tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40630662011-09-28T20:17:28.542ZThinking Women ThinkThis is a forum for thinking women to express and exchange ideas. thinkingwomen is a discussion and networking group promoting the achievements and progression of women in society, politics and the workplace. It is open to all women who want to make an impact in their working lives and beyond, through sharing knowledge and ideas. Any enquiries: jessica@krata.co.uk See our website on <a href="http://www.thinkingwomen.org">www.thinkingwomen.org</a>Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comBlogger451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-20021367754384423222011-05-31T20:32:00.003Z2011-05-31T20:40:23.671ZFeminist futures
I love futuristic / sci-fi movies but I am getting rather tired of the same scenarios. Dystopian futures tend towards violent settings, dominated by men, where women's roles are either possessions or whores, and usually both. There is an occasional toughie woman but she still needs to be saved by the hard guy in the end. I wonder if this is some sort of fantasy scenario for Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-25528847043176201502011-05-19T09:18:00.006Z2011-05-19T09:54:02.691ZAll this talk of rape
I am trying to decide how I feel about all this talk of rape at the moment. There is Justice Minister, Kenneth Clarke's unfortunate wording and Head of IMF, Strauss-Kahn's quite shocking incident in a hotel in New York. Then there is WikiLeaks Julian Assange's casual treatment of women supporters, who he seems to treat as sexual teddy bears, available for his personal Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-33623538290740437432011-01-24T11:49:00.004Z2011-01-24T11:59:36.582ZI'm all for women getting awards and accolades, the more the better, but I can't help wondering why people love Miranda so much. This is a BBC sitcom about a character called Miranda, "It doesn't matter what Miranda attempts in life, whether it's dating or simply dealing with her overbearing mother, she always seems to fall flat, quite literally". Why can't we have a comedy where the women are Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-58224311820397233042011-01-17T11:30:00.003Z2011-01-17T11:48:20.727ZI am now 67 and I have done my time as a worker. I am a mother of children in their 30s and one 40 year old as well as a youngster of 25. By theolder ones' ages, I was a full-time working mother living in London with no family support as I had come to London in my 30s. The marriage suffered and divorce came after 20 years of marriage and 6 years in London so I was then a single working mother.ME on the webhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11250077547390610483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-80338097079017260362011-01-17T10:21:00.007Z2011-01-17T10:46:58.335ZAn email comes round with best pictures of the decade. The pictures depict war, environmental destruction and, incongruously, celebrities. But the most stark impression from these pictures is the general absence of women. The men fight, die and celebrate football. In the few pictures of women, they collect water, pose and grieve./Headlines in the Guardian, Child Sex Trafficking on the rise. Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-80222559953955060472010-12-31T22:17:00.001Z2010-12-31T22:17:56.720ZGirl-illa actionWith two young sons, I can't help but notice the amount of scantily clad women presented for their delectation on billboards 10ft high. What does that tell them about women's bodies? I'm all for nakedness, we were born naked, after all. But sexualised, provocative nakedness, well that's another matter.
I'm not the only one thinking this...
http://www.openureyes.org.nz/blog/?q=node/1793
So howJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-75627882277902969092009-12-02T21:09:00.002Z2009-12-02T21:20:46.915ZQueens and Servants
Spending time with some fellas today, I thought to myself that the men at the table were used to women who are queens of the household. I know the partners of 2 of the men and they are definitely queens as well.
So that got me pondering. I know there are some women who are self-effacing and would probably not describe themselves as queen, they may even joke that they are Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-64499816170557446192009-10-10T22:07:00.002Z2009-10-10T22:16:23.018ZI think my son might have swine flu. I have heard that it is no longer recommended to give him Tamiflu so I have a look online to see what I should do next. So I enter a Kafkaesque world, which feels more like something out of 1984 than the Britain I have come to know and love. I am directed to a website where I complete an online assessment - the first question wants to know where we live. Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-57182308644316506172009-09-28T09:06:00.002Z2009-09-28T09:14:21.380ZSo Roman Polanski has finally been arrested for his rape of the 13 year old girl in America, now a woman in her thirties. Once again, the press emphasises his glittering record of filmmaking, providing just a passing comment about the rape itself. Just like Gascoigne, who has admitted beating up his wife but has not been dropped from the public eye, Polanski appears to be able to commit heinousJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1146562228412924592006-05-02T09:30:00.001Z2006-05-02T09:32:59.910ZWomen’s Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap Women's Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap — a systematic attempt to measure the economic status of women worldwide.
