So, I just attended my first ever feminist meeting. In Dalston. In a nail salon.

But don’t get put off when you read the word ‘feminist’ – hollabackLDN (UK sister of hollabackNY) are trying to reclaim the feminist name. The idea is that we’re not hairy legged man-haters, but just everyday women who are sick of inequality, FHM magazine, and street harassment.

We’ve all had experiences of street harassment (whether you’ve called it that or not) – my personal favourites include men who have run alongside me when I’ve been out running, who apparently find my red faced, sweaty and Asics trainers-clad self attractive in some way, and a builder who actually sang the first line of Lionel Richie’s ‘Hello’ to me (I have to say I actually quite enjoyed this one!). Maybe not a big deal, but actually what does it say about our society that men feel they have the right to make comments and view women as objects for their own enjoyment and judgement? And why do men feel the need to live up to this ‘lad’ stereotype, where being a dick is cool? There are definitely some things that need addressing in our society’s perception of gender.

So I left feeling challenged to do more to fight back against this blatant sexism (probably shouldn’t smile when builders sing to me next time?) but also aware that there are many other injustices in the world that need addressing too.

After a passionate pro-feminist discussion with my friend Rosie on the bus back, we were just about to alight when a bloke who’d heard our conversation wittily decided to call out ‘Bye Love!’. Clearly still a long way to go.