For as long as our bodies have been clothed, breasts have been a point of contention. Our nipples even more so. In this episode we explore the double standard when it comes to sexually promiscuity, how breasts are used in art and marketing to sell consumer goods but a picture of a woman breast-feeding on a magazine cover, instagram feed or park bench is considered unsavoury, and how women are expected to lead with their boobs or their brain, but never both. We also consider the age at which girls are asked to start covering their torsos and the sexualisation of girls at school, and question if there's ever a right time to tell a female body to cover itself. 

Have a listen and reach out to us on Instagram, Twitter or email to let us know your thoughts.

*** 

As always, The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word.     The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

Useful links:

@genderless_nipples project 

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a40575630/florence-pugh-responds-criticism-free-nipple-valentino-show/

https://startsat60.com/media/news/breast-cancer-ad-that-actually-shows-boobs-goes-viral

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/may/11/adidas-sports-bra-ads-banned-uk-twitter-asa 

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/waitwhy-do-my-nipples-need-to-be-freed_b_574e0d38e4b0068c40dfa4dc

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/style/student-bra-nipples-school.html

https://time.com/3892965/everydaysexism-school-dress-codes-rape-culture/

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/919/1496/1580969/ 

https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2014/05/04/dress-codes-foundations-of-rape-culture/

https://breaking-down-patriarchy.captivate.fm/episode/girls-and-sex-by-peggy-orenstein

Https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges/review-of-sexual-abuse-in-schools-and-colleges#fnref:12

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/guerrilla-girls-do-women-have-to-be-naked-to-get-into-the-met-museum-p78793

Picture someone suffering from domestic violence. Do they have bruises? Is their partner clenching a fist? Are they sitting next to you at work volunteering for overtime because they can’t keep up with their partner’s spending?

Domestic violence takes many forms. It isn’t always physical. It isn’t always obvious. 

It is always impactful. It is always unacceptable.

This episode of The Unfairer Sex unpacks some of the less well known forms of domestic violence like financial and psychological abuse. We talk through how we can identify the symptoms and support each other to take action to quash domestic violence against women and girls. Let’s celebrate the advances we have made with awareness, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and next steps with The Unfairer Sex.

*****

The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word.

The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

The Walt Disney Company – home to Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm and the much loved Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures animated movies. And it is from these animations that many of us learnt about Prince Charming, true love's kiss, and happily ever afters.  

While at first glance they are seemingly harmless and entertaining tales of princes and princesses, many of the animated children’s films produced by The Walt Disney Company have reinforced and even exaggerated traditional gender stereotypes. 

In this episode, we explore the impact these heteronormative stereotypes have on children and the ideals we hold on to as we get older. Should The Walt Disney Company answer for some of our hangups, or is it all just harmless fun? Have a listen to The Unfairer Sex panellists as we share our views on all things Disney.  

***** 

The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word. 

The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com 

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex. 

Useful links:  

When so many people still believe a woman’s place is in the home when a comedian’s place is anywhere but, an aversion or bias against women performing comedy (in any context) should be expected.

Inspired by a conversation with a woman who claimed she "just doesn't find women funny", we explore where this idea comes from, why it has survived so long and some of the pathetic attempts people have made, and continue to make, to prove "women just ain't funny".

We cover Christopher Hitchens' notorious 2007 Vanity Fair article, the discrimination & abuse experienced by female stand-up comedians, as well as the problems associated with sexist humour.

Links: 

*In the first 30mins we talk about female comedy writers and would like to confirm that Amy Poehler only wrote 3 episodes of Parks and Recreation: "Telethon" in season 2, "The Fight" in season 3, and "The Debate" in season 4 (for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series).

*****

The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you like our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word. The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

Before we jump in, a quick note on this episode's content. This particular conversation covers issues around abortion, rape and incest. In light of the recent introduction of restrictive abortion laws in some US states and the possibility that the US Supreme Court may overturn Roe v Wade, we thought we should address the issue of access to abortion. 

In this episode we discuss the ways in which denial of access to safe, lawful, free abortions in many parts of the world are driven by patriarchal traditions, which deny women’s rights to autonomy over their own bodies and are used to control, oppress and punish women. 

***** 

The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word. The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

In this episode we discuss periods – the stigma, the bizarre myths about what effect periods can have on everything from crops to handling ham, and why in the 21st century, periods are still considered shameful, mysterious and symbolic of many things, from entry to womanhood to a woman's "crazy", emotional behaviour. We also talk about period poverty, tax on period products and how adverts and the media perpetuate the view of periods needing to be kept secret or that they're a bit icky.  

So grab a glass of wine and join us. 

*** 

The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word. 

The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com  

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

Join us for another instalment of the Unfairer Sex. This episode we’re discussing equality in sport. Why are so many school girls dropping out of sport even though a majority of women wish they were sportier? Where is the media exposure for our role models and why aren’t female athletes paid as much as men? We also discuss the flawed reasons some give to justify inequality sport and shine a light on the double standards that still exist. If you're interested in learning more about the inequality in sport, we recommend the following documentaries:  

2018 - Maiden (available on Netflix)  

2020 – Athlete A (available on Netflix) 

2020 – Rising Phoenix (available on Netflix)  

2022 – No Woman No Try (available on Amazon Prime)  

***

EDIT: Ely would like to put her hands up and say she was incorrect when she said Team GB women's hockey 2016 Olympic final was the most watched game during the olympics. The real story is, the BBC pushed back its nightly News at Ten broadcast in order to show the game in full after viewers complained about being forced to channel hop in the semi-final match: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/team-gb-hockey-golden-girls-8659788

*** 

As always, The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word. 

The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com 

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

In this episode we discuss a phenomenon termed the "double bind" or the "corporate tightrope". At its simplest, the double bind that women face results from the fact that we have all been taught that the base case or natural leader is male. This leads to problems with how women are perceived when they lead.

More specifically, we have been taught that men lead, men take charge, they are strong, decision and assertive. Women on the other hand are caregivers, we are nurturing, we are emotional, we are communicative. These are stereotypes that we've been taught to believe, even in the face of empirical evidence to the contrary. And while these stereotypes persist, women are left in a double bind: if we exhibit what are viewed as male leadership attributes, such as taking charge, we may be viewed as competent, but we will be disliked. Whereas if we conform to the female stereotypes and are caring, we will be liked but viewed as less competent. Hence the double bind: whatever we do, we're screwed. We can be likeable or competent but not both and often neither.

We discuss our own experiences of the double bind and strategies to challenge it.

***

As always, The Unfairer Sex is not sponsored so, if you liked our show, please show your support by liking, subscribing and sharing on all your favourite social media platforms! We'll send you positive vibes for being awesome human beings and helping us spread the word.

The Unfairer Sex music was masterfully created by Artur Kondas: https://akondas.com 

Research, editing and artwork fulfilled by The Unfairer Sex.

Useful links:

https://www.catalyst.org/research/infographic-the-double-bind-dilemma-for-women-in-leadership/, https://www.catalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/The_Double_Bind_Dilemma_for_Women_in_Leadership_Damned_if_You_Do_Doomed_if_You_Dont.pdf

https://www.npr.org/2016/10/18/498309357/too-sweet-or-too-shrill-the-double-bind-for-women

https://genderbiasbingo.com/double-bind/#.YlhL0MhByUk

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebekahbastian/2019/03/08/personality-based-performance-reviews-are-fine-to-give-women-as-long-as-men-get-them-too/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/fortune.com/2014/08/26/performance-review-gender-bias/amp/

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/women-in-the-workplace

Welcome back to the Unfairer Sex Podcast. We hope you're having a misogyny-free week so far!