Warning: this story includes minor spoilers for Unforgettable.

On the bright side, Unforgettable passes the Bechdel Test. But beyond that shallow metric of feminism, this film is fuelled by every stereotype in the book. The most destructive of them all? That behind every pretty face, a crazy woman might lurk. Yes, it’s 2017, and we’re still battling the tired trope of a jealous Stepford ex-wife, hell-bent on revenge.

Meet Rosario Dawson’s Julia Banks, a subdued tech editor who moves to Southern California to marry a man she met a year ago. Though David Connover (Geoff Stults) has a cool brewery job, a sweet disposition, and a ton of money, the guy’s got baggage. And that baggage is — of course — his horse-riding, SUV-driving, rigidly-postured ex-wife Tessa, played by Katherine Heigl, who can’t accept that her husband has moved on.

As if marriage were a pact entered by way of revolving door, Julia’s stepping into the life that Tessa wishes she still inhabited. Tessa will do anything in her power, from texting Julia’s abusive ex-husband to breaking into her house to steal her wedding ring, to ensure that Julia can never sit comfortably in her new life, the life that was once Tessa’s.

Battle lines are drawn almost immediately. On her first night in David’s house, Julia’s expected take care of Lily (Isabella Kai Rice), the couple’s 7-year-old daughter, who has hair as pin-straight and blonde as her mother’s. Tessa unexpectedly drops by, armed with cold sneers and disparaging comments on Julia’s choice of “spicy food.” Julia’s rattled. While Julia remains composed, we see her process the notion that this straight-laced, uptight woman might be more than just a nuisance. Tessa might be a threat.

The film doesn’t hide Tessa’s villainy for a moment. We see her attempt to groom Lily into being a perfect little doll, as if a child’s character development were facilitated through combing their hair and applying perfume. We see her steal Julia’s phone and text her abusive ex-boyfriend, who then doggedly pursues an already fragile Julia. Things escalate to the point of Tessa throwing herself down the stairs, and pinning the blame on Julia.

Each action is part of Tessa’s plan to frame Julia as being mentally unstable and irresponsible, as if, once Julia’s deemed crazy, David will leave her.

So, unlike in most psychological thrillers, the fun doesn’t come in guessing who’s good, who’s evil, and who’s hallucinating. There are no identity twists and turns. Julia’s always the prey; Tessa’s always the perpetrator of the aggressive crime. So, you ask, from where is the plot propelled? Julia and Tessa, both saddled with the label “crazy,” have to convince David and the police chief that the other woman is lying.

This tug-of-war takes a depressing amount of energy, since neither man is apt to believe either woman's story. No one takes Julia’s worries seriously until blood is shed.

David, a total dolt, waltzes throughout the movie with a perpetual expression of stung disbelief. He’s never quite convinced that Julia didn’t do what Tessa accused her of. For moral support, Julia talks to her friend, Ali, who believes her — because she’s a woman. It’s not until he’s faced with absolute proof that Ali believes Julia, his own fiancée, that he wipes the hurt look off his face.

Then, there’s the even more concerning figure of the police chief, who scraps the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing, and heads straight for judgement day. Julia lands in the interrogation room after her abusive ex shows up in her kitchen, wanting sex. How'd he track her down, after years of living with a restraining order? Tessa makes a fake Facebook profile in Julia's name, and sends him risqué photos she downloads from Julia's stolen phone. When the ex shows up, violence ensues; Julia stabs his leg and runs away. Though Julia pleads her innocence, the police investigator , dripping with condescension, condemns Julia’s actions (without proof of her guilt) and warns her fiancé of her dubious character.

In the Unforgettable universe, "crazy woman" is an iron-clad label. Sure, David discovers Tessa’s nature when she binds and gags him. But Julia also uncovers incontrovertible “proof” earlier, when she finds a document stating that, as a teenager, Tessa burned down the house where her father lived with his mistress. Julia’s just as relieved as David to hold evidence of Tessa’s immoral character, as if something a person did at 14 dictates who she is at 35.

News flash: Everyone was crazy as a teenager. While extreme, Katherine’s actions don’t make her a villain. They make her troubled.

And that brings us to the real tragedy of Unforgettable: Like David and the police chief, the film doesn't take Tessa and Julia's stories seriously. The women's uniquely painful pasts are used as justification for why they want to be with David. But in no instance are Tessa and Julia just independent women — they are women running from men, winning over men, or trying to convince men they're not crazy.

Fortunately, for every instance of a story boxing women into the loony bin, there are others that act as a refreshing antidote. For example, the characters Madeline and Ed in Big Little Lies show, with multi-faceted precision, the sticky process of getting over divorce. Moving on doesn't happen overnight, as people expected of Tessa. And though season 1 of Orange Is the New Black introduces a character called “Crazy Eyes,” as her identity develops, Crazy Eyes’ offensive nickname is exchanged for her real one: Suzanne. She reclaims her identity from the great silencer that is a label like "crazy."

By treating their characters as nuanced human beings, these shows live in the gray area — where we all do in the real world. Like us, these women are so much more than crazy. Unforgettable ’s shallow characterisation and ill-conceived resurrection of the offensive "crazy woman" trope does all of us a disservice.

Unforgettable is released on Friday, April 21.

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Calling yourself "claustrophobic" may seem like an easy way to describe how you're feeling when you're in an uncomfortably busy bar or on a crowded train, but it might not be the best term to casually throw around. We all feel jam-packed or congested from time to time, but claustrophobia can be a very serious phobia that can rise to the level of a mental disorder, explains Franklin Schneier, MD, co-director of the Anxiety Disorders Clinic and special lecturer in psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Centre. So it's important to know the difference between a mild phobia and one that interferes with your everyday life.

Technically, claustrophobia is an excessive fear of closed spaces, Dr. Schneier says. It's a "situational phobia," so people with claustrophobia experience a variety of super fearful and anxious feelings when they're in closed spaces, he says. Most people with claustrophobia feel fine until they're triggered, and some people just experience more frequent triggers because they're exposed to them regularly (because they have to commute in traffic or ride an elevator everyday). "Typical thoughts are the fear that they will be trapped, that they will not be able to breathe, or that their anxiety will reach a level of panic that will cause them to lose control in some way," Dr. Schneier says. Usually, these thoughts manifest with physical symptoms, like having trouble breathing, feeling your heart pounding, getting hot or cold, or just sensing general nervousness. Maybe you've felt like this before, but does that mean that you have claustrophobia?

