Many science fiction and fantasy readers are disappointed to encounter everyday sexism in a medium that is supposed to offer an escape.… Read the rest
Welcome to our archive of news stories relevant to the project of fighting fashionable nonsense. The stories are drawn from the electronic pages of the world’s media. On this page, you’ll find links to those stories that have been featured on Butterflies and Wheels during the current year. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find links to separate archives of stories from previous years.
We’re always pleased to hear about news stories that you think should be featured on Butterflies and Wheels. Just send an email here, if you want to point one out to us.
A note about links
Inevitably links go out of date. We suggest, therefore, that you make hard-copies of the stories that particularly interest you.
Acid attack on Bolshoi artistic director 
Jan 18th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sergei Filin had already received numerous phone threats, and his email and Facebook accounts had been hacked.… Read the rest
Another gang rape on a bus in India
Jan 17th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The bus driver and his helper took the woman to an undisclosed address where five others joined the two men and raped her throughout the night, police said.… Read the rest
Obama unveils gun control proposals
Jan 17th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He signed 23 unilateral orders, including an end to a ban on gun-violence research by the CDC.… Read the rest
Islamists flee Timbuktu
Jan 17th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The people of Timbuktu are overjoyed. “Today everyone can do as they please. We would like the French to come to Timbuktu.”… Read the rest
Selective abortion of girls taking place in the UK
Jan 12th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Officials have found signs that birth rates for girls and boys vary noticeably according to where their mothers were born.… Read the rest
Pakistan: 10 years in jail for misquoting a Hadith
Jan 11th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The accused was acquitted of blaspheming the prophet, but imprisoned for ten years and fined Rs200,000 for outraging religious feelings.… Read the rest
Delhi rape victim’s friend gives his account
Jan 4th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“We tried to resist them. Even my friend fought with them, she tried to save me,” he said.… Read the rest
The rapes that India forgot
Jan 4th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
On most days, Indian newspapers report atrocities – a 10-month-old raped by a neighbour in Delhi; an 18-month-old raped and abandoned on the streets in Calcutta…… Read the rest
Malala has left the hospital
Jan 4th, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She will continue to receive treatment as an outpatient.… Read the rest
Jesus and Mo discuss sex and hedonism
Jan 3rd, 2013 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hedonism is wrong. Wrong wrong wrongity wrong.… Read the rest
Abortion website hacker caught
Dec 30th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
A hacker broke into the website of Britain’s biggest abortion provider because he “disagreed” with the decisions of two women he knew over their pregnancy terminations.… Read the rest
The year it became okay to blame victims of sexual assault
Dec 29th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Reddit has entire categories dedicated to “raping women”, “hot rape stories”, and “choke a bitch”.… Read the rest
The progress of Nirmukta
Dec 29th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Nirmukta has successfully brought together a diverse group of people from all over the world who share our passion for promoting Science and Humanism.… Read the rest
India: rape victim kills herself
Dec 28th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
An 18-year-old girl who was gang-raped last month committed suicide after a police officer pressed her to drop the case and marry one of her attackers.… Read the rest
Uganda: gay rights group office vandalized
Dec 28th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The office of the Sexual Minorities of Uganda (SMUG) has been vandalized and robbed, potentially putting gay Ugandans at risk.… Read the rest
Delhi gang rape victim dies
Dec 28th, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
She had suffered from severe organ failure following serious injuries to her body and brain.… Read the rest
Iowa Supreme Court: ok to fire a woman for being too hot
Dec 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hey it’s better than putting her in a burqa, right?… Read the rest
Timbuktu: Islamists destroying remaining mausoleums
Dec 23rd, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
“Allah doesn’t like it,” said Abou Dardar of Ansar Dine. “We are in the process of smashing all the hidden mausoleums in the area.”… Read the rest
Pakistan: polio campaign will go on despite murders
Dec 21st, 2012 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The CIA may have used a vaccination programme (though not of polio) to find bin Laden, but polio still needs to be eradicated.… Read the rest
