OPINION
“Women’s football fan culture is unique – but the demand being placed on players is unsustainable”
Nicola Coughlan’s post-workout selfie is not an invitation to comment on her body
Why Liz Truss’s failure to appoint a minister for women is so concerning
“Boris Johnson’s legacy isn’t the shining example he makes it out to be – and we mustn’t forget it”
Boris Johnson has officially departed 10 Downing Street – leaving behind him a country facing the worst cost of living crises in a generation. You wouldn’t think it, though, based on the speech the former Conservative leader gave as he left No 10 this morning (6 September). Taking to the lectern at 7.30am, before he departed for Balmoral to meet with the Queen, Johnson remained defiant – using his time in front of the media to paint a picture of himself as the successful, victorious leader he wa
Why it’s time to change the way we talk about people taking antidepressants
As someone whose job requires spending a lot of time online, I can often predict what the reaction to a story will be as soon as I read the headline. So, when I saw the recent news that the number of adults taking antidepressants has increased by nearly half a million over the last year, I felt a sense of dread. Over the last decade, the increase in the number of people taking antidepressants has repeatedly been painted as some kind of societal failure, and it didn’t take long for that same resp
“I’m sick of Prince Harry pretending good mental health is all about effort”
Since stepping down as a senior member of the royal family over two years ago, Prince Harry has made a name for himself as a vocal mental health advocate. From opening up about the struggles he’s personally faced to raising awareness of the benefits of therapy, the Duke of Sussex has brought conversations about mental health to the forefront. But despite how refreshing it is to see such a public figure talking in this way, there’s always been something about the way Harry approaches the subject
Why everything Tory MP Danny Kruger said about abortion is so terrifying
If you’ve been on social media at all this morning, you’ll no doubt have seen a video of the Conservative MP Danny Kruger making the rounds. In the video – which was taken during a parliamentary debate about the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade – the MP said he recognised the “degree of distress and concern” felt by many MPs in response to the news, but went on to share a different opinion. “The facts are that I would probably disagree with most members who’ve spoken so far abo
What that sexist smear campaign against Angela Rayner actually reveals
If you’ve checked the news at all today, chances are you’ve seen reports of the ridiculous claims made against Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, this weekend. In yesterday’s edition of the Mail On Sunday, the newspaper’s political editor said that several Conservative MPs had claimed that Rayner tries to distract the prime minister when she goes head-to-head with him during PMQs by crossing and uncrossing her legs. A spokesperson for Angela Rayner has, of course, dismissed the story as “cat
“I was told I just worried too much”: the reality of fighting for mental health support
I first sought help for my mental health in autumn 2016. A month or two into the first term of my second year at university, I’d found myself confronted with wave after wave of anxiety, which had grown steadily worse since the start of the year. It was unlike the low-level anxiety I’d experienced previously – and I knew something wasn’t right. I was, of course, nervous about the prospect of opening up to a stranger – it was something I’d never done before, and it was hard to imagine what receivi
Enough of the apps already: why we can’t rely on technology to ‘fix’ male violence against women
The big problem with how Ashling Murphy’s murder is being framed on social media
Ever since the details of Ashling Murphy’s horrific murder were released last week, the phrase “she was just going for a run” has taken over social media. Alongside sadness that another young woman has been lost to male violence – and empathy for the children who Murphy taught in her job as a primary school teacher – the idea that Murphy’s life was taken while she was completing such an ‘everyday’ activity has struck a chord. But that initial response – and the ‘not all men’ backlash that’s come
Dominic Raab’s latest blunder shows the danger of confusing misogyny and sexism
As one of the central focuses of the Law Commission’s ongoing review into hate crime legislation, the conversation surrounding the criminalisation of misogyny has been happening for many years now. But despite this, prominent government figures have repeatedly demonstrated how little they understand about what campaigners are asking for. Just yesterday, Boris Johnson ruled out making misogyny a hate crime because he said it would “widen the scope” of what the police are required to do. And this
Blaming women or mental health issues for mass shootings isn’t solving anything
Last Thursday (12 August), the city of Plymouth bore witness to the UK’s worst mass shooting in a decade. The gunman behind the attack – who was later named as 22-year-old Jake Davison – shot two women, two men and a three-year-old girl before turning the gun on himself. When news of the shooting first broke, it was met with widespread shock and horror. But since then, much of the conversation surrounding the incident, especially online, has revolved around blame. From a horrific viral tweet (wh