The chance that someone will have claustrophobia at one point in their life is only 4%, and Dr. Schneier says people usually experience it for long periods of time, and then they get over it. It's much more common for people to have mild claustrophobic fears that never reach the level of a disorder, and up to 22% of women and 8% of men will experience those, he says. "As is true for most phobias, the rate in women is generally double or more the rate in men," he says. In order for someone to be diagnosed with claustrophobia, they have to have excessive and marked fears or anxieties about being in closed spaces that persist for at least six months, and lead to avoidance of those places or activities, Dr. Schneier says. If you feel like that's you, and your symptoms interfere with your life, you should seek treatment from a therapist or psychiatrist who specialises in phobias.

So why do some people get hit with claustrophobic symptoms in the first place? It's complicated. Claustrophobia can be an "exaggerated form of a natural instinct" to avoid dangerous situations where you'd get trapped and lose air supply, Dr. Schneier says. "Somehow, in people with claustrophobia, the fear of this extreme situation has become generalised to situations that are not, in fact, dangerous," he says.

Claustrophobia does run in families, and it can be genetic or just a trait you pick up from your family members. In some cases, you can develop claustrophobia after a particularly traumatic event, like getting stuck in an elevator for a long period of time — but often, there's no precipitating event, Dr. Schneier says. Doctors don't totally have a medical explanation why people are claustrophobic, but they may have anxiety-prone brain circuits that make them more sensitive to small stressors, Dr. Schneier says. "But, a brain-based cause of claustrophobia specifically has not been identified," he says.

Luckily, claustrophobia is definitely treatable through cognitive behavioural therapy, Dr. Schneier says. Therapists usually work with you to figure out your (possibly unrealistic or unhelpful) beliefs about closed spaces, and then they help you find more useful ways of thinking that will help you cope the next time you're in one of those feared situations. "Sometimes, this may include relaxation exercises as another coping tool," Dr. Schneier says. Once you have the cognitive tools, the goal is to gradually enter the situations that you're afraid of.

If you think you might be claustrophobic, you shouldn't discount your symptoms. That said, nonchalantly assigning yourself with a phobia can belittle the fact that some people struggle to go about their daily lives because their phobias are so severe. But, if it's interfering with your life, even slightly — like you can't stand going to the movies or standing in a crowd because it makes you so anxious — you may want to consider getting help.

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Beyoncé's stunning visual album, Lemonade, is a celebration of Black women and culture. Now, it's earned one of the top awards in entertainment. As reported by E! Online, Lemonade just won a Peabody Award.

The coveted prize honours excellence in television, radio, and digital broadcasting. This year, Bey's Lemonade is the only album on the list.

The Grammy-nominated work — which many felt should have received the Grammy for Album Of The Year, but lost to Adele's 25 in one of the ceremony's most controversial moments — is one of seven honorees this year, the rest of which are TV series. FX's Atlanta and Better Things, BBC One's Happy Valley, Channel 4's National Treasure, Hulu's Horace & Pete, and HBO's Veep were also celebrated.

According to the organisers of the awards ceremony — which will be hosted by Rashida Jones on May 20 — the reason for Lemonade 's honour had to do with the way in which it "challenges our cultural imagination."

" Lemonade draws from the prolific literary, musical, cinematic, and aesthetic sensibilities of Black cultural producers to create a rich tapestry of poetic innovation," the organisers said in a statement. "The audacity of its reach and fierceness of its vision challenges our cultural imagination, while crafting a stunning and sublime masterpiece about the lives of women of color and the bonds of friendship seldom seen or heard in American popular culture."

Though many fans initially saw Lemonade as an analysis of infidelity — or perhaps a catharsis from an experience with infidelity — it's so much more than the bat-swinging, window-bashing revenge that Beyoncé flirts with in the video for "Hold Up." It's about the fierceness of women, specifically Black women whom society often overlooks, no matter how special or rare they are. While Bey may not have won her deserved Grammy, being the only visual album on this list of honorees proves she's not going anywhere — and that her voice is louder than ever.

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Regardless of political affiliation, there are certain etiquette standards that are generally upheld when visiting the White House. For example, pretty much everyone over the age of 5 knows it’s tasteless and crass to take a photo mocking the portrait of a former first lady and then proceed to spread it all over social media.

Of course, we’re living in strange times that often feel like the makings of a sad and not particularly entertaining Onion article. So, it’s hardly surprising that Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent, and Kid Rock seized the opportunity to disrespect Hillary Clinton’s portrait while attending a White House dinner with Donald Trump on Wednesday night.

Today in things: Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent, and Kid Rock met with President Trump in the Oval Office last night. pic.twitter.com/9tyU69Rahj

— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) April 20, 2017

Palin, the former Alaska governor and John McCain’s 2008 running mate, immediately took to Facebook to post a series of photos from her White House visit. One photo in particular has rightfully garnered a strong response. The trio posed in front of Clinton’s portrait, which hangs in the White House basement along with portraits of all former first ladies.

Their facial expressions and hand gestures blatantly mock the former senator, secretary of state, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee. Nugent’s thumb gesture indicated “outta here,” Kid Rock’s crossed his arms, and Palin made the most disdainful facial expression possible.

A picture is worth a thousand words — and Twitter users have responded accordingly.

New York Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman would like to remind the trio that they weren’t at a rally.

Doesn't matter what the political party is, it's the White House, not a rally, and it's an official portrait, not a cardboard cutout.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 20, 2017

Others have criticized the group for the sheer disrespect, hypocrisy, and immaturity of their actions.

There's a total of one brain in this Ted Nugent, Sarah Palin, Kid Rock photo.. and it belongs to the portrait... pic.twitter.com/BJWxjjpTvh

— Mahnee Avelar (@BassMastrMahnee) April 20, 2017

@JoyAnnReid @CJFinNM At least Hillary Clinton has a portrait. Palin has nothing.

— Jennifer Lamb (@jennilamb007) April 20, 2017

Yes, Sarah Palin, that is Hillary Clinton's portrait, hung in the White House.

Where's yours?

pic.twitter.com/1nBS5gCuE6

— Mandy (@Foggy_Blues) April 20, 2017

After her surprising loss to Trump in November, Clinton took a brief break and then quickly returned to public life to continue her lifelong crusade for the advancement of women’s and girls’ rights. She’s moved on from the election and is looking to the future, but (ironically) the same can’t be said for Trump and his most ardent supporters.

As Michelle Obama famously said, “When they go low, we go high.” So, as much as I’d like to compare Palin’s CV to Clinton’s, I’ll quit while I’m ahead.

