The shame of sexual abuse is not mine: a young woman empowered to fight back

An amazing trip  I recently returned from a lengthy speaking tour which took me to Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and New Zealand. I addressed schools, women’s conferences, youth groups, health and wellbeing events and The Mask You Live In. In New Zealand I was a guest of TEARFund, speaking on what I call ‘Everyday Trafficking’ –the […]

Zoo shuts down: one less vehicle for sexism and promotion of male entitlement

Collective Shout takes credit for hastening Zoo’s demise: Coles dumping title was ‘catastrophic for sales’ Four months ago, young Melbourne activist and designer Laura Pintur, 23, launched a campaign through Collective Shout calling on Coles and Woolworths supermarket to act consistent with their corporate social responsibility, ethical framework, care for communities and commitment to safety […]

Why Zoo and Tyler are a threat to women: MTR and Caitlin Roper take on Brendan O’Neill

Fueling sexist attitudes which contribute to violence against women Last month I responded to a piece by Brendan O’Neill, in The Australian, critical of our campaign against Tyler the Creator and Zoo magazine. It appeared in the on-line version at News.com (paywall means only subscribers would see it). Following this, my colleague Caitlin Roper took […]

Ja Feel creepy corporate predators: MTR on Feminist Current

Ja feel men’s fashion label: corporate sexual predator promoting non-consensual sex acts Ja feel men’s fashion label: corporate sexual predator promoting non-consensual sex acts. Australian company, Ja feel, promotes the sexual abuse and degradation of women and girls (as well as pornographic imagery and racist stereotypes) all in the name of marketing their “lifestyle brand.” […]

CafePress glamourizing violence against women with Xmas rape shirt

Who thinks of such things? A long-sleeve Christmas T-Shirt, with festive motifs, adorning the word  ‘Rape’, the word itself made from candy canes. A petition has been launched to get CafePress not only to take it down but to pre-vet products before they are sold.  Cafe Press also features in Collective Shout’s annual Cross Ém […]

Sorry/not sorry: Why Blanc and Redfoo’s apologies are misguided and insincere

Because Blanc and Redfoo fail to identify, acknowledge, and discuss the factors that sparked outrage to begin with, they are incapable of sincerely promising to change By Natalie Jovanovski   You may have heard about the misogynist antics of self-proclaimed “pick-up artist” and Real Social Dynamics (RSD) coach, Julien Blanc, whose recommendations for picking up women include […]

This man teaches other men how to force women’s heads into their groins. This hotel was hosting him. Not any more: MTR in Herald Sun

My piece on Herald Sun website here:  http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/julien-blancs-sexist-abusive-pickup-methods-should-be-rejected-by-aussie-venues-says-melinda-tankard-reist/story-fni0ffsx-1227112652542 Blanc’s training seminar: how to grab women’s heads and shove them into your groin   See also: Julien Blanc Real Social Dynamics Dating Coach Slammed for Promoting Sex Abuse Tactics in Melbourne, Herald Sun

Two prostitution survivors describe how it feels to be paid to be raped

Paid For: My Journey Through Prostitution: a compelling take down of pro-prostitution myths I recently read Rachel Moran’s autobiography Paid For: My Journey Through Prostitution (Spinifex Press, 2013). It is the most compelling  take down of pro- prostitution myths I have ever read. As Amnesty International goes against all it supposedly stands for in backing […]

Misogyny Re-loaded: An Interview with Abigail Bray

I introduced Abigail Bray’s new book Misogyny Re-loaded to you at the end of the year.  Here’s a great interview Abigail did recently with Meghan Murphy at Feminist Current. You really should have a listen to it.  

‘I have lost count of how many women have told me they have been raped. All of the rapists have gotten away with it while the women are burdened with years of unspeakable shame and self-hatred’ –an explosive new manifesto against rape culture

‘Misogyny Reloaded’ by Abigail Bray In 2011 Dr Abigail Bray, a researcher and writer now living in the South of France, joined with me in co-editing Big Porn Inc: Exposing the Harms of the Global Pornography Industry published in 2011 by Spinifex Press. Spinifex has just released Abigail’s new book Misogyny Reloaded . This is an extract […]

Why I’m calling on Twitter to stop abuse

US Rapper Tyler The Creator unleashes a torrent of hate on Sydney activist By Talitha Stone I’m a 23-year-old psychology student from Sydney and in June this year, I was subjected to a horrific torrent of abusive tweets from fans of touring American rapper Tyler Okonma. I challenged Okonma’s lyrics which encourage rape and violence […]