SPECIAL EDITION ::: International Women's Day by Slaney Street

SLANEY

slaneystreet.org.uk fb.com/slaneystreet @Slaney_street

8th March 2014

W OM ENS DA Y allotments services ÂŁ460k

Headline story

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Happy International Slaney Street and Women's Day Lindsey social reproduction Sheehan

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-FAngelaFDavis

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WeFwantFmoreFFEMINISTFWRITERS

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slaneystreet.org.uk 3 GOnlyRoneRthingRisRmoreRFRIGHTENINGRTHaNRSpeakingRYourRTruth

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On crossing the void

Louise Michel

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InRfocus

PinkRwashing Kelly Rogers

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RhiannonM Lockley

relented-I 5utI theI moveI wasI typicalI ofI aI societyI whereI collegeI andI universityI leadersI increasinglyI tryI toI frameI educationalI institutionsI asI hierarchicalI structuresI whichI mustI beI policedI ratherI thanI communityI resourcesI forI allI toI shareI inI andI growI from-I WeI needI toI lookI atI howI weI reclaimI ourI educationalI institutionsIforIcommunitiesPInotIcorporations-II IIII;lsewhereIinIG;PIunionImembersIinIU'UPIUnitePIUnisonIandI;NSIhaveIbeenI fightingI aI sustainedI disputeI overI pay-I TheyI areI angryI thatI V'sI continueI toI beI awardedIhugeIpayIKforI5irminghamIV'I:avidI;astwoodPIwhoItopsItheIleaguePI getsIoverI9%%K)IwhilstIrefusingItoIagreeIreasonableIpayIrisesIforIstaffItoImeetI theI risingI costI ofI livingPI andI inI manyI casesPI refusingI toI payI aI LivingI WageI forI supportIstaff-I8tI5irminghamIstrongIindustrialIactionIfromIUnisonIsupportedIbyI studentIactivismIhasIwonItheILivingI WagePIandIthereIisIaIlotItoIbeIlearntIfromI howIthisIcampaignIhasIbeenIfoughtIIIPayIfightsIareIequalityIfightsPIandIitIisInoIdifferentIinIG;-IU'UIresearchIshowsI thatI womenI makeI nearlyI halfI ofI nonqprofessorialI academicI staffPI butI lessI thanI 3%DI ofI theI professoriate-I ;venI ifI theyI getI therePI femaleI professorsI earnI “-–DI lessI–IandIthisIisIcompoundedIbyIethnicityPIwithIblackIprofessorsIearningIF-9DI lessIthanIwhiteIcounterpartsIIIMeanwhileItheIongoingIdriveIforIneoqliberalismImeansIthatI“female”IcoursesI suchIasIhumanitiesIandIartsI–IprettyImuchIanythingIwhereIeducationIisIitselfIisI treatedIasIhavingIvalueI–IareIatIriskIofIclosure-IRedundanciesIareIhappeningIonI aIlargeIscaleIacrossI7;IandIG;PIwithImoreIforecastIasItheI69I–I6FIbudgetItakesI anotherIhitIIIWeIneedItoIcontinueItoIbuildIandIgrowIstaffPIstudentIandIcommunityIactivismI toI seeI changeI forI theI better-I TheI widerI issueI andI theI thingI thatI weI haveI toI tackleIifIweIwantIchangeIisIneoqliberalism-INfIweIfightIonlyItoIbreakIglassIceilingsI inIeducationIthenIweIareIstillIfightingIforItheIvalueIofIhierarchyIthatIcreatedItheI glassI ceilingI inI theI firstI placeI –I forI properI equalityI weI needI toI actI togetherI forI freePIdemocraticPIopenIeducationIforIall-IrelentedIII

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Univtligh ersittCon yCofCBirmingham ReadUtheUfullU'unheardUvoices'UreportU Spo

ReclaimCtheCNight Birm amoingh ngCtham eCwo rstCfoget r Cbud

www.mwnuk.co.uk/go_files/resources/UnheardVoices.pdf

UnheardCvoices:

JasmineCHide

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RhiannonC Lockley

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SlaneyCstCpresents...

