Women's Views on News |
- Petition for sex education pledge
- Women have rights and are not ‘vessels’
- Church in Wales outlines role of women bishops
- Boys can do housework too
| Petition for sex education pledge Posted: 30 Sep 2014 08:15 AM PDT
With the main party conferences beginning, the End Violence Against Women coalition (EVAW) and the Everyday Sexism Project have launched a new online petition. It is addressed to all party leaders, and asks them to pledge – before the General Election due in May 2015 – to making Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) compulsory in all schools as a key way of preventing abuse of women and girls. At present SRE is not compulsory. Young people are growing up bombarded with negative and conflicting messages about sex, relationships and gender roles. From Blurred Lines to lads’ mags, online pornography to sexting, the Lad Bible to Page 3, our culture routinely portrays women as dehumanised and sexualised, and men as sexual aggressors, normalising misogynistic and even abusive behaviour towards women and girls. This is the context in which 85,000 women are raped in England and Wales every year and 400,000 sexually assaulted. Meanwhile, according to the NSPCC, 25 per cent of young women over 13 experience physical violence and 72 per cent experience emotional abuse in their own relationships. For many girls and young women, abuse and harassment by boyfriends and friends, male family members as well as men on the street and in the community are part of their daily experience – as the End Violence Against Women coalition’s Schools Safe 4 Girls campaign shows all too well. A 2010 YouGov survey for the End Violence Against Women coalition (EVAW) found that almost one third of 16-18 year old girls in the UK had been subjected to unwanted sexual touching at school and 71 per cent of all 16-18 year olds hear sexual name calling such as ‘slut’ or ‘slag’ towards girls at school at least a few times a week. 'Sexting' is often coercive and non-consensual, with girls far more likely to be affected. It was recently reported that over 1000 alleged sexual offences in schools, including 134 rapes, were recorded by the police in 2013. More than half were committed by other children. Thousands of young people have shared their experiences of harassment and assault on the Everyday Sexism Project website, including many who experience 'groping' and harassment on a regular basis at school or on their way to school. Many describe confusion and misunderstandings around rape and consent, with children hearing phrases such as ‘rape is a compliment really’ in the classroom. Girls explain that online pornography has left them afraid of having sex because they have seen videos where women are crying and getting hurt, and there is no information elsewhere to offset the idea that this is simply the expected norm. In fact 60 per cent of young people say they are first exposed to pornography aged 14 years or younger and young people’s exposure to pornography is linked to unrealistic attitudes about sex; beliefs that women are sex objects; and sexist attitudes. For boys, too, the bombardment of sexist content both on and offline sends confusing and negative messages about their role in relationships, leaving them in need of support and information that often simply isn't provided. Some parents and schools already provide excellent guidance and information, but the current provision is patchy with a focus on teaching girls to say 'no' rather than teaching non-abusive behaviour, which risks reinforcing victim-blaming attitudes. Many young people receive no support at all on these vital issues, and this is too important to be left to chance. All primary and secondary schools in England should be required to teach students about issues such as sexual consent, healthy and respectful relationships, gender stereotypes and online porn in an age-appropriate manner as part of Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education. This needs to be backed up with statutory guidance and teacher training, formulated in consultation with relevant expert organisations, and be part of broader work to prevent abuse of women and girls. The general election in 2015 provides the perfect opportunity for party leaders to put child protection first by committing to such a law. Ask them to commit to making sex and relationships education in schools compulsory, to include sexual consent, healthy and respectful relationships, gender stereotypes and online pornography. Please sign this petition. Thanks.  |
| Women have rights and are not ‘vessels’ Posted: 30 Sep 2014 06:47 AM PDT
Dear Minister, Choice Ireland were delighted to hear that you will be addressing the UN General Assembly [on 29 September] on the importance of states’ compliance with international law. Here is a link to the Concluding Observations by the UN Human Rights Committee which found Ireland to be in breach of international law in a number of areas, including our abortion laws, direct provision conditions and the absence of investigation and redress concerning symphysiotomy and mother and baby homes. We trust that you will use your position in Cabinet to ensure immediate compliance with Ireland’s international obligations in these areas. Sincerely, And posted here in – continuing – solidarity with our sisters.  |
| Church in Wales outlines role of women bishops Posted: 30 Sep 2014 03:45 AM PDT
