12:35 p.m.
/
18 April, 2004

I wrote a feminist manifesto the other day. I was really very proud, but my mother said it was harsh and did her 'Jade is unstable again' face, which made me all confused and wonder if I was insane and just didn't know it.

It wasn't like I mentioned castration, or hating men at all. In fact, I didn't really mention men at all, which is what a good feminist should do. It's not about hating men, it's about hating a system of power that keeps you down for no logical reason. If I hate any kind of people, it's the women who smack you down. This island is populated with them, they're the ones who try and stop you having any power, or equality. They're the ones who call other girls sluts and dykes if they step out of line. My mother is one of those people.

I thought that I was a second class person in my house, because I had a different surname to my stepdad and littlest brother, I didn't realise that I was why my other brother was a second class citizen. I was kidding myself. I'm a third class citizen, because not only do I have a different name, but I'm just a girl too.

I don't want to end up like my mother.