Top of the posts: Double dipping, the dreaded bloat, and a new England manager

By Laura Davis
Notebook
Friday, 4 May 2012 at 4:33 pm

This week Louise Mensch made a decision to draw attention to some of the sexist messages she was receiving on Twitter by favouriting the tweets. Matilda Battersby argues that whether you disagree with her policies or not, the misogyny and abuse is unacceptable and makes any accompanying argument immediately redundant.

With far-from-favourite Roy Hodgson appointed England manager, Musa Okwonga orders a slice of humble pie and Simon Rice, who made a case for Hodgson to take the coveted position back in February, says the pressure is now on to see results in Euro 2012.

Tom Greaney makes some comical observations on Americanisms – why do we say “That’s so funny” when we’re not even laughing? And from manly bran to bloat-beating yoghurts, Nat Guest takes a look at gendered marketing and how adverts can simply act to perpetuate the idea that we’re in a war of the sexes.

As a group of Dalit students organised a Beef Festival in Hyderabad this month, Murali Shanmugavelan argues that such an occasion is politically significant to allow an honest discussion about the real level of beef consumption in India.

Amid the discussions of a double dip recession, Sherelle Jacobs notes the distinctions between the UK and German economy, reflecting on what we could learn as Germany’s economy strengthens and the unemployment rates decreases.

Elsewhere, the Catholic Education Service urges schools to sign a petition against gay marriage and Ruth Whippman argues that schools should never push a homophobic agenda, Kit Holden doubts Chelsea’s decision to sign Marko Marin, and the talented Mary Beard’s fanbase increases.

Here are the most read blogs this week, as determined by stats:

1. Marko Marin is a ridiculous signing by Chelsea By Kit Holden

2. “Tory whore” Louise Mensch fights back against women-haters on Twitter By Matilda Battersby

3. Mary Beard is not “too ugly for TV”: why do we expect women to look perfect on television? By Laura Davis

4. Food fascism: The vegetarian hypocrisy in India By Murali Shanmugavelan

5. My war of independence with American English By Tom Greaney

6. Gendered marketing: It’s not just for girls By Nat Guest

7. Roy Hodgson and humble pie By Musa Okwonga

8. Why the pressure is on Roy Hodgson to perform at Euro 2012 By Simon Rice

9. Can the UK’s ailing economy learn from Germany? By Sherelle Jacobs

10. As long as the Catholic Church pushes homophobia, it shouldn’t be allowed to run state schools By Ruth Whippman