Female Objectification and the need for change in Society….

The need for change in attitudes and behaviour towards women in the mass media is now upon us….

Female objectification is an issue that never really gets the media focus it should, while we all know it takes place, how many of us really care to consider what it must feel like? To live in oppression and in many cases feel like a second class citizen.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women took place on November 25^th. The day also marks the start of 16 days of Activism that will lead up to The International Human Rights day on December 10^th.

 These dates may seem insignificant in your life but what about if you were not allowed to read and write or to live freely, how would you feel then?

 Just imagine taking a breath; and not being allowed to live your life, the harsh realities of the world where females are subjected to widespread violations of their human rights comes crashing down around us.

It comes crashing down like a prison cell and this is the life so many women are forced to live. Such women are forced to live in purgatory by being subjected to violence by those who deny these women the most basic of human rights.

The campaign to end violence against women is another reminder that violence against women is one of the most widespread human rights violated on a world wide scale. The reality is there are women and young girls suffering from widespread and horrific forms of violence.

This violence occurs on a local, national and international basis. It could occur to your mother, sister or girlfriend or it could happen to you. The manifestation of this violence is that it is most prevalent in domestic and sexual violence.

The NUI Galway Feminist Society marked The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by hosting an event entitled "A Night Full of Pictures". The aim of the event was for to highlight the issue of misrepresentations of women in the mass media.

Speaking at the event Mags Morley an independent curator said: “I selected a series of short film and video works that female artists have made that deal with political issues from all around the world” Adding to this she hoped “The night would help people get a lot of different approaches from the same medium”.

The Feminist Society in Nui Galway saw the event as a chance to mark the day with a subtle but powerful presentation on everyday forms of gender violence. The films featured included the works of Elaine Byrne, Nina McGowan and Carol McCarthy.

“Discussion is perhaps the first step towards change in attitudes” says Patricia Prieto Blanco. Patricia a PhD Candidate at the Huston School of Film and Digital Media and one of the organisers of the NUI Galway event.

Adding to the discussion she said “There is still a long way towards equality, and right now we are in a very good moment, we all have access to means of production and this allows us to raise our voices that will potentially be heard”.

The Feminist Society feels that the 16 days of activism highlights not just physical violence but other kinds of violence that happen every day. The event shows that “we belong to the wide network of events being organised around the world.

The organisers of the activism days encourage groups to go local, and to speak to local audience and this is why the NUI Galway society wanted to bring this event about “Our Women”.

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is not the only form of female objectification to come under the spotlight in recent times. Objectification of women in the mass media is something that has been scrutinised in the media this year.

Lucy Anne Holmes began a campaign to end the objectification of women in the print media industry. She believes that the female objectification of page 3 girls is there for no other reason except to sexually gratify men.

The page 3 campaign has gained a steady pace in recent months and is not something that is going to go away. Patricia added to this by saying “The discussion is encouraging many other women to take action by themselves”.

In the 21^st century when young minds are so easily influenced it is questionable as to what editors in Newspapers see a topless woman brings to the news content of the publication. The objectification of women in the media through tactless publications of such images leads young men seeing women as sexualised objects and many young girls think they have to aspire to be like these women.

Talking about ending objectification to women and acting on it are two sides to the coin. Newspaper Editors glorify headlines in the print industry highlighting the issues but fail to realise that they are part of the problem, by allowing images of females in their paper that expose their bodies.

We have to end the generalisation and taboo surrounding female objectification and the easiest way to do this is by having a voice and supports events on a local grounding such as “A night in Pictures” in Galway. On a national level we must rally behind the page 3 campaigns that objectify women in the mass media.  

Losing Faith – Ireland's struggle with Suicide

Is it a failure in human nature that is leading to more and more Irish people dying by suicide? 

The emergences of the loss of faith Irish people seem to have in humanity is the shocking reality of a society we now live in. The power to trust people with true emotion and to voice the personal struggles so many of us go through on a daily basis is what I believe is leading to the increased suicide rates our country now possesses.

The notion of suicide was something that never entered my vocabulary as a child growing up in Ireland in the late 90’s, it’s not because it didn’t exist, it’s because the occurrence of a death by suicide was largely uncommon in comparison to trends in Irish society today.

