tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134408242024-03-21T19:20:08.160+00:00ycleptawords from a womanycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-24790914767656030242010-12-11T00:16:00.002+00:002010-12-11T00:17:11.657+00:00end FGM<embed src="http://www.endfgm.eu/content/assets/petition/flash/endfgmBADGE-EN.swf" width="255" height="255" bgcolor="ffffff" allowfullscreen="false" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-19394912416819129312010-12-10T13:01:00.003+00:002010-12-11T00:18:25.234+00:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The number of women killed by violent partners has risen dramatically in a year, figures showed today.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Home Office statistics show that at least 101 women died in 2009 at the hands of a husband, boyfriend or ex-partner, up from at least 72 the year before.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span">The proportion of the total number of female homicide victims who were killed in <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/domestic-violence" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Domestic violence" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; text-decoration: none; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">domestic violence</a> incidents also rose, from 35% to 53%.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Guardian</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/09/sharp-rise-women-killed-violent-partners?&">http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/09/sharp-rise-women-killed-violent-partners?&</a></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Refuge are calling on Government to remove the postcode lottery that means 1/3 local authorities have no services for women experiencing domestic violence.</span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><a href="http://www.fourwaystospeakout.co.uk/">http://www.fourwaystospeakout.co.uk/</a></p></span>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-79063560653674362222010-11-28T20:04:00.006+00:002010-12-11T00:19:44.963+00:00women, rape and the criminal justice system<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Only 6% of reported rapes result in a conviction and a significant number of those accused are never charged at all. And reported rapes are themselves in a minority. Figures from the Department of Health suggest that a woman is raped every 10 minutes. The vast majority – an estimated 95% of the rapes that actually take place in the UK – are <span class="Apple-style-span">n</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ever reported in the first place</span>. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/26/women-report-rape-criminal-justice"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Afua Hirsch</span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, legal affairs correspondent, tells us in the guardian </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">online on <time datetime="2010-11-26T21:00GMT" pubdate="" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">Friday 26 November 2010</time></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><time datetime="2010-11-26T21:00GMT" pubdate="" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></time><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 15px; "><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Why is this in the news again? </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Because a woman who </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 29px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> accused her husband of rape was locked up and he was set free, when she was intimidated by him into dropping her charges. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/26/accused-husband-rape-jail"><span class="Apple-style-span">Helen Pidd's </span></a></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/26/accused-husband-rape-jail"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">guardian.co.uk</span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/26/accused-husband-rape-jail"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> article </span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">on </span></span><time datetime="2010-11-26T21:34GMT" pubdate="" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Friday 26 November 2010 is based on an interview with the woman called "Sarah", who says<br /></span></span></time></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"It was horrible because I knew the police officers and the solicitors believed that the rapes did happen but the CPS wanted to prosecute me for perverting the course of justice. </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was unbelievable. I remember going in and seeing my solicitor and finding out what course of action they were going to take and I was in tears coming out of the police station. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I still can't get my head around the fact that the police officers and my solicitor knew damn well I had been raped and even when I rang the main CID person and said the rapes did happen as I had originally said, he said: 'I just thought it was only a matter of time before you came to me and said yes, they did happen.' Still to this day I can't get my head around it."