Talat
@talatyaqoob
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Following
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Consultant/ campaigner/ commentator: account no longer in use. Find me here instead: https://t.co/9fzgSVzXmQ
Personal account/opinions only
Joined April 2011
A few, incomplete, words - I struggled with it, because nothing I could write would ever be able to fully describe the escalating horrors in Gaza and the anger and pain felt by so many. Calling for a ceasefire to protect millions of lives is the only humane response.
On the relentless assault on the people of Gaza, its erasure and the need for organisation for solidarity and resistance by @talatyaqoob :
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- Asian man stabbed.- Black men attacked .- Black bus passengers attacked.- Muslim women have hijab pulled off.- Asian man pulled from car + beaten.And now reports of an acid attack on a Muslim woman . If you are not calling this racism + Islamophobia you are part of the problem.
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Here’s you standing in front of a lectern with the words that are now a fascist slogan…spare me your shock.
The shocking scenes we’re seeing on the streets of Britain have nothing to do with the tragedy in Southport. This is violent, criminal behaviour that has no place in our society. The police have our full support to deal with these criminals swiftly and they must face the full.
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“Maybe if I had that perfect English. but if I report my son being missing, it should be taken seriously.” This is the reality of institutional racism.
“I want to embrace him and tell him how much I love him.”. Evidence Joel, the mother of missing student Richard Okorogheye, tells @JackieLongc4 she has been overwhelmed by the support from the public, as she appeals for her son to come home.
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📢 Hello! Some exciting news!! Pass the Mic (the directory of women of colour experts for media and events in Scotland) has been awarded year-long funding! I launched the website last October out of frustration at the status quo but with hope given the expertise and talent of WOC.
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Trump leading with white educated men is it in a nutshell; Those who have power and nothing to lose voted to keep the power to themselves.
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"A man told us how he would control women's bodies, so we got 2 more men to come on TV and tell us what they think about it. "
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the Sun. Never missing an opportunity to be misogynist since 1969. Pathetic really. @EverydaySexism
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We couldn’t help ourselves. at @EquateScotland we’re big fans of women celebrating their talents and taking up space #MeganRapinoe
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My Dad has always said “I need to have something for you in Pakistan, a connection, because you don’t know when it will change and they will want rid of you” I understood why, but it always unsettled/upset me - this disgrace of a Govt has proven him right.
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📢📢📢Launch of online list of women of colour (woc) experts/commentators in Scotland. If you need a speaker or someone for media interviews - use this, if you know someone who should be on it - share it. If you’re a WOC - pls be on it! #passthemic
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No, we are not. And this is deeply inappropriate. You can show compassion and stand against political violence but “we” are not all part of a movement that is violent in itself and against women’s reproductive rights, migrants rights and evidenced to be repeatedly racist.
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Idiotic commentators with the tired and bigoted trope of “working class concerns” - .Majority of Black and Brown people are working class and its working class communities that have worked in solidarity and stood up to fascists time and again.
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I have posted a lot today that is frightening, angry, heartbreaking and raw. But it's also important to notice those who give hope and love. This is a lovely human being and I thank him for giving me a very different reason to be tearful.
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Very genuinely crying. It shouldn't have taken this - but well done to every single person that turned up. You're all bloody brilliant.
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Just told my Dad (an Indian born and after partition Pakistan bred immigrant) about Empire 2.0.First time I've known him to be speechless.
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It wasn’t “just an abbreviation” when it was spray painted on my dad’s shop. It wasn’t “just an abbreviation” when a man shouted it at me + spat at me on my way to school. It’s not “just an abbreviation” when it’s used in comments when I dare to have an opinion about UK politics.
The word p*ki has come back into the public eye, so we thought it might be useful to give a brief overview of the words racist history. A THREAD 👇🏽🧵
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The way in which NZ has responded has been phenomenal, because it’s in such stark contrast to the continuation of division we usually see (in policy, politics and media). Have stared very emotionally at this front page for a few minutes.
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Just a general reminder; you can experience both privilege and oppression; someone can have financial privilege and at the same time experience racism/racial oppression. It helps no one to erase or ignore either to score points. They are both reflections of systemic inequality.
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The average earnings for a woman is £25,500 with less in savings. Resigning when pregnant to not “inconvenience” an employer does not signal decency, it illustrates financial privilege. And to then advocate that mat pay is excessive shows how little you know of women’s lives.
