As the creator of one of Australia's most popular websites Mamamia, journalist and businesswoman Mia Freedman has become a prominent social commentator, especially on issues facing Australian women.
Clarification: AEST 11:00, Wednesday 19 March. The editor of mamamia.com.au has confirmed that that all original contributors are paid for their work.
Yesterday, freelance writer Eleanor Robertson created a minor Twitterstorm when she live-tweeted her reading of Mia's 2009 memoir, Mama Mia: A Memoir of Mistakes, Magazines and Motherhood.
Eleanor critiqued Mia's attitude to sex workers...
pages read: 3; disparaging references to sex work: 3 #mamamia
she makes cracks about "prostitutes" and brothels, but then describes using strippers and pole dancers at the cosmo parties??? #mamamia
And magazine journalism...
on beauty editing: 'you're on the frontline. It's like Afghanistan ... with mascara and gift bags' #mamamia
that Afghanistan reference was a terrible joke but i think this bit is serious #mamamia
cosmo is 'sold on angst', 'tells you that you have a problem' and 'perpetuates inadequacy' but she's 'thrilled' to be editor #mamamia
'magazine covers of asian or dark-skinned women don't sell [...] but you have to give readers what they want' #mamamia
'writing is all about the content' [100 pages ago] 'beauty writing is science, politics, & bullshit with a sprinkle of journalism' #mamamia
And plagiarism...
'uninspired by [university], i was plagiarising my journalism assignments from a local gay newspaper' #mamamia
here, we see freedman's respect for intellectual labour that would later lead to her using unpaid writers #mamamia
And 9/11...
'From a human point of view, 9/11 was tragic. From a business perspective, circulation was instantly affected' #mamamia
'As I watched the planes hit those buildings, I thought to myself, "I'll never be able to go to New York again"' #mamamia
hahahaha oh my god i've read 199 pages of this and even i can't believe they let her slip that clanger in #mamamia
after some tossed off remarks about human tragedy, 9/11 is used as a segue for freedman to dissect her fear of flying #mamamia
And models...
'the model was rather masculine looking and we shaped her jaw to make her look less like a transvestite' #mamamia
freedman says 'as a feminist' she was happy to replace cover models with pop stars, because models have no skills. #mamamia
reeling from the 'models have no skills' bit. she wanted to be a model & worked in the industry and she thinks they have no skills. #mamamia
And, of course, feminism.
be interesting to see at what point freedman "finds feminism", because at 24 she fired a new mother from cosmo #mamamia
first reference to feminism, page 91: 'as a feminist, I felt [token plus size models in magazines] were wonderful for women' #mamamia
'I've just been appointed chair of the Body Image Advisory Group' and feminists were to spend the next three years in hell #mamamia
A number of Mia's co-workers and fans didn't take kindly to Eleanor's tweets.
@marrowing Eleanor, bitching about Mia Freedman & her writing on Twitter just makes you look mean. Not clever.
CUTTING EDGE, YOU GUYS. Tear apart a book a woman wrote 10 years ago because it's a slow news day. Real insightful.
Can't understand the vitriol against @MiaFreedman. Far from perfect no doubt, but is @helenmccabe and other Eds attacked for women's mags?
@marrowing Serious question. If you hate #mamamia so much, why are you spending all this time reading and tweeting it? Would love to know.
@Woogsworld @RebeccaSparrow @marrowing I know. Seriously, what the actual fuck Eleanor? If you find it that abhorrent,why give it oxygen?
So what's the rationale for humiliation of @MiaFreedman today, Heathers? Ad hominem tu quoque or you're just on your periods?
. @marrowing what a monumental waste of time. Reading @MiaFreedman, an author you don't like & then taking cheap shots on line. Pathetic.
But most tweeters were amused by the whole thing.
Look Freedman's been copping a lot of flak on Twitter today, but in her defence huh wait no I got nothing
What a gift from @marrowing, proof positive that Mia Freedman is a bullying scumbag masquerading as a feminist for clicks.
I imagine Mia Freedman's book to be pages of inferences to try to get you to the next page, and on the last page, her giving you the finger.
Follow #mamamia for @marrowing take on Mia Freedman bio. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to not live on this planet anymore #feminism
God (or whoever you believe in) love @marrowing for saving me the pain of reading Mia Freedman's autobiography. Follow her if you're not yet
Mia Freedman, credible voice for feminism BAHAHAHAHA #fuckingupgirlsselfesteemsince1992
Follow @marrowing for live tweets from Mia Freedman's new book. Confirmation Freedman is NOT a friend to women, in her own words.
Don't read Mia Freedman's book, read @marrowing 's live tweets. It's what Mia would want, cos you get her work without having to pay for it.