The official newspaper of Leeds University
Reclaiming the night
www.thegryphon.co.uk Twitter: @TheGryphonLeeds Instagram: @thegr yphon Issue 5 17/03/21
University scraps Trans Equality Policy “rollback” the University has withdrawn their revised draft which left the trans community feel(Page 5)
Lesbians face increasing levels of loneliness Ioana Gr dinaru explores the experience of the demographic most likely to face loneliness and poor mental health under the
After Sarah Everard was murdered, people across the country took to the streets and social media to grieve the wider issue of violence against women and marginalised genders. Zahra Iqbal and Maariyah Fulat report on Reclaim the Night Leeds’ virtual vigil. violence. held their loved ones close as the nation remembered not just
(Page 8)
FKA Twigs and the culture of victim-blaming In light of FKA Twigs’ recent interview, Jack McKane discusses the toxic way
Sarah Everard, but the thousands of women who have been
livestream alongside a plethora of speakers and campaigners
society deals with revelations of abusive
sexually assaulted, attacked and murdered.
such as Roz Weaver from SARSVL, George Sykes from LUU
behaviour. (Page 13)
Sarah Everard was last seen on 3 March as she was walking
Abuse Awareness, Miranda Arieh from Womens Lives Matter,
home from a friend’s house at 9pm near Clapham Common
Cllr Al Garthwaite, Siza a student poet, Amy Randles and
in London. Since then, Wayne Couzens (48) has been charged with her murder and kidnap. Her disappearance coincided with a report published by The Guardian that found 97% of
Sarah is also for all the other people and women across the
women aged between 18 and 24 had been sexually harassed.
UK.”
Following the case, and the statistics published by The
Cllr Al Garthwaite, also attending, commented “As we said
Guardian, social media erupted and was full of calls for protests, vigils and women sharing their own stories of assault and harassment.
yes means yes, no means no.” Elsewhere in the country, crowds of people gathered to grieve
Due to this overwhelming response, Reclaim the Night
the loss of Everard and to raise awareness of the wider context
organised a series of vigils up and down the country so people
of abuse faced by women and marginalised genders. Attendees
could pay their respects. Launched in Leeds in 1977 in part to
of the London vigil organised by Sisters Uncut described the
respond to the Yorkshire Ripper murders, the importance of the movement has resonated since, particularly in the last week. However, due to coronavirus restrictions and West Yorkshire
women to the ground for merely paying their respects. The message across the vigils in Leeds and beyond has been
Police guidelines, the Reclaim the Night Leeds physical vigil social media.
Owen Mawer celebrates the footballer’s pitch. (Page 21)
should not have to be careful of what they wear, take longer routes or be hyper-vigilant of their surroundings.
candles being left on the steps to honour the death of Sarah
Lauren James responds to racism in sport
As the pandemic lurches on, the ongoing issue of violence against women and marginalised genders must not be ignored.
In the Middle Music and Clubs, Fashion, Arts and Culture, Blogs and Lifestyle (Midway)
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Editor’s letter Credits Editor-In-Chief Newspaper Associates
Social Media Associate Web Developer Head of Marketing Head of Radio Head of Design Head of Photography Head of Advertising Treasurer Secretary News
Society Features
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Editor-in-Chief
Business
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Equality and Diversity
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Student Exec columns: Laila Fletcher
What has our Student Exec team been up to this month?
Izzy Walter Our first ever LUU Climate Week kicks off on 22 March, so that has dominated a lot of my work this month. I ’ m really excited about the line-up of events and content which will bring together students, academics and representatives from Leeds City Council, the University and organisations dedicated to climate action, to discuss this vital issue. I have begun work on a project to bring together our learnings from listening to student experiences throughout the pandemic. We have spent so much of this year gathering feedback about studying during this time, then working reactively with the University to communicate your concerns and lobby for solutions. I’ve been representing students in digital planning at both LUU and the University. Whilst this work has been accelerated by COVID-19, it is predominantly about the role of digital technologies in the student experience of the future. I am personally a bit sceptical about doing things digitally, and believe a lot of aspects of the student experience cannot be supplemented online, but this is why I was so keen to share student voices. Leaning more, I’ve begun to see that there are ways in which digital transformation can improve some aspects of Uni life, when carefully implemented alongside the unique Leeds campus experience.
Franks Feng (Jian)
C ar o l i n a HallRodriguez
There is a lot happening this month. In light of LeadLUU, you will have your new international and postgraduate officer! I am so proud that the foundation I built this year can contribute to the journey in the post-pandemic era. Our petition for international tuition fee compensation already got over 27,0000 signatures- thanks for all of your support and I really hope this can help our public understand more about international students feeling and challenges under the circumstances. Please continue to share it to more people. I worked with senior leadership team this month about the international strategy in next 5 years and it is clear that we will rely more on digital platforms and more cooperation with global south countries for academic research. Later this week, I will submit a new policy about language and academic literacy support in each faculty. This can help our international students to improve their language skills and reduce the academic awarding gap. I know it may take a longer time to implement everything, but before my job finishes in June, I will keep working on building a multicultural friendly campus.
Last week, we held the fourth Education Assembly of the academic year in which reps were introduced to key figures in the University working on student voice and experience. We also had the opportunity to go through the ideas submitted to the next Better University Forum to prepare the reps for the forum on Tuesday 16 March. Recently, we held a PGR reps forum and I have been working with our newly appointed Postgraduate Engagement Manager and our reps on how we can improve the experience of PGRs at the University. I have also been continuing to advocate for our taught students at the recent meetings of the Assessment Working Group and the Taught Student Education Board, as well as having met with the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Student Education and the Deputy Vice Chancellor: Digital Transformation to discuss the experience of our taught students and the barriers they are currently facing. Finally, with the recent roll out of the new library booking system, I am continuing to listen to students’ concerns and needs regarding study space so that I can take these to the University to ensure they are being met.
Diversity
Hi everyone! I hope you’re doing well! For international Women’s Day, I collaborated with the LibCos and Women in Conversation to run a session on the topic of ‘We were made for these times.’ Alongside this, I’m also in the middle of creating a digital resource with all of women entrepreneurs from LUU! I’m very excited for this big piece of work! Lastly, I’m organizing a panel event of women entrepreneurs, which will be followed by a networking event. Again, I’m super excited for all these things and hope they can be of value to you! Outside of International Women’s Day, I’ve been working on researching the experiences of our Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority students and how their experiences may influence their sense of belonging. Specifically, how being minorities in courses may influence their university experience. I’ve also been working with Lucy and Franks on improving diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity within societies! Lastly, I’ve been leading on our newly formed anti-racism working group. Currently we’re creating a definition that adequately shows LUU’s stance, but also focuses on a culture shift. I hope International Women’s Day/Month is something that you can really engage in and feel proud of. And I hope LUU can contribute to that feeling of pride!