<br /><br />"Sarah" was let out of prison following a decision from Britain's </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">most senior judge, Lord Judge. who said there should be: “a broad measure of compassion for a woman who had already been victimised”. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">However, Sarah is still stuck with a criminal record - and a suspended sentence. The case against her husband has been dropped.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />In 2007 I wrote about <a href="http://ycleptwoman.blogspot.com/2007/11/why-women-only-cameron-speaks-out.html"><span class="Apple-style-span">Cameron's committment to improving conviction rates </span></a> and in 2005 about the way<a href="http://ycleptwoman.blogspot.com/2005/11/rape-crisis.html"><span class="Apple-style-span"> rates have got lower over the last few decades</span></a>. Afua Hirsch's articles suggests that the issue of jurors attitudes contributing to this.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; "><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">False complaints of rape necessarily impact upon the minds of jurors trying rape cases," a crown court judge said last year, sentencing a rape complainant to two years in jail. Jury prejudice is often cited as one of the reasons that the UK lags so far behind the rest of Europe in its rape conviction rates. In 2009, 59% of people formally charged with rape were convicted. But the majority of those pleaded guilty, with far fewer found guilty by a jury.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; ">So, what is the Government going to do about the unfairness and low conviction rates? Well it seems likely that cuts in public services are only likely to make matters worse. </span><br /><br /> The Crown Prosecution Service says it is committed to ensuring specialist rape prosecutors continue to be available, but cuts are certain in all areas of criminal justice, </p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> Defence barristers, whose conduct in court is for many rape victims one of the most frightening aspects of reporting the crime, are more likely to be male and less diverse as a result of the continuing cuts to legal aid. The government frequently states that protecting the diversity of the legal profession is simply not its problem.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> Apart from those criminalised because their rape allegations are not believed,women otherwise involved in crime are often there in part because of experiences of rape and violence. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; text-decoration: none; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; ">one third of all women offenders are the victims of rape</span>.</p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; "> In this context, it is ludicrous for the courts to think that they need to provide a strong deterrent for women who are contemplating making false allegations.</p></span></span></span></span></div></div></div>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-8149583724541843802009-03-06T20:56:00.001+00:002010-12-11T00:19:57.563+00:001:10Each year, around 1 in 10 women in Britain experience rape or other violence. One in four local authorities leave female victims of violence without the specialised support they need.<br />Act now. <a href="http://www.oneten.org.uk/">http://www.oneten.org.uk</a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-76522019960810290642008-11-29T16:52:00.001+00:002008-11-29T16:56:48.824+00:00Diseased CultureI found this poem on the <a href="http://irkedmagazine.com/">Irked magazine</a> site, which really resonates with my feelings. I get very frustrated when people compliment me on looking like I've lost weight. I don't remember people ever complimenting me when I had put weight on. I am not trying to lose weight, I don't weigh myself anymore, as I used to be obsessed with it and I'm much happier now, despite being bigger.<br /><strong><br /></strong> <p><strong>Diseased Culture </strong><strong><br /></strong><span><br />Looking back<br />on all the encouragement<br />and respect<br />and compliments<br />I received from others<br />when I was<br />killing myself<br />through starvation<br />It is clear<br />that I was not<br />the only<br />sick<br />one</span></p><p><strong>Poetry by LA Crompton</strong></p>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-37644953951957664422008-11-29T16:42:00.004+00:002008-11-29T16:54:47.151+00:00Irked magazine - Peabody cartoon....My friend Jane is the creator of a weekly cartoon strip <a href="http://irkedmagazine.com/2914/introducing-peabody-a-new-comic-strip-about-depression-by-jane-goetzee/">Peabody</a>, now published in Irked magazine online. It's about depression and is witty, sharp, moving and beautifully drawn. Take a look.<br /><br />The magazine itself is a space for people to "explore matters of the heart".<br /><br />"<a href="http://irkedmagazine.com/">Irked Magazine</a> is committed to the concept that people improve when they know someone is paying attention. We believe that people everywhere can become less sad, or worried, or angry, or violent, or self-destructive simply by being given a forum to publish their work, and the dignity that comes with that sort of thing."<br /><br />There is lots of fantastic stuff on Irked - it's well worth a good root around.