Aunt agony aunt

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E written by Lindsey Sheehan

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Can Burlesque be feminist? Kitty Howse

RRRLongRago?RwhenRIRwasRaboutROj?RIRfirstRsawRtheRfilmRCabaret?RandRfellRinRloveR withR LizaR MinnelliWR AR whileR afterR that?R whenR IR wasR aboutR OU?R IR sawR TheR RockyR HorrorR PictureR Show?R andR wishedR IR wasR asR coolR asR TimR CurryWR MyR fancyR dressR outfitsR forR SallyR BowlesR orR ColumbiaR haveR sinceR beenR honedR toR perfectionWR I’veR beenRtoRburlesqueRshowsWRI’veRevenRbeenRtoRaRcoupleRofRpoleRfitnessRclassesRptryR everythingRtwice?RrightN’WR RRRWhenRIRwasRasked?Rtherefore?RtoRwriteRanRarticleRonRwhetherRorRnotRburlesqueRisR feminist?RIRthoughtRIRalreadyRhadRtheRanswerR–RyescROfRcourseRitRiscRAsRtheRlatestRinR aRseriesRofRneo)feministRtrends?Rburlesque?RjustRlikeRcupcakes?Rcorsets?RandRrollerR derbyR pnotR thatR IR haveR anythingR againstR anyR ofR thoseR things’?R hasR beenR unthinkinglyRchampionedRasRaRLiberatorRofRWomenWR R R TheR womenR IR knowR whoR doR performR burlesqueR haveR indeedR foundR itR mostR empoweringWR TheyR haveR talkedR aboutR theirR newfoundR acceptanceR ofR theirR ownR bodies?RandRhowRgreatRitRisRtoRbeRableRtoRreclaimRtheirRsexualityRinRaRpositiveRwayWR IRwouldRnotRwantRtoRdenyRanyoneRthisWRTheRpressuresRexertedRonRwomenRbyRtheR patriarchyR toR lookR aR certainR wayR andR behaveR aR certainR wayR areR huge?R andR ifR someoneRhasRfoundRaRwayRtoRalleviateRthoseRpressures?RthenRgoodRonRthemW RRRHowever?RuntilRIRsatRdownRandRlookedRforRotherRopinionsRonRtheRmatter?RIRhadR neverR consideredR itR inR anyR termsR otherR thanR theseWR BurlesqueR isR anR overwhelminglyRmiddle)classRart?RorRatRleastRmyRexperienceRofRitRhasRbeenWRItRisRaR farR cryR fromR thatR toR peopleR whoR stripR becauseR theyR haveR noR otherR financialR choiceWR ItR isR aR farR cryR fromR thatR toR peopleR whoR areR exploitedR byR theirR pmostR typicallyR male’R bossesWR ItR doesR notR automaticallyR subvertR theR maleR gaze?R andR itR doesR notR automaticallyR empowerR allR womenR whoR doR itWR WeR mustR beR awareR thatR weRviewRtheRworldR–RandRwhateverRburlesqueRshowsRweRmayRorRmayRnotRchooseR toRattendR–RthroughRtheRblurryRlensRofRtheRpatriarchyW R R R WhileR thereR areR someR excellentR burlesqueR troupesR whoR putR onR aR beautifullyR feministR cabaretR –R IR wouldR highlyR recommendR LashingsR OfR GingerR Beer?R aR UK) basedR‘queerRfeministRburlesqueRcollective’R–Rit’sRveryRimportantRtoRconsiderRtheR background?R theR implications?R theR varyingR interpretationsR ofR whatR youR areR watchingWR RRRRIsRburlesqueRfeministNR RRRRI’mRgoingRtoRstickRwithRaRdefiniteR‘maybe’WR

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Dispelling myths about

Eating Disorders Becki Luscombe ,,,Eating,Disorders,NEDs–,are,diagnosed,in,O,to,-S,times,more,women,than,menM, In,part,this,is,due,to,perceived,femininity,of,mental,health,problemsK,as,well,as,a, lack, of, awareness, among, professionals, in, the, different, ways, eating, disorders, can, present, themselvesM, It, is, undeniableK, howeverK, that, social, pressures, for, women, contribute, to, higher, morbidityM, Vulnerability, to, mental, health, problems, may,not,be,affected,by,female,objectification,in,the,media,and,diet,cultureK,but, these, factors, are, capable, of, causing, psychological, distress, to, manifest, as, preoccupation,with,weight,and,foodM ,,,At,the,age,of,T-K,I,was,admitted,to,an,Eating,Disorders,Ward,for,four,months, with, Anorexia, NervosaK, having, struggled, with, disordered, eating, throughout, my, teensM, I, believe, this, could, have, been, avoided, had, my, problem, been, taken, seriously, at, an, earlier, stage, –, both, by, doctorsK, and, by, myselfM, EDs, affect, -MB, million,people,in,the,UKK,and,Anorexia,Nervosa,accounts,for,a,higher,number,of, fatalities,than,any,other,mental,health,conditionM,Recovery,is,possibleK,howeverK, if,the,problem,is,recognised,and,appropriate,treatment,is,providedM, , , I, wrote, the, following, as, part, of, Eating, Disorder, Awareness, WeekK, for, the, Disabled, and, Mental, Health, Students, Association, NDAMSA–, to, dispel, some, common, myths, surrounding, EDsM, It, is, essential, that, stigma, and, ignorance, are, combatted,in,this,area,R,it,could,be,lifeRsavingM

