I don't want kids ok?

Hello!
I'm sorry it's been a while, but I have an insane amount of uni work to do. Third year is a bitch of epic proportions. Then if I'm not doing that I'm procrastinating or sleeping.

OK, so today's blog is a bit of a rant. I often find myself in feminist arguments with my largely non-feminist flatmates. But I find myself in the same argument with a lot of people; flatmates, family and mostly mother.

It seems, in the 21st century, where women are more powerful than ever, working their way up the career ladder, running businesses and generally taking over the world, it is still taboo for a women not to have that maternal gene.

If a woman declares she doesn't want children, she is looked at in shock and if she's young like me, told she'll change her mind. Is it almost impossible for people to understand why a woman would rather have a great career than a house, a husband and 2.4 children.

Don't get me wrong, I like children, I adore my niece and nephew. However, I have no desire to have children of my own. Selfish it may be, but I don't have the time, patience or energy. The best thing about other people's children is that I can give them back.

My life ambitions are more focused around getting a great career than getting married and having children. I want to achieve a great position on a magazine, and that takes time, energy and commitment. I don't want to have to take off maternity leave and risk my job. I don't want to hardly see my kids or form no real relationship with them, because I'm never there.

It is possible to be a powerful woman and have children, there are editors of women's magazines with children. I'm not saying you can't have one without the other. You can. But I want the freedom to do what I want, when I want to. If I have the offer of a trip to New York, I want to be able to take it.

I could never be a woman that gives up her freedom and job for a man. I've worked hard my entire life and I don't intend on spending my days cooking, cleaning and greeting my husband when he gets in from work. It would send me insane.

As much as I enjoy expensive things, I don't think I'd be content with being a kept woman, it would get incredibly boring. I wouldn't want to have to rely on a man. Surely there is more joy in working hard, saving money and buying something great for yourself. That sense you earned it, rather than owe someone.

Who knows. Maybe everyone will be right, and I may end up with children. But for now, I really can't see it. It's never been a desire of mine to have children. It is possible for a woman not to have that desire, and she shouldn't be demonised for it. It doesn't make her heartless, it just makes her different. Times have changed, and women should be able to feel like they're life is still fulfilled if they don't have children or a husband.

As long as a woman is happy with life, should it matter? A man isn't demonised for not wanting children. I hope to find a man that doesn't expect out of date conventions from me. Women have brains and are capable of making their own decisions. I shouldn't have to say "Oh you want a child? OK, I'll have one, my hearts not in it, but sure...I'll give up my life if that's what you want."

Call me selfish and heartless, but it's my decision if I decide to pro-create.

Feminism: A dirty word?

I feel I've been boring my peers a lot with my feminist rants lately, but the complete lack of enthusiasm by women to open their eyes to feminist issues is shocking.

It seems after we won the vote and campaigned for equal pay, most women believed the job of feminists had been done, and to carry on the fight in the 21st century was pointless and radical. After all, what is there left to fight for?

Feminists are still perceived as hairy legged man hating ranters, who are scary and odd, and not one to engage in conversation. I can see people cringe when I mention I'm a feminist, as they conjure up these images.

I do not have to compromise who I am to be a feminist, I'm a dedicated follower of fashion, I swoon over unsuitable guys and sometimes (shock horror) I show a bit of leg.

During a discussion with friends after a night out, I mentioned how a guy had grabbed my arse, and how I was appalled and would of punched him, had I not had my hands full with drinks as I navigated myself out of a bar queue.

I was told 'what did I expect' as I was dressed in shorts and knee high socks. I argued that I could dress provocatively if I wished, and not have to worry about getting goosed.

It seems young women who have benefited from the work of past generations of women, simply accept these new rights we have as the norm, and are quite willing to accept the social inequalities we still face today.

Women are still not paid equally in Britain, despite the equal pay act the feminists fought so hard for. Thankfully gagging orders about male colleague's salaries have recently been lifted, making it illegal for companies to hide what individuals are being paid. So while the fight is still far from over, we're getting closer.

My point is, among students, where opinions and political activism should be at their highest, many women are simply happy to sit back and accept the situation.

Is it fair that some men still think it is acceptable to view us as sex objects that they have unprecedented access to?

Is it right that there are women who will answer to their boyfriend's every word and caution?

Is it okay that some women will dress provocatively purely for the chance to please men?

Should we accept the undertone of most popular music, selling sex to sell female artists?

We have a lot to thank feminists for; without the suffragettes we wouldn't have votes, without first wave feminists we wouldn't have equal pay and equal job opportunities.

Next time you sneer at feminism, think about it.

The summer where I didn't stop.

It really has been a mad few months, which sort of justifies my lack of blogging. Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

First there was New York, which was truly amazing. I've also been working a lot to raise some holiday dosh, and then I had my work experience at the local paper. And now I have more work experience at my grandparent's local paper.

The best thing about the work experience I've had, is that it proved to me that this career path I've been following for ten years, is the right one for me. I felt so at home in the Newsroom, and it's important for me to land in a job, where I can get up for work everyday, excited to see what the day will bring.

Maybe that job satisfaction won't last forever, who knows? Yet at this moment in time, its new and exciting and I know that I want to be a journalist. Being able to write everyday and get paid for it, is my dream job. I really hope I achieve it, and maybe end up writing at a top women's magazine in New York....if somehow the world goes mad, and I get lucky.

Meanwhile, I will soon be jetting off to Florida to soak up the sun, and scream my head off. Oh and lots of shopping. Even after New York, I am yet to be bored of it. If there are pretty clothes, I'm there. Maybe I can make it as a stylist or personal shopper if journalism doesn't work out?

I heart New York.

Here is a blog post I wrote a while ago, and never posted because my computer crashed. Its half finished, but worth a publish...

I am currently suffering the post New York trip blues. Last week I was exploring the wonderful city of New York, today I am in Essex, bored out of my brain.

I think I've found my spiritual home, it's like I'm meant to be there, as if it was designed for me. It's given me my ultimate life goal, get an excellent journalism job at a fantastic exciting magazine in New York. Hmm, sounds easy enough...

Its grid system, the endless shops, the beautiful scenery, the people and how at home it made me, all made it steal my heart. I'm determined to make it my home one day. I don't feel right at all now I'm back in Blighty. Normal everyday life just doesn't cut it.

I did so much shopping in New York, and lets not be mistaken, its not as if theres a shortage of them there. From Century 21 to American Eagle to Abercrombie and Fitch, I was in my element, and my wardrobe has seen some fantastic new editions. Lets just say I'm set for t-shirts and I have some gorgeous dresses I can dress up or down. Perfect.

A highlight to the shopping experience is stepping into Abercrombie and Fitch and coming face to face with a shirtless male model. I think every shopping experience should start like this. Getting to side up to a young gorgeous man and get a polaroid as a souviner lightens up any day. So much so, I collected three.

Another excellent highlight was my trip down Bleeker Street, that took me to Carrie's steps from Sex and the City. An important experience for all SATC fans, and a stark reminder how much I'd give for Carrie Bradshaw's life. Just minutes later, I found myself at Magnolia Bakery, another important SATC landmark and the best cupcakes ever. For a cupcake enthusiast, an important landmark. I invested in the red velvet with cream, a bright red cupcake with sweet creamy buttercream covering the top. If journalism doesn't work out, I will be starting my own cake shop, its my only other passion.

5th Avenue reminded me that I need to make a lot of money, so I can afford gorgeous designer garments. The affect the have on me is pure passion, and it breaks my heart that I can't afford them.

Girl Power.

Hello, yes I've been missing for ages. I'm very sorry, I'm a bad blogger. But now my uni assignments are over, and I have a summer of New York and Florida to look forward to, my blog should be a lot less boring. I promise.

Now, on to today's topic. Feminism has always been a passion of mine, from admiring the Spice Girls back in nineties to standing up for my beliefs today. I feel it is so important for women to stand up tall and fight for their rights.

We've been through a lot in the last 100 years, from fighting for the vote to fighting for equal pay, we will not stop fighting until we are treated equally. You may think women have nothing left to fight for; we're in high paid jobs, becoming millionaires and taking over politics. Yet women are still paid on average 80% less than men. In 2010, surely this can't be right or fair?

I have always aimed for the top, even as a child. I always wanted to be best in class, and end up in a successful job that was my dream. That dream turned into journalism, and I'm going to keep striving for it until I get it. I will ignore those that tell me I can't, but take on board the advice I am I given, we all learn somewhere.

In the words of Destiny's Child, I'm an independent woman. I have been single for longer than I care to remember, but I won't let it get me down. I don't need a man to make me feel complete. I hear so many girls saying they can't do things because they're worried what their boyfriend will think, or he will get jealous, or he doesn't like it. Since when do you let a man tell you what to do?
At the risk of scaring off any chance of getting a boyfriend ever, I could never imagine myself adhering to some man, and doing what he says. I know relationships need compromise, I understand that, but if I don't agree, it's not happening.

If you want to go out with the girls and get drunk, do it. You don't have to phone and text him, keeping him updated on every minute of your whereabouts. He does not own you, you are your own person.

Feminism is not about burning bras and hating men. You can be a girlie girl, you can care about your appearance and you can fancy bad boys. The main point is, your thinking for yourself. What you do, you do for you.

