I too am a new blogger for Feminist Mums, and very glad to be here. Ruth and I managed to write pieces, quite separately, on issues to do with Feminism and Motherhood for The F Word in the same week, and I enjoyed Ruth’s very much. I ought to be able to do the same sort of whizzy linkage that she did, but I’m technologically challenged, and shall just say that mine was on gender issues, was called Why My Son Wears Pink, and can be found here – http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2008/08/why_my_son_wear

I have a particular interest in gender issues. I had to give up my MPhil, which was on the topic of Gender in Children’s Literature (to be specific, in The Chalet School books - a series of girls’ school stories), which I regret. But given a not-so-small son (he’ll be three in a couple of weeks), a slight financial crisis and a long term disability (I have ME, aka CFIDS, and have done for the past 15 years), it has not been feasible to continue. But I am very interested in gender issues – and, also, in children’s literature, of which I read a great deal (and no, not just for my son’s sake, but because of my own unashamed love).

I also care deeply about environmental issues and disability issues: I write occasionally for the magazine Disability Now, for example; and am trying to get publication in green magazines or websites. Interestingly, reading Ruth’s latest post I was reminded once again of a place where mothering and disability problems overlap – she was writing about the difficulty of getting pushchairs round many shops, and I can assure you that the same applies to wheelchairs!

My primary ‘work’ is looking after my son and loving my family (an easy job), but I also work one day a week in support services at a university and write fiction and non-fiction for publication in a wide range of styles, genres and forms. And I’m glad to be here, and to feel that I may be adding something to resources for mothers.

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