http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/files/misc/WEF_SpecialReport_Web_Harvard_site.pdfThinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1146562307165399342006-05-02T09:30:00.000Z2006-05-02T09:31:47.166ZExperience of running one of the largest PC software companies in the world: Carol Bartz, Executive Chairman of the Board and CEO of Autodesk for the past 14 years, reflects on her experience of running one of the largest PC software companies in the world while finding a balance between her career and personal life. She also stresses on the importance of continued learning and addresses the Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1146562181540526262006-05-02T09:28:00.000Z2006-05-02T09:29:41.550ZThe Hidden Brain Drain
Off-Ramps and On-Ramps in Women's Careers "The Hidden Brain Drain: On-Ramps and Off-Ramps in Women's Careers," a groundbreaking report prepared by Sylvia Ann Hewlett, Carolyn Buck Luce, Peggy Shiller, and Sandra Southwell of the Center for Work-LifePolicy. http://www.hbsp.harvard.edu/b02/en/files/misc/9491p4_rev_Harvard_site.pdfThinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1143127301745880712006-03-23T15:19:00.000Z2006-03-23T15:21:41.756ZWomen's right to choose
Investigation: Free to Choose - tackling gender barriers to better jobs
The Equal Opportunities Commission has recently completed a two year investigation looking at why women and men continue to work in traditional jobs and why young people choose Apprenticeships and other vocational training in traditional sectors. We have now published the final report that presents Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1142849946327167642006-03-20T10:17:00.000Z2006-03-20T10:19:06.336Z
Womenomics 101
Life for women in the American workplace is far from paradise -- they face economic punishment for almost every aspect of their biology.
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/33581/Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1142252635556519122006-03-13T12:20:00.000Z2006-03-13T12:26:40.310ZWomen Redefining Role In Workplace
Management researcher claims women are questioning whether they really want to reach the top
Women are redefining their role in the workplace and are more likely to seek personal fulfilment than top flight career success, research from the University of Leicester suggests.
The stereotypical view of women at the pinnacle of their profession in business and Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1140712364835961742006-02-23T16:29:00.000Z2006-02-23T16:37:28.446ZWomen and Work Commission
The Prime Minister announced in July 2004 the creation of a Women and Work Commission to examine the problem of the gender pay gap and issues affecting women's employment. It included looking at howmen's and women's education and skills affect which jobs they can get; promotion and career progression; women's experiences in the job market before and after having Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1140606675108031342006-02-22T11:02:00.000Z2006-02-23T16:28:56.356ZJess asked me to post to thinking women as I am always coming across snippets of information from the mailing lists that I belong to which I then send on to various friends and family. The majority of the wording and these links are courtesy of the mailing list Daphnet (daphnet@imperial.ac.uk)
Typecasting at an early age
Not exactly SET, but I have inside information that some of you are Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1140558501005272932006-02-21T21:34:00.000Z2006-02-21T21:48:21.020ZThinkingwomen think so hard, and so often that they haven't really had a chance to talk and get together and think some more.
We love our gatherings but we four are so busy that we have not had a chance to organise any for a while.. And yet, we have women joining the network every day. We now number 784 women, all looking for a space to talk about social, political and economic issues that Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1126300216457645482005-09-09T20:49:00.000Z2005-09-09T21:12:54.386ZOn Monday 5th September, thinkingwomen met in Manchester to hear from Judith Kurutac on the issues of labour and birth in the UK.
Judith's key message was that women, pregnant women, need to recognise that they are in control . They are the only ones who know what they want and they need to make sure they get it. Midwives and doctors (and mothers and friends) can advise but we must each make Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1114694933719076562005-04-28T13:22:00.000Z2005-04-28T13:28:53.720ZCan I detect a groundswell? Are we nearing major societal change - are we at the tipping point? I so badly want to see environmental responsibility emerging in the mainstream and it needs to be soon. I don't read the tabloids enough to know, but the Guardian seems have a pollution story every day on page 2 (depressing me over my breakfast..). One test will be to see how well the Greens do thisThinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1107120774823774222005-01-30T21:16:00.000Z2005-01-30T21:36:39.676ZInspired by Jonathon's response to my previous post, I thought I would share more of my anthropology MA.
I'm hoping to do my thesis on the techniques people use to rationalise their decisions in morally ambiguous situations e.g. how do people who experiment on animals process their activities so that they feel ok about it. I have several challenges to think about before I settle on finding Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1089315078370287102004-07-08T19:26:00.000Z2004-07-08T19:31:18.370ZI'm starting an MA in Social Anthropology in September which will hopefully lead onto a PhD. My current preoccupation is with the discontinuity between how our bodies are designed to live and how we actually live. We were designed to live in a hunter-gatherer society and we are forcing our bodies and our emotions to fit into a societal model that is only a few hundred years old. It may take Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1088512534561725012004-06-29T12:34:00.000Z2004-06-29T12:37:39.990Z'big conversation on the environment'
Global Action Plan are looking for about 25 people to take part in the government's 'Big Conversation' on the environment. We'll be asking people to say how they think the government has done in the last few years, and what they think could be done to help them live more sustainably.
