Dear Feminists,
While the pandemic is still going on, we wanted to focus on different things. The month of May is one of the busiest periods in the feminist calendar as it not only celebrates #SexEdForAllMonth but it also commemorates a host of other awareness raising days such as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia and the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula.
Firstly, we want to share with you how World Clitoris Day (22 May) came about and some of the backstory to the #MyClitCounts campaign. You'll also get a snapshot into our previous webinar with Mathilde Chanfreau on 'Sex Ed' as well as information on our upcoming mini workshop 'Clit Talk'.
We've also been busy participating in panel discussions hosted by other civil society organisations. Like every month, we have recommendations of what to read and watch, and we're also very excited to share our feminist of the month with you.
Stay safe and healthy!
Yours,
YFE
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On 22 May, we celebrate World Clitoris Day! At YFE, we believe the clitoris is a symbolic representation of gender inequality as a whole because of how it is overlooked in medical fields. It wasn't until 1998 when Helen O'Connell connected all the internal parts of the clitoris as one structure. However, even today it is marginalized. The Durex Global Sex Survey showed 64% of men orgasm during sex while only 34% of women orgasm. Freud's idea of 'vaginal orgasm' as the 'normal orgasm' still dominates the social discourse even though it is scientifically unfounded.
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Young Feminist Europe along with Amazone, the CLEF, Dessine-moi un clito, Reussir Equal Femmes-Hommes and a number of academics and activists, launched the first ever World Clitoris Day in 2019. For the occasion, a giant clitoris was hanging around the European Parliament in Brussels to inaugurate the day and to raise awareness.
A continuation of World Clitoris Day can be found in the YFE campaign #MyClitCounts. The name was coined during a discussion among young feminists who were venting about the orgasm gap, like "Hello, my clit counts, acknowledge it!"
The campaign now aims to tackle social taboos surrounding women*s sexual pleasure, gynecological health and reproductive rights. Find out more about campaign activities on our website.
*We recognise that not all self-identifying women experience sexual pleasure the same way and that not all women menstruate or have the same reproductive health concerns. As an intersectional platform, we want to amplify ALL women’s experiences.
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Earlier this month, we hosted the webinar "Let's Talk About Sex (ed)" with Mathilde Chanfreau. We discussed comprehensive sexuality education, oppositional forces and their tactics, the need for online sex-ed, cyberbullying and 'revenge porn'. A big thank you to Mathilde for facilitating the discussion and to everyone for joining us!
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6 Reasons Why Artificial Intelligence Needs More Women (non-techy women too!)
By Christina Wunder
People often – falsely – assume that AI and machine learning technologies are uninfluenced by prejudice and other negative human traits. This is not the case. Any software or algorithm is designed by humans. And their unconscious biases will be reflected in the data that they collect and curate, as well as in the logic of the algorithms they create.
Read about it here
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Covid-19: Violating Abortion Rights in a Pandemic
By Emma Rainey
As the Covid-19 global pandemic was declared, those of us who have campaigned for abortion rights in one way or another, seemed to take in a deep breath as we mentally prepared for the inevitable. We knew that as the cracks within healthcare systems began to show that abortion rights and services would be under threat.
Read about it here
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Would you like to write for Young Feminist Europe? We are currently looking to feature new blogs and articles to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride month in June!
Submit your pitch to editorial@youngfeminist.eu with your name, a bit about yourself, topic, main ideas and sources. We're looking forward to receiving your ideas!
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Women's Rights - Covid - Future
For #EuropeDay, Young Feminist Europe joined an online debate as part of the Citizens Take Over Europe initiative. The debate focused on the state of women’s rights across Europe, contributions of the feminist and human rights movements to the Covid-19 response and to the future of Europe.
You can watch the recording here.
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Youth Speak Out on Beijing+25 & Generation Equality
Hosted by the NGO CSW and NY Young Professionals, Young Feminist Europe spoke about the challenges and solutions on meaningful participation of young people in global advocacy for Beijing+25 and Generation Equality.
You can watch the recording here.
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The call for applications for leadership of the Generation Equality Forum Action Coalitions have been reopened for youth-led organisations!
More information will be made available soon. To stay informed, we would encourage you to sign-up the the Young Feminist Hub for Beijing+25 and Generation Equality here.
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Hear My Voice is inviting young professional women aged under-35, who are working in the field of social justice and women's rights, to join their online women's empowerment program. Online workshops will be held once a week over a period of 6 weeks, from 6 June to 11 July 2020. Interested applicants are invited to complete the online form before the deadline of 27 May 2020. The program is free of charge and you can apply here.
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Period. End of Sentence.
A documentary film directed by Rayka Zehtabchi which also won the oscar for 'Best Short Documentary Film'. The 2018 documentary follows a group of local women in Hapur, India, as they learn how to operate a machine that makes low-cost, biodegradable sanitary pads which they sell to other women at affordable prices. This helps feminine hygiene and sheds menstruation taboos.
Watch it here
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The Vagina Bible
Dr. Jen Gunter debunks junk medicine about the female body. It is like a user's manual that talks about STI prevention, food and vaginal health, thongs, GOOP, menopause and many all things vagina.
Add it to your list
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Fierce Women Cards
Fierce Women is a card game developed by Common zone in 2017. Želimir Periš designed an original gameplay while a number of Croatian women artists created the illustrations.
If you leave your e-mail on their website, they'll send you some free goodies such as colouring pictures, mobile wallpapers and a fun workbook!
Find it here
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Lauren Foley is a feminist YouTuber, writer and activist. She is originally from Ireland and has studied and worked in the Netherlands and Belgium. 'Everyday sexism' is her biggest interest because it is the most pervasive and the hardest to eradicate. She aims is to "make the world a better place for women, to collectively awaken our subconscious and to face the things we may not like about ourselves". Follow Lauren on Facebook and check out her YouTube channel.
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