Women & Words: Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize

Doris Lessing won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature. To be honest, I only found out this morning because my dad called to tell me. I hadn't had time to look at the lists and briefly saw the headlines about Gore winning, so this made my day.

Lessing has managed to upset a whole skew of people through her writing and political activism. Because of her outspoken views on South African, she became a "prohibited alien" by Southern Rhodesia and South Africa n 1956. She was also criticized for leaving the Communist Party in the same year. Of course, she was also criticized for joining the Communist Party to start with.

Femina Potens: Cera Byer follows the path less traveled

Cera Byer discovered at a young age that the traditional life which our society prescribes for young people didn’t fit who she was becoming as a woman. At 14 years old, she took an incredible leap of faith and started a life of her own, emancipating from her parents. For a time she struggled to balance work, school and the normal challenges of adolescence, which were intensified by her choice to seek the life which was right for her. Shortly after that she was fortunate to find a surrogate mother and friend who, with no questions asked, took her into her family; and, helped to guide her to make intelligent choices as to her schooling (done at home,) her development as a woman and the adult life she was seeking.

Since that time, Cera has put herself through school and begun down the path to a life fulfilled creating art; and, in the process has discovered that she has fortitude of character, life experiences and intense desire needed to mentor other young women in the same way she was mentored as a teen.

Read Kate’s interview with Cera after the jump…

Femina Potens: Lauren “Indiana” Jones, fearless woman and a committed volunteer

Lauren “Indiana” Jones is a femina potens of the highest quality. One of my closest friends for nearly six years, she likes to joke about the fact that the first time I met her that I didn’t like her.

This was the spring of 2002: I had run away from being a grown-up for a bit; and, I was working at the front desk of the India House, an international backpacker’s hostel in New Orleans, Louisiana. At some point Lauren won me over: she told me later “I just decided you needed to be my friend, Caps.”

Lauren calls me “Caps” or “Capshaw;” (because, when we met she said I looked like actress Kate Capshaw in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.) I gave her the nickname of “Indiana” or “Indie” in return.

Read Kate “Caps” Kotler’s interview with Lauren “Indie” Jones after the jump…

The not so Bionic Woman and Chevron's promises

I don't watch much TV, and by that I mean almost none at all. Yet I have fond memories of the Bionic Woman (in reruns), so hearing there would be a new version I was excited. Apparently, too excited. Producer David Eick, who has some awesome female characters in Battlestar Galactica, decided to turn the butt kicking Jamie Sommers into a puppet.

If you haven't watched the new series here's a brief spoiler. Sommers is now a lowly paid bartender, pregnant, and about to marry her rich boyfriend, Will Anthros. Who, by the way, only likes her because it ticks off his dad. Suddenly the world has one less strong female role model on TV. Oh, but it gets worse...

Femina Potens: 1,000 paper cranes - part two of our interview with Kati Kim

Part two of Kate Kotler's exclusive interview with Kati Kim...

On 17 February, 2007, Kati, her daughters, and James’ family and friends gathered in Golden Gate Park to remember and celebrate his life. There were thousands of people who were touched by the heroism of James Kim, touched by Kati’s amazing resilience and character following her rescue, and touched with the idea of wanting Penelope and Sabine to grow up understanding how moved the world had been by their father’s dedication to his family. It was the heroism which took his life which joined them together to remember this truly remarkable man.

It was an uncharacteristically warm, sunny February day in Golden Gate Park that featured friends speaking about what James had meant to them, a children’s craft table, fire dancers, Native American drummers, opera singers, DJs, and the famous HoopGirl. One thousand colorful paper cranes fluttering in the breeze. The day epitomized the joyful way that James and Kati lived their lives, with families sitting on blankets showing their love and people danced to their own internal rhythms. The celebration continued on past sundown.

Kati remarked to a friend that she thought James was out in the crowd that day, dancing his heart out.

Read part two of Kate Kotler’s exclusive interview with Kati Kim after the jump:

Is the future of fashion design female?

Catwalk Queen's Kimberley Foster writes...

