Category: seriously?

Dear UQ Sustainability: Please stop your ableism and fat-shaming

January 7, 2015

Dear UQ Sustainability:

I recently had the pleasant surprise of spotting the new sign you put up next to the elevator in the Michie Building, and possibly next to other elevators across campus. I think it is lovely that you are concerned with making UQ more sustainable and lowering its environmental footprint. However, I was very unimpressed with the way you’ve chosen to tackle this issue. Not only are these news signs annoyingly patronising to everyone reading them, but also ableist and fat-shaming … More Dear UQ Sustainability: Please stop your ableism and fat-shaming

Why Asexual is a Label I Need: An Open Letter to Matty Silver

June 24, 2014

An open letter in response to Matty Silver’s article in the SMH: ‘Asexuality: Don’t be too hasty with labels.’ Dear Ms Silver, As an asexual person and an asexual activist, I am always happy to see asexuality featured in public discourse. As a sexual orientation, asexuality is woefully under-studied, under-discussed and under-represented in the media … More Why Asexual is a Label I Need: An Open Letter to Matty Silver

On Race, Gender and the Recent Brisbane Murders

April 4, 2014

Content note for violence against women and people of colour. Last week, a young woman was murdered in Brisbane. Police managed to identify her as an international student from France called Sophie Collumbet. She was brutally beaten by her attacker, probably while on her way home. In recent times, three other international students were also … More On Race, Gender and the Recent Brisbane Murders

Burdens on Society

May 29, 2013

Lately I’ve been thinking about the rhetoric that is ‘being a burden on society.’ It’s a phrase that gets thrown around at many things, resulting in some form of self-righteous judgement and de-humanisation of those accused of being a burden. Who is a burden on society? Well, that’s easy, society tells us. It’s those fat … More Burdens on Society

When will women stop being told to be more careful?

March 21, 2013

Please note that this post discusses sexual violence, victim blaming and rape culture, and may be triggering. Recently there has been a lot of talk about rape culture on the internet and in the media, especially in regards to the Steubenville rape case. You don’t have to look far to see some of the responses … More When will women stop being told to be more careful?