Death by suicide is sensationalised in the media and this was not something that occurred to me until I became a student journalist immersed in the sensationalised world of the media. As the transition from bystander to participant in this world has begun, some serious questions have been raised in evaluation of Irish society.

In the past six months in Ireland, two separate families have been devastated by the effects of suicide. Erin Gallagher was found dead at her family home. Erin died by suicide just hours after posting messages on the social networking ASK FM site saying she was being bullied. She then revealed on the website ask.fm how she was going to take her own life

In a shocking similarities the death of fifteen year old Leitrim schoolgirl Ciara Pugsley is another such high profile case; Ciara experienced extreme bullying through the anonymous site, ask.fm, in the months leading to her suicide.

Such high profile suicides such as those of these two bright and beautiful Irish teenagers raise serious ethical issues in reporting such deaths. As a journalist you have to consider what is newsworthy in a death by suicide. There is of course the need to inform the public of such human tragedy but where do we draw a line. How far does the need to know go in today’s Irish society.

In such cases there is always the fear that the publics need to know of such tragic events in their midst will extend to certain levels of detail, which intrudes into the lives of those who are left behind following a loved one’s death by suicide.

As a society we blame, we blame because it is sometimes easier than facing up to the fact that there is something wrong with a society that is failing so many people. We should be proud to be Irish but in today’s society, can anyone of us hold up our hands and say we are proud?

 Kate Fitzgerald was a 25 year old aspiring media professional. A much loved daughter, sister and friend but tragically Kate’s death on August 23^rd 2011 reaffirms the misgivings of Irish society that continues to fail its citizens and further raises ethical issues in reporting death by suicide in the media.

The talented young Irish woman wrote an article in good faith and intrusted her final life work to a paper she believed in, a paper some may say she had faith in. The article published outlined Kate’s personal struggle and it was Kate telling her own story, in her own words.

This was a highly educated and beautiful young woman, who had everything to live for, but had lost the faith in Irish society and ultimately her faith in life. She did not name her employers, she did not name her friends, and she did not name her family.

The emergence of this failure in Irish Society is that The Irish Times edited the final works of Ms FitzGerald, with the emergence in the days following Kate’s death of further details surrounding the employer Kate had worked for. Edited the final life’s work of a talented young woman was no one’s right except her own. Was this a grave ethical error on the part of one of Irelands leading newspapers?

 The simple answer is yes

Kate Fitzgerald decided to take a stand in her final days and fought back her inner demons by writing this article and left it to a credible paper and this same paper have tainted her memory by editing a piece that she wrote in good faith. The paper did a great injustice to the memory of this vibrant young woman. She wasn’t just Kate Fitzgerald; she was a daughter, a sister, and a friend. 

Kate Fitzgerald’s story has touched the hearts of the nation and whether it was her intention or not, Kate has helped highlight Ireland's struggle with depression and the certain sense of taboo it still egos in Irish society. Depression still remains the biggest silent killer.

In the year that has passed since her death, thousands of more people have taken their own lives. Where does it stop? Fighting those personal demons is a fight that is now too often becoming a losing battle for far too many Irish people.

While Kate Fitzgerald's pain may now be over, it is a pain her family now have to bear with and the anguish of losing her. It is a pain that is shared by the Gallagher and Pugsley family also following the deaths of their beautiful children.

People may search for a moral at the end of this story but sadly there isn't one. The world continues to loose beautiful and aspiring young men and woman. As a nation Ireland needs to revaluate and take stock of what is really important in life. It's about keeping the faith and willing to believe things do get better, even in those darkest hours.

The memory of those lost to suicide will live on because of the love people had for them but what we have to remember it is only a memory. We have to watch for trigger signs and help prevent further tragedies such as the increasing deaths by suicide in Ireland.

For anyone suffering anxieties or suicidal thoughts there are people who want to help please contact Aware on  01 661 7211 or on 01 860 1549

Galway Students Unite in Protest to the Government"No If's no buts, no education cuts"

NUI Galway Students protesting in Eyre Square today

“Students will continue to make their voices heard, and today’s protest is just one step in the campaign.”

