Feminism
We are not a revolutionary people. We hate injustice; but the idea of doing something active to right a wrong does not appeal to us. Instead we do what we're best at - make a joke of it, then wait for someone else to do something about it.
So, there are no famous British feminists, but plenty of famous British feminist comedians. For example, comedian Ben Elton told jokes about periods; comedienne Jo Brand tells jokes about cakes.
Everyone under 65 will agree enthusiastically that moderate feminism is a good thing in a western economy, that opportunities should be equal for all, and will laugh at the old-fashioned and sexist attitudes made fun of by comedians. And then most of us will just carrying on doing the same old things. The men will leave the lavatory to be cleaned by the woman, and the woman will leave the wheel to be changed by the man. The woman will organise dinner, but the man will organise the barbecue. The man who heads a successful company is admired for his skill at the job, but the woman who heads a successful company is admired because she is also a mother.
Have men's and women's attitudes to each other changed over the years? Take a typical office meeting. John Black and Jane White from one company are meeting David Brown and Diana Green from another. All are roughly the same age. Here is how the meeting would start in various decades.
Pre 1945
Does not apply. The women were all at home looking after the children.
1945-1970
Black: Hello, Brown. Ah, Miss Green, you must be Mr Brown's secretary.
Green: (says nothing; smiles meekly)
Brown: I say, Miss White, make a cup of tea, there's a good girl. Right, Brown, old chap, about autumn's product launch...
White: (says nothing; smiles meekly and makes tea)
1970-1985
Black: Hello, David. Ah, Miss Green, you must be Mr Brown's secretary.
Green: It's 'Ms', actually, and I'm NOT his secretary. I'm taking over David's job when he leaves next month, ACTUALLY.
Brown: I say, Miss White, make a cup of tea for me and John while we talk about autumn's product launch, there's a good girl.
White: It's 'Ms' to you, and I'm not a girl, I'm a woman, who happens to be the launch co-ordinator, ACTUALLY.
1985-today
Black: Hello, David. Ah, you must be... erm... Ms? Miss? Mrs? Green? Er...
Green: Just 'Diana' will do fine, thanks. I'm David's line manager, hello.
Brown: I say, Ja.. er... Ms Wh... could you make a... er... shall I make... erm... would anyone like...
White: (Smiles confidently) Call me 'Jane'. How about if I get us all a cup of tea while John runs you through the plans for autumn's product launch, and I can then go over our marketing strategy - over to you, John.
The feminist view of how things have progressed over the past few years is one of limited success. After years of patronising and demeaning attitudes from men, women went through a period of angry rebellion, and are at last beginning to break through the 'glass ceiling' (as it is called) and occupy some positions of authority and control with confidence.
The men's view of the situation is also one of limited success. Theyıre not sure how to treat confident and capable women, but the important thing is, they still manage to avoid making the tea.
Here are a few more Feminism concepts.
Bra-burning
Activity briefly indulged in by 1960s American feminists as media stunt. Still mentioned by older people however as supposed feminist characteristic: 'I do support feminists, but I wouldn't burn my bra or anything like that...' In any case it was never done by anyone over here, as it would only make people laugh, and besides it's too cold.
Names
Do you assume Ms, Mrs, Miss, use the first name, or just ignore her? There's no sure way to tell, and if you guess wrong you can offend. So be polite. Simply ask, 'What shall I call you?', before you ask her to make the tea.
Watch for the double-barrelled surname: often a married woman who combines her own and husband's surname - but unlikely to respond kindly to being called 'Mrs'. The practice is unknown among men because it would mean sending off for a new driving licence etc.
Trends
You read about many trends in reaction to feminist movements of the 1960s, all of them journalists' fiction.
The 1970s had 'Career Woman' who had a well-paid job and still raised her family. This was invented by male journalists who wished they had married women like that.
The 1980s had 'New Man', a sensitive type who talked about feelings and was happy to look after children. This was invented by female journalists who wished they had married men like that.
The 1990s had in response 'New Lads', who live in messy bachelor flats and celebrate beer, football, and sex (in that order). The popular TV comedy 'Men Behaving Badly' features such characters. This was invented by male journalists who wished they could get away with behaving like that.
Now we have 'New Ladettes', female equivalents of New Lads. This was invented by female journalists who wished they too could live in messy flats and celebrate beer, football, and sex, but not in that order.
TV ads
Old TV adverts, in which the woman dutifully cleaned and cooked for her husband, are good to laugh at for their amusingly outdated attitudes.
Modern TV adverts, in which the man is seen sharing the duties of housework, are good to laugh at too, because everyone knows it just doesn't happen.
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