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Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale used to be comfortably unrealistic. The YA novel focuses on a young woman, Offred, as she navigates a society so dominated by men that she doesn't even get her own name. (Offred means "Of Fred," so her identity is completely connected to a man.)

Margaret Atwood's America has seen society completely changed by a religious coup. Offred once had a husband and child, but she torn away from her family and forced to become a handmaid. That means her only job is to bear the children of high-ranking officials. Her journey through the dystopian Republic of Gilead is a journey through a society completely dominated by violence and depersonalisation. She has to fight just to maintain her identity.

Now, the novel is coming to the small screen courtesy Hulu, which will soon air an adaptation. While that news has brought The Handmaid's Tale a surge in popularity, Atwood herself has gotten into the dire prediction business. Her latest interview, with Time for its 100 Most Influential People feature, is no exception.

"When I first published that book, at the outset some people were saying, 'Oh, Margaret, how could you suggest that we would ever do such a thing?'" Atwood tells Time. "I don't hear that so much anymore."

If the most recent election is any guide, Atwood's dire predictions may not be far off. We're hoping that the show, at least, raises awareness enough to head that off at the pass.

Watch a video featuring Atwood, below.

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The Fate of the Furious crashed into cinemas last weekend, with all the testosterone-fuelled chaos of the previous seven instalments. This time round, however, there is something (or someone) a little bit different running the show. That someone is cyber-terrorist Cipher, played by Charlize Theron. The Oscar-winner’s steely-eyed villain runs the show, forcing Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto to work for her and bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. It’s a first for the franchise, which has never had a main female antagonist before, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who have been following Theron’s career. Having dazzled in Mad Max: Fury Road and built a considerable amount of hype for the forthcoming Atomic Blonde, she is quickly evolving into a feminist action hero that can play her male co-stars at their own game.

Incredibly, it’s over 20 years since Theron made her big-screen debut but her career continues to go from strength to strength, despite Hollywood’s aversion to female stars over the age of 40. This is largely due to a philosophy that sees her change the type of role she pursues every few years – in the late '90s she was the stunning romantic interest of a number of leading men in films such as The Devil’s Advocate, The Cider House Rules and Reindeer Games. In the early 2000s, however, she altered her own image dramatically to play Aileen Wuornos in Monster, one of the most startling performances of the decade, earning her a Best Actress Oscar and cementing her as a performer capable of far more than she was being offered. Theron would go on to mix hard-hitting drama ( In the Valley of Elah, The Road) with more commercial fare ( Hancock, Snow White and The Huntsman) and even find a knack for dark comedy in the critically lauded Young Adult.

Then came Mad Max: Fury Road. Surely one of the best films of that or any other year, Tom Hardy’s title character was surprisingly not the standout performer. Furiosa, played by a shaven-headed, grizzled Theron, was a revelation. A former Imperator of bad guy Immortan Joe, she turns on her leader to save his five ‘wives’ from a life of enslavement. While there’s no doubt Max is pivotal to the plot, he is a part of Furiosa’s journey, not the other way round. The concept of a Hollywood blockbuster with legitimate themes of equality and female empowerment made everyone take notice. Indeed, the only downside of the whole experience was that among the film’s many Academy Award nominations, Theron’s turn was not acknowledged.

The reception for that role almost certainly led to her casting as Cipher – not as complex or polished a character but with key similarities nonetheless. There are no catsuits, no lingering bum shots; Cipher trades on her intelligence, not her sexuality. Even the kiss shared between her and Diesel midway through the film is a power play rather than a submission to his charms. She is also a character unmotivated by male influence, acting for her own interests and not out of spurned love or a need for paternal approval. It may not be Shakespeare, but it’s as progressive as it gets in the maelstrom of cliché that is the Fast and Furious franchise.

So where next? Is this a rare exception to Hollywood rule, like Katniss Everdeen or Ellen Ripley, or the sign of a new kind of action superstar? The trailer for August’s Atomic Blonde has been promising the latter. Those who have pined for a female Bond equivalent may have got their wish in Theron’s Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent with a particular set of skills. Staying one step ahead of both her pursuers and her superiors, she tears through 1989 Berlin searching for an organisation that is killing agents. The trailers show her dispatching bad guys with hand-to-hand combat skills that would make Jason Bourne jealous, and using sex as weapon in the same way 007 has been doing since the '60s.

While she is not the only one flying the flag for female-led action this year (Gal Gadot takes centre stage as Wonder Woman in May), Charlize Theron has aggressively demonstrated the possibilities that are available when a talented female star is given the opportunity to break out of Hollywood’s limiting boxes. In an industry desperate for a fresh perspective, having women blaze a trail in the most male-dominated of genres can open all kinds of stories, and bring in 50% of an audience who may have felt left behind. Regardless of Atomic Blonde ’s success, that is hopefully a goal both Theron and future stars will view as worth chasing.

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If you’re anything like me, you’ll be concerned – nay, horrified – by the amount of hair that winds up on your jumper rather than your head by the end of the day.

Surely, with a shed rate like that, it’s a marvel I’ve got any hair left on my head at all. Which is kind of worrying.

So we got in touch with two people that know their stuff when it comes to things like this. Sam Burnett, owner and creative director of dead trendy and very good salon Hare & Bone, and Ivana Azdajic, a chemist and product developer at Maria Nila, a vegan and cruelty-free hair brand whose new range Head and Hair HEAL is all about protecting and restoring your tresses.

Their answers about hair shedding were, thankfully, very reassuring.

First up, guys – why do we shed hair?

“Hair growth occurs in a cycle with three stages,” explains Sam. “The 'anagen' or 'growth' phase, the 'catagen' phase or the ‘resting’ period, and the 'telegenic' phase, which is basically the 'falling out' stage."

“Every hair strand will eventually fall out and be replaced by a new one" says Ivana, adding that the average person has about 100,000-150,000 hairs on their head at any one time.

Great stuff. But how do I know if I’m shedding too much hair?

Sam says that the average person sheds 50-125 strands of hair a day – anything more than this could indicate abnormal shedding and he recommends speaking to your stylist about treatment options. If you want a quick way to test, Ivana suggests taking about 60 hair strands between your fingers and pulling your fingers gently through the hair. “If 5-8 strands are coming out this is normal,” she says. “But more than 15 could mean that you are losing more than you should.”

Does one type of hair shed more than others?