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-57526008554501843312008-11-29T16:33:00.003+00:002010-12-11T00:20:13.321+00:00Women's No Pay Day campaign success...On the 30th October<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>I campaigned for an hour with colleagues from the Students Union, at the University where I work, for Women's No Pay Day. They continued for a further hour, and during that time we collected a total of 121 signatures to add to the letter to the Secretary of State demanding important inclusions in the forthcoming Equalities Bill.<br /><br />I was very happy with the signatures we gained, but even more thrilled at two other things -<br />1 that 3 women from the SU committed time to campaign - after much persuasion -<br />2 that people we spoke to didn't know the reality of the pay gap and were horrified - many saying that they thought we had equality already<br /><br />I was particularly thrilled because the initial responses when trying to encourage people to campaign with me, was very dispiriting. I started the day thinking it was probably going to be a disappointing and futile exercise. People had led me to believe that no-one cares.<br /><br />I firmly believe that if people know the facts, they do care and will take action. Many people came back to the stall we had bringing a friend who they had talked to, who also signed the petition. At least a third of the people we spoke to, who then signed, were men.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=515">You can see a report of our event and others on the day here, at the Fawcett website - I took the photo.</a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/21935.html"><br />If you still haven't signed up it's not too late - click here to sign.</a><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-39056399153790364352008-10-13T20:49:00.000+01:002008-10-12T21:47:47.896+01:00women's no pay day 30th Oct<span style="font-weight: bold;">October 30th is Women's No Pay Day. </span><br /><br />It’s nearly 40 years since equal pay legislation came into force in the UK.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Women working full-time in the UK get paid 17% (or roughly one sixth) less than men...</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />That’s the equivalent of women working the last two months of the year for free</span>, while men get paid year-round. Last year, the Fawcett Society labelled October 30th ‘Women’s No Pay Day’ to tell the world that on this day, women across the UK will receive their last payslip. This year, the pay gap remains unchanged at 17%. But we have a great opportunity for change with the forthcoming Equalities Bill.<br /><br />The Fawcett Society are asking supporters across the UK to hold an event on or around Women’s No Pay Day to raise awareness of the pay gap and to tell the world: we demand equal pay! I am campaigning at the University where I lecture, in partnership with the Students Union events and volunteering coordinators and hopefully some volunteers. I have signed the open letter to John Hutton MP.<br /><br />What can you do?<br /><br /><ul><li>1 minute action: sign<a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=728"> the Fawcett Society's open letter to the Secretary of State</a><br /></li></ul><ul><li>10 minute action: write to your local paper. Tell them about the pay gap, and about Women's No Pay Day. </li></ul><ul><li>1 day action: take to the streets on No Pay Day<br /><a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=515">Visit the Fawcett Society's website</a> to find out more about No Pay Day and how to get involved, or to download the campaigners' info pack which has loads of information on putting on and publicising an event for No Pay Day.</li></ul>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-22174641799365065152008-10-12T21:48:00.003+01:002010-12-11T00:21:01.191+00:00here again......suprised to find it's a year since I last posted.<br /><a href="http://ycleptwoman.blogspot.com/2007/09/didnt-think-id-been-gone-that-long.html">Last time I wrote here I said this....</a><br /><br />To update:<br />1 - I still feel comfortable at work - the job is interesting, varied, stimulating, challenging and I'm in a good team.<br />2 - T's <a href="http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/index.php?page_id=36">Rheumatoid Arthritis </a> treatment is still not working fully yet, so things are still quite unpredictable and it's hard to plan ahead. The challenges of disablism are constant and our relationship has changed to adjust but life is fairly stable.<br />3 - I work 3 days a week but have been doing extra days for other organisations to earn a bit more - on average have worked 4 days most weeks. This has been a bit too much. My colleagues are keen for me to work full time, but I'm sticking to my plans.<br />3 - When I am not working, T and I still get out and about in the campervan a lot - we spent 2 and a half weeks in the Outer Hebrides in May 2008 - a fantastic trip!<br />4 - My youngest step-son has just started at a new Uni - he went to Uni last year but it didn't suit him - wrong course, wrong Uni. He's done some voluntary work and paid work this year and changed quite a lot. So far he's loving his course. My oldest step-son has been working for a homeless charity and had his own house with his partner. They've just moved back to her parent's house as they are going to travel interationally for 6 months next year. The house is now officially empty of "children" again, but they'll be staying over regularly.<br /><br />All this means that I am STILL sometimes stressed, always busy, but overall content with my lot.