Does feminism have a place? Picture via flickr by Rebeca Solares
In our latest issue, Stacey Cosens explored the new wave of feminism. Women continue to fight for equal pay in the workplace, but are you bothered?
Would you consider yourself a feminist? Do you think feminism still has a place? Do you care if a man is paid more than you?
Leave your thoughts below.
Top 10 things to do before you’re 40.
Feeling a little restless? Is there something missing? If you’re worried about approaching the big 4-0 and want to add a bit more excitement to your life, take a look at our top ten of things to do before you’re 40.
1. Go to a festival.
Yes it usually rains, involves camping and sharpening your elbows to get a decent view but the festival experience is a must. What better way to liven up your summer than seeing a weekend full of the coolest music superstars live on stage. Only at a festival are bed hair and wellies acceptable. It’s an experience that has to be done at least once, and will provide you will plenty of antidotes every festival season.
2. Stay awake for over 24 hours
While it is not the most entirely sensible thing to do, an all-nighter must be pulled at some point. If it’s meeting a deadline, partying until sunrise or gossiping with a friend, there is nothing quite as fun and almost mischievous about staying awake all night. Yes the next day may not be so fun, but that’s why they invented coffee.
3. Treat yourself to something expensive
Nobody can spoil you quite like yourself, and although its naughty, it is nice to reward yourself with the odd treat. It’s important not to make it a regular thing, but if you have the money and that certain something has caught your eye for some time, then nothing will quite make you smile more than treating yourself. The memory it holds is a bonus.
4. Raise money for charity.
We often talk about helping a charity, but how often do we? Challenge yourself to achieve something in the aid of charity and get people to sponsor you. Not only will you feel that great sense of achievement but you’ll also have that warm feeling of giving to those less fortunate. Think of something you’ve always wanted to do, and please yourself and a charity at the same time.
5. Visit that place you’ve always dreamed of.
Whether it’s New York, Paris or Tokyo, stop dreaming about visiting there and make it a reality. Look for cheap flights (January sales are usually best) and hotel deals, and it won’t cost as much as you think. The only person that can make your dream journey happen is you, so go for it, the memories and excitement will last a lifetime.
6. Do something that scares you.
We all have our fears, but to face them takes guts. Battling something that scares you will give you such a buzz. So if its heights, public speaking or spiders find a way to confront it and not let it get the better of you. Overcoming fear will make you a stronger person and show you that nothing can hold you back in life.
7. Have a job you love.
Life is too short to be stuck in a job that you hate. If you’re unhappy in your career, find ways to make you dream job a reality. Do research and look into job opportunities, but of course, don’t leave your current job until you know a new career is a possibility. Having a job you enjoy, will make Mondays less of a chore and your life a lot happier.
8. Learn a new language.
It doesn’t matter if you’re fluent or just know the basics, being able to speak another language is a great skill and goes down great with the locals. It will also impress your friends with your worldliness and make your travels that much easier. Getting through a situation in another language is great fun and will make you feel like a culture vulture.
9. Learn to have no regrets
As you get older, you soon learn to have no regrets. As a right of passage, you should learn that every mistake teaches you something and helps you move forward. It doesn’t matter if you kept forgiving that love rat, spent your rent on shoes or embarrassed yourself at the Christmas party, you learn not to do it again and become a stronger person because of it.
10. Fall in love
If it ends in heartbreak or happiness, it’s a life lesson we all have to learn.
Christina stars in Burlesque
This all singing, all dancing film, stars two of America’s finest divas, Christina Aguilera and Cher.
Christina plays the part of Ali, a young girl from Iowa hoping to make it big in Hollywood. She finds work waitressing at a burlesque lounge, and dreams of performing on stage, but Tess (played by Cher) won’t give her a chance, she’s more worried about the uncertain future of the club.
However, when Ali finally gets her chance to shine, Tess discovers her powerful singing voice. With Ali’s belting live voice, do they have a chance to save the burlesque lounge?
The movie contains some cracking musical numbers, and will have you wanting to sing and dance all the way home.
Burlesque is in cinemas December 17th, if you’ve seen it, let us know what you think.
Although this book has been out for over a year, it has gained mass interest in the past few months, staying put high in the bestsellers list, with a film starring Anne Hathaway already in production.
The book follows two best friends Emma and Dexter, students at the University of Edinburgh after a post-finals fling on July 15, 1988. Over the next twenty years, we revisit them each St Swithin’s day and follow where they are with their lives.
While working class northerner Emma moves to London and finds herself working at a rubbish Mexican restaurant before becoming a teacher, middle-class Dexter travels Europe before falling into a media career, eventually becoming a (very bad) TV presenter with an alcoholism problem.
The book is a wonderful nostalgic view of the recent past, and is sure to conjure up your own memories of the 80s, 90s and early 00s. You’ll find yourself glued to this page turner, excited to find out if this obviously destined couple ever do end up together.