Shambolic Living

The F Series – Taking The Circuitous Staircase

Janine — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:21:08 +0000

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...

The F Series – Reading This Week – The Wife Drought – Annabel Crabb

Janine — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 23:19:12 +0000

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 fully...

The F Series – We Could Need Help.

Janine — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 02:18:01 +0000

“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 year-old bloke...

Just Apologising In Advance To My Readers

Janine — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 11:28:57 +0000

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...

The Feminism Battle Continues

Janine — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 01:58:35 +0000

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...

Opting Out – A Realistic Option?

Janine — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 02:48:36 +0000

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...

Confessions of a Failed Retro Housewife

Janine — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:12:03 +0000

This article has got people talking on social media The Retro Housewife. It paints a picture of educated, intelligent women ditching the board room to stay-at-home and raise children in between craft activities and baking. I stayed at home for ten years. It looked nothing like the pretty images of instagram and homemaking blogs. In...

Should We Raise Our Daughters To Be Nice?

Janine — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:30:10 +0000

Yesterday I noticed this tweet from writer, broadcaster and comedian, Catherine Deveny and it got me thinking about the way we raise our daughters. I sometimes lament my own “niceness”. I like to help people, I’m (mostly) kind, too polite for my own good and don’t like to offend anyone. Is that a drawback...

What the bloody hell is a feminist?

Janine — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 02:16:30 +0000

As you stand surrounded by the debris of domesticity, up to your armpits in washing, cradling a sick child and wondering what’s for dinner can I ask what are your thoughts on feminism? I know probably not your most pressing issue at the moment but bear with me. Hands up if you identify as being...