cafebabel.com

Porn director Erika Lust: 'I felt uncomfortable like all women when they're watching porn'

('bobe.barsi',) — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:32:16 -0000

In her native Stockholm Erika Hallqvist was a politics student who pondered why the porn industry wasn't more feminist. Today the 34-year-old award-winning writer, director, producer and mother-of-two is based in Barcelona and successfully rebelling against gender cliches with her 'new indie adult movies' - making 'love, not porn'

Sexist grammar: the French and German cases

('Sarah Fisher',) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:37:50 -0000

Poor adjectives need take their husband's name no more. Sort of. Whilst one French association has attacked a centuries-old 'oversight', the Germans (or at least their moderate feminists) have taken plural forms to task. In all, the debate succeeds in desexualising our common language

GPS: taking directions from a woman

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:31:01 -0000

Most satellite navigation devices predominantly use female voices – and German BMW drivers can’t cope with them. Is this sexism or science fiction?

‘Why can’t German men flirt?’ - a German man answers

('Cari19',) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:47:41 -0000

A few days ago I came across an article online by a young British girl who describes her experiences with men in Germany. I often stumble across articles from women who claim Germany to be a developing nation with respect to flirting. Yet why is this the case and where are all the emancipated women?

Feminist France: ‘mademoiselle’ vs 'madame'

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:20:43 -0000

Is it discriminatory that women have to tick whether they are a ‘mademoiselle’ (unmarried) or a ‘madame’ (married) on administrative forms, whilst men can just put a tick next to ‘monsieur’? The feminist association Osez le feminisme says YES, and calls on women to claim their right to be ‘madame’

Catherine Hakim: women, use your erotic capital

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:02:09 -0000

Across the British media over the last few weeks, London-based sociologist Catherine Hakim argues that erotic capital is missing from the economic, cultural and social capital that we all command. The basic principle is simple: take care of your appearance! Beautiful people earn 13% more than their averagely attractive colleagues. However, this is just the beginning

Zagreb’s Miss Independents

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:32:58 -0000

The higher educated woman in Zagreb is close to the 'western model' of female independence. In the Croatian capital a Serbian journalist meet feminists, students, musicians and actresses who she says are moving away from the ‘traditional’ – at least from a Balkan perspective

Ingenious genitals? Copenhagen’s Kussomat ‘vagina photo booth’

('Madalina Pierseca',) — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:00:00 -0000

Is it the final frontier of Nordic feminism? The photo booth project aims to increase awareness amongst about their own bodies. Promoted by the K. Fond Vinders association, the idea was launched in celebration of international women's day on 8 March at the goethe institute in Copenhagen

40% for Norway’s ‘golden skirt’ board members: do companies need quotas for women?

('IMD Insight',) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:46:34 -0000

‘Quotas are a bad answer to the wrong problem,’ says research fellow Jean-Louis Barsoux, but his colleague and professor Ginka Toegel emphasises ‘so far, nothing else has worked’. A ‘women in leadership’ event organised by Swiss business school IMD and the global women’s international network (WIN) marks international women’s day on 8 March

Ukraine feminists ‘Femen’: topless a political weapon

("Miriam O'Brien",) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:05:00 -0000

At first the 300 members of the feminist community came to the streets to protest against the expansion of sex tourism in the Ukraine. The 12, 000 active 'sex pats' are growing under the indifferent gaze of the authorities. Femen has been organising nude performances as a political weapon for three years now. After a run-in at the Italian embassy, Inna Shevechenko vents her anger

German standards: men in speedos vs topless women

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:00 -0000

Summer might be over, the time when too many items of clothing are bothersome. Boys can jog around without a top, so why can’t women in their bikini tops? One woman rants

Emmanuelle Cosse: 'in France we are not sufficiently open to change'

('mh',) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0000

She's stood up for causes varying from HIV, gay and lesbian-friendly journalism to leftist radical journalism. Now the 35-year-old has launched herself into the political fray as a candidate on the 'Ecology Europe' party list in Paris. International women's day is not enough, but it’s vital, she says. Interview

Mrs, miss or ms?