<br /><br /><a href="http://ycleptwoman.blogspot.com/2006/12/3-days-week.html">In Dec 2006 I said this.....</a><br /><br />I am pleased to say:<br /><br />I have done some paid work and some joint projects with the local self-advocacy project that I first worked with in my last job.<br />I have taken a lot of photos with T- being paid for some of it - and we had our first exhibition recently which was a fantastically positive experience.<br />I took a life drawing class last year at Uni, but it doesn't run anymore.<br />I sing with a women's natural voice choir and sometimes take the sessions as the deputy leader which has given me loads of confidence. I bought a new piano accordion recently which is beautiful,<br />but -<br />I still need to get good at that.<br />I don't walk enough.<br /><a href="http://www.froom.me.uk/"><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">froom </span></strong></a>is still on hold<br /><span style="">and blogging has been ignored but here I am again!</span>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-66355954764160444422008-10-12T21:20:00.002+01:002008-10-12T21:47:10.876+01:00bleeding....every day for the last 2 months.<br />I had shockingly unbearable pain when I had a period in August. It was the worst ever. I've had bad and severe but nothing like that.<br />My doctor has put me on the pill to stop me having another period until I get to the consultant.<br />I've had an abdominal scan and internal vaginal scan (both ultrasound) in September which showed nothing serious. The vaginal scan was very uncomfortable towards the end. I have a small fibroid apparently.<br />I stopped taking the pill a few years ago, as I don't think it's good for me to be on it more than 12-13 years. I'm only taking it as a temporary measure, and my doctor is also clear about that.<br />It's giving me very painful breasts in the morning and this bleeding is very annoying. I get some mild background cramp some days too like period pain. Weird! When I was on it before (a different make) I had nothing like that. This one must be a lot less powerful hormonally.<br />A friend of my Mum's yesterday thought maybe I'll have a D&C.<br />Have to wait and see.....ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-29434524037897332222008-10-11T21:01:00.001+01:002008-10-12T21:03:22.058+01:00What does a feminist look like?The Feminist Majority Foundation have created this video to help answer this question......<br /><a href="http://feminist.org/FeministVideo/index.html">click here to see the video</a>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-53822216325185430642007-11-12T23:16:00.001+00:002008-10-12T21:09:08.015+01:00why women only? Cameron speaks out<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7090065.stm">David Cameron has spoken out today about the disgracefully low percentage of convictions for rape </a>in a speech at the Conservative Women's Organisation conference. Follow the link for the BBC story.<br /><br />There was a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/04/2007_46_mon.shtml">discussion on Woman's Hour (radio 4)</a> about his proposals which you can listen to here if you missed it. The <a href="http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2007/11/tories_set_out">F-word blog has a post on this topic </a>too. The main points they both make seems to relate to the need to reform the legal system to address the issue of low conviction rates, which Cameron has not directly addressed.<br /><br />Cameron pledged longer-term funding for rape crisis centres, to change attitudes towards rape through sex education and announced a Tory review of sentencing.<br /><br />He said "Studies have shown that as many as one in two young men believe there are some circumstances when it's okay to force a woman to have sex" and called for "widespread cultural change" as treating women as sex objects has become viewed as "cool".<br /><br />He called for compulsory sex education in schools to drive home the message that sex without consent is a criminal offence.<br /><br />Cameron referred to statistics suggesting one in 20 women had been raped, yet three-quarters of them never report the crime. And of those that are reported, just 5.7% result in a conviction.<br /><br />He also said the number of rape crisis support centres had fallen from 68 in 1984 to 45, and funding decisions on those that remained were short-term and being made mid-way through the financial year. "As a result, these centres are forced to survive hand-to-mouth and often face the threat of imminent closure," he said. "All this has led to an appalling and tragic lack of support for the victims of rape."<br /><br />As a socialist I feel concern that it is a Tory that has had to raise this issue. Despite this, I find myself saying "good on him for getting us talking about it in the mainstream". I have not yet heard the Government's response but I am very disappointed that they did not lead the debate. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7090065.stm"></a>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-59315407232918576332007-11-03T16:59:00.001+00:002008-10-12T21:09:20.370+01:00why women only?The latest report from the Women's Resource Centre sets out the arguments and evidence of the benefits of a ‘women-only’ approach in a climate where women’s organisations are increasingly being asked to justify their ‘women-only’ status.