Hugh Hefner and Playboy: How can you like both and still be a Feminist?

If you follow me on any of my social channels such as my Twitter or Instagram, you will likely be aware that on Thursday I was pretty devastated about the passing of Hugh Hefner. But wait, Claire, aren’t you a feminist? Yes, I am.

I haven’t sat and written a proper chatty, opinion piece for ages, and before blogging become the ridiculous, high-quality editorial thing it is now, this is what I came into blogging to do; to write and debate, and provide my opinion on current topics and issues.

I have written a fair amount about my feminist views and how I perceive modern feminism–

Feminist and married

You can’t define feminism as an emoji

Page 3, Playboy and questioning modern objectification

…to list just three.

Hugh Hefner and Playboy

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Living in the moment, lessons learnt & other Reflections from my Twenties

Hey Sweeties,

On the eve of my 30th birthday, today is my final day as a woman in my twenties and while I am excited by the prospect of turning the page on a new chapter of life, equally I am kinda’ freaking out.

On reflection, my twenties have been amazing, a real roller coaster of experiences and emotions and I do not regret anything. Everything that I have seen, done, loved, lived, visited, worked, lost and found, has all contributed to the woman I am today. My twenties has been my time to get to know me, explore life, take different paths, and experience what the hell I want to, completely guilt free.

I would pour yourself a brew and get some snacks because if you have never been here before, you’re going to be here a while; and if you are a regular reader then you know how much I can write and this post is no different. Get comfy.

Living in the moment, lessons learnt & other Reflections from my Twenties

Life lessons from my twenties

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BBC Drama Three Girls & Sara Rowbotham for MBE

Hey Sweeties,

As regular readers and followers of ClaireySweetie, and/or any of my other social channels, there is no denying the fact that I am opinionated and do not shy away from topics others might be too weary to post about (General election 2017: Social media and pushing opinions; Too scared to speak out [against Trump]). Equally, I am passionate about doing good, particularly when it comes to the environment, and raising money for charity (like swimming across Weymouth Harbour on Christmas Day). I think it is important to put our voices to things that matter and there is a campaign I would really like your support in pushing.

BBC Drama – Three Girls

Back in May (2017), the BBC aired three-part drama, Three Girls, which covered the story about the Rochdale child sex abuse ring, and how authorities failed hundreds of young girls by not taking seriously their allegations of rape, believing them to be unreliable witnesses. Eventually, 12 British Pakistani men were brought to justice but new evidence continues to be investigated.

The drama was harrowing and if Twitter was anything to go by, many people –myself included- were emotionally distraught by what we saw.

So here’s what I would like your help with –

Sara Rowbotham - BBC Three Girls

Sara Rowbotham for MBE

Sara Rowbotham was the Sexual Health Worker who campaigned tirelessly for years to the authorities to take notice about what was happening in Rochdale to young girls, but no one listened. It was not until a few years later that the authorities acknowledged their failings and worked with Rowbotham and the girls to bring the gang to justice.

When viewers watched the final episode, we were all delighted that a positive result had been achieved and there were early calls for Sara Rowbotham to be publicly acknowledged for her work. Then, as the episode came to a close and the credits began to roll, viewers learned that following the case, understandably the stress of it all had had an impact on her, but horrifyingly, Sara was made redundant from her senior role. To say Twitter was outraged was an understatement and my own personal anger really took hold. But we can still do good. A campaign has been set up to get Sara Rowbotham awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List and the more support we can get behind it, the better chance it has of succeeding. It takes 30 seconds of your time to click this link, sign the petition, and share it on.

Here’s that link again – http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sara-rowbotham-mbe

I will be happy to personally thank each and every one of you that lets me know you have signed the petition, either in the comments, or if you respond to my tweet about this post. Please let this campaign be a success.

Thank you x

General Election 2017: Social Media & Pushing Opinions

Imagine if social media didn’t exist and people actually had to make a decision about who to vote for in the General Election, entirely by themselves. Imagine! I love social media, I love the discussion it can generate and the virtual communities it can create. But, I HATE social media around elections & Brexit as suddenly all these people I like, follow and are friends with turn into these pushy individuals that do nothing but force their opinions onto everyone else. No discussion, no debate, just, “vote my way because if you don’t you’re (*insert judgement*).

General Election 2017

There is nothing wrong with sharing opinions, hell, that is what I do myself every day, but be constructive, encourage discussion, understand yourself what you are actually preaching (as in, fact check), and be willing to consider another point of view. Politics is as old as time itself, and it will always divide people because we each value and care about different things.

The thing about the General Election that worries me the most is the amount of people who will decide their vote based on what they see in their social feeds and in the media, rather than actually researching the policies proposed by each of the parties for themselves. Politics is confusing, and it can be hard to get your head around, but you need to be sure that the box you tick on the ballot paper is the right one for you.

For me this is the first time I am not voting as an individual, I am voting as a married woman and I have to consider how my vote (as well as other peoples) will affect the next four-five years or more, which may/may not have an impact on my family life.

General Election 2017

In this General Election there are really only two parties in play, Labour and the Conservatives. One promises to keep us strong and stable, but its recent spending cuts from the public sector is making people angry, particularly in light of recent terror attacks. And then you have this loud group on the left who seem to be saying all the right things but whose spending is wild against the opposition.

I was saying on Twitter the other day at how I do not understand why there is no balance, there feels to be a real lack of middle ground representation. You’re either rich and Tory or poor and Labour. (Read image bottom to top)

Clairey_Tweetie

You have to seriously question where all the money ‘saved’ through the cuts is being collected, but equally work out where all this money to pump £30bn into the NHS, and wiping university tuition fees (which is an estimated £11bn by the way) will come from. People need to be questioning this more rather than just voting for how good/bad it sounds.

And four new Bank Holiday days? Is no one questioning the cost to business here? Great for us working people, sure, but again, these things cost money, which has to come from somewhere and I am sorry, but you can’t just use taxing as a solution.

Rather than believing everything your friends and people you follow are sharing, take 10 minutes to look over the manifestos yourself before your vote on Thursday; this guide on the BBC News website is a great impartial look at what each party is proposing.

Anyway, I just wanted to get something posted about the General Election because I have all these thoughts and questions whirling around my head that I just needed to expel.

I would be really interested to know what you guys think about what I’ve shared above, but also on your thoughts more generally about the General Election so please do let me know either in the comments, or on Twitter. But vote, please vote if you registered!

Until next time x

How do you Judge Beauty? -A response to Julia Roberts being voted People’s World’s Most Beautiful Woman for 2017

Hey Sweeties,

On Thursday this week, I was just finishing my lunch break and doing a quick scroll through Twitter when I saw a this from InStyle.co.uk –

Julia Roberts

“The Oscar winner has been named People‘s World’s Most Beautiful Woman for 2017 and it’s an honour she has earned for a record fifth time.” –InStyle.co.uk, 19th April 2017

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