We would like people from all walks of life, from the committed sarah hbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14648906806372722453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1086784010754996602004-06-09T12:23:00.000Z2004-06-09T12:26:50.756ZWomen@Work_ A major break through for British Council Pakistan
British Council Pakistan wins cash pound 700 sponsorship from APNA Arts UK.
Women@work, an exhibition of working women by the British Council Pakistan
will be exhibited in Nottingham, UK during the month of March 2005 with the
launch event taking place on International Women's Day. The first showing
in Nottingham will Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1085422735228040422004-05-24T18:16:00.000Z2004-05-24T18:18:55.226ZDear all,
New Philanthropy Capital is currently looking for a
project manager with experience of IT, training and/or
charities, for ~6 months. Ad below. The position
becomes vacant very soon, so we are open to applicants
who could start in advance of the date given here.
More information about the project is on
www.philanthropycapital.org/html/full_cost_recovery
Feel free to forwardCaroline Fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16272934169287863785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1084528236755961682004-05-14T09:48:00.000Z2004-05-14T09:54:39.310ZShould our society endorse lap dancing?
If you purport to respect women, you don't go to lapdancing clubs because they treat women as sexual objects *only*. And to treat a woman as a sex toy only is not respectful and should not be endorsed by a civilised society.
Men who go to lapdancing clubs should be offered counselling because they clearly have a disfunctional relationship with Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1080729704479082352004-03-31T10:41:00.000Z2004-03-31T10:47:47.966ZThinkingwomen in Manchester last night explored who is 21st century woman?
Using words as mind joggers, we discussed the different challenges facing women today, from Western and developing world perspectives. The choice of words demonstrate our preoccupations, from water, education, children and business to prostitution, celebrity, frailty and responsibility.
Our conversation kept Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1079795781791241992004-03-20T15:07:00.000Z2004-03-20T15:19:39.250ZI am a British volunteer working in Ghana as part of a career break from my job at the House of Commons. I am placed here in a small adult education centre in the village of Gyedu, Brong Ahafo region which caters mainly to the underskilled women of the area. The centre is running at very low capacity, mainly due to lack of funding and skilled teachers and administrators. The purpose of this emailSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03364326993493286463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1079542367943083922004-03-17T16:52:00.000Z2004-03-17T16:56:01.030ZNon MBA-er Grp
Hi there,
My boyfriend is off to study for an MBA this summer. Talking to friends, I quickly came to realise that I was not the only one facing such an "event" and if anything, there would probably be a few of us happy to meet up and see if what we have in common is helpful to each other.
The MBA/non MBA path is a big step to take no matter how committed you are to it, Noniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05528578697662138016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1077967076259449742004-02-28T10:27:00.000Z2004-02-28T11:20:45.716ZA short review on 'Involving Women: "Support and Inclusion in Design and IT" (a Sigis/Untold workshop, held at the London Business School, 25th of February 2004).
What? Fewer women than men work in IT and technology design, and yes, more efforts need to be put into making these areas of work more inclusive. But how do we get there? The issue goes of course far beyond the 'Women in Technology'Royanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1077896164169869152004-02-27T15:36:00.000Z2004-02-27T15:38:52.310ZHere's something to think about: On 19th April, thinkingwomen are asking Should the government regulate nudity in the mainstream press. Dr Petra Boynton, Sex and Relationship psychologist will outline her research into the effect of nudity in the press on men and women followed by a group discussion.
We need to consider the parameters of the discussion:
- Would it be easier to debate this Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1071583014201615022003-12-16T13:56:00.000Z2003-12-16T13:58:05.543ZThe lack of philosophical identity at the core of our UK government is really starting to damage their rule. Their policies are totally contradictory. On the one hand they campaign against domestic violence, on the other they bomb women and children in another country, on the one hand they sign the Kyoto agreement and run campaigns on how to save the environment, on the other, they endorse the Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1070984263066679812003-12-09T15:37:00.000Z2003-12-09T15:39:27.013ZI was wondering if I had invented the phrase 'gender loaded' so I had a look online and found a few interesting sites, such as Electric Venom (very relevant to Sophia's blog below), a proposed new word to replace him/her (mafe) - I must start using that! A couple of feminist blogs, red polka dot org and wehavebrains (so they're thinking the same thing over the Atlantic then..) and a rather scaryJesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-107091088589205862003-12-08T19:14:00.000Z2003-12-08T19:15:47.560ZResponding to Jessica's blog on gender loaded words: a few thoughts... it's interesting isn't it that often women themselves are the police of these gender-loaded words. Certainly in my experience women are just as likely to describe other women as pretty/beautiful ('you know, she was that really pretty one in the red dress' etc etc.). Is it patronising when a woman calls another woman stunning? Sophiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488647883303057185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1070740160824477312003-12-06T19:49:00.000Z2003-12-06T20:00:17.000ZA posting on the Demos blog recently (2nd Dec) got me thinking about gender loaded words. I think 'modest' is gender loaded. For me, it conjures up a 19th century Georgette Heyer heroine who smiles behind her hand. I think for a man to call a woman modest is patronising. Other gender loaded words are pretty, beautiful, stunning (all used for views as well..I wonder why ;)
I didn't really Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1069770710879211802003-11-25T14:31:00.000Z2003-11-25T14:32:35.090ZHello
I have a colleague trying to find films (preferably which would be on DVD) which show a strong portrayal of women undertaking leadership.
