Two women are presenting the Today programme

Hi Having a bit of a think about the world of GN forums. I'm rather new to all this and I'm suppose if I'm honest I 'm used to sitting down with like minded people and putting the world to rights. j08 brought me up sharp, as did the Daily Mail debate. I realise that in my comfort zone I don't know anyone who reads the Mail (or any of the red tops), any one who isn't concerned about racial, age and women's equality or isn't interested in politics and world events. Is this an age thing - do we tend to settle down in an intellectual rut ? Should I make an effort to see where for members of UKIP are coming from rather than seeing them as 'little Englanders'. Should I open my mind or just carry on fighting for the things that matter to me and never mind if most of the world doesn't care !

I think that was a critical comment from j08 - re the Sunday Times but it is hard to tell what she is getting at sometimes
You are lucky that your real world contains like minded people albertine but it does sound a bit comfy.
There is very diverse opinion on GN and interesting to hear the other side of the debate sometimes. And I like a good argument/debate. (I come from an opinionated family and during our periodic cousin's gatherings there is often a fair bit of political disagreement - from Tory voters to Trotskists)
Not much interest in feminism on GN though I find.

Could last night's University Challenge be a sign of things to come, when a team of students from Bangor - 3 women, one man - wiped the floor with four mature males from Aberystwyth?

Go Bangor! We're not a backwater, honest. The uni was praised on Woman's Hour recently for their anti-harrassment work too.

That's an interesting point JessM. My experience is that few of the current generation of 20 - 30 year olds would identify themselves as feminist, but they live a lifestyle that has been enhanced by feminist activity by their mother's generation. Equal pay, maternity leave, return to work, flexible working etc etc all came about as a result of politically active women, and supportive men. The young people I know have much more equal relationships between genders, closer friendships between genders, than was (usually) the case in the 60's and 70's when I was their age. When one of their male pals recently expressed some negative views on public breast feeding, one of my daughter's explained to him I'd be on him like a ton of bricks. She's a feminist, she didn't change her name when she married (said my daughter, with pride) I find it fascinating that the young women I know are happy to wear makeup and love frocking up, but stand their ground on issues of gender equality. The young men also seem much easier with showing physical and emotional affection to each other. I find that life affirming, and it makes me hope that the learning of each generation will be demonstrated in the next. (off to Pollyanna land now......)

Carry on standing up for the things that matter, albertine. There are quite a few feminists on here, who still want to share the view that equality and choice for women is far from sorted. Look out for the threads that mention One Billion Rising - the global campaign against violence to women and girls, V-Day Rise For Justice, discussions about the burka, female genital mutilation, forced marriages and much, much more.

female bishops v popular on GN!

"Putting the phwoar! into Four"

Surely that speaks for itself! How can that be hard to understand?

Sorry about your ridiculous lack of comprehension Jess.

I don't know what that bit from Albertine about bringing her up sharp means.

#holby

j08 I don't know what your opinion is on the headline. That is what I mean. Bit hard to engage with your one-blue-word posts.

You think that another woman being employed as a presenter on the Today programme should invoke a headline like that?

You don't think it is just a bit sexist and pathetic?

My God.

Hi again
j08 - you are an enigma, that's why I said you brought me up sharp ! I took your ' sigh ' to mean ' boring ' or ' shut up about it '. Was I wrong ? You do seem a bit grumpy.
The awful thing is I was getting a feeling that I am a bit of an imposter on GN. I look after grandchildren, garden, walk dogs, read books, cook - do all the granny things but somehow assume most grans are older than me and more conservative. Obviously I'm wrong - terrible generalisation. Sorry sisters!

albertine yes, probably lots of us doing all those things like you, in the same way that during the 70s we were active feminists who were also looking after babies, holding down jobs, doing too much housework, cooking and gardening. Roll on the day when 51% of women are running the government, business and industry, and men are proportionally represented in childcare and housework, and no-one bats an eyelid!

Albertine do you realise the "sigh" (in blue) was a link. If you click on it you will see it goes through to a ridiculous and angry making newspaper headline.

I see your point about that headline, J08. And that's a 'serious' (albeit Murdoch) newspaper. Despair!
Albertine, you obviously have more in common with a lot of posters here than you thought you had! Carry on posting, please.

Albertine I think you sound the perfect Gransnetter.

For the record, I don't look after grandkids much due to distance (quite glad tbh (done my share), don't have dogs, read books far too much, don't cook anything like as much as I used to due to age related laziness (it IS a condition) and a penchant for excellent quality ready meals. And pub dinners.

And I bet you don't clean behind the fridge j08