I'm a big fan of classical music and rap, maybe it's because i'm from the ipod generation but i don't see why it has to be one or the other. I totally understand not liking rap, but that doesn't mean it has no value. Maybe it's unfair to specifically target Mandy's article, because this is one of many articles reinforce a myopic view of misogyny in music by specifically using rap as an example when it is in all genres, but i felt the readership of the hoopla is intelligent and considered enough to consider my point, which is the double standard when it comes to criticism of misogyny in music. Rap is a genre created by black people and has clear connotations towards it, and this article isn't without context. I realise it was unintentional but it reinforces negative stereotypes about rap, and by extentsion black culture. One doesn't have to mention race for it still to be relevant to the discussion. I am in complete agreement with her otherwise. Anyway I feel i've made my case and it's for others to judge whether i'm right or not. I don't want to continue this because i don't want to diminish the point of this article, which is that we as a society don't take rape a tenth as seriously as we should. That i'm sure is something that you and i can agree on Tony. - Ash
Fight, flight or freeze Katie? I froze. I recommend self defence training even if it might complicate your life you know that block, run and scream for help. It did not help me asleep, but I had the moves automatically to resist unlawful use of force when grabbed from behind, notwithstanding what my girlfriend felt at the time.. - ro.watson
Tony Windsor stands out like a beacon in Canberra. If the people of New England fail to re-elect this man I will be very surprised. Country people recognize the genuine article when they see it; Peter Andren is the proof of that - he recorded the largest proportion of votes in an election without party affiliation. A good independent will achieve more for an electorate than any party hack will. - JohnB
Glad you're on board, Germaine. - Rhoda
MicheleS - yes, it is unsafe for people to walk outside their homes late at night and slightly inebriated. So I have a solution - as most of this violence is perpetrated by men, let's put a curfew on all men. They have to be indoors by 10pm every night so women can safely drink some wine and walk the streets. That would work brilliantly. Why are women expected to change their behaviours to cater for *some* men's lack of self control? Let's make men change their behaviour - then the good (majority of) men will put pressure on the others. - Tess
This is a classic example of setting the bar higher for women. She's a politician. Of course that involves spinning her message to advantage her position. Why do we think she should be 'above' that? How come when Howard did it, it was taken as a sign of his great political genius? How many other pieces of the standard political toolkit is she expected to operate without? - anon
Couldn't agree more! Great piece, Germaine. - Aunty Penny
If for NO OTHER REASON (and how many reasons we already have) JUST TO HEAR THE EXASPERATION FROM THE PARROT!!!!Please,please,please let's make her get back in and leave Tony("In your guts ya know he's nuts") Sluggo-boy to concentrate on his work of "raising the tone and being all of us better in Parliament" - brendan
Well said Germaine. It's well past time that decent people should speak out against this potential travesty of Ms Gillard's personal and electoral justice. Where are the rest of our moral and social "leaders" on this subject? The silence is deafening. - JohnB
Mick you have put clarity on my last 10 years of marriage - never home and left me to raise our son. Then when I was done over by the rabid feminists in the Family Court and the anti- male Feminists who treat Dads as criminals from the start. She took everything as I had no money left, unemployed on the last mediation. She is still single now as her cousins husband couldn't stand the family shame when his marriage ended. Her sister did the same thing to her first husband, remarried 4 years, then out of the blue, she hung herself and her 20 yr old found her still struggling off the back porch. She died and left 8 kids and 3 grandkids. Guilty conscience? - Hilly

GERMAINE GREER: VOTE 1 JULIA

Ask not what your Prime Minister can do for you, but what you can do for your Prime Minister. GERMAINE GREER writes exclusively for The Hoopla.
REPEAT AFTER ME: NOT HER FAULT

How many times do we have to say this? TRACEY SPICER looks at the double impact of blaming women: first the invasion, then the devaluing.
JUSTICE FOR JILL

Adrian Bayley, the rapist and murderer of Jill Meagher, has received a life sentence today.
THE HONEST BROKER

If you want your faith restored in politicians, look no further than a no-nonsense reformist who rises above the dark art of politics, says GABRIELLE CHAN.
BOOBS GO GLOBAL

Australian sexism is in the international news again - this time it's a humorous protest that has collected hundreds of images of women's cleavages.
HOW TO LEAVE A MARRIAGE - PART 2

Does she stay? Does she go? JESSIE IRVING wrestles with the terrible decision of taking her children and leaving her marriage. Read her next diary entry here.
BEYOND THE CRAP

Could we get back to policy for a minute? GABRIELLE CHAN looks beyond the crap to remind us what this parliament under Julia Gillard has actually achieved.