FAQs

Why do we need a Women's Officer?

• Co-ordinating the women's campaign is a full time job as women have to strive against oppression in every single sphere of life.
• Women are under-represented even though they are the majority of students. Most union and university committees are not gender balanced so women's voices are often not heard.
• There are some crimes that happen mainly to women. Victims of such crimes often feel uncomfortable taking about them to non-women. For example, 97% of reported rapes happen to women. Therefore it is important there is always at least one woman guaranteed to be around on executive.

Why do we not have a men's officer?

While men suffer discrimination based on their sexuality, ethnic background or disability status (for example) they are far less likely to suffer discrimination based purely on their gender.

Women's liberation often comes under unfair criticism, unlike other liberation campaigns, because many people do not realise the extent of discrimination faced by women. For example, few people would question why we don't have a white officer, a straight and non-trans officer or a non-disabled officer.

By having a men's officer we would also reinforce a gender dichotomy, and this would mean people who do not fit into the gender binary of man or woman would be even less represented unless we also instated a gender-queer, transgender, transsexual, intersex (etc.) officer.

While there are issues that are important and are only to do with men, these tend to be issues of health and welfare rather than discrimination.

Although women are the majority (52% of the world's population) but are still a group that is under-represented in politics, business, media and many other areas of society.

How do I get involved?

Email the Women's Officer: womens@umsu.manchester.ac.uk, ring her on 0161 275 2939 or come along on Thursdays at 5.30pm to the Riveters meetings.

Isn't feminism only for scary women?

No! Feminism, as defined by the Riveters is the movement organised around the belief in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. It's about aiming for equality. Everyone can be a feminist regardless of gender.

In the words of Julie Burchill, 'If a woman answers 'no' to the question 'are you a feminist?' she should immediately be stripped of her voting rights, her right to institute divorce, her legal protection from domestic violence and marital rape - oh, and her pay should be cut to 19% less than that of her male colleagues.'