Category Archives: help

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: research on the termination of pregnancy

A request on email:

University of York study needs YOUR stories

One in three women will have a termination of pregnancy (abortion) by the time they are 45. However, these women’s voices are often missing from discussion of termination. We need research about their experiences. For this reason, a major study at the University of York is inviting women to tell their stories through research interviews. Interviews are strictly confidential and women will not be identified.

Women can choose to take part by phone or by meeting with the researcher in person.

Can you help?

Firstly, a huge thank you to all the women who have already taken part in the research. In response to feedback from those who have taken part, the study criteria have been widened. Anybody aged 18 or over, who has experienced a termination in England, can take part in the research.

If this is something that you might be interested in, please visit the project website http://www.york.ac.uk/satsu/timing-termination for further information.

Alternatively, you can contact the researcher directly by emailing Siân at sian.beynon-jones@york.ac.uk or phoning on 01904 323064.

RESEARCH PROJECT: Are you a mother living away from your children?

From email:

Hi Huddersfield Feminist Collective

I am about to embark on a Masters by Research in psychology at the University of Huddersfield. I am searching for women who would like to take part in my research project.

The research aims to gain an insight into the experiences of women who live apart from their children. It hopes to give a voice to the women’s stories with the intention of having a positive impact on improving women’s lives and sense of well-being.

Could you please help by sharing the attached poster with members of your group. For further information please contact me through.

E-mail: lesleydiveney@msn.com
Mobile: redacted.

Thanks and kind regards
Lesley

HELP: University of York research study – women’s experiences of termination of pregnancy

From email:

Hello

I work in the Sociology Department at the University of York and I’m getting in touch to ask whether your group might be able to help circulate/publicise information about a research project that I am running?

The project is funded by the Wellcome Trust (a UK research charity) and is using interviews to explore women’s and health professionals’ experiences of abortion provision in England. I am inviting women aged 18 or over, who have had a termination of pregnancy within the last 6 months, to participate in an interview about their experiences. The aim of the interviews is to allow women to tell their stories in their own words and to explore what this experience has meant to them. Interviews are strictly confidential and women will not be identified. The study has been ethically reviewed and approved by the University of York Economics, Law, Management, Politics and Sociology Research Ethics Committee.

I am trying to find ways to publicise information about the project to women, so that those for whom this is relevant can decide for themselves whether they want to contact me about taking part in an interview. I wondered whether you might be willing to circulate the advert (pasted below this message and also included as an attachment flyer) around your mailing lists, and perhaps post the information on your webpage?

Continue Reading…

PETITION: #losetheladsmags

It’s time for shops to Lose the Lads’ Mags

Today it’s no longer acceptable to have ‘girly calendars’ on office walls. Why? Because they create a sexist and degrading environment for female employees and customers. So why, then, do supermarkets and newsagents still think it’s OK to expose staff and customers to degrading, pornographic lads’ mags – the modern day equivalent of ‘girly calendars’ – in their stores?

A woman who works in Tesco told us, “I hate that Tesco sells these mags and papers like the Sun and the Star. In the store I work in there is a laddish culture and I don’t think having these magazines help that…”

Lads’ mags portray women as dehumanised sex objects. There is extensive evidence this fuels sexist attitudes and behaviours and creates a conducive context for violence against women.

We’ve also obtained brand new legal advice showing that shops selling lads mags’ – like WH Smith and Tesco – are potentially breaching equality legislation. Stocking and displaying lads’ mags and papers with Page 3-style front cover images can constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment under the Equality Act. Employees could take legal action on this basis and, where the magazine is visibly on display, customers could also have a claim. Legally as well as ethically, lads’ mags are well past their sell-by date.

That’s why we’re joining with Object, Women’s Aid, End Violence Against Women and many others to tell shops to lose the lads’ mags.

Sign the petition and ask shops to lose the lads’ mags!

As is the case with ‘girly calendars’, people shouldn’t have to see sexist, degrading lads’ mags when they are going about their work or doing their shopping.

Sign the petition today.

SURVEY: Take our Feminist movement survey (UKFeminista)

Tell us about your passions, priorities and needs in our online survey

What feminist activities are you most inspired by? What do you want to campaign on? And what kind of support do you need to organise for a world without sexism?

We want to hear from feminists across the UK about the exciting things you’re doing and how we can help you do them. We’ve developed a short online survey and would love you to take part.

And if you complete it by Friday 7 June you’ll be entered into a draw to win a UK Feminista t-shirt and bag!

Here’s the link to the survey: ukfeminista.

HELP: A Research Project About The Environment (Leeds)

About: Research exploring disabled people’s views and experiences of the environment

Description:

This research is being conducted by Deborah Fenney, a PhD student based in the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds.

The research is looking into disabled people’s experiences of the environment, and whether there are barriers to doing environmentally friendly activities. Over the past few years, many people have become interested in trying to be more environmentally friendly. Whether or not we agree with this, government and local councils are also trying to encourage us to change our behaviour to help protect the environment. However, being environmentally friendly can be more difficult for some people than for others.

I’m hoping to find out what disabled people think about environmental issues, and any experiences they may have had. If disabled people’s needs are not considered with regard to environmental issues, accessible solutions may be missed. I hope this research will help highlight existing good practice and ideas, as well as where more consideration is needed.