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:08:10 -0000

In the run-up to international women's day on 8 March, one of the debates rolling around the cafebabel circles cropped up - when on earth do English-speakers address a woman by Ms?

Women's day: Femibook, testosterone and internet

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:30:00 -0000

100 years after the first international women's day was organised on 8 March in Copenhagen, a musing on where the woman's place rightfully is

Le Corps Mince de Francoise: 'fuck off saying we’re trendy. We sing about what we are'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:14:35 -0000

The trio hail from Helsinki, record in Berlin and are managed in the UK. We meet in Paris to dissect their pan-European wanderings and find out why exactly they diss boys and Finland so much in their screamy surface pop-experimental sound

Lorella Zanardo: real women 'endangered species' on Italian TV

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Chat with the co-writer of the documentary 'Il Corpo delle Donne', which looks at how Italian TV dissects 'women’s bodies'. Since spring 2009, it has attained enormous exposure across all networks thanks to its intelligent and ruthless critique of Italian television

Angie Merkel wears the trousers (and the bowl cut) in Germany

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:48:52 -0000

Mushroom hair, brightly coloured blazers – preferably lilac, lime green or salmon – and a slight east German accent, ever-ridiculed in the media. The August 2009 issue of Forbes magazine has listed ‘Angie’ – as the chancellor is fondly called by her people – the most powerful woman in the world for the fourth consecutive time. What’s the chancellor’s (low-cut) secret?

Italian man and woman discuss 'women & Berlusconi', their national tragicomedy

("naomi o'leary",) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:56:49 -0000

Sex scandals. Unending gaffes about women. A premier's embarrassing inability to stop talking about himself, showcased once again at a press conference with Spanish PM Zapatero. Two nationals discuss whether Italy become a tragedy or a farce

'Papigate': same debate about women and media in Berlusconi era

('Helen Swain',) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:50:40 -0000

The salacious Italian scandal sustained newspapers worldwide for summer 2009. The uproar surrounds the personal, sexual, and not necessarily political activities of a prime minister who, in the word of his future ex-wife Veronica Lario, 'enjoys the company of the underaged'

Swedish women, the ideal woman?

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Tall, dashing, blond hair and a blue-eyed stare. The list of clichés regarding Swedish women is long. Courted by men, envied by other women; how do the women in question live with these stereotypes? Part II in a special edition marking the six-month Swedish presidency of the EU

FrauTV, Emma: women top the media tower in Cologne

('Lindsey Evans',) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Over a third of German national TV programmes are produced in Cologne. Alongside the eight channels based on the banks of the Rhine, in ‘media city’, are the offices of the young, resolutely feminist FrauTV and the militant magazine Emma

Men on British writer Charlotte Roche’s Wetlands

('Sarah Pybus',) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

The 31-year-old’s polarising debut novel has triggered a media avalanche in Germany, topping its Amazon bestseller list and was released in the UK in January 2009. Is Wetlands a feminist plea or pornographic trash? What do men really think about Roche’s tour de force through the ‘moist areas’ of the female body?

Lívia Járóka: female, Roma and Euro MP

('rhiannon_nicolson',) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:33:52 -0000

The first female Roma member of the European parliament takes stock of her first term in office and announces that she will run in this year’s European elections in June. We talk women, Roma statistics and the EU institutions

Spain, crisis and the difference between equality and parity

('Lydia Bigos',) — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:51:50 -0000

For the first time in the economic crisis, men are proportionally losing jobs faster than women are. Is it a victory for the latter? It’s a long road to equality – or should we say, to parity?

What communism means to three central and eastern European women

('Kate Robinson',) — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Twenty years since the fall of the Berlin wall, what does communism mean to Cecilia, 22, from Bulgaria, Katharina, 20, from Slovakia and Anna, 28, from the Czech Republic?

