As much as is possible to be non-sexist and politically correct, gender has always been an explosive subject. It is, after all, the relationship between male and female, the dynamics between them that are so fascinating today. But it is nevertheless unavoidable to talk about the sexes on their own. Even Newsnight Review plunges these depths, discussing Tony Parsons as an example of "lad lit"only a few months ago. And then there was the launch of "Men's Hour" on Radio 5 Live. I had a brief listen and thought it was crass, overly 'soft', and just a bit gay. A sense of disbelief that male vulnerabilities - something as mythical as UFO's for many - were being discussed on the air waves was a slight shock.
But of course these developments are pies in the sky, compared to the industry and frankness of the female realm. It is indeed difficult not just to look good, but to find the money and time to look good. To balance all the things that are biological givens and social norms. So it is with some trepidation that I enter this minefield, and gloss over a few issues which rightly or sadly I do not know much about.
It all started on the Picadilly Line, where a pretty girl is reading "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Having topped the book-selling charts for quite a while in the US, it has fostered polarized debate as to its authorship. Some web reviews have commented on its neurotic, overly indulgent style - and this is coming from other women. Others have praised the way it details a rites of passage for women towards personal and/or philosophical enlightenment. Have any of you read this book, or would you be interested in reading it? Or for want of a more critical inquiry, would you be seen reading it? Imagine you were on a train one day reading a book - you are either squinting your eyes looking for the existential 'light' or you are just a silly person with wacky thoughts. Or you could be both of course.
And then there is the institution of mumsnet.com - a saviour/release for many battered, lucky, confused, enlightened, divorced, single women. Watching "Mistresses" on the BBC seems like a colourful, albeit a little more dramatic, condensed representation of mumsnet.com issues all in the space of 58 minutes. Not bad... but seriously what is going on when the first sub-link to the website is "Am I being unreasonable?" Google are such sexist twaddles!
Of course, we should never discuss such a statement as "women in the developed world have never had it so good" - as The Economist has attempted. Surely this is asking the wrong question. It should be asking, are the genders content in our world today. Content because happiness is just a marketing executive's favourite buzzword. So yes, content.
"How are you... really?" "Je suis content :-)"
See relevant links:
Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love - 3.54 stars at goodreads.com
Economist Debates: Women
Mumsnet
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