The machinations of my head over the past few days are much ado about feminism. I refer in the main to the opinions of two journalists namely Emer O’Kelly and Caitlin Moran. I partially watched RTE’s programme ‘Now it’s Personal’ featuring The Irish Independent’s Emer O’Kelly. I hadn’t clapped eyes on the woman since she did the news, back in the day, so whilst flicking I watched with interest. Apparently, the journalist wrote an article about women, and claimed those who give up their careers after having children are a drain on society. She’s entitled to her views. We all are, free speech and all that. She appeared on the programme in an effort to explain her principles. Given that she does not have children, any form of empathy with mothers working inside, outside, on top of or underneath the home was never on the agenda. This lady was not for turning, from the get go, on her attitude toward those who choose to stay at home. As for the baby simulator thingy, this took the biscuit. It was, after all, distracting her from her fireside embroidery and best placed in her utility room. We, the tax payers, paid for this clap trap feeble effort at any real exploration of what is such an important topic. For those of you who suffered through O’Kelly’s supercilious condescending performance I’ll rant no more. Suffice to say, women, work and childcare will forever be a heated debate but not one we can afford to shy away from. Clearly, there are many variables to contend with; emotional, social, physical, financial, family dynamics, educational, geographical and the rest. We all know the difficulties and constraints there can be for both parents to have a fulfilling career whilst trying their damndest not to f...k the kids up too much. For those who cannot choose, the big fluffy elephant in the room is money. For those who step down off the career ladder the women ahead of them pull the ladder right back up again. It’s a risky business for sure. I couldn’t help but wonder why not make a programme more befitting to our present times, on stay at home dads given that roles are changing increasingly, or what about carers, who are predominantly women. Are they also a drain on society as they care for the aged who helped create our society?
Whilst Emer O’Kelly claims to be feministic in her views, Caitlin Moran in her book How to be a Woman calls on all the mná in the hood to stand on our well worn kitchen chairs and shout ‘I AM A FEMINIST’ (she likes the aul block capitals). The book has been reviewed and talked about by those far more learned than I. Agree with Moran or not, this is an in your face, honest and funny exploration and account of feminism as she sees it, one that should be read by men and women alike. She calls a spade a spade or in her case, her c...t a foof. Now, I don’t live in North London, have a successful journalistic career nor am I married to a rock critic (though when it comes to Bruce, Himself thinks he is). When it comes to feminist ideologies I’m not well read and our circumstances and lifestyles differ but I share her views on certain matters; heels, handbags, capsule wardrobes and children. The former I don’t understand or have, the latter I have, should understand, but mostly I don’t.
She can take particular topics for granted. For example, that you have your career sorted by the time you are 35. Not I. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up (hence the lack of a capsule wardrobe) and I know of many other women, and men, who are in the same boat. Does this lessen our value to feminist culture? Should we promptly jump down from our chairs if we do not have careers under our belts? With Caitlin Moran it’s a given that you keep your career after you have children. It would be, in her case, as such a career lends itself to flexibility for her and her husband. She does not pass comment on those who are a drain on society. She commendably just wants us all to be ‘The Guys’.
So, to stoke up the feminist fire why not put these two ladies in a room together, over a pot of tay and a few buns (no...not fairy cakes, buns). Each woman is articulate, intelligent, learned and opinionated in their own way. They can thus discuss the real issues like waxing, botox, hairstyles and handbags and accordingly put the world to rights.
Whilst Emer O’Kelly claims to be feministic in her views, Caitlin Moran in her book How to be a Woman calls on all the mná in the hood to stand on our well worn kitchen chairs and shout ‘I AM A FEMINIST’ (she likes the aul block capitals). The book has been reviewed and talked about by those far more learned than I. Agree with Moran or not, this is an in your face, honest and funny exploration and account of feminism as she sees it, one that should be read by men and women alike. She calls a spade a spade or in her case, her c...t a foof. Now, I don’t live in North London, have a successful journalistic career nor am I married to a rock critic (though when it comes to Bruce, Himself thinks he is). When it comes to feminist ideologies I’m not well read and our circumstances and lifestyles differ but I share her views on certain matters; heels, handbags, capsule wardrobes and children. The former I don’t understand or have, the latter I have, should understand, but mostly I don’t.
She can take particular topics for granted. For example, that you have your career sorted by the time you are 35. Not I. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up (hence the lack of a capsule wardrobe) and I know of many other women, and men, who are in the same boat. Does this lessen our value to feminist culture? Should we promptly jump down from our chairs if we do not have careers under our belts? With Caitlin Moran it’s a given that you keep your career after you have children. It would be, in her case, as such a career lends itself to flexibility for her and her husband. She does not pass comment on those who are a drain on society. She commendably just wants us all to be ‘The Guys’.
So, to stoke up the feminist fire why not put these two ladies in a room together, over a pot of tay and a few buns (no...not fairy cakes, buns). Each woman is articulate, intelligent, learned and opinionated in their own way. They can thus discuss the real issues like waxing, botox, hairstyles and handbags and accordingly put the world to rights.
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