Which lovely MNers can come and serve tea to the great and the good at the Party Conferences this year?

[KateMumsnet]

Hello Everyone

We're joining up with the White Ribbon Alliance to put on another Mum's Cafe at two party conferences this year, in order to highlight Maternal and Newborn Health. Horrifyingly, a woman dies from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth nearly every minute - and 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries.

The Cafe will be very like the one we pulled off with such aplomb at the Houses of Parliament in March, when Carrie spoke so brilliantly to an audience of assorted politicos, activists and the lovely Annie Lennox. Then, some gorgeous Mumsnetters dressed up in fine retro style, pouring tea for thirsty attendees to universal acclaim - and that's exactly what we plan again.

This time non-Londoners will get a look in, with the Labour Conference event taking place on Tuesday 28th of September in Manchester, and the Conservative one the following Tuesday 5th in Birmingham. If you're wondering what happened to the LibDem event, I'm assured that this was all planned much earlier in the year, when the political landscape was rather, ahem, different.

So who's up for dressing up in a pinny, a headscarf and some retro red lippie, and spending an hour or so pouring tea to the great and the good in support of a very good cause? Scroll down our campaign page to see a photo of what, precisely, we're asking of you!

One issue to highlight - the WRA are hoping to start both Mum's Cafes pretty darn early - at about 9am . This is because there is more chance of grabbing the grandees at this hour - so let us know if you can make it then, but also if you could make it, but not that early!

Cup of tea and a nice anyone? Chaos - I feel your pain. I volunteered early in this thread for the Manchester event and then was seriously at the outpourings that followed. I regularly serve tea at School events (along with some men) and would happily serve tea at the cricket club if I had a DS. Not because I am subservient or uneducated but because I am that kind of person. I like to get stuck in, it is a great way of talking to people, and I wholeheartedly agree with MrsBaldwin's last post. This is a way of getting into the conferences and engaging people in conversation in a civilised manner.

I agree with Mrs B

Sometimes you just take what you can. Its not perfect, but what is?

@ ElephantsAndMiasmas I keep my vitriol just for special occasions. Like sexism.

Maybe its just me then but on top of the other tea pouring sexism I also dont want to be identified by the fact that I am a 'mum', that is not the sum total of me, it is a part of me obviously, but 'mums' cafe' eurgh. It reminds me of 'As a mother I think...'

I don't get the issue tbh, "mums cafe", yes, you are posting on "mums net"

It is to help other "mums" what is the problem?

I'd like to help but can't MNHQ, sorry. Hope too many people aren't turned off to show up and help a good cause though.

Agree it's a terrible idea, dressing up as a stereotypical mum/housewife and acting out a subservient role - I think it would be even more offensive if men were to dress up like that (less extreme but along the same lines as white people in blackface iyswim).

I support the cause but lets do this with some dignity and gravitas - it really is OK to stand up and be a woman in public with an opinion and make demands, without hiding behind cutesy unthreatening dressing-up nonsense.

Nothing wrong with serving tea in itself btw, nothing better than a nice cup of tea! But please don't do the other stuff...

IAABN - do you keep them both in little glands towards the back of your upper jaw?

I have no problem at all serving tea, I liked waitressing too and there will probably be cake :)

It's the cutesy mumminess, and the element of women serving tea, in tea-lady outfits, to men who are magically supposed to regard this as ironic rather than - you know - normal.

Although I do like the idea of MNers ripping off their masks headscarfs and buttonholing someone in a ferocious manner over the digestives.

What about a group of pregnant MNers doing the stand? Not in 1950s stuff just normal clothes, or maybe all in white? That would be more relevant and visible, and force the people they speak to to think - ah yes, pregnant women, not just walking uteruses (uterii?) but clever people whose lives are worth our consideration.

I support the cause but lets do this with some dignity and gravitas - it really is OK to stand up and be a woman in public with an opinion and make demands, without hiding behind cutesy unthreatening dressing-up nonsense.

Exactly!!!

I really don't think "the cause" and "irony" can be used as excuses for what is blatent sexism.

I also find it very odd that it didn't occur to mnhq that anyone might have a problem with this but I'm particularly with KateMN's reply that for the HoC event they correctly supposed women would come along to be served - as if that makes it all ok? It also demolishes the arguement that this is the only way to engage with politicians if you don't even expect many males to come along any way. Seeing as vast majority are male.

This is dreadful, shocking. We do not live in an equal society where people 'get' the irony of a bunch of women serving them tea. We live in a sexist world, especially where politics is concerned, so this would only reinforce the idea of female subservience. If you want to be taken seriously on a women's issue, act seriously.

I suppose maternal health is a "women's issue" JJS, because men don't want to have healthy wives and babies, and no babies are male

Yy that must be it elephants! Afterall not one of them was born or had a mother so it has zero relevance to men

OK, right the conference will be people in suits. How about "The Motherboard" all pregnant women/women with babies, wearing white suits (yes can foresee problem but still :o)? Or the Ma Bar serving G&Ts?

No. NO SERVING. Serving = Servitude.

Just TELL them. Do it the right way, without making us all look like bloody twits.

I think MNHQ you should personally invite Dittany to put a pinny over a 50s floral dress and serve the tea to the Tory politicians.

I really do.

This is another one of those daft things which, despite the good MN does and the intelkligent dialogue to be found on here every day, really grabs the attention and makes MN to be a community of simpering twats.

My DP knows I love MN, yet the impression he has got from the media is that the most pertinent question we ask anyone is what their favoruite biscuit is. This tea and cake silliness panders to that view also.

For god's sake WHY did you not just think that the presence of a stall with MNers on it would be enough, without having to have a Stepford element added on?

Whilst you are at it, invite Xenia along to the Labour conference.

Ok pregnant women in white suits telling people stuff, kay?

I would happily serve a personally-produced cup of bile to any Tory politician, at any time.

Rofl at thought of mnhq asking Dittany

It didn't occur to MNHQ that serving would be interpreted as demeaning because it's all so silly!!!!!!
oh please !

How about dressing all in black? (if you've ever seen the Women In Black silent protests for peace, they've very powerful IMO). Maybe a little more practical than white as well :)

It's all so silly, Ingles, how very appropriate for an uproariously silly topic like maternal death.

Has Dittany seen this yet? I fear the internet might break when she does.

What next? A campaign to end the stoning of people in Iran combined with pedicures?

A cross stitch jamboree to highlight sex trafficking of women in eastern europe?