The reality is that there are relatively few prominent cultural commentators on gender in the UK. But as Dr Sophie Lewis claims, when speaking to VICE, they present a united front. She says that they have risen through the ranks together and have longstanding relationships of some kind with each other. “It’s obviously easy to overstate this because there are structural factors I think as to why the ideological terrain is the way it is, but it’s also just because they’re all mates: Julie Bindel, Suzanne Moore, Julie Burchill. These are – in some cases erstwhile working class and radical – highly educated journalistic privileged people. They’re defending each other and doubling down, partly because of the interpersonal ties and also because British class society’s particular texture amplifies the echo chamber element of it.” kõigist neist lugudest jäi mu jaoks enim kõlama... naise suhe ta enda kehaga läbi elu ja aastate. ja veega. kõik need kirjeldused, mis tunne täpselt on sellesse vette astuda või hüpata, mismoodi tundub esimene ja mismoodi järgmised tõmbed, kuidas kirvendab välja tulles nahk ja kuidas täpselt kleepuvavõitu vesi sellelt maha voolab (see vee kleepumise teema on läbiv! ei ole ta nii kleepuv midagi mu meelest, tavaline järvevesi. aga eks see ongi tavalisest basseiniveest erinev). kuidas talvel tuleb ujumiseks vahel jäässe rada sisse murda ja suvel tuleb peale tohutu talveigatsus. ja peaaegu mitte keegi ei jäta mainimata mõnd kohtumist udusulis pardipoegadega või etteheitva pilguga haigrut, kes sind mingi puunoti pealt jälgib. Lees half-jokes: “I’m glad millennials and Gen Z get it – part of my activism now is just waiting for people to die.” A survey conducted by the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond Association in January, before the second cost rise, found the charges had affected affordability for 58% of 600 respondents, more than half of whom swam less often as a result and 25% of whom could no longer afford to swim at all. And I have noticed that the male ponds on Hampstead Heath are frequented by men in very small swimming shorts.

Yes, you will need to pay for entry as you enter the ponds to swim. Can you Swim in the Hampstead Ponds?Kenwood Ladies' Pond is a natural bathing pond and one of London's best open air swimming spots. Facilities There was something magical about the unplumbed depths, the moorhens, the waterlilies, the willows, the floating rings and rafts’: Margaret Drabble. Photograph: Alice Zoo/The Observer Combining personal reminiscence with reflections on the history of the place over the years and through the changing seasons, At the Pond captures fourteen contemporary writers’ impressions of this unique place. We aspire to be a leader in diversity, equality and inclusion, and we are committed to supporting a strong, sustainable and cohesive society in the capital and beyond.” The Ladies’ bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath are a London institution, whether it’s sunny or snowy, so what better way to immortalise them than with a book?’ – Red

Hampstead Heath also has a lido which is a swimming pool outside, it’s located at the Parliament Hill section of Hampstead Heath closer to Gospel Oak. Winter pond temperatures average 2 degrees and sometimes freeze over whilst in the summer the temperature can reach 25 degrees with prolonged good weather. The City of London manages all the Hampstead Heath bathing ponds and decides the policy around access for transgender swimmers in accordance with the Equality Act. The pond is closed during the winter, but otherwise, it’s open from 7 am to 8:30 pm daily. How to Get There Created centuries ago, the Heath's chain of ponds are one of the sources of the River Fleet that runs subterraneously through London. Swimming in the Ladies' Pond's green, silty, silky waters, it's hard to avoid the feeling that you are moving through history and outside of time.

Facilities

Yes, there are cold showers at Highgate Men's Pond and Hampstead Mixed Pond whilst there are hot showers at Kenwood Ladies' Pond and at Parliament Hill Lido. Don’t swim too far initially. Focus on getting in the water and acclimatising your body and breathing first. Without wanting to sound too self-pitying, I’ve been targeted very badly in the name of feminism.”– Shon Faye