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Some news etc.
Stuff I'm doing and other things that caught my attention
Oh friends,
Here we are at the end of the year, and the terrifying events unfolding across the world seem without end.
For the lucky ones, life goes on and mundane things like newsletters get sent out. Even so, we can’t afford to turn away despite how powerless we might feel. Even if all we can do is bear witness and call for an end to the violence and suffering happening in Gaza and so many places across the world.
I wish I had the fearlessness of Benjamin Zephaniah, who died too soon this month. I’m working on it.
Some places to catch me if you can…
Women Poets Network: Open Mic & Practical Chat, 21 January 2024 (online)
I’ll be co-hosting the next Women Poets Network open mic with the brilliant Jen Feroze. We’ll be exploring truth, vulnerability and the use of the poetic ‘I’. If you’re a woman poet and fancy coming along, you can book tickets here.
Out-Spoken, 29 February 2024 - Southbank Centre, London (in person)
I’m doing a set at Out-Spoken, London’s premier evening of poetry and live music, on 29 February - a leap day! I can’t remember if I’ve ever done any poeting on a Leap Day before and I have to say, it feels a bit special. Especially as I’m on the bill with Jason Allen-Paisant and Kit Fan. Sometimes I can’t quite believe the company me and my poems are keeping these days. Come along if you’re in that neck of the woods, it’ll be brilliant!
Some of my favourite newsletters…
Here are two that I absolutely adore.
The Red Hand Files Nick Cave’s beautiful, generous and uplifting letters to his fans contain the whole world. Full of grief and love and joy and pain. There is such wisdom, worn lightly but hard won. His advice on creativity and the creative process is often excellent. His advice on being alive in this difficult world is always comforting.
Seven Good Things “Every day good things happen. Every week Seven Good Things”Every week Fredrick Haugen reminds me to look out for the good things that bring joy. I came across this gorgeous newsletter when it was recommended by someone in the Cave. (I’ll do a post about the phenomenal Caveday in the next newsletter.)
If you have a favourite newsletter you think I should subscribe to, let me know!
Some thoughts on pronouns…
As a parent to a gender non-conforming teen, I use ‘they/them’ as a way of normalising the use of gender neutral pronouns. My kid is figuring out who they are in relation to the rest of the world (as all kids do) and giving them this small breathing space is an act of kindness.
The decision to adopt gender non-conforming pronouns as a cis-gendered woman was made easier by the example set by the late American scholar Lauren Berlant, who began using ‘they/them’ pronouns in their professional life. For me, using ‘they/them’ is also a small act of resistance against the loud and persistent transphobia in our online spaces. An outward sign of solidarity that says to trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming folks, “I see you”.
With this small change comes a commitment to challenge transphobic language and behaviour when I see it. That includes in our political spaces.
The UK government has announced plans to force educators to inform parents when a child questions their assigned gender. It’s a “parent first” approach. What if a child’s relationship with their parents is toxic? What if revealing this information leads to emotional or physical abuse at home? What if further stigmatising gender non-conforming and trans kids leads to more bullying and abuse at school?
Life is already tough enough for gender non-conforming kids. Wouldn’t a “child first” approach be more appropriate? One that recognises that each child is different and takes into account the specific circumstances of their life?
Something else that caught my attention…
I watched Victoria Wood’s brilliant tv film Pat and Margaret for the first time this week. It’s available on BBC iPlayer until 15 January.
Once I got over the shock of just how ancient 1994 looks, I spent the whole 84 minutes marvelling at what a genius writer Wood was. This story of two long-separated sisters unexpectedly reunited on a TV show allows Wood to expertly cover just about every theme possible. Class, gender, poverty, mental illness, celebrity, beauty, the education system, loneliness, controlling relationships, the unscrupulousness of the press and loads more.
Wood’s characterisation is exceptional and her long-time collaborator Julie Walters is on fine form as the famous (and unlikeable) long-lost sister.
After the film, the BBC aired a 1985 episode of Scene, where Wood talks about her creative process and the challenges she faced as a woman trying to succeed on her own terms. It was so interesting to find her talking about today's hot topic of gender all those years ago.
“When I was about three, I didn’t know that you had to, if you were a girl, I didn’t know you had to grow up to be a woman. I didn’t know that. I thought you could choose. I don’t know… I thought you could choose at eighteen, which you would want, which you wanted to be. And I wanted to be a man. I didn’t want to be a girl at all. Well, I came round to that later. I didn’t… I mean I don’t mind at all. I quite like it. But I… I’ve never liked sort of girlie things and I don’t like frilly frocks. And I… Well, they don’t suit me, apart from anything else.” Scene: Victoria Wood: A Personal View (timestamp 15:55)
Kids just want the freedom to express themselves as they see themselves.
That’s all from me for now. Thanks for reading.
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