Lotti Morton
Community
H i everyone! It’s March which means Climate Week is just around the corner! We’re running some really exciting events, including a sustainability careers event, an eco-anxiety discussion and a panel about what Leeds’ future looks like with speakers including the Vice Chancellor, University Sustainability team, councillors at Leeds City Council, Zero Waste Leeds and students. We’re also announcing our new Sustainability Fund, which any student or society can apply for – there are grants of £10-1000 available! We’ve got an exciting Q&A with the Chancellor about her work as Director of the British Antarctic Survey and societies are running loads of events so keep an eye out! I’ve also proposed an idea to our Better forums to make it easier for students to be released from their accommodation contracts and we are continuing to lobby on the Rent Relief campaign. Sophia and I are continuing to be involved in conversations about rent levels for next year and we’re lobbying against any increases. As an Exec, we’re also monitoring what the return to campus looks like and making sure students are prioritised and represented in every decision. We’re always here to support you so get in touch if you need us!
International
Sophia Hartley Welfare
Hello everyone! Time for a good old catch up again. At the beginning of this month it was International Women’s Day. In celebration of this, I interviewed Amy Randles, intern at Freedom4Girls, a period poverty charity, on Mind and Soul- an LSR show I co-host with Natalie Mellor. As part of the show, we signposted to the amazing women’s charities and support groups in Leeds which you can page. As part of #nomoreweek, a week to raise awareness around sexual violence and partner abuse, I was interviewed by Mind Matters with the LUU Abuse Society. This was a great opportunity to talk to the ‘Reformed Institutional Approach to Tackling Sexual Violence at UoL’ and how change is possible. I will be taking this proposal to the Student/ senior University Management. If you would mindmatterssociety instagram. However, there is no denying this month has been heavy. The murder of Sarah Everard has brought much needed conversations of gender-based violence to the surface. A special thank you to Reclaim the Night Leeds and everyone involved in organising the powerful vigil in Sarah’s memory and in memory of all women who have been subjected to genderbased violence. In my capacity as Welfare
a safer Leeds.
Education
Lucy Murphy
Activities
Hiya! Hope you’re all well. The start of this month was focused heavily on preparing content for the World Unite Festival which ran from 8 – 14 March. WUFest is all about celebrating different cultures and learning from one another. I met with several societies: VIBES Bollywood dance, NHSF Leeds Hindu society, Leeds African-Caribbean Society, Kpop Dance Society and Lishsi Daoist Tai Chi. We discussed the festival itself and how they have continued to welcome and create a sense of belonging for students by providing a home away from home. It was lovely to catch up with them and I learnt so much just from our conversations. You can check out the episodes on our LUU FB page. I have also been organising LUU’s WeMakeEvents campaign which takes place from 22 – 28 March. We have a variety of performances from our Music & Performance Societies, Leeds Alumni, bands, DJs, and a career skills workshop in collab with the University. It’s going to be an amazing week filled with talent and I encourage everyone from the Leeds community to support. All the money raised will be going towards the WME chosen charity Backup, who commit to alleviate some of the strain the pandemic has had on individuals within the events industry. Head over to LUUs WeMakeEvents page to find out more info!
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Campus Watch
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Ulster University
Researchers at Ulster University launch app for
The app, designed in collaboration with Belfast School of Art and others, is designed to help people living with dementia to stay connected with loved ones. It aims to do this by collecting images, sounds and videoclips to help users access memories that they otherwise may have trouble holding on to. It was designed with the input of members of the charity Dementia NI, who were able to contribute their lived experiences. Research shows that dementia has a greater impact on short-term memory, so it is of a
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the past. Users have reportedly found it “very calming.” The app is free to download and comes at a time when conversations about maintaining and protecting our close relationships are very relevant. This is especially the case for many people living with dementia, who are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 and who family and friends. Alex Chitty News Editor
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University of Exeter
Unexploded WWII bomb discovered on private land next to University
On Saturday 27 February, builders discovered an unexploded WWII bomb on private land next to the University of Exeter on Glenthorne Road. 1,400 students were evacuated from twelve halls of residence; initially it was only about 200 students. Residents from a further 100 properties were also evacuated. The bomb is believed to be a 1,000kg Hermann bomb which were used by German forces in air raids on Britain. A Royal Navy bomb disposal team detonated the explosive at 6.10pm that evening. To help minimize the impact of the explosion, walls were erected and the bomb was surrounded by metal cages containing 400 tonnes of sand. Debris was thrown at least 250m and the explosion left a crater the size of a double-decker bus. Whilst residents were expected to be able to return to their homes on 28 February, those who lived within 100m of the bomb were unable to do so. Students had to wait until safety assessments could be conducted and some are unable to return to their accommodation due to buildings having been damaged by the explosion. Beth Capaldi
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University of Northampton
The University of Northampton has made a donation of essential food to local food banks to help those struggling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The contribution of 6,000 items was made to the Hope Centre, a charity tackling poverty and homelessness in the Northampton area, which will distribute them to local food banks. Louise Danielczuk, Fundraising and Marketing Manager at the Hope Centre said: “The donation from the University of Northampton has been a huge boost to the Food Poverty Network and to Northampton Hope Centre’s own FoodClub. Each week we are seeing new people joining the already swelling eat and now, more than ever we need to pull together, as the University has done, and support those in need.” Chris Rockall, Business Development Manager at the University of Northampton said: “With the COVID-19 outbreak continuing, more people are likely to turn to a food bank for help. I’m delighted that the University has been able to arrange this donation. Our donation means foodbanks will be able to support people who need it most across Northamptonshire.” Isabelle Thom News Editor
University of Oxford
University criticised for links with oil companies
The University of Oxford has come concerns regarding its links with major oil companies. The issue has been brought to light by the Oxford University Climate Justice Campaign, a student-led organisation whose aims include ensuring that the University as a whole no longer receives any contribution from fossil occupation by students of St. John’s College preceded the university’s vote to divest from fossil fuels and follow a net-zero investment strategy. This comes after a Freedom of Information request made by the Oxford Mail revealed that, in 2019 and 2020, the University received between one
links to the oil trade. About the donations, campaigners said: “Oxford’s close-knit relationship with the fossil fuel industry unsustainability policy and research.”
