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Louise O’Neill

I want you to give us a date for a referendum on repealing the eighth amendment Enda

I want you to give us a date for a referendum on repealing the eighth amendment Enda

“We are walking in the rain,” my friend Dave tweets, “to support thousands of women who have to face an ocean.”

Sat, 01 Oct, 2016

Virginity has been framed as something a girl must safeguard and hold on to as long as possible

Virginity has been framed as something a girl must safeguard and hold on to as long as possible

Girls need to understand that sex is normal and natural, not something that needs to be contained to protect their reputation.

Sat, 24 Sep, 2016

Pretence as an art form results in women accepting ill-treatment by others

Pretence as an art form results in women accepting ill-treatment by others

I refuse to pretend to be different to my true self in a misguided attempt to please others.

Sat, 17 Sep, 2016

Thin or fat, we are so much more than our appearance

Thin or fat, we are so much more than our appearance

Women are constantly encouraged to be thinner, to take up as little physical space in the world as possible.

Sat, 10 Sep, 2016

My name is Louise O’ Neill and I am a social media addict

My name is Louise O’ Neill and I am a social media addict

At the time of writing this column, I have 18 days left until I can reinstall the apps on my phone.

Sat, 03 Sep, 2016

When did trolling become so readily acceptable? And why do we continue to allow it to happen?

When did trolling become so readily acceptable? And why do we continue to allow it to happen?

I imagine that these trolls are waiting for me to make a mistake, to say or do something stupid that they can use to humiliate me with.

Sat, 27 Aug, 2016

To be a Rose was to have made it in life

To be a Rose was to have made it in life

Why do they insist on providing male escorts? Why do they think a woman in her twenties would need to be chaperoned?

Sat, 20 Aug, 2016

When someone describes me as ladylike, I am always deeply offended

When someone describes me as ladylike, I am always deeply offended

A few years ago, unable to get a taxi after a concert at the O2 arena in Dublin, my friends and I decided to walk back into town. 

Sat, 13 Aug, 2016

Our roles in a relationship should be determined by individual strengths and talents rather than gender

Our roles in a relationship should be determined by individual strengths and talents rather than gender

I would never attempt to speak for all women, because there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ woman.

Sat, 06 Aug, 2016

When you’re apologising for apologising, then you know you have a serious problem

When you’re apologising for apologising, then you know you have a serious problem

After a recent break-up where I had my heart broken for the first time, I sat in front of my therapist and sobbed solidly for an hour. 

Sat, 30 Jul, 2016