Catherine Townsend: Sleeping Around
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Your support makes all the difference.Tonight, I'm due to partake in a debate at the Cambridge Union on the motion "This House regards Jordan as a Feminist Icon" along with, among others, Edwina Currie and Abi Titmuss. Depending on whom you ask, she's either an evil, amoral slapper who corrupts children and is bringing on the downfall of civilisation, or a modern-day heroine.
Sadly, women can often be the most vicious misogynists. Men are historically brutal and competitive, but at least they are honest about it.
I found this out the hard way on Sunday, when I faced an even tougher interrogation, at the breakfast table, from Alasdair's mum. Since he spends about a week out of every month in the UK on business, we had our first date in London, at a romantic French restaurant. Afterwards, he walked me back to his house in west London – and after three weeks apart, the sex was animalistic.
I woke up at the crack of dawn and stumbled to the semi-dark kitchen in search of coffee when I heard a very posh female voice say: "Good morning." Shocked, I whirled around to find Alasdair's mum, Cassandra, standing in the hallway.
Totally embarrassed, I introduced myself. It turned out that this was her house, a tiny detail he'd not mentioned, and I tried to blot out the fact that she'd probably heard my screams of passion the night before.
So, calming myself and secretly cursing him, I sat down to face a woman who knew that I'd slept with both her ex-husband and son. I knew she'd been a feminist activist in the Sixties, so I nervously chatted to her about my upcoming debate.
"Jordan?" she snorted. "What? The one who looks like a blow-up sex doll?" I felt my cheeks burning. If this was the "sisterhood", I can see why so many younger women are choosing to opt out these days.
"So you think that because Jordan's had the freedom to make her own decisions, and live her life entirely for herself, and make money, that makes her a feminist, do you?" said Cassandra.
"Well, yes, actually. I may not have made the same choices, but I believe that feminism is about the choice to make them. She's completely in control of her destiny. More power to her."
But over eggs, Alasdair's mum and I realised that we had a lot more in common than we thought. We both care passionately about equal pay for equal work, getting more rape convictions, and women's rights around the world. We ended up making mimosas, and having a good laugh. We're doing dinner this week, so I've made a new friend.
Unfortunately, she also let slip that she also pays rent on Alasdair's house in LA, which to me is a major red flag. It's great that I've found a strong woman, but what I really need is a strong man.
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