Piece on Shirley Williams and her lack of support at home

[ErrolTheDragon]

Column by Alice Thompson... somewhat obvious but a real factor in women not gaining true equality.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/shirley-williams-lacked-what-every-leader-needs-8t6jsklpq?shareToken=3ac1d5a7480db5734987e0e9060cd633

That was a good piece - I well remember Shirley Williams' reputation for being late for university events.

“society, while willing to make room for women, is not willing to make changes for them”

This is still the case. And also the Margaret Thatcher quote about women having to work twice as hard to do anything.

Thanks for sharing. It's an insightful piece and really strikes a chord. The quote from Williams: “society, while willing to make room for women, is not willing to make changes for them” is spot on.

This also stood out for me - Shirley Williams getting herself imprisoned to better understand the lives of female prisoners. Seems remarkable given present day politicians struggle to give them a second thought...

"Another time, she got locked up in Holloway prison on a pretend prostitution charge so she could see for herself the appalling conditions of women prisoners."

“society, while willing to make room for women, is not willing to make changes for them” is spot on.

I couldn't agree more with this and it irritates me when people keep calling for minoritised or excluded groups to "Have a seat at the table." It isn't enough to have a seat if:
you have to make all your own arrangements while others (relatively) have support staff to handle the logistics;
you're actually being expected to overcome some unusual obstacles to get there that aren't faced by others;
there's a dress code along with the invitation with which you can't afford to comply (metaphor);
you can't afford to lose pay during your time at the table whereas others can;
you have to go home to clear up after others because you nobody did it while you were absent at the table but other people at the table don't face that.

Thanks for the share. I always like Shirley Williams without always agreeing with her politics.

But reading this made me realise that unconsiously (would hope I dont judge like this) sort of accepted the public perception of her not really being organised enough to get any where. And she was a plain speaker.

Now I feel I should have thought more about it.

There has always been the assumption, a bit like Vicar's that MPs would have a dutiful wife taking on the tedious stuff so that the MP / Vicar could glide above the mundane.

I hope some other women MPs speak up.

@stumbledin

Thanks for the share. I always like Shirley Williams without always agreeing with her politics.

But reading this made me realise that unconsiously (would hope I dont judge like this) sort of accepted the public perception of her not really being organised enough to get any where. And she was a plain speaker.

Now I feel I should have thought more about it.

There has always been the assumption, a bit like Vicar's that MPs would have a dutiful wife taking on the tedious stuff so that the MP / Vicar could glide above the mundane.

I hope some other women MPs speak up.

Odd then Ted Heath managed. Williams had enough family cash to hire help plus MP's allowance.

@MissBarbary Ted Heath did not have children though, I imagine that's what made the difference.

Heath had a housekeeper.

I'd like a housekeeper :)

So Heath had a housekeeper and no children.
Hired help only goes so far with childcare responsibilities.

Not just tasks, also family time. ie Ted Heath missing a bit of sailing or whatever it was, doesnot really compare with never having time to see your daughter.

@stumbledin

Not just tasks, also family time. ie Ted Heath missing a bit of sailing or whatever it was, doesnot really compare with never having time to see your daughter.

This. Maybe wanting to drop off or pick up your child from school, or be there for bedtime, or just make sure they see a parent during daylight hours. All more difficult as a single parent, even if you have some help.

Apparently Robin Cook was chronically late for everything too but never suffered the same criticism for it.