Feminists Against Censorship (FAC) is a large network of women founded in 1989 in the United Kingdom to present the
feminist arguments against
censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...
, particularly of
sexual
Sex is the biological distinction of an organism between male and female.
Sex or SEX may also refer to:
Biology and behaviour
*Animal sexual behaviour
**Copulation (zoology)
**Human sexual activity
**Non-penetrative sex, or sexual outercourse
** ...
materials, and to defend individual sexual expression.
FAC originally came together in response to the passage of a resolution by the annual general meeting of the
National Council for Civil Liberties
Liberty, formerly, and still formally, called the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), is an advocacy group and membership organisation based in the United Kingdom, which challenges unjust laws, protects civil liberties and promotes hu ...
in 1989 condemning pornography. Spearheaded by British activists
Linda Semple and
Roz Kaveney
Roz Kaveney (born 9 July 1949) is a British writer, critic, and poet, best known for her critical works about pop culture and for being a core member of the Midnight Rose collective. Kaveney's works include fiction and non-fiction, poetry, rev ...
, meetings of feminists were organised in London to begin producing documents and speaking up for the feminist position in support of free expression.
FAC is unfunded and has no paid staff or offices. Individual members write submissions to government bodies, letters, and other publications. FAC and its members have produced several books presenting research reviews, analysis, and personal experiences related to
censorship
Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governments ...
and
pornography. They are also available to speak to the public and have joined university debates as well as appearing on television and participating in radio discussions.
They are a member of
Backlash
Backlash may refer to:
Literature
* '' Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women'', a 1991 book by Susan Faludi
* ''Backlash'' (Star Wars novel), a 2010 novel by Aaron Allston
* Backlash (Marc Slayton), comic book character
* ''Backla ...
, which was formed in 2005 in order to oppose a new law criminalising possession of "
extreme pornography
Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is a law in the United Kingdom criminalising possession of what it refers to as "extreme pornographic images". The law came into force on 26 January 2009. The legislation was brought in ...
". FAC responded to the Government consultation on this law.
See also
*
Civil libertarianism
*
Civil liberties
*
Sex-positive feminism
Sex-positive feminism, also known as pro-sex feminism, sex-radical feminism, or sexually liberal feminism, is a feminist movement centering on the idea that sexual freedom is an essential component of women's freedom.
Sex-positive feminism cen ...
*
Sex-positive movement
The sex-positive movement is a social movement, social and philosophical movement that seeks to change cultural attitudes and norms around sexuality, promoting the recognition of sexuality (in the countless forms of expression) as a natural and he ...
References
{{reflist, 2
External links
*Feminists Against Censorship web presence:
Facebook groupFormer homepage(archived August 2015)
Censorship in the United Kingdom
Organizations established in 1989
Freedom of expression organizations
Feminist organisations in the United Kingdom
Sexuality in the United Kingdom
Third-wave feminism
Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom
1989 establishments in the United Kingdom