Apparently not – from blondes to brunettes, redheads to natural black hair, we all shed the same. However, notes Ivana, people with curly hair are more likely to straighten their hair and apply more tension when brushing, which could lead to damage, and more breakages. Similarly, says Sam, “over-processed colours such as blondes may notice more hair breakage and thinning.”

How about hair washing – can that impact on the shed factor?

“I would always recommend my clients wash their hair every two to three days depending on their hair type and texture,” says Sam. “The scalp should be massaged in circular motions with a firm amount of pressure applied and, if you can handle it, tepid or cold water to rinse.” Make sure the shampoos you’re using aren’t too harsh as well, Ivana adds.

What about brushing?

"Always begin brushing from the tip to the root,” recommends Sam. “Comb hair before showering to minimise tangles and if you are brushing wet hair then use a wide-tooth comb as hair is 50% weaker when it’s wet.” Ivana recommends using a high-quality conditioner and/or masque to help detangle.

Are there any particular treatments that can cause excess shedding or breakage?

“Styling such as braiding, or even putting hair up in a ponytail can increase hair-shedding because it puts tension on the hair,” says Ivana. “It’s known as traction alopecia,” adds Sam. “The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to avoid wearing these hairstyles on a daily basis.”

“Additionally," says Ivana, “heat damage from hot tools can also result in breakage. Chemical treatments such as relaxers and hair dyes can weaken the hair shaft, resulting in shedding.”

What about pregnancy – does that affect hair shedding?

Yes, essentially. “It’s not uncommon for hair to stop going through its usual growth cycle,” says Sam. In fact, a lot of pregnant women don’t shed hair for the whole nine months. “Post-pregnancy, though,” he continues, “it can appear to shed a lot more from the nine months of build-up of hair.”

So what’s the key to hair that’s going to stay on your head for as long as it’s meant to?

“Handle your hair with care by investing in quality at-home products and nourishing in-salon treatments,” says Sam. “Gently pat down the hair when you get out of the shower instead of rough-drying.” He also recommends taking supplements to give your hair its daily vitamins. His go-to is Viviscal hair growth supplement.

For Ivana, it’s simpler: “Treat your hair well and use gentle products that are kind to your scalp. Try not to put too much external stress on your hair, eat well and stress less!”

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It's only April but we've already had a heatwave that has set our sights firmly on summer: long days in the park, Pimms at a rooftop bar, countryside walks and lido swimming. After the (inevitable) first round of sunburn, we've prepared ourselves for the season's transitional weather and the best pieces to combat it: lightweight jackets, sweet dresses and now, sandals.

While your feet may not have seen daylight since last August, we're encouraging you to treat them to a lick of paint, a quick buff, and a slide into one of the season's best pairs. It's liberating to be out of your trusty trainers and winter boots, so click through to see our pick of the bunch, which will take you from spring to summer, from the office to the beach.

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By now, you'll be well-versed in the latest Starbucks offering: the Unicorn Frappuccino.

Pink, purple, covered in whipped cream, it's the biggest Instagram hit since, well, the last unicorn thing.

The drink isn't available in the UK, and is only available until the 23rd April in the US, Mexico and Canada.

The company's description of the drink is spectacular: "Magical flavours start off sweet and fruity transforming to pleasantly sour. Swirl it to reveal a colour-changing spectacle of purple and pink. It's finished with whipped cream-sprinkled pink and blue fairy powders."

Demand is, unsurprisingly, off the charts. The subreddit for Starbucks workers has, for the past few days, made for fun reading. Baristas have been swapping tales of frenzied customers and dwindling supplies. "I was covered in pink dust and my eye was unintentionally twitching with every one that came my way. I estimate I made about 65-70 of them tonight" says one. Another store dealt with a customer that ordered 100 in one go. Most places seem to have sold out.

But how much sugar was in one of these magical-looking drinks?

The 16oz "grande" cup of the blue-and-pink concoction (with whole milk and whipped cream) contains 59 grams of sugar. Assuming there's four grams of sugar to the average teaspoon, that's 14.77 teaspoons of the stuff.

Things get more astonishing if you take a step up to the "venti" size. At 24oz, this size comes with 76 grams of sugar, or 19 teaspoons. Foodbeast even worked out that one venti-sized cup has more sugar than seven Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

The NHS recommends consuming no more than 30 grams of sugar a day for anyone over 11.

Grande black Americano anyone?

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The war on sugar is still going strong. We’ve all read about the studies linking it to everything from type 2 diabetes and heart disease, to skin ageing and even poor mental health. Sugar-free diets are now socially acceptable, and just this morning a string of shops agreed to cut the proportion of sugary drinks they sell in their hospital branches in England.

But it seems the sweet-toothed among us just can’t win, because artificial sweeteners, used as an alternative to the white stuff, could be just as dangerous.

This means our favourite diet drinks are far from safe and according to a new study, drinking just one can of artificially sweetened soft drink each day could almost triple our risk of having a stroke or getting dementia.

The findings, published in the American Heart Association journal Stroke, were based on food questionnaires from more than 4,300 people taking part in the long-term Framingham Heart Study. The researchers took into account factors that could affect the results, including age, sex, education, calorie intake, exercise and smoking, reported The Guardian.

Sugary drinks didn’t carry the same risks of stroke or dementia, according to the study, which contradicted previous research on the topic. Nonetheless, the researchers warned people against viewing sugary drinks as “healthy” and recommended drinking water, low fat milk or other non-sweetened drinks instead.

Matthew Pase, a senior fellow in the department of neurology at Boston University’s school of medicine, who co-authored the study, said while the team couldn’t confirm that sweetened drinks cause strokes or dementia, the connection is intriguing and needs to be researched further.

The diet drinks market in the UK is currently thriving, possibly due to the war on sugar, with 45% of all fizzy drinks sold in 2015 being either low or no calorie, according to the British Soft Drinks Association. Sadly, it may be time to re-think our daily diet drink habit.

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Is there anything we're not meant to be doing "mindfully" these days? Whether it's eating, a HIIT workout or even applying makeup, mindfulness has become so ubiquitous that it’s almost lost all meaning. But the mental health trend, which encourages us to be “present” by focusing on our current sensations and emotions, remains popular and is even available on the NHS.

Countless studies have touted the benefits of mindfulness, which range from treating depression or addiction, to anxiety, stress reduction, and general pain management. But research has never explored whether the benefits apply equally to men and women – that is, until now.

It turns out that while mindfulness does help women boost their mood, the same cannot be said for men, according to research by Brown University.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, followed 41 male students and 36 female students taking part in a 12-week academic class on mindfulness traditions, which included three hour-long meditation sessions each week. Each student spent about 41 hours meditating in total.