I'm proud to be a women, it's great. I love how far we've come. I love how amazing, pretty and great we all are. We've come a long way, but there is still a way to go. Girls, feminism is not a dirty word, stand up for your beliefs. Many women fought for that for us.

Yes I'm still alive.

In case any of you were wondering if I'd fallen off the face of the planet, I'd like to inform you that I'm still alive and kicking.

The months between September and December were a complete blur. I'm now the deputy style editor of The Linc, my university's newspaper. So on top of a complete overload of university coursework, I've had that to contend with. Year two is a right slap in the face, how I'll deal with my third is beyond me.

However despite my complete lack of free time, I've enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends. I love being part of something I'm proud of, check out www.thelinc.co.uk to see our work.

So as the new year (and a new decade) beckons, it's promotes a feeling of nostalgia among us all. I can't believe I'm seeing my second decade in, and my teenage years will come to an end in May. However, I act like an OAP anyway, so getting old is nothing to worry about.

I think come May I will write a blog about how my teenage years have passed me by without a my first love, that I dreamed about in so many Sarra Manning novels. 2009 has yet again not been my year, but this is the year I got almost used to it. However, I will not be complacent.

Instead I'm dreaming big, this year my mum wanted to go to Australia and she did it. It's prompted me to do the same, I want go to New York, and I'm going to do it. Saving money has never ever been my strong point, but I need to go on an adventure and for a single journalist, New York is the ideal. Perhaps as product of watching too much 'Sex and the city' and romantic comedies, but New York seems like the place to me. Shopping anyone?

I've always championed women being strong and independent, that we don't have to flaunt ourselves and mess with our looks to get somewhere in the world. That with intelligence alone, we can achieve want we want and take opportunities.

It doesn't always work that way, I know the world doesn't. But it should. This year I let men get me down, and make me feel bad about myself. I let myself feel worthless because I wasn't what they wanted, and because I yet again met myself with unrequited love.

Next year, I'm going to try hard to not let that happen again. Women, we are strong and independent, we don't need men to determine how we feel about ourselves. If we don't love ourselves, nobody will. Yes, its psychiatric bullshit, but maybe some positive thinking in this depressing climate will give us all a kick up the arse.

I'm working tomorrow night, so another anticlimactic new years is on the cards, but here's to 2010 and many more opportunities.

Next year, I'm going to try to live my life to the full. My own way.

RIP Michael Jackson

I was planning to write a new blog on here, now that marking is over. But I didn't expect it to be under these circumstances. Here I was all ready to rant about my ridiculous love life, then news breaks that Michael Jackson has died, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Its the kind of news, that you can't quite believe. The kind that takes a while to sink in. I know I didn't know him personally, but there are so many people in the world, that are going to be affected by this news. We all have our own opinions about his personal life, but there is no denying that he was one of the most important things to happen to music. He was an icon, a legend, and he has inspired so much of the music that is in our charts today.

I grew up in the 90s with his music being played in my house. He's had a career that's spanned 5 decades, and is one of the most recognisable icons in pop. You cannot deny his music is amazing, albums such as Thriller and Bad will go down as important music milestones. He was only 51 years old, I thought he had decades left. His health suffered many blows over the years, but I don't think anyone expected it would come to this.

I was due to see MJ in February during his massive tour at the O2. I was so excited, finally getting my chance to see the King of Pop live. The man has such aura and such a legendary status, I didn't know what to expect, but I knew it would be exciting. I had feelings something would go wrong, that I wouldn't get to see him. But I didn't think he would die. I thought he was invincible.

My thoughts are with his children, his family and friends. But lets not forget the fans, who are also suffering. So many will be affected by this news.

I am deeply saddened by the news, he was a crucial part of my musical education. He introduced me to so many amazing songs, and I couldn't help by be in awe of his dancing, his stage presence, his outfits. Now that his life has ended, we know that the fifty years he had, were hugely eventful, and he had an amazing life. Through ups and downs, he has had the support of his family and fans. Now in death, he will never be forgotten.

But it disappoints me so so much, that I will now not to see him at the O2. It sounds selfish, it sounds silly, when a man has lost his life. But I wanted to be part of history, I wanted to see him on that stage doing what he does best. I can't help but feel bitter that it won't happen now. There are rumours that we won't get refunds. Most likely vicious rumours to generate anger, but if true, I think its completely disgusting. Though we are all saddened by his death, we shouldn't have to pay for a show we will never get to see.

I'm really going to miss this man. I don't care about peoples opinions and allegations. He was an important musical icon, and he will never be replaced. During the somewhat, more sensible hours of today, I'm going to devote my time to listening to his timeless tunes, and try and let the news sink in.

Its a really sad day. Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. A complete and utter legend.