<br /><br />The research was featured in <a href="http://society.guardian.co.uk/offdiary/story/0,,2192265,00.html">the Guardian </a>here. The research, based on a survey of 101 women's voluntary groups and a random sample of 1,000 women, found that 97% of women wanted choice of a women-only service after sexual assault and 78% preferred access to a female counsellor.<br /><br />"The public thinks women have got equality and we don't need women's services any longer. But our research has shown that women want the choice to access women-only services as diverse as gyms, training, and drug and alcohol counselling, not just rape and domestic violence."<br /><br />The report can be downloaded from <a href="http://www.wrc.org.uk/policy/latestnews.htm">the WRC website here</a>.<br /><br />The WRC urge you to write a letter to the Minister for the Third Sector Minister and the Minister for Women to ask them to support women’s organisations.<br /><br />The original Why Women? report and a free DVD called "Why Women?" to help you campaign, are available from the WRC on the <a href="http://www.whywomen.org.uk/resources.htm#report">Why Women website</a>.<br /><br />The WRC have 2 events coming up -<br /><ul><li>On Wednesday 14 November WRC and <a title="blocked::http://www.waitsaction.org/who_we_are.jsp" href="http://www.waitsaction.org/who_we_are.jsp">Women Acting in Today’s Society</a> are holding an important meeting in Birmingham to plan for a national women’s sector forum. This strategy day is open to all organisations that want to help develop a stronger women’s voluntary and community sector.</li><li>Making Rights Real is a conference on 15th November in Birmingham for voluntary and community organisations working to tackle inequality and promote human rights. </li></ul>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-49560284807593729652007-11-03T16:41:00.002+00:002008-10-12T21:10:13.746+01:00the value of womenWhy are women, generally, globally, believed to be of less value than men?<br /><br />This question arose in my house after watching "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/this_world/7050657.stm">India's Missing Girls</a>" on BBC TV a couple of weeks ago. This was a moving programme. UN figures state that 750,000 girls are aborted every year in India and others are killed when very young. There are now only 840 girls for every 1,000 boys according to Indian government information.<br /><br />The main rationale for this is the high cost of dowries that families have to find in order to pay a man's family for him to marry their daughter. But this is not just an economic issue, as abortion of female foetus's is common in wealthier families.<br /><br />So, this led me and my partner, T to wonder and discuss how this ridiculous and terrifying position came to be. It is not the case in every culture, but it's almost globally the case that women are not seen as valuable compared to men. The UK situation regarding unequal pay is a good local example of the same issue.<br /><br />Could it be that it's because it is almost impossible to tell who the father of a child is, but it's certain who the mother is, when she gives birth, and so men have to control women if they are going to be certain of their heir? It cannot be that men are more necessary in order to pro-create, as the opposite is true, one man can father children with many women.<br /><br />Could it be that on average men are physically stronger than women, despite women tending to do much of the physical domestic work worldwide. This means that in a capitalist world, where labour is needed to generate profit for those in power, brawn is prized? Women ensure the next generation of labourers grow up strong, but one woman can bring up many boys to be labourers, but it helps if she has the support of others to do so.<br /><br />Do we need to understand why, in order for there to be a new world order? India is the world's biggest democracy yet it is still a highly unequal society. The power to make changes through political decision making is not an answer in itself. Changing the culture is much more complex. The whole of global society is predicated upon the lesser value of women.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-13152250445621473562007-10-26T14:02:00.001+01:002008-12-10T09:09:03.334+00:00Women's No Pay Day - take action!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w61MzowdxFY/RyHl7xWHfOI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Izi_8Yh9Izw/s1600-h/No_pay_day_for_Kat.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125630665945480418" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_w61MzowdxFY/RyHl7xWHfOI/AAAAAAAAAAM/Izi_8Yh9Izw/s320/No_pay_day_for_Kat.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/">Fawcett </a>and <a href="http://www.unison.org.uk/">UNISON </a>have joined forces to declare October 30th Women's No Pay Day because the 17% hourly pay gap is equivalent to men getting paid all year but women working for nothing from October 30th until the year end.<br /><br />If you do just one thing for Women's No Pay Day, do this:<br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Sign the online petition</span></strong> to Gordon Brown demanding stronger action on the pay gap that rips women off. It takes less than a couple of minutes.<br /><br /><a title="http://fawcett-society.msg2u.net/cgi-bin/c.pl?p=" href="http://fawcett-society.msg2u.net/cgi-bin/c.pl?p=1%2E40%2E13%2E26%2E10%2E2007%40a%3A64%2Ec%3A29%2Ee%3A53%2Er%3A6748%2El%3A212%2Eac%3ACL%2Es%3A141">Click here to sign the petition</a>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-6702539715733942312007-10-04T17:43:00.001+01:002008-10-12T21:07:57.883+01:00Free Burma<!