After the 12 weeks were up, there was a clear gender difference in mood. The women’s moods had improved by an average of 11.6 points – but the men’s moods? They were worse at the end of the study.

It’s an intriguing finding, particularly if you’ve ever tried to convince a male partner, friend or relative to try mindfulness and been met with cool indifference or a disdainful sneer.

The findings could be due to the differences in the way men and women deal with emotional distress, the researchers said. Women stereotypically ruminate on whatever is causing them stress, and with mindfulness techniques they learn to focus on the present and let go of past and future worries.

Meanwhile, men tend to distract themselves from their stress – shutting down their past and future worries, meaning mindfulness could be pointless.

Dr Willoughby Britton, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behaviour and of behavioural and social sciences at Brown, said mindfulness is suitable for helping those who are willing to confront or expose themselves to difficult feelings.

But, she added: “For people who have been largely turning their attention away from the difficult, to suddenly bring all their attention to their difficulties can be somewhat counterproductive," reported The Telegraph.

“While facing one's difficulties and feeling one's emotions may seem to be universally beneficial, it does not take into account that there may be different cultural expectations for men and women around emotionality."

Admittedly, the study’s sample size was small and unrepresentative of the general population, having been conducted on students, the findings provide a compelling springboard for further research.

All this goes to show the importance of choosing the right therapy for you, if you're going through a bad patch of mental health or just need something to help you navigate your way through life's difficulties.

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Forget a slick of red lipstick or a signature hair do, in 2017, brows are your ultimate beauty calling card. Whether you like a boyish, unfussy brow or want your arches so sharp you couldn’t take them on a flight, there’s no two ways about it: brows can make or break your look. In fact, a brow transformation is by far the easiest way to give yourself a makeover. The right shape and shade can make your eyes look bigger, your face more contoured and even make you look like you’ve had more sleep – which we could all use these days since Netflix has auto-play. Of course, if you’ve never done more than pluck the odd hair, slapping yourself down in the chair of a complete stranger who’s waving hot wax around might be the stuff of nightmares - especially if ‘brow waxing’ to you brings to mind the pencil thin brows of the Noughties.

"Benefit are the brow waxing authority. We’ve got top 5 selling brow products in the UK, and globally, we’ve waxed more brows than any other brand!" explained Lisa Potter-Dixon, Benefit’s Head Makeup Artist. "Plus, we love a natural brow. I don’t want anyone to leave looking permanently surprised! We’re all about working with your natural shape and gently grooming that." So, if you’re nervous about getting your brows done for the first time or just slightly confused by the range of options on offer (Tinting? Tweezing? What does it all mean?), you can rest assured that the pro team at Benefit will put you right at ease. "We never just go in willy-nilly and start waxing away - every appointment starts with a proper consultation, just like going to the hairdressers. You can even bring pictures if you like," added Lisa.

Plus, if you head to any Benefit Brow Bar in April for a brow service, not only will you get a free mini Gimme Brow Brow Gel worth £10 (their no.1 best-seller, no biggie), but 100% of the profits from your service will go to their Bold Is Beautiful project. Bold Is Beautiful split the funds they raise between Refuge, who support women and children affected by domestic violence, and Look Good Feel Better, who help women cope with the visible effects of cancer treatment. Helping women through some of the most challenging circumstances and getting to treat yourself to a brow-over? That’s a win-win in our books.

Read on to get the scoop on which brow service is right for you...

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I recently moved to a new flat, and came across a pile of vintage purses I had hoarded back when magazines kept encouraging shoppers to mix fashion pieces with "interesting" second hand finds. Now, I love purses —  I have a pretty healthy (or toxic, depending on whether you share a closet with me) collection. But the real reason my vintage collection was so purse heavy is because I simply couldn't fit into any of the clothes off the rack.

This was on my mind constantly as I watched Girlboss, Netflix's latest binge-watch starring Britt Robertson as a pseudo-Sophia Amoruso (in the series, her last name is Marlowe), founder of Nasty Gal, who got her start selling vintage clothes on E-Bay. Even as I got caught up in Sophia's lightning rise to success, messy love life, and indomitable spirit, something kept nagging at me: I could never wear those clothes.

Boho chic implies loose, floaty silhouettes that drape oh-so-casually on waif-like limbs, a look that flatters exactly 0.0032 percent of the female population whose last name is not Olsen. There is almost no chance of me wandering into a cute consignment shop and walking out with an impossibly cool 1970s biker jacket that magically turns me into Anita Pallenberg, as Sophia does in the very first episode. My size 10 feet curl up at the mere thought of being squeezed into pre-standard shoe size sky-high platforms. And those high-waisted flares straight out of Cher's Sonny-era closet? Dare to dream. (Note: This is my experience. If you have managed to snag a fabulous Dior jacket in a non sample-size during a vintage spree, I salute you, and we should talk.)

Most of the show is actually shockingly relatable — the struggle to figure out what you want out of life is something most millennials are all too familiar with. But as I watched Sophia selling item and after item that I knew I would never, ever be able to wear (a prairie dress slashed and converted into a belted robe isn't easy to pull off unless you're a certain body type), I just felt sad. Aren't we over the trope that cool = skinny?

I grant you that this is based on a true story, and therefore had to work with real world material. Britt Robertson's performance is funny and powerful. But as we are reminded at the beginning of each episode, this is "a loose retelling of true events. Real loose." Couldn't some of that loosening have gone towards breaking down one of the most pernicious female stereotypes?

This isn't to knock the spirit of Girlboss. The show's feminist message, based on Amoruso's best-selling book and adapted for television by Kay Cannon, is that all women can look as badass as they feel. If you dream big and go big, you'll win big. Not to mention that it's a really fun show to watch (if you can get over the first two episodes in which Sophia is just insufferable), all while embracing and celebrating strong, bold women.

I can definitely get behind that. I only wish they weren't always so thin.

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It may be 2017, but some men still believe asking a woman to make them a sandwich is just absolutely freakin’ hilarious. They’re the ones who’ll ask if you’re on your period when you’re (rightfully) annoyed by their idiotic behaviour. The kind of men who’ll tell you to “cheer up love” and half-jokingly complain about “bloody woman drivers”.

Yeah, those guys. What is their problem? Well, one group of researchers from Western Carolina University has offered an insight into exactly why these men behave so appallingly.

Apparently, men make sexist and homophobic jokes – the kind they brush off as “banter” – when they believe their masculinity is threatened. They do it to boost their social identity by demarcating their “in-group” from an “out-group”, MailOnline reported.

