Meghan’s birthday video

[Greenlittle]

I like the idea and I like the video. (Not that keen on the big desk) And I though MM looked...alive!

Not sure who the other woman was. But there was good chemistry.

@callmeadoctor

I would love somebody to speak up for all the women who have spent 12/18 months looking after their children during covid, home schooling etc whilst (and I am generalising I know) their husbands carry on their work and lives as normal. That is the bigger issue, no mentoring is going to make a difference to their lives.

I’m sure Kate will . She has launched a groundbreaking initiative about early childhood and has a centre for research. To me it seemed like such an interesting project that can help so many in the UK, so hopeful that at least with government support parents out there will get some help.

I can't speak for others, maybe some people are having a go just because it's Meghan's thing, but as far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter who's involved. It's just as problematic whether the person on the end of the phone is Michelle Obama or someone who came 2nd on Love Island three years ago.
Lol at the idea of Beyoncé being dismissed as a celeb alongside some "seriously talented people" though.

@hangonamo

I can't speak for others, maybe some people are having a go just because it's Meghan's thing, but as far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter who's involved. It's just as problematic whether the person on the end of the phone is Michelle Obama or someone who came 2nd on Love Island three years ago. Lol at the idea of Beyoncé being dismissed as a celeb alongside some "seriously talented people" though.

I agree. Its bloody great though isn't it that no one is saying than men should be mentored are they? All boils down to women being patronised.....................

@Roussette

I just know *@Zuluqueen* that this will be written off because there ARE famous celebs like Beyonce as part of it It really takes away from some seriously talented people who couldn't be further from a celeb.

Maybe you are right. But who is getting the celebs involved and for what purpose? I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the high profile names have actually been paid to promote. It’s how it normally works in their circles.

This might have had more credibility if Meghan and her 40 mates had already done their mentorships and shown what impact it had had with real case studies as part of the launch. I want to know the stories behind some of the women covid has impacted and how they have got through it with the help of the mentorship. Maybe this will come. Have I missed if there is any kind of follow up to this?

@callmeadoctor

Zulu, you are missing my point. It is patronising to suggest that women need mentoring when actually they need financial support.

Patronizing to you yes, and others. Not patronizing to me and others. I don’t necessarily need financial support thankfully, but as a minority and a career there are few I can relate to on the type of job I trained for. I could potentially benefit from a mentor who understands the barriers I face and that’s surely a good thing. Obviously I’m not going to use or seek out a mentor from this initiative now, but maybe in future I will. Others need much more help that me right now, they are in desperate situations and a mentor will not make any difference to their circumstances. But that doesn’t mean someone else will not benefit .

Carer

I agree. Its bloody great though isn't it that no one is saying than men should be mentored are they? All boils down to women being patronised

Generally - Men get the gig women get the advice.

@callmeadoctor

Prep, Im not outraged? Just unimpressed at a very wealthy person offering mentorship when an actual job (or childcare vouchers) would be more useful.

Good point

It would have been interesting if every donor paid for 40 hours of childcare, for example. Or 40 weeks.

Unless I’ve missed it, Meghan herself hasn’t actually pledged to mentor someone for 40 minutes. Her website just says for her birthday she’s asked 40 friends to pledge. Did she pledge it in the video?

@callmeadoctor

I would love somebody to speak up for all the women who have spent 12/18 months looking after their children during covid, home schooling etc whilst (and I am generalising I know) their husbands carry on their work and lives as normal. That is the bigger issue, no mentoring is going to make a difference to their lives.

So what do you want Meghan to do about that? Call their husbands?

Honestly some people just like a moan. Anyone who thinks a mentoring network is not necessary is nuts. Men use these networks in spades, they open doors, offer advice and help each other. I’ve seen it work with my dh

I liked the video too. It's nice to see her looking so well too.

Lots of people need mentoring, men and women. Meghan is a woman and therefore relates more to other women. She always has. There's nothing patronising about it.

Not everybody needs money or childcare vouchers, that's an entirely different issue, but many could do with a bit of moral support and affirmation.