-- Free Burma! Image --><br /><a href="http://www.free-burma.org/" target="_blank"><img src="http://freeburma.s3.amazonaws.com/free_burma_01.gif" alt="Free Burma!" width="434" border="0" height="165" /></a><br /><!-- End Free Burma! Image -->ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-36797904492213388602007-09-30T17:41:00.001+01:002008-10-12T21:11:07.101+01:00didn't think I'd been gone that long!I'm amazed to find that I haven't posted here since February!<br />I started my new job in Feb and have obviously been having such an interesting/ busy time since then that blogging didn't fit in anymore.<br />Should I carry on?<br />Well, I don't know, but I'm not ready to close it down yet.<br /><br />4 important changes have taken place recently<br />1 - I feel comfortable with myself at work - I feel like I fit in - I'm a lecture at a University locally, based in the arts/ sociology department<br />2 - my partner T has <a href="http://www.rheumatoid.org.uk/index.php?page_id=36">Rheumatoid Arthritis </a>and is having treatment that is not really working yet, so things are quite unpredicatable and it's hard to plan ahead. It also means that there are lots of challenges brought about by the oppression of disabled people that we face and I support T to get through as best I can.<br />3 - I work 3 days a week but have been doing extra days for other organisations to earn a bit more. When I am not working, T and I get out and about as much as we can in the campervan.<br />4 - My youngest step-son has just started at Uni, the older one having left home last year to do that, but it didn't suit him and now he is working and studying new subjects planning to go away to Uni next year. So, the house is now empty of "children".<br /><br />All this means that I am sometimes stressed, always busy, but overall content with my lot. This doesn't mean I no longer care about "issues", but I have other things that take priority over blogging.<br /><br />I am sure there will be times in the winter months ahead when this blog will be useful to me.<br />I will probably shifting the focus from women's oppression to disablism somewhat - but my feminism is always a thread that runs through everything I do.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-62314365017129286672007-02-17T18:07:00.002+00:002008-10-12T21:19:23.192+01:00SNAP!Last year I posted about the <a href="http://www.mencap.org.uk/html/snap/snap_2006/Main.asp">Mencap SNAP photography competition</a>. Since then as part of my old job I have been working with a group of people to organise activities to raise awareness and promote the equal rights of people with learning disabilities in Stoke-on-Trent.<br /><br />We have arranged to borrow the exhibition of the 2006 SNAP winners photographs. They are currently on show at <a href="http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/uso/pr/exhibitions/index.htm">Keele University</a>. On Monday I will go and collect them and take them to 3 venues in the city - <a href="http://www.schoolofart.co.uk/main/index.html">Burslem School of Art</a>, <a href="http://www.staffs.ac.uk/">Staffordshire University </a>and The <a href="http://www.americanclubhouse.co.uk/index-clubhouse.html">Observatory clubhouse</a>. They will be there until mid April.<br /><br />The press release is accompanied by a feedback form, designed by other group members, to encourage viewers to think about the impact of the images. I can tell you what I think of them.....<br /><br />The photos place people with learning disabilities in the public eye - as people with value and dignity.<br /><br />I have some reservations about some of the photos - well not so much the photos as the words that go with some of them. It is obvious that some of the words although written as though they are the words of the person with a learning disability, are actually the words of a carer/ supporter. I find this very patronising and disempowering. I wonder if someone does not speak, it is not better to have no words with the photo?<br /><br />There is also a wider point about the photographs - if I cannot take my own photo and cannot tell you what I want a photograph taking of, or do not like my photo begin taken, then I cannot not take part in the competition. Not everyone can/ wants to take photos. I don’t think it is "equality" to pretend that everyone can do that - we are all different. I wonder if there is a debate here?<br /><br />I am going to link the exhibition in with <a href="http://www.staffs.ac.uk/diversity/events_and_news/march_2007/index.php">diversity month at Staffs Uni </a>and set up a discussion event sometime in the next few weeks, to pick up some of these issues.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-6006926516441061902007-02-17T17:59:00.002+00:002008-10-12T21:12:40.206+01:00I've started....my new job at Staffordshire University.<br /><br />I was shockingly overwhelmed on my first and 3rd days. I had a headache all day on Tuesday ( my first day) and choked back tears 3 or 4 times on Thursday afternoon/ evening after my 3rd day.<br /><br />But I still think it was a good move.<br /><br />Wednesday was the best - I felt at home there all morning and had lunch with my job share co-worker, who is great - funny, intelligent, kind - we should get on like a house on fire.