#GMB reports that Kemi Badenoch declined to take maternity leave when she had her second child, choosing instead to resign from her job so as to not cause any inconvenience to her employer (The Spectator magazine)
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This is the “left wing” celeb, who berated a Muslim woman cause he thought he was a better MP candidate for the Muslim community, and who is quoted saying “not every woman needs to be asked before every insertion” - so my dear brocialists, are we done with this self server yet?
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Anyone else finding full time working from home all of a sudden getting harder? Think I’m missing the back and forth of generating ideas with folk. And no, I don’t want to organise another video call. 😒.
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Ah, my parents just needed to try harder to not have their windows smashed, graffiti on their shop walls and be spat at. Got it. Thanks Tony.
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Was on @STVNews last night explaining how l rhetoric and policy-making within politics (esp previous UK Govt) has legitimised the racism and xenophobia we are seeing on streets. ***mostly just watch for my strategically placed decor***
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Look at this photo. Ppl of all faiths and none gathered in a church, united to remember a life. A credit to #JoCox
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I was overwhelmed and had major imposter syndrome when I got this award so it was a big for me. But somehow @Saltire_Society have topped it by taking a photo of me I don't completely hate (indulge my vanity here, but this is a *big deal*).
@talatyaqoob is a feminist campaigner and equalities activist focused on women’s equality in politics and the labour market, in particular championing the intersectional experiences faced by women of colour and Muslim women. #IWD19 #OutstandingWomen
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Don’t mind me, just shouting into my laptop….- No such thing as an illegal asylum seeker.- No legal requirement for asylum to be claimed in first country entered.- Bill being debated in Westminster is not about safety or “effective reform”, it is about right-wing ideology.
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I’m heartbroken to have lost Emma. It was a privilege to have worked with her and most importantly, be her friend. She was exceptionally intelligent, fiercely feminist, witty, kind, had great chat and the best advice. I’m going to miss you so much Emma, it doesn’t feel real.
It is with profound sadness we share the news that our Executive Director, Emma Ritch, passed away suddenly on Friday 9th July. Statement: . We will be closed this week as we collectively process the loss of our brilliant director, colleague, and friend.
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Watching yourself back in an interview is painfully cringe (Obvs I am going to stay awake and think about all the things I could have said) but this screenshot sums it up. Systemic racism, sexism and their overlap is why WOC have yet to be MSPs and why policy often fails them.
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What a day! Thank you so much to everyone who was there - so much brilliance and solidarity in the room. #PassTheMic.No excuses, no shortage of women of colour expertise in Scotland for speakers and media:
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Just a wee reminder for people who use this term as some kind of insult or a way to belittle the battle across the board for progress on equality and justice. It provides an real insight into a person.
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✨A little overwhelmed but hugely honoured to be awarded the Emma Goldman snowball award for research/advocacy on feminist and equalities issues! It came with the chance to meet awardees from across Europe at a residential in Vienna - all of whom were incredibly inspiring.
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Language matters. They are not illegal. No human is illegal. You do not know who they are, what their circumstances are - they are simply human beings being terrorised by racists.
🚨 BREAKING: Rioters have now set fire to the hotel housing illegal migrants in Rotherham
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The report is fiction but fulfilled its purposes; to sow further division and dismiss reality, to abdicate UK Gov of any responsibility to tackle racism, and excuse current and future policies which further embed racial inequality. Main points of what I say on Seven Days tonight.
"Unsurprisingly, I was angry and utterly exhausted by reading the report". A UK government review drew criticism this week after it concluded there is no evidence of institutional racism in the UK. We ask activist and campaigner @TalatYaqoob for her thoughts on #BBCSevenDays.
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📣Some news in strange times! It’s my last week at @EquateScotland -been a privilege leading the organisation over the last 4.5 yrs, I hope I‘ve made a positive contribution to creating a fairer labour market for women and positioned Equate as the leading expert in #womeninstem.
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This is a death caused by a system/ Gov that does not value the lives of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants-Mercy and her baby were in extreme poverty due to hostile enviro. policies-her life could have been saved if she had access to real support and simply the right to work.
Mum living in 'extreme poverty' found dead next to malnourished baby boy in flat
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In @TheScotsman today on why media platforms need to make some serious New Year’s resolutions so the likes of Clarkson, Piers etc stop spewing hate, actually be held to account and we get to hear from some new people, with something new to say.
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Thank you so much to @EngenderScot for creating a space today to think about, and show our love for, Emma. The staff team and board have done so much and so well, whilst dealing with the pain of losing her.
