Rachel Robbins
Bio
Writer-Performer based in the North of England. A joyous, flawed mess.
Please read my stories and enjoy. And if you can, please leave a tip. Money raised will be used towards funding a one-woman story-telling, comedy show.
Stories (19/0)
Little Feminism
I have a joke in my stand up set, about how I used to be a “professional feminist”. I even co-edited a book on intersectional feminism and social work. But I’m now back to amateur status, since I gave up my academic job as a Domestic Abuse researcher. (As an amateur, my times have really suffered – it takes me much longer to rant a "man-athon").
By Rachel Robbins16 days ago in Viva
On my Daughter’s 18th Birthday
What the world needs now, is not yet another post about autism. Especially one written by some one who isn’t autistic. But I have been trying to find ways to explain to people when they ask, “How is Hanna?” exactly what is going on. I know the answer should be, “not great, but we’ll get there.” That’s normally all people really want to hear. But the real answer is so much more complicated.
By Rachel Robbins26 days ago in Families
Day Dreaming is Writing
I got my best piece of writing advice long after I had my first writing published. What? You’ve never heard of me? Well, that must mean that you’re not a social work academic with a special interest in UK-based domestic abuse research. Otherwise, well, I was quite the medium-sized deal.
By Rachel Robbinsabout a month ago in Journal
Men write about Women
He had a guitar in his room. He had a notebook and stray bits of paper on his bed. He had a button fly and his hair in quiff. All warning signs that he was a sensitive soul who wrote his own lyrics. The next day there was a stray piece of paper in tight handwriting pushed under her door; folded in two and labelled For You.
By Rachel Robbins11 months ago in Viva
Why I am not over #PartyGate
For international readers – some context. #Partygate has been trending in the UK for months now, as drip by drip we are learning of the extent of how our government leaders partied their way through lockdown. They made laws which they broke. They made laws which we were told we needed to follow to keep ourselves and others safe. They broke those laws, whilst others were isolated, fined and well-organised, safe protests were heavily policed. They broke those laws by partying.
By Rachel Robbins12 months ago in Families
I didn't want to write this post
I didn’t want to write this post, because I have a story I want to write about a middle-aged woman who … blah, blah, blah. I’m not going to give away plot points here. I also want to write some new jokes for my stand up. And I don’t want to write any jokes about violence against women, whether it is verbal, physical or institutional.
By Rachel Robbins12 months ago in Viva
A Talented and Prolific Writer
Today I am toying with the idea that I am a talented and prolific writer. I am playing a game where I can sit down and write short stories, jokes and plays that are interesting, novel and inspired. I am witty and entertaining.
By Rachel Robbinsabout a year ago in Education
Not That Bad
The first time I ran a focus group for survivors of domestic abuse, I remember one young woman, her baby in her arms, saying, “I’ve not had it that bad. Some of the women here have been really badly treated.” There was a pause. “I mean, I’ve been in hospital twice, but it’s not been that bad.”
By Rachel Robbinsabout a year ago in Viva
