By Elin Weiss In comparison to most countries, the Scandinavian countries have extraordinary social policies in regards to parental leave, child care arrangements, and child allowance. The Scandinavian countries are considered some of the most equal in the world in relation to women’s opportunities and are described as women-friendly welfare states that exhibit…
By Marie Penicaut “For as long as I can remember, strange men and boys have said things to me on the streets” – such was the opening of Maggie Hadleigh-West’s documentary on street harassment, War Zone, almost twenty years ago (1998). In 2014, a video entitled ‘10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman’ went viral in…
By Chloe Dominique ‘Rowling’s world of fantasy is one of hierarchy and prejudice’ (Mendelsohn, 2002:117) Leve argues that there is a ‘specificity of assumptions that underlie conventional understandings of-identity’ (Leve, 2011:516). If Leve is correct, then does Rowling’s globally celebrated Harry Potter series feed into discourses of a neoliberal quest to find one’s true identity? A notion predicated on…
By Rachel Handforth Doctoral study has traditionally been thought of as the start of an academic career, with doctoral students working as ‘apprentices’. However, the influx of PhD students into UK higher education over recent years, and the lack of investment in early career positions in universities, has led to increased competition for academic jobs.…
By Stephanie Hammerwold If you took your cues from the Real Housewives franchise or other such shows, it would appear that female friendships are full of constant bickering, going behind each other’s backs and betrayal. Whenever I see relationships between women represented this way, I cringe. I think of my own female friendships and just how far…
By Annemarie Ní Churreáin “I don’t think you’ll ever be a mother. You’re just not the type” You can’t stop people from talking nonsense. I realise that. But sometimes, and especially if you’re a woman in Ireland, it’s hard not to feel like the nonsense is a rather insidious slur on who or what you…
By Holly Whitman In a historic moment for female athletes, Sports Illustrated named tennis star Serena Williams its 2015 Sportsperson of the Year. As a new year dawns, it’s a good time to look both forward and back at women in professional sports. How much progress have we made in women’s access to athletics and…
By Isabelle Côté This blog post is based on a conference paper which was presented at FWSA 2015 Conference Introduction In the 1970’s, in Britain, the United States and Canada, feminists and grass-root advocates have taken a stand against the patriarchy by challenging men’s violence against women in intimate relationships and developing shelters to help battered…
By Stephanie March With only two females out of twenty-one potential candidates in the 2016 Presidential race, it’s safe to say politics is still a male dominated arena. Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina certainly have their work cut out for them while the media is busy discussing their outfits instead of their ideals. All it…
By Ayanda Tshabalala This blog post is based on a conference paper which was presented at FWSA ( Feminist and Woman's Studies Association) Biennial Conference 2015 – 9 Sept 2015 and based on my Masters dissertation at UKZN (University of KwaZulu-Natal). The FWSA Conference offered great exposure to global thought and helped set the tone…
