It’s time for another weekly round-up where we share (what we see as) the most interesting and important articles from the previous seven days. We’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the issues covered in the articles we’ve picked.
As always, linking to articles does not mean endorsement from The F-Word and certain links may be triggering. We welcome debate in the comments section and on Facebook/Twitter but remind readers that any comments containing sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or disablist language will be deleted immediately. If you notice that we’ve missed out any important articles from the past week, feel free to let us know.
Why is Blac Chyna promoting a skin-lightening cream? (The Pool)
White girls reinventing themselves as black women on instagram has to stop (i-D)
The Lasting Effects of the Lolita Complex (Longreads)
From the article: “In Swain’s screen test, her eyes gleam when she cracks a joke at Jeremy Irons’ expense. “I’m a murderous pervert,” she says, mimicking Irons. She laughs and rolls her eyes, readying herself for applause. Lyne gives it to her: a big belly laugh off-camera. Lyne’s playboy hair, coupled with his English accent, turn him into everyone’s uncle who knows no boundaries. He is both flirty, and fatherly. Then, on the second take, Irons slaps Swain across the face. He doesn’t hesitate. It’s shocking to see. Effective. When it’s over, Lyne goes in a for hug. With his arms around her, he whispers praise. Swain says she’s fine. She’s a professional after all.”
The role of women in mosque is finally changing. Here’s why that matters (Stylist)
The unsettling objections to teen-girl cartoon reboots (Bitch)
From the article: “Like her animated predecessor, Stanley’s Kim Possible is a self-assured redhead who wears a black top, green khakis, a waist pack, and flat boots. But some adult male critics immediately laid into both Stanley’s appearance and her more modest costume, unfavourably comparing her to the midriff-baring, hourglass-shaped cartoon teen. Not only does sexiness belie the point of either character’s purpose, but the expectation is a symptom of a larger question pervading pop culture and American society in general: What should teenage girls look like, and how should they be treated by older men?”
Karina Longworth on the Women Caught in Howard Hughes’ Hollywood Web of Gossip (Longreads)
Women MP’s share their advice for getting started in political activism (Stylist)
Reading and Leeds are keeping themselves on the wrong side of history by refusing to book female headliners (Independent)
From the article: “By 2019, the festivals will have hosted one, ONE, female headliner in 20 years, which was Paramore in 2014 in a co-headline slot with Queens of the Stone Age.
Reading and Leeds aren’t standing still: they’re moving backwards. And if they continue to stubbornly, wilfully ignore repeated calls for them to better reflect the industry and times we live in, they will continue to find themselves on the wrong side of history.”
Starvation diets, obsessive training and no plus-size models: Victoria’s Secret sells a dangerous fantasy (The Guardian)
From the article: “The show’s uniformly tall and thin models seem an anachronism in a world that increasingly celebrates body diversity.”
Shon Faye On Changing The Conversation Around Trans Rights (Vogue)
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women: 25 November (UN)
Transgender Day of Remembrance: World Reflects On 368 Killings This Year (Rights Info)
Fat Shaming and Family (Meagan Kerr)
Brexit: High Court to rule if referendum vote ‘void’ as early as Christmas after Arron Banks investigation (Independent)
The earlier we educate children about what it means to be LGBT the better (Metro)
Union leads call for action on ‘silent massacre’ of disabled staff and students (Disability News Service)
From the article: “A parliamentary meeting heard last night (Wednesday) how disabled people working in the education sector have been confronted by employers that are failing to provide them with accessible lecture and teaching spaces, denying them the right to disability leave – for disability-related absence from work – and delaying the provision of the reasonable adjustments they need and are entitled to under the Equality Act…”
A reading list for men who care about feminism (Leah Fessler, Quartz)
From the article: “I often fantasize of a world in which male friends casually chat about bell hooks or Audre Lorde, as my female friends and I do. That fantasy recently became reality, when I met Wade Davis, the former NFL player turned feminist activist who is on a mission to teach men about gender equality and healthy masculinity…”
My contraceptive pill and me (Edwina Langley, BBC)
From the article: “…A recent survey by website The Femedic, found almost 50% of 1,000 women in the UK had experienced ‘serious trouble’ with hormonal contraceptives. The same research found ‘just one in four women believe the potential side effects of their chosen form of contraception are explained to them in depth’.
[F-Word contributor and previous guest post editor, Monica, runs The Femedic!]
Strictly Come Dancing just put disability front and centre – all without making a fuss (The Pool)
From the article: “It’s easy to dismiss this sort of thing as irrelevant – to say that a few disabled people on a dancing competition can’t make a difference. But it’s no coincidence that the critics who say representation doesn’t matter are generally people who are used to seeing themselves always represented. For those who are routinely excluded from popular culture, such as ethnic minorities and women, visible representation can be vital; something that’s particularly precious when you’re growing up and working out your identity and place in the world.”
The image is used under a creative commons license with thanks to Kashfi Halford. It shows five people sitting on a step in the sunshine. Four out of the five are wearing headscarves (or hijab). They are all engrossed in a variety of activities including applying make-up, smiling at the camera, reading a book and eating what appears to be bread.