I’m coming out…as a feminist, am fed up of writing behind a psudonym and wish to spread my wings. So I’m leaving this blog behind and starting a new project where I’ll be writing about more general stuff as a lesbian, radical feminist and anarchist… oooerrrr! So if you’re interested, take a look!

www.charlielittle.wordpress.com

The feminist behind the Hairy Armpit Blog, has been challenging a pro-life group who are attacking a woman’s right to an abortion in NZ. This pro-life group, called ‘A Right to Life’ protest outside abortion clinics and harrass women going into clinics for an abortion. She made the below video, sent it to them and it made the papers!

So, been doing a bit of reflecting and a bit of writing, and this kind of gives you an idea…

Nothing is worse than sucking cock

the vile taste of a dick in your mouth
unwashed, dirty ‘n thrusting to the back of your throat
like it’s a normal thing to do…

And if that’s not bad enough, they expect you to
swallow their cum and enjoy the taste.

Repulsive, throat gagging, vile sliver of
spunk splurts down your throat and you swallow
wishing you had just bit his dick off instead
so that you never have to do that shit again.

This blog will be changing. I’m not even sure if anyone will care, as I have no idea if people actually read this blog or if they just stumble acoss this blog in search for pornography.

Anyways, time for a change. I’m fed up of living my life as a feminist through the internet. I’m fed up of putting energy into an online feminist community that is not real. I’m fed up of the blog wars, the radical feminist elitism, the secret clubs and the attacks on women for not agreeing 100% with the party line.

For the past few years I have been involved in what I would describe as extremism. This is not the same as radical feminism, only the way in which it is applied. Extremism is when you live your whole life for a political vision, you spend all your time campaigning, you ex-communicate yourself from all your friends who do not share the same vision as you or who offend you, you only hang about with people who think the same as you, you think that all men are oppressive, you assume that any man you meet watches porn, has raped a woman or child and wishes to oppress you, you are extremely intolerant of any person who does not 100% share your vision, your only socialising is at feminist meetings, you stop liking male musicans, authors and thinkers who you loved before, you stop taking care of yourself, you’ve forgotten how your life was before feminism, you are angry, stressed and bitter most of the time.

So here I am, on a new path. This blog will from now on be less about feminist activism and more about the struggles I face being poor and being a lesbian. I’m not involved in any feminist activism at the moment as I’m too tired and live in the middle of nowhere where not much goes on. I spend my time going to my allotment, meeting up with local anti-climate change people and going to my local lesbian group, rather than going to feminist protests. And I love it. The truth is that I do not feel a sisterhood with all women- as a person who was born working class, I feel more solidarity with working class people even if they are men, as opposed to a solidarity with all women. I don’t have the money nor the energy to go to feminist protests and meetings around the country; in these difficult financial times we live in, I need to focus on myself in keeping my head above water, as well as looking out for my friends and family in the same boat.

Anyways, we’ll see what happens. I do feel concerned about the feminist activist scene at the moment- it’s a problem that so much communication goes on via blogs and mailing lists rather than in real life. Setting up a Facebook or mailing list will do nothing for women’s rights, if it does not translate to genuine change. Having lots of Sisters online to talk feminism with is fine, but that don’t mean they will be there for you in times of need.

Will the internet be the downfall of the third wave feminist movement..? Hmmm… I hope not.

I’m tired of sitting infront of a computer screen.

‘Get off the internet, I’ll meet you in the street’ Le Tigre

Shit video, just close your eyes and listen to the song.

See ya’ll sometime x

So imagine you are an in abusive relationship, but you are unable to access a refuge, or seek emergency accomodation from your local council to escape, because the government refuses to give you benefits to pay the rent or even for food. Shit..? Well of course and this is the situation facing many black and migrant women who come to Britain on the basis of marriage. They are refused access to public funds, such as rent and basic income…until after a two year probationary period and until their immigration status has been established. This leaves refuges in the awful position of turning away battered women soley because they are not classed as having British citizenship and leaves many women trapped in abusive partnerships through economic dependency.

On 1 March 2006, Kent Police contacted Southall Black Sisters about an Asian woman who had been subject to violence and who did not have secure immigration status. She came to the UK under a 2 year probationary visa as the spouse of a British national. The police did not want to return her to her marital home to face what they described as ‘certain death’.

They had no where else to place her. All attempts to find her a place to live, including in women’s refuges, had been unsuccessful because she could not claim benefits to pay her rent or living expenses. In desperation, the police stated that they were minded to contact the Home Office to have her detained as she had no other alternative place to live.

Taken from Southall Black Sisters

Many women’s rights groups and services will be protesting April 23rd, to lobby the government to support all women who wish to leave abusive partnerships with public funding, not exclude some on the basis of immigration status.

Demonstrate Wednesday 23rd April 2008 Victoria Embankment 11am

Public Meeting, Portcullis House (nearest tube Westminister) 1pm

For more info and a template letter to send to your MP

Please go sign this petition.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RapeCrisis/

The Truth about Rape campaign need 2,500 signatures in the next coming week to make a serious statement to the government to improve funding for rape crisis centres.

Go Sign!!!

OBJECT are launching a campaign: Stripping the Illusion: The Re-Licence Lapdancing Campaign.
Tuesday April 22nd, 12-1pm House of Commons, London, then 1-3.30pm protest in Parliament Square.

Our campaign calls for lap dancing clubs to be recognised as part of the commercial
sex industry and licensed as Sex Encounter Establishments, rather than in the
same way as pubs, cafes or karaoke nights as they currently are.

Current licensing is INADEQUATE and makes it easy for lap dancing clubs to obtain licences and
difficult for local authorities or residents to oppose them.

OBJECT is working with MPs, Peers and colleagues for a re-categorisation of lap dancing
clubs.

This will take the power out of the hands of club operators and put it back in to the handsof local authorities.

Re-catergorisation would give local authorities the same licensing powers as apply to sex shops and sex cinemas. Importantly, it will also give people a greater say in the licensing of lap dancing.

Changing licensing is a crucial step in challenging the increased sexual objectification of women.

Speakers at the launch will include:

Baroness Gould
Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
Gill Mitchell; Brighton and Hove City Councillor,
Julie Bindel; researcher and journalist
Kat Banyard; Fawcett Society
Professor Marion Roberts; night time economy specialist, Westminster University.
To RSVP email sandrine[at]object.org.uk
Join the Object Activist group

April 19th in Leeds, Truth about Rape, an anti-rape campaign group will be holding a re-launch conference. Come along!

This week started with the depressing news that about three Rape Crisis Centres are closing every year, and ended in the ace news that Harriet Harman, Minister for Women, has pledged £1 million to help keep Rape Crisis Centres open.

It’s so important for us to support our local Rape Crisis Centres. Debs is doing a sponsored run March 30th in support of Rape Crisis England and Wales. Go and sponsor her! Or alternatively, donate money to Rape Crisis via Paypal. Ah go on- every little helps.

In spirit of International Women’s Day, I wanna celebrate some women who make me happy when I get down and women who I think are fab.

Lady Sovereign reminds me of me when I was a lass, except I had far worse dress sense and couldn’t rap, but yeah.. I love Lady Sovereign cos she has a great attitude, takes the piss out of the classism of those who hate ’scallies’ or ‘hoodies’, and refuses to pose naked for FHM.

Staceyann Chin, a fab feminist poet.

Below is Dystin Johnson aka Norma on Shameless. Forget the L Word, finally a proper dyke on TV!