Bluestocking lock in!

On a totally random note, I realised something intesting about my workplace. Big organisation, huge R&D section in which I'm a scientist. Now the scientists (of both sexes) tend to be somewhat uninterested in their appearance, so it's no big surprise to me that many of the female scientists (myself included) don't wear makeup.

But recently I've started doing public outreach / interface of science and wider policy work, so I'm now working with quite a lot of women from the corporate comms team and press office.... And they don't wear makeup either. So I've started deliberately looking, and I'd say the number of women round the place wearing makeup is maybe round the 10% mark. I suspect this is very, very unusual. And rather heartening. (Important disclaimer - we are way out in the sticks, far away from London or any other large city, where fashion and being trendy might actually matter).

Here have a

Thanks. I've learnt so much from this board! I need a stiff drink to cope!!!

I think Rebel Girls is good for a 7 year old. You might need to explain some of the contexts, and that these are real people, not just fictional characters. But it really is lovely the way each page is written in a way that appeals to children, picking out the details that are significant for them. I imagine that reading it to children from as early an age as possible could have a profound positive effect on them for the rest of their lives.

Ethel you are welcome to pull up over here. You are in good company.

Can I pull a stool up? I'm fed up of being told I'm to blame for all the ills of the world for being older and thinking feminism is about women.

Holy hell this place is going bonkers, I can’t keep up. I replied to the twitter thread about WEP/Heather Brunskell-Evans, and I got retweeted by Julie Bindel, it feels like shit is getting very real.

On a less stressful note - is the Rebel Girls stories suitable for a 7yo? She’s reading a few years ahead.

Ah man! Just looked at who Corey Maison is. Think I'll be damaging that page!

And thanks Tallulah I am feeling a bit more hopeful this morning.

Has anyone else got 'Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls'?

Not yet. I'm going to get it for my boys once they're a bit bigger.

We're not sleepwalking GuardianLions. And more and more of us are waking up

Evening all.

Has anyone else got 'Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls'?

I can't read out a page to the bottom to my kids without my voice trembling and tears - making a bit of an arse of myself.

This evening I read the Malala Yousafzai page and dc was really interested in protecting the right to go to school, because the Taliban didn't want girls to go.
I did a bit of age-appropriate explaining about the history of inequality of the sexes, then DC mentioned learning about Black History Month at school.
I told her that Linda Bellos, the woman who pioneered that in the UK, has recently been no platformed because women's rights are under attack again.

It brought it all into sharp relief for me again.

Feeling a bit worried that we are sleepwalking off a precipice..

Thanks Quentin

I've done a workout and it hasn't helped. Might to have a real vodka instead of a virtual one!

I have a feeling something really bad is about to happen.

Not just in my general pessimistic attitude but like a real gut feeling....to the point that I don't want to tell my friends because I don't want to freak them out, and we've had a couple of bereavements.

Possibly the bereavements are freaking me out....my friend's mum and a friend's auntie.

Vodka please?

Thanks BeUpStanding
I forgot about that advert! I always think of Bernard Black saying "I went to the chemist to get some fizzy good" and Fran says "What?" and he says "you know, fizzy good - make feel nice".

I think I'm going to sit in bed and MN a lot today!

(Clink clink fizz)

birthday drinks last night

do we keep Alka Seltzer here?!

Is this a good place to ask for a pointer to a nice, clear explanation of Corbyn's anti-semitism? I am honestly struggling with understanding this. I don't mean someone posting an explanation here. I'm looking for a pointer to a good external source that I can understand that is evidence-based.

oh I didn't know there was anything yesterday, I only knew about a Monday thing....unless that got delayed till yesterday....very confusing.

Thanks
It was so quick you'd have missed it if you blinked.

The Spectator article seems to have brought even more attention here. That said, I'm a relatively inhabitant of FWR myself - have been on MN since 2011 and would regularly take a peek in FWR but was generally too intimidated to post. Having #peaktransed a few months ago though I now practically live here .

It would be great to start meeting up in RL. I'll be at the London Women's Place event and hope to see some of you there! So much to talk about...

TMW... I don't know the acronym...

Trans Media Watch.

I missed the first thread.

Yesterday at the magistrates. JJ posted a neutral/factual statement of the outcome. Defendent pleaded not guilty, therefore it will go to trial.
Everyone bricked it, saying we shouldn't discuss case so as not to prejudice outcome. MN pulled and in so doing of course left everyone else uninformed and free to unwisely yak on other threads.

hearing? Is that something that took place on Monday?

Ironically I think it's all gone mad and I don't know what threads have been taken down

I think it was a mistake to pull the thread about the outcome of the hearing - that could have been an opportunity to flesh out what is and isn't wise discussion at this point.

TMW... I don't know the acronym...