𝗨𝗻𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱, by the glorious Victoria Smith, reviewed by Therese Doherty @offeringsfromthewellspring Rule one of self-esteem: become what you are proud of and others will esteem you. #bookreview #feminist #emotionallabor #mentalload #UnKind www.medusarising.org/p/1af16609-4...

Good to be reminded why I wrote Hags. Older women already shoulder a disproportionate burden of work (paid and unpaid). "Nothing better to do" means, I guess, "shouldn't be doing politics, and certainly shouldn't be celebrating any political gains"

📢 Our Summer season is live, running April to July, with talks on how kindness is used to control women @glosswitch.bsky.social, rising inequality, an inspiring vision for the future @robintransition.bsky.social, true crime obsession and so much more! 🎟️ Book now: www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/

If we really want to help boys & men be happier, … we could forge a different & more +ve outlook on masculinity … focus less on how men are purportedly hard done by & emasculated …, & more on genuinely fulfilling opportunities open to them in this brave new world. substack.com/home/post/p-...

This feels like a trap.

Thank you total legend @glosswitch.bsky.social for endorsing Flipping Patriarchy. "I loved this book! Funny & insightful, but also fiercely radical, highlighting all the subtle & not-so-subtle ways in which 'empowerment' and 'be kind' narratives justify women's exploitation & damage our self-esteem"

Really looking forward to this Saturday's event! (Worry a bit about 'in conversation' sounding self-important. But obviously not enough to shut up) www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-convers...

We’re constantly being told that our present moment is one of crisis: a ‘silent epidemic’ of male unhappiness. This myth has numerous threads. Chief among them is that boys are underperforming in a schooling system that’s biased towards girls’ aptitudes. There are further claims:

I'm at Conway Hall on 10th April, discussing the pitfalls of #justbekind. Join me! www.conwayhall.org.uk/whats-on/eve...

Less than two weeks to go! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-convers...

I wrote about the persistence of cruel attitudes and treatments for anorexia sufferers, at a time when we are meant to be 'more enlightened' about eating disorders thecritic.co.uk/why-are-anor...

Really enjoyed taking part in this, on Wages for Housework, men's attitudes to feminism and Unkind! (After spending weeks panicking about it...) www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

It's publication day for Unkind, on why women and girls shouldn't have to make up for the world by "just" being kinder (but men and boys possibly could...)! geni.us/Unkind

First copy of my new book! (Out 6th Feb - pre-order here! geni.us/Unkind)

Pretty sure it's not up to women to "think carefully" about taking a higher-paid job than their partner. It's up to their partner to get the fuck over himself and be pleased for her.

70,000 men. One group chat. How many raped women is that? **we need radical culture change that dehumanises & de-pornifies & de-commodifies women & girls** #MakeTheShameSwitchSides

So delighted to see (Un)kind in here! (Published Feb and available for pre-order now!) www.theguardian.com/culture/2024...

I wrote about the bids for sympathy of the accused in the Pelicot trial thecritic.co.uk/should-we-fe...

Would obvs prefer ETA Hoffmann (with wine glass and little Tomcat Murr figure), but very much want this

Women are considered “old” much younger than their male counterparts: women are old at 30, whereas men don’t drop into the dreaded “old” category until they’re in their 50s. In this week's newsletter I've written about "women of a certain age"... newsletter.carolinecriadoperez.com/p/middle-cla...

I listen to a lot of golden age detective fiction audiobooks¹, & one thing that never fails to startle me is the unbelievable level of antisemitism in some of them. At the moment I'm listening to² 'Portrait of a Murderer' by Anne Metedith, & not only is the crooked financier in it 》

Gisele Pelicot would be my nominee for "Person of the Year". Harrowing, but characteristically excellent, dispatch from @victoriapeckham.bsky.social here. www.thetimes.com/world/europe...

I spent a week at the Pelicot rape trial, one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever reported on, and examine the many issues arising: French rape law, pornography, complicity and the defiant courage of Gisele. www.thetimes.com/article/5dee...

"men don’t do a fair share because they don’t like domestic labour, they consider it demeaning, disgusting & boring, they’d rather be doing things which give them greater social status, & they don’t care about relieving the burden on their partners’ shoulders" Me on the mental load - link in bio

I wrote about the trend for insisting that the argument for abortion is "the same as" the argument for assisted suicide, gender-affirming care, surrogacy, porn etc. thecritic.co.uk/only-abortio...

US artist Sue Beatrice who creates steampunk sculptures and jewellery out of old watch parts

Recording the audio book of (Un)kind!

Massive away win for the little fella.

From Hags. I'm glad more people are seeing it (even if some of them called me a Karen for writing it two years ago, and probably will again tomorrow) geni.us/HagsPB

Just been speaking on Times Radio about Gregg Wallace. I find it quite heartening that so many people are joining the dots re men who dismiss the complaints of older women who *can* speak out (and use it to suggest all other women don't mind and that these women are spoilt / prudish anyways)

From Hags, on the privileged middle-aged woman who's meant to shut up but, unbelievably, doesn't

Maybe because middle class women of a certain age are in a position to call out this shit without fear of losing a salary they need. And can do it on behalf of young women starting out in their careers who are just as sick of this shit but can’t say anything because they need to earn a living.

The first time I heard someone disgusted by Gregg Wallace’s behaviour was in *2008* and from a woman under 25. I don’t think I ever heard a good word about him in the intervening time. The idiotic entitlement on display with this ‘defence’ speaks volumes.

"I can see the complaints coming from a handful of middle-class women of a certain age" Just say Karens, Gregg, it's quicker news.sky.com/story/gregg-...

Officially December, so taking the boys to see Elf tonight! youtu.be/EkwdYSn3Uws?...

Just been writing something about men who use the fact that women are losing their reproductive rights to tell women to shut up about other things and how this indicates these men don't actually care that much about reproductive rights. It's like I'm psychic.

What I think this argument misunderstands is that religion is not the only form of societal doctrine and that faith itself is often not doctrinal (people of faith come down on both sides of the assisted dying debate). As an atheist, I find it troubling. t.co/7GCD0L8AM6

I'm not saying the crucifixion was a cancellation as such, but this does seem a weird example for "couldn't get away with that now"

Rod Stewart going for the single "g" Greg is the icing on the buttery biscuit cake. Best thing he's done since In A Broken Dream.

Today’s column was about how my mother’s long illness shaped my view on assisted dying, but perhaps not in the direction you’d assume. www.thetimes.com/article/5050...

9yo has got a house point after getting an answer right in class. "It wasn't for my answer, though. It was for not gloating." Which does make me worry about previous 'getting the right answer' behaviour.

So grateful to Woman's Place for all the amazing work they've done in the face of such hostility and misrepresentation

It has been a pleasure and a privilege - as well as a huge source of support - to be part of Woman's Place UK. I valued immensely working with this group of principled women to safeguard women's sex-based rights and protections within a left context which took account of inequalities between women.

I feel like it's time for the annual appreciation of this, the greatest ever twitter reply

What is common knowledge in your field but shocks outsiders?

OK, I have a question for you. I'm grappling with putting it into words, so please bear with me. I'm thinking about the idea of a 'felt sense' of feminism, which is different from (but can coexist with) believing that feminism is right because of rational arguments about equal rights.