Doctors have backed decriminalising abortion.
What?
Yes, we are talking about the UK.
In the United Kingdom, having an abortion is a crime if a woman doesn't have permission from a doctor.
Permission is only obtained if a pregnant woman can "prove to a doctor that carrying on with the pregnancy is detrimental to health or wellbeing"
We shouldn't need 'permission' to make decisions on our health. Or make any decisions about our bodies for that matter.
Guidance, yes. Permission, no.
Of course abortion needs to be regulated for it to be safe, but a women shouldn't have to explain their reasons for making such a complex and sensitive decision.
For example, a anti-choice male doctor could just say "no I don't think you need an abortion".
She could of course ask for a second opinion, but what if that "no" left her too traumatised and scared to ask again.
This really needs sorting.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40418986
Thursday, 29 June 2017
Is this one step forward for abortion provision for Northern Irish women?
I have previously written about Northern Ireland's damaging abortion laws, and it remains my most popular post.
Today there has been an update on this issue.
Northern Irish women will now be able to have an abortion free on the NHS. Currently if an woman in Northern Ireland wants an abortion she has to travel to the mainland and be treated in a private centre. This is expensive, often costing £1,400, time consuming and traumatic.
Northern Irish women pay taxes towards healthcare and are UK citizens so this is a small celebration. However, abortion services really should be available in Northern Ireland so that women don't have to travel. If a women is vulnerable, for example in an abusive relationship or part of an anti-abortion household, traveling for a long period of time could be risking her life.
Life aren't pleased at all.
But I'm not going to give those anti-choice trashcans any publicity.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40438390
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40429164
Today there has been an update on this issue.
Northern Irish women will now be able to have an abortion free on the NHS. Currently if an woman in Northern Ireland wants an abortion she has to travel to the mainland and be treated in a private centre. This is expensive, often costing £1,400, time consuming and traumatic.
Northern Irish women pay taxes towards healthcare and are UK citizens so this is a small celebration. However, abortion services really should be available in Northern Ireland so that women don't have to travel. If a women is vulnerable, for example in an abusive relationship or part of an anti-abortion household, traveling for a long period of time could be risking her life.
Life aren't pleased at all.
But I'm not going to give those anti-choice trashcans any publicity.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40438390
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40429164
Tuesday, 20 June 2017
I'm on Facebook!
Follow me at https://www.facebook.com/thegirlinthegreencardigan.blogspot.co.uk/
Have a beautiful day x
Have a beautiful day x
Monday, 19 June 2017
Emmerdale: Rhona's story
Those who watch Emmerdale will know that Rhona's recent story involves domestic violence leading up to rape by her husband Pierce on their wedding night. Overall I would say that Emmerdale are doing a fabulous job and have clearly done very thorough research. Both Zoe Henry who plays Rhona and Jonathon Wrather who plays Pierce have done a phenomenal job at portraying their respective characters. Every time Pierce is on screen it makes my skin crawl and I want to reach into the TV to pull Rhona to safety.
Emmerdale are trying to strike the important balance between the story being realistic, as only 2% of rapists are convicted and so much victim blaming occurs in courts, and encouraging women to come forward about their experiences.
As soon as Rhona confided in her friends Vanessa, Paddy and Marlon about her rape they instantly believed her. They also didn't shy away from hugging her and Vanessa fiercely protected Rhona from Pierce when she found him in her house. I think this is such an important message to send.
However, the episode on Friday showed a massive flaw in. When questioned by police, Pierce lied and said that Rhona had been "off her face" on alcohol and painkillers so would be unable to remember what had happened. He continued to paint her as unstable throughout the interview, talking extensively about her painkiller addiction which had actually only reemerged after the rape.
She was intoxicated.
She could not consent.
That is rape.
He was let go without charge, after confessing to rape, because the sex he described wasn't consensual.
However, the blame lies with the UK court system and not Emmerdale, as unfortunately a disgusting amount of gas lighting a victim blaming occurs when a rape is reported.