Does the future of fashion design lie in the hands of women? Apparently so according to today's WWD which explores the current changes in the industry where women are taking on the top jobs.

"It is partly a result of the fact that in many fields now, women are being recognized as being up to the top jobs. In fashion, specifically, I think it points to an understanding that women are instinctively in tune with the female customer" said Donatella Versace.

Femina Potens: Kati Kim breaks her silence to tell a story of survival. (Part 1 of 2)

On Saturday, 25 November, 2006 Kati Kim, her husband James and their two daughters were traveling home after having spent the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday in Seattle, Washington. They were on their way to the Tu Tu Tun Lodge, located near Golden Beach, Oregon, when they missed their turnoff from U.S. Interstate 5 onto Oregon Route 42. Instead of turning back, James and Kati decided to take a secondary route which they believed would lead them to the Oregon coast and their destination.

Soon – due to high snows and increasingly bad weather – the Kim family found themselves stranded in a remote area of southwestern Oregon; though, both Kati and James believed their location to be mere miles from the nearest town and that imminent help would arrive to assist them.

This was not to be the case.

Read Kate Kotler's exclusive interview with Kati Kim after the jump!

Ahoy lady-mateys!!! History's most notorious, bad ass female pirates

YAARRR! In honor of International Talk Like A Pirate Day, we're celebrating history's most notorious female pirates! Personally, I was unaware that there were female pirates, so this was a rather exciting discovery. (That, and it gave me plenty of Halloween costume ideas...) So! Who were the bad ass female pirates?

Anne Bonny:
Anne was an Irish pirate of the Caribbean, who disguised herself as a man to join her husband John "Calico Jack" Rackham's crew aboard the Revenge. She fought in combat and gained the respect of her fellow pirates, although she did have a bit of a temper. It's said she once stabbed a servant girl in the stomach, and a fellow pirate in the heart when he discovered her gender.

Femina Potens: I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar! Looking at everyday strong women

Have you ever wondered how or why you became the woman you are? I don't. The origins of my feminism are very clear to me.

One of the first memories I have is of standing in my grandparent’s living room as if I were in front of an audience. Parts of the memory are fuzzy and faded – almost like a dream – I couldn’t have been more than three or four years old. I look around the room, taking in the faces of the adults watching me: my Uncles look at me amused, my Grandma claps her hands in encouragement; my Grandpa leans back in his leather chair, lights a Lucky Strike and rolls his eyes. The face that I fixate on, though, is that of my Mother – with her big brown eyes and long blonde hair – she nods at me as if to say, “Go ahead.”

Real role models: Bethany Hamilton

As an adult, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and the like don't offend me that much - they're just a waste of space. But as a role model for girls, you can't get much worse. Which is why I wish instead of aspiring to be heiresses or glamour models, girls would aspire to be Bethany Hamilton.

When she was 13, Bethany got her arm bitten off by a shark. Now, with only one arm, she's still one of the best young female surfers in the world. And as anyone who's ever tried surfing will tell you, that's no mean feat. Instead of drinking, taking drugs, shopping and generally doing nothing of any value, Bethany spends her time winning surf comps, making DVDs to inspire young girls to become surfers and supporting World Vision and a whole load of other charities. Now that's someone to look up to.

Female Icons: Jane Tomlinson

Seven years ago, Jane Tomlinson was told she had incurable breast cancer and six months to live. But from then until her death last night, she fought to raise £1.75m for charity by (amongst other things) running the London Marathon, cycling 4,200 miles across the USA, and in 2004 she became the only cancer patient to ever complete the notoriously gruelling Ironman Triathlon.

As if the extra-curricular activities were not enough, Jane continued to work as a paediatric radiographer throughout her illness.

