This is the biggest news that is in the UK at the moment. The Chancellor, who's basically the equivalent of our Nicola Willis, started crying in Parliament.
Now I feel really sorry for her, cause it looks like she is going to probably end up taking the fall for a man's incompetence because Keir Starmer, her Prime Minister, is weak and is giving into a rebellion and has forced a U-turn on her, thereby undermining her fiscal plans.
And then after all of that, after doing all of that to her and humiliating her in public, what then happened in Parliament is what sparked the tears.
He was asked whether, after all of the humiliation he's put her through, he's going to keep her in the job, and he would not confirm that he would keep her in the job.
And she's sitting directly behind him, the cameras capture it, her face crumbles and the tears start rolling - and you'd have to be heartless not to feel for the woman, because it is incredibly clear that she is trying so hard not to cry, but she cannot help it.
But women have got to stop crying in public. If you cannot stop yourself crying in public because it is too much, get up, leave the room, do it privately.
I was reading Jacinda's book last night, again - I mean, talk about crying, there's another crier - and in it, she tells the story of being pregnant and talking to a successful corporate woman at a function.
And she couldn't find a word that she was looking for and she said to the woman, "Oh, baby brain."
And then she laughed, but the woman didn't laugh. The woman looked at her with a stern face and said to her, "You can never say that."
And the reason is obvious - because if she says that in public, Jacinda Ardern's opponents would have seized on it, but also people in general would have seized on it as an example that women cannot do significant jobs while being pregnant and being mums.
And the same is unfortunately true for Rachel Reeves. There will be people who will seize on this as an example that women cannot handle significant and stressful jobs because women are inherently more emotional.
Now, I realize that what I'm saying is controversial because we have been told time and time again by people like John Kirwan that we're not supposed to bottle things up and we are supposed to talk about it.
But I think we've gone completely in the other direction. We are now at risk of oversharing everything that we're feeling. By all means, talk about it.
Talk to the people closest to you. Cry all you like behind closed doors to them. But if you're gonna cry in public, leave the room - especially, for God's sake, if you're a woman in a big job because it reflects on all women.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and commentator who hosts Newstalk ZB's Drive show HERE - where this article was sourced.
7 comments:
quote-Talk to the people closest to you. Cry all you like behind closed doors to them. But if you're gonna cry in public, leave the room - especially, for God's sake, if you're a woman in a big job because it reflects on all women.
Just asking in these odd times, does 'all woman' include the one's with a penis?
Sloppy language. What an insult to anticipated readers. I stopped at the 3rd word. If a writer, especially one who purports to be professional, can't respect English as a communication medium then go away, I don't respect what you are trying to say. These sorts of gimmicks and games are as immature and unhelpful as maori splatterings and words so obscure most people need a dictionary to understand them.
HDPA is talking absolute garbage.
Women don’t need to behave like men in order to be taken seriously, & it’s that attitude why we are still not truly treated as ‘different but equal’, & why we have made no headway in being properly remunerated for our true contribution to society.
Further, you only have to put men on a period or labour assimilator to prove how weak they are & how strong we are. They blubber like babies when experiencing mild cramps or barely ‘dilated’.
Men go through nothing compared to us & but for us, no man would exist
We are the more resilient sex with a much higher pain threshold who have to battle through work, child-rearing, chores & caregiving irrespective of what we have going on emotionally or physically.
So we can can cry & be self-deprecating about baby brain or menopause brain as much as we want because even at our most ‘duh’ or most emotional moments, we are still twice the man a man could ever be.
HDPA would do well to get educated on what feminism actually is. She could start by reading Marlyn Waring’s books.
I have seen teary male faces among politicians a few times too. Remember Bob Hawke?
I don't think this is a gender issue but rather a personality issue. Perhaps more women than men cry but who cares? I live in a world of individuals, not gender stereotypes.
Noone should feel sorry for politicians - their own behaviour excludes this sentiment. Elephant hides
Barend - Yes, I was reminded of Bob Hawke too. Winston Churchill was another. I heartily agree with your sentiments re living “in a world of individuals, not gender stereotypes”.
If one looks at the History of The UK Labour Party, over the past 10 years, you will find ineptitude across the seated Members, who got elected to Westminster. The Leadership has been less than impressive, and again if you are looking at the history of Labour, you will find that many leaders have passed thru the exit door very quickly. Keir Starmer is no different and with the current issues that face Labour, he may not last long.
This incompetence also can be found in those that Starmer appointed to cabinet posts, most showing total incompetence in what they are tasked to do. Sadly Rachel Reeves has become " a target" due to the backlash over some of her policies, or those written by The Staff, for which she presents as being Labour Policy.
Me thinks that Reform who are also making Labour look like idiots and Starmer is not happy. along with the policies emanated by Rachel Reeves, which only "adds more fire fuel, under the political cauldron", aka as Elections.
If Rachel 'departs', not sure who will "take her seat", again a lack of ability is the biggest issue for the PM.
Post a Comment