<br /><br />It was very peculiar doing 3 days and knowing I'd done my first week's work. It's also odd knowing I don't go back in until Tuesday. I hope I don't get used to it, so that it always feels like a treat.<br /><br />I will be busy on Monday anyway as I have volunteered (but then had it agreed that I can do it as part of my new job) to organise an exhibition of the <a href="http://www.mencap.org.uk/html/snap/snap_2006/Main.asp">Mencap SNAP photographs</a>.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-41728206687628576132007-02-17T13:03:00.000+00:002007-02-17T13:16:42.536+00:00body hair.....is in up for debate again - <a href="http://www.shaziamirza.org/">Shazia Mirza </a>is a convert to hairy bodies. Take a look at her website - it's worth a visit.<br /><br />There is an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,,2012476,00.html">article in the guardian about her fashion show</a> - she got women to agree to stop removing hair and model for her. They were then asked to model clothes made from body hair.<br /><br />The article picks up on some of the negative attitudes Shazia faced - although it features a discussion she had with Loaded magazine, and I wouldn't have expected anything other than the reaction she got from them - after all they clearly see women as sex objects only and the less that is "real" and sexual about the women they like the better - women in that magazine are either treated as "girls", pre-pubescent, and doll-like, or as whores or dogs (animals).<br /><br />I would have liked to know more about what other women thought but it's a start. She's going to present an hour-long comedy debate programme called <a href="http://www.shaziamirza.org/hairywomen.html">F*** off, I'm a Hairy Woman</a> on BBC3 in March - not quite, but nearly mainstream media.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-29271774603525099042007-01-21T16:41:00.000+00:002007-01-22T20:55:23.189+00:00reading...is really exciting me at the moment.<br /><br />I read <a href="http://www.languageisavirus.com/donna-tartt/">Donna Tartt's </a>"The Little Friend" over Christmas and I was bereft when I finished it - I eked out the last few pages as I did not want it to end. The atmosphere totally captivated me - it is one of the best books I have ever read. I seem to have a thing for books written from a young girl's viewpoint - "A Crime In The Neighbourhood" by Suzanne Berne, "Cat's Eye" my favourite <a href="http://www.owtoad.com/">Margaret Atwood</a>, L P Hartley's "The Go-Between" and "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee all spring to mind as books I have loved.<br /><span style="color:#ff99ff;">22-1-07 Thanks to Alec for reminding me about</span> "Lovely Bones" - a fantastically moving novel in the same category - Alice Sebold.<br /><br />I am now reading "Alias Grace", one of the last un-read Atwood's in my collection. It's reminiscent of <a href="http://www.sarahwaters.com/">Sarah Waters' </a>"Fingersmith", so far - and that was a brilliant read late last year too. I've yet to read her new book "Nightwatch" set in the second world war, but have heard great reviews.<br /><br />Issue 2 of <a href="http://www.subtextmagazine.co.uk/index.html">Subtext </a>is out, and I read that from cover to cover - better than issue 1 (although quite hard to read sometimes due to the layout/ font) - it stimulated me to think a lot more about trafficking, and I have renewed my membership of Amnesty International on the back of it. It's only £3.50 with no ads - all produced by volunteers. Well worth it.<br /><br />As far as work goes, I am reading the report of the investigation by the <a href="http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/homepage.cfm">Healthcare Commission </a>into abuse of people with learning disabilities in hospitals and care homes in London (Sutton and Merton) and Hastings - it's distressing and depressing but essential reading. The <a href="http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/Sutton_and_Merton_inv_2006_easyread_1-0.pdf">clear summary here </a>is a quick outline of what went on. I am continually amazed by what humans can do to each other - particularly in the name of "care" - the abuse includes what amounts to imprisonment, torture and violence and would be a total scandal if the report was about children. Because the people affected are adults and find it hard to speak up for themselves, they are ignored by most of us and we allow this appalling treatment to continue. This is the second investigation into abuse of people with learning disabilities in NHS care in the last year - the Cornwall report came out in July 2006 with similar but more serious findings. The <a href="http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/_db/_documents/cornwall_investigation_report_Easy_read.pdf">clear summary here </a>is a quick outline of what went on in Cornwall - read it - please.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-87476725506227397422007-01-10T22:11:00.001+00:002008-10-12T21:16:40.043+01:00missing......women in senior positions.<br /><br />According to the Equal Opportunities Commission publication "Sex and power: who runs Britain? 2007" - at the current rate of progess it will take…<br /><br />Another 20 years to achieve equality in Civil Service top management.<br />Another 40 years to achieve an equal number of senior women in the judiciary.<br />Another 60 years to achieve an equal number of female directors of FTSE 100 companies.