Feminist Pub 14: The Bluestocking, a place for feminist chat and feminists to chat

[YonicScrewdriver]

Welcome!

This is the 14th incarnation of the Pub and is meant as a place to drop by with random thoughts and meandering chats, on feminist or other related themes. Anything you want to mull over but not necessarily start a thread about. Alternatively, flop onto the chaise lounges with some

We have a pub goat, a feminist cannon for firing at crazy sexists and a variety of drinks and snacks. And stools/bar counters at female friendly heights. And a crèche in the back somewhere

Will link the last pub in the next post!

Yes good luck Annie and belated birthday Buffy!

Good luck Annie!!

Good luck Annie and Buffy, I would have sworn I wished you a happy birthday on the day but can't find it so I will just do it again!

Good luck with the viva *Annie^!

Talking about birthdays, can I have a small rant about a birthday card I got last year? It's about how I'm general skivvy to everyone and how I should celebrate that (you know the type: personal chef/chauffeur/nurse/etc etc - just call me Mum!) I couldn't bear to display it because it gave me such a rage and I'm not supposed to get into a rage about a birthday card...

So this evening I got involved with the #SolidarityIsForRapists hashtag which is trending on Twitter. It ties in well with the rape apology thread some of us have been involved in the past few days, with women (and some male allies) giving examples of how rape apology helps rapists and hurts their victims, as well as defining rape culture. I got a response to my Tweet.

"Women rape too".

Really? Is that they best they can do? Women "do it to" (well, they don't actually ) so that's okay and we don't need to talk about it?

Such a fucking predictable lack of imagination and ability to actually think an issue through to any kind of logical conclusion.

And this guys isn't even someone I know, so he was literally just trawling the hashtag looking for Tweets to add his manly view.

I didn't bother replying. I doubt there would be any point.

Oi, you! You're meant to be cloistered up in preparation for your viva aren't you?

Horrible replies, though.

And yes, LordCopper, that card would have given me the rage too.

I've just been watching Live Die Repeat to take my mind off tomorrow. It's a Tom Cruise movie (yes, I know) with a kick-ass woman co-lead. She's a stronger and more experienced soldier than him. But once he "gets to know her", he starts all this bullshit trying to protect her crap like trying to stop her going into battle. Aaaaaaarrrrgh!

Pardon me while I rant, being angry Because Patriarchy is probably more productive than being in a panic Because Viva.

I am Putting the Work Down, Jeanne. Or my brain will pop before tomorrow. Surely no-one would say I should still be swotting at this hour!?

Oh, god no. I meant you might be sleeping!

But whatever works for you.

Sleeping? Not yet, it's only just my bedtime. I have been watching a crap movie (see above).

As long as you are doing ok!

All is fine (well, as fine as can be expected under the circumstances!). Teeth cleaned, going to bed now!

Good. Good luck for tomorrow! I will be thinking of you, and you'll be great.

Germaine Greer is on FakeQuestionTime on ITV talking about scaremongering (came out of UKIP/immigration discussion) - mentioned frenzied "advice" and analysis based on zero fact.

She said, emphatically, that "people are always afraid of the wrong thing", women are afraid of going out at night when they get murdered at home, why can't they join the dots? It's terribly easy to frighten people, especially when you have newspapers that actually create terror in order to sell papers. I'm particularly aware of it because they do it most effectively to women. They are forerver terrifying women about all kinds of things: diseases they're not going to get... we have a media that are determined to produce irrational behaviour by fermenting irrational fears."

Will somebody please tell the victim blamers?

Good luck with the viva Annie

Hope today goes well Annie, and you got some sleep! Can we call you Dr annie this evening?

Urgh. Very little sleep achieved. It all started with dreaming that my alarm had gone off and DH was here turning on the lights and telling me to get up. Then I actually woke up, looked at the time and it was 1am. Things did not get better after that. I feel thoroughly ill.

I hope so, Petula, I hope so.

Erk.

Annie Hold your nerves! Breath. Sleep is for the weak! You've got this far and you can do it!

I dream about being late if I have to get somewhere early. I have recurring dreams about missing flights.

I dreamt about losing all my teeth last night! Must be something in the air.

Good luck Annie!

Good luck Annie!!

Teeth is related to money I think in a dream? So you're actually worried about money. Something like that. Very common dream apparently.

I watched all of Orphan Black in about 24 hours - to whoever recommended it to me (I'm sure it was on here) - brilliant series. One of the best I've seen in a while, even if the gory parts did get me!

My Chinese almanac says that if you dreamt about scissors last night it means all will go smoothly in your family.

Hope all is going well Annie

I just had a call from the consultant. My CT was all clear and I don't need a gallbladder op. I'm relieved but very tired.

Money Saving Expert poll about parental leave

It's just been put up so it's early days but so far all permutations suggest a preference for sharing leave roughly equally, except straight women who suggest a slight preference for taking the full leave, for obvious reasons I guess (I've not had a baby yet so no idea how I would feel). It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

So far more men would want to share the leave than have their partner take it all, this is encouraging. It's good that it is now an option.