Can anyone think of any?
So far all we've thought of is Erin Brokovich; but would prefer cleaner language.
Please send ideas to peter@futureconsiderations.com.
THANK YOU!!
doko demonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1069716270026474302003-11-24T23:24:00.000Z2003-11-24T23:25:13.390ZThe Guardian are doing a 'public services consultation'. If you're quick you can put in your five pence worth. Here is mine:
The government needs to decree as policy that they will give preference to not-for-profit organisations when considering tender bids for provision of goods and services.
Somehow, the need for competition in a market has got confused with the need for profit. Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1069326066487651282003-11-20T11:01:00.000Z2003-11-20T11:08:05.843ZMEPs vote to support stem cell research
Stem cells come from embryos, umbilical cords, even baby teeth. Britain allows harvesting of stem cells from 'supernumerary embryos' - ones that are the result of in vitro fertilisation (IVF). We also allow the "creation of human embryos for stem cell procurement".
I have this mental picture of scientists circling women with their petri dishes out, Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1069235540962394622003-11-19T09:52:00.000Z2003-11-19T09:52:55.593ZThere may be a new guard at Smith Square, but some things in politics, it seems never change. Read this piece on the Guardian politics website on the Tory Shadow Cabinet (one woman) Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01796447336287695627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1069011314938627262003-11-16T19:35:00.000Z2003-11-16T19:35:46.560ZSomeone asked the csr-chicks mailing list: do we need charities?
I don't think charities should be needed in a truly democratic society. People should be committed to looking after everyone in their society and funds should be provided to do that, either through taxation or other clever ways of funding (e.g. disadvantaged people earn money collectively to fund their particular needs).
Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1068806593671417372003-11-14T10:43:00.000Z2003-11-14T10:43:42.123ZWe forget too easily how far we have come in the past 50 years and how tenuous it really is. As we increase our reliance on a safe environment, we expose ourselves more and more.
For example, a caesarean needs experienced doctors and nurses, electricity, sterilised equipment, a safe and clean environment, help and time to recover. Currently 1 in 5 babies are born by caesarean and some say Jesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02113579132699143598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-1068675467941955092003-11-12T22:17:00.000Z2003-11-12T22:26:18.700ZThinking Women now has a website www.thinkingwomen.org and the network has grown to almost 300 women.
We found the interface for blogger.com was not very intuitive (designed for/by techies!) but we would like to invite our members to participate again.
If you would like to post up your thoughts, email me on jessicasymons@yahoo.com and I will set you up as a member
If you'd like to give Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-882164622003-01-29T17:57:00.000Z2003-01-29T17:57:23.600ZInstitutionalised sexism
In the Bali bombings, a woman's dress was ripped off by mistake while being calmed by a Aussie rugger bugger (...) and later on, a T-shirt was found to cover her modesty because she was dressed only in a black g-string. So what, surely there were more important things to worry about than her nakedness? (I would link to the article but it was in the Sunday Times and Thinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-877974832003-01-21T19:46:00.000Z2003-01-21T19:46:53.830ZZoe Ball says that she is not a 'brilliant, natural mother'.
So who is? What is a natural mother?
Mother Jones?
Why are women so hard on themselves? They voluntarily put their bodies through one of the most grueling physical activities known to wo/man, they change their lives completely to take responsibility for the end product, they put up with all sorts of crap to ensure a safe homeThinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4063066.post-868363732003-01-02T18:03:00.000Z2003-01-08T14:31:33.000ZCan we, should we, speak as one? Can we speak as many, through one loudspeaker? Where can we record and develop ideas to discuss and share with any other thinking individual out there? A weblog, of course.
This is a forum for thinking women.
Speak now.
JessThinking Womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07386860521922884948noreply@blogger.com