Selected writing / Violence against women
A major focus of my work has been gender-based violence and misconduct, including sexual harassment and domestic abuse. I’m particularly interested in helping readers understand prevention methods and strategies for change.
My work on male violence against women
In 2021, I led the development and launch of Stylist’s cross-platform campaign #AFearlessFuture, which called on the Home Office to launch a public information campaign challenging the attitudes and beliefs that drive and enable male violence against women.
We knew this wouldn’t be a silver bullet, but experts across the VAWG sector agree that government investment in attitude and behaviour change is a crucial means of preventing gender-based violence. The campaign launched with an open letter to the Home Secretary that I coordinated, signed by more than 60 experts, activists, politicians and public figures.
As part of #AFearlessFuture, I wrote frequently about the importance of preventing male violence against women, not just punishing it — exploring everything from what will actually keep women safe in public spaces to how to have productive conversations with men about VAWG and programmes working with perpetrators of domestic abuse.
In March 2022, following Stylist’s campaign, the Home Office launched ‘Enough’, a multi-million pound prevention campaign encouraging everyone to take part in challenging the abuse of women and girls.
Read more
“My ex said he’d send my nudes to my colleagues”: the devastating impact of revenge porn threats
“Our voices aren’t being heard”: why we need a pandemic exit strategy that works for all women
This is how it feels to be silenced by a non-disclosure agreement
“Covid-19 has changed everything”: what it’s like to work in domestic abuse services during lockdown
“What happened when I went to lobby my MP about workplace sexual harassment”
One year on from Ireland’s abortion referendum, women reflect on how life has changed
Women discuss the conversations they’ve had with men about #MeToo
“What the Aziz Ansari story tells us about our attitudes to sex and trauma”
Did Theresa May go far enough in her fight against domestic abuse?