As Rhona says "We're married, and I know that shouldn't matter...but it does.", it's a sad fact that so many people looking from the outside will say, 'he didn't rape you, he's your husband.' So I invite those thick, ignorant specimens to watch the episodes of Emmerdale leading up to the rape and see if you would be happy for yourself, your family or your friends to be treated that way.
I massively applaud everyone involved in this frighteningly real story line and all the actors involved, thank you for shedding light on such an important and taboo issue.
Have a beautiful day x
If you have been affected by the scenes in Emmerdale, support can be found through Rape Crisis’ website or via their confidential helpline on 0808 802 9999.
References:
http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/16/emmerdale-spoilers-pierce-harris-to-get-away-with-rape-leaving-rhona-devastated-6714086/
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-16/emmerdale-pierce-walks-free---what-next-for-rhona
Emmerdale are trying to strike the important balance between the story being realistic, as only 2% of rapists are convicted and so much victim blaming occurs in courts, and encouraging women to come forward about their experiences.
As soon as Rhona confided in her friends Vanessa, Paddy and Marlon about her rape they instantly believed her. They also didn't shy away from hugging her and Vanessa fiercely protected Rhona from Pierce when she found him in her house. I think this is such an important message to send.
However, the episode on Friday showed a massive flaw in. When questioned by police, Pierce lied and said that Rhona had been "off her face" on alcohol and painkillers so would be unable to remember what had happened. He continued to paint her as unstable throughout the interview, talking extensively about her painkiller addiction which had actually only reemerged after the rape.
She was intoxicated.
She could not consent.
That is rape.
He was let go without charge, after confessing to rape, because the sex he described wasn't consensual.
However, the blame lies with the UK court system and not Emmerdale, as unfortunately a disgusting amount of gas lighting a victim blaming occurs when a rape is reported.
As Rhona says "We're married, and I know that shouldn't matter...but it does.", it's a sad fact that so many people looking from the outside will say, 'he didn't rape you, he's your husband.' So I invite those thick, ignorant specimens to watch the episodes of Emmerdale leading up to the rape and see if you would be happy for yourself, your family or your friends to be treated that way.
I massively applaud everyone involved in this frighteningly real story line and all the actors involved, thank you for shedding light on such an important and taboo issue.
Have a beautiful day x
If you have been affected by the scenes in Emmerdale, support can be found through Rape Crisis’ website or via their confidential helpline on 0808 802 9999.
References:
http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/16/emmerdale-spoilers-pierce-harris-to-get-away-with-rape-leaving-rhona-devastated-6714086/
http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-16/emmerdale-pierce-walks-free---what-next-for-rhona
Saturday, 17 June 2017
Gender colouring
"I haven't bought anything for the baby yet because I don't know if it's a boy or a girl so I don't know what colour clothes to get."
Why not?
All colours are unisex.
89% of toys aimed at girls are pink.
31% of toys aimed at boys had a STEM focus.
Children learn through play, so restricting the choices of both girls and boys isn't helpful.
On the other hand, forcing children to play with toys traditionally for the opposite sex if they don't want to isn't helpful either.
However, due to publicity on this issue, this is getting much better.
Let Toys Be Toys is a campaign "asking the toy and publishing industries to stop limiting children’s interests by promoting some toys and books as only suitable for girls, and others only for boys." The campaign sent mystery shoppers around the UK to look for 'Girls toys' and 'Boys toys' signs. They only found two, both in Tesco, who have said that they no longer use these signs.
21% of shops online still use gender to sort toys, although this is a 70% since 2012.
This is still a massive pink/blue divide in toy stores.
The Early learning Centre was the only retailer showing images of boys with dolls in their catalogue but sorted toys by gender online.
So toys pictured with boys disappear when the ‘boys’ filter is used.
One step forward, then one step back.
Just let children be how they want to be.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
https://www.livescience.com/22037-pink-girls-blue-boys.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/05/girls-aisle-sexist-toys-clothes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38250674
http://lettoysbetoys.org.uk/
http://lettoysbetoys.org.uk/girls-and-boys-toy-labels-on-the-way-out-survey-results/#more-6863
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/barbies-for-girls-cars-for-boys-let-toys-be-toys-and-get-them-gender-neutral-presents-this-christmas-9011155.html
Why not?
All colours are unisex.
89% of toys aimed at girls are pink.
31% of toys aimed at boys had a STEM focus.
Children learn through play, so restricting the choices of both girls and boys isn't helpful.
On the other hand, forcing children to play with toys traditionally for the opposite sex if they don't want to isn't helpful either.
However, due to publicity on this issue, this is getting much better.
Let Toys Be Toys is a campaign "asking the toy and publishing industries to stop limiting children’s interests by promoting some toys and books as only suitable for girls, and others only for boys." The campaign sent mystery shoppers around the UK to look for 'Girls toys' and 'Boys toys' signs. They only found two, both in Tesco, who have said that they no longer use these signs.
21% of shops online still use gender to sort toys, although this is a 70% since 2012.
This is still a massive pink/blue divide in toy stores.
The Early learning Centre was the only retailer showing images of boys with dolls in their catalogue but sorted toys by gender online.
So toys pictured with boys disappear when the ‘boys’ filter is used.
One step forward, then one step back.
Just let children be how they want to be.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
https://www.livescience.com/22037-pink-girls-blue-boys.html
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/05/girls-aisle-sexist-toys-clothes
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38250674
http://lettoysbetoys.org.uk/
http://lettoysbetoys.org.uk/girls-and-boys-toy-labels-on-the-way-out-survey-results/#more-6863
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/barbies-for-girls-cars-for-boys-let-toys-be-toys-and-get-them-gender-neutral-presents-this-christmas-9011155.html
What's the buzz about fertility apps?
It's so important to use fertility apps responsibly; they can be amazing, but can also can have risks.
Clue is the best rated app by doctors and medical professionals and is free and available on iOS and Android. Clue allows you to track your cycle including flow, pain and emotions. There are a huge range of trackers available and algorithms are used to predict when you ovulate and when your period will start. So the more you use Clue, the more used to you it gets and the better the predictions become.
You can also share your cycles with others with the app which can be really helpful for letting partners, friends and those you live with know. I have synced my app with my best friend who I live with and it's been super useful because we can keep an eye on each other, and if there are any issues nudge each other in the doctor's direction. The Clue team are amazing and really quick to reply to any issues you are having.
If you are taking contraception Clue can remind you to take it every day. However it is so important to remember than Clue or any other tracking app is not necessarily an effective form of contraception. As it isn't actually affecting your hormones, just increasing how informed you feel about your body. I have also noted that if you are irregular then predictions are unlikely to be accurate, so it's important to take this into account.
Clue is a really good app for teenagers who have just starting their periods and learning about how their body works. One of the main messages put forward by the app is that your body is not a clock and each person is individual.
Clue also recently conducted a survey to see if women living together have similar cycles, which I was lucky enough to be part of. The survey found that there isn't any significant evidence but none of the less, Clue is producing important research that others skirt around. They also publish loads of useful information on their blog which can be found here.
Overall, I think that using tracking apps like Clue are great for tracking your period but shouldn't be used as a substitution for birth control.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
https://www.helloclue.com/app.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/06/11/the-period-tracking-app-helping-women-and-scientists-understand/
http://blog.helloclue.com/post/161239003521/are-you-in-sync-responses-to-our-research
http://blog.helloclue.com/
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-fertility-app-to-try-to-ge-1785341014
Clue is the best rated app by doctors and medical professionals and is free and available on iOS and Android. Clue allows you to track your cycle including flow, pain and emotions. There are a huge range of trackers available and algorithms are used to predict when you ovulate and when your period will start. So the more you use Clue, the more used to you it gets and the better the predictions become.
