This is what it's like when men shut down the internet |
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Imagine a world exactly like this one, without access to the internet – because the men in charge have taken it away. Before you think about how much time you waste doomscrolling and watching hamster videos on YouTube, and say, "where do I sign up?", just take a moment to think about what that would really look like. No breaking news, no social media, no courses, no ChatGPT, no training, no access to basic information, no weather reports, no travel updates, no flights, no distance learning, no emailing friends or relatives, no networking, no online shopping, no weekly food shop, no mental health support, no medical advice, no chat forums – and no hamster videos. Simply darkness and isolation. If "I'd read more books" is your immediate answer, then sorry – I have news for you. In this world, books written by women are banned from classrooms, universities and libraries. Oh – and now imagine that because you are a woman, you are also forbidden from going to educational institutions such as school or university, full stop. You're not allowed to work. You're not even allowed to walk around outside, unaccompanied. Let's put a ban on showing any part of your body (including your face) for good measure. Finally, you are forbidden from talking – even to other women. Forget singing: your voice must not be heard in public, at any time, by anyone. Sound horrific? Like something out of The Handmaid's Tale? Yep. Yet that's exactly what life is like today – in 2025 – for women in Afghanistan. And this week, in another damning blow, the men-only Taliban have shut down the internet. It is the final flourish for the hardline, militant male government, which began severing fibre-optic internet connections across the country some weeks ago, supposedly as part of an attempt "to prevent immorality". And now they've shut the entire thing down. Afghanistan is in a "total internet blackout" – for an unspecified time, maybe even forever – and it will devastate women most. Already oppressed and restricted under Taliban rule, women have few – if any – freedoms left at all. They're not allowed to be educated past the age of 12 – and now they've lost the ability to contact the wider world. All the while, the rest of us pay little to no attention. Here's why we should. We are living through a time of horrific rollback on women's civil liberties – not just in Central and South Asia and the Middle East, but in the US and in Britain too. We're slowly but surely losing access to abortion, contraception and LGBTQ+ rights – and where these freedoms fall, others will follow. That's why I beg you to turn your thoughts this week to our sisters in Afghanistan. Pay attention to the ripple effect on women worldwide. We're not so different – or protected – as you might think. Donald Trump's harem of 'handmaidens' and his "war on women" has a lot to do with that. We've never been more fortunate to have the freedom to contact each other online – so please do drop me a note; I'd love to hear from you. You can write to me directly at victoria.richards@independent.co.uk – or to my alter-ego, 'Dear Vix', at dearvix@independent.co.uk. And if you want to help women in Afghanistan, consider donating to UN Women UK, Women for Women International and ActionAid UK. |
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Would you date someone shorter than you? |
Oh dear. In inadvertently stumbling upon a much-contested and hotly discussed topic, Tony Robinson has said he is mad with women who refuse to date men who are short. It "pisses him off", the actor admitted. The Blackadder star was giving an interview about, variously, acting, his new novel The House of Wolf, the loss of his beloved dog Holly Berry, and the comparable levels of shocking violence committed by Vikings in Saxon times – and in current-day wars against citizens in Ukraine and Gaza. After moving on to his views on the 2025 Labour Party, he landed on the topic of heightism. Robinson is 5ft 4in – and told our interviewer that when he watches Love Island, which is "so PC", the first thing women will say is that they want a tall man. "They wouldn't say, 'I don't want a Jew', 'I don't want a blind person', 'I don't want a ginger person'," he said. "They may carry some of those prejudices inside of them, but they would know how inappropriate it was to say that." He then added: "I'm blessed by the fact I've had this wonderful career and a fabulous wife and great children. It would be absurd to pretend [my height] was a massive cross I was carrying through life, but it pisses me off." Now, I have to admit something – I always strive to be as honest and mea culpa as possible in this newsletter – and my confession is (whisper it...) I am one of those women. I know. It really is terrible – but as a "tall for a girl" woman who stands at a stately 5ft 9in and has spent a lifetime "shrinking" to make myself seem smaller, I too have been prejudiced against "dating shorter" (when dating men). For me, the fear of being taller than my male dates stems from school, where all my friends were petite and used to get picked up by the boys and put in the bin. That's right – the age-old mark of flirting didn't apply to me, because I was too long and gangly to pick up and put in the bin. And I really, really, really wanted to be put in the bin. I've quizzed similarly statuesque friends to see if my dating "heightism" applies to them – and I'm shocked to find that it... doesn't, actually. One said: "I'm not heightist, but short men have a problem with me" (she is a goddess-like 6ft 1in). What is my problem? I didn't learn it from my parents – my mum is 6ft, whereas my dad is a strong 5ft 9in. I know, I know: I'm the problem. But I'm not the only one – just a few months ago, Tinder unveiled a height filter (and you had a lot to say about it). Are you also the problem, like me? Or do you think nothing of dating shorter? Do write in and let me know. Maybe you have other deal-breakers or "icks" that don't make logical sense – like beards. Perhaps we should compile a list... |
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More for Independent Women |
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This week I'm back with one of my favourite sections – sharing your views on things you've read and feel stirred by, online. Last week, I drew attention to the comments made by Channel 4 TV star The Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick: "I'm 57, and I would love to meet somebody between 30 and 40 and have a kid. Or a couple of kids... I was never properly, emotionally ready, until recently." So many people were so (understandably) worked up, that we actually ran a poll on The Independent website about it, with some damning results. Some slammed it as proof of male immaturity and double standards, while others saw it as a personal choice shaped by wider social pressures. Here are some highlights: Yes, 57 is too old to have kids – 82% It depends on circumstances (health, support, etc.) – 9% No, age doesn't matter – 9% What do you think? Is 57 too old to have children? I'd love to know – so I've created my very own poll to add to the other results! Click here! I also received this email from a lovely Episcopal/Anglican priest, based in the US, in response to the piece I wrote about Trump's attacks on autism, last week: "Just a note to let you know (I'm sure you already know) this is showing up in our military with Trump's Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wanting to get rid of women who are not his ideal "warrior soldiers"... but they can stay – probably in the kitchen or behind a desk – as someone's assistant or secretary. Behind all of this, it seems to me, is a very subtle form of eugenics, taking place. So far, it's 'blame the women if she has a "defective" child, who is autistic. It's just a start … there is worse to come! Please continue speaking up!" |
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I'm reading... Dracula – the original, by Bram Stoker! It's all part of our second title in the Independent Women Book Club, available online here. I wholeheartedly believe that it's never too late to read the classics – plus, October is the perfect month to get stuck into something spooky. I actually (for my shame) only read the 1938 Gothic novel Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, for the first time in the past couple of years – and absolutely adored it. It felt like a pleasure, rather than the 'but do I have to?' feeling of reluctance we might remember from school... I'm wearing... I've also decided (related/unrelated), to spend the month wearing only black. Why not? I'm embracing my capsule wardrobe and inner Morticia Addams. I've spent my whole life being compared to her (eternally flattering) and so now I'm going all in. |
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