A woman's right to vote privately, Wales rugby sexism scandal, the Taliban, and more
The Siren Newsletter Issue #6
Welcome back to The Siren Newsletter - or hello if you’re new here! We have a selection of news stories for you surrounding women’s rights, issues, and wellbeing. As always, some topics are hard-hitting so please read with caution and reach out to us for any questions or support.
We’ve got a couple of big international stories this week - the Taliban have introduced more restrictions on women, and as the US election result approaches we discuss the right for women to vote in private in order to ‘cancel out’ their husband’s vote. For any policy/law nerds, our UK stories look at re-examining the age at which a person can be considered a victim of domestic abuse, as well as an exemption to the two-child benefit for children conceived by rape or coercion. Finally, we have the maternity health effects of the climate crisis and an apology from the Wales Rugby Union over sexism. Plus, don’t forget we have a few shorter stories for you to explore at the bottom of this page!
Content warning: sexual violence, domestic abuse, and miscarriage
International News
Taliban bans women from hearing each other's voices
In a development to their increasing restrictions on women, the Taliban has now banned women from ‘hearing each other’s voices’, meaning they cannot speak to each other or even pray too loudly so that another women may hear her. This comes just over two months since the Taliban banned women from speaking or showing their faces outside their homes. Afghan women must veil their entire bodies and are not allowed to drive, travel alone, or attend university. The Telegraph reported that the oppressive regime is leading to women taking their own lives. The latest ban on women’s voices is punishable by prison.
A woman’s right to vote privately in the US election
The US Presidential election has prompted discourse surrounding a woman’s right to vote differently to her partner, and to vote privately in order to prevent their partner from finding out. Recently, there have been growing concerns that women are facing difficulties in trying to vote in private or are under pressure to vote the same as their male partners. For example, the state of North Carolina is allowing married couples to share a voting booth, and some conservatives are taking to the internet to argue that a woman should vote in line with her partner. American pastor Dale Partridge, who has over 100k followers on X, tweeted: ‘In a Christian marriage, a wife should vote according to her husband’s direction’. However, a recent pro-Harris campaign advert encourages women that they can vote privately without needing to tell their partner who they voted for, which sparked backlash from conservatives.
UK News
Age of domestic abuse victims to be reconsidered following Holly Newton murder
The age at which domestic abuse victims are recognised by law will be 'looked at' says the home secretary following the murder of Holly Newton. Under current laws, both the abuser and the person being abused must be aged 16 or over - if the victim is under 16, then it is dealt with as child abuse. 15-year-old Holly was stalked and stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend in Northumberland last January. Her mother has been campaigning for an age change in the law, recognising that 'children are getting into relationships much younger' and can therefore be victims of domestic abuse. She is calling for more education for children, teachers, and parents so that young people can recognise 'red flags' in romantic relationships.
Mothers of children by rape and coercion to take DWP to court over two child limit on universal credit
Two mothers who had children by non-consensual conception (rape or coercion) have been given permission to take the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court for being denied an exception to the two-child limit on universal credit. Support through UC is restricted to the first two children in a family but there is an exception when a child has been conceived non-consensually. However, this exception only applies to a third child and any had after that. This means that if a woman has two or more children non-consensually, she will not receive the child element of UC for children who are subsequently conceived consensually. One of the mothers, has four children; the first two conceived by rape. She therefore does not receive support for her second two children and struggles to meet ends meet. She said: 'If I had been raped after my first two children were born, the exceptions would be applied, so basically [the DWP ministers] are telling me that I was raped at the wrong time.'
Health
Climate crisis has 'dramatic impact' on pregnant women's health and increases risk of miscarriage, finds report
The climate crisis is increasing the risk of miscarriages, birth complications and harming the health of pregnant women, says a new report carried out by leading scientists. The document, directed at world leaders attending Cop29 later this month, reads that these increasing risks of illness/harm for pregnant women, foetuses, and newborns are ‘threatening a reversal in the progress made in recent decades in maternal and reproductive health.’ It expands by saying that these impacts of the climate crisis are exacerbated by entrenched gender norms, low levels of income, and low levels of education.
Sport
Wales rugby sexism scandal
The Wales Rugby Union (WRU) has apologised after a Telegraph Sport investigation revealed the widespread sexism experienced by the women’s team during their contract negotiations. According to The Telegraph, WRU placed a time pressure on the women to sign their contracts whilst threatening to cancel fixtures and reduce training if they didn’t, including forfeiting the team’s place in the World Cup. WRU also allegedly turned down some of the players’ requests, such as higher salaries and a performance-based maternity policy. Despite the apology, WRU maintains that their decisions and actions were not on the basis of sexism. This is not the first time that WRU has been accused of sexism and misogyny, as a report this time last year also uncovered a toxic culture of harassment and fear.
News in Brief
🇯🇵 A record number of women have been elected to Japan’s house of representatives following the country’s recent general election, who now occupy 16% of the seats.
🚫 PornHub will no longer be accessible in Oklahoma after the US state passed a law requiring verification of age to access adult content, and the website refused to comply.
🎥 Actress Anna Kendrick is has donated her entire pay she received for her film ‘Woman of the Hour’ to two American victim charities, including the National Centre for Victims of Crime, and RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).
Another amazing issue!!