Refugee update

Iranian hunger striker enters 46th day without food in Darwin detention centre: I thought I'd better let you know about this sooner rather than later.

Also of note: Philip Ruddock: Psychological problems part of humanitarian refugee intake: regarding Martin Place siege gunman Man Haron Monis, who was granted a refugee visa in 2001, the former Immigration Minister points out that refugees may have psychological problems as a result of torture and trauma, and that this does not disqualify them as refugees.

Links December 2014: Gender

What Sexual Assault Does To The Brain: why trauma victims give inconsistent accounts of the attack.

Lesbian Obesity Study Misses the Point: We Don't Care If We're Fat: "As it turns out, queer girls (lesbians AND bisexuals) are ALSO more likely to NOT THINK they're fat, even when their BMI puts them in one of the 'overweight' categories. On the flip side, straight girls are more likely to think of themselves as fat even when they're not... if you don't have to concern yourself with attracting men as romantic partners, it's considerably more reasonable to not give a fuck about their photoshopped-magazine-and-mainstream-pornography-fueled beauty standards".

[US] the number of homeless LGBT teens - many cast out by their religious families - quietly keeps growing

No 'solving' of the Jack the Ripper case will satisfy our obsession: "Jack the Ripper didn't kill sex workers: he killed women, some of whom sold sex sometimes. Jack killed flower sellers. Jack killed charwomen. He killed mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives... These women are infinitely more interesting to me than the identity of their killer."

[US] How to Lose $400,000: Women, Race, and the Minimum Wage. In the US, the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, and the tipped minimum wage is $2.13 an hour. In Australia, the minimum wage is $AU16.87.

Child sexual abuse: women make up 10 per cent of perpetrators reported to royal commission

Domestic violence strategy lacks funding and focus: women's groups: "The system itself is really stretched and the women and children are not getting the support that is required."

Unions want domestic violence leave to be universal right

The Feminist Guide To Non-Creepy Flirting

California adopts historic 'yes means yes' rule on sexual consent (which is fantastic, but it seems to apply only to college campuses?!)

Women under-represented in management positions, paid 24 per cent less than men according to Workplace Gender Equality Agency report

Family Court Chief Justice calls for rethink on how High Court handles cases involving transgender children: "As it now stands, a child wishing to change gender needs to apply to the Family Court for the second stage of treatment involving gender-changing hormones."

[US] These High School Students Are Fighting For Medically-Accurate Sex Ed: 'We Have The Right To Know'

12-Year-Old's Suicide Sparks Social-Media Outrage: Is It Enough?: Ronin Shimizu was a bullied gender non-conforming boy.

sometimes things are tough but look at this bun