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25.01.2022 The renowned actor Patrick Stewart has been a longtime outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence. He grew up in a home where his mother suffered fre...quent abuse from his father and has called violence against women the "single greatest human rights violation of our generation." Stewart has also called on other men to speak out on violence against women, saying: "Violence against women is learned. Each of us must examine - and change - the ways in which our own behavior might contribute to, enable, ignore or excuse all such forms of violence. I promise to do so, and to invite other men and allies to do the same." "The work that I do in campaigns about violence towards women, particularly domestic violence, is something that grew out of my own childhood experience," Stewart said in a speech where he talked about his work with organizations that support survivors of domestic violence, including the UK-based group Refuge. "I do what I do in my mother's name, because I couldn't help her then. Now I can." He also added he had recently learned that his father suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to WWII-related combat. After this discovery, he began to work with Combat Stress, an organization that helps combat veterans deal with their experiences in a healthy, non-abusive manner. For two excellent resources for tweens and teens struggling with anger issues, we highly recommend "What to Do When Your Temper Flares" for ages 6 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/when-your-temper-flares) and "The Anger Workbook for Teens" for ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-anger-workbook-for-teens) For an invaluable book for adults about the early warning signs of abusive relationships, myths about abusive personalities, and how to get help, we also recommend "Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men" at http://amzn.to/2g1f8gk To help your Mighty Girl learn how to build supportive, mutually respectful relationships, there is an excellent guide that provides foundational advice on approaching relationships in a healthy manner, "A Smart Girl's Guide to Boys," for girls 9 to 13 at https://www.amightygirl.com/a-smart-girl-s-guide-to-boys For LQBTQ youth seeking relationship guidance, we recommend "Queer" for ages 13 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/queer For stories of girls and women experiencing and overcoming abuse and violence in their lives -- which offer a helpful way to talk to young people about the widespread problem of violence against women -- visit our Abuse & Violence" book section at http://amgrl.co/2BFzFSf And, if you’re a parent concerned that your daughter may be in an unhealthy relationship, check out the books But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Relationships (https://www.amightygirl.com/but-i-love-him) and Saving Beauty From The Beast: How to Protect Your Daughter from an Unhealthy Relationship (https://www.amightygirl.com/saving-beauty-from-the-beast)

24.01.2022 If you’ve listened to my podcast or followed me for awhile, you might have noticed I’ve stopped using the word partner in almost all cases when describing het...erosexual relationships. I’m doing this consciously, for the simple reason that I don’t think most so-called partnered men behave in a way that shows they deserve the title. . I know that will sound harsh and hostile to some people, but that’s because we’ve all been so deeply conditioned to coddle men and shield them from the full brunt of our rage and disappointment while pretending they’re, like, amazing for doing slightly more than the bare minimum. . Every stat we have on domestic labour tells us women do significantly more than the men they live with. More housework, more planning, more childcare, more emotional labour. And all of this is UNPAID. A 2014 study showed the GDP of women’s unpaid labour in Australia was $434billion ANNUALLY. That’s the equivalent of 43% of the national GDP - except that women’s unpaid domestic labour has never been formally counted as part of the UN’s System of National Accounts! . I can’t force the men in your hetero relationships to step up and stop exploiting you, but if you won’t (or can’t) leave them, I can at least encourage you to do one simple thing: change your language. . A true partner does not: . *Treat you like an unpaid maid *View the occasional care of his own children as an heroic act deserving of acknowledgement or reward *Belittle your political opinions or hobbies, or ridicule you *Expect you to delegate tasks to him *Behave like your extra child *Leave you to organise all the birthday and Christmas presents for his family *Deliberately do a half arsed job of everything because he knows it’ll stop you from asking him next time . Stop giving men the privilege of a name that implies they a) respect you and b) treat your time as equal to theirs. The title of partner has to be earned, and it has to be maintained every day. This is whether you’re married or not, have kids or not, are 23 or 57! . It’s not a partnership if you’re doing all the work. It’s just an unpaid job with a bullshit boss who does fuck all and doesn’t respect you. See more

21.01.2022 Destroyers, a feminist recovery plan is being considered by Maui county in Hawaii. It’s understood to be the first of its kind in the world, and includes prop...osals for universal basic income and free childcare. Well, it’s not as if women haven’t been doing more of everything since so many of us have been living iso lives - childcare, education, our actual work, and all the rest. Destroyers, what would be included in your feminist recovery plan? https://www.smh.com.au/.../hawaiian-islands-lead-the-way...

