does anyone else find the spectacle of world leaders bringing wives to London and the laying on of a special dinner deeply disturbing?

[hatwoman]

it's like the 1950s ffs. even putting aside the huge issue as to why so many of the world leaders are men how come they need a fecking spousal hand to hold? how come these woman haven;t got better stuff to do? when was the last time anyone on here had their partner come with them when they travel for business? or accompany their partner when he/she travels? it's just weird.

I find the spectacle of them dining on the best food with the best wine, just after discussing issues such as world povery, more disgusting.

But yes, it's like WAGs isn't it? They'll go on a shopping spree tomorrow on Bond Street whilst the economy slowly collapses around them.

Ooooooh yes. And all this "the wives go off and do some menial/non-taxing stuff" like talking to children/having a cup of tea while the men get on with the hard work. I think the BBC even said that bit about the men doing the hard work.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

To be fair, most spouses play a major part in the election of a politician.

and most DO have their own agendas and will be dealing with 'stuff' (don't ask me what that stuff is.. I have no clue)

But, I think the days of the wives being brought along to look pretty are long gone.

Even the WAGS have careers in their own rights (even if the career is forged in the main for BEING a WAG)

Agree with Rhubarb, though...

The idea of them sipping fine wine while they wonder how people might or might not pay their bills seems a bit off..

Reminds me of those "Women - Know YOur Limits" sketches Harry Enfield did.
DO you think they do needlepoint and talk about kittens?

But most media outlets are having a separate report detailing the wives........in a most sexist manner IMO

Even the times has called them the G20 WAGS

Is Angela Merkel(sp?)'s husband here?! Will he be joining in the shopping?

yeah,it's bollocks.

all of it.

Merkel's husband is not there, according to the Bild Zeitung in Germany.

International politics seem to be stuck in the 1950s.

I saw teh photos of Michelle Obama, and thought if I were her the last place I would want to be is an ornament at the G20 with my children on the other side of the Atlantic.

Surely they wont do the ceremonial Bond Street shopping trip, with London full of protesters and poverty top of the agenda?

MmeLindt, have you noticed that a complete lack of showing off is a hallmark of the Merkel administration?

I just can;t get my head round why they're there. I mean you take your staff (all 500 of them if you're the pres of the US). but your spouse? I know that a lot of wives are heavily involved in their dh's campaigns (eg Michelle, of course) but I think that is premised on a model stuck in the 1950s. Like I said in the OP what other line of work would this happen? with spouses/partners of either sex?

I don't think it's weird. Wives are basically co campaigners now

yes, I was thinking just that when I watched the news. There's a real air of 'don't you worry your pretty little head about it' - the menfolk will save the world while you make the tea.

I don't blame the ones that stayed away. Can't think of anything duller.

2 male spouses of all the heads - neither attending.

says it all really.

....how ever did the world end up in such a state I wonder?......

mrsrufallo, the point is though that they have no role at these things!
like Cherie Blair - you take a judge along, to drink tea, pose for photos, advertise the couture of her country and go shopping???

Nighbynight
yes, Merkel is very much for understatement. I think that after the show years of Schröder, it has been a welcome change for most Germans.

Merkel's husband rarely accompanies her on state trips, as far as I can see. He has a job of his own, not like most of the wives who seem to be decorative appendages.

Mme Lindt and justkeepswimming - you both point at why this worries me - where there are women in post you don;t get their husbands abandoning their jobs to play supportive hubbie. yet these women - many of whom do have their own jobs - step into the role. and politics expects them to/expects male leaders to have wives that will.

I did think exactly that hatwoman - why do they have to be there when it's work - it would be bloody weird if I went with DP to a conference, or he came to a meeting with me, and was supposed to have something to say.

Having said that (I (and DS weirdly) found the footage of Gordon and Sarah welcoming the couples into no 10 really fascinating. Sarah did look like she was thinking "Lordy here comes another pair, got to dig that grin out from somewhere, what wouldn't I give for a hot bath and cup of cocoa" while Gord was permanently preoccupied with rearranging everyone into photocall positions.

Dennis Thatcher wasn't too bad at these things. Mr Merkel has taken part in some spousal programmes at other events. Iceland presumably has a spouse of the new lesbian leader who is female but gay so I'm not sure internationally that is it all men all the time. At least Cherie Booth kept her career going.

Michelle looks VERY tall

The Queen looks VERY small

iirc Dennis stood back, rather than beside, iyswim. he was a succesful businessman who got on with his work and tended to pop his head up with Maggie only when the occasion required it. I'm not saying we should pretend world leaders don;t have partners, and there's nothing wrong with a partner coming to an occasional work social - like us ordinary people might sometimes take our partners to a christmas drinks do - but a business meeting/conference? I just find it odd. as well as a bit 50s

notanotter - I agree - I did think that hands on backs thing was rather sweet.