Want to help? Remember, you can click daily on the Breast Cancer Site to fund free mammograms

Wonder Woman Jumper from Practical Polly

Wonder Woman was one of the very first super heroines featured in comic books. Created back in 1941, she was meant to portray what a strong woman could accomplish. In the 1980s, when her comic book was rebooted, she was recreated as a feminist character. In any incarnation, she has been an inspiration to comic book reading little girls. And the television show, staring Linda Carter, reached an even wider audience. So it shouldn't be a surprise that a super-powered knitter has her own take on the well-known costume. After 14 months of knitting, knit blogger Practical Polly (whose blog is also well worth a read) has a jumper of which she can be proud. Now if only it really did allow her to fly! [Via Crafty Crafty]

My new journalistic heroine: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

I just have to tell the world about this woman. There I was on the train this morning, flipping through The Independent, and I came across her column for the first time. There, in black and white, the newsprint staining my fingertips as they gripped the paper tightly, were the thoughts of an intelligent, spirited, finely honed and - most importantly - open mind.

The article that struck me was one on religion and the offhand, fashionable atheism of the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Like me, Alibhai-Brown sees the flaws and faults in religion and agrees with Dawkins et al on a number of those points but, also like me, she has faith and cannot fathom the certainty with which these celebrity atheists express themselves. She states eloquently and simply all the things that I have struggled to say.

What Would Britney Do?: What is it about Victoria Beckham?

Keris Stainton continues the hunt for a young female role model...

Whatever you think of her, it's impossible to deny that Victoria Beckham is a role model to millions of young women. You only have to look at doppelgangers like Big Brother's Chanelle - or numerous WAGs - to see Vic's influence. But is she a good influence?

It's true that Victoria is mocked mercilessly for being a professional celebrity or even a professional wife (she's Queen of the WAGs, of course), but she is undoubtedly successful in her own right. Even if you ignore the Spice Girls (who were, of course, enormously popular and whose forthcoming tour is no doubt going to be a pretty big deal too), Victoria has had a half-million selling autobiography, hugely successful clothing range and this year won two Glamour Magazine Awards: one for "Woman of the Year" and another for "Entrepreneur of the Year," in respect of her fashion achievements.

What Would Britney Do?: Beth Ditto

Keris Stainton continues the quest for a young female role model...

I have to admit, I don't know much about Beth Ditto. Gossip (I thought it was *The* Gossip, but apparently not) are too trendy for me - but I have of course been aware of their front-woman. Who could fail to be? Over the past year Beth Ditto's been everywhere.

So here's what I knew: that Beth Ditto is a singer, is fat, a lesbian and a feminist. I knew she'd posed nude on the cover of the NME and that's what put me off her a bit. Yes, it was brave of her to pose nude (it's brave of any woman to pose nude, but braver still if you don't look like society's idealised image of a woman), but how many naked male rock stars has the NME featured on the cover?

TV Heroes: ER women

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

I couldn't choose between Kerry Weaver and Carol Hathaway from ER, so I thought I'd feature them both at once.

Kerry (whose name I thought was actually Carrie for about, ooh, five seasons) has been in ER since season two and has evolved incredibly as a character. When she first turned up, battling with Dr Doug 'George Clooney' Ross, I thought she was pure evil, but the episode in which her dead lover's parents refused to give her access to the child the couple had adopted was one of the most moving scenes in any of the show's many season (and there has been a lot of competition). There's also, of course, the fact that Kerry walks with a stick, but the reason for it wasn't revealed until season eleven. Oh and she turned out to be a lesbian (I'm not intentionally focusing on lesbians, honest!).

TV Heroes: The fabulous Ellen DeGeneres

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Ellen DeGeneres is actually a double TV hero: once for her sitcom and also for her chat show.

Not only did her sitcom introduce me to the fabulous Jeremy Piven, Ellen the character came out as a lesbian on the show (following Ellen the woman coming out on the Oprah Winfrey show), making her the first openly gay or lesbian lead character on US prime time TV.

The show itself was (and remains) extremely funny. Ellen is charming, convincing and just the right amount of neurotic. Plus I still covet that bookstore/coffee shop she owned.

TV Heroes: Carrie Bradshaw

I'm embarrassed to admit that I was a real latecomer to Sex and the City. I think they were up to about the third season by the time I caught on (Charlotte's wedding to Trey was the first one I saw). I borrowed the box sets of the first two series and spent a blissful weekend watching episode after episode with a bottle of fake Bailey's.

