Femocracy

In this episode, we discuss the concept of motherhood, and its links to the resurgent ‘trad wife’ aesthetic. We begin by investigating (and critiquing) bio-essentialism and the idea that women are naturally more suited to domestic duties, before exploring an alternative historical explanation of how they ended up in this role. We draw upon the role of religion and the ideas of Silvia Federici and...

In this episode, we discuss the concept of individualism and why, as a society, we have become so focused on ourselves. We begin by touching on the historical and political developments that led to this state of being, before exploring our behaviour as explained by the ‘rational actor theory’. As part of this, we highlight the phenomena of conspicuous consumerism as well as the problem with the de...

In this episode, we begin by introducing the environmentalism movement- briefly covering its history and its expression in society. We then discuss some ecological reasons why it is important to protect the planet before unpacking why humans take advantage of the planet, and feel they have authority over natural resources. We then cover methods of conservation, and the association of indigenous pe...

In this episode, we are joined by Tess Walsh, a fellow student at the University of Edinburgh who is involved in all things film! From producing and directing her own documentary to setting up an Edinburgh student's film festival, Tess is an expert on the film industry. She gives us a deep dive into the history of filmmaking, including The Golden Age of Hollywood and how the industry has been mono...

In this episode, we discuss 'True Crime'. It takes the form of a debate, as we both have different perspectives on the topic! We talk about whether true crime can ever be ethical, and who it really helps/ serves. We cover the role of true crime in helping to solve unsolved cases and increasing our own individual safety, but also how it can be exploitative and often fails to accurately depict reali...

To kick off season two (no pun intended!), this episode is all about sport! We discuss how sport has become a form of religion for social groups in society, as well as investigating the role it has played in nationalism and patriotism within a country. We then talk about the contributions of sport to political movements before covering the wider sociological issue of sexism and the undermining of...

In this episode, we discuss bell hooks, a prominent Black feminist activist and scholar. We explore her associations with spirituality and religion, poetry, and intersectionality, as well as discussing her work around masculinity and popular culture (with reference to some particular icons!). We also talk about her views on love, taken from her book 'All About Love' published in 1999 that explores...

In honour of the general election, in this episode we discuss Rishi Sunak's biggest fails. From his economic pledges, to his failure to reduce NHS waiting times, to his response to the conflict in Gaza, we take a deep dive into all the ways that Rishi Sunak has infuriated the general public. We explain some of the not-so-successful policies of the Tory government under his leadership (includin...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the witch trials that occurred throughout Europe and New England. To start with, we discuss the role of legal developments and religion in popularising the phenomenon. Then, we talk about techniques used to catch 'witches', introducing The Witchfinder General, before highlighting the role of prejudices such as ageism and ableism that impacted who w...

Inspired by Angela Davis' book 'Are Prisons Obsolete?' in this episode we discuss whether it is feasible to abolish prisons, and whether we should! We begin by highlighting key issues with the current prison system, including its historical links to slavery and issues of racism, sexism and classism. We then explore how the prison system is maintained by the school to prison pipeline an...

TW: not mentioned explicitly but there may be some allusions to sexual assault In this episode, Polly Barnaby (who studies Politics with us) joins us to discuss incel culture. She covers a broad range of topics, including what incels are, what they believe, how men get immersed into this world and, importantly, the role of social media. We then go on to discuss what direction incel culture may be...

In this episode we tackle a slightly different topic- conspiracy theories! We begin by outlining some popular ones in society, including the Illuminati, Princess Diana's death, the NASA moon landing and Area 51. We also discuss how they reflect power imbalances in society, for example, many conspiracy theories come from a place of prejudice and those such as climate change being a 'hoax&#3...

Because it is Women's History Month, in this week's (longer!) episode we discuss our favourite women in history, including Nellie Bly, Angela Davis, Harriet Tubman and Agatha Christie. We focus on their lives, their work, their legacy and why we find them so inspirational. Also, there is a special mention for some other women particularly close to our hearts!

In this episode we discuss all things fast fashion, beginning with the environmental impacts in the form of waste produced and energy used. We then discuss the human impact of fast fashion on workers in sweatshops. After this, we talk about the influence of micro-trends on our consumption, and how this is advancing the fast fashion industry. Finally, we explore alternatives. The first is DIY fashi...

In this episode we discuss the links between gender and technology! We begin by focusing on the 'data gap' as investigated by Caroline Criado Perez before moving on to discuss the feminisation of artificial intelligence such as Alexa and Siri. We then discuss the women at the centre of the book 'Hidden Figures', explaining their role in NASA's space missions and how their contr...

In this episode, we talk about all things cities! We begin by discussing the development of New York and Cairo, followed by a look into the importance of green spaces in city living. Finally, we delve into the work of two notable urban activists: Hazel M Johnson and Jane Jacobs, focusing on environmental racism and how to make cities functional and vibrant for their people! Link to Zarah Sultana&#...

In this episode, we discuss how elements of Eastern cultures have been commercialised and appropriated in Western society, using examples such as yoga, manifestation, mindfulness and astrology!

In this episode, we discuss whether politicans should have a role in the entertainment sphere, particularly focusing on Matt Hancock and Nigel Farage's adventures in the jungle!

In this episode, we discuss whether or not Taylor Swift is a Feminist icon, particularly unpacking an intersectional and class-critical perspective.

Hey guys and welcome to Femocracy! This is our introductory episode where we share what the podcast is about, give a lifestyle report, a news report and interview each other with three random questions so you can get to know us better! Information links: Background on the Israel-Palestine conflict: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/03/israel-and-palestine-a-complete-guide-to-the-crisis ht...