The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently released a report highlighting the complexity—and scarcity—of false rape allegations. The report was issued in response to a 2010 court appeal in which a woman pleaded guilty to falsely retracting true allegations of rape that she had made against her husband, and was then sentenced to eight months imprisonment for [...]
Former Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher was the first and only woman premier Britain has ever had. But despite being a leader in a crucial time for women’s rights internationally, the Iron Lady never considered herself a feminist. She said to her adviser, The feminists hate me, don’t they? And I don’t blame them. For I hate feminism. [...]
Yesterday the UK House of Commons voted overwhelmingly to pass the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which would give gay and lesbian couples the same marriage rights as heterosexuals. Since 2004, British same-sex couples have been allowed to enter into civil partnerships, giving them the same property, tax and welfare benefits as heterosexual married couples. However, same-sex partnerships were not [...]
Last month, I wrote for Ms. about the increased number of anti-choice politicians in the British government. Now, concerns that newly appointed ministers Maria Miller and Jeremy Hunt would continue their anti-abortion track records are swiftly becoming a reality. This month, both ministers advocated in the U.K. media for a reduction of the time frame [...]
Viviane Reding has been the vice president of the European Commission for nearly three years, making her one of the most politically powerful women in Europe. In her three terms, she’s been extremely effective in challenging everything from exorbitant roaming charges from cell phone companies to France’s treatment of the Roma. But now, she’s gearing [...]
Following a string of anti-choice efforts which began when the British coalition government came to power in 2010, its recent cabinet reshuffle has resulted in even more anti-abortion ministers at the top. Maria Miller, promoted to both culture secretary and minister in charge of women and equalities, has a track record on abortion rights and [...]
When newly-elected French President François Hollande appointed Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, 34, to the high-profile positions of minister for women’s rights and spokesperson for the government, Muslims in the nation were optimistic. So optimistic that some polls estimate an astounding 93 percent of French Muslims helped boost Hollande into office. In a new era of socialist administration dedicated to [...]
One day, during a typical 15-minute walk from her office to her apartment in the center of Brussels, 25-year-old graduate film student Sofie Peeters was harassed 11 times. To channel her frustration with her inability to commute in peace, she produced a short documentary for her final school project called Femme de la Rue (Woman of the Street). The [...]
This Wednesday, May 23 marked a first for broadcasting (and for feminism): BBC Radio news anchor Victoria Derbyshire (left) aired her mid-morning show live from an abortion clinic. Her goal was refreshingly straightforward, as explained in her introduction, “What we’d like to do is tell you what happens when a woman considers an abortion and [...]
Women account for 53 percent of French voters but there’s little to suggest they will pack their punch behind any single candidate in the first election since the sex-harassment scandal that dashed the presidential hopes of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Khan. On April 22, French voters will choose among 10 presidential candidates, three of whom [...]
