabout compared to the volley of abuse Bartoli was hit with immediately after winning the trophy. She was damned by Twitter users as "someone who would never get raped"; "a munter"; "slug"; "a whore" and a person who should "get a boob job with the money that you are winning". Twitter feed @EverydaySexism curated the abuse. Heaven help Bartoli if she had started grunting to boot. As Phillippa Willets of the F-Word said: "Those who thought she was not pleasing enough to look at to deserve to win are symptomatic of the wider problem of women always being expected to not just look good, but to look good in a way that men approve of. “And, of course, when different men have different tastes and preferences we get to a point where we can never win, even if we do bother to try." When Laura Robson won her match against Marina Erakovic by taking eight games in a row, after Erakovic was serving for the match, the immediate post-match interviewer asked her if she had heard from a certain pop group (One Direction). Obviously her first thought coming off court from an epic victory. Her later defeat was blamed not on her opponent’s good play but on David Cameron jinxing her. Arguably both Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic could be branded as "never going to be, you know, a looker". There has been no discussion of which pop stars converse with them on social media. They have not been infantalised, their grunting has not been described as "shrieking like foxes" as Sharapova’s was. Her display of effort also upset the sensitivities of some Wimbledon watchers. Comments on social networks were rife such as: @ConnerClark3: “When Sharapova was 14 and grunting, I was into it but now? Doesn’t do much for me.” @Fierce_Blogs: ”The tennis match between #Sharapova and #DeBrito is like a sexual experience.” @JeffHouck: “Looking forward to watching @thepioneerwoman. Cheesecake shooters in Oklahoma will be a nice break from sweaty women grunting at Wimbledon.” So the post match analysis is women tennis players should look good, not sweat, not make any ‘unladylike’ noises and then after the best looking one wins, she should be awarded with a modelling contract to get her legs out for the lads. Game, sex and dispatch.  |
| Posted: 08 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT
Boxing: Lisa Whiteside, Savannah Marshall and Olympic champion Nicola Adams all brought home gold medals from the European Union Amateur Championships, held in Hungary last week. Flyweight Adams, competing in her first tournament since London 2012, beat Bulgaria's Stoyka Petrova to retain her EU title. Bantamweight Whiteside beat the Czech Republic's Alice Sremkova in her final, while reigning world middleweight champion Marshall saw off Dutch fighter Nouchka Mirielle Fountin. Britain's juniors also met with success. Ebonie Jones won gold in the 50kg category, while Chantelle Reid took the top prize in the 70kg. Cricket: England's women were unable to capitalise on an easy win in the first match of their one-day Twenty20 series with Pakistan, losing the second match to share the series 1-1. England coasted to victory in the first match in Loughborough on July 5. With help from a 46 from captain Charlotte Edwards and a 57 from Sarah Taylor, the hosts scored a total of 145 for 7, to Pakistan's 75-6. The second game was not so straightforward. England adjusted their batting order, resting Taylor and moving Edwards and the experienced Arran Brindle further down the order. A strong 45 from Nain Abidi took Pakistan to 116-8, which England were unable to better. The tourists took the second match by just one run. Athletics: With just five weeks until the World Championships in Moscow and two Diamond League meetings on the schedule this week, the outdoor season is in full swing. Christine Ohuruogu won the 400m last week in Birmingham, but she was unable to repeat her performance at the first Diamond League meeting of the week, held in Lausanne on July 4. A slow start meant that her trademark late burst of speed was not enough to chase down her rivals. The race was won by American Francena McCorory in 50.36 seconds; Ohuruogu trailed with 51.03. Shara Proctor took third place in the long jump with a season's best of 6.92 metres. Tiffany Porter also produced a season's best, running 12.65 finish fifth in the 110m hurdles. On July 6, the Diamond League circus moved on to Paris. Perri Shakes-Drayton, another Brit who won last weekend in Birmingham, finished second in the 400m hurdles at the Stade de France. Marilyn Okoro's time of one minute 59.76 seconds was enough for fifth place in the 800m, but more importantly, earned her the coveted World Championship A standard, a week ahead of