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| Let’s keep our feminist critiques of politics for things that really matter | Let’s keep our feminist critiques of politics for things that really matter |
| (5 days later) | |
| If there’s any hope of dealing with the relentless sexism aimed at female politicians, don’t we have to be clear what we mean – and try not to label all criticism, mockery, or even fictional representation, aimed at female politicians as wholly, or even partly, sexist? | If there’s any hope of dealing with the relentless sexism aimed at female politicians, don’t we have to be clear what we mean – and try not to label all criticism, mockery, or even fictional representation, aimed at female politicians as wholly, or even partly, sexist? |
| Let’s examine, for instance, the much-discussed sex scenes in the new Jed Mercurio television drama Bodyguard, in which Keeley Hawes plays a home secretary having an affair with her bodyguard. To my mind, these scenes weren’t about gratuitously sexualising women in British politics, they were about plot development and characterisation. If you really wanted to be pretentious, you could argue that art shouldn’t allow itself to be constrained by reality. So, just because some real-life women (Theresa May, Amber Rudd, Jacqui Smith) have been home secretaries, it doesn’t follow that Hawes’s character shouldn’t be “allowed” to fornicate with Richard Madden’s bodyguard. (And these were among the most stubbornly clothed sex scenes of all time.) | Let’s examine, for instance, the much-discussed sex scenes in the new Jed Mercurio television drama Bodyguard, in which Keeley Hawes plays a home secretary having an affair with her bodyguard. To my mind, these scenes weren’t about gratuitously sexualising women in British politics, they were about plot development and characterisation. If you really wanted to be pretentious, you could argue that art shouldn’t allow itself to be constrained by reality. So, just because some real-life women (Theresa May, Amber Rudd, Jacqui Smith) have been home secretaries, it doesn’t follow that Hawes’s character shouldn’t be “allowed” to fornicate with Richard Madden’s bodyguard. (And these were among the most stubbornly clothed sex scenes of all time.) |
| Then there was the widespread giggling at Theresa May’s singular dancing “skills” during her recent trip to Africa. Was this in any way sexist? Sometimes, when people defended May, it was because they could think of better (and harsher) things to criticise her for than her dancing. (Fair enough.) Other times, it was as though people felt that, on some level, May was being taunted for some quintessentially “female” failing. (The Older Woman sin of not wriggling sexily enough?) However, surely any high-profile politician would have provoked similar hilarity if they’d suddenly started dancing as though they had crockery for hips? | Then there was the widespread giggling at Theresa May’s singular dancing “skills” during her recent trip to Africa. Was this in any way sexist? Sometimes, when people defended May, it was because they could think of better (and harsher) things to criticise her for than her dancing. (Fair enough.) Other times, it was as though people felt that, on some level, May was being taunted for some quintessentially “female” failing. (The Older Woman sin of not wriggling sexily enough?) However, surely any high-profile politician would have provoked similar hilarity if they’d suddenly started dancing as though they had crockery for hips? |
| Enduring hyper-sexualised vilification is just part of the female politico job now, up to and including rape and death threats | Enduring hyper-sexualised vilification is just part of the female politico job now, up to and including rape and death threats |
| In such cases – a fictional home secretary steaming up the red boxes; a real PM frugging rigidly – there’s no reason to cry “feminist foul”, especially as elsewhere political sexism is all too real and never stops. Just last week, it was reported that female Tory MPs, including Anna Soubry, are enduring sexist online abuse from newly signed up Leave-voting Tory members. And we know that female MPs such as Labour’s Jess Phillips are harassed in the most sickening ways. | In such cases – a fictional home secretary steaming up the red boxes; a real PM frugging rigidly – there’s no reason to cry “feminist foul”, especially as elsewhere political sexism is all too real and never stops. Just last week, it was reported that female Tory MPs, including Anna Soubry, are enduring sexist online abuse from newly signed up Leave-voting Tory members. And we know that female MPs such as Labour’s Jess Phillips are harassed in the most sickening ways. |
| Enduring hyper-sexualised vilification is just part of the female politico job now, up to and including rape and death threats. Sometimes, this gets reported, sometimes, it doesn’t, because, depressingly, such attacks have become so commonplace – just more pollution swilling into the misogynist sea. Add to that the ongoing pummelling of female politicians, about everything from their looks, clothes, hair and (“strident”) voices, all the way through to their ability – and legacy, if they’re allowed one. | Enduring hyper-sexualised vilification is just part of the female politico job now, up to and including rape and death threats. Sometimes, this gets reported, sometimes, it doesn’t, because, depressingly, such attacks have become so commonplace – just more pollution swilling into the misogynist sea. Add to that the ongoing pummelling of female politicians, about everything from their looks, clothes, hair and (“strident”) voices, all the way through to their ability – and legacy, if they’re allowed one. |
| On top of all that, there’s Westminster’s institutionalised sexism, not least its excessively long hours that force mothers to choose between their children and making it to important votes. | On top of all that, there’s Westminster’s institutionalised sexism, not least its excessively long hours that force mothers to choose between their children and making it to important votes. |
| Make no mistake, female politicians suffer all manner of sexist abuse and injustice, day in, day out. Let’s focus on that and not the false alarms. | Make no mistake, female politicians suffer all manner of sexist abuse and injustice, day in, day out. Let’s focus on that and not the false alarms. |
