Mary McCarthy

3 days ago | independent.ie | Mary McCarthy

I feel resentment building about how much time, money and emotional wattage our new pet will take up, and it hasn’t even arrived yetDo dog owners who refer to their pets as a “fur baby” really see the animal as a child surrogate? Research from Hungary suggests that is exactly what a growing number of people are doing. As someone about to nervously welcome a new puppy into their home, I feel these people should be aware that a dog can be more work than a child.

2 weeks ago | independent.ie | Mary McCarthy

An Australian-style ban on children under 16 using social media would be blunt, but it would send the right message and help despairing parentsWhen I was 15, I obtained a fake ID so I could buy vodka. You might think this showed the law didn’t work, proving that children will find a way around the rules. That also seems to be the attitude of too many of our politicians when it comes to raising the age limit for social media. But it’s an argument that doesn’t stack up.

4 weeks ago | belfasttelegraph.co.uk | Mary McCarthy

The Balance Phone boasts the sleek look of a Samsung, but has limited online access and blocks all social media and gaming apps. Could it be a good option for kids? Mary McCarthy gave one to her 12-year-old, with mixed resultsIt was the day after my 12-year-old’s Confirmation and we had just ceremoniously presented him with his gift. When he opened the box and gleefully lifted up the gleaming black oblong, he had to sit down. Tears sprang up. His dream had come true.

4 weeks ago | independent.ie | Mary McCarthy

The elation was gone long before bedtime. In his excitement, he had not read the elegantly written marketing spiel on the box about how “offline is the new luxury”. My son’s verdict was more succinct: this phone was “no fun”. The device we had given him might have looked like the latest device from Samsung but it was, in fact, a Balance Phone. If you’ve not heard of these, it might be because you’re not in one of the Smartphonefree Ireland WhatsApp groups.

1 month ago | tandfonline.com | Mary McCarthy

ABSTRACTThis introductory article presents the frame and impetus for our special issue on the ‘comfort women’ in Northeast and Southeast Asia. The objective of this article is to showcase this collection as part of a learning community of scholars, to provide an overview of the contributing articles, and to highlight the themes that unite us, focusing on the intersection of gender, identity, the state, and colonialism.