This Is Where I Write Stuff.
It’s been a busy few weeks here. What with the start of the summer holidays and the adjustment to the once in a lifetime heatwave we’ve been experiencing this summer, things have taken a bit of a left turn, writing wise. I’d forgotten how […]
Spending money is something that we all do, pretty much every day. Somehow though, the amount of money I seem to have been spending on things that don’t really count has ran away with me, and I’ve only just begun to realise it. Last […]
When does feminism cross the line? This is a debate that I see argued about on Twitter day in, day out, in yet another pitching of the age-old ‘us vs. them’ world we exist in. Personally, I don’t think we need to look that far to find the answer to this question. We simply need to look towards Germaine Greer.
Greer’s latest comments about the “lazy” viewpoint that society takes on rape, as recently reported in The Guardian, are nothing short of spectacular self-sabotage via projection. She’s no stranger to controversial statements; divisive as she may be her voice and work are arguably among the most well-recognised in the field of feminism. And yet, where once her ideas were radically eye-opening – food for thought and fuel for change – of late they seem to be travelling faster down the roads of vitriol and careless sweeping statements.
To assert the idea that “most rapes don’t involve any injury whatsoever,” and referring to them instead as merely ‘bad sex’ would incite disbelief amongst scores of people at surface level alone, but to dig deeper into Greer’s publicly acknowledged experiences shines a brighter light on what’s driving these statements.
She’s discussed her own experience of rape as an 18 year-old, where she was beaten violently and subsequently did not make a report to the police. This latest outburst, which at the outset does appear to be another in a latest string of anti-feminist remarks, actually smacks of a gigantic two fingers up to her own attacker.
What better way to say, ‘you didn’t hurt me, you’re just a crap shag,’ than to stamp your feet like a child and make such wild claims? I don’t believe that Germaine Greer has suddenly decided these things, or has suddenly become anti-women. Yet it appears she is making the error of assuming she has the right to speak sweepingly, and for all women.
She does not.
I think she’s lost perspective. She’s fallen off the pedestal that she co-built and perhaps feels that notoriety will reinstate her. It’s very easy to see her comments about transgender women being anti-feminist. In fact they’re almost the extreme opposite. Greer appears to be so embittered by her experiences and feelings about men that she seemingly can’t tolerate the idea that they have the right to be female.
Or perhaps she can, and is once again trying to provoke a public reaction; the kind that propelled her to public knowledge in the first place.
There’s a huge difference between being intelligent and being insightful. Greer’s recent slew of commentary regarding rape and her stance on transgender women in particular are her own views alone, and as an intelligent woman she should know that to use her platform to air these views will undoubtedly court controversy. Which as an insightful woman she knows will allow her to remain relevant.
A wise person once told me that once you start to become personal in order to win an argument, then you’ve lost it, no matter what you say. If Greer is basing the arguments for this new thesis of hers on her own experiential perspective, then she’s lost sight entirely of what she’s meant to stand for.
In abusing the power her position as an academic and public figure affords her, she has become the antagonist of her own ideas.
Whatever happened to Germaine Greer? Whatever happens to us all over time – life, bitterness and the idea that as we get older, we can just say whatever we like and not be held to account. I’m all for liberated womanhood and for defining your own values, but when proclaiming those values publicly begins to sound hateful and dangerous, then we’re going tho have a problem, no matter how old you are.
Try to be more careful of what you’re saying please, Germaine – it’s not all about you.
Writer, tweeter and illustrator. Starving artist and thrifting expert. Pen for hire and first-time author at work.
There are places in the world most of us dream of visiting. If you don’t have a travel wishlist, then I honestly don’t know what to tell you. There’s a world out there full of massive adventures – who wouldn’t want to explore that? […]
Believe it or not, I am now SIX WEEKS into Operation Declutter. That’s right, six weeks. It’s still not anywhere near finished, but you know what, that’s ok. The Easter holidays interrupted progress for a fortnight, as it was pretty impossible to do any […]
Saving is hard, especially as you get older and there are more responsibilities thrust your way. If you’re not quite into the Thirtyhood yet, worry not, as today I’m bringing you some expert knowledge in the form of Jon from The Money Shed – the UK’s largest community website dedicated to earning money from home! Read on for a guide to all things saving and spending…
Your 20’s are a time in your life where you can afford to be a bit more reckless with your money. You generally have more disposable income which means you don’t have to budget as much. But once you reach your 30’s all of this goes out of the window.
Once you’re in your 30’s you will have to start thinking about saving more for the future. This includes planning for your retirement and thinking about your family. The chances are that by the time you are 30, you will have more responsibilities then when you were in your 20’s. This means that you should try and save more money in order to be able to deal with those responsibilities effectively.
Many people who are in their 30’s own their own home, or at least are trying to save for a deposit for one. This means that you should be saving money for said deposit. Or you should make sure you always have an emergency fund should anything go wrong with your house. The older you get, the more expensive problems become, so having an emergency fund is pretty essential.
However, because you are more settled in life, you are more likely to have bigger bills which will make it harder to save. If you are saving for a deposit, or trying to save for an emergency fund then you may find it hard to actually save a decent amount. The problem with being in your 30’s is that you should be saving more, but you are also spending more.
A good way to combat this is to make sure that whatever you are spending, you are putting 50% of that into savings each month. Although this may seem like a lot at first, you will be grateful for it later. Once you have set aside the amount you need to spend every month, you will be left with your disposable income. This is where your savings should come from. So it means that you may not be able to afford to go out to eat every week, and you may not have the money for a shopping trip every month. But spending this money is one sure-fire way to make sure your savings never get topped up.
Other money troubles that come in your 30’s are pensions. Suddenly you want to start thinking about the future, which includes making sure you are comfortable in retirement. Many companies offer a pension scheme which you should always make sure you are enrolled in. If your company doesn’t then you should look into private pensions. Although the future may seem like a long way off, the sooner you start thinking about it, the better off you’ll be.
Another thing that suddenly happens to you in your 30’s is family. Many people find that their 30’s are the time when they start having children and getting married. This is great but it does also come with an increased financial responsibility. Saving for your children, saving for a marriage – it all adds up. It seems like there is always one thing after another to pay for, and it seems that you can never keep hold of money long enough before it has been spent.
Making sure to budget properly is a good tip to help save money. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money each month, but a little is better than nothing at all. Remember, many people in their 30’s have lots of stuff figured out, and some people have nothing. Many people compare themselves to others and think they should be doing the same thing. It’s important to note that you are unique and just because someone else your age has everything sorted, doesn’t mean you should.
Writer, tweeter and illustrator. Starving artist and thrifting expert. Pen for hire and first-time author at work.
