he’ s abused. This current wave of allegations following Weinstein’ s behaviour means he is now too risky for their profit margins, and that’ s why he’ s being dropped. n Westminster and on sexual harassment and assault that’ s easy for men to disregard generally, I think Jo Brand did a brilliant job of summing this up: https:// www. theguardian. com / uk-news / video / 2017 / nov / 04 / jobrands-speech-on-sexual-harassment-silences-all-male-panel-on-have-igot-news-for-you-video
Appendix 5
Feminism and fashion Natassja Yoxall- Communications Manager at Girlguiding( July 2014 – September 2017)
1. What does feminism mean to you?
Feminism is no more complex than being the fact that all people are equal, and no-one should face any adversity – however big or small – in their life as a result of their gender.
But for me, it’ s a little more than that. It’ s about challenging every part of my day with the question‘ would I be having to think about this / do this / have this conversation if I was a man?’ And if the answer is no – trying really hard not to do it!
It’ s also about community. It’ s accepting that we’ ve still got a long way to go but instead of getting angry, building each other up. Pep talks with friends ahead of a job offer to make sure they ask for more; saying“ sorry, she wasn’ t finished” when someone talks over your colleague’ s good idea in a meeting; getting out your mascara too when someone’ s tutting at the woman across you on the tube for doing her make-up.
Feminism is completely exhausting. But it’ s also the most important thing in my life.
2. How important was it to Girlguiding to promote feminism and in particular body confidence and resilience?
It was really important, because it’ s what girls told us they wanted from us! Girlguiding doesn’ t do anything without consulting the girls and young women it exists to support. Consistently when we asked them, girls told us Girlguiding was a space for them to be themselves, build confidence and resilience so that they have the skills to thrive in the world – and while the younger girls may not have used the term‘ feminism’, of course that’ s exactly what it’ s all about.
Girlguiding also has a panel of young women called‘ Advocate’ https:// www. girlguiding. org. uk / social-action-advocacy-and-campaigns / promoting-girls-voices / advocates / who decide what Girlguiding campaigns about and why. They’ ve led the charge on everything from banning page 3, to condemning sexist coverage in the run up to the last general election. They’ re brilliant feminist role models!
3. Recent Disney films such as Brave, Frozen and Moana show a strong independent female lead character. Does this mean anything for the future of feminism?
Absolutely! A core feminist principle is that‘ you can’ t be what you can’ t see’. When I was young, these strong female characters were really few and far between – and it’ s taken me a really long time to figure out that of course we can be just as heroic, funny, smart and successful as men as a result.
From Katniss Everdeen through to women’ s footballers, I’ m so happy that girls today can turn on TV or go to the cinema and see women being the stars. Of course, there’ s still a really long way to go, but it’ s got to be a great start.
4. How important is social media for spreading awareness of feminism?