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.

I didn’t like the video… it reminded me of those staged skits you get on comic relief that aren’t funny and may have detracted from the message for me. The 40x40 seems a bit gimmicky and shifts the focus too much back on the person who happens to be 40. Although she looked fabulous.

I definitely think she’s on to something in principle though, although I think there could have been more detail… if she had acknowledged the many systemic struggles of women getting back to work post covid, that this project can’t solve everything, maybe also acknowledging the effect on the young/those leaving education without the usual work experience etc.

It seemed a little over simplified that 40mins was enough to make a meaningful change, not sure about a ripple effect. If she made it more about longer term mentoring and networking and maybe making some of the information available online as webinars/training courses for a wider audience of women, I wonder if that would have more impact.

You quote me when I talk of the people who really are not celebs by calling them celebs.

Twisting my words. I was pretty much agreeing with your comment! Gosh are we not allowed to even question any celeb on this thread if they are on the right side of Meghan, everything she touches turns to gold?

Childcare vouchers are not going to help me so it
would be a waste of time me lobbying anybody for them least of all Kate who can not get directly involved with lobbying for policy change. But none of these things are mutually exclusive though, so why does it have to be used as a way to try and stop people discussing Meghan. This is a thread specifically about her birthday initiative.

@Mummy194

There has been so much stuff in the news in the past week and you would expect to find really interesting discussions about the role of the royals and their shenanigans on here but there is nothing. I guess someone would say why not start a thread if you are so pressed.. so there is that. I’m just fascinated that the British royals who matter get a pass on here.

Being all conservative values only applies to MM did you not know. Jack and his shenanigans, leaving wife with baby alone at home. No problem. Kitty Spencer married one of the father's pals, double her age. All nice and cozy. Imagine the pops that would have been taken if it was H&M.

There was a whole thread on kitty Spencer and lots of poster expressed their distaste over her marriage

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

Great for your dh good to know.

I know you think it’s a great initiative. I’d still prefer it be more than hashtags and 40 minutes for women. I don’t need men to get anything. But women to have more.

What would be better is work. It’s why organisations are switching approach.

I think it's a brilliant initiative

Celebs like Adele understand what it's like to a be a struggling singer looking for a break.

40 mins with her for a singer who's lost gigs and income during the pandemic would probably be useful and open doors and contacts.

There're a diverse range of women offering 40 mins, not just celebs.

I didn't feel I was twisting your words at all.

I said they are not all celebs. You calld them celebs again. Of course Meghan doesn't turn to gold everything she touches, she hasn't achieved world peace yet
As far showing the results, it of course has only just been launched and it is having a ripple effect as some of my links and copy and pastes show. There are plenty more if anyone is interested!

If they'd just shown the 40 and the results of that and not talked about it, it would be impossible to gain momentum surely...

Kate has influence, there is no doubt about that. I only mentioned her because she is involved in an initiative to children in the UK. Meghan is in the US so it might well be more US based what she is doing. And nowhere did I try and stop you discussing Meghan! I said about Kate because she is all about the children and what she does will be picked up and reported on, hence the influence.

she hasn't achieved world peace yet

Yeah lazy slacker, she hasn't solved world peace or the patriarchy so lets just snipe any any initiative she does support or front.

Meanwhile the fragrant and tax funded Kate is so active that some of her (eventually) nominated charities shut their doors due to lack of support without her ever crossing the threshold.

No double standards there at all.

@callmeadoctor

But how will a mentor pay for childcare?................................

They won't but they might have a contact at a place of work with access to a subsidised crèche, they might know about funding or grants for childcare that the applicant wasn't aware of, they may be able to put them in contact with another working parent who wishes to share an au pair or childminder.

I said they are not all celebs. You calld them celebs again.

I’m not talking about every single person who has pledged being a celeb! Why are you making it all or nothing? I’m sure some people have great intentions. I’m sceptical of the intentions of others. Is that hard to understand? Why do I have to agree they are all in it for the same reasons?

If they'd just shown the 40 and the results of that and not talked about it, it would be impossible to gain momentum surely...

It depends what you mean by results? A Twitter pledge is not a result. If those 40 had already delivered on the pledge and proven that it works at the point of launch to the rest of us then I do think it would have more traction and less criticism. At the moment it’s all talk.

And my question about Meghan pledging was genuine. I don’t know if she has stated somewhere she has also pledged, I may have missed it. But if she hasn’t yet pledged then I do think that is a relevant discussion point.

Are some posters really taking 40 minutes so literal that they think the clock is set at 40 minutes and once the clock stops that's it. 🙄
@LolaSmiles for some reasoning your posts now seems more like you have an axe to grind with Meghan. Men - she didn't say men don't need it , that is your assumption or trying to find negativity from any angle it's not even a constructive criticism/ you just made it up to beef up your agenda. she is focusing on women getting into work. How many more times! There are child care schemes - not everyone will benefit but they are there. Yes I agree it's not enough - When Kate pulled out her "research did you ask what impact it's made or you just took it at face value. If M had worked on the structural problems of childcare and women in work you would have said she is not qualified to do so. And others are already doing it and how can she do this from her mansion??? Do you think Kate was doing her research from the local poly or is there something about Kate that means she isn't judged for every little thing. Some posters against it have some good points to make but yours come across as determined to find something negative from every angle and I wonder why. I can tell you now if this initiative was in my area it would be so over subscribed the complaint would be it doesn't reach enough people. It clearly people in your circle don't need it so this is not for you but other initiatives on childcare may not be for some but this is. There are more issues facing women in the work place childcare happens to be just one that does not affect ALL women. But most people with common sense understand that there are limits on everything. 40 is just a theme and a number and her age. The programme I'm sure will reach more than 40 and offer more than 40 minutes.

