PODCAST: Stella Perrett on why free speech and satire should matter to feminists

05/21/20 • 61 min

Credit: Stella Perrett

Stella Perrett was a political cartoonist for the UK’s only socialist daily newspaper, The Morning Star, from 2015 to 2020. She had published cartoons criticizing capitalism, the police, Brexit, the American president, and more. It wasn’t until Stella drew a cartoon called “Endgame,” commenting on the impact of potential changes to the Gender Recognition Act on women’s rights, that she ran into trouble. After complaints from trans activists and leftists like Owen Jones online, who said the cartoon was “transphobic,” The Morning Star pulled the cartoon.

I spoke with Stella on May 11^th about her career, her views on censorship, the value of satire, the Charlie Hebdo massacre, why feminists and the left need to stand up for free speech and free expression, and more.

Credit: Stella Perrett

Previous Episode

PODCAST: Women as ‘breeders’ — Renate Klein on the harms of surrogacy

Renate Klein, author of “Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation”

We hear about surrogacy routinely in the media, almost consistently in a celebratory way — a baby is gifted to a loving and deserving family. Celebrities announce they are “having a baby” via a surrogate and face almost no criticism. But what’s really behind the practice? Why are we so accepting of a clearly unethical and exploitative industry?

In this episode, I speak with Renate Klein to learn more about the multitude of harms caused by this practice around the world. Renate is a feminist health activist, an original signatory to Stop Surrogacy Now, a founder of FINRRAGE (Feminist International Network of Resistance to Reproductive and Genetic Engineering), co-founder of Spinifex Press, and author of Surrogacy: A Human Rights Violation.

Next Episode

PODCAST: Prof Kathleen Lowrey didn’t hide her views on gender identity ideology, and was punished for it

University of Alberta associate professor Kathleen Lowrey was dismissed as associate chair of undergraduate studies in the department of anthropology in March.

Kathleen Lowrey, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Alberta, was recently dismissed from her role as undergraduate programs chair. She was told students had complained about her views on gender identity ideology.

I spoke with her on Thursday about what happened and about the current culture in academia, in terms of free speech, open debate, and the ability of students and professors alike to discuss the issue of gender identity.

Follow Kathleen on Spinster @kathleenbee.