fButI'x'Idon'tIgetIeatingIdisordersMf , , The, media, portrays, EDs, as, affecting, whiteK, middle, classK, straightK, teenage, girlsM,In,realityK,many,people,with,EDs,donxt,fit,with,this,stereotypeM,While,on,an, inpatient, unitK, I, met, people, of, colourK, working, class, peopleK, gay, peopleK, queer, peopleK, disabled, peopleK, teenagersK, fifty, year, oldsK, men, and, womenM, False, beliefs, about, who, does, and, does, not, get, EDs, can, affect, recognition, by, professionalsK,familyK,friends,and,sufferers,themselvesM

fYouIdon'tIlookIlikeIyouIhaveIanIeatingIdisorderMf ,,,,Disproportionate,attention,is,given,to,those,who,appear,emaciatedK,often,as,a, result,of,Anorexia,Nervosa,or,Bulimia,NervosaM,,The,majority,of,people,with,EDs, fit,less,neatly,into,a,boxK,and,may,be,diagnosed,with,EDNOS,NEating,Disorder, Not,Otherwise,Specified–,or,Binge,Eating,DisorderM,You,cannot,tell,if,somebody, has,an,eating,disorder,by,their,weightK,nor,can,this,tell,you,the,severity,of,their, conditionM, Weight, loss, and, gain, are, consequences, of, EDs, R, they, are, not, necessary,componentsM

fYou'reImoreIattractiveIwhen YourIWeightIisInormalMf ,,,EDs,are,only,superficially,about,appearanceM,Those,affected,are,likely,to,view, their, bodies, in, a, warped, way:, both, in, terms, of, believing, their, body, is, unacceptable,Nto,put,it,mildlyk–,and,in,terms,of,the,importance,placed,on,having, a, perceived, satisfactory, bodyM, There, many, are, complex, and, varied, reasons, people,with,EDs,feel,to,need,to,attain,a,certain,body,R,looking,sexually,pleasing, or,supermodelResque,is,very,rarely,one,of,themM

IsIthereIanythingIIIshouldIavoidIsaying?I ,,,Always,avoid,commenting,on,what,somebody,is,or,isnxt,eatingK,regardless,of, whether, itxs, meant, to, be, supportiveM, Also, try, not, to, make, remarks, about, your, own, underHoverReatingK, NeMgM, VIxm, so, full, Ixm, not, going, to, eat, for, a, weekkVK, VIxve, not,eaten,all,day,for,thiskV–K,because,EDs,translate,anything,along,those,lines,to, Vyou,should,eat,lessVM,Steer,conversation,away,from,weight,lossK,dieting,and,fatK, calories,–,a,good,rule,is,to,not,use,numbers,when,discussing,these,issuesM,Be, aware,that,that,labelling,food,as,xgoodHbadx,or,xhealthyHunhealthyx,may,reinforce, dangerous,faulty,beliefsM,Compliments,can,also,become,skewed,when,you,have, an, ED, R, VYou, look, so, much, better, nowkV, can, be, interpreted, as, VIxve, noticed, youxve,put,on,weightV,which,is,the,last,thing,many,people,with,EDs,want,to,hearM

MyIfriendIisItryingItoIrecoverIfromIanIeatingIDisorder. HowIcanIiIbestIsupportIthem? ,,,FoodRoriented,social,events,can,be,stressfulK,and,friends,may,avoid,these,and, isolate, themselvesM, Try, to, arrange, a, few, events, which, donxt, involve, foodK, and, stay, in, contact, as, much, as, you, canM, PersonallyK, when, eating, out, I, appreciate, prior,warningK,so,I,know,roughly,what,will,be,thereK,or,can,check,out,a,menu,and, plan,in,advanceM,Be,willing,to,give,your,friend,space,or,reassurance,if,they,need, itM,UltimatelyK,howeverK,itxs,best,to,askK,as,triggers,and,ability,to,cope,with,certain, situations,will,varyM

