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Original poster

Note to the BBC: Knowledgeable women: What's your area of expertise?

43 replies

alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 06:47

The BBC seems to think there aren't enough women to choose from as guest speakers, etc.

I have heard some of the men who talk on my subject area, and I am certainly just as knowledgeable and in some cases more so. I have also read some very insightful, analystical and well-informed posts here on mumsnet. I refuse to accept that they cannot find women to talk to, they are just not trying. So let's make it easy for them. Let's:

(a) suggest women they can invite
(b) tell them what WE can talk about

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SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 22/12/2011 10:56

thank you. i was terrified i was going to come back to some drivel about left brain/right brain shite and our overwhelming desire to gather berries.

glad to hear your input chrisrobin.

chrisrobin · 22/12/2011 10:54

I'm a Geneticist and worked with many very knowledgeable women. Attending conferences there were just as many women giving talks and seminars as there were men. I suggest they look to one of the scientific societies if they cannot find enough women, the societies with be able to give them lists of female experts.

Original poster
alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 10:46

It has barely taken me 5 minutes to find these names. The BBC is really not trying hard enough!

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Original poster
alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 10:46

Gillian Clarke poet, playwright and translator

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Original poster
alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 10:43

Arlene Sierra composer and musician

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Original poster
alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 10:41

Is Alice Roberts sciencey enough, lolly?

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LePruneDeMaTante · 22/12/2011 10:12

What a lot of rubbish lollygag Shock
Shurely a wind-up.

LadyBeckenham · 22/12/2011 10:12

lolly please tell me that was a joke?

SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 22/12/2011 10:07

that's a strange post - so we're all fluffy healer types?

please, please female scientists come forward now and identify yourselves as real actual people not freak anomalies to some gender divided reality.

lollygag · 22/12/2011 09:50

I think one of the main problems is that men and women have different areas of expertise.Women are very good on Homeopathy,Acupuncture,Reiki and Indian Head Massage and men are good on Engineering,Science,Computing,Architecture,Mathematics and Sport.
But it's Christmas so I think we should call it a draw!

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 22/12/2011 09:49

Yes, this is a great idea. If they are are complaining that they don't have a list of female names then we should give them one ( even if this is a bit like wife work).

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/12/2011 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 22/12/2011 08:45

how about when you need an expert on something phoning top research universities and asking them who they have who are experts in those fields, getting a list of names and sometimes choosing female ones - especially given often the top expert doing the breakthrough research WILL be female.

SantaIsAnAnagramOfSatan · 22/12/2011 08:44

well i doubt i'd make a bbc guest but:

-i'm a qualified teacher, counsellor and diving instructor (eclectic is my middle name)
-i spent a year living in egypt studying islam and the indigenous view of global politics as well as general stuff on religion and gender
-i have degrees in anthropology and a degree level qualification in hindu philosophy.

my sister is an expert in european business practices having worked in several european countries. she is a translator having specialised in legal translation and she also has extensive experience now in waste disposal and environmental costs and benefits of various systems and how different european countries approach these issues and what the pros/cons are.

i'm not suggesting either of us should be on the bbc but if i can find this level of expertise within my family i doubt the bbc can't find female experts out there in the wider world.

i've spent nearly a year now reading female writers only and can assure the bbc there are many, many informed and fascinating female experts out there.

maybenow · 22/12/2011 08:36

Professor Anne Glover is the cheif scientific adviser for scotland (soon to be for Europe), and yet i've never seen her interviewed when there's a science/science policy story on the news.

[It may be because she's not based in London, but they always manage to get Hugh Pennington from Aberdeen when it's a bacteria story]

DontCallMeFrothyDragon · 22/12/2011 08:30

Will have to have a big think about this, and add names later. The Beeb is inherently patriachal as it is.

Out of curiosity, have they ever had a female EP for EastEnders?

StewieGriffinsMom · 22/12/2011 07:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
alexpolismum · 22/12/2011 06:56

I'll go first.

I am a translator, with experience of TESOL, and one of my main hobbies is etymology.

I would like to suggest Dr Sheila Cameron QC as someone they can invite

Or Dame Mary Perkins (co-founder of Specsavers)

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