| England Women's Cricket Team |
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| Judith de Lozier |
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| Baroness Scotland |
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Kathryn White |
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International Women's Day
I have to admit to being fascinated by the death of Feminism. We are being conned into believing that it had achieved all its aims, and now is no longer needed. In fact equal pay is actually going backward, both here and abroad, and apparently "girl power" is preferred to the word feminism. Hence the role models of the skinny surgically enhanced WAGS. Most disturbing, is the reaction of women when asked, would you consider yourself a feminist? They all hesitate, then give various reasons why. Apparently it's seen as too aggressive. As Orwell showed, once you change the language, the names of things, then you change the world. It's very NLP. The only mention of International Women's Day in the mainstream media seemed to be this speech by Hillary Clinton. Printed on the left hand side Mail on Sunday. Click here to read more.  |
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English Cricket and Chelsea Pensioners
Two other events focused on women: the Chelsea Pensioners finally opened their doors to welcome in women from the armed forces. Who have been there since 1945 last century, oh well, only half a century to catch up. Perhaps we're too impatient. English Women Ready to Rule the World. Don't you just love the title? Ready to rule the world indeed, goodness before long they'll pay women tennis players the same as the men at Wimbledon! |
Madam Speaker
I am so lucky that my life is full of amazing women. Madam Speaker is the name of a rose: it is in boxes on the terrace of the House of Commons, and also in her garden; described by the grower thus: "A glorious bloom red of colour, pleasantly perfumed a delight to have around, can be prickly if not properly handled" A woman of enormous achievement, Baroness Boothroyd is most proud that she was a Chancellor of the Open University: started by Jennie Lee, celebrating many mature people taking degrees, but above all the only university with no entrance examination. Baroness Boothroyd isn't a conventional woman; I was delighted to discover that she sings bass in the parliamentary choir. Back to top |
Judith deLozier
My other exciting discovery was just how MANY of the development of concepts and ideas in NLP came from Judith deLozier. The logical levels, the field, more recently generative collaboration. Collaboration, one of the complex or so called soft skills. One of the originators, she worked with Bandler and Grinder from the beginning. Her collaboration with Grinder lasted 15 years, culminating in the book Turtles All the Way Down. With Robert Dilts, she co-authored the NLP Encyclopaedia which is free on line.
Her interview follows soon.
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Attorney General
This month the interview is with Kathryn White. Kathryn is an inspiring role model in many ways, but what most impressed me were her own role models. One is George Orwell who was one of my own formative models. His focus on how language can be changed and controlled, is surely relevant today when words like feminism, and equality have become threatening or negative words if we are to believe the media.
Baroness Scotland
Another of Kathryn's role models is in the news currently. The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland. I doubt that many people are aware that the Attorney General is a black woman and top of this year's Power List. I shall also be interviewing Baroness Kennedy QC.
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| Kathryn White
Extract from Interview with Kathryn - see the archive for a slightly longer extract.
As a successful barrister Kathryn has made very deliberate choices which reflect being a woman. She read History at Balliol, Oxford, from a state grammar school. At school once, when studying a Shakespeare play, the teacher asked "Who among you is a feminist?", she was the only one who put her hand up in the whole group!
Toward the end of her Oxford years, Kathryn was feeling pressure to choose a career, so she went to India with youthful ideas about "making a difference".
After a period in India, she decided that the most effective way she could make a difference was in her own home culture, and returned to England to train as a barrister. She has strong views on this, borne out of her beliefs, values and experiences.
Extract from Kathryn White
Are there any barriers to women becoming barristers?
Yes, there are some barriers to becoming a barrister, but I would want to qualify that statement. I believe the Bar has taken huge steps in the past few years and now it can be a wonderful career for women. But I do believe that to achieve real parity of opportunity and access to the Bar, we must focus not just on the post-graduate stage but also on young women of 12 or 13 years old, or even younger. I believe that this age is when the disparity of ambition shows itself. Very young women need to be given the confidence to aspire to all sorts of different routes in life. I believe that one of the biggest obstacles for many women at the Bar is self-confidence and the will to keep going even when we feel we are 'in over our heads' or don't know as much as we should. I also think there is a skewed perception of what you need to be a good barrister. I have been surprised by the beliefs of some of my work experience students, many of whom equate attending public school or Oxbridge with being 'smart enough' to practise at the Bar. Practitioners at the Bar need to spread the message to everyone - not just women - that the Bar is an open place which welcomes, and will thrive on welcoming, people from all sorts of backgrounds. Perhaps the single most important factor for change in this respect is to have strong role models.
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SbS: What's in a Name?
I met an angel. He'd flown from New Zealand, but must have tucked his wings away. Stuart is the Development director for SbS (Southbank Sinfonia) and it's his job to get the sponsors on board. The funding which make possible this amazing group which sponsors young musicians in their first year out. Where I first met them, at a free concert at the Crush bar of the Royal Opera House. 27th April 1pm, but be at the Opera House before 11am if you don't want to miss tickets. You will see me mentioning SbS quite often these days. Come to the free Rush Hour Concerts. Donate to the fund. The photo opposite is of the All Women Winds, who I first heard at the free concert in the crush bar.
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Ladies Who Lunch
Women Of the Year Lunch - an updateLast year the Women of the Year Lunch organized an inaugural lecture. It was Mary Robinson, and I'd have given my eye teeth to be there. A truly global international inspirational woman. If you have been a woman of the year (and we all are), all the women who are invited, are also invited to the lecture in April. My mis-conceptions about ladies who lunch were conrrected by their commitment; the cause taken up this year is the femicide in the DRC. The V-Wall
A lunch was hosted by Rosie Hammond at the House of Lords, with Sarah Brown as speaker; Sam Roddick and Lynn Franks also attended. They appeal to you join the V-Wall against violence to women. Click here for more information.
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As ever go well in the world and remember that you have all the resources you need, or can get them. If you are receiving this news-sheet for the first time, it entitles you to one Free Coaching Session, Business or Personal, OR a free seminar for your staff on Diversity for your Business, or topic of your choice.
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| Christina
Woman on a Mission
To inspire, delight and empower.
Motivational speaker, NLP Master Practitioner, Counsellor and Coach
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