Are Women Getting Angrier?

Eliza is reading the new Liane Moriarty book "Nine Perfect Strangers". One of the themes is women's rage and frustration with life. It's a recurring message in Moriarty's novels which explore the complex lives of the suburban "Mum". Eliza thinks the anger stems from the crunch between personal career ambitions and private domestic duties. It leaves little time for joy.

Somehow, the notion of "having it all" has been re-cast as a bit greedy. Women are told they shouldn't aim for personal and professional bliss all at once. "You can't have it all, just not at the same time." Which may be true, but prompts Eliza to wonder what women are willing to give up?

The truth is that Eliza found motherhood much more fun when she gave herself time to enjoy it.

Geraldine thinks women are angrier than generations past, or possibly more willing to be honest about it in public. But she also acknowledges that there are many societal pressures making that work/life juggle harder than before.

It wouldn't be a Long Distance Call without discussion of international news and politics. This week Geraldine and Eliza have been horrified by the grizzly murder of a Saudi journalist at his own embassy in Turkey.