Isabelle Thom News Editor
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University of Southampton
Lecturer injured in suspected racist attack
Peng Wang, a lecturer at the University of Southampton, was subjected to a brutal attack that took place on the streets of Southampton last month. While out jogging, Mr Wang was confronted by four men who left him in need of treatment for facial and elbow injuries after shouting at him to “go home.” One 23-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and police are appealing for witnesses of the attack which took place at 16:00 on Vosper Road. Mr Wang reported the group shouting racial slurs at him before beginning their physical assault. He said: “I got very angry because it’s just not civil.” He added: “They hit me quite badly on my face... I left a lot of blood on the ground.” A spokesman for the University condemned the “appalling and unprovoked attacked on a respected member of our academic community.” They added: “Our colleague is receiving support from the University and we will continue to liaise closely with the police.” Isabelle Thom News Editor
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University scraps Trans Equality Policy “rollback” pressure
applied
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students
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In a statement issued Wednesday 10
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Editor-In-Chief
It was never the University’s intention to water down our commitment to trans rights
Image: Maariyah Fulat Image: Ed Unsplash. Image Credit: Barnes
Rishi Shah
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Whilst Boris Johnson’s roadmap is purely conditional and subject to reversal, as we have seen throughout 2020, the kids have decided that the time for caution and negativity is over: the end is in sight
summer. students and teenagers in spending such a large sum
With what surely will be a guaranteed audience at
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shows
that
women
employed
as
counterparts. Data published in February underlines the continued existence of the gender pay gap. Reports show the
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A staggering 86% of the women included in the study were found to occupy non-executive positions. sustained inequality in the sector as these positions have lesser daily responsibilities within the companies
While
men
still
dominate
leadership
positions,
the report states that the number of women with Numbers released last month highlight that businesses target has been met.
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to publish annual progress reports on the number of
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women in company leadership roles.
Since 2017, companies employing more than 250 people are required by law to submit yearly gender pay monitor the continued gender pay disparity in England. However, enforcement of gender pay gap reporting was suspended last year
gender pay disparity in England. was suspended last year. Regulation will not resume
said this step would not derail attempts to pay men and companies.
women fairly.
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Clarity given on 2021 GCSE and A Level examinations © Geert Vanden Wijngaert/
Madeleine Williams In March last year, the government’s decision to cancel GCSE and A Level exams cast a looming
students to sit A Level and GCSE examinations, and so
Exam boards will also be introducing both GCSE and
uncertainty over UK students – how would grades students to sit these exams, schools across the country generated system determined an individual’s grades
will provide students the option to complete them so
cheated and disappointed by their results, and more • • • respectively, students will receive results based on
grades • •
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One major problem was that last year, the algorithm
the choice to allow teachers to choose their students’ grades is naturally something to be sceptical about, considering that GCSE and A-Level are traditionally
those with grammar or private school education – were
U-turn and decided to award students their Centre Admissions Service revealed that on A Level results
CAG grades required by their chosen university had
Firstly, GCSE and A Level results day will be earlier
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Whilst 2020 students did receive valid GCSE and A
One A-Level student told the Guardian that the 2021 assessment method is unfair because “there is
of-year exams,” whilst “students tend not to work as well” across the year
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Features
Why lesbians face worsening mental health and loneliness The LGBTQI+ community has always experienced disproportionately higher levels of loneliness and worsening out of all the identities in the community, lesbians have borne the brunt dealing with these issues most
Image: Kevin Laminto via Unsplash
According to a study by Just Like Us, a charity for LGBTQI+ youth, lesbians are the most likely identity group under the LGBTQI+ umbrella to experience loneliness. Almost 9 out of 10 (87 percent) lesbians felt this way and often reported feeling detached from the people they were closest to. 60 percent of them reported experiencing this on a regular basis since the pandemic began. In another survey by Just Like Us that included over 1000 LGBTQI+ secondary school pupils, more lesbian girls reported their mental health was getting worse (78 percent) than any other groups such as gay boys (71 percent), bisexual people (74 per cent) and trans people (70 percent). Lesbian erasure is one of the biggest problems facing young queer women. In an interview for Cosmopolitan, Amy Ashden, Head of Comms and Media at
Just Like Us, talks about the dismissal of the word “lesbian” and how lesbian women are “either fetishized, disregarded as not worthy or perhaps even as old fashioned.” She also touches on how lesbians are thought to be anti-trans and how this narrative has been picked up by the media in order to pit communities against each other: “I know that for me, and other lesbian friends, that rhetoric seems absurd, frustrating and doesn’t help our general wellbeing.” To a great extent, women are still regarded as objects of male desire, lesbians being highly fetishized by straight men and seen as a challenge for men to “convert.” The lack of safe places adds more to the fear of going out as a lesbian and leads to increased levels of loneliness. Talking about safe spaces for queer people, Amy says that “most are catered to men.” “As a lesbian, I’ve often found straight women feel uncomfortable or awkward rent to the way they stereotypically embrace gay men. That can be very alienating, especially growing up, and adds to the horrible idea that being a lesbian is somehow wrong or disgusting or shameful.” Patriarchal attitudes undermine the use of the word “lesbian”, favoring terms such as “queer” or “gay.” In an article for An Injustice Mag, Itxy Lopez talks about why “lesbian” became a bad word and why so many lesbians “dislike identifying themselves as who they are.” “When characters on TV would use the term “lesbian”, they’d refer either to a woman who was being over-sexualized or a woman who had something wrong with her because she wasn’t interested in men,” she says. A 2016 study from Variety proved the disproportionate representation of women in movies and television, and stated that “almost 80 percent of showrunners for new scripted shows were men.” This, paired with the noticeable lack of lesbian characters, lead to harmful stereotypes of lesbians.
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“That of the oversexualized, two-dimensional woman who serves only to satisfy some pornographic fantasy of a straight man, and that of a bland, largely disinteresting woman who serves just as hollow a purpose. The former is the projection of the only way a lesbian can serve as meaningful to a straight man, and the latter is the straight man’s reaction to a woman being completely uninterested in him sexually by making her as boring and unimportant to the plot as possible.” In an article on Gay Star News, Matilda Davies talked about her struggles after coming out and how she lost many straight men friends. She told versity and hung out with regularly for over two years. However, “when [she] came out, he admitted to [her] that he’d always hoped something would happen between [them]. After that, he never spoke to [her] again.” of her friendships were not real and that she struggled with loneliness after losing them. She also shared that it was hard for her to make female friends because they would think that she is “uncontrollably attracted to them,” which is an unfair assumption that many lesbians face every day. Matilda also talked about what it’s like living in a male-dominated world as a lesbian: “As much as I didn’t want to admit it, after I came out, I still intensely wanted straight men to think I was beautiful. I think for many years I mistook this desire to be desired for genuine attraction,” she says. In the end, Matilda found “a sense of belonging and acceptance” within a new being your true self. This is how you build a community around you that apAlthough we’ve certainly seen progress when it comes to representation for women in the LGBTQI+ community, we need to put an end to lesbian erasure and taboo surrounding the word by advocating for inclusivity.
