Opinion
Room for change: the problem with Extinction Rebellion
Season of disruption — The activist group has laid its foundations, but now it needs to grow – and the only way it can do that is by broadening its message, argues writer and activist Ben Smoke.
Written by: Ben Smoke
All hail Coleen Rooney, the hero we need right now
Save us — The slog of Brexit is too much to bear. A literary mystery with explosive consequences is the perfect tonic for these dark times – and we scarcely deserve Rooney’s work.
Written by: Dawn Foster
Top Boy exposes the problem with British broadcasting
Middle class mediocrity — The show, which considers financial struggle, alienation and racism, was one of the few important documents of life in modern Britain. So why did Channel 4 cancel it?
Written by: Nathalie Olah
Pay-to-win: the great injustice of private education
It’s time for an overhaul — Labour is right about abolishing private schools. Upholding tiered education because it benefits your child is not wanting the ‘best’ for them – it is wanting worse for others.
Written by: Tristan Cross
When it comes to periods, hygiene is a dirty word
#HealthNotHygiene — Women across the world are made to feel dirty or shameful for menstruating, and the language we use is partly to blame. Changing the way we talk may finally help shift the stigma, argues #HealthNotHygiene convenor Josie Parmee.
Written by: Josie Parmee
The mad extraterrestrial power of Aphex Twin
Sonic weapons — Alien, offputting and euphoric: after his triumphant return to the London club scene, writer Seamas O'Reilly pays tribute to the artist’s otherworldly genius.
Written by: Seamas O'Reilly
Why men are experts and women are confessional
The media’s big problem — The Caroline Calloway story shows that young women are being forced to plunder their personal lives for content. It’s time we broke the pattern, argues Dawn Foster.
Written by: Dawn Foster
Are Stans the internet’s most toxic subculture?
Fear of the fandom — From Beyonce’s Beyhive to Rihanna’s Navy: the world of online fandom has become both impressive and extreme. Is it time we took its power more seriously?
Written by: Anne T. Donahue
Great Britain and the toxic myth of virtuous origin
We need new stories — In her new book, We Need New Stories, journalist Nesrine Malik challenges the most damaging myths behind our age of discontent. In this condensed extract, she confronts the way the UK has ‘airbrushed’ its problematic past.
Written by: Nesrine Malik
Those living with disabilities face discrimination every day
We need to be more vigilant — Living with a chronic illness, Dawn Foster has seen first-hand how society discriminates against disabled people. Despite arguing against it endlessly, she still faces prejudice on a regular basis.
Written by: Dawn Foster