Ideas at the House

Since #metoo blew up at the end of 2017, feminists around the world are hungry to mobilse, so at All About Women 2018, we thought we ought to offer some hands-on advice. What better thing to do than to program a session full of optimistic yet practical suggestions on how we might finally smash the patriarchy. The Guardian’s Van Badham chairs this uplifting, funny and practical discussion with best-selling author Barbara Kingsolver, writer and activist Manal al-Sharif and local feminist legend Clementine Ford. All activists in their own right, these incredible women talk about the deeper systemic and structural factors behind oppression and inequality and attempt to answer a couple of tiny questions: how do we destabilise these systems, and where on earth do we start?   Watch more talks from All About Women 2018 on Youtube  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intersectionality is the buzzword of contemporary feminism. But in focussing on issues of race, class and sexuality, disability often gets forgotten. In a panel at All About Women 2018, three radical speakers discussed how being disabled raises a whole lot of unique issues that directly affect their feminism. NDIS campaigner Samantha Connor, writer and performer Kath Duncan and artist, activist and writer Katharine Annear were joined by session chair Van Badham, for a rowdy discussion on why disability can’t be left off the table when thinking about a truly inclusive feminism. Watch more talks from All About Women 2018 on Youtube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

American writer Kate Bolick’s blockbuster Atlantic article, ‘All the Single Ladies’ examined the the remarkable demographic shift away from marriage, and grappled with what resisting the intense social pressure to couple means for women. Now, her book Spinster combines memoir, feminist theory, cultural criticism and sharp historical research. At All About Women 2018, she took to the stage with moderator Jess Scully for a brazenly political and deeply personal discussion about the opportunities of modern singledom. Watch the full talk on our Youtube Channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With a resume that includes coining the term ‘third wave’, and is filled in by multiple memoirs, essay collections and a novel, Rebecca Walker’s career is force of intellectual, intersectional thought. At All About Women 2018 she spoke with Edwina Throsby about beauty and all our preconceptions about it in relation to society, history and ourselves. Listen as she poses the challenge: how do we rethink beauty so that it becomes an act of resistance? Watch more from the festival on Youtube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At All About Women 2018, conversations about feminism were opened up beyond the gender binary to create a truly inclusive festival for everyone who wants to challenge patriarchal structures. In a panel called Trans Like Me, English writer and musician CN Lester, local broadcaster and musician Eddie Ayres, and comedy legend Jordan Raskopoulous came together to look at how trans politics intersects with feminism. This session was chaired by the head of Transgender Victoria, Sally Goldner. Watch more from the festival on Youtube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandy Len Catron's 2015 article for the New York Times Modern Love Column 'To Fall in Love with Anyone, Do This' examined whether there is scientific reasoning behind romantic connection. Her consequent memoir, How To Fall In Love With Anyone, used the article as a springboard to discuss intimacy, chemistry, vulnerability and cultural myths about relationships. She joined Clementine Ford at All About Women 2018 to unpack the science of attraction.  See more from All About Women 2018 on Youtube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barbara Kingsolver visited Australia for the first time for All About Women 2018. In a candid discussion with Margaret Throsby, she takes us from her early days as a scientist and a poet to the peak of her career as the writer of bestselling novels including The Poisonwood Bible. She shares her love for the natural world and quickly reveals her knack for local lingo, in this completely charming session. Watch the full video and more from All About Women 2018 at youtube.com/ideasatthehouse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been 100 years since suffragettes won the right for some privileged Englishwomen to vote, and this anniversary got us thinking about the milestones of feminism across time. At All About Women 2018 we invited four speakers to reflect on what feminism has achieved and what is still to be done in a panel called From Suffragettes to Social Media. We were joined by historian Barbara Caine who spoke to the First Wave, iconic Second-waver Anne Summers, Rebecca Walker shared her insights on the Third Wave and playwright Nakkiah Lui rounded out the panel posing the question: is there even a Fourth Wave? The session was chaired by Edwina Throsby. Watch the full talk including discussion and audience Q&A at youtube.com/ideasatthehouse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is another live recording from All About Women, where speakers from across the world spent the day having robust discussions about feminism, identity and culture. And who better to weigh in on all things cultural than New York icon, writer and commentator Fran Lebowitz. A fixture on US late-night TV, Lebowitz brought her unique brand of devastating wit to Sydney for the first time. In this hilarious and strangely philosophical conversation, which covers technology, Trump, #metoo and the perils of plane travel, Fran Lebowitz reminds us why she still has all the cultural cache. The session was chaired by journalist Josh Zepps. For more from Fran, head to our Youtube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is another live recording from All About Women 2018. It was impossible to have an event about issues facing women without addressing #metoo. For us it was important to recognise that even though it was events in Hollywood that turned the hashtag into a global phenomenon, sexual harassment and assault are commonly faced by all women. We were very pleased to welcome, via satellite from LA just ahead of her appearance at the Oscars, the woman who founded #metoo all the way back in 2006, Tarana Burke. She was joined live at the Sydney Opera House by local legend Tracey Spicer, whose work exposing these issues in the Australian media has been dominating headlines all year. The session was chaired by Jacqueline Maley. Please note that this episode contains discussion of sexual assault. Want more from All About Women? Find this talk and more on our Youtube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.