Maman Poulet

Oh I was rather hoping this would happen…and yes i know all the arguments about not talking about it so they don’t get attention. I’m not buying Hunky Dorys etc. but I do think a little lashing back is good for the soul and will make those passing by think a bit.

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Next week is European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. There are a number of developments recently in screening for cervical cancer – some I’ve previously written about which have concerned me but it’s vitally important that women continue to be screened for the disease.  (And for the many lovely lesbians who read this blog -  I know there are a few of ye – please read all the way to the end of this post – no switching off allowed!)

The Prevention Week is organised by the European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA) and events will be taking place all over Europe to raise awareness about the disease.

The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) has partnered with CervicalCheck, the National Cervical Screening Programme, to promote the week in Ireland and to ensure that Irish women become better informed about cervical cancer.

If you are out getting your hair done next week you may get information on cervical cancer from your hairdresser as the IFPA have partnered with the Irish Hairdressers Federation

All 330 member salons of the IHF will help distribute Pearl of Wisdom campaign badges and information leaflets about CervicalCheck, the national cervical screening service, to woman during their hair appointment for the duration of the Prevention Week. It is hope that women will be encouraged to make an appointment when invited by Cervicalcheck to organise their cervical smear test.

• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women under 44 worldwide.

• Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 44 in Ireland

• In Ireland 50% of all cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in women aged 46 and under. Average age of death from cervical cancer in Ireland is 56

• Mortality rates from cervical cancer have increased 1.5% per year since 1978.

I should also point out that finally lesbian women are being encouraged to have cervical smears, something that I’ve spoken about and campaigned for over 15 years. (Many doctors in Ireland had previously denied that lesbian women needed to have smear tests) There are to be a series of information sessions for lesbian women organised by Cervicalcheck and I’ll post a link to these when I get more information.

Guidelines on the issue of testing women who have sex with women/lesbians have been issued by Cervical Check.

4.3.9 Women who have sex with women (WSW)

Cervical screening recommendations do not differ for WSW/ lesbian women regardless of their history of sex with men. Cervical neoplasia and CIN lesions can be found in WSW who report no history of sex with men. Transmission of HPV requires only skin to skin contact. Furthermore sexual practices among WSW could potentially allow for intra-vaginal deposition of HPV both through digital-vaginal contact and shared sex aids. Studies show that most WSW (53-99 per cent) have had sex with men and that many (21-30 per cent) continue to have sex with men. Among these women, acquisition of HPV from male partners presumably occurs at a rate per contact similar to that of the heterosexual population. Women infected via this route could serve as a source for subsequent viral transmission to their female partners (Marrazzo et al, 2001).

So whomever you have sex with, or not,  smear tests for women are available and women are going to be invited to take them – we need to encourage each other to take up the appointments and make sure we get tested and look after ourselves. And we need to ensure the funding for the screening and the high standards remain in place.  All young women should be able to be vaccinated against HPV too, not just 12 year olds.

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People following me on twitter or reading the liveblogs are probably sick to the teeth of my ranting through the last few weeks about Vincent Browne’s problem with women.

For a broadcaster so obsessed with equality this season’s show on TV3 has been marked by a lack of female guest on the first part of his programme on an average of 3 out of 4 shows per week.

This lack of female expert on the state of the nation has now been accompanied by a plethora of young female journalists appearing after the break to review the newspapers. There are no women in Ireland to discuss NAMA, national debt, public/private pay etc. etc. except for Joan Burton? (And absolutely no disrespect here to the Politician of Year 2009)

No feminist neurosis on #vinb because you can’t find a feminist.

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On the day when private clubs in Ireland won the right to discriminate not only against women but against anyone based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, parental status, family status and membership of the Travelling Community I hear RTE are launching a new radio programme.

Girl Talk starts broadcasting next Saturday.

The Apprentice’ star Jennifer Maguire, ‘Fair City’ actress Clelia Murphy, television presenter Geri Maye and ‘Gerry Ryan Show’ reporter Evelyn O’Rourke have launched a new radio talkshow together today.

The show, which was launched today in Dublin, is due to begin broadcasting on Saturday 7 November on RTÉ’s digital radio station RTÉ Choice.

Every week the show’s presenter Evelyn O’Rourke will be joined by a panel of female guests to discuss everything “from the real truth about labour pain to hiding the sneaky shopping bags from himself.”

