As I predicted, Julie Bishop's refusal to embrace the F word, drew criticism. One of the most interesting pieces about this issue was by Paula Matthewson over at Women's Agenda, The real reason women of the right will never call themselves feminists. Matthewson explained, Those of us who are right-leaning individualists believe it is … [Read more...]
The F Series – Who’s Wearing The Right Label?
I have written before about my struggles with the term feminist. To recap basically it's this; in my twenties I would have clearly defined myself as a feminist; in my thirties I would still have regarded myself as a feminist but was beginning to feel that traditional feminists wouldn't describe me as such given that I gave up that decade … [Read more...]
The F Series – Reading This Week – The Wife Drought – Annabel Crabb
If Annabel Crabb and I weren't both straight women I would kiss her passionately on the lips. Finally, somebody explains clearly the impact of children, family responsibilities and the goddamn housework on a woman's ability to participate fully in the workforce. Finally, somebody lays out the impediments men face in trying to have … [Read more...]
The F Series – We Could Need Help.
"Gender equality is not a battle of the sexes – it is about one half of humanity supporting each other," Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner. In 1967 a nineteen year-old student at Syracuse University, Kathrine Switzer, was unofficially training with the men's cross-country team because there was no female running team. A 50 … [Read more...]
Just Apologising In Advance To My Readers
Dear Readers, I tried to get over my anger regarding feminism/equality/commentators but I failed. So for the next five days I'm going to inflict upon you The F Series. It's a series where I wander aimlessly through the vast empty expanse of my tired mind to try to sort exactly what I think about that bloody F word. Hopefully, there may be … [Read more...]
The Feminism Battle Continues
The bitchiness has to stop, we are inhaling it like it is a carbon emission blowing out of the exhaust pipe of the cross town bus we are stuck behind. Snark is the idiots version of wit and we are being polluted by it. There are things we can do. Things that we can do every day, things that are free. We can be one inch nicer to each other, an … [Read more...]
I May Have Accidentally Retired
I woke up this morning and the realisation hit me that I may have accidentally retired, at the ripe old age of 46. It seems the combination of age, gender and living in a regional area delivers a triple whammy of despair when it comes to employment. Last year I wrapped up a contract position and decided to take some time-out to work on some … [Read more...]
So What Do I Tell My Daughter About Drinking and Rape?
Disclaimer: This article deals with rape and sexual assault and may be triggering for survivors of abuse. There is a huge online debate taking place at the moment in response to an article by Mia Freedman This Isn't Victim Blaming. This is Common Sense where she argues we need to tell our daughters getting drunk could increase their risk of … [Read more...]
Opting Out – A Realistic Option?
People have been a little stunned when I announced I was taking a break from work for a few months to supposedly finish this book that's been rolling around in my head for years. Will I be able to get work again when I'm ready? Who knows. Can we afford this? Definitely not. But I'm not doing this blindly I spent a decade at home when my girls where … [Read more...]
Not A Mother Of Boys
The last couple of weeks have been a dream run for ingrained sexism, misogyny and well just plain old-fashioned stupidity. We were treated to a "joke" menu referring to the PM's genitalia, then a radio host hell-bent on quizzing that PM on the "rumours" of her partner's homosexuality, the Army launched an investigation into "demeaning, explicit and … [Read more...]
