I realise how much precious time I have wasted on social media (Twitter, mainly) and yet only 17% of people use Twitter.
So I am vowing to spend much less time sparring with strangers (and bots?!) and to do what I can in the offline world.
I'm still tentative about putting my head above the parapet, but I've come to see that there is SO much you can achieve offline, even from the comfort of your sofa and/or without revealing your work to the wider world.
Examples:
Visit your elected representatives. I've met two face to face at their surgeries and both were hugely positive experiences, with real promise of follow-up. It made me feel more hopeful than I have in some time. Correspondence and meetings with elected reps are confidential.
Crawl ALL OVER your local council/NHS Trust/local education authority website. Read everything on there that relates to their equalities policies. Work out what the implications are for girls and women and then get writing. Write to the elected representatives but also write to Chief Executives, directors etc. Royal Mail used to say that 'nothing gets through like a letter' and it's really true. But equally, emailing is good too.
Subterfuge leafleting. Generate a leaflet/flyer: simple, clear messaging with a clear call to action. Point people towards WPUK or FPFW websites or create an anonymous blog (set blog up for free using Blogger or Wordpress) that sets out any particular local concerns. Buy a pack of Blutak and take a wander around women-only spaces and stick them in toilet cubicles or walls/mirrors: toilets and changing rooms in leisure centres, department stores, cafes and restaurants, public buildings, art galleries, theatres - EVERYWHERE!
Contact your friends to raise awareness of these issues. I've got an issue with one of our council policies and am discovering that virtually no-one was aware of the policy. It has sparked others to write to their councillors etc.
Form a feminist group. Meet up regularly for a drink/coffee to talk about what you can all do individually or collectively.
Try to get stuff in your local paper/media. Anything to break through into the mainstream to raise awareness whether it's a stunt (Man Friday style or whatever) or a hard-nosed review of council policies that you publish on a blog.
You won't believe how much power you really have if you organise!
This is not to say that being online has no value. Mumsnet has been so important to me, gathering intelligence about the trans/self-ID agenda. But most ordinary people do not engage online and we know how easy it is for trolls to infiltrate online groups.
Going to obey my own advice now, so signing off...