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We need happy news. I desperately need to hold on to something:
Minnesota has officially elected Ilhan Omar, the nation's first Somali-American Muslim lawmaker. #Election2016
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This is an important and furious thread. The details are horrific and it cannot be dismissed as being by a “bad apple” - the system is rotten, the systems around us enable/excuse misogyny and racism, and enough is enough.
As we learn Couzens used police status to abduct Everard remember Cressida Dick said there was an occasional 'bad 'un' in the Met. Yet 600 sex abuse claims made against Met officers over 6 years.
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Hello! by the end of April I am hoping the Pass the Mic list of women of colour experts in Scotland will reach 200 -can you RT and encourage WOC to sign up? - all expertise welcome; engineers, campaigners, carers, teachers, academics, NHS workers, artists.
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Just the president of the US casually telling women of colour to go back to where they came from. A slur I‘ve had too many times. That’s how far into this sh*t we are. Even the pretence in politics has gone, because there are apparenltly no consequences to being racist or sexist.
So interesting to see “Progressive” Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all), now loudly. .
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“It just got a little bit easier to be Muslim in this country, to be Black” what an explanation from Van Jones. 100% crying.
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Some news: Looking forward to working on this with Anna. You can read the link below to find out about our initial plans focused on accountability and participation, to make sure the recommendations made deliver positive change for women and girls in Scotland.
We are excited to share the announcement of the appointment of our new Co-Chairs, Talat Yaqoob and Anna Ritchie Allan, who will lead the NACWG through Phase Two of this programme ➡️➡️ (1/3)
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Every time this has popped up on my timeline it has given me so much joy. I've sent it to all my nieces: Take up space. Stand tall.
Megan Rapinoe struck an "iconic" pose after scoring against France in the Women's World Cup
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"Hammond wore a striking blue tie and some falling socks gave us a little ankle action" wrote no paper ever. #everydaysexism.
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We all need this. Maybe just watch it a few times throughout the day.
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.@rapecrisisscot is a phenomenal organisation, which has, for years, delivered often life-saving services - they deserve support not abuse. Solidarity and love to you all.
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I’ve spent last hour trying to write a tribute on @EngenderScot’s page + going through messages between Emma + I. Last was day before we lost her; it’s so fitting. She cared so deeply, worked so hard + achieved so much. And she knew there was too much that still needed to change.
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Eek. 🫣. Was very surprised when this landed in by inbox! Thank you to @Saltire_Society for the honour of being on their “40 under 40” list alongside so many brilliant folk.
Exclusive: Actors, artists, writers, singers, musicians and campaigners have all been named in a new “40 Under 40” list aimed at honouring outstanding Scottish creative talent. @TheScotsman @scotsman_arts @Saltire_Society
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I regularly feel like an imposter, especially when I have to give a big speech, so this is very reassuring to me! This comes up constantly in conversations I have with other women; I think we’re all doing much better than we give ourselves credit for. 🙌🏾.
Think it’s really important for young people - especially women - to know that even the most senior, apparently confident people have moments of self doubt. It’s not a reason not to follow your dreams. Be yourself and believe in yourself.
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We need a radical Parliament and a courageous government to deliver the system change Scotland needs; piecemeal policy making isn’t enough. I’m doing some angry writing in @scotonsunday @TheScotsman today
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People are doing “find a baby pic which is your personality now”. Well, here you go. You’re welcome.
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I remain astonished at the direction we have chosen. Case numbers sharply rising (including those in hospitals) and yet 2 simple and effective protections; face masks and access to LFTs are being ditched. And all of this so much worse for high risk and carers.
It's a tragedy when govts, rather than using vaccines & therapies to improve outcomes (by using a vaccines plus approach), use them to promote policies that cause a much higher level of infection, long COVID & unacceptable levels of 'acceptable deaths'.
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Sure Liz, sure.
Read my piece in @MailOnline about equality for everyone. We need less tokenism and symbolism and more real change to improve people's lives across 🇬🇧 including attacking the scourge of geographical inequality. Determined to drive this forward in 2021👇.
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News! the Pass the Mic project already has 4 media partners who will be hosting paid commissions from women of colour experts over the next year- thanks to @HolyroodDaily @TheScotsman @thecourieruk @SunScotNational
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I'm wearing black flats- more importantly, I'm working on a training strategy to make workplaces fairer for women. #WeAreMoreThanShoes.
