Can I be a feminist?
I’ve had more than one friend tell me they’re afraid of feminism. Not just that – they’re afraid of feminists. They’re afraid of “doing feminism wrong,” and I understand that. Continue Reading →
Category Archives: Politics
But are you disabled *enough*?
Every few weeks or so, I get asked why I’m on the “Jobseeker” benefit instead of the Supported Living Payment. I reply that my application for the SLP was denied. Continue Reading →
A sea change – or just more weasel words?
Way back when I was fighting Paula Bennett, the then Social Development Minister, in the media, Labour made a lot of noise about trying to effect a cultural change at Continue Reading →
WINZ: criminal til proven otherwise
I’ve been the lucky recipient of not one, not two, but four letters from WINZ this week, each one requiring different things of me. I want people to understand how Continue Reading →
The nature of gendered abuse
Amid accusations that our Prime Minister deliberately mislead the country by getting pregnant and will now be an unfit leader due to “baby brain” and motherhood, I’m reflecting on how Continue Reading →
Should I get naked?
Feminism is meant to be all about body positivity, right? We love and accept other people’s bodies and we love and accept our own. Except it’s not that easy.
Make it medical
Last week I sat in front of my rheumatologist and heard words I never thought I’d hear: “We’ve done everything. Chemotherapy hasn’t worked. There’s nothing else I can do for Continue Reading →
Resurrection
I, like many others, had given up hope after Election Night. I honestly didn’t think there was any chance that NZ First would form a coalition with Labour. I thought Continue Reading →
Make it count
Today is Suffrage Day in New Zealand. On September 19 in 1893, we became the first country in the western world where women won the right to vote.
Politics is always personal
As we gear up for the general election, I’m reminded of another September, three years ago. A night where I watched the numbers rise with horror. A night where I Continue Reading →