Over three thousand students from NUI Galway, GMIT and Athlone IT took part in a demonstration in Galway City Centre on Wednesday afternoon. Student protestors gathered in Eyre Square.

The official stance of the protest was echoed by the Vice President and Education Officer of NUI Galway Students’ Union Conor Stitt, who said: “We hope to send a strong message to this government, especially the TD’s that are taking regressive measures to stop students continuing in education, and have put them in financial jeopardy. Mr Stitt added: “We are going to oppose them all the way and hopefully we will get Leinster House talking”.

Student leaders urged the student population of the three colleges taking part in the demonstration to take out their phones and text local TD Sean Kyne and Derek Nolan.

 Paul Curley, Student Union President at NUI Galway urged students to “tell them what you think about not being able to go to college next year”.

SU President Paul Curley

Mr Curley added: “The students of Galway were promised one thing from the Labour Government. They promised they would protect education, not increase the student contribution charge or cut the grant”.

“No If’s, No Buts, and No Education Cuts”

An estimated three thousand students took part in the demonstration aimed at voicing student opinion on proposed increases to education. The protest was organised in conjunction with with the Union of Students Ireland who are ruining the nationwide campaign “Fed Up? Stand Up?”

Speaking to Derek Nolan, the local TD said “I am very aware of the worries and concerns that so many students have about their education and their futures. I have always felt that public demonstration was an important way for students to make their voices heard”.

Dami Adebari, Vice President and Welfare Office at NUI Galway said: “Lots of students have already had to drop out of college. We are the future of tomorrow”. The Welfare led a student chant “No Ifs, No Buts, No Education cuts” which echoed through Eyre Square. He later urged students to keep the pressure up in the approach to Budget 2013.

One member of the public who gathered in Eyre Square to watch the student demonstration said “They probably have a right; It’s shocking that the majority haven’t the money to pay for an education. Families are rearing children; they can no longer afford to educate them too”.

Students on the NUI Galway campus were given a protest pack which contained a lollipop, a whistle and a condom to promote safer sex. Students then queued up to receive their free protest t-shirt.

Students on the campus reiterated the messages being sent by Student leaders around Ireland. Amanda Sara, a student at NUI Galway said” I am out today in the rain supporting this demonstration because the grant cuts are affecting me, and without it I will not be able to continue in college”.

Students in Eyre Square

Other students had similar stories with one student saying “Everyone should have an education and if we leave it up to those who have the most money, it will end up a country with only rich and smart people and where does this leave those others”.

The Protest passed off peacefully, although there was a strong Garda Presence on duty. The “Fed Up? Stand Up? Campaigns led by The USI will continue until the upcoming budget.

If love is the drug, then find me the cure…….

When Friendship leads to a Relationship, What happens next?

Those three little words, why are they so hard to say. Questions flood the mind, what about if they laugh at me? Worse still what if they don’t say it back.

I, I, I love you. Now that wasnt so hard was it? One small Problem you’re staring at yourself in the mirror, now time to face the music.

Sitting on a bus recently two teenagers about fifteen years old were so engrossed in each others company and professing their undying love for one another, it made me ponder the notion of love and relationships.

We all grew up to the boy or girl next door, the thing is many of us never got the chance to tell our childhood sweethearts how we really feel. For many of us the childhood crush remains just that, and we move on, or do we?

They say we all have one true love, the one person you think you can’t live without, and maybe this is true? Love is a very strong sentiment that is thrown around verbally.

Falling in love with your best friend is probably one of the toughest decisions one has to make, they say you can’t help who you fall in love with but where are the warning signs, the flashing lights to divert one from a relationship that is bound to fail.

Friends and relationships should never mix because the boundaries of friendship and relationships should never be crossed. It is inevitable that the relationship will fail and an ever greater chances that you will lose your best friend.

Making up and breaking up are two much intertwined processes of the friend becoming a relationship process. Now it may be a cynical thought to think that all relationships fail because of this pressure.

It happens though; it’s not Sex and the City where Mr Big comes running after Carrie. Losing a friend is something that is not easily won back, and one of the most heart wrenching parts of the break up is that the relationship does not fade back into the old friendship it was once.