Several Twitter users lament the stigma around and sexualisation of the term “lesbian”. Images via Twitter
Image: Denin Lawley via Unsplash
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Sturgeon under scrutiny for handling of Salmond complaints In recent weeks, the Scottish government and current First Minister (FM) Nicola Sturgeon have come under intense scrutiny for their handling of sexual harassment allegations made against former FM and Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond. TW: sexual assault allegations
William Nixon
The dispute has irreparably damaged the relationship between two long-term political allies and advocates of Scottish independence, with some pundits even suggesting Sturgeon could be forced to resign. Yet, whilst this narrative has been focalised between Salmond and Sturgeon, it cannot be isolated from its broader context. Fourteen sexual assault allegations were made against Salmond, all of which failed at trial. The initially not-guilty verdict, and subsequent polarised political dispute, is not encouraging for victims of workplace harassment or sexual assault. Indeed, one of Salmond’s own accusers found it “really traumatic” to experience her complaint becoming a political football. It’s important to chart exactly how allegations of personal misconduct made against Salmond in 2018 have ballooned into the corruption inquiry we see today.
their viewpoint “ignores what was happening globally at the time” and that Salmond “has a tendency to see most things as being about him.” Salmond quickly took legal action against the Scottish government, alleging it had broken its own regulations when pursuing the claims made against him. His with the initial accusers, thereby breaching government regulations intended to
began to investigate internally. In August of the same year, 14 allegations of sexual abuse against Salmond were made public, dating throughout his tenure as First Minister from 2008 through 2014. Although the alleged survivors remained anonymous, they reportedly included Scottish civil servants, an SNP politician
At the time, Salmond decried the claims as “patently ridiculous” but resigned from his party regardless, stating he would re-join after being proven innocent. Following a lengthy investigation and a bitter court battle, Salmond was cleared of all counts of sexual misconduct in March 2020. However, it would be the Scottish government’s handling of the investigation into Salmond’s conduct that triggered the political furore we see today.
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...one of Salmond’s own accusers found it “really traumatic” to experience her complaint becoming a political football
harassment complaints implemented by Holyrood in March 2019, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, which allowed the Scottish government to look into Supporters of the former FM argue that the extension to older complaints was implemented simply to persecute Salmond. Sturgeon refutes this, arguing that
Court of Session concluded that its government had behaved unlawfully, ordering it to pay Salmond’s £500,000 legal fees. In early 2020, after Salmond was found not guilty of sexual harassment on all counts, two separate inquiries were launched into the Sturgeon’s and Scottish government’s handling of the investigation. The inquiry into Sturgeon, led by a set of rules dictating what ministers can and cannot do.
First Minister initially learned of the complaints against Salmond. Sturgeon allegations during a meeting with Salmond at her home on 2 April 2018. She later earlier on 29 March, which she claimed to have “forgotten.” Salmond argues that Sturgeon misled parliament and gave evidence to the breach of the ministerial code which, if found guilty of, may carry heavy
would “refute [Salmond’s claims] vigorously” when she appeared at the inquiry. The second inquiry, investigating the broader Scottish government, has also made headlines. Whilst giving evidence, Salmond named several individuals he believed orchestrated a campaign to ruin his reputation “even to the extent of having [him] imprisoned.” The former FM directly accused Sturgeon’s chief of Murrell, calling for their resignation. Despite alleging she contravened the ministerial code, Salmond stopped short of demanding his successor’s removal. The Scottish government has also faced complaints of obstructive behaviour.
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In early March, they agreed to release aspects of their legal advice during the judicial review after opposition parties voted 63 to 54 in favour of demanding Swinney. Swinney had previously refused to release the documents, arguing the Scottish government’s lawyers had warned that they were unlikely to win the judicial review, yet they continued regardless. The Scottish government’s lack of transparency surrounding the Salmond case could lead some to suspect what else they might be hiding. The public response to the ongoing controversy has been polarised, particularly within the SNP itself. There is immense strength of feeling in each camp – Salmond was able to crowdfund £100,000 from over 4,100 donors back in 2018 to its former leader. In addition, the online reaction has been regularly abusive, particularly among supporters of Salmond, targeting his accusers to such an extent that some posts have come close to breaching their anonymity. Sturgeon and her team are adamant that she will not resign, despite calls for a
give evidence at the inquiry. Sturgeon currently enjoys high approval statistics
public support for her removal. However, a wide-reaching and internally divisive political battle calling the SNP leader’s integrity into question could not have come at a worse time. Holyrood elections are scheduled to take place on 6 May and the party have stake a second independence referendum on it. The ongoing controversy may
It is also unclear to what extent the dispute might damage the case for independence. Before the debacle made front-page news, opinion polls suggested that support for independence within Scotland had risen to a sustained majority four months later, when Salmond asserted that the present Scottish leadership poll suggested support for ‘Yes’ had slipped back to 52%. This perhaps indicates growing disenfranchisement with the SNP and its leadership of the independence campaign.
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remains to be seen.
Ultimately, this story is one of a sexual harassment investigation descending into an uncomfortable political tit-for-tat
in future, victims of Scottish politicians may be less likely to report abuses. Adding to this, Salmond spent months referring to his alleged victims’ claims as picked up and run with online – accusing them of lying and much worse.
In anonymous interviews, Salmond’s accusers have described their time in
security to ensure their protection. We may not know for some time how much damage has been done in Scotland, but it is highly likely this will serve to discourage victims of Scottish politicians from reporting sexual abuse incidents, after learning of the vitriol endured by Salmond’s accusers.
Political allies-turned-enemies Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond on the campaign trail during
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Meme warfare: Students call for Barclays boycott in online protest
Barclays Bank are the biggest funders of fossil fuel infrastructure in Europe. Despite the University’s sustainability principles, Barclays is their main banking provider. Students from Leeds University Union’s People and Planet society are calling on the University to cut these ties with Barclays and bank with a sustainable alternative.
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On 26 January, students took part in a ‘dogpiling’
social media accounts with calls to action. These included sharing a Boycott Barclays petition and memes, commenting on University posts and trying to take over University hashtags.
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Barclays are the biggest funders of fossil fuel in Europe
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Students from the University of Leeds carried out a social media action as part of People & Planet’s National Day of Action on climate change, calling on the University to cut ties with Barclays bank. Society Treasurer Eve Jones explains why.
