NOW OVER TO YOU...
This week, you're querying the Kardashians' style credentials, getting fired up about A-list adoptions and speaking up for a woman's right to abortion
THE CHOICE IS OURS
I was enraged to read letters from readers who feel some women should not be granted the right to an abortion because there are ‘so many contraceptive choices available’ ( Now over to you, 24 October). As someone who had an abortion after two different contraceptive devices both failed to work, I cannot stress strongly enough that abortion is a right for everyone, regardless of circumstance. If you are against the idea of having an abortion, don’t have one. You do not have the right to take away another woman’s choice about what to do with her body. Kate
SHOW YOUR PAPERS
The brief sheet (24 October) mentioned a ‘South London hospital’ piloting the scheme of showing passports to get NHS care when pregnant. This is happening elsewhere, too. I recently got pregnant and in the letter with my first midwife appointment at West Middlesex University Hospital was a note from the overseas and income recovery teams. I had to show my passport, proof of address, NHS number and payslips to ‘establish eligibility to free NHS care in the UK’. It was inconvenient and I felt like I was being asked to prove myself, but I understand the hospitals are doing as they are told to by the Government. Amy
BEST DRESSED
As an avid Grazia reader, I had to take pen to paper (email even). In Your Kardashian booty
call! (24 October), you mention the Kardashians ‘topping best-dressed lists’. What lists? Kim Kardashian attending the Balenciaga show at PFW in a trench and thigh-high boots is nothing short of bad taste, but it gets headlines. Julia Roberts did it so much better in Pretty Woman. Libby
WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?
This Jolie-pitt child custody scenario exemplifies the most horrific commodification of children ( Brangelina: the war is
on, 24 October). How is it the rich and famous are entitled to ‘shop’ for children? As though wealth and fame preclude assessment on your capability to parent. Well-documented history of substance abuse on both sides, unstable lifestyles, nothing conducive to effective child rearing… What a mess. Name withheld
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
I fully agree with Polly Vernon that the ‘As the ’ism’ formulation to express disapproval – in this case, of Donald Trump’s misogyny as caught on tape – is pompous and unnecessary ( Don’t get her
started on… ‘As the ’ism, 24 October). But I found her repeated use of the words ‘twatishness’ (sic), ‘twatty’ and ‘twattery’ offensive and ironic in an article about womanhating. Given one of the main meanings of the word ‘twat’, it has no place in a piece calling attention to language and Trump’s horrendous sexism. Ruth
FAKING IT
My boyfriend recently got a three-month job transfer closer to home and is desperate to be kept on permanently ( The rise
of the ‘faux singletons’, 17 October). He has mentioned to his colleagues that we plan to get married and want children, but can’t due to his lack of career options. He isn’t lying, but he isn’t exactly telling the truth! It isn’t only women who fake it to make it. Aimee
COMPLEX ISSUE
To compare marijuana, a drug giving relief to millions of cancer sufferers, to class-a drugs is both demoralising and misleading When it’s him,
you… and drugs (10 October). It’s disappointing to see old stereotypes about smokers being unmotivated losers – Brad Pitt is one of the world’s most famous actors. I use this plant to cope with the crippling effects of lupus. There are a range of complex issues behind addiction that can’t be blamed on the substance alone. We live in a society that condones the use of alcohol, despite it killing thousands every year. Carole