Women in Business – A Bloke’s View

To describe Thatcher as a woman does a disservice to the females of the species Kip.

I can think of some other much more apt descriptions of “it”

aye Kip, we were asked when we started Birds by the men when we were going to do one for them… the irony was not lost on us and Babs is a fab editor here.
We still welcome our token blokes there, and have Garth Delikan as an honorary Bird… our first token bloke lasted a week… we have a lot in common with your sisters I suspect.On a slightly different note, I believe it’s on one middle eastern state’s army handbook that says something like “in terrorist situation shoot the women first, as they will inflict the most damage if you don’t. “

Entertaining blog, Kip. 

When it comes to gender, we need to be very self-aware. Margaret Thatcher was one of our most successful PMs. Her gender is irrelevant. There is almost as much intra-gender, as there is inter-gender, variation. In plain English, this means that — apart from our sexual roles — there are very few differences between the sexes. You can find men who love shopping (like me!), women who can focus intensely on a single task, men who can’t throw and women who play the roughest sport. My eldest daughter won the best tackling award in her final year for Edinburgh University’s rugby teams, men and women.

We are made to separate gender roles as children and, culturally, see boys and girls as different and, in this respect, women can be their own worst enemies. I tried to ensure that my two daughters never perceived any limitation on their ambitions and they are now a consultant with a big four firm and a physician, respectively.

There are some dinosaurs around, of both sexes, who can’t free themselves from prejudice ingrained from the earliest age. I have a horrible feeling that your blog — however well-intentioned — sees women as ‘different’ and comments on their achievements as such. I am surprised that, with your background, you took this approach.

News items like “the first female Assistant Referee in the Premiership” also reinforce prejudice. Why the *eff* shouldn’t there be a female Premiership Referee? The Daily Mail has a lot to answer for. Don’t follow their trail.

*generally differences between how women and men approach things* 

Didn’t take you for a dinosaur, Babs. This sort or remark perpetuates prejudice rather than makes anyone more self-aware. There are differences between how people approach things but gender is a tiny influence.

I was talking from my own experiences of how things just are, often (not always, indeed – I hate shopping and many “traditionally” female roles) – if that makes me a dinosaur, then that is what I am, Jeremy.

What I do feel very strongly is that if and when we understand the strengths that people, regardless of gender, indeed, bring, then the stronger we all will be. Too often women are still not considered for roles in which they would be perfect – it is the way it is – and yes, that needs to change, but perhaps from a gentler approach, by acknowledging the differences there can often be (whether we like it or not – many women will take a gentler, more caring approach, and just as valuable can be the oft male approaches to things) and working with those instead of ignoring them or insisting they are not there. But that’s my opinion – I could be totally wrong, but it’s a very open opinion that will always wonder if someone else has it right after all. Hmm

Hi Mr Kip!

I have to say that I don’t normally go looking for insults – implied, intended or accidental – and I don’t see any here.

Nice post, I thought – but maybe I’m being thick and missing  something that’s far too subtle for me…

I think this lays bare your attitude to womanhood, Graham. If they are too powerful, then they must be neuter. Masculinity and femininity are largely mental constructs and you are showing your petticoat, here.

Well, I for one (maybe because I am a bloke) saw Grahams remark as a little giggle, she has been paraded for years as either a saviour or antichrist, nothing to do with her sex, it is the manner in which she carried out her duties, I am a Maggie supporter, but she still laid bare to towns, communities etc, so there will always be the other side of the fence about her, Graham is clearly one of them, so what!

I was quite gutted when you said you were ducking out out Jeremy, but this is just a Witch (Warlock?) hunt now, or even worse, nit picking. 

Maybe we could agree that the differences (strengths and weaknesses) of men and women should be celebrated, rather than used against the other sex.  I think it is naive to suggest that men and women are the same, however it is also naive to suggest they come from different planets in the solar system.

Also disappointed to see Jeremy posting less on blokes, a loss I think, but if the debate is going to become distasteful in his view, then we must respect that.