the British trials. "I am really happy," she told the BBC. "It has been an interesting few months, but my coach said I was ready. "A tremendous amount of pressure comes off now ahead of the trials. Now I have got the A standard, I just have to focus on finishing in the top two." Triathlon: Jodie Stimpson won her first World Triathlon Series race on July 6 in Kitzbuehel, Austria. Stimpson has performed well throughout the season. She earned her first podium finish in Yokohama in May, and her second in Madrid in June. With just three races remaining, the win moves her into second place in the series standings, behind Germany's Anne Haug. Fellow Brit Katie Hewison finished in seventh place, with Vanessa Raw in 15th and Madrid winner Non Stanford in 16th. Tennis: Laura Robson's run of good form at Wimbledon finally ended in the fourth round on July 1. Robson became the first British woman in 15 years to reach the second week of the Championships when she beat Marina Erakovic in the third round. However, Estonia's Kaia Kanepi proved to be too much of a challenge for the 19 year old British number one, who lost a tight match in straight sets, 7-6 (8-6), 7-5. Robson's performance throughout the tournament demonstrated a huge improvement over the past year, and many are already tipping her for the top ten, and perhaps even a Grand Slam title in the not-too-distant future. Now that Andy Murray has ended the long wait for a British men's singles champion on the grass, Robson seems ready to take his place as the nation's great hope. Cycling: Famous Yorkshire racing series the Otley Cycle Races featured a women's race for the first time this year. Reigning junior world time trial champion Elinor Barker held off a strong field to win the race on July 3 in front of a large crowd. The race finished in dramatic style, with Barker, Hannah Barnes and Harriet Owen rounding the final corner together for a bunch sprint to the line. Barker held off her opponents to win by a bike length. Football: England suffered a bad defeat in their final warm-up match for Euro 2013, which begins on July 10. Hope Powell's side lost 4-1 to Euro hosts Sweden, despite an early goal from Ellen White. However, England go into the tournament in relatively good shape; this was their first loss in 11 matches. Euro 2013 begins on July 10, with coverage on BBC 3. England will first face Spain on July 12. Find out what to watch out for here.  |
| Posted: 08 Jul 2013 05:40 AM PDT
Activism: 12 July: Malala Day Across Birmingham In support of Malala Day in Birmingham, the city that Malala has chosen as her new home. Join forces with Malala and support turning her ‘education for all’ goal into reality for millions of children. There are a number of ways to get involved, including asking young people to read and sign this draft Youth Resolution, write their own draft Resolution, and plant trees. To find out more about events, email shahidachoudry [at] aol.com and join on Twitter by using the hashtag #malaladay. Events are especially targeted at educators, youth workers, and mentors, to work with the children and young people of Birmingham to commit to joining forces with Malala. 13 July: Picket Against Workfare Marks & Spencers, Narrow Way, Hackney, London, E8 from 12 noon Join Feminist Fightback to tell Marks & Spencer that Workfare in their shops must stop. Bring banners, placards, and noise! Meet 12 noon outside Marks & Spencer, Hackney Narrow Way (Nearest station: Hackney Central station) Comedy: Bridget Christie’s A Bic for Her 10 July: The Invisible Dot, Northdown Street, London, N1 from 7pm 14 July: Round Table pub, St Martin’s Court, London, WC2N from 7.30pm. This event is fundraising for Eaves and will also feature Kate Smurthwaite. Kate Smurthwaite’s The News at Kate 11 July: What the Frock! The Square Club, Bristol from 7.30pm 14 July: Round Table pub, St Martin’s Court, London, WC2N from 7.30pm. This event is fundraising for Eaves and will also feature Bridget Christie. Debating: 10 July: Central London Debating Society debates the motion: This House Would Ban Page 3 Each debate is contested by two teams of two speakers – one in favour of the motion and the other against. The bulk of the debate is made up of an interactive Q&A session where audience members put their questions and comments to the panel. The Central London Debating Society relies on volunteers to speak in any debate that interests them. Its over-arching aim is to hear from people who have little or no previous experience of debating and wish to improve the public speaking skills. If you would like to speak in this debate, please send a message to central.debating [at] gmail.com and say which side you would like to take.
