Mary Beard is coming for a webchat!

[TunipTheVegemal]

Mary Beard webchat thread

Don't know why they're not advertising it more!

[LineRunner]

That's brilliant.

It's in my diary and I will be there!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Ooh.

I will read and enjoy, but I think I am a bit intimidated about posting. Awesome, though!

[LineRunner]

Go on LRD get over there and post a question.

[TunipTheVegemal]

Aww go on LRD, if you're scared you could always namechange.
Go and ask her about sexism in academia or top tips for getting a postdoc or something.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Well, yes, I could name change but I would know! I don't think anonymity makes a difference (or, well, deeper anonymity, I suppose).

I could ask her how many tenner I need to pin to my Newnham JRF application to get a 'favourable hearing', but I feel that might not get quite the ideal response ...

[LineRunner]

LRD's on! Excellent question about transmission of literacy to girls.

[TunipTheVegemal]

ah, Newnham

I'm sure they're far too correct there, Pembroke used to be bribable though, IIRC (admissions scandal in early 90s).

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Erm. Commenting on corruption at Pembroke might be a little close to home for me!

I liked your biscuit question tunip.

[LineRunner]

Mary Beard answered LRD's question second, out of all of them.

Clear corruption in the ranks.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

[LineRunner]

LRD you are an academic!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Not too long to go, though. How did your grant application go, btw?

[LineRunner]

I've started it, but it ground to a halt. I just don't seem to have the time, what with poncing about on MN.

Tommorow. I will -see you on here-- do it tomorrow.

[LineRunner]

You see, I can't spell and I can't double strike through any more, since you mentioned that bloody grant application.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Yes: do it tomorrow and we will all poke you to get back to it.

Sorry I mentioned it, though!

[LineRunner]

Don't worry, it was on my mind...

Anyway, I thought some of Mary Beard's answers were a bit rushed, poor woman. Next time we need to be strapped into the hot seat for a couple of days. They'd give her gin, I'm sure.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

She had a lot of questions to get through.

It was nice to see her saying those things about academia and being a woman in academia.

I think a webchat around 9pm might go very differently ... wonder if MNHQ ever schedule them then?

[LineRunner]

My time in academia in the 1980s and 1990s was definitely affected by some vile sexist men. Awful groping, lack of patronage, nasty comments, exclusion. A bit like the BBC by the sound of it.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Yuck.

That is awful.

I think/hope times are changing (not in the annoying 'times was different back in the 70s, so Jimmy Saville is still a decent bloke if he did it' way). I don't think I know anyone who got groped. The worst we got was a rather letchy elderly Latin (!) tutor who insisted on taking tutorials in our bedrooms and making suggestive remarks.

I can't get my mind round how you'd cope if you were busy trying to make a career and being groped by people who were meant to be your colleagues. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

[LineRunner]

It is very different now.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Good!