<br />Up to 200 years – another 40 elections – to achieve an equal number of women in Parliament.<br /><br />"Where are the women missing from our boardrooms and public life?<br />If we hope to shatter the glass ceiling across the public and private sectors, the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has calculated that we would need to find the nearly 6,000 women ‘missing’ from more than 33,000 top spots. The pace of change is painfully slow and in some cases is even going into reverse, so that is quite a challenge. This year, as the EOC publishes the final Sex and Power index before moving into the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) in October 2007, the EOC asks: Where are the women missing from our boardrooms and public life? What’s holding them back? And what price are<br />we – as a society and as employers – paying for their absence?"<br /><br />The price is - the continuation of the patriarchy is confirmed.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-68009107687143334242006-12-31T14:23:00.000+00:002006-12-31T14:29:52.263+00:00GillI just heard that Gill Gill died on Friday night.<br />Gill was so full of energy - where has that gone now?<br />She was Director of <a href="http://www.pandaemonium.biz/home.html">B Arts </a>from the start in 1985 when they were a co-operative, and what a wonderful organisation they are now.<br />She was a Loud Mouth Woman and that is how I will remember her - the last time I saw her we were singing the bass line together.<br />Thanks for your voice, your laughter and your energy Gill.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-42383301348979940942006-12-29T18:51:00.001+00:002008-10-12T21:17:01.784+01:003 days a week....I'm going to be doing a job share - it's been agreed!<br />I am still waiting for my written job offer, but the 2nd choice candidate has agreed to take the job share..... I should be able to start in February. I never got a new contract from the NHS when I started this new job despite chasing them for it twice, so I'm still on one month's notice!<br /><br />I'm not sure about research yet, but I do know the holiday entitlement is more than I get now and the pay is slightly more pro rata.<br /><br />All in all it's a fantastic deal and opportunity - I intend to make the most of it.<br />Amongst my plans for what to do with my other 2 days a week are:<br /><ul><li>get away a lot in the campervan that we have recently acquired...</li><li>volunteer at the local self-advocacy project that I have been working with a lot</li><li>act as broker for a young person and their family to take control of <a href="http://www.in-control.org.uk/">Self Directed Services</a></li><li>take a lot of photos - hopefully getting paid for some of it - with <a href="http://www.sanityfair.org.uk/costume.htm">Cultural Sisters </a>and other local community arts organisations</li><li>take up drawing again</li><li>make lots of music and sing</li><li>walk and swim</li><li>re-launch <a href="http://www.froom.me.uk/"><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">froom</span></strong></a></li><li>support <a href="http://www.stokepan.org/">Pan the local group </a>that I am a member of to develop and seek funding</li><li>blog....</li></ul><p>Think I might struggle to fit it all in but I'll give it a try!</p>ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13440824.post-1165168410433200162006-12-03T17:45:00.001+00:002008-10-12T21:17:10.410+01:00working hours.....how many is too many?<br /><br />I have been offered a new job as a lecturer at the local Uni and I am taking part but I am in the process of negotiating hours.<br /><br />I work 4 days at the moment. I do not want to go back to full-time -<br /><ul><li><div align="left">I got so worn out last year I have got used to needing a 3 day weekend to keep my batteries fully charged. </div></li><li><div align="left">T has a condition that means I am his carer some of the time and I like being around at home - it stops him getting too isolated. </div></li><li><div align="left">I want to do other things with my time than be employed in one job.<br />I do some voluntary work and some paid self-employed work e.g. photography. I'd like to do more of both if poss. I'm keen to get <a href="http://www.froom.me.uk/"><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">froom</span></strong> </a>going properly too.</div></li></ul>So I have asked to do 4 days or a job share of 3 days. The Uni are looking into both. They have asked the 2nd choice candidate if she wants to do 2 days a week so that I can do 3. That would be ideal. If she can't sort that out with her current employer and doesn't feel confident she will get other work to make up her hours, then the Uni will have to think again. They don't think they can offer me 4 days as the funding for the job is for a full time post and they don't usually recruit to jobs that are only 1 day a week which I can understand. So it might mean I have to seriously consider working full -time at least in the short term until they can recruit another person to job share with me.<br /><br />So I have been worrying about this. Can I cope with a full time job? I believe that I would be able to work from home sometimes and the hours would be flexible.....<br /><br />I will not get too anxious about it until I know if the other candidate can job share........ should know by mid week.ycleptahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286727938758307247noreply@blogger.com3