Entertainment: 10 July: Tender film screening with Q&A Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 from 4pm Tender has created a film about abusive relationships, developed and produced with a team of young people who have created it in response to issues they know to be impacting teenagers. This free event will include a screening, a Q&A with the young filmmakers, a performance from a drama group and a drinks reception. To attend, please email Doireann Larkin on doireann[at]tender.org.uk From 12 July: Screenings of Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer ICA, The Rio, Hackney Picturehouse, Clapham Picturehouse, Ritzy Picturehouse, The Lexi in London Also at: Picturehouse at FACT in Liverpool Cinema City in Norwich Harbour Light Picturehouse in Southampton Exeter Picturehouse in Exeter
Festivals: 12-14 July: Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp: Big Summer Cocktail Party! AWE Aldermaston’s A340/Citadel Gate on Paices Hill, Aldermaston A weekend of women-only non-violent discussion and activity. Workshops, activities, cocktails, and partying.
Fundraisers and charity events 14 July: Marathon Fundraiser for EWRASAC Eteaket, 41 Frederick Street, Edinburgh Tea Boutique and Cafe, Eteaket are showing their support for Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre (EWRASAC), by donating 50p from every pot of tea sold on July 14 in their tearoom in Edinburgh.
Seminars: 10 July: Women and Social Justice Seminar Series: Challenging Violence Against Women Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry from 10am-4pm The aim of this seminar series is to explore issues of social justice which impact on the lives of women and girls. In this final seminar, the focus is on the issue of violence against women and considering how it can be challenged. The seminar provides an opportunity to explore violence against women from a global perspective, and will include contributions from academics, community activists and practitioners. To book a place, please email WSJ.bes[at]coventry.ac.uk  |
| Miliband backs women’s equality Posted: 08 Jul 2013 01:09 AM PDT
Speaking at a meeting of the Women in Advertising and Communications London (WACL) recently, Miliband said that equality was only possible if the structures of society were reformed. "Tonight as we enjoy this dinner,” Miliband said, “there are women all over this city, working as cleaners and carers, doing two jobs or sometimes three, travelling late into the night to get there and still not earning a living wage. "The call of economic and social change is urgent. "Reforming our workplace to make it less exploitative, taking further steps to make it more supportive of those who have families, dealing with all the many other issues we face: zero hours contracts, exploitation of agency workers and shockingly low pay." He pointed out that professional women are also suffering from the effects of gender inequality. Although the number of female MPs has increased over time, over three quarters of MPs and more than four fifths of the cabinet are men. Furthermore, women account for just 17 per cent of FTSE 100 directorships, 14 per cent of senior judges and five per cent of national newspaper editors. Commenting on these shocking statistics, Miliband said: "My goal is to get to a Labour cabinet that is 50 per cent women and a parliament that is like that, and boardrooms and everywhere major decisions are made. "We can't be one nation if the majority of the population is under-represented in every area of public life." Miliband praised the fact there are "fantastic" role models in public life for girls and women, such as Clare Balding, Doreen Lawrence and J. K. Rowling, but said they are not recognised enough. "When Winston Churchill replaces Elizabeth Fry, everyone who will appear on our banknotes will be a man apart from the Queen, our Head of State. "What kind of signal does that send? "Why don't we have one of our great women scientists, like Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, and a suffragette like Emmeline Pankhurst on our banknotes?" Directly addressing the not-for-profit organisation, which was established in 1923 and comprises 130 members from top advertising, communications and media agencies, Miliband argued that the representation of women in advertising and communications is also wrong. "In broadcasting, it is just wrong that older male broadcasters are seen as distinguished and older female broadcasters are not seen at all. "We all know there are still too many images in our advertising that reflect outdated ideas about the role of men and women, boys and girls. "There are still too many adverts which do not show the modern world as it is – let alone as it should be – something which advertisers have a responsibility to address," he said. Miliband's criticism of the advertising industry comes after a recent Weetabix advertisement stereotypically depicted a girl dressed in pink playing with her dolls while her brother pretended to be a superhero. Many other advertisements, including one from Pot Noodle that bears the tag line 'the slag of all snacks' and a sexist advert from Crazy Domains featuring Pamela Anderson, have also raised concerns. To tackle sexism in the media, Miliband called for positive role models to be depicted in advertising "every day" and for schools to "always encourage the aspirations of girls and boys". He added that a culture of sexualised images among young people must also be abolished, with schools needing to "offer proper relationship education at all stages to ensure all our children have a proper chance to understand what good loving relationships are about". Miliband concluded his speech by telling Women in Advertising and Communications London that it is only with these changes that society can "turn a formal commitment to equality into real equality".  |
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