Biography
Laura Jane Penny (born 28 September 1986) is a stylish British journalist and author from the United Kingdom. She has lent her voice to respected publications such as The Guardian, The New York Times and Salon.
A contributing editor to the New Statesman, Laurie Penny has also written feminist pieces of depth and insight. Not limited to the written word, Penny’s creativity has also extended to television, with contributions to series such as The Haunting of Bly Manor And Things never.
British journalist
Laurie Penny |
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 Laurie Penny: History ‧ Biography ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Laura Jane Penny |
| Stage name: | Laurie Penny |
| Born: | September 28, 1986 (age 37) |
| Place of birth: | London, United Kingdom |
| Nationality: | Older brother |
| Education: | Wadham College (2008), Brighton College |
| Height: | 1.52 meters |
| Parents: | Raymond Barnett |
| Siblings: | Rachel Barnett |
| Couple: | David Boarder Giles (married 2021) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| The children: | Do not have |
| Job: | Journalist • Author |
| Net worth: | $1 million – $5 million |
Early life and education
Laurie Penny was born on September 28, 1986, to a lawyer named Raymond Barnett. She has an older sister named Rachel Barnett and three brothers. Penny grew up in London, and her background includes influences from Irish, Jewish and Maltese heritage. Her childhood was spent in the neighborhoods of Lewes and Brighton, providing a vivid backdrop for her journey.
Behind the scenes of her life, however, a battle was raging. During her teenage years, Laurie Penny struggled with anorexia, a struggle that cast a shadow over her until she finally overcame it at the age of 17. This experience became a defining feature of her feminist story, woven into her book. Things that cannot be said.
Laurie Penny’s paintings are not limited to her personal story. Her brush dances across themes of feminism, politics, gender, and social justice. Wadham College, University of Oxford was a crucible where her voice was honed, and her activism ignited. After graduating, her path led to mentoring, guiding young minds to use their voices for change.
Career
Laurie Penny, an intellectual force from the UK, has used her pen with precision across respected media platforms. Resonant echoes of her thinking have graced the pages of The Guardian, The New Statesman and The Independent, producing stories that provoke reflection and stir discussion.
But Laurie Penny’s literary legacy extends beyond the printed word, as her works include Meat Markets: Women’s Meat Under Capitalism (2011), Penny Red: Notes from the New Age of Dissent (2011), and The Bitch Theory: Essays for Dissident Adults (2017) delves into the complex themes of gender transformation and social power dynamics.
Her eloquent presence, mirroring Laurie Penny’s writing talents, has enlivened panel discussions, debates, and conferences. A torchbearer for feminist ideology and left-wing politics, Penny uses her platform to advocate for change, challenge entrenched power structures, and spark conversations that ripple through the collective consciousness.
While Laurie Penny’s origins remain obscure, her career emerges as a beacon of intellectual illustration. Blog Penny Red was released in 2007, dared to challenge conventions and received recognition from the Orwell Prize for its bold exploration.
Columnist roles at The Independent in 2012 and The New Statesman followed, cementing her status as a thoughtful voice on social issues. This digital journey spans continents and landscapes, with her words gracing the pages of major publications including The New York Times, The Nation and Vice.
Amidst the digital chaos, Laurie Penny’s Twitter presence emerges as a channel for succinct wisdom, offering powerful reflections on current affairs and politics. Her feed has become a repository of thought-provoking content, pushing the boundaries of discourse and challenging established norms.
Awards & Nominations
- 2010: Orwell Prize for Blogging, shortlisted
- 2012: Bread and Roses Prize, shortlist, Penny Red: Notes from the New Age of Dissent
- 2014: Red Woman of the Year Award, blogger category, shortlist
- 2015: William Montalbano Nieman Scholar
- 2015: Research Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University
- 2017: John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Finalist
- 2018: American Society of Magazine Editors National Magazine Award, Columns and Commentary, finalist, for “The Horizon of Desire,” “We’re All Mad Here: Weinstein, Women, and the Language of Lunacy,” and “The Unforgiving Minute.”
Social media
- Instagram Name: @lauriepenny
- Twitter Username: Laurie Penny (@PennyRed)
- TikTok Name: Laurie Penny
Personal life
In 2015, Laurie Penny revealed that they identify as genderqueer, pansexual, and polyamorous. Their preferred pronouns are they/them, and they also use the “saccurate” pronouns e/her, although they consider them “less accurate.”
Laurie Penny’s openness about her personal life extends to her advocacy work, raising awareness of LGBTQ+ experiences. She is involved in social justice initiatives in addition to her writing and speaking, working to create a just society.
Despite the criticism, Penny remains committed to her mission. In 2021, Laurie Penny married David Boarder Giles, starting a new chapter in their journey.
References
- Meat Markets: Women’s Meat Under Capitalism (Zero Books, 2011)
- Penny Red: Notes from the New Age of Dissent (Pluto Press, 2011)
- Discordia: Six Nights in Crisis Athens (Random House, 2012)
- Cybersexism: Sex, Gender and Power on the Internet (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013)
- Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014)
- Everything belongs to the future (Tor.com, 2016)
- The Bitch Doctrine: Essays for Dissident Adults (Bloomsbury USA, 2017)
- The Sexual Revolution: Modern Fascism and the Feminist Counterattack (Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2022) ISBN 978-1526602213
Net worth
Laurie Penny has amassed a net worth of between $1 million and $5 million.