Society member and Polictics and Campaigning representative Anna Windsor said: “We’re asking the University to stop banking with Barclays until it stops investing in the fossil fuel industry. LUU has already passed a motion to lobby the university to cut their ties with Barclays Bank; as students, it feels incredibly important that our institutions listen to us and stop funding the climate crisis.
We’re asking the University to stop banking with Barclays until it stops investing in the fossil fuel industry
Our day of action was a way to reach out to students who may not have been aware of the Divest Barclays campaign, and to try to make contact with the University, which has not yet been willing to engage with us. To add your voice to our call for the university to bank better, you can sign our petition.” The students’ action was part of a national day of action on the last day of Go Green Week (22-26 February), a week of climate education and action organised by People & Planet to increase awareness around the links between climate and borders. It brought together People & Planet’s national climate and migrant justice campaigns: Fossil Free, Divest Barclays and Undoing Borders. As the impact of the climate crisis becomes more
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Eve Jones
urgent, the world’s poorest countries are the worst of global emissions. Millions of people are being displaced by extreme weather events – and the border
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It’s imperative we use our power to from ecological break down
This Go Green Week’s National Day of Action aimed to campaign against and raise awareness about this injustice. Natasha Ion, Campaigns & Movement Building Coordinator at People & Planet, commented: “The pandemic has exposed deep inequalities here in the UK and globally. These inequalities are similarly exposed by the climate crisis - in who it is that is solidarity across borders is so fundamental in how we move through them. It’s imperative we use our ecological breakdown, in solidarity with and taking a lead from those marginalised groups and frontline and Indigenous communities experiencing the sharp end of climate and fossil fuel industry injustice. This day of action was an important moment for student campaigners to come together across the UK and send the clear message that climate action from our public institutions cannot wait.”
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Why is our first instinct to question survivors? FKA Twigs speaks out
Image: NBC News
Image: Flickr
Jack McKane
TW: Domestic abuse, violence We must stop blaming survivors for their abuse. The treatment of abuse survivors by the media and the public is often more aggressive and accusatory than the anger directed towards their abusers. When a survivor of abuse speaks out, they are frequently met with backlash. People claim the survivor is ruining their abuser’s life or cite the fact that false accusations are extremely harmful - more harmful, apparently, than the abuse itself. Abusers are often afforded more leniency and understanding than their survivors, with the public questioning the truth of the accusation and stating that the accusation is only the vitriol of a bitter ex. And then, of course, come the inevitable questions. What were they wearing? Why were they there? Why didn’t they leave?
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The treatment of abuse survivors by the media and the public is often more aggressive and accusatory than the anger directed towards their
Singer FKA Twigs hopes to address these questions by publicly filing a lawsuit against her ex-boyfriend, actor Shia LaBeouf. FKA Twigs was interviewed by Louis Theroux in late January and detailed the many layers of abuse she suffered at the hands of LaBeouf. In the interview, she talks about how LaBeouf slowly took control of her, forbidding her from looking men in the eye, destroying her
self-worth, and isolating her from friends and family. Despite detailing how LaBeauf controlled nearly every aspect of her life, Theroux asks: “You would think that would be a sign that something is wrong?” Although Theroux did not intend for the question to be accusatory and clearly didn’t understand the weight of his words, his question flags the fundamental misunderstanding society has regarding abuse. Whenever a survivor of abuse speaks about their experience, the reaction of many is to state that the abuse was obvious and to question how the survivor was unable to see that. This response is a key example of victim-blaming, laying blame at the feet of the survivor, not the abuser. In an interview with Gayle King, FKA Twigs described her abuse as, “loads of little things sewn into one big nightmare.” When we talk about abuse, most of the time we only acknowledge the physical aspect and neglect the emotional side. It’s easier to perceive physical abuse because it is more visible yet there is a severe lack of understanding regarding emotional abuse. The public struggle to comprehend how abusers can completely undermine a person’s psyche, and unfortunately, the less we understand something, the more likely we are to discount it. FKA Twigs has described her abuse as something that happened very slowly, with LaBeouf gaslighting her into thinking that she was the cause of his outbursts. He would push her and tell her she fell and would become enraged if she didn’t kiss him enough. Twigs believed that LaBeouf’s behaviour
was her fault and would constantly look for ways to appease him and “make things good again”. King’s conversation with Twigs mirrors the way society talks about abuse as the conversation is centred around appeasing the abuser and absolving them of any wrongdoing. The discussion does not focus on why LaBeouf abused Twigs, or about how LaBeouf should be held accountable but instead questions why Twigs put up with LaBeouf’s behaviour and didn’t leave him. Too often, an instance of domestic abuse descends into one person’s word against another. One must only look at the handling of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard case in which the lines between victim and abuser were blurred with the only clear outcome being that the media portrayal of the case was damaging to abuse survivors throughout society. While celebrities’ experiences may seem irrelevant to the struggles of real people, celebrity abuse cases may be the only representation of their ordeal that survivors see in the media. When the media writes headlines that immediately question a survivor and people express their disbelief at the their claims, this tells other people in abusive relationships that they shouldn’t come forward, they won’t be believed and they will be attacked. Very few domestic abuse survivors come forward for myriad reasons, one being fear of their abuser and another being fear of peoples’ reactions. The conversation has to change so that survivors don’t have to bear the blame for their ordeal and so that more can come forward in a safe environment.
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What does the UK’s new visa scheme for Hong Kong citizens mean for immigration policy? Sophie Denham
Image: Wikimedia Commons
to decrease immigration in the UK. Much of this anti-immigration rhetoric emanated from the same politicians who are now running the government. In one campaign missive, Boris Johnson, Priti Patel, and Michael Gove stoked fears that rising numbers of southern European immigrants would “put further strain on schools and hospitals,” and that “class sizes will rise and waiting lists will lengthen if we don’t tackle free movement.”
