Hannah Cann tells us why she loves political correctness.
Do you have swine flu? No. Do you know anybody who does have swine flu? Probably not. So what's all the fuss about?
Can't afford ethical clothing but can afford a night out at Ziggy's? Jennifer Heyes discusses where students' priorities should really lie.
Three of The Yorker's blogs team have had a hard think about what general rules they live their lives by and written them down in the form of their own Personal Philosophies.
Three states in the USA deem vibrators to be too offensive, dangerous, and most likely intimidating, to be legal. With cries of outrage resounding at this revelation, I answer, “I know”. But hold on, it gets worse.
Only 21% of news subjects (interviewed or subject of the articles) are female. And to really get you guys in the fighting mood, the amount of women earning degrees has overtaken men for the first time, and yet women are earning 27% less than men for doing the same job.
International Women’s Day has become so saturated with statistics that it now has to take over an entire week to begin to scratch the surface of worldwide inequality. And yet, when women take up nearly two thirds of the world’s population, I think that women everywhere are entitled to feel a little miffed at this rather poor gesture. It looks to me like a bunch of wilting daisies, clutched in a rather clammy palm.
Women do two thirds of the world’s work and earn 10% of the income. And 51 weeks of the year are dedicated to the pursuits and exploits of men.
Women do two thirds of the world’s work and earn 10% of the income. And 51 weeks of the year are dedicated to the pursuits and exploits of men.
I’m not suggesting that it is a daily occurrence to witness blokes slapping each other on the backs and yelling, “Hell Yeah! We’re men, and we do men things” (on second thoughts, Ziggy's...), and yet generally men fill every important job position, have a better quality of health, and can pee standing up at the side of the road when on a long car journey. Now I feel a little hard done by.
International Women’s Week goes across Week 8 of this term, and it’s a great chance to see how women around the world are doing compared to a few years ago. Sometimes it’s encouraging, sometimes it’s scarier than Shane Richie kissing your mum. But it’s always worth taking notice of.
The people at International Women’s Week don’t just compile statistics. On the website there are loads of articles, such as whether the women of America will fare better with Obama, and countries all around the world are hosting different events to celebrate female achievements. Canada is hosting a silent auction and buffet with Rita Fournier, TV personality, radio star and singer/song writer (Nope. Me neither.) As well, they’ve organised book readings from survivors of domestic violence, and sessions to help women living with violence and child rearing.
America is chipping in with a cocktail evening in San Francisco, a fundraiser for the women of Gaza in California and a talk about the women’s ‘revolution’ in film and photography. Us Brits are putting on a myriad of talks about women in slavery, women with Obama, and displays of art ‘from Wales and beyond’. (OK. So we’re not the most fun lot. But incredibly important events nonetheless.)
And a little closer to home, the York University Women’s Committee are putting on a couple of things in aid of the week, so feel free to come along and show your support! There’s a clothes swap on March 5th in Goodricke Dining Hall from 10 ‘till 3, which the lovely people at Environment and Ethics are also getting stuck into. Recycling clothes is a great way to help the environment, as well as being a nice, nearly free way to replenish your wardrobe.
More than anything, International Women’s Week is a great opportunity to think about the state of women in the world, and this week will be a perfect chance for some of you to get a glimpse of what could happen next year, even if you just look at the website. In the words of the London Feminist Organisation’s Finn McKay, “I’ll see you on the front line”.
I agree. By extension you can say that many of the words of the old testament are irrelevant due to the fact that Christ came to fulfil the law and bring us a new covenant - a covenant in which sins can be forgiven.
I am sure that many people would say that stealing food to feed the starving is acceptable (Robin Hood was a hero, right?), sex outside of marriage isn't sinful and killing others can be justified e.g. in war. I'm not advocating any of those arguments - I think that if someone steals to feed themselves and doesn't feel the slightest bit guilty then there is probably an issue - but my point is that many people have already chosen to ignore Levitican statements. And the homosexuality point has been extensively discussed and only the more orthodox churches (who also support banning contraceptives and abortion: [1]) would say that gay people are sinners by nature. I doubt any would advocate that they be stoned to death, excluding Westboro Baptist.
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