Wednesday 30 November 2011

Strike Out

Time: 9:29am

Today, 2 million public sector workers in the UK have gone on strike to protest cuts to their pensions. These cuts, like others, will have a disproportionate effect on women.

What had me cursing? The fact that the Sure Start Children's Centre down the road still opened its doors today. It can do this because the majority of its staff are so-called temporary workers. Part-time, low paid, inevitably almost all women.

Sure Start Children's Centres have suffered big cuts all over the country. These particular women are the staff left over from a sudden cull at Easter. So even if they were unionised, they're not likely to protest any shitty treatment while in such a precarious position.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

A Sporting Chance

The last post received a comment that it didn't really qualify as a "for fuck's sake" moment. Fair enough. So here, a bonus before dinner, swearing at the radio more in anger than in sadness, moment.

Today, the ten finalists for BBC Sports Personality of the Year were named. None of them are women.

The man on BBC Radio 4 explained to me that 27 publications had been asked to nominate lists and ten of them only choose men. He read out the list of those ten. I admit I wasn't paying 100% attention but two names fairly leapt out at me: Nuts and Zoo.

Yes, the BBC actually invited two lads mags to participate and then stood around looking surprised when they didn't appreciate women's personalities...

(Not that I'm letting the others off the hook, you suck too.)

Stalin's Daughter Has Died

Said the radio.

Her name was Lana Peters, also known as Svetlana Alliluyeva.

Would she have had more freedom from her father if she'd been a man?

Time: 8:30am

Monday 28 November 2011

St Nick & Co

Time: 11:30am

Rummaging in the cupboards, I found myself staring at the illustrations on the St Nicholas treats which Wingnut's mum had sent from The Netherlands. Why is it all men? St Nicholas, Black Peter(s), even the horse is male.

Which leads me to Santa and his elves. And the reindeer. All male. The only woman is Mrs Mary "Afterthought" Christmas.

(The Easter Bunny. Shut up brain, enough.)

Sunday 27 November 2011

The Clothes Maketh The Baby

Time: 11:45am

Someone behind me is holding a baby wearing a red hoody and green trousers. The receptionist persistently refers to the baby as "he" even though the mum has told him its a "she".

The hoody comes off to reveal a pink and purple striped top. A woman keeps calling the baby "that boy".

Yes, it's an oldie but a goodie, colour-coding infants by gender. Here in England, babies wearing bright colours and/or stripes are presumed to be boys. Heaven knows Ailbhe has had to remind me about this more than once. And she says it's gotten worse in recent years. But seriously, red, it's practically pink, right? I give up.

Saturday 26 November 2011

Face It

Time: 4am, grumpy.

A 3 News story about the Electoral Commission's guidelines on what's allowed to be said on election day. The humorous examples of social media do's and don'ts included:

Yes: "Lady at the voting booth is apparently doing Movember."
No: [Female candidate] is apparently doing Movember."


Female facial hair, so unfeminine and wrong.

Friday 25 November 2011

Doth The Lady Protest?

Time: 1pm? The hourly news, anyway.

An item about Tahrir Square, something about an anti-government protest and how the march organisers didn't get the million men they'd hoped for.

Argh.

Thursday 24 November 2011

Big Tissue

Time: 2.30pm, or, the first time I left the house today.

I need tissues. What I do not need are Mansized Tissues with Mansized Capitals. Where are my delicate little lady tissues to catch my delicate little lady boogers?

On the back of the box we're exhorted to look out for the Kleenex Mansize Compact Box. But don't worry, the Tissues, like the Capitals, are still Manly.

It also seems they hold a Royal Warrant. Yes, Her Maj is Manly, too.

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Vince Cable and Pregnant Women

Time: just after 8.30am

I wasn't listening too closely to Radio 4's Today program but the topic was proposed changes to employment law. The interviewer asked something about protected conversations and what would happen if employers gave out about pregnant women taking lots of time off. Vince Cable reckoned that was an extreme example.

Because women being fired due to pregnancy is such a rare problem.

A Short Project

This is to record the first instance of sexist bullshit I come across on any given day. Will I make it past breakfast? It's possible. How about lunch? Will I be in hibernation by dinner?

If I have time it will be a daily bull-etin (thanks, Simes). If not, then not.

Thank you everyone who suggested titles, this is all your fault.