One year after it was agreed that women could be ordained as bishops, the Church in Wales has published guidelines detailing their role. The historic legislation to include allow female bishops passed last year but had been put on hold until a code of practice could be agreed upon. This code, which aims to incorporate women bishops without alienating those who object to the concept, was outlined by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, at a meeting in Trinity St David in Lampeter recently. Significantly, the code states that any woman bishop should operate in her Diocese on the same terms and with the same jurisdiction as her male counterparts. And in addition, the bishops rejected the calls for any discussions on the issue to always include a man who opposes female bishops. However, the code also has a caveat: 'there should be a means to request and receive alternative sacramental provision' should a member of the Church refuse 'in conscience' to accept the ministry of a woman bishop. The code also says that '[t]hose who in conscience cannot receive the sacramental ministry of women should not be excluded from being considered for ordination.' These clauses act as olive branches to those who object to the Church's decision to allow female bishops, in accordance with a broader aim towards 'inclusiveness'. "The Code of Practice we have produced has not been produced for the benefit of one side or the other in the debate but for the whole church," Dr Morgan explained. The Code, he said, should be drawn up in such a way that every member of the Church in Wales might feel secure. "In other words, this code is not just for those who in conscience dissent but is a code for every member of the Church in Wales." He stressed that the code includes nods to both sides of the debate: "Bishops have a particular responsibility for matters of faith and order and we want to be as inclusive as possible which is why we are able to affirm wholeheartedly the ordination of women to the episcopate and can also accept that provision should be made for those who cannot accept their sacramental ministry." "By making such a provision, our hope is that no-one will feel the need to leave the Church in Wales." He also said that not everyone would agree with the code of practice, but he asked that the Church "unite in the greater task of proclaiming the Gospel". The Archdeacon of Llandaff, the Ven Peggy Jackson said: “The bishops did what we asked them to do: they fulfilled the trust we placed in them to come up with a code that will make it possible for everyone to be and feel that they are wanted and included and valued." And she said she hoped the carefully-worded code would ensure unity in the Church in Wales. But while the language of inclusiveness is to be admired – Dr Morgan spoke of seeing 'Christ at work' in all Church members, married or single, gay or straight, female or male – it could be argued that such inclusiveness has merely left the Church sitting firmly on the fence, rather than leading the fight for religious gender equality. It’s next step is to consult its dioceses on whether it should solemnise same-sex marriages. A 12-month consultation was announced by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, at the church’s Governing Body meeting in Lampeter last week.  |
| Posted: 30 Sep 2014 01:09 AM PDT
As a mum with a 6 month-old son I am very aware that many toys and children's clothes are gendered. There are already brilliant campaigns out there fighting to get this changed, such as Let Toys Be Toys and Pink Stinks which try and tackle this by targeting products "that prescribe heavily stereotyped and limiting roles to young girls". However, while I was on a recent trip to Birmingham's Disney store I was shocked to see that not only were the toys gendered in the obligatory pink and blue fashion and separated, with the boys' toys on the left hand side of the store and the girls' were on the right, but the a certain type of toy was being aimed at young girls: In among the princess costumes and soft toys were some bright pink vacuum cleaners. A recent survey found that 8 out 10 married women still do the majority of the household chores in comparison to their male counterparts. Meaning we have not progressed very far since the 1970s. And with children being socialised through gendered domestic appliance toys it is easy to see why. After seeing this toy I went in search of vacuum cleaners or any similar house cleaning devices in the boys section – and I could not find a single one. Instead their section was filled with outfits of star troopers and star wars paraphernalia. So while our girls are being trained in housework, our boys are being taught they can go to the moon. Don't get me wrong, I think teaching our children to do domestic chores is an important part of preparing them for adulthood. However, children do tend to want to copy their parents, so we should be setting examples that both mummy and daddy do an equal share of housework – or at least that is what we aim to do in our house. But I think it is important that if we are going to have domestic appliance toys such as vacuum cleaners and irons then they had better be in pink and blue. If you are as annoyed about this as I am, then please feel free to email your local Disney Store calling for them to produce a vacuum cleaner in blue too. And while you are at it, ask them to change the pink and blue divide too. Thanks.  |
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