key snippets from European Parliament equality resolution

This European Parliament resolution on equality between women and men, adopted on 10 Feb has some interesting points: Texts adopted - Wednesday, 10 February 2010 - Equality between women and men in the European Union ‐ 2009 - P7_TA-PROV(2010)0021

For example better protection of immigrant women (given that 1 in 5 highly qualified immigrants is working in a low-paid job). Trying to mainstream gender into the EU2020 process. Urging governments to introduce programmes to encourage female secondary school graduates to take up careers in engineering (too late by then?). Highlighting the fact that the European Institute for Gender Equality is still not up and running (due latest 2008).

The EP also criticises the Commission for not yet bothering to respond to its November 2008 resolution on revising equal pay legislation.

A key point in my opinion is that this resolution also urges Member States to conduct more outreach with regard to combating stereotypes, through

'awareness-raising campaigns in schools, workplaces and the media in order to promote diversification of career choices, especially for girls and combat persistent sexist stereotyping and degrading images, with particular emphasis on campaigns that highlight men's role in better sharing of family responsibilities and in work-life balancing'

Let's watch this space..

The Stepford Sylvanians...

Sylvanian Families, the bemusingly twee brand of plastic animal tribes which live in tree houses, is enjoying a surge of popularity. Amongst its new creations is the new Pig Family.

It would be hard to imagine a more obvious reinforcement of gender stereotypes; I quote:

'Richard E. Grunt is a builder and a very good one. He builds lots of houses of all shapes, sizes and materials in the woods of Sylvania as well as garden walls, shops and schools. No job is too big or small for Richard E.

Constance Grunt like her name suggests is constantly preparing food for her large, hungry family. Pastries for breakfast, biscuits and tarts for snacks, at least five vegetables for main meals as well as puddings, it never ends!

Hugh Grunt is a 'chip off the old block' and hopes to become a builder like his dad. He has built his own den and treehouse in the garden as well as drawing up plans for a shed to store his tools; just like his father's shed!

May Grunt is a slave to fashion. She spends her time scanning magazines and shops for the latest designer outfits along with all the must have accessories. Once she has chosen her new look she then works out how to alter her clothes to create her new outfit.

I mean, please! Although the pig father's name is tantalisingly similar to Richard E. Grant, accident or design?

More descriptions of servile Sylvanians to follow...

UK slips down world equality league for third year in a row - Business News, Business - The Independent

UK slips down world equality league for third year in a row -
Business News, Business - The Independent

When men breastfeed

I just saw this on the Swedish Local news in English site.

Now that would be something, if fathers could breastfeed! I'll be following the results of his experiment and will keep you posted

the fun gap and orgasms

As always, Penelope Trunk is entertaining. Here is her latest take on the final gender frontier: the fun gap. She posits that 'What actually prepares you for life is athletics, aiming high, breaking rules, playing video games', oh, and orgasms. Not sure about her claim that there are no salary differences though...

while boys explore the world around them, girls will 'always be the little angel dressing her dolls': oh please!

The latest example, from US toy retailer educational toys planet, is frankly terrifying.

You click on 'Boys' Toys', and get the following:

Are there any special toys for boys? All boys from 1 to 99, either they enjoy assembling simple machines or complex constructions, putting together electric chains or simple mechanism, creating endless mosaic designs or new breed of dough animals, digging dinosaur fossils or pirate treasure, pretending being spies or garbage truck drivers, have one thing in common – they love to explore the wonderful world around them. Toys for Boys section brings a diversity of children toys, games, puzzle and learning products for different ages. Not only boys will enjoy the popular items from Toys for Boys, but their friends, sisters, and the whole family playing together. And what if you click on 'Girls' Toys?': It doesn’t matter if she is a newborn, an infant, a schoolgirl, a student, or even if she already has the children of her own, she will always remain mom and dad’s little girl. She’ll always be the little angel dressing her dolls, singing her songs and playing her girl games; so loveable and adorable... Please feel free to look at our toys for girls section to find exactly what your little girl wants to stay happy and joyful. Toys for Girls department brings fun educational toys and games for the whole family! This is for real, from a mainstream retailer. Can you believe it? So the uniting feature for boys is that they 'love to explore the wonderful world around them', whereas the girls are all about the relationship with the parents, and keep to indoors activities like 'dressing her dolls,' which ensure she'll be 'happy and joyful'. I'll look for some UK/European examples of this enraging trend. and some more inspiring examples, if possible...

Pervasive pinkification

Thoughtful piece by the Antonia Senior in the Times on the pervasive pinkification of girls, linked to the OECD's stats on the UK's disproportionate occupational gender gaps.

I write this under a well-meaning avalanche of baby girl gifts, nearly all of them pink. Taking my 2 month old daughter to a book launch dressed in a unisex velour brown babygro, it was assumed she was a boy. I've solved this for now by having a whole box of pink baby clothes that I prefer not to use, especially that sicky pastel shade. But how to defend her against the dragons of dumbed-down Disney princessdom?