The study asked 387 heterosexual men to complete online questionnaires to gauge their social attitudes, personalities, and levels of prejudice against women and gay men.

The men were asked how much they agreed with statements such as, “Women seek to gain power by getting control over men” and, “Once a woman gets a man to commit to her, she usually tries to put him on a tight leash.”

Researchers also tested the types of humour the men preferred, and what impression the men believed their humour would put across to others.

And whaddya know! The findings showed that men who felt insecure about their manhood, and believed their masculinity (as defined by traditional gender norms) was being challenged, use sexist and homophobic jokes to provide self-affirmation.

"Men higher in precarious manhood beliefs expressed amusement with sexist and anti-gay humour in response to a masculinity threat because they believe it reaffirms an accurate, more masculine impression of them,” said Dr Emma O'Connor, the study’s lead author.

By showing amusement with sexist and homophobic humour, Dr O'Connor added, “such men can distance themselves from the traits they want to disconfirm”.

Not only does the study confirm to women and the LGBTQ+ community that they’re not the ones in the wrong, the findings could also be used to help crack down on this outdated humour in the workplace.

"Work settings where women occupy positions of authority might inherently trigger masculinity threats for men higher in precarious manhood beliefs and thus sexist joking,” said Dr O'Connor.

“Given the social protection afforded to humour as a medium for communicating disparagement, it is possible that men use sexist humour in the workplace as a safe way to reaffirm their threatened masculinity.”

Educating managers on why this humour happens in the first place is crucial for them to be able to address such cases of harassment, the researchers added.

“For instance, they might more closely monitor workplace settings that could trigger masculinity threats and subsequent sexist joking, or they might attempt to reduce the extent to which men perceive masculinity threats in those settings in the first place,” added Dr O'Connor.

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The harsh truth is that salads can get real sad, real fast. After we've spent our Sundays bulk-prepping baked veggies, cooked grains, chopped nuts, and more, there is only so much energy left for creative flourishes — especially as we fling ourselves headfirst into Monday. So, inevitably, we end up eating the same variation all week long.

But let's not allow boring salads get the best of us! It's springtime after all, a time to be adventurous and feel alive; So why not take a trip around the globe with us? Ahead we've rounded up ten tasty salads scaling the multi-cuisine landscape; All are easy, festive, and require little to no actual cooking.

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I've always had a thing for sidekicks. The peripheral character, often slightly quirkier than the protagonist, has a freedom that the main character can't afford. Where they — the Buffys, Felicitys, and Harry Potters of the world — play janitor to the plot, the sidekick can, well, have fun. They crack jokes! Their lines aren't bloated with expository dialogue! They dance around the fringe, having a blast, while the main character keeps up narrative appearances.

Netflix's Girlboss, which premiered April 21, isn't a perfect show, but it's flawless in this regard: The sidekick is awesome. Annie, played by a perky Ellie Reed, is the real MVP here, and she ultimately redeems the series.

First off, let me state that by using the word "sidekick," I don't mean any offence. Annie is categorically a sidekick, and that by no means diminishes her importance. As I said, to me sidekicks are of the utmost importance. Best friend to Sophia Marlowe, the titular Girlboss played by Britt Robertson, Annie is fairly average as far as second bananas go. She's an aspiring makeup artist. She's dating the local bartender, Dax (Alphonso McAuley). She and Sophia have a bestie catchphrase: "Love you in case I die!" Oh, and she really has the hots for Sophia's dad, played by Dean Norris, whom I know exclusively as Hank from Breaking Bad. But like the best "best friends," she's witty, self-aware, and at times much smarter than Sophia.

It helps that Sophia Marlowe is so goddamn annoying. The show itself is likeable; Sophia is decidedly not. In the first episode, she steals a carpet, mocks her boss, and hollers at more than a few pedestrians. Like a lot of main characters these days — Hannah Horvath, we're looking at you — Sophia isn't meant to be morally upstanding or appealing at all. This is deliberate. Sophia is a Girlboss! Who said Girlbosses had to be sparkly angels of delight? No one. By contrast, though, Annie is minty fresh. The premiere is airless until she shows up, cackling about "the untimely death of Peter Jennings" and mixing Kahlua with Coke. (She garnishes this interesting mix with an olive. Classic quirky move.)

The danger of every sidekick is that they won't be put to good use. Girlboss succeeds because it treats Annie with respect. The show really picks up in episode 5, titled "Top 8." The concept is silly and purposefully dated: Annie wants to be in Sophia's Myspace Top 8. Nostalgia-induced humour aside, the episode is the most poignant because it forces Sophia to reckon with the world around her. Put plainly, our Girlboss is unlikeable because she's self-absorbed. She's self-reliant and individualistic to a fault, sneering at all those who try to help.

When Annie requests a spot in Sophia's Top 8, Sophia shrugs. It's just a website, right? But Annie is genuinely hurt.

"You think I'm overreacting, and that sucks," Annie spits on her way out. "And it sucks that I'm not in your Top 8. And you know what sucks most of all is that you don't seem to get any of this. Whole thing sucks. It sucks."

I never said she was eloquent.

The episode then takes us on a tour of their friendship. It turns out, Annie's been in the business of saving Sophia's ass for years. They meet in lockup, where Annie rescues Sophia from a gang of zealous baseball fans. When Sophia gets in a spat with a cocktail waitress, it's Annie who materialises to break the tension and toss drink waivers at the crowd. And when the two really sink their teeth into a genuine BFF fight on the way to Coachella, Annie's the one who crawls back to a sobbing Sophia. The gist of the montage is, if Annie weren't around, Sophia wouldn't be, either.

The same goes with the whole Girlboss ethos. Sophia Marlowe, based on the entrepreneur Sophia Amoruso, starts the clothing company Nasty Gal over the course of the series. The title "Girlboss" implies a sort of singular success — i.e., lone girl becomes a boss and it's her against the world. But Sophia Marlowe couldn't have launched Nasty Gal without Annie. A later episode details Annie's essential role in the company, proving that the Girlboss can't be a lone wolf. Similarly, Girlboss wouldn't have launched without Ellie Reed or Annie the character. Where Britt Robertson is sullen and sour, hiding behind blunt fringe, Ellie Reed brings toothy smiles and an appealing outlook.

Interestingly, the only episode not to feature Reed is titled "Garbage Person," which is exactly what Sophia is without her best friend. Annie is the best sort of sidekick. She balances the show's solipsistic protagonist with an unwavering devotion to joy and generosity. She's the anti-Girlboss, and she saves the series from being a droning catalogue of one woman's achievements.

