Those pictures of the Theresa May curtseying that are doing the rounds on social media

[SarahCarer]

Now I am very left wing but those pictures of TM curtseying to royalty are so utterly belittling and unnecessarily humiliating it's putting me off labour completely. It seems to me that it is yet another example of labour-supporting men being anti women.

Not so much knowing how to curtesy as when to. And she is a representative of the country-she needs to know how to behave in public. It's all part of the job.

WTF didn't she just shake hands? That is what is questionable imo. No need for curtseys or bows?

A bow of the head or a brief bob if she must. But a handshake is fine- he would have had a hand out to initiate it.

Being required to curtsey is in itself, sexist.

"Being required to curtsey is in itself, sexist."
Not in circumstances where a man would bow from the waist. Bur neither bow nor curtesy required here.

If Jacob Rees Mogg bowed from the waist, the male equivalent of Theresa May's curtsey, I'm sure he would be ridiculed too.

JRM wouldn't though. Because, vile though he is, he knows the rules.

And all the opportunist feminists need to remember the outrage at various male Labour figures bows or lack of them.

BertrandRussell what do you mean by the phrase opportunist feminist? What am I taking the opportunity to do?

My understanding was you never need to curtsey - you are allowed bow instead (and you don’t need to bow from the middle - nod of head is fine)

The advantage of a curtsey over a bow is that you don't have to look down. I haven't studied it but I suspect that the whole purpose of a bow was to make an armed man vulnerable for a moment. I think this is one case where men have to show more subservience than women.

My understanding was you never need to curtsey - you are allowed bow instead (and you don’t need to bow from the middle - nod of head is fine)

Correct, I think

www.royal.uk/greeting-member-royal-family

Ok, no need to bow or curtsy. Info straight from the horses mouth.

Had that changed recently as there was lots of criticism of Cherie Blair for not curtseying.

I mostly agree with you OP. I always feel really sorry for Theresa May because I think she's doing a good a job as any man would be doing under the circumstances but she's getting such harsh criticism. We'll never know if that's because she's a woman. I think she's a great example of the glass cliff.

"Had that changed recently as there was lots of criticism of Cherie Blair for not curtseying."
Nope. Been like that for years and years and years. The press has always had a field day with the left and their bowing/not bowing/donkey jacket wearing antics.

I’m with Granny Weatherwax; Bowing is the way

^ yes! Hurrah!

Well, you know Esme. She wasn't one for that kind of thing - never one to push herself forward*

• She hadn't ever needed to. Granny Weatherwax was like the prow of a ship. Seas parted when she turned up.

What on earth was she thinking then? It can't be the first time she has met William.

I met Prince Charles once. I and the other people in line just shook hands.

The press has always had a field day with the left and their bowing/not bowing/donkey jacket wearing antics

Gordon Brown's refusal to wear black tie to the annual Mansionhouse dinner is the one that sticks in my mind. Why? What a pointless gesture.

Nothing to do with her being a woman ,it's the press being the press. Don't you remember Ed Miliband and the bacon sandwich?

I've met loads of royals. Only curtseyed once and it was a court curtesy occasion.

Oh, and "opportunist feminism"? Just this new thing I've noticed people on the right doing. Any suggestion of criticism of a woman and there's a massive howl "oooh, I thought you were all feminists- not very sisterly........"

It’s you’re going to grovel to royaltiy accept the piss taking that will no doubt come with it.

Well that's not me BertrandRussell I've never voted Conservative in my life. But I take others point that the curtseys aren't expected of TM and I hadn't realised that.

Oh, and "opportunist feminism"? Just this new thing I've noticed people on the right doing. Any suggestion of criticism of a woman and there's a massive howl "oooh, I thought you were all feminists- not very sisterly........"

I'm not on the right and I constantly notice the way TM is portrayed vs other politicans. It's obvious because it's the exact treatment Clinton got.

Photos freeze framed to make her look "witchy" etc. I'm more fed up of "It's fine to be sexist towards women I don't agree with feminism" but not got a catchy title for it.

Arsehole feminism maybe?

But somehow when it's Diane Abbott it's not racist or sexist- it's just that she's thick, or no boos at her job or gaffe prone. No "but the sisterhood" defence there.

But anyway. Just my observation. Could be wrong.

I once had to accept something from Princess Anne - did a little bow of head rather than curtsey. A nod of respect to the job / role . Diane Abbott can and has mucked up an interview - nothing to do with sex or race - so have white women and men.

But somehow when it's Diane Abbott it's not racist or sexist- it's just that she's thick, or no boos at her job or gaffe prone. No "but the sisterhood" defence there.

Has anyone on this thread said it wasn't? I certainly wouldn't. She has fucked up a few times (like all politicians) but it the constant abuse is obviously related to her sex and race.