Political movements have either explicitly excluded women or implicitly sidelined us for pretty much all of history. It wasn't until I experienced the Left turning on feminists for disputing that being a woman is a simple matter of identification that I truly understood this.

I wish more politically engaged women from all corners of politics would understand that we are more than cup-of-tea-makers & foot soldiers in movements that dismiss issues that affect us (half the population) as "niche".

I'm continually saddened by smart feminists who retreat back to their political "home" to fall in line with their men at election time or when it comes to the crunch. Women who have fought tooth & nail for women's rights are suddenly quibbling because they must toe the party line

An eg. of how women are cast aside in favour of wider politics is the current narrative around Jacob Black. Disclaimer: I oppose police violence & USA needs reform. Over $2m has been donated to Black & his name held up on signs. The woman he raped? Forgotten. Ignored.

I dared to tweet about the woman who was raped by Jacob Black & was instantly snarled at & accused of aligning with the far right & supporting police shootings. If deviating from your narrative to support a woman is the antithesis of your politics, I'm glad to stand apart.

I don't play by your rules. I am not beholden to any man. My beliefs are not checkboxes curated to align 100% with this party or that. I will not follow your performative narrations of political events. I will talk about the woman you all trampled over to get to your prop.

Tribalism, political narratives, polarisation...these are chains. Think for yourself and make your own rules. Live by your own values. And women, for goodness sake, let's prioritise our own politics.