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Good to see new feminist women being elected and many re-elected; now it’s the hard work of building those values into bold transformative policy; focused on a feminist, wealth-redistributing economy which works for women of colour, disabled women, unpaid carers, single parents.
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Really wish folk would read up on what intersectionality/intersectional feminism actually is before dismissing it as some kind of trend or using it (bizarrely)as an insult. It was created (in the 1980s) to explain systemic racism/sexism, and how they overlap/compound one another.
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Mum watching my interview from last night:."yeah that was good, but you should have had a photo of me and your Ubbu in the background. We should be on TV too". Thanks for the feedback, Mum.
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It is a real (and unexpected!) honour to be elected as a fellow of @news_RSE - really looking forward to playing my role in RSE's work and meeting all the exceptional fellows.
We're thrilled to announce the election of our 64 new Fellows, representing the full range of #STEM subjects, #arts & humanities, education, industry, business and public life; including two Honorary Fellowships given to @Alancumming and @nfergus 🎓.
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Good to see focus on the role men must play instead of the usual victim blaming and terrible “safety tips” for women we have seen far too much of.
Most guys don’t look in the mirror & see a problem. But it’s staring us in the face. Sexual violence begins long before you think it does. #DontBeThatGuy
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Indeed. But they’ve also done well because the main parties have failed to counter their bigotry. Instead they’ve pandered to it. That is dangerously ground for us all. The main parties won’t win at this, because you’ll never out-bigot the likes of Farage. Do better.
Reform have done so well. They've convinced a lot of people that their struggles in life are because a Somalian family have got some foodbank vouchers. What a world.
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Think we can all see that this sentence may as well stop at "my concern is prevalence in politics of women"
@rainiangel @malcolmcameron7 @NeilFindlay_MSP My concern is prevalence in politics of women who decline to have children in favor of a career & who lack judgment in social policy areas.
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Do you think there’s folks in the US that stay glued to Twitter and their telly for 24 hours waiting for Edinburgh Central results to come in. ?.I’d quite like there to be.
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Much like the word woke, the term white privilege is being manipulated and moulded into an attack, into a way to cause division, distraction and prevent any meaningful change. Anything to prevent UK Govt and the institutions that hold it up having to do any work to tackle poverty.
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I’ve been incredibly angry the last 2 weeks, so I’ve written about why. 👇🏾. We’re right to be angry about rule breaking + Xmas parties. But we need the same anger for dangerous UK Gov’s policy agenda which are costing lives and our human rights.
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First #PassTheMic meet up of some of the cohort 1 and 2 writers! Absolute joy to be in a room of brilliant, insightful women of colour - thank you, all! 💜
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Someone has gone to the effort of getting in touch after reading this article and letting me know that an “ungrateful foreigner” like me, shouldn’t be entitled to an opinion and I should go back to where I come from. That would be Edinburgh. I stand by every word I wrote.
The treatment and demonisation of asylum seekers by the UK government is heartless, calculated politics. I’ve written about the Manston attack, the consequences of inhumane language and policies and why we need an overhaul of politics.
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Can we be clear here that all 4 being listed are men. There has never been a woman of colour elected to the Scottish Parliament - the double bind of sexism and racism is real in Scotland's society.
A further mention of an important issue. With just 4 MSPs out of a total of 306 elected since Holyrood was created from BAME backgrounds, what should or could be done. I spoke to @HumzaYousaf and @AnasSarwar about this on @ITVBorderRB. Full interview here:.
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Arrive to talk about improving experience for women in construction/built environment. This is greets me. 🙄
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Lots of world mental health day tweets, which are welcome; talking about it + fighting stigma is critical, but so is infrastructure/well funded services. We can’t encourage people to talk, when services to support them are at breaking point, and the response is a long waitlist.
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There are currently 11 boxes of dates in the house. I *think* Ramadan might be coming up. .
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Best and worst of humanity on twitter today (as ever). Make your timeline better by following/donating to organisations which support asylum seekers and refugees @Refuweegee @scotrefcouncil @justrightscot @GlasgowShelter @PositiveActionH @UbuntuGlasgow.
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First dose done, one step closer to brighter days. Thank you to the NHS and vaccine centre workers/volunteers for such a fast and safe process, and thank you science. 💜
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@ZayZee00 It is so frightening, getting messages from friends and family members who are in the towns they’ve scheduled to riot in. Everyone on high alert.
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Thanks #BBCsevendays for invite to be on the panel tonight, my mum is super chuffed to have been on telly (and I’ve just about got over the nerves).