I'mIworriedIaboutImyIeating. HowIdoIIIknowIwhenIIIneedItoIgetIhelp? ,,,If,you,are,asking,yourself,this,questionK,then,you,need,to,get,helpM,The,longer, it,takes,to,seek,supportK,the,longer,it,takes,to,recoverM,One,of,the,cruellest,tricks, of,the,ED,is,to,make,you,believe,you,are,not,unwell,enough,to,recover:,that,you, are,not,deserving,of,treatmentM,This,is,a,lieK,and,one,that,can,stay,with,sufferers, until,their,deathsM,You,deserve,help,and,you,deserve,it,nowM

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fWhyIdon'tIyouIjustIeatImore?f ,,,EDs,are,not,dietsK,and,behaviours,cannot,be,challenged,without,considerable, distressM, There, are, many, reasons, somebody, with, a, restrictive, eating, disorder, will, be, terrified, to, eat, more!, fear, of, weight, gainK, fear, of, losing, controlK, fear, of, breaking,the,xrulesx,of,their,EDK,fear,of,not,being,able,to,stop,eatingK,fear,of,the, consequential, guilt, and, the, need, to, punish, themselvesMMM, the, list, goes, onM, , For, othersK, bingingK, purging, and, overRexercising, may, be, more, problematic, than, restrictionM,UltimatelyK,the,extreme,mental,discomfort,caused,by,consuming,food, in, a, healthy, way, is, far, greater, than, the, physical, discomfort, caused, by, an, ED, behaviourM

fPeopleIwithIeatingIdisordersIareIjustIpickyIeatersf ,,,People,with,EDs,,have,food,preferences,just,like,everybody,else,R,onlyK,unlike, everybody, elseK, their, food, preferences, are, usually, irrelevant, to, the, foods, that, they, feel, comfortable, consumingM, Itxs, not, unheard, ofK, howeverK, for, people, with, EDs,to,conflate,xsafeHfearx,foods,with,xlikedHdislikedx,foodsK,and,to,ignore,hunger, signalsM, InterestinglyK, one, of, the, effects, of, malnutrition, is, preRoccupation, with, foodM

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19TH MARCH

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You1 will1 be1 immersed1 in1 this1 new1 opera1 as1 you1 travel1 through1 hidden1 worlds1 and1 find1 yourself1 at1 the1 centre1 of1 heart1 breaking1 stories1 to1 reflect1 the1 modern1 exploitation1 of1 women1 across1 different1culturesK As1 part1 of1 the1 creative1 process1 WNO1 worked1 with1 the1 director1 leading1workshops1in1schools1and1universities1in1Birmingham1to1 hear1 about1 some1 of1 the1 real1 life1 challenges1 young1 women1 have1 faced1in1today’s1worldK1They1also1undertook1interviews1 with1sex1 workers1to1uncover1their1stories1and1strugglesK

26thpMarch,pmac

LovedSexpakapPerpppMission A1 brand1 new1 hard1 hitting1 dance1 theatre1 show1 exploring1 issues1 of1 loveF1 sex1 and1 consent1 and1 examining1 the1 emotionsF1 the1 pressures1 and1 the1 comedy1 of1 sexual1 relationshipsK Through1 dance1 and1 musicF1 LovekSex1 invites1 audiences1 to1 reflect1 and1 question1 their1 own1 behaviour1 and1 that1 of1 othersK1 This1 show1 is1 ideal1 for1 young1 people1 aged1 MC1 to1 PzF1 highlighting1 the1 connection1 between1 sexual1 health1 and1 emotional1wellUbeingK

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Marchp28th,ppThepDrum Burminum:ppBlackpmusicpandpthepCity Presented1 and1 organized1 by1 Jez1 CollinsF1 and1 including1 Kieran1 Connell1 NUniversity1 of1 BirminghamOF1 Amlak1 NSteel1 PulseO1 and1 Frenchie1NPCRLO This1 panel1 brings1 together1 a1 number1 of1 the1 key1 black1 music1 practitioners1 that1 have1 helped1 to1 shape1 the1 music1 of1 BirminghamK1 Starting1with1the1early1(RsF1there1will1be1discussion1 of1the1musicF1 spacesF1placesF1and1the1role1of1pirate1radio1in1the1development1of1 Birmingham1 becoming1 arguably1 the1 centre1 of1 black1 music1 activity1 in1 the1 countryK1 In1 a1 broad1 examination1 of1 black1 popular1 cultureF1 we1will1hear1from1some1of1the1City’s1black1music1pioneers1as1well1 as1contemporary1musicians1and1activistsK1