'Immigrants take bread from our mouths': racism adapts to the 20th century

('Kate Stansfield',) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0000

Discrimination has modernised to become more subtle and respond to the politically correct parameters that have spread throughout society

Third country children draw gender equality

('Hayley Wood',) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:25:13 -0000

As part of international women’s day on 8 March, Europe launches its third drawing competition on the theme of male and female equality. Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Contraception: buying the morning after pill in Europe

('Helen Moorhouse',) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:54:48 -0000

This form of emergency birth control appeared in French and UK pharmacies in 2000 and 2001. The basics on how the situation looks in other countries

Zita Gurmai: 'Women in Europe work around 54 more days than men'

('Erin Woycik',) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:15:00 -0000

The socialist, 43, demands feminism from European leaders. While she renews her candidacy for the European parliament, she dreams of seeing Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the socialist president, as president of the European commission, after Jose Manuel Durao Barroso's term is up

Miss Marion: the French burlesque star will 'tease you until you die'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:29:09 -0000

The 32-year-old from Normandy performs a 'slowed-down' version of burlesque. A dance historically popular in eras of depression, her latest show updates the genre, combining nipple tassels and an iPhone - an accessible escape for Europeans in recession

Erasmus for journalists, European elections for bores

('Jessie L.',) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

European journalism comes face to face with the European elections: a lack of interest, problems and solutions discussed during a meeting of Spanish women journalists in Cadiz

Nawal El Moutawakel: ‘girls think that sport is a macho world’

('Helen Swain',) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:01:41 -0000

The former Moroccan women's track hurdler and current youth and sports minister says nobody wants to change. Interview

Go, women architects

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Female architects are suffering from social historical invisibility. Creating more gender-based networks can raise awareness about gender inequality and social recognition

Women's Day, a European clause

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Uniforming the laws concerning the rights of women in the EU from the top down is an exciting idea and a necessity that is gaining support from militants all across the EU

Feminism in France: the Rose Revolution

('John Smith',) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:32:00 -0000

May 1968 was a turning point in world history, but it was also a rupture for women's history. Feminists of yesterday and today tell us about their war

1968: a tour of Europe's revolts

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Germany - spinning through Europe's uprisings during that infamous year of rebellion

Jeta Xharra: ‘Kosovo's status is not a solution to everything’

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Playwright, journalist and Kosovo's answer to Jeremy Paxman - the ‘pushy, irritating’ TV presenter as she describes herself, 29, exposes local politicians in a society she vouches is 'fed-up'

Feminism in Europe

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Long a part of the mainstream, but women have not gained ground since the eighties. Many dismiss the feminist concept completely, others see 'new feminism' taking a step backwards

French adoption: ‘intercity babies’

('Sarah Gray',) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Restrictive adoption law drives French lesbian couples across Belgian and Dutch borders to be artificially inseminated

'Poland belongs to its women'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

A new Polish women-only party battles traditional stereotypes in a conservative government

Georgian women, invisible citizens

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Women’s rights are neglected in the Caucasus, as illustrated in Tblisi, Georgia's capital

Poland: 'socialise bellies'

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Stop debate on the protection of life 'from the beginning,' say the staunch Catholic right-wing, as they announce an amendment of article 38 in the Polish constitution

Portugal sits on the fence

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The February 11 referendum on the decriminalisation of abortion has garnered mixed reactions

Marjane Satrapi: 'the Iraq war was about nothing but oil'

Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0000

We spoke to the Iranian graphic novelist, 37, in January, after she shot to fame with her black-and-white comic book ‘Persepolis’. It's currently hitting movie screens in its animated French version

Feminism: Mamma mia is dead!

('Jo Ashworth',) — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Edda Billi, a Tuscan who has spent more than 40 years fighting tooth and nail for gender equality, recounts the history of the feminist movement in Rome

Newsha Tavakolian, Iran's inside story

('Kate Stansfield',) — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:48:00 -0000

At the inauguration of Perpignan's 19th festival ‘Visa pour l'image’, the Iranian photojournalist focuses on the situation of women in the Middle East

Bridget Jones Syndrome

Mon, 13 Feb 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Is being single a flaw? It is becoming less so if you consider Europeans’ new demands for their love lives.