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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

What might Victoria Wood have made of today’s sex and gender debates?

59 replies

TheNoWord · 20/04/2026 11:51

Ten years ago we lost one of the funniest and smartest women, a true genius, a woman who really understood the reality of women’s lives, and wrote about it as both comedy and drama.

I find myself wondering what she would have made of the current gender madness?

"The perception of Wood as a ‘national treasure’, and her congenial onstage persona, often belied the darker aspects of her work. That this so often went unnoticed made it all the more potent"

Andrew Doyle has written a tribute:

https://www.andrewdoyle.org/p/the-genius-of-victoria-wood

The genius of Victoria Wood

Ten years ago today, the world of comedy lost its most distinctive voice.

https://www.andrewdoyle.org/p/the-genius-of-victoria-wood

OP posts:
FrippEnos · Yesterday 19:04

SidewaysOtter · Yesterday 16:24

I agree with this. I'm sure quietly she'd have known what was what but so many were afraid to speak out. Who'd have though Jo Brand wouldn't have stood up for women's rights and yet there she was on HIGNFY trying to convince us all that a stridently feminist and established comedian couldn't possibly have put her head above the parapet.

I don't wish Victoria Wood away for one moment but there is a little bit of me that is almost relieved at not having to be disappointed. See also: Terry Pratchett; he knew exactly what was what with regards women's rights (as anyone who has read Equal Rites will know) but he'd have known that so large a percentage of his reader-base was full on TWAW.

And let's not forget that Shobna Gulati - who played Anita in dinnerladies - recently 'came out' as non-binary ( Hmm ) and has a Wikipedia page that's they/them-ed up to the eyeballs. There's a lot of pressure to lend support in those situations.

Edited

I'm not sure what you mean about Pratchett as he died when the TRAs were in their infancy.
His daughter and some of his readership have put forward what they think would be his view, but many of his characters are feminist.

TheKeatingFive · Yesterday 19:19

Better not to have found out really.

There have been so many disappointments.

FKAT · Yesterday 19:41

"Transvestites. Are you one? Are you married to one? Or maybe you just plain can't stand 'em. Call us now."

Duncan Preston channelling Richard Madeley in VW's All Day Breakfast.

I love Victoria Wood to pieces but I don't think she'd have weighed in on the gender debate other than to make jokes. I don't think she was a "feminist" per se - she had a very troubled relationship with her mother and a lot of her work is about unsympathetic women (and she tended to be quite sympathetic to her male characters though like Tony and Stan). Same with sexism. She was interested in the humour and hypocrisy of it rather than making a political point.

SidewaysOtter · Yesterday 20:53

FrippEnos · Yesterday 19:04

I'm not sure what you mean about Pratchett as he died when the TRAs were in their infancy.
His daughter and some of his readership have put forward what they think would be his view, but many of his characters are feminist.

That's what I mean, he didn't live in the era where TRAery was a thing. I'd have been gutted if he come down on the side of be kind and gender ideology but I can easily see a world in which he would, because a lot of his fanbase are minded that way. It would have completely wrecked all the brilliantly feminist characters he'd ever written (Granny and Nanny Ogg being the two that spring foremost to mind) but a lot of people (wrongly, IMO) believe that feminism has moved on to including TWs.

Illjusthavethebreadsticks · Yesterday 23:27

Sidebeforeself · Yesterday 14:55

Lost my Mum in the same year too. We lost a few fab women that year.

I remember Victoria once saying she’d been asked if she was interested in setting up a women’s radio channel and she responded by saying “ I’ve been listening to the radio all my life - I didn’t realise I wasn’t supposed to”

Lost my amazing sister that year too, so many fab women I agree. Carrie Fisher, Caroline Aherne also.

menopausalmare · Today 13:10

" Her and her bloomin' sex changes. I never know whether to get her to wash up or push start an Austin Montego".

Ormally · Today 13:17

I think a 'Kitty' worldview or two is a sore loss to the 2020s!

'Are you intimidated by my sexual preferences? I said No, and I'm not too struck by your donkey jacket, either.'

(Edit for own shameless shoeing in of subsequent thought):
'Well, quite predictably he opened his raincoat. And there was a moment's silence, then I said 'Do you call that a lining?')

UtopiaPlanitia · Today 15:43

Ormally · Today 13:17

I think a 'Kitty' worldview or two is a sore loss to the 2020s!

'Are you intimidated by my sexual preferences? I said No, and I'm not too struck by your donkey jacket, either.'

(Edit for own shameless shoeing in of subsequent thought):
'Well, quite predictably he opened his raincoat. And there was a moment's silence, then I said 'Do you call that a lining?')

Edited

Oh, I adore those Kitty monologues 😂

Pashazade · Today 18:01

Just sat and watched the Harley Bailey (Hurly Burly) sketch so funny.

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