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Since the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, Hong Kong has been operating under the “one country, two systems” policy. This policy intended to ensure Hong Kong’s autonomy from Beijing until 2047. But on several occasions, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) prematurely interfered with Hong Kong. In June 2019, the CCP introduced the controversial extradition bill which eroded Hong Kong’s judiciary rights and became the catalyst for the 2019-2020 protests. As a response to the protests, the CCP passed the security law, which granted Beijing the power to shape life in Hong Kong and effectively curtail freedom of speech. The British government has called the security law a clear violation of the “one country, two systems” policy and in response, has opened a six-year pathway to British citizenship for holders of British National (Overseas) passports (BN(O)) - a special visa category created for Hong Kong nationals before the 1997 transfer of power. Although this visa does not account for all Hong Kongers, it does grant citizenship to a large scope of them. Out of 7.5 million, 5.2 million people are eligible for it. Will this set precedent for more open UK immigration policies in the future? Rewind to 2016, when the UK unanimously voted to leave the European Union (EU), after being sold on a campaign that vouched
Welcoming Hong Kongers has become one of the few issues in British politics that commands bipartisan support, uniting opposition Labour, Green Party and Scottish National Party members
Yet in June 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the visa pathway for millions of Hong Kongers and denoted it as “one of the biggest changes in our visa system in history.” Likewise, Home Secretary Priti Patel, said she looked forward to welcoming Hong Kongers “to our great country.” This is a stark contrast to when these same politicians warned darkly of an influx of foreigners and campaigned against what Patel described as “uncontrolled migration”
from the EU. But, welcoming Hong Kongers has become one of the few issues in British politics that commands bipartisan support, uniting opposition Labour, Green Party and Scottish National Party members with the hawkish, anti-China wing of the Conservative party. But is Hong Kong the UK’s exception to the rule? According to Jonathan Portes, a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at King’s College London, there is a feeling of colonial “indebtedness” to the people of Hong Kong. The UK Government may feel morally obliged to defend Hong Kong from Chinese authoritarianism. On top of this, over the past year the UK’s attitude to China has hardened. The UK has barred Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from playing a part in the country’s 5G network, and has been vocal with its criticism of Beijing for human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang region. Although this new visa scheme does offer a remarkable amount of Hong Kong citizens the opportunity to resettle permanently in the UK, there is still a lot of divisive and visceral rhetoric that surrounds immigration. There is some potential that this scheme will promote a more positive debate on immigration, but there is no telling whether we will see more open immigration policies in the future.
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Taylor Swift isn’t overreacting, she’s just had enough
Caroline Rauch
Ginny and Georgia for making, what she called,
Framing Britney Spears, people are
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teasing and that the intense response of the singer
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Blank Space singer’s defence on
This joke about Taylor Swift’s personal life comes at a time when many of us are beginning to question the presentation of successful women in the public eye
Grammy acceptance speech where they thanked
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Personality over policy: Has Starmer done enough? On 18 February, Keir Starmer set out his new policies and post-COVID plan for the next three and a half years in the run-up to the next general election. This was dubbed his most important speech in his time as Leader of the Opposition, but you’d be forgiven for missing it. The speech predominantly focused on the economic policies Labour will bring forward, one of which is the British Recovery Bond. This policy is aimed at the households that accumulated savings over the past year due to lockdown. With £125 billion in suppressed spending waiting to be invested back into the economy, the Labour party hope a “coronavirus bond” will encourage more investment into infrastructure and employment. Starmer also proposed more start-up loans for businesses, pledging to fund 100,000 businesses over
rate and VAT relief, and a longer furlough scheme. Starmer’s aim seems to be to stress to the electorate that the days of Corbynism are very much over, and in power. The rhetoric that the Conservative party have created surrounding Labour’s incompetence with public funds has partially been the reason why the Tories have held power for so long. But has Starmer done enough to prove to a disillusioned electorate that Labour has their interests at heart? In a bold move, Starmer compares the UK currently to a post-war UK; harking back to the days when the country united in the face of a common foe should inspire innovative policies that the public need in such dire times, but Starmer’s policies seem unambitious and unoriginal. Perhaps now the stark contrast of Corbyn’s further left-leaning policies would be exactly what would shock the electorate
outside of London and the South East. His vision includes businesses being central
lived, especially after over a decade of Tory austerity. Starmer does concentrate on how austerity has caused many of the tragic outcomes of the pandemic,
emergency, and he highlighted that the pandemic had “got into the cracks and crevices of our society
under his leadership; he is trying to recapture the imaginations of the swung seats and remind them
for example, maintaining the £20 a week uplift in Universal Credit. He also included limiting council tax rises via more funding; ending the public sector pay freeze; helping businesses by extending business
over 100 years, and even going backwards for the most deprived women, surely now would be a time for Starmer to push back against the Conservative government and draw a line between the parties,
Image: Channel Four Image: Getty Images
not pander to their incompetency over the course of the pandemic. In abstaining from calling for Matt Hancock’s resignation for acting unlawfully, he shows his leadership to be one of appeasement country with one of the highest death rates in the world from coronavirus, Starmer would prove himself
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Jaya Basudev
guiding us through this pandemic are valiant, but he lacks the courage to be a leader people are swayed by. He hasn’t captured the public mood well enough; in believing that sticking a Union Jack on Labour slogans will help the more nationalistic voters swing back, he fails to bring a truly authentic solution to these lost voters, and risks alienating even more.
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Starmer’s aim seems to be to stress to the electorate that the days of Corbynism are very much over
Much of the electorate doesn’t know what Labour currently stands for, or what the party collectively believes in. In a time where personality over policy brings voters to the ballots, Starmer’s lack of one puts him at risk of being forgotten by the electorate.
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TikTok for business: How the app can boost your brand’s online presence
Charli D’Amelio at Dunkin (Image: Rachel Murrary / Dunkin’)
In a world obsessed with social media, is there anything more relevant than the app TikTok? Lauren Woodley explains how the app became successful and how businesses can utilise the platform to promote their products Lauren Woodley TikTok is a social media platform where users share short-form videos. These could be anything, ranging from funny footage of animals to mimicable dance trends. The company behind the app describe their mission statement as inspiring creativity and bringing joy. It is enjoyed and used globally; one in four people have the app and use it every month in Britain. launched in 2016 in China, known there as Douyin. In 2018, TikTok merged with the short-lived app Musical.ly, transferring their users’ accounts onto TikTok. In 2020, TikTok became the most downloaded like India and the USA, it remains largely successful. With all this interaction, it is no wonder brands are noticing the social media site and recognising the potential for advertising. TikTok For Business encourages brands to make TikToks of their content to help them to gain a following. Whilst this could mean an entirely new team is needed to manage making and creating the content for brands, the platform reaches such a large audience that its potential is bountiful. In turn, it could be great for small businesses who are just starting out too. TikTok is a great place for unique businesses looking for new means of showcasing their content and
on short but snappy TikToks to give their customers an insight into their company and, as a result, make them seem more accessible too. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, many
people are turning towards social media apps like TikTok as they are stuck at home and looking for entertainment. A great example of this in practice
they’re staying with the times. Another example is Little Moons Mochi Ice Cream. One day, we all opened our phones to multiple videos of people eating these peculiar ice cream balls covered
If a particular food brand was looking for a new way of advertising, especially as people aren’t getting out to supermarkets as much anymore, getting product placements on TikToks which feature people baking banana bread may boost the brands’ food sales, as viewers would look to mimic the recipes exactly. A brand might go further and make their own TikTok using their own product, creating their own original recipe to appeal to viewers. The bigger online presence a brand has, the better. Also, for brands that are trying to keep up with young audiences such as those on the internet,
last box on the shelf. Why is this? The TikTok Mochi trend, of course. A TikTok of someone sharing their unboxing of this Japanese delicacy may currently get over 53 million views. Supermarkets are now considering upping their orders of the product just to meet demand. This is all due to the power of social media and advertising. Collaborations with large TikTok stars such as Charli D’Amelio (pictured above, launching her own signature drink at Dunkin’), the most followed user on the platform with 107.9 million followers, would also be likely to reach a huge audience. By using sponsorship, giveaways, or product placements within her social channels, this could help promote brands to her viewers, and using the TikTok algorithm, even those not following Charli may see her in their For You page. However, this huge social media giant does not come without its downfalls. In particular, the dark side of the app which can come from dangerous child predators who are known to lurk on the app, or toxic body image trends. The app’s security, regulation and privacy processes in general are all elements that need to be worked on. When used in a sound and safe way, TikTok is an interesting and unpredictable platform where a product or a brand can go from nothing one day, to trending worldwide the next. One thing is for sure though - it is a medium to keep your eye on...