| OK, I know that Nigel Farage is no oil painting. But to get no bidders? | OK, I know that Nigel Farage is no oil painting. But to get no bidders? |
| A painting of Nigel Farage by David Griffiths failed to attract a single bid at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. The portrait was priced at £25,000, but, astonishingly, nobody wanted to invest in the beautiful face. | A painting of Nigel Farage by David Griffiths failed to attract a single bid at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. The portrait was priced at £25,000, but, astonishingly, nobody wanted to invest in the beautiful face. |
| In the painting, Farage folds his arms in what could be viewed as a protective stance against the million/billion/trillion Romanian/Albanian/Martian refugees he warned us were going to arrive on British shores in margarine tubs to draw our benefits and eat our babies, but who somehow never materialised in such numbers. | In the painting, Farage folds his arms in what could be viewed as a protective stance against the million/billion/trillion Romanian/Albanian/Martian refugees he warned us were going to arrive on British shores in margarine tubs to draw our benefits and eat our babies, but who somehow never materialised in such numbers. |
| The painted Farage stares out defiantly, as if to say: “Trump never came through, so of course I’m going back into UK politics (Leave campaigns/London mayor/anything – I’m desperate)”. | The painted Farage stares out defiantly, as if to say: “Trump never came through, so of course I’m going back into UK politics (Leave campaigns/London mayor/anything – I’m desperate)”. |
| Who will buy this vision of beauty? The artist tactfully murmured about the “ebb and flow” of art-world market forces and hoped that what I privately term the Moaner Nigel (it’s that inscrutable smile) would eventually find a “good home”. | Who will buy this vision of beauty? The artist tactfully murmured about the “ebb and flow” of art-world market forces and hoped that what I privately term the Moaner Nigel (it’s that inscrutable smile) would eventually find a “good home”. |
| Still, it must be painful for the former Ukip leader that another painting of Jacob Rees-Mogg managed to sell for an astronomical £450. Perchance sold to someone with the initials, JRM? If not, it makes you wonder – who in Britain needs to scare crows this badly? | Still, it must be painful for the former Ukip leader that another painting of Jacob Rees-Mogg managed to sell for an astronomical £450. Perchance sold to someone with the initials, JRM? If not, it makes you wonder – who in Britain needs to scare crows this badly? |
| The young should be heroes, just for one day | The young should be heroes, just for one day |
| Is the school sports day, as we know it, on the way out? A report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport revealed that just over 55% of children aged five to 10 had taken part in organised school sport competitions in 2017, a drop from the previous year’s 62%. | Is the school sports day, as we know it, on the way out? A report from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport revealed that just over 55% of children aged five to 10 had taken part in organised school sport competitions in 2017, a drop from the previous year’s 62%. |
| This was for a variety of reasons (including funding cuts and the fact that some schools sold off playing fields). It’s also deemed a sign that some schools are moving away from the traditional sports day, to focus less on the concept of winning and more on just taking part. | This was for a variety of reasons (including funding cuts and the fact that some schools sold off playing fields). It’s also deemed a sign that some schools are moving away from the traditional sports day, to focus less on the concept of winning and more on just taking part. |
| Child obesity is always an issue, but, as this is just one day, is the non-competitive factor being taken too far? No one wants kids to get upset if they don’t win something on sports day. However, if they win, say, the egg and spoon race, who could begrudge them their moment of key stage 1, Chariots of Fire-style glory? Likewise, some children struggle in class, but they’re great at running or jumping – let them have one day a year to shine. | Child obesity is always an issue, but, as this is just one day, is the non-competitive factor being taken too far? No one wants kids to get upset if they don’t win something on sports day. However, if they win, say, the egg and spoon race, who could begrudge them their moment of key stage 1, Chariots of Fire-style glory? Likewise, some children struggle in class, but they’re great at running or jumping – let them have one day a year to shine. |
| As for the “losers”, I was one and it was great. At school, my greatest sporting achievement was managing to skive off PE with “period pains” that synchronised with hockey for an entire term. Obviously, I won naff all on sports day, but I don’t recall being mentally scarred or even noticing. | As for the “losers”, I was one and it was great. At school, my greatest sporting achievement was managing to skive off PE with “period pains” that synchronised with hockey for an entire term. Obviously, I won naff all on sports day, but I don’t recall being mentally scarred or even noticing. |
| So, there you have it from a loser. Maybe small children could all get a “PAW Patrol” sticker for “taking part”, but it’s unlikely that older kids would care. Perhaps this is where the division should be – make it less about winners/losers and more about sporty/non-sporty. The traditional school sports day is, by definition, a celebration of the sporty – just don’t imagine that the non-sporty will worry about it. | So, there you have it from a loser. Maybe small children could all get a “PAW Patrol” sticker for “taking part”, but it’s unlikely that older kids would care. Perhaps this is where the division should be – make it less about winners/losers and more about sporty/non-sporty. The traditional school sports day is, by definition, a celebration of the sporty – just don’t imagine that the non-sporty will worry about it. |
| • Barbara Ellen is an Observer columnist | • Barbara Ellen is an Observer columnist |
| Politics | Politics |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Theresa May | Theresa May |
| Jess Phillips | Jess Phillips |
| Online abuse | Online abuse |
| Nigel Farage | Nigel Farage |
| School sports | School sports |
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