I’m looking to speak to people who:

– live in the Leeds City Council area

– are disabled, or have a long-term physical or mental health condition, or a learning difficulty or disability

and

– are over 18.

Taking part involves talking to me about your experiences, either in person or via telephone or email if these are more accessible for you. The kinds of questions asked and topics covered would be about different environmental issues, any experiences you have had of them and what you think about them. In person, this conversation usually takes around half an hour, and can be held in a place convenient for you. I may be able to reimburse any expenses incurred – please ask!

Alternatively, if you are a member of a group (for example a social or support group) and other group members would also like to take part, I am able to run a focus group discussion covering similar topics. A group discussion would usually take around an hour, although sometimes they take longer.

Link: A Research Project About The Environment (facebook)

ACTION: Please respond to the Government’s call for evidence for the Equality Duty Review

From an email from the NEWomen’s Network:

“The call for evidence below is very important and may be our only chance to ensure that the Equality Duty Review panel takes into account the importance of having the Duty in place.  While not claiming that the Duty is perfect we would like to position it as something which has the potential to be improved and therefore even more effective. If you have used the Equality Duty and have evidence, then please do respond.

NEWomen’s Network are also co-ordinating a response – if you have any evidence please register here – NO LATER THAN 6 PM ON THURSDAY 18TH APRIL

The Government has announced a call for evidence for the Equality Duty Review. Please see below (details can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/policy-advisory-groups/123?). CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS THE 19 APRIL.

Call for evidence

The review is particularly focusing on the following key themes:

  • how well understood is the PSED and guidance
  • what are the costs and benefits of the PSED
  • how organisations are managing legal risk and ensuring compliance with the PSED
  • what changes, if any, would ensure better equality outcomes (legislative, administrative and/or enforcement changes, for example).

The Chair of the steering group is particularly interested in looking at equalities paperwork and policies related to PSED (particularly in relation to public sector procurement processes) and the collection, retention and use of diversity data by public bodies, for example, in relation to goods, facilities and services.

If you have evidence about how the PSED works that relate to any or all of the above points, please submit this to the PSED review team by Friday 19 April-

They will only be able to consider information relating to the Duty’s operation, and will not be able to consider submissions which are not evidence-based. They will not be able to consider evidence submitted after this date. They would also welcome examples of documentation you are aware of relating to the PSED, for example equality impact assessments, procurement forms, diversity data forms, guidance and toolkits.

They expect this combined review to be done by June 2013.

ACTION: Call for evidence – the impact of austerity measures upon women in the North East of England

This call came through on email from the North East Women’s Network.

“IF YOU CAN PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE,  PLEASE REGISTER AN INITIAL RESPONSE BY NOON ON WEDNESDAY 10TH APRIL HERE.

In October 2012 NEWomen’s Network published “Findings and Recommendations from Interim Case Study: The impact of austerity measures upon women in the North East of England”. NEWN is now in the process of updating the case study to inform  the  shadow report being submitted by Women’s Resource Centre to the to the   Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) examination in Geneva in July 2013.

If you have any stories data, information, case studies, research or any other forms of evidence (including stories  and testimonies of women themselves) about the impact of the welfare reforms and austerity measures upon:

  • The lives of women in the North East and their children, families and the community
  • Cuts to women’s community and voluntary organisation
  • Cuts to women’s only services

If you have any evidence at all please register your details  (it will only take a minute or so)  and one of the researchers will contact you to arrange to follow up it up.

NEWomen’s Network intends to deal with the issues that are at the heart of the current economic crisis and tackle the underlining causes of women’s inequality and CEDAW provides us with a framework with which to do this. CEDAW was established in 1979 and is often referred to as the Women’s International Billof Rights.   Unlike domestic UK and European legislation on gender discrimination and equal treatment, the Convention is solely concerned with the position of women rather than discrimination faced by both sexes (which would include discrimination against men). CEDAW places obligations on the countries that have agreed to the Convention, to eliminate discrimination against women in all its forms.

Continue Reading…

ACTION: Suspended Coffees – Huddersfield, UK

Suspended Coffees is the gesture of a good will and kind heart.  This is a as [facebook ] page listing Suspended Coffee Shops in the Huddersfield area: Suspended Coffees – Huddersfield, UK.

How you can get active supporting Suspended Coffees:

1) Approach to your local cafe and explain to the manager what it is.

2) Ask them if they would like to get consider participating. However, please don’t make them feel pressurised. Any business will most probably want to consider how they feel about Suspended Coffees and also may want to speak to some of their customers about it before making a decision. At the end of the day, it’s their business and livelihood and all cafes who come on board so do voluntarily.

3) Contact us to let us know if they are interested and we can get in touch with the cafe and ask if they need any further information.

4) We will add them to the list of cafes in the Huddersfield area, send them posters for their businesses to put up and also advertise them on this page and other Suspended Coffee pages/website.

Thanks a lot people for all your support and Good Luck!!

Susan & Lynda ♥

Related:

HELP: Support the strikers this Thursday 30th June

Please do support those taking industrial action in Huddersfield on Thursday:
7.30am – picket line at Huddersfield Job Centre
10am – Public Meeting at St Patrick’s Irish Centre in Hudds
12pm – Rally at Market Cross, Huddersfield

Want to go further afield? Check the UK Uncut website for details of what’s happening around Britain

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/join-the-big-society-breakfast-and-support-the…