their understanding of modern culture and that
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Controlling big tech: Regulation or repression? Accused of monopolistic practices and power abuse, there is growing support for controlling big tech. Leeds Finsights’ Oak Watson explains the market and the implications of imposing strict regulations on tech giants Oak Watson
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg appearing virtually at a hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, July 2020. (Image: Graeme Jennings / Reuters)
One can summarise technology regulation quite
use, how companies connect with users, and what
unchecked access to information and the ability to
have unmatched jurisdiction over the services that
from digital services? At what point does regulation become repression, ultimately hurting the consumer? These are important questions that need to be
game at tax avoidance and you get a delightful cocktail
growing sense that the incumbent giants are under The main theoretical argument for regulation is
the evasive nature of digital services make taxing tech facial or voice recognition, text and data mining [and]
almost all cases, economically speaking, competition The global pandemic has seen not only a widespread move to homeworking but also a radical emergence of
Janet Yellen announced the drop of a contentious part of its proposal for reform of global digital taxation rules that had been the main stumbling block to
excessive prices to consumers who have nowhere else that comes an evolving remit to regulate big tech and reforms are needed on a global scale to prevent the is fundamentally uncompetitive, marred by inconceivable barriers to entry, monopolistic practices and is characterised by excessive prices and abuses and bureaucracy can actually deepen barriers to entry, as it represents increased costs and reduced to protect consumers and to ensure a supply of good become acutely aware of how their data is being harnessed, Apple has managed to exploit stronger
regulation is repression and that the market should be updates that slowly reduce the performance of an Would this happen in a saturated market with high that the question of how to ensure competition is consumption, and their increasing political power wrangling can have unintended consequences, and in
make and that consumers and workers should be
One way to think about competition is how it works previously some of the biggest ad buyers on the pulled their ad dollars from the social network around
Apple and other tech giants have essentially created their own markets in this sense, of which they are
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Image: The Scientist Magazine
The scientists breaking STEM stereotypes Gladys West
Morwenna Davies To celebrate International Women’s Month, the Science section has decided to shout about some lead data scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton; her other against systemic hurdles.
left the family tradition of sharecropping in pursuit
Hadiyah-Nicole Green Hadiyah-Nicole Green came from a background of non-scientists to develop a new method of cancer
African-American woman in science to graduate
inspired by her late aunt and uncle who raised Green
gold nanoparticles into tumour cells which, when targeted with a laser, heat up and destroy the tumour
Image: Wikipedia
Faridah Bedwei
surrounding cells and therefore does not trigger side with cerebral palsy at the age of one, is the co-founder and her research has enabled her to become one of Alongside her impressive CV of science-tech achievements, Bedwei has used her creative skill and characters such as Karmzah, a Black superhero with
Day, “there are millions of little girls and boys who deserve to read a comic or watch an animation and
Image: NBC News
Jesse Shanahan
to “make science open, inclusive, and accessible by Image: Wikipedia
Image: Virginia Changemakers
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5 sportswomen to watch in the 2020s Will Heaver
Caroline Dubois (Boxing)
Chloe Kelly (Football) a stir since 2019, when she beat Venus Williams in
Manchester City winger Chloe Kelly is one of England’s brightest talents and is now seeking to
She is still only 16 years of age and is ranked in the World’s Top 50; with her maiden WTA Title already
City in July 2020 and her game has since gone from
admirable ambassador for racial equality and has taken part in a number of Black Lives Matter rallies.
domestically but also in the Champions League. Kelly’s mesmeric dribbling and skill partnered with more goals will likely see her become a consistent force in women’s football over the coming decade.
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Kelly’s mesmeric dribbling and skill partnered with more goals will likely see her become a consistent force in women’s football over the coming decade
Jess Breach (Rugby Union) 23-year-old winger Jess Breach is a try-scoring phenomenon for England with 23 tries in 15 test matches, having been a standout on the Sevens stage as well. The Harlequins winger has exceptional pace, which made her an instant standout on the international stage as she scored 6 tries on her debut against Canada. Alongside fellow talented youngster Ellie Kildunne, Breach will be hoping to help lead the Red Roses to victory in the Woman’s World Cup, which has been postponed until 2022.
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Breach is a try scoring phenomenon for England with 23 tries in 15 test matches, having been a standout on the Sevens stage as well
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One of ten siblings, Caroline Dubois was described as ‘The Best U18 Female Athlete in the World’ by Steve Bunce back in 2018. This was the same year that she won Young Sports Personality of the Year and a Youth Olympic Gold Medal. Dubois, whose older brother is British Heavyweight Daniel, is unbeaten in amateur boxing and will be targeting the Tokyo Olympics as the prime opportunity to come into the spotlight. She is only 20 years old and looks set to blaze the trail set by Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor for women’s boxing. She may even prove to be better still.
Shafali Verma (Cricket)
Shafali Verma made her debut for the cricketing powerhouse of India at the tender age of 15. Now 17, she is the number one ranked t20 international batsman in the world. Verma, who is an incredibly powerful opening batsman, is only getting to get stronger and more powerful as a leading light in
cricket team, and now has the capability to become one of the biggest women sport stars in the world.
