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Sex education in Pornland
Sex education in Pornland

Enraged accusations such as 'man hating feminist' have been hurled at Gail Dines for her emphatic stance on the tough stuff of pornography.

Dines is professor of sociology and women's studies at Wheelock College, Boston, and the author of Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality. She comes well credentialled and with 20 years of research under her belt.

Dines was in Australia for the Sydney Writers and Festival and appeared on the ABC's Q&A this week. Her anti-porn message has been attacked with pitbull-like ferocity.

What is your position on pornography? Let us know your thoughts and remember... Disqus!!!

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What the Internet reveals about sexual desire
4 may  |  Two neuroscientists, Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam, have written a book called "A Billion Wicked Thoughts" that looks through millions of web searches to determine the nature of sexual desire. Tracey Clarke-Flory from salon.com took a look at the book and spoke to Ogas.  . . read more
ANZAC Day: A New Zeitgeist Accepting Crassness- by Sean Maguire
25 apr  |  In the last couple of years it's become an Australian standard to see hundreds of young people huddled in the cold, in boxing kangaroo beanies, with Australian flags on the shores of Gallipoli.

The tackiness of the image has been much discussed, but still thousands of young people make the self-styled pigrimage to the site of our baptism of fire every year.

On the eve of Anzac day that tackiness came to full force when Allison Langdon, a Channel 9 journalist, spoke about the 'fun' to be had, with a fun run planned near to the site where Australian and New Zealand troops first stormed Turkish beaches. 

How ridiculous.

This is a day of solemity.

This is a day to remember the everyman that was betrayed and led to their ultimate destruction by the ultimately stupid leaders and stupid politicians that put them there. This is a day not to question why it happened, but to question why we continue to make the same mistakes. 

And finally for all the fucking idiots standing on a beach in Gallipoli, this is a day to remember that like our current wars, you're remembering an invasion where there was no right for us to be there.  . . read more

Germaine Greer's utopia- by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
24 mar  |  Germaine Greer's utopia- by Jasmine-Kim Westendorf . . read more
Feminist Porn Awards Panel Discussion
4 may  |  Feminist Porn Awards Panel Discussion . . read more
Why feminism matters: A Sydney Ideas forum
11 apr  |  Compared with 30 years ago women are now better represented in politics but there is still more to be done. Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard are examples of women gaining important leadership positions, but not the top job. So how far have women come in terms of political leadership and shaping the public policy agenda? Do men and women do politics differently? Do women have different interests to men in policy terms? How might contemporary feminism contribute to improving women's position in politics and broader society? . . read more
Doin' the SlutWalk
11 may  |  The SlutWalk was a march that took place a month ago in Toronto, protesting the treatment of a woman at the hands of a policeman who said she dressed sluttily. The reason of course was that he thought she would attract unwanted male attention. The march and others which have been organised around the world have been to say that no woman invites rape - no matter what she's wearing - and that we should never blame the victim for an act of unspeakable barbarism and violence. 

What do you think of the SlutWalk and the reclaiming of the word 'slut'? Does it represent an evolution of a new wave of feminism that might make women want to be known by the title? Tell us and remember...Disqus!  . . read more

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Why not a woman?- by Sean Maguire
11 feb  |  I've noticed something strange that a lot of women say and write. It begins:

'I wouldn't call myself a feminist...'

...and ends with an arguement that inevitably pushes for women's rights and is upset by their oppression.

So why are so many women scared of associating with a word that simply means to believe in gender equality and its protection under law?

It's time the misguided amongst us reclaimed the word and wore it again as a badge of pride and progression.  . . read more

Henson will be eternally hounded
8 may  |  By Sean Maguire

"The Sydney Morning Herald" has recently written an article that details how Bill Henson has complained about another artist using his photographs for their own artworks.

Yet, the sub-heading of the article reads:

"Controversial photographer Bill Henson usually defends the right to exhibit his photos of naked children. Not this time."

How ridiculously inappropriate.

The article was about possible copyright infringement but "The Herald"  has framed the man as some sort of defender of kiddy porn publishing.

Since Miranda Devine and until eternity - Henson will be unfairly hounded by "The Herald".

What do you think of the media's treatment of Henson? Will he ever be able escape to the original controversy? Tell us and remember...Disqus! . . read more

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"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -- Ronald Reagan (1986)