Now you may think that I’d be only ecstatic at the thoughts of a programme on a station few can hear presented by some of RTE’s talented females. However it’s very clear from the blurb that this is not going to be positive discrimination and equality central. Doireann Ni Bhrian and Marian Finucane were the pioneers of broadcasting on women’s issues in Ireland in Women Today 30 years ago. (see some interesting photos of that programme on a great blog on Radio Eireann)

We’ve moved on so far (have we?) that we’re now going to be treated to a version of the Sunday Indo on the radio. And not a girl among them btw – girls are young females. But sure Women Talk would be far too political a statement would it – never mind a bit truthful? Maybe Ladies Talking will remind them too much about their actual ages. (I can’t stand the word Lady btw.) Interestingly enough last months feature on women in Irish radio in the RTE Guide (entitled Radio Gals…groan) doesn’t mention the programme or any of the presenters.

Perhaps they are trying to emulate Loose Women from ITV or have been watching the rubbish now all female (think that might stop them inviting me to appear on it again…phew) Midday Programme on TV3.

Novelist Amanda Brunker and journalist Larissa Nolan will also feature in the series.

Presenter Evelyn O’Rourke said: “Presenting the show is like going to a fabulous Hen party with a group of ladies who have strong opinions on anything and everything and aren’t afraid to share them.”

“Laughter, tears, arguments and revelations are all part and parcel of a normal ‘Girl Talk’ show.”

I’m all for new shows and innovative radio – RTE Radio 1’s programming for specialist sectors has been decimated in recent years. However I doubt we’ll be hearing much about women as carers, innovators, immigrant workers, pregnant women losing their jobs due to discrimination, symphysiotomies , older women and the role of women as grandparents in Ireland today. But I’m sure they’ll all be talking about kissing girls and liking it before running off to their boyfriends.

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The National Women’s Council of Ireland launched a new website yesterday and it was really lovely to be asked to do the launching at a function in Dublin.

 

It’s a important development for the organisation with the site becoming the main source of information on their work and giving a profile for their many member organisations and campaigns.

They are also using online tools to communicate their messages and involve others in their work. Shh now but I do believe the f is going to be put back in feminist with regards to women’s rights campaigns and the policy work that NWCI are well known for is going to be accompanied by a new campaigning zeal!

Expect to see lots of blogging, twittering and the like in the months to come.  NWCI have a campaign running at the moment against cuts in child benefit and the many other cuts proposed in the McCarthy Report which no doubt will increase in volume between now and December 9th.  They are also asking you to spot the woman in Irish public life. I was doing a  bit of that myself watching Tonight with Vincent Browne last week – women were never the main guests only the paper reviewers. I also noted that Ann Marie Hourihane yesterday in the Irish Times pointed out that women in death are invisible.

I’m looking forward to the regular NWCI feature explaining what their member organisations do throughout the country and Longford Women’s Link are the first group to be profiled.

I was asked to write a guest blog post for NWCI’s new blog and have written on the subject of disability and care and the choice not to be cared for.

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The Irish Family Planning Association and the Women’s Studies Centre, UCD School of Social Justice will host a conference on ‘Building the Reproductive Justice Movement’ on October 16th next at 2pm in the Morrison Hotel.  

The keynote speakers will be Loretta Ross, SisterSong, USA and Dr Ruth Fletcher, Keele University.  A panel discussion chaired by Katherine O’Donnell from UCD will include inputs from Susan McKay from NWCI, Traveller and Disability Activist Rosaleen McDonagh, Senator Ivana Bacik and Aoife Dermody a member of Lash Back. 

There is also a film screening being held in the Lighthouse following the conference. 

If you are new to the term Reproductive Justice you probably are not new to the issues that the policy area/social movement covers. Reproductive Justice emerged from the African American women’s movement recognising that white middle class feminist campaigns solely focussed on abortion and access to abortion. Other women felt that there were issues which had to be included to recognise the needs of all women including the right to have a child, or not have children, healthier communities, safer and environmentally sustainable lives, economic justice etc.  Core to the examination of these issues are class, gender, ethnicity and disability and recognising the role that these play in women’s access to all the issues that concern having children or having control of our bodies.   Building solidarity and a movement that recognises this diversity and reality of women’s lives is as important to reproductive justice as the campaigns for better healthcare, better childcare and economic rights for women.

You can read more about the history of RJ here and watch Loretta Ross, one of the speakers at the seminar give a speech last year on the subject here and here.

Further information on next weeks seminar is available from the IFPA. I’m hoping to attend myself and write more on the issues explored.

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Redmum has been busy organising this (doing amazing things with Facebook!) and I’ll be there tonight. Please spread the word and go to a vigil for a Cervical Cancer Vaccine in Dublin or Cork if you can.

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It’s not the first time I have heard this. And it’s probably futile to think that this might be the last time. However it is a discussion worth having.

