Author Archives: lipstick socialist

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About lipstick socialist

I am an activist and writer. My interests include women, class, culture and history. From an Irish in Britain background I am a republican and socialist. All my life I have been involved in community and trade union politics and I believe it is only through grass roots politics that we will get a better society. This is reflected in my writing, in my book Northern ReSisters Conversations with Radical Women and my involvement in the Mary Quaile Club. .If you want to contact me please use my gmail which is lipsticksocialist636

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 18, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Ken Loach at the BBC. During the 60’s and 70’s at the BBC he directed some of his most innovative work with Tony Garnett and Jim Allen which is now collected on this excellent DVD. It includes Cathy Come … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, book review, drama, films, labour history, music, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, TV drama, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

St.Patrick and reflections on a day………..

Posted on March 15, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Me, Auntie Margaret and Mum, 2010 Maureen, Mum and Margaret, 1940s, Manchester St.Patrick’s Day is on 17 March, a day to celebrate Irishness. Growing up in 70s Manchester, it meant shamrock and family celebrations with our relatives. It was the … Continue reading →

Posted in human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, Manchester, North of Ireland | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 11, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Passion Fish(1992). A film by John Sayles (US equivalent of Ken Loach). The story of the relationship between a soap star, who is paralysed and returns home to rural Louisiana, and her care assistant. Not just the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, education, films, human rights, labour history, Manchester, music, Socialism, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reclaim the Day!

Posted on March 7, 2012 by lipstick socialist

What does IWD mean to women today? International Women’s Day was started in 1909 in America by the Socialist Party and was first celebrated internationally two years later. It was originally called International Working Women’s Day, its aim was to … Continue reading →

Posted in International Women's Day, labour history, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, women | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on March 4, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Shabby Tiger. Made by Granada TV in 1973 it’s the adaptation of  a novel by Howard Spring. Set in 1930’s Manchester,  it’s the love story between an artist and an Irish waitress,  and  the story of how the depression … Continue reading →

Posted in Communism, drama, films, labour history, Manchester, music, novels, radio drama, Socialism, TV drama, women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on February 25, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Army of Crime (2009)  French film about the Resistance. Directed and co-scripted by Robert Guédiguian,  son of a German mother and an Armenian father,  who is best known for his leftwing movies about working-class life in the Marseilles area.  … Continue reading →

Posted in films, human rights, Irish second generation, labour history, music, novels | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labour takes a bath…..!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Margaret Thatcher said there was no such thing as society. After the August 2011 riots David Cameron said “he wants to mend our broken society”. But as the public sector cuts start affecting people at a grassroots level, it has … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, women | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on February 17, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… Testament of Youth.  The autobiography  of Vera Brittain, who grew up in pre-war  Buxton.  It’s a reminder of the restrictiveness of women’s lives in that period. Her parents did not see any point to her going to University,  but … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, drama, labour history, music, novels, Socialism, TV drama, women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book review: This Slavery by Ethel Carnie Holdsworth

Posted on February 14, 2012 by lipstick socialist

This Slavery by  Ethel Carnie Holdsworth (Trent Editions, 2011)  ISBN 9781842331415 The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist is  often lauded by trade union leaders as the book of choice for their members, though I am not sure how many of them have … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, book review, labour history, novels, poetry, Socialism, trade unions, women | 4 Comments

Stop! Look! Listen! a weekly selection of some of my favourite films/books/people…

Posted on February 9, 2012 by lipstick socialist

Watch… The film  Frida (2002). A fictionalised account of the life of Mexican artist and political activist  Frida Kahlo (1907-54).  Her pictures tell the story of her life.  Crippled in an accident as a young woman  she portrayed this experience … Continue reading →

Posted in films, Irish second generation, labour history, music, novels, radio drama, Socialism, trade unions, women | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment