Women

Festival puts feminist work front and centre

Whether you've got one, like what they do or have always been curious, now is the time to embrace the female anatomy, with vaginas firmly in the spotlight at the festival.

The obsession — which examines the politics of pussy as well as the biology — reflects changing social attitudes, according to Fringe creative director and CEO Simon Abrahams.

"I can only assume that when we have a pussy-grabbing President of the United States that women are making extraordinary feminist work to fight back and make political statements," he said.

Why having an only child can be good for everyone

Parents of only children by choice are no strangers to these questions.

But evidence shows there are very few drawbacks to a one-child family, and according to one expert those passing judgement are likely envious because they have "suffered through" raising several children.

Between Canditta Natakuapa and her husband, they have 17 siblings. So deciding to have just the one child was easy for the pair who value work-life balance and giving their son "the best start in life".

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."

Doctor Who: New star Jodie Whittaker hopes fans embrace her casting

Whittaker, 35, breaks a tradition back to the start of the television series in 1963 that the Doctor is a man, travelling the universe as a "time lord" in a telephone box to protect the weak and combat evil aliens.

"I hope, you know, my gender isn't a fearful thing for the fans," Whittaker told the BBC, in her first broadcast interview since her casting was announced last month.

Haim: The music industry needs more women

"We do see women working in the studios but we want to see more. It's a quantity issue," they tell Newsbeat.

The three sisters were speaking before their Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.

"There's so many amazing women that work in music and I think its time more girls looked into being engineers and studio technicians," explains Danielle.

Earlier this month Haim released their second studio album, Something to Tell You.

Haim: The music industry needs more women

"We do see women working in the studios but we want to see more. It's a quantity issue," they tell Newsbeat.

The three sisters were speaking before their Radio 1 Live Lounge performance.

"There's so many amazing women that work in music and I think its time more girls looked into being engineers and studio technicians," explains Danielle.

Earlier this month Haim released their second studio album, Something to Tell You.

Creating a 'safe space' for women

Its first real-life festival has taken place in London, with talks and workshops.

"I told other girls they could open up to me, so I'm not leaving," says founder and model Adwoa Aboah, who's had her own struggles with depression.

"The moment I opened my mouth I took on that responsibility."

Hundreds of young women and men came along to the free event.

Woman of Substances: Why Jenny Valentish is lifting the veil on women's addiction

"I was trying to control [my alcohol addiction]," Valentish tells ABC News.

"I was trying to do anything but quit. I went to a hypnotist, I kept going to the doctor — who put me on antidepressants even though she acknowledged I wasn't depressed; I went to counselling.

"I thought, [the drinking] can't stop, I don't know anything but this."

Indeed, having started drinking at the age of 13 — and using drugs including hash, ecstasy, speed, heroin, and crack in her late teens and early 20s — at 34, Valentish had lived the majority of her life addicted to substances.

Aussie hip-hop sisterhood is breaking down barriers

"I'm having a visual of, like, people walking in the street for a cause," Akimera Burckhardt-Bedeau tells a group of women sitting around her.

"We are building a community out there, of women, who are out there doing it in hip-hop," she told News Breakfast later on.

Ms Burckhardt-Bedeau is lead facilitator at Sisters on the Mic — a program for women learning the hip-hop ropes — but she prefers to go with just Akimera on stage.

A history of Mother's Day: From campaigns for peace to cards, flowers and family reunions

Some mums may be given cards, flowers and gifts, while others may enjoy breakfast in bed or a lunch out.

Mother's Day has long been a part of the Australian calendar, but where did the idea to dedicate the second Sunday in May to honouring motherhood come from?

The modern Australian celebration of Mother's Day actually grew out of calls for peace and anti-war campaigns following the American Civil War (1861-65).