Instead there is an air of awkwardness around the elephant in the room. Of course this elephant is the relationship that you both failed at and now one of you loses the friendship. The heart-breaking words of “I don’t think we can be friends”.

It hits us like a brick wall, the lump that immediately engulfs your chest. Moving on is not an easy task. It’s a bit like looking in at your former life from the outside. That numbness that comes about as a result of the pain the loss of friendship and a lover can bring.

Time is a great healer though, it may take a very long time to move forward but eventually you will. The crying will fade to dry eyes, the smile will return; the lump in your chest will dissolve.

The urge will come to text, ring, use a social network to stay a part of something you once believed to be your whole world, but stop, and think about the ten steps you are taking backwards in your own life.

Take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and think about how much stronger you are because of the experience. A lot of blame in a break up can be put on one person in a break up and the anguish of seeing the person you loved move on quicker than you have. It’s as simple as that though, people move on.

Falling in and out of life is part of life. Yes they may have been your best friend but remember it didn’t work as a relationship for a reason and as it turns out you’re a much happier person now than you then.

It’s like a self-help book of realization and hey if none of the above seem to be working for your moving on period just push yourself on three main goals that you want to see yourself doing in the next year, and be happy in the fact that you are now single and much better off without the EX-Best friend.

Who knows maybe it is all just an episode of Sex and the City and maybe there’s a new Mr and Mrs Big just around the corner for you. Time is the cure for heartbreak, time and the fact that you were always way too good for your ex.  

The Youth in Irish Politics…..

The youth of Today and Irish Politics, do they have anything in common?

We all seem to be consumed with the trivia and revelations of out trans-Atlantic cousins in The United States at the media circus that surrounds the U.S elections but when it comes to our own country and the diaspora that is Irish politics do any of us really care?

Perhaps Enda Kenny and Eamonn Gilmore don’t possess the ‘glitz and glamour’ that Barack Obama and Mitt Romney appear to have or maybe it’s because the generation that was dubbed “Celtic Tiger cubs” simply have lost the faith in Irish Politics.

The whole notion of Celtic Tiger “Cubs” is a notion that was created by the generation that destroyed our economy and country. Should we forgive their misgivings as they pass the blame to the generation that grew up feeding upon the Celtic Tiger? No, we should not forgive and forget.

The Celtic Tiger Cubs have now grown up to become known as “Generation Emigration”. Everyday another car pulls up at Dublin airport and the heart wrenching hug parents give to their child, who they may not see again for a few years. Why has this happened?

Ireland thrived in the days where Irish Politicians and the country’s highest bankers in Ireland swept every misgiving a fellow party member gave under the rug. The rug has well and truly been pulled from under our feet but I wonder who actually is suffering the most? The generation who created the mess or the generation are rebuilding prosperous new lives abroad.

They dubbed us “Celtic tiger babies” but now it appears karma has slapped Irish politics in the face. As more and more pack up and board the generation emigration train, where does this lead the future of Irish Politics?

As a “Celtic Tiger Cub” one recent aspect of Irish Politics grabbed my attention. The headline read “Government Officials to receive I-Pads”. It stuck out to me like a smack in the face for the tens of thousands of students left without their maintenance grants. The TD trying to cover tracks by spinning yet another tale of “Cost Saving” measures by the government regarding the printing that takes place in the Dail.

Irish Politics is facing into a new diaspora, more and more young people see the abolition of the Senate as one cost cutting measure that should come about. The jury is still out on whether Irish politicians are our friends or still the foe. Students in Galway will certainly soon find out.

Students take to the streets in opposition to fee increases

Thousands of students are due to take to the streets in a series of regional protests in opposition to further fee increases and cuts to student grants.

The first of the protests begins today at 1pm at the University College Cork.


The Union of Students in Ireland has launched a new campaign website, as it prepares to hold fifteen regional protest days across Ireland ahead of Budget 2013.

The site (www.usi.ie/standup) features information on the current cost of college. Students, parents and local businesses are encouraged to read the information specific to them and then select a TD or Senator from their constituency or near thier constituency and voice their opposition to any further fee increases and grant cuts.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn has said that college fees will be €3,000 by 2015, despite signing a pledge not to increase fees. If he follows through on his intention to increase fees to €3,000 he’ll not only have broken his pledge to you, he’ll have increased the cost of college more than any Minister for Education since fees were abolished in 1996.

