Platform by Michel Houellebecq

Well it’s been a long time since I read such crap. I’m not an avid reader of the french novel or peruser of their “great” cinema but apart from a few notable classics (in French but not necessarily from France, Camus coming to mind) I’ve always had a narrow-minded notion that The French are inherently sexist and it won’t wash well with me.

I know beauty is subjective but when Depardieu is cast alongside Audrey Tatou a little piece of me sighs in that awful way I used to when

No Woman, No Drive

You must have heard of this great twist on the Bob Marley classic released to take the piss out of the no driving rule for chicks in Saudi Arabia.

Sigh.

Let’s not talk about the driving ban, I’m likely to spontaneously combust, but how fab that finally SOME Saudi women seem to be waking up

Fasting: For Him Not Her

Kareena Kapoor made news in India today as she declared that she will not be starving herself tomorrow in order to prove her love to her husband, Saif Ali Khan.  What’s so special about tomorrow you ask? Well…tomorrow is Karwa Chauth – a one day festival whereby women fast from sunrise until sighting of the full moon (through a flour sieve…) of that same evening and it’s all to ensure the safety and long life of their husbands. Some women also include their sons in this ritual.

Religion is funny business if you ask me and every religion seems to have their few eccentric laws/traditions/customs that remind women they are worthless,

Haaaaaaaaaahahahaha Oof My Ovaries!!

A Saudi cleric has warned women who want to participate in a protest drive or are even thinking about driving that doing so without absolute necessity will damage their ovaries:

“If a woman drives a car, not out of pure necessity, that could have negative physiological impacts as functional and physiological medical studies show

Dubai: The Gloss Peels Off

News that Dubai has pardoned the 24 year old Norweigian woman’s 16 month sentence after reporting being raped has come as welcome news.  The story became a PR disaster for the country with many newspapers and TV channels musing how to digest the glitzy image Dubai portrays with the sheer daft misogyny of the Norweigian woman’s ordeal.

Of course, in context, she is actually lucky

Prick of the Week from Wimbledon

No sooner had French tennis player Marion Bartoli  won the Wimbledon championship when BBC Radio 5 Live presenter John Inverdale made the following disgusting commentary:

“I just wonder if her dad, because he has obviously been the most influential person in her life, did say to her when she was 12, 13, 14 maybe, ‘listen, you are never going to be, you know, a looker.

What Does A Male Feminist Look Like?

The Guardian today published a lovely article written by Australian comedian Ben Pobjie addressed to Australian men about the embarrassing sexist attitudes reaching international media attention, particularly as it is directed at Australia’s female prime minister.  I was only just gearing up to write about the disgusting menu presented at an Australian fund raiser for their opposition party where the Australian PM’s body parts were described when today another news story broke.  This time the Australian PM was asked whether her hair stylist husband was gay.

Whilst the article makes for an interesting read and I’m glad to see Australian men upset at the behaviour of other Australian men, the most interesting part of the article for me was a tiny paragraph in the middle of the article:

But I understand the urge to deny that sexism is happening, because I’m a man and I hate talking about sexism: it makes me feel guilty and self-conscious. It is, frankly, awkward.

So now I turn my post away from Australian men to men in general. Why does sexism make you feel guilty and awkward? 

50 Shades of Feminism

At work we are all reading 50 Shades of Feminism – less than £10 and in hardback (unless you prefer Kindle) so get your copy asap, you will love it.  I would recommend this book particularly if like me, you have a short commute to work and love to read little bite-size nuggets of delightfully well-written essays.

This book is written by 50 authors, young and old, and from all different backgrounds

Student Debate Walkout

Have you heard the story of the Cambridge and Edinburgh university undergrads that went to Glasgow university for a debating competition? One of the women, at the adorable age of 20, is apparently a world leader as a debating genius. Hurrah!

Well, first of all they were told before they were up “not to be too funny” … Eh? It gets worse, however, as they were faced with awful heckling.

Feminism 2.012

Why are younger women so blase about blatant sexism? I despair.

Tulisa has released her album “The Female Boss” – it is bad enough that she can’t sell anything without getting her cleavage out but does her album need to have such a patronising title?  Of course, all “regular” bosses are male, yes sir Mr Big Boss Man!  Has she never heard of a female boss or is she not sure that she is female and has to remind herself?

Beyonce Beyonce Beyonce, I cringe at her patronising lyrics – fake female empowerment

Au Revoir To Mademoiselle

The French have addressed feminism calls to abolish the term Mademoiselle from official documents as it is deemed sexist. Prime minister Francois Fillon said the word discriminates against women by asking them to reveal if they are married. He has also banned the phrase ‘nom de jeune fille’ meaning ‘maiden name’ from all paperwork because it is ‘archaic’ and has ‘connotations of virginity’.

It was a major victory for French feminists yesterday when the change was revealed in an official decree to ministries and regional authorities.

Chatterjis & Sons

News International recently faced the challenge that affects almost all family-owned businesses, albeit on a global scale, namely one of the future of the empire and how to deal with incompetent sons. 

Harrods Make-Up Policy Under Fire

Should women have to wear make-up to be deemed presentable? Is the requirement to wear make-up acceptable terms and conditions in an employment contract? Is this sexist and discriminatory or a brand just protecting and selling an image?

The Guardian reported on Harrod’s make-up policy which for me was quite frankly sexist and discriminatory. Harrod’s could now be potentially sued under the Equalities Act as its rules have forced a member of staff to leave their job because they refused to wear make-up.

Silly Man Pleaser

I read an article recently in which the journalist blasted her fellow sex for grooming themselves for and to please men.

The article focused predominantly on waxing

I Am Not Answering That Question

Over the weekend that just passed I was at an event and met a celebrity comedian who was doing a gig at the same place later in the evening.

He introduced himself to me at lunch time

Lipstick Loving Feminists

As International Women’s Week come to an end, a question that we at The Chatterjis are left with, is, what is feminism today?

We are lipstick loving, high heels wearing feminists. We want to wax our bikini lines and wear the trousers. And why can’t we?

The other day, I (Bunty) was asked why I wasn’t wearing a sari

The Women’s Room

Last year I happened to click on a programme about feminists on BBC iPlayer and it changed my life!  I phoned every woman I knew with a wild sense of enthusiasm and urged them to watch it before it was removed from the website.

The documentary featured interviews with leading feminists from around the world, many of whom were now in their 70s. This was the first time I had heard of Marilyn French, author of The Women’s Room.

The book is semi-autobiographical

Meddling Aunty?

Dear Diary,

I recently spent time at catching up with one of my little nieces, aged five, and she left me with a dilemma that I haven’t been able to get out of my head.

My niece has a wonderfully balanced range of interests managing to be simultaneously a girly princess and a tom boy. She spoke to me on the telephone