New review: Speed Sisters
Electronic Intifada, 23rd March 2016 Marah, with whom Betty maintains a sometimes bitter rivalry, comes from Jenin refugee camp but, contrary to the camp’s conservative image, is backed by her … Continue reading
‘Head over Heels in Saudi Arabia’ at Edinburgh Fringe
Head Over Heels in Saudi Arabia is a one-woman show by Maisah Sobahi, in her day-job a lecturer at a university in Jeddah and now the first ever Saudi performer … Continue reading
I'll be post-feminist in post-patriarchy
This, sadly, is a real 13th birthday card, sold under the Arnold Barton brand which appears to be part of Hallmark. As the Pinkstinks campaign, who took this picture, put … Continue reading
Religion or patriarchy? Iran and higher education
Western fear of Iran is largely framed in terms of religious extremism: as this interesting report from MERIP suggests, maybe some of the regime’s policies are more about undisguised patriarchy … Continue reading
Bodies
I’ve been thinking (not necessarily by choice) more than usual about my body in recent weeks. For reasons to do with both better fitness and some bouts of illness, I’ve … Continue reading
Fadi Azzam's Sarmada reviewed
Better late than never? I wrote this review of Fadi Azzam’s Sarmada about 6 months ago, and then agonised for a while about what to do with it, to the … Continue reading
'The Source' (La source des femmes)
Saw ‘The Source’ at the Cornerhouse last night with friend Ruth. Having slept on it, I’m still not entirely sure what I think of the film. This is the official … Continue reading
Britain's new erosion of the Right to Choose
Despite the unusual spectacle of glorious weather over the bank holiday weekend, coming back to the UK has been a fairly depressing experience. My gorgeously grumpy Yorkshire grandfather used to … Continue reading
Kathleen Jamie’s ‘Among Muslims’
Over a year ago I started a blog to record a specific project – a long overland journey – which didn’t come about. As a result I’m killing the blog … Continue reading
Gail Dines on porn
Excellent article in yesterday’s edition of The Age on the impacts of pornography. The title given to the piece – presumably by a sub – is ‘How the hardcore porn … Continue reading
I talk to cats…
This morning I am homesick and, it being a working day (I should be working too, but my only boss is me and I never was a very good slavedriver), … Continue reading
All for a good cause?
Over the years, my friends and I have dressed up as some pretty bizarre things – angels, nudes, corpses, squirrels, cows – to protest against or raise awareness of issues … Continue reading
Strong women and the men who 'love' them
Perhaps ironically, I’m writing this blog at my husband‘s behest. It’s basically an attempt to put on paper (/screen) a half-baked theory I was expounding the other evening, and to … Continue reading
My tuppence worth on the Wikileaks affair
It’s an interesting time to be a newbie in Australia, what with Julian Assange suddenly going from being some obscure activist geek to the best-known Aussie in the world in … Continue reading
Sarah Irving 