Mary Beard

She is terrific, really enjoying listening to her.

I do like Mary Beard presenting her programmes on the Romans, but saw her on Question Time where she was not prepared to listen to (a female) member of the audience who was local to the areain question, instead pontificating from the lofty heights of 'reports' she had read.

She also thought John Humphrys was English.

I would not think she has ever had a problem with being 'silenced'.

If any of you listenend to her tonight she spoke of how women have been "silenced" since the earliest days of Western civilisation and (without whingeing) of the obscene and criminal death and mutilitation threats she received vis Twitter simply for speaking up as a woman. It was shocking but she was also extremely witty, perceptive and intelligent. OK he is Welsh (I had to look that up) but "pontificating....."??

She is very articulate and won't be shut up by bullying men. Who cares what nationality boring Humphrys is?

I'm sorry to say I feel I have spent much of my life dumbing down, and so do many of my women friends. It is SUCH HARD WORK not to. And then you get into the habit of not being able to string an intelligent sentence together, because you've artfully simulated hesitation and stupidity for so long. Um, I think that's what I mean...not really sure....

alchemillamollis, you should not spend your life "dumbing down". As a lady, you have a lot to contribute to life, and you should make that contribution known. There are ladies in my life who are strong and will take you to task if you hint at bullying them, and there are ladies who are more reserved, not as out going, if you get my drift. If this country was run by women, in ten years time it would be back on its feet, the health service, and all the other services would be working OK. So please, if you have something to say, then say it. Sorry if this sounds like a rant [Flowers]

Sorry

I (a man) am whole-heartedly for Mary Beard, and found her lecture fascinating. I can thank my first wife for making me consider the way women are marginalised... something which, up until then, I hadn't considered - like many men I suppose.

So I wonder why she didn't practise what she preaches when she was in Question Time?

alchemillamollis

Brilliant, well argued & informative lecture & so rare on prime time TV. Also good to have had the common problem of how women are silenced spoken about & debated in such a forum. Berdie - re your "strong ladies" - she also pointed out how women who find their voice can also be 'silenced' by being dismissed as e.g. bossy or by having to deal with abusive reactions as she did on Twitter - comments that I am pleased to say did not silence her but would do many people, however strong. I think she was also saying that no one should be silenced (others as well as women) and women shouldn't have to put on an act or change their voices, as Margaret Thatcher had to, to be listened to with respect.

It will be published in the London Review of Books.