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This #IWD2021 I want to send gratitude and love to women’s organisation fighting for a fairer Scotland for women every day of the year;@rapecrisisscot @scotwomensaid @EquateScotland @EngenderScot @closethepaygap @AminaMWRC @ZTScotland @SWBG @youngwomenscot @SWRC_ and so many more.
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Some new research on #IWD2021 #PassTheMic has been working with @ProfKarenBoyle to monitor media in Scotland over a week to analyse the number of (and context in) women of colour appear in the news. 11 woc across 7 days. read here:
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Afghan women and girls are being manipulated into any/every narrative that someone wants to jump on. Stop robbing them of their own agency, and speaking on their behalf. Want to be an ally? RT the women who are there, who are living it and who are their own experts.
@pollytoynbee has since deleted what is quite plain for all to see as an unabashed right wing talking point. pantomime appeals to the rights of 'women and girls' while the insinuation is that each and every male refugee is a potential violent threat. tale as old as time
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On @ScotlandTonight last night talking about Rishi Sunak’s speech - full of soundbites - but his messaging on racism is purposeful to discredit legitimate critique of his Govt’s policies and anti-racism campaigning.
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New women of colour experts added today - on digital inclusion, technology, environmental engineering and career development - thank you to those who have added their names. If you're in media or events and looking for experts - Here's a place to start:
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Tiny bit of good news in what feels like a constant dark news cycle: every racist party in the #BatleyandSpen by-election lost their deposit.
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@matthaig1 My wonderful 6 year old nephew has started to send letters to me as his new hobby. The latest lists which animals he wants to see at the zoo. 💜
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I’ve Retweeted a lot of painful and scary stuff today. So have this. A little bit of love and hope. And yes, I cried a bit.
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I see your driech day soups making and raise you hot kheer (Pakistani rice pudding) 😋
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Disproportionate high deaths due to Covid19.Black ppl 2x more likely to die in police custody.6% increase in race hate crime.Pakistani/Bangladeshi women 12% pay gap to white women.Nearly half of BAME households living in poverty. Black women 4x more likely to die giving birth.
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I know I’ve retweeted this already, but it is such a stark reminder that whether it is sexism, racism, ableism, classism; meritocracy is a myth when the system itself works against you.
Here it is. Poorest pupils Higher pass rate reduced by 15.2% between teacher estimate and statistical moderation. Richest pupils rate reduced by just 6.9%.
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"Compassion and community" values that don't apply if you're a refugee, disabled, a woman, or a family of more than 2 children.
PM: This Easter let us work together to build a brighter future for our country. I wish you and your family a happy Easter.
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"Black women’s lives, in particular, are made hell: just look at the experiences of Gina Miller and Diane" Abbott.
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Rare good news: Applications are open for #PassTheMic 2022 cohort of opinion writers! This is an opportunity for women of colour in Scotland to have a paid published piece amplifying their expertise - programme includes networking and development sessions:
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Excuse me while I have a wee cry - such a kind email from @206_melissa whose expertise were on radio yesterday morning. Hugely grateful that #PassTheMic is having even a small impact and most of all is able to create a space of solidarity for WOC. (Shared with permission)
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Was on #BBCsevendays reviewing the week’s news last night, including #DontBeThatGuy campaign, welcoming the message being focused on men, and crucially, the need for Police Scotland to tackle their own institutionalised sexism/misogyny.
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Ok. It’s now a full on obsession. She is excellent.
Megan Rapinoe: “Just shoutout to the teammates… We’re chillin’. We’ve got tea sippin’. We’ve got celebrations. We have pink hair and purple hair. We have tattoos and dreadlocks. We’ve got white girls and black girls, and everything in between. Straight girls and gay girls. Hey!”
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How desperately I wish we could have an election that’s wasn’t focused on a few personalities or in this case, a certain ego, but instead, you know, actual policy.
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A @ScotParl filled with women who want to create change in how politics works. What a wonderful day! Thank you @ScotWomenStand for the invitation to be part of the day and the chance to speak to so many brilliant women. #ScotWomenStand
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Have just sent out emails to #PasstheMic applicants. We got DOUBLE than the number of funded places-I am so excited to work with a brilliant group of WoC and for those who get a disappointing email -I'll have some good news on more commissions for writing soon! .Me right now:
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Just found out that I have been shortlisted for @SMKCampaigners gender equality campaigner of the year for @Women5050- current emotions: 😲😮🤗.
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