Published in TES on 13 January 2017 In 2015, a police report found that 5,500 sexual assaults, including 600 rapes, had occurred in UK schools in the past three years. This statistic was only the tip of the iceberg. The recent Women and Equalities Committee’s Inquiry into sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools revealed … Continue reading Teaching Consent in the Classroom
Category: Published
A last word on lad mags: The real reason they closed
I was one of the first people to write about the disgustingness of lad mags, along with a brave blogger called Charliegirl, so, ten years later, I thought it fitting that I be one of the last. FHM and Zoo have closed, joining Loaded, Nuts, Maxim and Front in the ‘end of the lad mags era.’ … Continue reading A last word on lad mags: The real reason they closed
Challenge Porn on International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women
Sentencing the murderer of teenager Becky Watts, the judge, Mr Justice Dingemans, broke down and cried. The sixteen year old's step brother, Nathan Matthews, inflicted over 40 injuries on the school girl and dismembered her body. November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In court, Matthews confessed to watching porn … Continue reading Challenge Porn on International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women
Speak up like a woman
I had never heard of the BBC broadcaster Barbara Sturgeon and now I want to be one of the girlfriends who do karaoke with her, and I’ve never cared much for that. This week I met Barbara as she trained a group of women, including me, in public speaking. We are to become a group … Continue reading Speak up like a woman
Equality begins at home: bringing feminism and parenting together
With the Pink Stinks campaign calling for positive role models for girls and Mumsnet’s Let Girls Be Girls campaign demanding an end to products that sexualize children, awareness of damaging and limiting stereotypes is reaching parents way beyond feminist circles. Group Blogs such as mothersforwomenslib.com are bringing feminism and parenting together while this year’s Feminism in London conference saw a Feminist Parenting workshop, How To Break The Stereotypes at Home for the first time, as well as a workshop for teenagers, Dealing with Pressure, inviting 12-18 year olds to voice their feelings around media imagery. So why the need now? And what do these parents want to do differently?
That joke isn’t funny anymore
Sexual bullying in schools is so rife it is hardly noticed. Why, asks Rachel Bell, is it not taken seriously?
I was seen as an object, not a person
Human rights group, Object, are among those calling for a review of the 2003 Licensing Act, which has allowed strip and lapdancing clubs to be licensed in the same way as a pub or café. Rachel Bell talks to a former lap-dancer about her experience, and why she supports a change in the law.
‘I’m no sad victim, I’ve seen and survived the darkest side of life’
A groundbreaking new scheme is helping women who’ve experienced sexual violence by pairing them up with a volunteer with similar experiences. Rachel Bell finds out how the Amina scheme isn’t just giving women a chance to get their power back, it’s turning their perceived ‘victim’ status on its head.
Equal play for women
With a male-centric mainstream and so-called ‘alternative’ culture giving limited space to female creativity, worldwide DIY festival, Ladyfest – where all bands are totally female or female fronted – parties on underground. Rachel Bell talks to some of the hugely talented women who will create, network and rock at upcoming Ladyfest Leeds.
Sexualisation damages boys as well as girls
It's official: sexualisation harms girls. Of course it does. It harms all of us. It doesn't just make girls ill, it harms boys too, teaching them to be sexually violent.
Betty Bandit 