Gina and Oxford PPE

[Possiblynotever]

My DD is in year 12. She is currently thinking about a History degree and her State school is (heavily) pushing her towards Oxbridge and a double honours. She is giving her best and her results are very good, so she probably will have the marks (although this is no guarantee). She chose a Maths A level and she is finding it hard - she reached an A but with a lot of sweating which in my mind is quite normal. She has decided not to do anything at Uni requiring further maths. Apparently, some of her classmates are amazing, especially those who want to apply for PPE at Oxford, which seems to be the achievement of all achievements. Those who get in are the best of the best, at least in my DD mind. Now, Gina Colandangelo gained an Oxford PPE which means she must have been bloody talented. The only thing she will ever be remembered for was snugging the Health Minister in his office.
What a waste. Why? AIBU in thinking that there is still a cohort of women who work bloody hard to get into the most difficult jobs and then just sit on their achievements? And why do they do this?

I have a similar education to her, and had several years pursuing a “high flying” career, although not in politics and not involving any office canoodling. Jacked it all in, fairly sure I won’t be remembered for anything and I couldn’t care less. I’m very happy staying home with my children, volunteering and “pottering”. Don’t care if it’s a “waste” - I more than paid off my student loan, had a few good years doing something I wanted to do, and now I do something else I want to do. My education and abilities bought me choices.

As for her, she earned significant amounts of money, had significant influence and an interesting job. I don’t know why you’re looking down on her career.

I find it utterly bizarre anyway that that’s what you’re condemning her for rather than her adultery with a married man, her getting intimate with an inappropriate colleague in the office during working hours, her enabling the absolute rank hypocrisy of MH or her breaking the law on covid and meeting indoors.

OP - what are your qualifications and how do you get to judge this?! This is such a shitty thread. I bet you’re working 9-3pm doing admin on a industrial estate just outside of town.

@PeterPickledPepper

Oh in googling he RR name I saw she was part of an article (in the mail?) On women who are too clever to be at home with the kids. Didn't read it but clues might be found there if you are interested!

www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2115170/amp/Can-woman-clever-stay-home-mum.html

Indeed. Why on earth are well educated women less well represented in high paying professional jobs than men?

It's a mystery OP isn't it. It's almost like there are massive social and institutional barriers. Or maybe she's done what she want's to do.

@FeelTheRush

OP - what are your qualifications and how do you get to judge this?! This is such a shitty thread. I bet you’re working 9-3pm doing admin on a industrial estate just outside of town.

Surely that is just as belittling and undermining a comment as the OP’s?

On the other hand, matt Hancock also read PPE at Oxford and then got to where he is basically by meeting his wife and using that connection to make friends with george Osborne and capitalising on that connection to climb the greasy Westminster pole, NOT by putting in the hard yards in his local constituency, learning the ropes in local politics, finding a ‘real’ job post-Oxford before going into politics, and has freely admitted to leaving all the hard graft with his family to his wife.

Where’s your scathing condemnation of him and how he got to where he is?

I am so confused why the first 2/3 of your post were needed 🤣 what has your daughters education got to do with the question you asked ?

@Orf1abc

You're confusing ability with privilege. Both Colandangelo and Hancock have achieved their positions in life through privilege, not through ability. While Oxbridge is becoming more diverse, nothing can replace the advantages of coming from a family and wealth and connections.

This!!!!

We have a young Oxford PPEer in the family. They’re still themselves. Still very much human. Not a bastion. Not emitting rays if golden light from unlikely places.

It seems to me that it’s you, OP, and maybe the media who is reducing Gina C to one dimension.

@pastabest

I'm quite impressed you have managed to combine a stealth boast with a bitch/gossip about someone in the news AND a query about her mothering choices.

That's some serious mumsnetting skill level achieved.

Why are you so bothered by her? Her achievements (or lack of in your view ) have absolutely no bearing on the choices available to your daughter whatsoever.

This is absolute spades. Level 10 all the way! Annoyed at other women whilst putting her down and pretending not to, combined with brag about offspring. I've given you extra points for mentioning Oxbridge and PPE.

*in absolute spades

Errrr... are you massively ignorant or a troll? Suspect the latter tbh... just too much weirdness and misogyny in your post.

