Fewer women in the board now compared to a few years ago debate on Jeremy Vine's show

[speedymama]

Did anybody else listen to this debate today? A woman who runs her own business rung in and said that she could spot a SAHM a mile away. JV asked her what she meant and she said that it is the way that they talk about politics, what is going on in the world plus something about the school gates. She did not have a family of her own through choice but she said that she is probably more busy than someone with a couple of kids because she has a lot of animals to look after. Children grow up and leave but the animals need constant attention. I just shook my head in pity at the deluded woman.

I work 3, sometimes 4 days a week and I would never ever be dismissive or so insulting about those who choose not to work in order to raise their family.

With regard to the discussion, it was about why fewer women where in the boardroom and one of the commentators said that women have realised that it is a myth that we can have it all in terms of career or family and do each superbly well unless we have an army of help at home.

I chose to work part-time because I wanted to keep my career going at a less intense level as that would enable me to spend more time with them than I would if I worked full-time.

Oops! Title should say boardroom

you are right to feel pity for her

(I gave up a board level position to be a SAHM .. tbh I was bored with being Board .. had been there for 3 years .. been there, dont that)

I didn't hear this particular debate but I do listen to JV sometimes even though most of the debates just wind me up. It's the audio equivalent to the Daily Mail
I'm sure the media in general just love stirring up the old SAHM vs working mum debate just to get us all ranting. Where's the real news?
Leave us all alone to get on with doing what's best for us and our children!!!

I was half listening, it was all very predictable, she asked JV if his wife worked, and apparently she does 3 days a week. why do women give each other such a hard time over this debate? we all do what we can for our families, and it is wrong to put people down like that.

I was alos very annoyed by the man who phoned up, his wife is a SAHM, with 4 childern, and he said women should not work - you just can't generalise.

I am a working mum, part time by the way, and have always worked through choice, not need. its best in my situation, but we are all different.

That woman was terrible! It's not even worth getting wound up about. Apparently us SAHMs have nothing to offer conversationally and expensive trainers are the most imp. thing a mother can provide. Anyway, because I clearly have no conversational skills I'll be off..

didn't hear it (prob as well for my blood pressure). Interestingly I used to be on the board of a UK plc, board of about 20 people, roughly 50/50 male/female. The CEO was female but was widely known to be a puppet for the male chairman and male CFO. She didn't make decisions.

We had a year of restructures - 50% of the board were made redundant, with new people with very similar qualifications being brought with a slightly more senior title. Guess which 50% got cut. Yep, all the girls, all working mums. These are really good people, the ones left behind were adequate - but male. All the new intake was male, only 2 of whom had children. Across the company the gender split is 70/30 female/male. Something not quite right there sez I.

TBH I can tell the SAHMs from the WOHMs when I meet them socially - they HAVE opinions about politics, books, tv shows, things in the news! All the WOHMs I know talk work, kids and family and nothing else!

One of the women on the programme used the word self-actualize!

Oh, I realise now why I enjoy JV's programme so much