Katy Preen
Bio
Research scientist, author & artist based in Manchester, UK. Strident feminist, SJW, proudly working-class.
Stories (58)
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Brexit — It Looks Like It's Happening
Both of the main political parties in the UK are committed to Brexit – well, sort of. The Tories more so, and I’m a little bit impressed that their pro-Remain MPs have been kept in line. Labour’s a bit more ambiguous, not because Jeremy Corbyn’s voiced anti-EU sentiment in the past, but because now he’s not really saying much of any substance. Most Labour MPs and party members are pro-Remain, and in PMQs and interviews, Corbyn expresses sentiments that would fit within a Remain framework. But he can’t bring himself to actually say it explicitly.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
Healthy at My Size
I’ve written previously on the extremely delicate issue of Thin Privilege. Well, I didn’t get too much hate for that, so I’m giving it another go! In the news recently, we heard that Gigi Hadid had received comments about her being “too thin.” In her response to the haters, she revealed that she’s undergone a noticeable change in weight due to treatment for a thyroid condition. She shouldn’t have had to justify her existence in the first place, let alone divulge personal medical information, but I suppose it’s done something to educate the public about the condition. Most younger people won’t know that much about it, as it doesn’t tend to affect young people.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in Longevity
A Trigger for Change
Another day, another high school massacre. They happen so frequently now, that the shock value just isn’t there anymore. How awful, that the senseless deaths of children no longer shock us. Predictably, pro-gun spokespeople including politicians and celebrities have been scratching around for as many excuses as they can to deny that lax gun regulation was the cause of yet another school shooting.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
Glamorous Assistants
The last month’s been pretty good for feminism. The #MeToo campaign generated a lot of much-needed attention for issues that affect many women, yet have been dismissed for decades. First it was sexual harassment and assault, but now we’re talking about more nuanced feminist issues, and people seem to actually be listening. Hurrah, no more yelling into the void!
By Katy Preen8 years ago in Viva
Real Justice for Rape Victims. Top Story - February 2018.
TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses the treatment of rape cases in the English justice system, which involves victim-blaming and discussions of victim's sexual histories. It's not very nice, and you may find parts of this piece upsetting.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in Criminal
Mind The Gap: Education & Employment Outcomes
Earlier this month, Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner was quoted as having said that “white working-class boys are being left behind because of the 'negative impact' of a focus on ethnic minorities and women.” That’s not what she actually meant, but her clumsy wording did make it seem as though she was blaming affirmative action for the poor educational outcomes of indigenous British boys. What she says she actually meant is that immigrant families send stronger messages about the importance of education to their children, and white working-class families tend not to. Therefore a cultural change is necessary because white British boys have not been specifically targeted for additional support in the same way that ethnic minorities and female students have (which has generated improvements, demonstrating that the measures work and should be continued). She wasn’t saying that if we help people with one characteristic, we’re taking assistance away from another group; more that we need to focus on changing perceptions and attitudes so that British boys don’t sabotage their futures through lack of aspirations. But that doesn’t make as punchy a headline, so the Telegraph went for something that pushed the right-wing buttons instead.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
Hostile Environment. Top Story - January 2018.
Another day, another example of rich people putting spikes on things to shield them from reality. This time (I swear I am not making this up), a developer in Bristol has put spikes on the branches of trees to prevent pigeons from roosting there and pooing on the residents’ fancy cars. Have we reached Peak Privilege? I think we may have. The trees overhang the car park, and rather than cleaning their cars the good old-fashioned way, the residents requested that the building management install a preventative measure, so that they don’t get inconvenienced by unsightly bird shit. I do hope those trees aren’t deciduous (haha, yes they are!), or they’re going to be mighty upset come autumn.
By Katy Preen8 years ago in The Swamp
#MeToo Is About You, Too
There were times in the past that I was sympathetic to the cries of “Not All Men,” but after a while I’d seen and heard enough to feel like it actually was All Men. It wasn’t in overt harassment, or openly sexist comments, but the accumulation of so many little things, the “microaggressions.” But after a while of putting up with the stereotypes, assumptions, and being treated as “less than,” they started to feel a lot like the regular old macroaggressions. It was everywhere. And worse, when confronted with information that suggested they—gasp!—might be in the wrong, the Not All Men were deeply offended and incredulous that we could possibly have interpreted their innocent behaviour as sexism. Just like the person who thinks it’s worse to be accused of racism that it is to actually be racist, we end up in a never-ending cycle of complaining and then having to deal with the tantrums and denial caused by the complaint. Well #MeToo has given us the opportunity to say “No More.”
By Katy Preen8 years ago in Viva