I fell in love - and remain in love - with all four of the Sex and the City women and I could have picked any of them as this week's hero, but I had to choose Carrie, didn't I? I *am* a writer.

What Would Britney Do?: What's the point of Coleen McLoughlin?

Keris Stainton's search for a young female role model...

Coleen McLoughlin. Coleen McLoughlin. What can I say about her? She came 10th in the list of the Top 10 role models I've mentioned before and she's certainly loved by the tabloids and chav mags alike, but why? What does she do? What's the point of her?

Obviously she's only become known in relation to a man (Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney, in case you've been living under a rock), but even in 2007 the same can be said for a lot of women, unfortunately, so I can't really hold that against her.

TV Heroes: Deirdre Barlow

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

I haven't watched Coronation Street for 18 years (since I left home) so I'm probably not the best person to write this, but Deidre had a big impact on me as a child and when I think Corrie, I think Deirdre.

There have been a lot of exciting and emotional TV moments in my life, from Who Shot JR to the final episode of Friends, but my earliest memory of a scene that left me with my heart in my mouth was from Corrie. Deidre, out one afternoon with baby Tracy in a buggy, decides to pop into the Rovers for some reason. While she's in there a lorry crashes through the front of the pub. I remember Deidre running outside, crying and screaming for Tracy while she hunted through the rubble with her bare hands.

TV Heroes: Lisa Simpson

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Who doesn't love Lisa Simpson? I mean, what's not to love? She's intelligent, funny, sophisticated - she's even a feminist! - and she's only 8 years old. She's also a cartoon character, but it's actually pretty easy to forget that.

Funny how when The Simpsons first began the promotion was all about Bart, when he's perhaps the least interesting member of the family (apart from Maggie). Homer and Marge are entertaining in their own way, but Lisa is easily my favourite Simpson.

What Would Britney Do?: Why is Paris Hilton so enormously loved, and openly loathed?

Keris Stainton takes a diversion in her search for a young feminist role model...

A bit of a departure this week, because quite clearly Paris Hilton is not a role model. In fact, there's really nothing about her that I would suggest any woman emulate. She's privileged, spoiled, and believes herself to be above the law. But - and it's a big but - she's both enormously popular and quite openly loathed. Why?

Heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune, Paris really became famous, or rather infamous, when an amateur sex video of her with then boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked onto the Internet in 2003. Before long she was featuring in, inevitably, a reality series, The Simple Life. She's had a couple of film roles and, last year, released an album. I have no idea whether or not she's talented as an actress or singer, but I'm not sure that really matters.

TV Heroes: Daisy Steiner

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Spaced's Daisy Steiner wants to be a writer, but she doesn't actually enjoy writing. She has lots of ideas, but would rather nap than actually expand on any of them.

She meets Tim Bisley and - once they've established he's not a drug dealer - they end up pretending to be a couple in order to rent a flat specified "professional couple only".

TV Heroes: Golden Girls

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Last week Gilmore, this week Golden...

Rose: "You don't understand. Everyone likes me-I'm the nice one! Dorothy is the smart one, Blanche is the sexy one, Sophia is the old one, and I'm the nice one! EVERYBODY likes me!"

Sophia: "The old one isn't so crazy about you."

How I love the Golden Girls. Set in Miami (Dorothy: "It's wonderful dating in Miami. Every single man under eighty sells cocaine.") it features four women - Sophia, Rose, Dorothy and Blanche - living together following retirement and divorce.

TV Heroes: Alexis Carrington

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

This week's TV hero is Alexis Carrington. Or, to give her her full name, Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan. Thanks to Go Fug Yourself, I learned that yesterday was Joan Collins' 74th birthday and that clearly must be celebrated.

How I loved Dynasty. How I hated Alexis. How I appreciate her brilliance now that I'm older and less easily spooked. What can I say about her, except that she was the superbitch's superbitch. Always there with a withering put down or a knife to slide between your shoulder blades. Oh and a hat for every occasion. Plus she could teach Cheryl Cole a thing or two about catfights.