Image: Forbes
Lauren James hits back at racism Owen Mawer
2019/2020 season. This achievement came on the back of a blistering campaign in the FA WSL 2nd division, where she won a host of player of the month awards for her sensational start in Manchester. All of which tied together with a call up to the England Image: Talk Sport
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James’ critics have acted through faceless social media accounts, looking to knock one of the WSL’s most talented prospects. What critics have not counted on, however, is her resilience
Early last month, Manchester United boss Casey Stoney spoke out about this “utterly disgusting” hate that was directed to someone so young living away from home. Stoney then added that when James came to her with the news, she asked why she hadn’t come replied “well, then they’re winning aren’t they?” It was time to take a stand. On 11 February 2021, James did exactly that. She opted to write an article in The Telegraph to share her
story, in which she nods to her brother, Reece, and his outspoken nature on the racist abuse he too faces. Her article then tells of the treatment she receives in society, whether it be online or in the shops. It is clear to her that there are people in the UK that clearly do not want her to feel welcome in her own country. One thing that she is grateful for in all this is the support from fellow professionals Alex Greenwood and Lucy Bronze (both playing for Manchester City) to form a support system to ensure the victims of concludes with an urge to tackle racism in all levels of society, demanding that perpetrators think more about how their posts could make someone feel. James will continue to prove bigots wrong on the
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name into the Manchester United record books
brother Reece making his own mark on the Premier League with Chelsea, the James family have well and truly announced their arrival on the highest stage of English football. As is sadly the case with shining stars, there are those who aim to dampen their spirits and take aim at their aspirations. In James’ case, those critics came as faceless people on social media accounts looking to abuse and hurt one of the most talented prospects the WSL has ever seen. What they didn’t count on, however, was her resilience.
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Lauren James has been the leading light for Manchester United since arriving there in July 2018. The forward, formerly of Arsenal’s youth academy
she will already be a role model to many future stars of women’s football. Keep proving your doubters wrong, Lauren.
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James will continue to prove bigots wrong for years to come, that much
abuse at such a young age will have already ensured she is a role model to the future stars of women’s football
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women from Saudi Arabia to represent their country at the Summer Olympic Games. Following this, four women, Lubna Al-Omair, Joud Fahmy, Kariman Abuljadayel and Sarah Attah, were permitted to compete at the 2016 Games contesting in fencing, judo, 100m and the marathon respectively. Despite this improvement in participation of Saudi women at the 2016 Olympics, reports have suggested that this may have been attributed to the pressure imposed by the International Olympic Committee, rather than a willingness by Saudi Arabian authorities, which
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to actualise the desire for a more inclusive sport and society in general.
On a national scale, a new strategic framework titled ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ was published in 2016, which outlined the SFA’s (Saudi Sports for All Federation)
talk about women in football like we are not entitled to the same opportunity and the same access.” Norway international Maren Mjelde, whose penalty rivals, also voiced the importance of International Women’s Day, singling out her mother as a crucial role model and inspiration in her own personal life. “Of course it’s an important day… I have female role models that I have always looked up to, especially as my mum is my biggest inspiration so it’s a big day.” Mjelde built further on Haye’s desire for more substantial recognition of women in sports, highlighting, “I think every day should be a big day for us women”- a statement echoing the vital need for a more progressive narrative to be constructed around women’s football.
“ “ On International Women’s Day, Hayes stated: “I hope we’re talking about a day, one day, where we’re not having to have gendered or race conversations.”
On International Women’s Day, Hayes stated: “I hope we’re talking about a day, one day, where we’re not having to have gendered or race conversations and that as human beings we can live in a fair and equal society, one where International Women’s Day is every day.” She further reiterated her desire for substantial change, “All I can do is control what is in my work, and I’m doing everything I can to make progress for myself and other women around me.” Hayes has previously highlighted the importance of promoting the women’s game in order to inspire younger generations. Commenting on the parallels many draw between men’s and women’s football she emphasises “It’s not secondary to anything… We
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“Football is represented by a diverse society and within that diverse society the diverse society that we live in.”
Hayes, who was touted earlier in the year to become
team in English football when the AFC Wimbledon job became vacant, was quick to reject the rumours, insisting that she was in “the best job in the world” and that the men’s game required much more structural change and development before she would It’s not for the privileged, it’s not for the few, it’s
Although there is still a long way to go with regards to the systemic misogyny in Saudi Arabia, the proposed agenda for 2030 by the SFA provides a beacon of hope for Saudi women in sport. The creation of a more inclusive sports environment and encouragement of participation highlights the government’s attempt to be more progressive, but abolition of the patriarchy is necessary for women to receive the respect and rights that they deserve.
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Manager of Chelsea Women, Emma Hayes has expressed her views on International Women’s Day, voicing a desire to move beyond singular days of recognition into a society where equality and acceptance are more prevalent. Interviewed prior to Chelsea’s second-leg Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, Hayes was quick to point
On a national scale, a new strategic framework titled ‘Saudi Vision 2030’ was published in 2016, which outlined the SFA’s plan to increase women’s participation in weekly sport by 40%
Although there is still a long way to go with regards to the systemic misogyny in Saudi Arabia, the proposed agenda for 2030 by the SFA provides a beacon of hope for Saudi women in sport
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This infrastructure requires women to seek approval from their male guardian for many basic necessities such as travel, marriage or access to healthcare; a major obstacle for the engagement of women in sport. Alongside oppression within society, there has been a historic dearth of initiative to improve the inclusivity of Saudi women in sport due to legal, cultural and religious reasonings. Although the aforementioned impediments have severe implications for Saudi women in sport, positively, small increments of progress have been
plan to increase women’s participation in weekly sport by 40% under the Quality of Life Programme. In 2017, the series of reforms led to the introduction of physical education programs for girls in public schools, the permittance of women to attend football matches in 2018 and the establishment of a women’s football league at community level, eliciting positive changes for Saudi women.
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Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia requires women to seek approval from their male guardian for many basic necessities such as travel, marriage of access to healthcare; a major obstacle for the engagement of women in sport
made. In 2012, the National Olympic Committee of
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Women’s sport in Saudi Arabia has been a longstanding subject of debate. Across all aspects of their lives, Saudi women are faced with extreme discrimination due to the existence of a male guardianship system.
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Hayes’ claims ring profoundly true, certainly given men’s footabll’s prevalent problems regarding racism, sexism, and homophobic attitudes.
not for the elite. Football is represented by a diverse society and within that diverse society men’s football
live in.” Her claims ring true, certainly given men’s football’s prevalent problems regarding racism, sexism, homophobic attitudes and evidently outdated outlooks on a substantial number of social issues.
Image: Metro News
Images: Maariyah Fulat