womens-health

How big is too big for the runway?

At size 14 and 185 centimetres, former Sydneysider Robyn Lawley said it was time an array of sizes were shown on runways.

"These are people we're talking about. They have feelings," Lawley said.

"I've met all the girls who did that catwalk. None of these models were unhealthy … they all work out."

Universities can't solve the problem of sexual assault on their own

We fully expect the results to be challenging.

The agreement to do this survey was forged almost two years ago. Vice-chancellors at 39 of our universities asked an independent body — the Australian Human Rights Commission — to survey their students to highlight what more needs to be done.

This is a global challenge. It is a community challenge. And it's one that university leaders want to address, but none of us can solve it on our own. All of us — university leadership, students and staff — can help to shift understanding and attitudes.

The scale of the problem

Free tampon vending machines helping restore dignity to homeless women

But charity organisation Share the Dignity is hoping to help women who cannot afford sanitary products by installing vending machines in cities around Australia that dispense free tampons and pads to those in need.

Machines have recently been installed in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin, and one will be installed in Perth in the coming weeks.

The vending machines contain sanitary packs that each include two pads and six tampons, and work on a timed system to prevent wastage. One pack is available from the machine every 10 minutes.

What it's like to parent with mental illness

Anne Buist, professor of women's mental health at the University of Melbourne, said we were struggling to support women with severe mental health issues.

"Maternal suicide is actually the leading cause of maternal deaths," she said.

"We've managed to treat infections, we've improved our ability to bring blood pressure down, but we are still battling to get on top of these really serious mental health problems."

However Professor Buist said having a mental illness did not mean you could not parent; it may just mean you needed extra support.

Having babies really does change women's brains

This week, she asks: could so-called 'baby brain' actually be a helpful affliction? Is it time for women doctors to ask for a pay rise? And, when will Australia give three-parent babies the green light?

The upside of 'baby brain'

I'm definitely not the first woman to think she's lost her mind after having a baby, and thanks to the kind people at Nature Neuroscience, I can now rest assured that not only is this totally normal but, ultimately, helpful.