"International Women's Day: Newry council defends male keynote speaker" - it's that time of year again!

[Fenlandia]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-68444531

I haven't heard of the man, for all I know he is a terrific speaker.

But were there really no inspiring women in his field ("personal marketing, coaching and image consultancy")?

From the BBC article:

In a statement to BBC News NI, the council said: "Mr Dixon has consistently delivered compelling and insightful presentations that have captivated audiences by his content and delivery of his message, and we recognised the potential to resonate with a diverse audience and contribute meaningfully to the theme of Inspire Inclusion.
"Our goal for this International Women's Day Conference is to foster an environment where minds and hearts are open to embracing everyone as equals.
"The decision to invite a male speaker emphasises our commitment to inclusivity, encouraging a collective understanding that gender should not be a barrier to shared inspiration and empowerment."

So, remember wimmin, it's important for men to be included as keynote speaker on IWD in order to be inclusive and to show that "gender" isn't a barrier to shared inspiration and empowerment.

Of course, men have traditionally found it difficult to be included and to share their inspiring and empowering thoughts....

This council have also fallen for the private company called IWD that is pushing their own theme of "inspire inclusion", when the UN's theme is 'Invest in women: Accelerate progress”.

Indeed. Without a man to lead on IWD, women won't have a clue what to do or say. 😑

'Women, the most inspiring speaker on women is..... a man."

I'm just in a permanent state of 'oh fuck off' now.

It's not 'inclusive' it's just extreme end woke batshittery.

"The decision to invite a male speaker emphasises our commitment to inclusivity, encouraging a collective understanding that gender should not be a barrier to shared inspiration and empowerment."

😂

It seems you can have such a strong commitment to inclusivity that you forget who you were were meant to be including.

International Women's Day is about the difficulty of making sure that women are included. Maybe that's been fixed now or maybe we just don't care any more (if we ever really cared at all)

He's the wrong type of man to be accepted by the BBC as an international women's day speaker.

The decision to invite a male speaker emphasises our commitment to inclusivity,

Hmm...inclusivity...sounds good.

Now who could we invite to be a keynote speaker on International Women's Day, who would be able to talk on inclusivity and be an inspiring role model for women?

I know - a man!

🤦🏻‍♀️

How about Tanni Grey-Thompson or Emma Nicholson? Women with disabilities, phenomenal successes in traditionally male fields, articulate, interesting speakers, philanthropists.

Oh, so sorry, silly me - wrong sort of inclusivity.

Wow I clicked this with preconceived ideas.

But he seems to be a man who identifies as a man!

Never assume eh.

No, for the type of (wo)man you were expecting you need to go to the Inspiring Women being championed by UCU (Universities and College Union) for IWD - Kuchenga Shenje

Really? A man that speaks for women on this d a y.

No words.

Brushing up my slogans for IWD:

Gender shouldn't be a barrier... if you're a bloke.

How very meta 2024. It doesn't even need to be a trans identifying male any more.

Well it's all about inclusivity ( is that even a word?)

So it's about inclusiveness?

It's about fuck all really if it's not about women and women's voices.

But he's wearing a pink T-shirt, so must be in touch with his feminine side at least.

Surely out of the 3.5 billion women on the planet, they could have found one or two decent candidates?

And he's going to talk about women's images, and the wimmin do need to know men's thoughts on this vital (to men) issue.

Of course, men have traditionally found it difficult to be included and to share their inspiring and empowering thoughts....

///

Me too. I'm so fed up of this shit

Lol, he can take it somewhere else.

Sounds like he feels excluded.

Might see if he's got any tips about period dignity.

Wouldn't it be great if, when asked to be keynote speaker at an IWD event, if men could say "no, I know a great woman who would be ideal for this" and pass that woman's details on to the organisers.

I don't think men would find that helpful at all.

fedupandstuck · Today 16:12

Wouldn't it be great if, when asked to be keynote speaker at an IWD event, if men could say "no, I know a great woman who would be ideal for this" and pass that woman's details on to the organisers.

Well, quite.

I was thinking this. We’ve come full circle. Man as default. Women asking for a seat at the table. Pointing out diversity and inclusion as a reason to let her sit there. Getting a tiny bit of the corner on uncomfortable seat. Trans women coming along to demand the uncomfortable seat and pushing women away from the table all in the name of diversity and inclusion. Man invited as main speaker at intl woman’s day in the name of inclusion and diversity so man visibly as default again leaving no women at the table all. Colour me surprised.

I look forward to Newry Mourne and Down's female speaker on Int. Men's Day. Perhaps a big up for cats on Internatoonal Dogs Day or a celebration of only-children on National Siblings Day.

Hey, mabe we can add celebrating straight couples during Pride? Oh, wait...

Have they missed the fact that it's not a day about bloody including men it's a day for WOMEN!!!!!