Not a Woman

I don’t like calling myself a woman. I don’t like being called a woman either. Don’t get me wrong, I am completely satisfied to inhabit my female body. But there’s something about the word “woman” that doesn’t compute with the way I see myself. Several somethings, actually. I don’t like the way “woman” is constructed in … Continue reading »

Interview with a Feminist Author: Joanne Hornimann (Part Two)

For part one of the interview, click here. Do you think that there is such thing as women’s writing (as separate to “normal” writing/men’s writing)? My character Sophie ponders this in My Candlelight Novel, and I don’t think she comes to a firm conclusion. Virginia Woolf said that you shouldn’t write as a woman or … Continue reading »

Interview with a Feminist Author: Joanne Hornimann

(Please excuse my terrible unoriginal post title.) I’m extremely lucky to know Joanne Hornimann – possibly the author whose novels lie closest to my heart and my experience. I’d read some of her novels before, but my main love for her writing came around while I was spending my gap year in Germany and was … Continue reading »

Why I don’t want to have children

I don’t want to have children. I never have. When I look into my future, motherhood isn’t something I desire or look forward to. I see myself surrounded by stone artefacts and prehistoric crania and books and papers and friends and the thought of that makes me impossibly happy. I know that motherhood brings many … Continue reading »

Rethinking Virginity

Virginity, especially the losing of one’s virginity, is one of those things society classes as a Big Deal (TM). It’s seen as a marker of innocence as opposed to depravity, ignorance as opposed to experience. It’s seen by many people as an essential rite of passage, a marker of adulthood. It’s insanely problematic, especially from … Continue reading »

Does Reverse-Sexism Exist?

Does Reverse-Sexism Exist? This is a really interesting piece that was posted on the UQ Women’s Collective blog today. Charlotte has some excellent discussion of the accusations often thrown at feminists, mainly the infamous “what about teh menz?” challenge, pointing out that Although these issues hurt men, they are not oppressed by them. Being oppressed … Continue reading »