Marchp30th,ppHeritagepLearningpSpace

YaapDevipwithpDevikapRao First1 UK1 performance1 of1 a1 new1 work1 being1 developed1 by1 Devika1 Rao1 in1 collaboration1 with1 Katie1 RyanF1 Manuela1 BeniniF1 Prem1 RaiF1 Yorkshire1 Dance1 and1 sampadK1 Concept1 and1 mentoring1 by1 Piali1 Ray1 and1 Chitraleka1 BolarK1 Music1 by1 Praveen1RaoK The1 work1 uses1 bharatanatyamF1 KathakF1 Odissi1 and1 Yakshagana1 to1 explore1 the1 roles1 of1 women1 in1 traditional1 contemporary1societiesK Followed1by1a1Q1k1A1session

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Map pi ng My Jou r n ey

Celebrating transgender identities in the Midlands Leilani Rabemananjara

, , The, Birmingham, Museum, and, Art, Gallery, made, some, history, of, its, own, on, 89th, January, 8P5E, as, a, cake6, celebrating, the, launch, of, a, Heritage, Lottery, Funded, exhibition, mapping, the, identities, of, Birmingham, and, West, Midland, transgender, individuals6, was, cut, by, the, Lord, Mayor, in, the, Community, Gallery’, The,exhibition,entitled,Mapping,My,Journey,organised,by,Wolverhampton,based, charity, Gender, Matters, remains, in, the, community, Gallery, until, Sunday, 5(th,March,8P5E’ ,,The,passionate,speeches,I,heard,that,evening,from,the,exhibition’s,organisers6, Gender,Matters6,sealed,that,moment,as,not,only,one,that,was,historic,but,one, that, was, also, symbolic’, Heads, nodded, along, in, agreement, as, their, speakers, told, of, the, significance, of, having, such, an, exhibition, in, so, central, a, location, in, Birmingham, and, to, be, placed, above, all, in, the, Community, Gallery, –, an, achievement, they, remarked, that, would, not, have, been, possible, twenty, years, prior’ ,,,Positioned,in,the,heart,of,Birmingham,the,exhibition,rang,true,to,the,spirit,of, LGBT, History, Month6, the, annually, observed, celebration, of, LGBT, identities, which,has,been,marked,every,February,since,the,8PP;,abolition,of,Section,88’, Despite,Section,88,only,explicitly,attacking,homosexuality,the,exhibition,perhaps, stands, as, an, indicator, of, the, progress, that, is, being, made, in, the, public, discussion,of,LGBT,identities,since,the,legislation’s,introduction,in,5988’,Even,if, this, is, so, the, exhibition’s, very, existence, is, an, acknowledgement, of, a, transgender, community, who6, not, only, in, the, West, Midlands6, have, been, left, lagging, behind, in, the, political, victories, of, its, lesbian6, gay, and, bisexual, counterparts’, Despite, that, discrepancy, in, progress, the, room, was6, by, the, final, speech,of,that,evening6,full,of,proud,and,hopeful,smiles’, , , The, exhibition’s, success, stemmed, from, not, only, from, the, celebratory, representations, of, transgender, identities6, refreshing, against, a, backdrop, of, all, too, often, negative, or, sensationalist, representations, in, mainstream, media6, but, also, the, multiple, mediums, the, exhibition, works, with’, Photographs, explored, gender, expression6, art, work, reminded, us, of, gender, dysphoria;, video6, audio, interview, and, exhibit, displays, from, binders, to, hormone, replacement, gave, the, everyday,reality,of, what, it,means,to, transition,or, identify, outside, of,the,gender, binary, and, it, was, that, representation, of, multiple, transgender, identities, which, was,most,impressive’ , , , Mapping, My, Journey, is, an, exhibition, entirely, accessible, to, individuals, who, identify,as,LGBT6,who,are,allies6,or,even,individuals,with,little,or,no,knowledge, on, the, processes, of, transitioning, or, the, vast, array, of, identities, under, the, transgender,spectrum’,I,left,the,gallery,that,evening,most,happy,with,how,many, positive,images,and,triumphs,vdespite,the,stories,of,struggleC,I,had,seen,and,felt, armed,with,an,increased,knowledge,of,those,individuals’,lives’,It,was,therefore, not,only,in,the,exhibition’s,symbolic,significance,of,inhabiting,that,space,but,also, the, fine, educational, content, that, ensures, that, Gender, Matters’, work, in, that, community,space,will,far,outlast,the,stay,of,the,exhibition’

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Meets.fortnightly Next.meeting.March.19th Weds9.6.30pm9.Urban.Coffee.Co.9.Church.St