Minnie’s Musings

In part. He isn’t advocating for a return to the fifties. He is advocating for proper and effective restrictions on social media where the views of violent misogynists are so prevalent and powerful. In fact he also points to the link between social media and self harm among girls and boys. Good for him.

My assumptions were based on the trailer which emphasised the ‘danger’ of disaffected young men. and the portentous tone it took. The result was that my mind closed and I reverted to embedded prejudice – born out lived experience – and deep, deep frustration. TBH I forced myself to stay in bed and listen to the interview rather than stomp downstairs to get some breakfast.

I don’t take back the too prevalent recourse to violence by too many men illustrated by the rioters at Southport who responded to violence with violence (many of whom also neatly skirted round their own convictions for domestic violence while professing to ‘defend’ women and girls).

Power is inextricably linked with violence. Hence Hollywood’s interpretation of equality for women as taking up the cudgel and kicking ass ‘like a man’ . Atomic Blonde with Charlize Theron was one of the most depressing illustrations of this I have seen.

But the light at the end of the tunnel is our economic power. We are the sought after audience on the telly because we go out and spend. We appeal to advertisers and therefore the commercial world because we make purchasing choices every day.

Hence the plethora of dramas and comedies created by and starring women. These might be ‘aimed at’ women but I would call on gentlemen out there to make like women have for millennia. Watch what’s on the box with and enjoy.

So engage with ‘Riot Women’ and the like. These are the stories of the people with whom you share your lives. They are interesting, they tell you something, they are profound. Goodness me, you might even be entertained.