Did or does your Mum admire any strong and/or successful women?

[TheTecknician]

Mine did. She's long gone, born in 1938, and she certainly had her favourites, or at least ladies that made an impression:

Margaret Thatcher. I don't know what Mum thought of her politics but she was always amazed by her stamina and determination.
Tina Turner. For extricating herself from a brutal marriage and restarting her career from virtually nothing.
Debbie Harry. Mum was definitely a Blondie fan and it wasn't that common then for a woman to lead a successful group. We could also mention Patti Smith and Ann and Nancy Wilson.
Vivienne Westwood. Very focused businesswoman who knew what she wanted. Being with Malcolm McLaren can't always have been easy!
Gloria Hunniford. Mum always admired her style and fashion sense for an older woman. I'm sure a fashion magazine declared GH as their best-dressed woman once or twice.

Any more?

Yes, she loves Kate Adie (and so do I, TBH). This thread makes me think I should start talking to my DC about the women I admire though.

My mum is a boomer (1949) and she admires Tina Turner. I can’t think of any other women she’s mentioned though. She herself is a strong independent woman but the conditioning would have been strong so there remains some internalised misogyny. She doesn’t flinch when it’s gently pointed out though. If she was of my generation she’d be fully feminist.

My mum adored Kate Adie and Moira Stewart. I think she must have had a secret longing to be a journalist.

Mum was a bit of a leftie born in the 1930s so
Barbara Castle
Betty Boothroyd
Shirley Williams
and more latterly Mo Mowlam

And Shirley Williams mother Vera Brittain

No. What a shame. I don’t really know how I grew up to be a passionate feminist. Maybe that has an adverse effect the older you get.

My mum, b 1950, is the same. She loves Tina Turner was a manager in her job but has always wanted a son and when my Dad was seriously ill she actually told me that she should have brought my husband to the hospital with her instead of me.

My late mum adored Bea Arthur (Dorothy) in the Golden Girls for her intelligence, dry wit and choice of knitwear - as do I!

No, mine was very much not a feminist. The only woman in the public eye she admired was the late Queen.

Possibly the late Queen, for keeping a lid on her emotions. I never heard my mum criticise her anyway.

My mum's a bit weird about admitting someone's impressive or inspirational. It's like she thinks if you acknowledge someone else's achievements or best traits it's a slight to yourself. She won't ever say someone's talented, kind, funny, clever, successful... But if they're overweight, that's definitely up for discussion.

Mine is another who only admires thinness in women.

It was actually quite eye-opening to read OP's question and think about it.

I think the thing she most likes about me is that I married a high earning man and live in a big house now. Presumably that's as close to achievement as it gets for women, in her book? (I do actually have other achievements. Just not ones that she acknowledges.)

Well, this has been depressing. There's a reason why we don't see her very much (and the DC see her even less).

My mum always says how much she loves Joanna Lumley and I have to agree I think she’s absolutely fantastic

Don't you mean absolutely fabulous?

yes mine (1952) does but only if they are also beautiful which of course means extremely thin.

Yes! my mum was/is an original 1970s feminist! She was born in 1952 and rallied against all the sexism that era brought with it. Some of the women she admired were/are Maya Angelou, Tracy Chapman, all the women’s hour presenters past and present, Tina Turner, Margaret Atwood, Germaine Greer, Meryl Streep. There are tonnes more I can’t think of right now.

same. I have never heard her say anything nice about other women - me included. I am going to wrack my brains but I really can't. Everyone's either a slut or had her tits/face done. can't go on she's very unpleasant.
And she calls herself a feminist. She is in the sense that she has paid all her own bills etc but she has never built another female up.

The only woman I ever heard her express approval of was Princess Diana “once she lost the weight” 😅

“I think the thing she most likes about me is that I married a high earning man and live in a big house now.”

Mine reluctantly likes my big house but is mortified that I am the high earner. She will lie to her friends rather than admit anything about my successful career.

She really really wanted me to be an executive assistant or air crew so I “would look after myself and marry a successful man”.

Hopefully you're thin too..

Likewise Mrs Thatcher and the late queen. Also me a bit. It amazes her that I am a confident driver, travel alone, deal competently with professionals... everything that she would have left to my dad.

Princess Diana "once she lost the weight"... oh my God!! It's simultaneously ludicrous and deeply recognisable!

Yes, my DM would be very uncomfortable if I were the high earner. Your poor mum, having to lie to her friends about your successful career... what shame you have brought upon the family. Mine has buried her knowledge of my (and my sister's) professional qualifications so deeply that I think she's managed to expunge them from her memory altogether. Only the qualifications of her sons-in-law survive, to be mentioned at every opportunity.

And yet... DM was in her thirties during the 1970s. I know plenty of people her age who are much more feminist (my dad, for a start). How does it happen?!

My mum was a strong woman - really ahead of her time in a lot of ways.
She couldn't stand Margaret Thatcher (same as me)
She brought me up to think for myself, not to rely on any man, and not to be swayed by people in the public eye and it's served me well.
I really really miss her 😪

🤣

She does wonder how DH puts up with me. But she's no longer allowed to mention anyone's weight in front of the grandchildren.

Yes, but not famous ones. Our friend at number 6, who was always so welcoming of new people, and it's no exaggeration to say she changed the minds of any new neighbours with old-fashioned prejudices. She was so lovely and welcoming, everyone's grandma. Had struggled through poverty, but always very dignified. Embodied respect for everyone. Dropped home made food off for anyone sick.
Her GP (retired so I only met her once). Very positive about new health practices and ideas, developed extra women's health, happy to come out at night to support her patients. So warm and remembered all my mum's siblings names and hobbies.
My mum's teacher-everyone knew her, she'd taught everyone's relatives, and went to the kids' parties.

Oh god yes , very much a moral failing to be anything but thin!

Interesting that a lot of people who had switched on mums seem to be saying they were born in the 30‘s.

I listened to her narrating her autobiography, it was quite rarified.