By JAMILA RIZVI
Welcome to Open Post. For the freshmen, consider these opening sentences the equivalent of your Orientation Week welcome pack (but without the scary initiation rituals).
Open Post is one of Mamamia‘s longest running traditions. Basically, if there is an issue you want to raise, or something you want to get off your chest, or an anecdote you want to share – you can do it here.
The comments section is full of very willing advice-givers, well-wishers and sharers of experiences.
Personally, I like to grab a cup of relaxing green tea (AKA strong coffee), a few nuts or berries (AKA a cup cake) and take a few minutes out of my work day to read everyone’s comments and see what is happening in the world. It’s basically sanctioned, socially acceptable sticky-beaking. Win!
What’s on my mind this week? Pubic hair.
Quite specifically, talking about pubic hair in public.
Let me explain. A few weeks ago, Mia and I were asked if we would appear on a panel at the about feminism. The idea was for us to explore modern feminism in all its forms and ask (and hopefully answer) some questions about societal pressure on women to look a certain way and whether that is compatible with the idea of feminism.
Fun. Right?
I got a bit proud, a bit chuffed and a bit excited. I love the Sydney Writer’s Festival and getting to be a part of something you’ve been a fan of for so long, is pretty rad. So I told my friends and family; plugged it good and proper and was excited to learn that lots of them are coming along to watch.
And then they released the name of the panel: “I’m a Feminist. Can I vajazzle?”
GAH. Okay. Quick question: How the hell do you UNinvite your Nan to an event. HOW? I need your help everyone, this is a socially awkward situation I haven’t yet had to navigate and I require urgent advice….
Also, because I now have to withdraw an invitation from some elderly relatives, we need some others to come along and take their places in the audience. The name – while making it non-grandma-friendly – does show you that this event is going to be pretty damn funny, in addition to providing a good dose of brain food.
The panel host Jude Kelly (Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director and founder of Women of the World WOW Festival) will be chatting with Mia and myself, as well as some pretty amazing other women: Shami Chakrabarti (Director of UK’s Liberty), Ruby Wax (comedian and writer), and Dale Spender (feminist, author and editor).
So please come along. If you’re interested you can buy tickets for the Sydney Writer’s Festival, here.
Over and out. How has your week been?
Top Comments
There seems to be pretty frequent posts from MM commenters about issues with sex lives - so I thought I'd make a suggestion!
Go to the foreign movie section and find some R rated movies with high level sex scenes (I'm thinking "Sex and Lucia", "Romance", etc). Many of them are fabulous, award winning movies, and worth watching in any event....but they also have the sexiest sex in them! If you're not having sex by the end of the movie (or frequently pausing the movie to have sex) then nothing will help you!! My partner and I hired "Sex and Lucia" on a whim last night, and ended up having about a million rounds of amazing sex. Get involved people!!
Mother's day ... my 3rd {how is that possible already?!}. Every day is mother's day for me though - even with the terrible twos visiting occasionally. http://wp.me/p1m5Gv-1lg
Each week you make a comment to direct people to your blog. However you never get involved in the community or seem to bother about anyone else. I don't think it's right and I think MM should have stopped this a while ago
You really shouldn't use this as a place to promote your blog, it's meant to be a network of people supporting each other. Not once in a long time have I ever seen you reply or offer any advice or support to someone.
I'm certain if you had been interested in and supportive of people on here you would have a huge contingent from MM, but you clearly don't give a fig abt anyone on here. It is meant to work two ways, not one.