Keris co-edits Shiny Media’s fabulous women’s fiction blog, Trashionista and contributes to TV Scoop and The Bag Lady. She had a giant crush on Dex Dexter, but doesn't like to talk about it.

What Would Britney Do?

Keris Stainton continues her quest for a modern feminist icon...

Not just Lily Allen, but Lily Allen and Charlotte Church. Yes, I've lumped them together, but I have got my reasons. They're both examples of what used to be called "ladettes" - women who comfortably exhibit traditionally male behaviours: drinking, smoking, swearing, etc. The other connection is a bit more specific; they're also both involved in what are effectively verbal catfights with Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud. (Trust me, it's relevant.)

But let me start with the "ladette" label. As I've said before, I'm not of the opinion that feminism means behaving as badly as men. The word "ladette" suggests that these behaviours are inherently male, which of course they aren't, and that in exhibiting them women are somehow going against their nature. That's rubbish, of course.

TV Heroes: Cagney & Lacey

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Another departure this week. Not only do we have two TV Heroes, but rather than just telling you why I like them, I'm going to take you back to February 2003...

*wobbly screen effect*

Stuck at home, full of cold, I put the telly on and ended up watching an episode of Cagney & Lacey from 1983. It started with Lacey being annoyed with Cagney who was trying to ingratiate herself with the men by joining in when they'd hired a stripper for someone's birthday. Then a woman came in and asked specifically to see female cops. She told them she'd been date raped.

Up to this point I'd only been half watching, but I was surprised to find a date rape case on Cagney & Lacey. I remember loving the programme, but I don't remember specific issues. So they're discussing it with the other cops who are all skeptical and then the lieutenant says, "How come when Rhett Butler throws Scarlett on the bed, that's romance, but when some poor schlub does it, that's rape?" and Tyne Daly says, "If you don't know the difference between rape and romance then you've got a serious problem." And she walks out. And the lieutenant says, "Is it her time of the month or what?"

TV Heroes: Fran Katzenjammer

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

Just in case you've never seen Black Books, the brilliant Channel 4 sitcom co-written by Arthur Mathews (co-creator of Father Ted), there are three main characters: grumpy, drunken, Irish, bookshop owner Bernard Black (played by Dylan Moran), his shambolic assistant Manny (Bill Bailey) and his whiny, lazy, frequently bored friend and neighbour, Fran Katzenjammer, played by the fantastic Tamsin Greig, who you will probably know from Green Wing or Love Soup (if not The Archers).

What I love about Fran is that she's not conventionally attractive and she's not the typical "girl" sidekick in a sitcom - she's as much one of the lads as Bernard and Manny. She gets drunk with them, smokes with them, skives off with them, in fact she's often the catalyst for the drunken skiving as she once again tries to avoid her unsatisfying work and, well, life.

What Would Britney Do?

Keris Stainton continues the search for a modern feminist icon...

A recent survey to find the following Top 10 inspirational female celebrities had Kylie Minogue at number one.

You can’t really argue with Kylie as inspirational, can you? She’s always been portrayed as strong, a survivor, and her recent battle with breast cancer only reinforced that. Yes, the press frequently likes to paint her as sad, lonely and desperate for a baby, but we’ve no way of knowing if that’s true (and of course the press is happy to tar any successful woman with the “yes, but she can’t keep a man” brush).

What we do know is that Kylie is ambitious, talented, stylish and confident. Like Madonna, she constantly reinvents herself and is arguably more relevant - and popular - now than at any than at any other time in her 20 year career. 20 years, can you believe it? Think back to her dancing round the bed in that strange bib-dress, singing I Should Be So Lucky. Did anyone seriously imagine she’d be the Kylie she is today?

