Dr. Jessica Ringrose, a lecturer in the sociology of gender at London's Institute of Education, proposed that feminism should be taught in schools. In light of the rather rabid way that popular media portrays women today, Ringrose explained that "Teenage girls are struggling to find a positive identity that's not completely defined by their sexuality. Positive role models can help them find the strength to resist being sexualised by men's needs." Concerns that young......

Playboy is seeking to increase the number of Playboy branded clubs around the world, UPI are reporting, and have London in their sights. “London will be logical for us. We had some very good years there”, said Executive Vice President, Dick Rosenzweig. The last London Playboy club closed in 1981 amid illegal gambling allegations, following a period in which Playboy’s casinos were lucrative enough to support all other areas of the company’s operations. It’s......

A happy Bank Holiday Monday to you, friends! Can’t bring yourselves to leave the flat and venture out in this stormy weather? Neither can we. But really, we appreciate whatever excuse we can use to dip into the ever-growing pile of books on our bedside table. A look at the week ahead in literary London: Tuesday: Booker-shortlisted author Tim Winton will at the Australian High Commission for the launch of his latest novel, Breath,......

Is it just your imagination, or is Londonist going all literary on you for the second time today? No, it’s true: we’re just that geeky. But if the Bard’s birthday bash doesn’t have you all hot and bothered this week (speaketh it softly, or surrender thine literati creds), here are a few alternatives to keep you otherwise engaged. Tuesday: If you haven’t booked already, there are still a few seats left to hear Isabel......

Feminists. They don’t shave their armpits and they bathe in toad spit and the pubic hairs of young boys. Right? Well, you could try asking that question at the European Feminist Summit, but we would advise against it. Part of the London Festival of Europe, the summit, titled The Future of European Feminism will discuss feminism in the 21st century, in the context of Europe, politics, art and media. With feminist blog The F......

It's time to stand up, speak out and come together for Feminist Fightback, the annual free activist conference taking place at University of East London for it's second year. Because fighting back is still necessary and feminism is not dead - and sadly, women's rights and gender equality still need protecting and promoting. Representatives from groups like Central American Women's Network, Women in Darfur, Women's Environment Network, Southall Black Sisters, MPs, student union representatives......

This weekend column is brought to you by the founders of Niceties Tokens, Liz and Pete of Team Nice. 7. Girl Power All in all, this has been a pretty major week. We’ve had the highs, lows and inevitable mud bath of the Glastonbury Festival. For an event that focused on the issue of climate change it is ironic that whilst its performers sang, the country was subjected to record downfalls amid unseasonable storms.......

This week - Kate Winslet falls in love with Jack Black - ludicrous, ludicrous! (The Holiday) and a documentary about the US governments attempts to deport John Lennon, (The US vs. John Lennon). In short, this film is gash. The rule goes - the worse the film, the more entertaining the reviews. This film is no exception. Bradshaw gives it 1/5. He begins with, "I'm a book editor from London - you're a trailer-maker......

In debates about abortion, there is one voice that usually goes unheard - the women who have their pregnancies terminated. Tomorrow evening, Abortion Rights is hosting a screening of excerpts from a new documentary that tells the stories of women who've exercised their right to choose, and don't regret it in the slightest. Access to birth control and abortion is crucial for women's equality. But while most people in the UK identify themselves as......

There seems something oddly obscene about ITV's decision to make a programme about the public's favourite images of death, destruction, mayhem, murder, pain, suffering, and general shittiness (ITV 50: The Shot That Shook The World, Tue 9.45pm ITV1). So, which is your favourite picture of disaster - the man standing in the path of a tank in Tiananmen Square, or the little Vietnamese girl crying as her body is engulfed in flames? Vote now......

Speaking, as we were, of billboards and advertising*, we'd be interested to hear what Londonist readers think of the Dove ads that seem to be up everywhere at the moment. On one building near London Bridge they share space with an ad for the Lib Dems that has forever twinned (in our minds at least) Charles Kennedy's campaign for a real alternative with curvy women hanging around in their underwear. While trying to figure......

It's twenty five years or so since Frank Zappa complained about the (brain) Dead Girls of London and if you sit on a bus around the time that schools get out then you'd be forgiven for thinking that things hadn't changed all that much; a lot of squealing over McFly, arguing over whether Hollyoaks is better than Home & Away and strained a cappella versions of the latest Girls Aloud tune. The TV is......