Open Post: What's happening in your world?

By JAMILA RIZVI

Welcome to Open Post. For the freshmen, consider these opening sentences the equivalent of your Orientation Week welcome pack (but without the scary initiation rituals).

Open Post is one of Mamamia‘s longest running traditions. Basically, if there is an issue you want to raise, or something you want to get off your chest, or an anecdote you want to share – you can do it here.

The comments section is full of very willing advice-givers, well-wishers and sharers of experiences.

Personally, I like to grab a cup of relaxing green tea (AKA strong coffee), a few nuts or berries (AKA a cup cake) and take a few minutes out of my work day to read everyone’s comments and see what is happening in the world. It’s basically sanctioned, socially acceptable sticky-beaking. Win!

What’s on my mind this week? Pubic hair.

Quite specifically, talking about pubic hair in public.

Let me explain. A few weeks ago, Mia and I were asked if we would appear on a panel at the Sydney Writer’s Festival about feminism. The idea was for us to explore modern feminism in all its forms and ask (and hopefully answer) some questions about societal pressure on women to look a certain way and whether that is compatible with the idea of feminism.

Fun. Right?

I got a bit proud, a bit chuffed and a bit excited. I love the Sydney Writer’s Festival and getting to be a part of something you’ve been a fan of for so long, is pretty rad. So I told my friends and family; plugged it good and proper and was excited to learn that lots of them are coming along to watch.

And then they released the name of the panel: “I’m a Feminist. Can I vajazzle?”

GAH. Okay. Quick question: How the hell do you UNinvite your Nan to an event. HOW? I need your help everyone, this is a socially awkward situation I haven’t yet had to navigate and I require urgent advice….

Also, because I now have to withdraw an invitation from some elderly relatives, we need some others to come along and take their places in the audience. The name – while making it non-grandma-friendly – does show you that this event is going to be pretty damn funny, in addition to providing a good dose of brain food.

The panel host Jude Kelly (Southbank Centre’s Artistic Director and founder of Women of the World WOW Festival) will be chatting with Mia and myself, as well as some pretty amazing other women: Shami Chakrabarti (Director of UK’s Liberty), Ruby Wax (comedian and writer), and Dale Spender (feminist, author and editor).

So please come along. If you’re interested you can buy tickets for the Sydney Writer’s Festival, here.

Over and out. How has your week been?