Oh, and dare I say: Her style on the show is just as good, if not better, than Sophia's.

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For the last five years I have been in a relationship. I’m talking the full nine yards: the garden centre on Sundays, shared playlists on Spotify, a family WhatsApp group and the plucking of rogue chin hairs on the sofa. But despite it all, the relationship was not to be and now, on the eve of my 30s, I have found myself young(ish), single and not quite ready to mingle. The upside? I can flirt outrageously, listen to my grisly true crime podcasts, eat crisps for dinner and sing Beyoncé until 3am. On other days it’s harder to forget the things you miss most: the hugs, the shared Netflix account, someone to make you tea in the morning and summarise Dirty John when you spent the whole episode scrolling through Instagram.

So now, for the first time in five years, I must learn to navigate the dating world once again and oh lordy, is it looking different. What used to be following crushes around your university campus until they a) got drunk enough to snog you and b) liked your Libertines T-shirt has now become a world of scrutinised scrolls through apps and careful social media checks ("Yes, but is it actually his labradoodle?"). And even though, three months in, I am not yet emotionally equipped for a date, I have learnt a few things about moving on. Here they are:

1. A Facebook friend request is no longer a legitimate flirting technique.

2. When you come out of a relationship at 21, comforting gestures from friends are a Kit Kat Chunky and a shove towards someone inappropriate to snog. Now, you get sent flowers, Aesop body wash and dinner invitations. It’s rather great.

3. Get ready for a lot more boozing. You know that scene in Home Alone where Macaulay Culkin runs round the house screaming, jumps on the bed and gorges on pizza and ice cream? This is essentially my current relationship with wine. Friends want to see you, comfort you, and they like to do this with bottles of plonk under each arm. What used to be a quick Friday night after-work drink before you head off to some sort of ‘couple activity’ is replaced with the tolling of the last orders bell as you prop yourself up at the bar demanding a final round of Jägers. Friends have assured me this is the normal behaviour of any recent break-up-ee. I believe you’re allocated six weeks with no raised eyebrows.

4. Besides the boozing and the purchase of billowy tops from Zara that I’ll wear once, things that make me feel good are: eight hours' clean sleep at least three nights a week, hot baths, exercise, a tidy flat, clean sheets, a chat with my mum, a solid skincare regime. Try and fit these things in among all the going out – it will help you enormously.

5. Maintain the relationship rituals you loved, but adapt them. For example, Sundays were always TV and cooking enough pasta for two. Today, I still do this but alone and with exactly the same quantity of penne (if not more).

6. The inclination to grab someone to snog immediately is strong but in my experience, ill-advised. A knockback can feel far more destructive when you’re not emotionally ready. The first few weeks of singledom are like Freshers' Week. Now who remembers ANYONE from Freshers' Week?

7. Dating apps are an unavoidable part of being single today but my advice would be to take them slow. I first set up a profile on Tinder for a quick-fix ego boost and to check I was still fanciable but I’m not yet using it for dates. There are other apps out there: Bumble (where women decide to initiate conversation) or the newer kid on the block, Hater (where you’re matched according to your pet peeves). If you do decide to go on a date, remember to text friends/ family specific coordinates and mugshots beforehand.

8. It’s OK to freak out. During my first foray into the Bumble app, my ex appeared immediately and it was so traumatising I burst into tears and had a shot of some dusty marsala sherry that I’d used three years ago to make banoffee pie. Low moment.

9. Cry, cry, cry. Don’t be afraid to be emotional, no matter how much time has passed, and always take a moment when those triggers come out of nowhere. So far mine have included Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21 in C major and a sad-looking cat.

10. Worried about being left out of couple-y events? Don’t wait for dinner party invitations to come via carrier pigeon. Ask people what they’re up to at the weekend. You’d be surprised to learn that couples don’t always want to hang out with other couples. If they do, they might as well give up now, get a Tastecard and move to the suburbs.

11. But saying that, don’t allow yourself to be typecast as the ‘token single’ either. If some coupled-up friends want to drunkenly scroll through your Tinder, don’t give them your phone (you’ll be unmatching for days). If Single Ladies comes on at a wedding, don’t let yourself be pushed onto the dance floor.

12. If you have more free time, then feed your mind with something high quality. This could be listening to a new podcast, actually dusting off and reading that Dickens on your shelf or learning a language.

13. Go to the cinema. A guaranteed all-consuming experience in a dark room that will distract you from your own thoughts for at least two hours. Go and see something with subtitles so you have something to boast about to a future crush. Extra points if you go alone.

14. Don’t watch My Best Friend’s Wedding. It seemed so inspiring when you were 11 and everyone was ew, so old. But actually Jules (Julia Roberts) is only 28, a brilliant restaurant critic living in New York but for some bizarre reason desperate to win the love of a dull man who is engaged to a teenager.

15. During this emotional time, don’t watch ANYTHING by Richard Curtis. I mean it, not even Four Weddings and a Funeral where the beautiful, glorious and intellectually complicated Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) is passed over for the banal Carrie (Andie MacDowell). "Is it raining? I hadn’t noticed." No, you wouldn’t have.

16. Don’t watch The Notebook. In London, you’re lucky if you can find a partner who can afford council tax, never mind build you a fucking house.

17. Book a holiday. If you can’t afford to book, plan one. A most enjoyable thing is being able to think about going someplace where you don’t have to consider anyone else.

18. Say yes to more but within reason. YES: An art exhibition. NO: Immersive theatre.

19. Don’t stress all the Uber receipts. Safety first.

20. Enjoy your job, it can be a great distraction. And if you don’t like your current role, then perhaps look for a new one or take on a new project like writing a play, painting your windowsills or completing the entire box set of The Sopranos.

21. Try to laugh as much as you can but don’t make this important new chapter a comedy routine. It’s OK to joke about weird dates, etc. but this is your life, remember, not a pub anecdote.

22. YOU ARE NOT BRIDGET JONES OR CARRIE BRADSHAW, you are a real-life human.

23. But saying that, do re-watch Sex and the City. Series 1-3 stand the test of time with some bloody good dialogue ("What’s the big mystery? It’s my clitoris, not the sphinx."). The movies do not.

24. Also, watch LOVE on Netflix. It’s a great show about a guy and a girl who are over 30 and haven’t got their shit together.

25. Go on a friendship date. I recently met up with some girls I met on a hen when I happened to be in their city and had a lot of fun (and felt incredibly brave).