And surely if people want childcare vouchers should t they be looking to Kate? She is funded by the tax payer and can perhaps deliver some tangible value with regard to children?

For me, any one using their privilege to help even one other person/animal/plant is amazing. They don’t have to do it.
Tax payer funded individuals and institutions have public obligations to promote equality as nd help those more vulnerable.

Yet people here seem to demand very little for their tax money and hold those that give out of private time and income to higher standards!

The fact that his thread has started a conversation, irrespective of some negativity, it’s likely there are conversations occurring within businesses. Some may be able to make positive change, others won’t.

Equally, it starts a conversation in government - or at least adds to the one which is forever ongoing.

Megan can’t solve everything, but where positive change for the majority can come about, why not?

Indeed it feels even more patronising that meghan is suggesting that clearly men don't need mentoring

Really no This is by women for women. No suggestion there at all unless you choose to make up one. Men use mentoring and networking continually.

Maybe you are right. But who is getting the celebs involved and for what purpose? I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the high profile names have actually been paid to promote. It’s how it normally works in their circles

You quote me when I talk of the people who really are not celebs by calling them celebs.
I give up.
Probably five times on this thread I've asked... is Stacy Abrams, Amanda Gorman, Nobel prize nominee Nguyen, various Doctors and scientists... you call tem 'celebs'? And now you suggest they are being paid for free publicity.
Nguyen for instance is a rape survivor who created the Sexual Assaults Survivors Bill... but she's a celeb... Here you are if you want to read about her. A celeb???

Saying this repeatedly is just a way to knock Meghan and diminish this initiative.
For about the tenth time... there are many on that list who could not be further from being celebs... it's just insulting to lump them altogether and call them that.

If you're after childcare vouchers instead of mentoring, why not lobby Kate... isn't she doing some early years thing, she's launched a Centre for early childhood, she wants to transform generations to come. Surely surely this is the route to go? Not Meghan who lives in the US..

@Roussette I missed the What About Teh Menz but seriously? That's just scraping the bottom of the barrel of reasons to criticise Meghan. She's always supported women's causes, from long before she met Harry, so is it really surprising that this particular initiative targets women?

Unless I’ve missed it, Meghan herself hasn’t actually pledged to mentor someone for 40 minutes. Her website just says for her birthday she’s asked 40 friends to pledge. Did she pledge it in the video?

Good angle! That's another possibility of endless criticism that hasn't been mentioned on here!

Here is just one tweet of many I saw last night and this morning...
I love #MeghanMarkle would like to honor her birthday wish & join the #40x40 campaign. I’m committing 40mins to mentor two young #Kenyan ladies who lost their income during the #COVID19 pandemic & would like to revive business or find employment.

This woman is involved in Youth Equality Mentorship and has passed it on to about a dozen other women who are in Marketing, Recruitment, a career coach etc.

No celebs there is there...

@AnnunciataZ
Both you and I know that, yes. It's exasperating!

Here's a great response...

Lean In is an Organisation for women who face barriers and bias at work, a massive space with a support network, online meetings, skill building etc. Their tweet this morning..

@LeanInOrg
In honor of The Duchess of Sussex’s 40th birthday, we are calling for our audience to join #MeghanMarkle’s #40x40 and commit to any act of service or mentorship, e.g. mentorship to support women reentering the workforce. #CompassionInAction

All celebs obviously

ApplyWithin
Made me cringe. How patronising. A phone call from some celeb in their mansion telling you to “go girl” and grab that minimum wage job while they go back to their yoga with Oprah and ponder how to spend their millions?

It’s the height of narcissism and total lack of self-awareness. Throwing some crumbs to the downtrodden to make yourself look woke, worthy and pious. They are all full of shit I’m afraid. Multi-millionaires who seek every day to become richer and richer than you.

^
This

But it isn't just "multi-millionaires" taking part. Has anyone actually looked at the list or are they just slagging Meghan off for the sake of it? Yes Adele and Beyonce are there but there's plenty of non-celebs and social enterprises or charities (Smartworks, Luminary Bakery) who've signed up too.