Woman of the Week: Hadley Freeman

I only realised the true extent of my love for the Guardian's style writer when us Catwalk Queens were out for the Kate Moss launch. As I watched the first few people come out of the shop with their purchases, I saw her rising up from the escalators and exclaimed: "Ohmygodit'shadleyfreeman!"
One of the few fashion writers who doesn't seem like she might be a complete bitch in real life, Hadley actually has a sense of humour. She answers the nation's style queries with lighthearted bonhomie while dishing out sensible no-nonsense sartorial advice for people flummoxed by the whims of high fashion: "To whit, when a Fashion Person (hereon referred to as FP) describes a look as In they mean something that no one else is wearing aside from them, other FPs and a model on the Prada catwalk. When anyone else describes something as In they mean something that everybody is wearing and is currently in the windows of New Look." In short, she represents what fashion should be about, having fun with your clothes, not intimidating people with your status advertising frippery.

TV Heroes: Karen Walker

Keris Stainton on the TV women we love...

A bit of a departure this week. Not that I'm not focusing on a fabulous TV woman, but because I'm going to mostly let her speak for herself.

I've got something tough to tell you. Uh, I'm fabulous, okay? I'm an incredible dresser, I've got buckets of money, I'm a hoot and a half, and I've got a killer rack. Do you get what I'm saying?

Yes, it's Will & Grace's Karen Walker.

Inspiring Women: Helen Sharman

Diane Shipley writes of the iconic women we love: past and present...

Helen Sharman.

Born and brought up in Sheffield, Helen Sharman gained a degree in Chemistry at The University of Sheffield, then got a PhD at Birbeck and worked in London. Her jobs have included time as a research technologist for (yum) Mars chocolate and more recently as a broadcaster and lecturer in science education.

But what she'll be remembered for is answering a little advertisement that said: 'Astronaut wanted - no experience necessary.'
Yes, the first Briton in space was a woman. Not only that, she was just twenty seven. And not only that, she was from my home town...

Why must our role models be perfect?

Amber's column last week on Beth Ditto rightly questioned the media's sudden fascination with the Goliath-lunged singer. Although it is hypocritical to vilify one person for their extreme weight and then applaud another for similarly extreme weight, I personally think Beth Ditto makes a great role model.

Society being what it is, no-one looks at her and wishes they could be her size. They instead see someone stylish, talented, and comfortable in their own skin. I love her because it's great to see someone promoted as a role model not just for their looks but for what they can do. If I had a young daughter I'd like her to be inspired to do an activity by her role models, maybe a sport, take up music or become an activist for a cause she believed in. Images of women often show them as an attractive backdrop, not as an active member of society, and talented young women like Ditto show that just relying on your looks can lead to an unfulfilling life. As far as I'm concerned, it is far better to work hard, exploit your talents, and make mistakes like Andrea Dworkin, Julie Burchill, Joan of Arc and -of course- Beth Ditto!

TV Heroes: Monica Geller

Keris Stainton continues her hunt for the TV women we love...

A formerly overweight, insecure, control freak who choreographed dorky dance routines with a sibling and had a crush on Kermit the Frog ... it's like they took my life and put it on TV!

Monica is my favourite Friends character. She's sweet, charming, funny, intelligent, bossy, needy, dementedly competitive ... real.

Like many women, the majority of Monica's problems can be sourced back to her mother. Both parents clearly favour Ross and make no secret of it (Monica's mother called Rachel "the daughter I never had") although their father does try to make up for it by giving Monica his Porsche, to Ross's horror. I love the scene in The One Where Nana Dies Twice when, after Monica and Ross's Nana's funeral, their mother tells Monica about how critical her mother always was of her:

Inspiring Women: Rosa Parks

Diane Shipley writes of the iconic women we love: past and present...

Rosa Parks.

Or "how not giving up your seat on the bus can start a civil rights revolution"... After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man, she was arrested and tried for her "crime", sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycotts in Alabama in which no black person boarded a bus in the city for over a year, from 5 December 1955, to 20 December 1956. The protest led to the end of segregated buses (they were declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court) and brought the campaigning work of Martin Luther King to the public's attention.

One woman, one small gesture: one massive change. That's truly inspiring.