26. Take regular social media breaks. This goes for everyone but, for me, waking up with a hangover and seeing couples post about some really big strawberries they found at their local farmers' market is not always what you need.

27. Read Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. Quite a lot to get through (there are four) but it’s a beautifully written story about womanhood, the complexities of female friendship, love, desire and Italy. There’s also a lot of shitty men in merely supporting roles.

28. Friends and family are simply the best, enjoy them. Whether they are lying on the sofa with you eating crisps, dancing with you in dingy clubs or staying awake until 5am so you can give them a rundown of Beyoncé’s best live performances on YouTube.

29. Finally, remember. When you have a sad Sunday, a bad date or are hungover and shame-spiralling into the abyss, or if you ever feel ugly, lonely, afraid or a failure, just try and remember that this moment and this feeling will not last. Things will get better. You will fall in love again and, even if you don’t, who cares, because you have you – and that is enough.

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13 Reasons Why is one of the most talked-about series on Netflix, but not everyone endorses the show — at least, not for everyone. Stranger Things star Shannon Purser warned fans not to watch 13 Reasons Why if they are dealing with any of the issues that the series sheds light on, including suicidal thoughts and sexual assault.

Purser, who portrayed Barb on Stranger Things and currently recurs on Riverdale as Ethel alongside 13 Reasons Why star Ross Butler, tweeted a warning out to fans considering watching the Netflix series. In a series of tweets, Pursuer writes:

"I would advise against watching 13 Reasons Why if you currently struggle with suicidal thoughts or self harm/have undergone sexual assault."

"There are some very graphic scenes in there that could easily trigger painful memories and feelings. Please protect yourselves."

"They do give advisory warnings before the episodes w/ graphic content, which I appreciate so much. Just know that they really are intense."

I would advise against watching 13 Reasons Why if you currently struggle with suicidal thoughts or self harm/have undergone sexual assault.

— Shannon Purser (@shannonpurser) April 18, 2017

There are some very graphic scenes in there that could easily trigger painful memories and feelings. Please protect yourselves.

— Shannon Purser (@shannonpurser) April 18, 2017

They do give advisory warnings before the episodes w/ graphic content, which I appreciate so much. Just know that they really are intense.

— Shannon Purser (@shannonpurser) April 18, 2017

13 Reasons Why is about Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), a high school student who dies by suicide and then leaves behind 13 tapes detailing what led her to make such a permanent, tragic choice. While many have applauded the series for its raw, unflinching depiction of a young woman struggling in high school — the series includes an extremely graphic scene in which Hannah kills herself, as well as two separate scenes depicting rape — not everyone found the nature of the series helpful to those actually dealing with trauma.

"National and international research clearly indicates the very real impact and risk to harmful
suicide exposure leading to increased risk and possible suicide contagion," Headspace's manager of school support Kristen Douglas told The Huffington Post Australia. "It's not like car crashes or cancer; irresponsible reporting of suicide can lead to further death[s]. We need to talk more about youth suicide, but there's a way of doing that and a way we can raise those concerns and have a range of awareness."

Purser later added:

"There are lots of really good things about the show and I have no doubts that it is important and could be helpful to some. Just be careful."

There are lots of really good things about the show and I have no doubts that it is important and could be helpful to some. Just be careful.

— Shannon Purser (@shannonpurser) April 18, 2017

No matter how you feel about 13 Reasons Why, Purser makes an excellent point. If you don't think you will feel comfortable watching the series, or believe it may trigger negative or harmful feelings, it's perfectly okay to skip — no matter how much your friends are talking about the show. At the end of the day, taking care of yourself should be the number one priority.

If you are thinking about suicide, please call theSamaritans on 116 123.

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Getting motivated to get out of the house and head to the gym can be hard — and, when you think about it, completely unnecessary. That's because even just a tiny amount of equipment makes it possible to get a fantastic workout without leaving home. For way less than the cost of a gym membership, or a personal trainer, a set of dumbbells allows you to do workouts that, when practised regularly, will actually produce impressive results. Measly one-pounders all the way up to fifteen-pound dumbbells and heavier can help you challenge your body and strengthen muscles ranging from triceps, biceps, abs and beyond.

And if you're a cardio-only exerciser, dumbbells are also a great way to ease your way in to weight training (which is incredibly good for your body, btw), even if you're not quite ready to pick up a barbell.

Whether you’re looking for a full-on workout or just want to get in a few sets during Crazy Ex-Girlfriend commercial breaks, these dumbbell exercises will take your workouts at home and at the gym to the next level. Mix and match these dumbbell moves to create your perfect dumbbell fitness regimen that will make you wonder why anyone would ever use any other type of weights.

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The government has rejected calls to introduce a new law banning companies from telling women to wear high heels at work.

This sexist and outdated dress code hit the headlines in December 2015 when Nicola Thorp was sent home from a temporary reception job at PricewaterhouseCoopers in London for wearing flat shoes.

A subsequent petition titled "Make it illegal for a company to require women to wear high heels at work " attracted more than 150,000 signatures, which led to the issue being debated in parliament last March.

Frustratingly, the Government Equalities Office said yesterday in a formal response to the petition that it would not be proposing a new law relating to high heels in the workplace. The current anti-discrimination law under the Equality Act 2010, the office said, is "adequate" to protect women from sexist dress codes.

Nicola Thorp said in response that it was a "shame" the government had rejected the chance to improve the current law. "It shouldn't be down to people like myself," she told the Press Association. "The government should take responsibility and put it in legislation. I do think it is a little bit of a cop-out."

She also explained why she thinks the current law can fall short. "As it stands, the Equality Act states an employer has the right to distinguish between a male and female dress code as long as they are not deemed to be treating one sex more or less favourably," she said. "Unfortunately, because of intrinsic sexism and the way in which business works in the UK, when employers are allowed the freedom to decide what is fair and unfair, it tends to be women that lose out.”

However, the Government Equalities Office said yesterday that it is "intending to produce new guidance this summer on dress codes in the workplace." This guidance will be designed to clarify anti-discrimination law to employers and employees.

Maria Miller of the Women and Equalities Committee told The Guardian: "Equality legislation is not sufficient to achieve equality in practice. This petition, and the committees’ inquiry, have reinforced the need for effective enforcement of legislation and for employers and employees to be aware of their obligations and rights.

"We welcome the commitments made by the government to increasing awareness of those rights, and hope that the next government will monitor how this changes women’s experiences of the workplace," she added.

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