Child rape epidemic in Zimbabwe

"Tens of thousands of children have been sexually abused in Zimbabwe in a growing epidemic that has shocked human rights activists. A single clinic in the capital, Harare, says it has treated nearly 30,000 girls and boys who were abused in the past four years ‑ an average...

Claims of sex abuse by women grow

"A huge rise in the number of children calling to report sexual abuse by women has been revealed by ChildLine. Over the past five years, the charity says the number of such calls has risen five times faster than youngsters reporting abuse by a man. Of 16,094 children who...

When people ask me why I'm a feminist...

... here is one of the reasons I give. "Marlon King, who earned about £1 million a year, was sacked by his club, Wigan Athletic, after being found guilty of groping a 20-year-old woman and breaking her nose with a single punch. He was out drinking last December to celebrate...

Reported rapes hit 20-year low

"Reported rapes have fallen to the lowest level in 20 years as DNA evidence helps send more rapists to prison and victims are more willing to work with police and prosecutors, victims advocates and crime researchers say."In some respects, I’m not entirely sure why I’m...

Date-rape drug-testing lip-gloss debuts (seriously!)

"A lip gloss that comes with a date rape drug testing kit has been launched in the UK with plans to make it available in vending machines in bar and club toilets."When I first saw this headline, I thought that it was possibly satirical, possibly in poor taste, possibly even...

Surviving the Holocaust Does Not Mean You're Allowed to Rape

This is a very well written (and caustic) open letter to Roman Polanski. And it's true: I don't care what you've been through in your life (even something as horrific as the Holocaust), you. raped. a. child. "However, in addition to directing some of the most legendary...

Outcry over Polanski's detention

"Politicians and Hollywood heavyweights have rallied behind director Roman Polanski following his arrest. French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner called the detention of the film-maker - a French citizen - in Switzerland a "bit sinister". "Really?! Seriously?! Outcry over...

Roman Polanski detained in Zurich

"Film director Roman Polanski has been taken into custody in Switzerland and faces extradition to the US for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977." I had no idea that Polanski was accused of this. It seems that he has used the system to evade justice. Perhaps this case...

The Onion Thinks Sex Trafficking is Hilarious

"The shirt says "My friend went to Thailand and all I got was this lousy kidnapped prostitute". Note the helpful disclaimer: "*Prostitute Not Included". Notice that the catalog entry just says "all I got was this lousy prostitute", but the shirt itself refers specifically to...

This Is What Rape Culture Looks Like

(Note: I don't ever highlight large chunks of text from outside sources but I feel that it is necessary to do so in this instance because nearly all of the linked piece is relevant to the point.)The term 'rape culture' is used a lot, but many people don't really know what it...

If the research doesn’t say what you want, just lie about it

"In steps bad science reporters to fill in the gap, elevating hack scientists over good ones because the hacks say what sexists want to hear, anthropomorphizing animal research to reach strained conclusions, claiming that misogynist conclusions were reached in research that...

Trivialising women the world over... even the powerful

"This was supposed to be the trip that would show exactly how Hillary Rodham Clinton would make good on her pledge, at her confirmation hearing for secretary of state, to make women’s issues “central” to U.S. foreign policy, not “adjunct or auxiliary or in any way...