Just in case you're genuine, I'll break it to you gently that - shock horror! -not everyone who studies PPE at Oxford is a super genius destined to run the world...and SOME might even end up with even less impressive sounding jobs than consultant to a Secretary of State!!!

@juliainthedeepwater

Errrr... are you massively ignorant or a troll? Suspect the latter tbh... just too much weirdness and misogyny in your post.

Just in case you're genuine, I'll break it to you gently that - shock horror! -not everyone who studies PPE at Oxford is a super genius destined to run the world...and SOME might even end up with even less impressive sounding jobs than consultant to a Secretary of State!!!

Now that was just too much, too fast.

You’ll break her brain.

They are the ANNOINTED ONES, goddamit!

@pastabest

I'm quite impressed you have managed to combine a stealth boast with a bitch/gossip about someone in the news AND a query about her mothering choices.

That's some serious mumsnetting skill level achieved.

Why are you so bothered by her? Her achievements (or lack of in your view ) have absolutely no bearing on the choices available to your daughter whatsoever.

Bingo! I concur as this is an intriguing multifaceted inquisition about a university subject matter and current affairs news. On the later point what has been done has been done and continued until discovery by others. It is wrong and both parties involved do indeed share the same university and study history (as mentioned) and so evidently more just biological fluid samples breaching medical pandemic safety rules for which they were formerly instrumental in implementation, if not for themselves but all others. Incidentally on the initial topic of this thread there are other courses and indeed the other amazing university to consider too. Naturally a prospective student cannot apply to both Oxbridge universities but I can personally recommend Human, Social, and Political Sciences which includes politics and international relations, social anthropology and sociology at Cambridge. You may not end up in high government but it can open other doors too and yes expedited career development potential does allow coasting once a certain level is likewise reached post graduation.

OP I took a similar subject at a slightly less prestigious university and have a senior Comms job for a large corporate. I have 3 children and earn a very good package. My job is intellectually challenging and, occasionally, makes a difference to things that really matter.

Thanks for getting on your high horse and dismissing my achievements and those of women like me. Sisterhood?

@Orf1abc

You're confusing ability with privilege. Both Colandangelo and Hancock have achieved their positions in life through privilege, not through ability. While Oxbridge is becoming more diverse, nothing can replace the advantages of coming from a family and wealth and connections.

I was going to say exactly this (but probably not as well as you did!)

I don't think these two things are at all related. I think the lady I question read Economics too, not PPE.

Sounds like just another excuse for a Thread about Gina the cheater.

@pastabest

I'm quite impressed you have managed to combine a stealth boast with a bitch/gossip about someone in the news AND a query about her mothering choices.

That's some serious mumsnetting skill level achieved.

Why are you so bothered by her? Her achievements (or lack of in your view ) have absolutely no bearing on the choices available to your daughter whatsoever.

I second this point. 🙄

Well her impressive qualifications would certainly have been one of the reasons she was able to work in parliament and in her previous highly paid jobs. Whether or not she decided to canoodle her boss once she got there seems somewhat irrelevant. It's not like her career is over now, although the publicity is unfortunate for her I guess. She's still likely to be a highly successful woman so she's hardly sitting on her qualifications.

@pastabest

I'm quite impressed you have managed to combine a stealth boast with a bitch/gossip about someone in the news AND a query about her mothering choices.

That's some serious mumsnetting skill level achieved.

Why are you so bothered by her? Her achievements (or lack of in your view ) have absolutely no bearing on the choices available to your daughter whatsoever.

Totally...

@ThePants999

YABVU to judge anyone else's ambition or career choices.

I have an Oxford degree, and if you knew what I did you'd judge me similarly. I vehemently reject your judgement, having decided that happiness in my life is very poorly correlated with climbing a career ladder.

Couldn’t agree more.

Thank you Deciduous perennial.

I am now less perplexed by the whole Matt Hancock phenomenon.

Slightly off topic but since you mentioned your dd is interested in PPE at Oxford, there is quite a bit of Maths/Statistics at least in the first year. She should be prepared, not giving up Maths!

Apologies, i misread as you dd wanting read PPE