21.01.2022 "To the other adults in the room this is fine. A grown man looms behind my three-year-old daughter. Occasionally he will poke or tickle her and she responds by ...shrinking. Smaller and smaller with each unwanted advance. I imagine her trying to become slight enough to slip out of her booster seat and slide under the table. When my mother views this scene, she sees playful taunting. A grandfather engaging with his granddaughter. Mae. My tone cuts through the din of a familiar family gathering together. She does not look at me. Mae. I start again. You can tell him no Mae. If this isn’t okay you could say something like, Papa, please back upI would like some space for my body. As I say the words, my step-father, the bulldog, leans in a little closer, hovering just above her head. His tenebrous grin taunts me as my daughter accordions her 30-pound frame hoping to escape his tickles and hot breath. I repeat myself with a little more force. She finally peeks up at me. Mamacan you say it? Surprise. A three-year-old-girl doesn’t feel comfortable defending herself against a grown man. A man that has stated he loves and cares for her over and over again, and yet, stands here showing zero concern for her wishes about her own body. I ready myself for battle. Papa! Please back up! Mae would like some space for her body. My voice is firm but cheerful. He does not move. Papa. I should not have to ask you twice. Please back up. Mae is uncomfortable. Oh, relax, he says, ruffling her wispy blonde hair. The patriarchy stands, patronizing me in my own damn kitchen. We’re just playin’. His southern drawl does not charm me. No. You were playing. She was not. She’s made it clear that she would like some space, now please back up. I can play how I want with her. He says, straightening his posture. My chest tightens. The sun-bleached hairs on my arms stand at attention as this man, who has been my father figure for more than three decades, enters the battle ring. No. No, you cannot play however you want with her. It’s not okay to ‘have fun’ with someone who does not want to play. He opens his mouth to respond but my rage is palpable through my measured response. I wonder if my daughter can feel it. I hope she can. He retreats to the living room and my daughter stares up at me. Her eyes, a starburst of blue and hazel, shine with admiration for her mama. The dragon has been slayed (for now). My own mother is silent. She refuses to make eye contact with me. This is the same woman who shut me down when I told her about a sexual assault I had recently come to acknowledge. This is the same woman who was abducted by a carful of strangers as she walked home one night. She fought and screamed until they kicked her out. Speeding away, they ran over her ankle and left her with a lifetime of physical and emotional pain. This is the same woman who said nothing, who could say nothing as her boss and his friends sexually harassed her for years. This is the same woman who married one of those friends. When my mother views this scene, she sees her daughter overreacting. She sees me making a big deal out of nothing. Her concerns lie more in maintaining the status quo and cradling my step-dad’s toxic ego than in protecting the shrinking three-year-old in front of her. When I view this scene, I am both bolstered and dismayed. My own strength and refusal to keep quiet is the result of hundreds, probably thousands of years of women being mistreated, and their protests ignored. It is the result of watching my own mother suffer quietly at the hands of too many men. It is the result of my own mistreatment and my solemn vow to be part of ending this cycle. It would be so easy to see a little girl being taught that her wishes don’t matter. That her body is not her own. That even people she loves will mistreat and ignore her. And that all of this is okay in the name of other people, men, having fun. But. What I see instead is a little girl watching her mama. I see a little girl learning that her voice matters. That her wishes matter. I see a little girl learning that she is allowed and expected to say no. I see her learning that this is not okay. I hope my mom is learning something, too. November 21, 2018 Fighting the patriarchy one grandpa at a time By Lisa Norgren Connect with her here: https://www.facebook.com/lisanorgrenwriter/

15.01.2022 Destroyers, a feminist recovery plan is being considered by Maui county in Hawaii. It’s understood to be the first of its kind in the world, and includes prop...osals for universal basic income and free childcare. Well, it’s not as if women haven’t been doing more of everything since so many of us have been living iso lives - childcare, education, our actual work, and all the rest. Destroyers, what would be included in your feminist recovery plan? https://www.smh.com.au/.../hawaiian-islands-lead-the-way...