THE GOVERNMENT’S Civil Partnership Bill was compared to past segregationist policies in South Africa at the annual Turas na mBan gathering held in Westport, Co Mayo at the weekend.

Addressing the conference on the subject of Love and Social Change, Dr Anne Louise Gilligan said institutions creating separation and segregation never worked.

I disagree that the introduction of civil partnerships as opposed to marriage in Ireland could bring about the situation that was segregation in South Africa. Whilst Desmond Tutu has said that “homophobia is as unjust as apartheid” he did not say that they were the same and neither did he say that civil partnerships (as opposed to marriage) were as unjust as apartheid. I understand that Archbishop Tutu has written the foreword to the recently published book written by Dr. Gilligan and her spouse Dr. Katherine Zappone. Maybe Tutu has expanded this train of thought further and I look forward to reading it upon my return.

Critiques of the Civil Partnership Heads of Bill are needed – there is no mention of tax or social welfare in the proposed legislation. Others have pointed to the lack of acknowledgement of parental rights or the rights of children in the plans of the government.

However taking the now well worn path to simply point to the fact that it’s not marriage won’t help lesbians and gay men and our relationships receive recognition or indeed respect the fact that many do not want marriage.  I wonder when someone else is going to recognise the class divide in the campaign for marriage equality. What? Classism in lesbian and gay politics in Ireland? Oops there I go I mentioned it.

Dr. Gilligan is also quoted in the article calling for a respect for difference which I could not agree more with.

“One of our greatest challenges – a core challenge – in Ireland today is to accept and respect diversity. In order to have real equality, not only do we have to accept our sameness, equally importantly we must accept our differences,” she said.

One hopes that this respect would extend to me for expressing my discomfort with this departure in the the fight for equality for lesbians and gay men.

I would be interested in debating the ease with which white lesbians and gay men attempt to adopt the politics of race in their campaigns for equality. Any takers?

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Do you remember the days in the Irish Blogosphere when people wondered why there weren’t more women blogging in Ireland or if there was even a need to encourage more women to blog. We had the discussions about women and why they blog or don’t blog. And there were also the times when the men wondered about the differences with womens’ brains/discussion styles/self confidence/comedy stand up routines etc. etc.

Then along came the Irish Blog Awards and the recognition of some great women bloggers in the first and second years apportioning of the gongs.

This year however there was a significant shift! The awards were well and truely feminised.

And it continues, each month someone else brings to our attention another great blog written by a woman. And there seems to be a lot of genuine support out there for new voices and to encourage women to write about whatever it is that interests them.

In Saturday’s Irish Times, Aisling (One of the Beaut’s) McDermott profiled some of the many women involved in blogging in Ireland in a feature in the magazine. There were lovely photos also. (Yup I missed the photoshoot )

It’s a great article capturing some of the wonderful talent out there and remembering the times when being involved in blogging in Ireland seemed daunting or not so female friendly. Thanks to Aisling for the kind words about this particular speck on the map. I’d encourage you to have a look at the other blogs mentioned and go have a read. If you are thinking about starting your own blog you might get some inspiration from some of the women profiled.

*(I have an image in my head that the day of the photoshoot for the article being a bit like that Boots ad with makeup and stuff going on..lol)

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In 1982 Eileen Flynn lost her job. The reason for her dismissal was that she was pregnant, unmarried and the father of her child was a married man. Eileen was a teacher in a convent school in New Ross and the school asked her to resign and said it would given her 3 months pay. The news of her pregnancy had followed several months of whispering and vocal opposition to her relationship. She refused to resign and they sacked her.

She took them to an Employment Appeals Tribunal and she lost. The case then went to the High Court where it ruled that Flynn’s pregnancy and relationship “…was capable of damaging [the nuns’] efforts to foster in their pupils…religious tenets the school had been established to promote.â€?

Eileen eventually returned to teaching in Wexford some years ago having married her partner and it is with great sadness that I heard that she died yesterday at the age of only 56. She is survived by her husband and their five children.

Eilleen had the support of many trade unionists, women and human rights activists at the time. While I understand her reasons to remain private subsequently I do hope that someone brings together some of the archive material to document the case and pay a tribute to her memory and the battle she fought to reclaim her job.

It’s still possible to be sacked from your job if something about your private life might contravene the religious ethos of the workplace (school, hospital etc.). It’s been deemed to be constitutional – and I wonder if the voices of protest might be louder if it happened now.

Update: Irish Times report on Eileen’s death and includes some commentary from the time and a quote from an interview she gave in 1999.

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