Apparently there are a petitions doing the rounds re Mark Lathams vitriol about mothers in his columns over the last couple of weeks. He took aim at feminist mothers in general, naming Lisa Pryor, Mia Freedman, Sarah Macdonald and me in particular. Can I ask you NOT to sign such a petition? Here are my reasons why. Women are not delicate flowers who need to be protected from criticism, however robust or even nasty. Frankly, Lathams arguments are so absurd it is to our advantage to let them run. The instinct to ban such stuff plays into the hands of those who see feminism as restrictive rather than liberating. It gives his opinions oxygen. If we ignore them (or blow them back on him with hilarity and mockery) we win and he loses. We should not react by playing victim and asking for someone more powerful - the editor, the press council, whatever -to punish Latham for us. Latham is his own enemy, not ours. Outrage (and petitions, open letters etc read like outrage) never works and is just the reaction bullies want. Humour always works and means we have refused to allow the bully to manipulate our responses. Let this silliness die a natural death. Seriously it isnt worth getting het up about. However much I may despise Lathams view I support his right to write what he wants in his columns and our right not to read them and/or mock them.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 03:04:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015