You can also share your cycles with others with the app which can be really helpful for letting partners, friends and those you live with know. I have synced my app with my best friend who I live with and it's been super useful because we can keep an eye on each other, and if there are any issues nudge each other in the doctor's direction. The Clue team are amazing and really quick to reply to any issues you are having.
If you are taking contraception Clue can remind you to take it every day. However it is so important to remember than Clue or any other tracking app is not necessarily an effective form of contraception. As it isn't actually affecting your hormones, just increasing how informed you feel about your body. I have also noted that if you are irregular then predictions are unlikely to be accurate, so it's important to take this into account.
Clue is a really good app for teenagers who have just starting their periods and learning about how their body works. One of the main messages put forward by the app is that your body is not a clock and each person is individual.
Clue also recently conducted a survey to see if women living together have similar cycles, which I was lucky enough to be part of. The survey found that there isn't any significant evidence but none of the less, Clue is producing important research that others skirt around. They also publish loads of useful information on their blog which can be found here.
Overall, I think that using tracking apps like Clue are great for tracking your period but shouldn't be used as a substitution for birth control.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
https://www.helloclue.com/app.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/06/11/the-period-tracking-app-helping-women-and-scientists-understand/
http://blog.helloclue.com/post/161239003521/are-you-in-sync-responses-to-our-research
http://blog.helloclue.com/
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-using-a-fertility-app-to-try-to-ge-1785341014
Full face covering bans
Recently, Norway has proposed a ban on full face covering in nurseries, schools and universities. This would include the niqab, burqas, balaclavas and masks but excludes head scarves and hats.
The Minister of Education and Research Torbjorn Roe Isaksen said the ban is because "These clothes prevent good communication, which is important for students to receive a good education."
However, Linda Noor of the Minotenk think tank has stated that"there are very, very few who use the niqab, so this is marginal problem in the integration context. Therefore, I believe the proposal is not necessary,"
Why are the government trying to control the clothes that women wear?
Telling women what to wear is oppressing them.
Norway isn't the only country to attack women's rights.
In 2010, Barcelona in Spain banned full face coverings.
On 11 April 2011, France was the first country in Europe to ban the full-face veils in public places. Any women in public, either a German citizen or a tourist, will be fined. The French President has said that "veils oppress women" and were "not welcome" in France.The irony.
Belgium banned the full face veil in July 2011.
Several towns in Italy have local bans.
In November 2016, the Netherlands proposed a ban on the full face veil.
In December 2016, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said full-faced veils should be prohibited in Germany "wherever it is legally possible". Over half of Germany's states have banned teachers from wearing headscarves and in Hesse this also includes civil servants.
In Austria in January 2017, full-face veils were banned in public spaces including schools.
These are only a few examples.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40251760
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13038095
The Minister of Education and Research Torbjorn Roe Isaksen said the ban is because "These clothes prevent good communication, which is important for students to receive a good education."
However, Linda Noor of the Minotenk think tank has stated that"there are very, very few who use the niqab, so this is marginal problem in the integration context. Therefore, I believe the proposal is not necessary,"
Why are the government trying to control the clothes that women wear?
Telling women what to wear is oppressing them.
Norway isn't the only country to attack women's rights.
In 2010, Barcelona in Spain banned full face coverings.
On 11 April 2011, France was the first country in Europe to ban the full-face veils in public places. Any women in public, either a German citizen or a tourist, will be fined. The French President has said that "veils oppress women" and were "not welcome" in France.The irony.
Belgium banned the full face veil in July 2011.
Several towns in Italy have local bans.
In November 2016, the Netherlands proposed a ban on the full face veil.
In December 2016, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said full-faced veils should be prohibited in Germany "wherever it is legally possible". Over half of Germany's states have banned teachers from wearing headscarves and in Hesse this also includes civil servants.
In Austria in January 2017, full-face veils were banned in public spaces including schools.
These are only a few examples.
Have a beautiful day x
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40251760
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13038095
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