Westminster Hall. Scarcely a woman in sight.

[beccahamlet]

Clergymen...choristers ....soldiers....politicians....

All there to pay respects to one of the most significant women of modern times

some of the soldiers are female and the politicians are mixed (with what you might ask!)

I have seen a few fair few ladies showing their respects 😔😔

Soldier leading the gun carriage at the procession today was a woman.

I feel you OP but you are going to get pasted. Because (reverent tones): The Queen!

Amazing diversity in the public filing past.

I saw lots of women. In the procession, on the horses, black Rod, PM, etc etc

There were lots of women, fair few in band, on the horses, on the guns and inside Westminster.

Certainly some women but wouldn't say loads and a lot less than 50% .

Why are there no flower arrangements or drapes?

It just looks so "cold" in comparison to St Giles.

Some more candles, even at the sides at least, would help it look more peaceful.

Apologies. I didn't realise the topic.

Completely agree about the lack of diversity. At least the PM and FMScot are female. Black Rod is too.

But if 50% of the workforce aren't woman what can they do?

I'd be worried if they had equal numbers of competent workers of each sex but chose mainly men. But in these job roles I'd very much doubt that's the case.

Huh? Not sure where you were looking. Prime minister, Blackrod and the soldier leading (and organising) the gun carriage. All three are hugely important jobs, plus there were many women soldiers. Bbc interviewed an 18yr old female soldier when the troops were getting back on the buses at horse guard parade. It might not be 50% but it never will be, but at least its going in the right direction surely? Its not that long ago that women were finally allowed to fight front line or be on ships.

I was watching the ceremony before the public starting coming through.

Exactly! @beccahamlet just looking for a way to be offended

@TakeTheOffPisteRoute
absolutely not looking to be offended. I'm making an observation... and agree with @mum2jakie .

Well in that case, consider that (like opinions) most observations are like assholes.... everyone has one, but not everyone's needs to be seen

Otherwise whatever next?

"Oh look there's.... {insert multiple irrelevant facts such as}

• it's Thursday tomorrow

-they're all wearing shoes -no-one has purple died hair"

Get my point? Completely irrelevant observation

Not as good a balance as I’d like, but miles and miles better than any previous lying in state of a monarch in the UK. And miles and miles better than it would have been even 15 years ago.

You think that on the feminist board of a website predominantly used by women it’s irrelevant to notice and question or comment upon imbalances between the sexes in public life?

I’m think it’s your opinion that’s the asshole on this occasion.

@NumberTheory I think they make a perfectly valid point. We're forever pointing out "observations" of injustices when they just don't exist.

If anything, I guess we could question why we as women aren't doing more public service to be represented in such events? I don't think there's anything excluding us, unless I'm wrong?

I think we can sometimes look to blame others when we should look ourselves in the mirror.

There'll be good reasons (child care, maternity etc) but they are just that: good reasons. They don't mean the world is stacked against us or we're being treated unfairly.

All there to pay respects to one of the most significant women of modern times

but she wasn't there on merit.

So few women in public life, but the inherited title makes all that ok.

Whilst she didn't enter the role on merit, she 100% retained the role on merit. If it hadn't of been for her skills and reshaping and modernising of the monarchy, the role may well have ceased to exist.

such a pity it didn't

In the society we have today, almost no one at the top is there on merit alone.

So women are just shit? We aren’t in public life, there is nothing in our way. We just aren’t good enough.

The fact things are different now to 70 years ago is just random chance. We shouldn’t look at it and consider why or what we might be able to change. We should just nod and carry on.

Gotcha.

I would respectfully suggest you, too, are not going to get much out of a feminism board. You can hide it and leave the rest of us to waste our time noticing random facts that we can’t have any impact on.