The news this week was dominated by the proposed formation of a football “super league,” swiftly quashed by massive public pressure and government threats – and we’re excited! Not because we care much about the super league (or football in general tbh), but if Boris Johnson et al suddenly have the time and energy to bother their arses about men kicking balls around, JUST THINK how much effort they could put into things that actually matter, like women’s rights!
Admittedly, there was no sign of “legislative bombs” in the two decades it took to abolish the tampon tax. But now that football has achieved 100% unity in parliament, surely it will be child’s play to rush through initiatives to help end sexual harassment, discrimination, and male violence? Isn’t that right, Boris? Er… Boris? Hello? Anyone there? Oh, he must have got distracted by something shiny or someone’s vagina again.
Sadly, the super league (aka classic male pissing contest) obscured some ‘kickball’ news we can get behind: the first female referee appointed to an EFL match. Congrats to Rebecca Welch and may she be the first of many.
While you wait for the female-focused future of football to arrive (it’s happening, people!), why not scroll down and read about some of the patriarchy’s recent ‘own goals’?
TIT BITS
Keeping abreast of the latest news, views, and research
What’s in a name?
Quite a lot, actually. Last week we discussed the joys of suddenly becoming geriatric if you have a baby over 35. But it’s not the only term used when women are pregnant or trying to conceive that sounds a tad… victim blamey. Inhospitable womb. Lazy ovary. Incompetent cervix. Blighted ovum. Barren. Geriatric. Fucking hell, medicine. Get off our cases. Check out Peanut’s #RenamingRevolution for some alternatives that won’t make you feel like a 17th-century witch about to be sent to the ducking stool.
Clock-block?
Early menopause can be a real pisser. Especially considering that many women who want children are choosing to have them later when they a) want them or b) establish their career and/or c) work somewhere that won’t penalise them for daring to get pregnant in the first place. But, we may soon be able to hit snooze on that biological clock, as a recent small study has shown that ovarian function could be restored in women experiencing early menopause. It’s very early days but the study shows the potential of future regenerative treatments for restoring fertility.
Giving racism the finger
Common medical equipment is designed for white men and contributes to poorer outcomes for women and people of colour, according to this interesting article in The Economist. For example, pulse oximeters are inaccurate in people with darker skin tones, and are often too large for women’s smaller hands. Medical device manufacturers – pull your finger out!
You know what blows? Bows
Latest in Things We’ve Never Considered Before But Now We’re Really Annoyed About: those little bows on the front of knickers. Sneak a peek, go on. Chances are your scants have them too. In this excellent ‘pant rant’ this mother calls for a ban on this form of gender stereotyping, asking: why does little girls’ underwear need to look pretty… and who for? Bows may make it easier to put them on the right way in the dark… but the male gaze getting a punch in the eye wins out. #banthebows!
TO THE KRAKEN 🦑
Writing bollocks about pregnant women a risk to life, cephalopod finds
This week, the kraken rolled her many eyes when she read a news story suggesting that speed bumps could cause brain damage in unborn babies. Since “telling pregnant women what to do” is the media’s favourite genre of science story, Ms K’s suspicions were aroused, and she decided to take a closer look at the study.
She quickly discovered that the authors (all male, natch) based their warnings solely on computer modelling, and seem to have assumed people would routinely hit speed bumps at nearly 30 mph. Even an aquatic behemoth (whose only interaction with cars is eating them) knows that’s much too fast. In fact, their advice could be more accurately boiled down to “pregnant women probably shouldn’t drive like Lewis Hamilton”. Fair (if obvious), but nothing in the study warrants alarmist headlines like “Speed bumps a risk to pregnant women, study finds.”
Our avenging colossus believes all knowledge is valuable, so will let the researchers off with a warning. Fear-mongering journalists, on the other hand, are in for a very bumpy ride...
More things unducking our stools this week:
The Black women reshaping country music | Seeing through fake science | Judging a book by its cover is a thing | The amazing Helen McCrory on how a woman should live her life | Even goats like a Primark bargain
The HEX Science team
🧬Jean Splicer | ☢ Marie Fury | 🧠 Rorschach Tess | 🔬 Rosalind Frankly