11.01.2022 If you’ve listened to my podcast or followed me for awhile, you might have noticed I’ve stopped using the word partner in almost all cases when describing het...erosexual relationships. I’m doing this consciously, for the simple reason that I don’t think most so-called partnered men behave in a way that shows they deserve the title. . I know that will sound harsh and hostile to some people, but that’s because we’ve all been so deeply conditioned to coddle men and shield them from the full brunt of our rage and disappointment while pretending they’re, like, amazing for doing slightly more than the bare minimum. . Every stat we have on domestic labour tells us women do significantly more than the men they live with. More housework, more planning, more childcare, more emotional labour. And all of this is UNPAID. A 2014 study showed the GDP of women’s unpaid labour in Australia was $434billion ANNUALLY. That’s the equivalent of 43% of the national GDP - except that women’s unpaid domestic labour has never been formally counted as part of the UN’s System of National Accounts! . I can’t force the men in your hetero relationships to step up and stop exploiting you, but if you won’t (or can’t) leave them, I can at least encourage you to do one simple thing: change your language. . A true partner does not: . *Treat you like an unpaid maid *View the occasional care of his own children as an heroic act deserving of acknowledgement or reward *Belittle your political opinions or hobbies, or ridicule you *Expect you to delegate tasks to him *Behave like your extra child *Leave you to organise all the birthday and Christmas presents for his family *Deliberately do a half arsed job of everything because he knows it’ll stop you from asking him next time . Stop giving men the privilege of a name that implies they a) respect you and b) treat your time as equal to theirs. The title of partner has to be earned, and it has to be maintained every day. This is whether you’re married or not, have kids or not, are 23 or 57! . It’s not a partnership if you’re doing all the work. It’s just an unpaid job with a bullshit boss who does fuck all and doesn’t respect you. See more

07.01.2022 The renowned actor Patrick Stewart has been a longtime outspoken advocate for survivors of domestic violence. He grew up in a home where his mother suffered fre...quent abuse from his father and has called violence against women the "single greatest human rights violation of our generation." Stewart has also called on other men to speak out on violence against women, saying: "Violence against women is learned. Each of us must examine - and change - the ways in which our own behavior might contribute to, enable, ignore or excuse all such forms of violence. I promise to do so, and to invite other men and allies to do the same." "The work that I do in campaigns about violence towards women, particularly domestic violence, is something that grew out of my own childhood experience," Stewart said in a speech where he talked about his work with organizations that support survivors of domestic violence, including the UK-based group Refuge. "I do what I do in my mother's name, because I couldn't help her then. Now I can." He also added he had recently learned that his father suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to WWII-related combat. After this discovery, he began to work with Combat Stress, an organization that helps combat veterans deal with their experiences in a healthy, non-abusive manner. For two excellent resources for tweens and teens struggling with anger issues, we highly recommend "What to Do When Your Temper Flares" for ages 6 to 12 (https://www.amightygirl.com/when-your-temper-flares) and "The Anger Workbook for Teens" for ages 13 and up (https://www.amightygirl.com/the-anger-workbook-for-teens) For an invaluable book for adults about the early warning signs of abusive relationships, myths about abusive personalities, and how to get help, we also recommend "Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men" at http://amzn.to/2g1f8gk To help your Mighty Girl learn how to build supportive, mutually respectful relationships, there is an excellent guide that provides foundational advice on approaching relationships in a healthy manner, "A Smart Girl's Guide to Boys," for girls 9 to 13 at https://www.amightygirl.com/a-smart-girl-s-guide-to-boys For LQBTQ youth seeking relationship guidance, we recommend "Queer" for ages 13 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/queer For stories of girls and women experiencing and overcoming abuse and violence in their lives -- which offer a helpful way to talk to young people about the widespread problem of violence against women -- visit our Abuse & Violence" book section at http://amgrl.co/2BFzFSf And, if you’re a parent concerned that your daughter may be in an unhealthy relationship, check out the books But I Love Him: Protecting Your Teen Daughter from Controlling, Abusive Relationships (https://www.amightygirl.com/but-i-love-him) and Saving Beauty From The Beast: How to Protect Your Daughter from an Unhealthy Relationship (https://www.amightygirl.com/saving-beauty-from-the-beast)

01.01.2022 This shift is decades overdue but go Victoria!! It should have always been the perpetrator removed from the home. Small step in the right direction but a mammoth shift in the system. Covid is forcing our broken systems to be addressed beyond patching. Interesting times.

01.01.2022 This shift is decades overdue but go Victoria!! It should have always been the perpetrator removed from the home. Small step in the right direction but a mammoth shift in the system. Covid is forcing our broken systems to be addressed beyond patching. Interesting times.