But that’s not all. The maintenance has been cut by 11% since Budget 2011. You also have to live 45km away from your institution to qualify for the non-adjacent rate. It used to be 24km.

Students in Ireland have been encouraged to stand up and be heard.




Hurricane Sandy hits Home

The devastation of Hurricane Sandy has hit home to Ireland. It has been reported that Conor and Brendan Moore aged four and two were washed away during the hurricane in Staten Island last week. The boys father Damien or originally from Co Donegal.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Father Philip Daly, a priest in the Donegal Parish of Portnoo, said everyone was devastated by the tragedy, which he said was hard to accept.

He described how Mrs Moore made valiant efforts to save her boys, however, her pleas for help fell on deaf ears.

"I think that what added to the awfulness of the situation was the lack of support.

The Horror that Halloween Night in Galway City brought.......

What Started out as the typical Halloween night for many of us, ended tragically for one Galway student.

Halloween is every College students delight; a chance to relive our childhood memories of dressing up, in fact students take the whole art of costume making very seriously. 

I myself was one of the student revelers out in Galway on Wednesday night, having organised a get together with my fellow M.A Journalists, we headed off into the night. I  took to my trusty pirate costume as Captain Jack Sparrow but I saw a different side to Halloween that I had forgotten about. 

It was a bit like a scene from a horror movie as we got to Eyre square, everything from army soldiers to zombie brides awaited us, but among the great efforts put in by students, there was a strong police presence in the city and a notable amount of ambulances. Walking across Eyre Square there was the first casualty of the night. A young man in his early 20's was lying in a pool of blood in a "onesie" while paramedics attend to him.

 

I had to take out the i-phone and take a snap, I really should have dressed up as Clark Kent for Halloween as I can't seem to view things without seeing a story in it. I did feel sorry for the young man though, Lying semi-unconscious on Eyre Square was certainly not what he had anticipated for his night out. Alcohol seemed to be a strong factor in the madness that was Galway last night. We all like to socialize and go out but the accidents that follow really has me thinking is that glass of vino really worth it anymore???

Having left one fine establishment , I along with a friend joined the Queue for Halo Night club but it was here that the real horror of Halloween was unfolding. A tragic accident or prank has left an NUI Galway student in a critical condition in St James Hospital in Dublin. 

As I was attempting to get into the line for the club, it became known very quickly that something really bad had gone wrong. There were people panicing and all I could here was fire. The bouncers were not letting anyone else in, instead an ambulance came rushing up the street

The tragedy that was unfolding inside was the horror that 2nd year medical student had been set on fire and received horrific burns to his body. Today as I sit here all I can do is think of the horrors of such an accident and my thoughts are with his family and the hope that he will recover

Matthew Sheridan has been transferred to St James hospital in Dublin for treatment following a horrific incident at Halo nightclub in Galway city on Wednesday night. The NUI Galway student is said to have extensive burns to his body.

A statement released from NUI Galway on Thursday afternoon said

 “Matthew Sheridan is a medical student in the second year of his programme in NUI Galway’s Medical School.

 His classmates, the School faculty and the wider University community were shocked to learn of the tragic circumstances in which Matthew was seriously injured last evening.

Matthew is a highly motivated, respected student who shows evidence of real leadership potential and commitment to his community. 

He is a very popular student who is well-loved by his classmates and peers. 

We understand that the circumstances of his injuries are still being investigated.

 A University staff member was contacted by the emergency services in the immediate aftermath of the incident and was able to provide assistance in quickly contacting Matthew’s family in Dublin.

 Our thoughts are with Matthew and his family in this very difficult situation and the Medical School is available to assist in any way possible.

 On-going support services are also being made available to support Matthew’s classmates through this very upsetting event”.

Halloween can be the best time of the year, children trick or treating, students enjoy the social aspects of the holiday but it all comes down to timing and why things happen.

It is said that everything happens for a reason and it's all part of the bigger picture but I really don't know about this.

There is so much hurt and pain in the media reported everyday, it just makes me wonder why these events happen and what possibly could be the bigger picture.