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?

Of course it won't start a conversation in government or in business, this is the problem. Making unemployment the responsibility of individual women without discussing systemic issues just makes inequality more entrenched - if anything those conversations are less likely to happen. Effecting systemic change is very hard and takes a long time, but the payoff is potentially changing the lives of millions of women, not just a few. Meghan doesn't have to get involved in that, she can do what she likes of course, but it's a shame someone with that kind of profile is using it to maintain and reinforce the status quo.

A twitter pledge is not a result.... I doubt an Organisation such as the one I linked to, would pledge something in public and then not fulfil.

Yes, of course it is only all talk at the moment... give it a chance! It was only launched about 24 hours ago!

Good grief, what do you expect?!

Yeah but no on Meghan pledging. Every single thread where she talks of anything to do with helping others, she has to prove way above anyone else that she is pledging herself too. You never get this with anyone else.

Look at William and his Earthshot prize and action to repair the earth re climate change. Yet his family are exempt because his GM lobbied the Govt to make it so. No renewable energy there!

As far as I'm concerned, it's enough that Meghan is making this happen.

I've just looked at the Archwell website and it took a couple of seconds to find this which suggests they do understand that it's a lot more complex than just loss of confidence.

Is anyone truly expecting her to solve systemic sexism, government failings re childcare funding and unfair workloads whilst not forgetting the men all in one initiative? It's this attitude that stops people from doing anything! Progress not perfection imo.

MM doesn’t have to do it all but it doesn’t mean women can’t build on it.

The media do respond to here too and if someone picked up on a not just hashtags but more work angle they could do a pretty convincing take on why the approach is changing in the workplace.

It’s happened a fair few times - conversation here gets amplified. Although royal section might be too overloaded with you’re just ‘hating on her’ / bullying type stuff.

I really like Meghan. She’s charismatic, tenacious and works for what she wants and ultimately achieves it.
I’m not as keen on Harry.
I’m also not particularly impressed with their current professional direction. The story selling and life coaching. It comes off as a bit polished and smug.
Hopefully time will show that their endeavours are successful and actually help less privileged people, but at the moment it seems self serving and very self congratulatory.

Of course it won't start a conversation in government or in business, this is the problem. Making unemployment the responsibility of individual women without discussing systemic issues just makes inequality more entrenched

Oh dear gods this is the exact model of argument I've been hearing from (mostly) MD lefty men since I was a teenager. Don't do anything that will touch the life of individuals women, come the glorious revolution all will magically be better. Now chaps lets get down the pub and the girls will wash up.

should be "MC lefty men" (some of whom did become MDs!)

The even bigger question is why do we value paid employment more highly than bearing and raising children. They are both work. Why do we have a society where everyone must be good little capitalists and earn money to spend on things we don't need and the environment can't support.

@Tuscancat

The even bigger question is why do we value paid employment more highly than bearing and raising children. They are both work. Why do we have a society where everyone must be good little capitalists and earn money to spend on things we don't need and the environment can't support.

Agreed!

Well at least she's trying to do something unlike the DH who's scratching his arse criticising or my OH who at the moment is sat on his arse whining about everything and everyone but not getting up off said arse to do something that makes a difference

Um, my employment is my responsibility. I don’t want someone else to find me a job. But a mentoring network with contacts and leads would be lovely!

For the people who want to sit at hone and be handed a job and childcare vouchers...well please ask Kate to help you, through donating some of the taxpayer handouts the rf gets or through her influential “work” on children. And you can comfortable sit on the sofa waiting for it to never happen

That said I do think work on an individual level is important and we have to start from where we actually are today. Building womens networks is so important, it can lead to bigger change if we work together. Look at us all discussing this now. If everyone on this thread wrote to their mps about poor maternity pay, low childrens services funding etc we could start making a difference.

'It is patronising to suggest that women need mentoring when actually they need financial support'

Yes. 'Mentorship' I mean wtf does that even mean. Women don't need virtual signalling head pats, they need financial support and job offers. So cut the 40 mins for 40 blah crap and actual offer something concrete.

Look at Stormzy for example. He hasn't just got his pals to 'mentor' people he is actually doing something. Financially supporting the education of students through uni, including accommodation. No cheesy gimmicky clips with loud Americans.

Kate does great work on early years? Why are people always pitching Meghan and Kate against each other? They are both excellent in different ways.

'For the people who want to sit at hone and be handed a job and childcare vouchers...well please ask Kate to help you, through donating some of the taxpayer handouts the rf'

But but everyone is so mean to Meghan waaaah. Honestly op 🙄.