Category Archives: feminism

My review of Malgorzata Mirga-Tas; Romani textile artist and activist exhibition and book

Posted on May 11, 2025 by lipstick socialist

What is your image of a Romani woman? A woman selling the Big Issue? A group of young women wearing brightly coloured long dresses with babies begging on the street? Artist and activist Malgorzata Mirga-Tas in this exhibition at the … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, education, feminism, human rights, labour history, Manchester, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

My interview with Rose Hunter of the North Staffs Miners Wives Action Group

Posted on December 1, 2024 by lipstick socialist

After the end of the Miners’ Strike in 1985 Rose Hunter says: “Men lost their freedom; the women gained theirs.” Rose and her sisters in the  North Staffs Miners Wives Action Group  then embarked on forty years of  raising  issues … Continue reading →

Posted in art exhibition, biography, drama, education, feminism, human rights, Ireland, labour history, North of Ireland, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, women, Women Against Pit Closures, working class history | 4 Comments

My review of “Reasons to Rebel My Memories of the 1980s” by Sheila Rowbotham

Posted on October 29, 2024 by lipstick socialist

    Reading Sheila Rowbotham’s latest memoir, I feel I am inside  her  head as we spin through the 1980s  on a rollercoaster of emotions, feelings, and activities.   Sheila is a socialist feminist, historian, activist, mother, partner,  lover, comrade, friend… … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, book review, feminism, labour history, political women, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, Women Against Pit Closures, working class history | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My review of “Mistress of Montmartre A Life of Suzanne Valadon” by June Rose

Posted on October 13, 2024 by lipstick socialist

Suzanne Valadon, (1865-1938) born  Marie-Clémentine Valadon, was unique: as a woman and an artist. She was the illegitimate daughter of a seamstress who earned her living as an acrobat and model.  Her natural talent as an artist was spotted when … Continue reading →

Posted in biography, book review, feminism, Uncategorized, women, working class history | Leave a comment

Following in My Mother’s Footsteps; the lives of Lily Wild and Hilary Jones.

Posted on February 6, 2023 by lipstick socialist

    In these two articles I want to highlight the lives of Lily Wild and Hilary Jones: a mother and daughter. How did they cope with being  mothers, wives and being politically active in political parties, their trade union, … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, book review, Communism, education, feminism, human rights, interesting blog, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

History of the Irish in Britain Representation Group Part nine: 1989

Posted on September 20, 2020 by lipstick socialist

Patrick Reynolds was one of the founders of IBRG and played a key role in its history. He is now writing up that history and putting it into the context of radical history in Britain and Ireland in the C20th. … Continue reading →

Posted in anti-cuts, Bernadette McAliskey, education, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, political women, Salford, Socialism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

After the end of the Miners’ Strike in 1985 Rose Hunter says: “Men lost their freedom; the women gained theirs.” Rose and her sisters in the  North Staffs Miners Wives Action Group  then embarked on forty years of  raising  issues about jobs and communities and making  links with other progressive strikes and organisations.

Posted on September 10, 2020 by lipstick socialist

Rose comes from a mining family. Her father, Denzil, was Indian who  went to Scotland and became a miner. Her mother, Mary, is from a Scots Irish background. The family moved to the Potteries for her father’s work in the … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Catholicism, education, feminism, novels, TV drama, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

History of the Irish in Britain Representation Group Part eight: 1988

Posted on September 7, 2020 by lipstick socialist

    Patrick Reynolds was one of the founders of IBRG and played a key role in its history. He is now writing up that history and putting it into the context of radical history in Britain and Ireland in … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, peace campaigns, political women, Socialism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

History of the Irish in Britain Representation Group Part seven: 1987

Posted on August 10, 2020 by lipstick socialist

    Patrick Reynolds was one of the founders of IBRG and played a key role in its history. He is now writing up that history and putting it into the context of radical history in Britain and Ireland in … Continue reading →

Posted in education, feminism, films, human rights, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, Manchester, North of Ireland, political women, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My review of “Threads of Life. A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle” Clare Hunter

Posted on August 6, 2020 by lipstick socialist

I found this book in a charity shop and it opened my eyes to a different world; the world of sewing and the important place it has in all of our memories. As a socialist I have marched behind and … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, Communism, education, feminism, Ireland, Irish second generation, labour history, North of Ireland, political women, Salford, Socialism, Socialist Feminism, trade unions, Uncategorized, women, working class history, young people | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments