Marxist. Trade Unionist. Socialist-feminist. Author. Poet. Speaker. Tutor. RMT ex-Exec. Workers' Liberty. Autie. Bi. PUFC fan.
Socialist feminism! Everyday sexism! Women’s struggles past and present!
The third in a series of articles about the German socialist women’s movement 1890-1914 written in 2005 – originally published here. What is often seen as one issue – referred to at the time as the ‘woman question’ – actually … Read more
This is the speech that I gave in the opening plenary of Workers’ Liberty’s ‘Ideas for Freedom’ event in 2013 – originally published here. On 23rd June 2012, Steven Simpson, a gay autistic student, was verbally abused, stripped, and his … Read more
Written back in around 1993: Constance Markievicz and the other women who fought in the Easter Rising struggled to be accepted on equal terms by the Irish labour movement and among nationalists. Their experience holds many lessons for today’s socialists … Read more
The last in a series of five articles written in 2005 – originally published here: Divided loyalties Socialist feminists are continually accused of ‘divided loyalties’, challenged to declare which is our priority: class or sex. It makes a lot more … Read more
The fourth in a series of articles about the German socialist women’s movement 1890-1914, written in 2005, originally published here: Laws against women’s organisation After Bismarck’s Anti-Socialist Law lapsed in 1890, laws remained which restricted women’s political activity. The 1851 … Read more
The second in a series of articles about the German socialist women’s movement 1890-1914, written in 2005, originally published here. Education German socialist women placed strong emphasis on education. They set up education clubs for women and girls (Frauen- and … Read more
Introducing a series of articles on the German socialist women’s movement 1890-1914, written in 2005, originally published here. During the nineteenth century, the emerging workers’ movement began to develop its policy on the ‘woman question’. The early, ‘utopian’ socialists argued … Read more
An article from 27 September 2005: Today, I am pretty annoyed by reading articles about the Portman group’s report about boozing and the trouble it allegedly gets you into. The report, “Anatomy of a big night out”, claims that almost four in … Read more
These are biographical notes on the ‘Red Countess’, Constance Markievicz, prepared for the London Socialist Feminist Discussion Group on 10 October 2008. Also attached are two one-page files giving a timeline of her life. Constance Georgine Gore-Booth was born on … Read more
I will be performing poetry at this event, which will take place at the P21 Gallery on Chalton Street, London NW1. More details to follow.
In England and Wales, women are killed by current or former male partners at the rate of two a week. Click the names highlighted in this poem to read the stories behind the statistics. Thanks to Counting Dead Women for … Read more
The attached article was included in the Workers’ Liberty pamphlet Pink Pound or Red Flag? Socialists and the Fight for Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Liberation in 1995.
East London Central Synagogue, 30-40 Nelson Street, London, E1 2DE After very brief formal AGM proceedings, there will be two talks, including my presentation on Minnie Lansbury – East End suffragette, socialist, school teacher, champion of the victims of war, rebel … Read more
My illustrated talk about Minnie Lansbury, followed by several poets, myself included. At Kingsley Hall, Bow, East London. Facebook event here.
A brief comment prompted by the verdict in the trial of Oscar Pistorius for killing Reeva Steenkamp: I’ve been trying to glean What the court might mean By ‘culpable homicide’ I now understand – You were a bit out of … Read more
The final section of the Workers’ Liberty pamphlet ‘Comrades and Sisters’ looks at what socialism can offer women, and what sort of movement we need to win liberation. Formal Equality and its Limits Britain has had the Sex Discrimination Act … Read more
The second section of the Workers’ Liberty pamphlet ‘Comrades and Sisters’ looks at women’s situation today. Domestic work, (badly-)paid work, the vast gulf between working-class and ruling-class women. Women in communities, and women in the welfare state. Religious fundamentalism, the … Read more
This article is the first section of the Workers’ Liberty pamphlet ‘Comrades and Sisters’, about socialism and women’s liberation. It tells the story of women’s struggle for liberation: from the French Revolution and the birth of feminism, through the fight for … Read more
Her name is Reeva Reeva Steenkamp Not ‘Oscar Pistorius’ girlfriend’ Not ‘model’ Not ‘reality TV star’ Her name is Reeva Her name is Reeva She was not just a model But also a law graduate She was not just a … Read more