When I was born, my mum initially wanted to name me Marcus Brutus, which would have been interesting to carry around with me through school and while living on the council estate. I suspect my survival chances would have been worth studying. How many other children have been given names that set them up to be bullied or experience particular issues due to what others see as silly names? Elon Musk and Grimes named a daughter, Exa Dark Sideræl, whom they call “Y,” and their son, X Æ A-Xii, who goes by “X.” I’m surprised Musk did not name his son Darth Vader.
I was born on the 15th of March, the infamous Ides of March, in Billericay Hospital. Roman senators murdered Julius Caesar at a senate meeting, and his friends betrayed him, Marcus Junius Brutus and Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus. A nurse persuaded my mum not to give me this name, so I was called Marc instead. My father, Barry, was not present at the hospital for my birth, and to this day, I’ve never known why. Yet, through the years, she regularly reminded me that Marcus Brutus was her preferred name for me, saying I was the killer of the patriarch, which always made me feel uncomfortable. I was unsure why my mum favoured Marcus Brutus as my name. It took a long time, years later, for me to realise just how much her chosen name suited me. I have always had an instinctive urge to topple patriarchy wherever I find it. I grew up with two fathers who both treated my mum and me badly. And noticing what men were and are like domestically has confirmed my view of them. I have also fought various battles against dominant bullying men, whether in education, work, politics, the arts or academia, my whole life.
3 years old and in the back garden in Westcliff on Sea, Essex. 1967.
