I haven't read anything academic on feminism but I've realised that I AM a feminist. Does anyone want to talk about mainstream public figures who maybe helped them realise that?

[mydaddrivesarustycar]

For me, Sinead O'Connor was a strong influence in my teens. I strongly identified with her attitude - I had nothing at all in common with her life experiences but, as wanky as it sounds, her music really spoke to me.

Media wise - The journalist Barbara Ellen.

What about you?

Hmmm, interesting.

Need to think, but NOT Julie Burchill.

y to P J Harvey

Katie Piper :)

Jo brand in the 90s.

Katie Price

Katie Price? Really???

Helena Kennedy. Read "Eve Was Framed" in my late teens and it got me thinking...

I didn't say she was a positive role model

Ah! I see RitaLynn, hadn't thought it could be the other way round. God, there are just too many negative role models for me to be able to list them all. How sad

Annie Lennox

Alison Bechdel

Ha, well Julie Burchill was one of mine, I think of her as my feminist fairy godmother. She is so uncompromising.

Also Emma Thompson, defending her younger co-stars against being made to starve themselves.

And Angela Carter, especially Nights at the Circus.

< cough > Margaret Thatcher < cough >

Tori Amos, Emma Thompson

A book called 'It Could Have Been You' by a woman named Merlyn Nuttall which I read in my late teens. I find her story to painful to recount here but I highly recommend Googling and reading it. She's one of the bravest women I've ever heard of

Also loved Jo Brand waaaay before I knew what a feminist even was!

Ah yes and Jill Tweedie - VERY funny book but I learnt a hell of a lot from it.

God yes I remember Merlyn Nuttall's case

Her book is fab springlambkin, if you can stomach it. I don't know what she is doing these days but she deserves every ounce of happiness that comes her way. Amazing woman!

I've always had a soft spot for Germaine Greer...

yy Jo Brand plus Sandi Toksvig, disproving the feminists can't be funny myth...

yy PJ Harvey and also in the pop/rock canon I've got a lot of time for Kate Bush and Bjork. Again, if you dissected everything they have said and done, you'd find plenty of feminist flaws, but I love the fact they have made it as artists largely on their own terms.... (or at least, endured as artists largely on their own terms.) Much better role models than, say, Rhianna or Lady Gaga

yy to Jill Tweedie

and Jacky Fleming's cartoons

Deffo yes to PJ Harvey - she's so much her own woman.

I know they're not real people but Gina Davis and Susan Sarandan in Thelma & Louse definitely gave me feminist stirrings