And while we’re on the subject of how men behave, John – do you never get tired of all of the things your conditioning compels you to do? I know, individually, men can be respectful and human, and not feel they have to swing their balls round everywhere. But put you together, or put you on the TV or the radio, or put you in any position of authority, and you cannot help yourselves.

In the last week I’ve had meetings with a doctor (male), an MP (male), and a solicitor (male). Every one of them has interrupted me or talked over the top of me. I’ve been to a family meal at which two men and three women were present. Guess whose voices dominated the conversation. Do you never think: I might listen, for a change? Do you never wonder why it is that you discount what a woman is saying before she’s even finished saying it?

I’m going to empathise, now, John, even though I don’t see why I should have to. Women only need empathy because it’s the only weapon they have for staying out of the way of fists and fury, or getting what they want from men who don’t think they need to pay attention to her indoors.

If I were you, I might not always enjoy the way I’m expected to be. I might not want to cry only at sporting events; I might be anxious about neighbours assuming I know how to help them jump-start their cars. There could be mornings when a day of shouting my opinions louder than other men’s opinions might not be what I want to do.

But if I were you, I’d probably think that was a price worth paying for all the other advantages I get from having a penis in a patriarchal society. I’d square my shoulders, clear my throat, and wiggle my Adam’s apple around for the sake of the extra wages and the right to be deferred to in most situations.

I can’t blame you, although it drives me crazy – sometimes, I think, literally insane. I feel like the only person who sees not only the mountain of bullshit but the fact that it is being produced by a great big bull. My sisters shovel the bullshit out of their way, valiantly, every damn day, and I feel as though I am the only one who sees the bull and thinks we should deal with that. No bull, no shit. That’s what I’m trying so hard to make you see.

Our problem is: there’s no reason for you to change, because life is pretty sweet for you.