On one level we might see it as good news for gender equality that Antonia Romeo has been appointed as the first female cabinet secretary... on another this is 2026, the post has existed for 110 years, and we can be sure its not merely a figment of the distribution of the appropriate skills that its taken that long to appoint a women to the post.
It *is* more evidence that we are slowly moving away from politics as boys club, but the key word here is 'slowly'!
Gender equality is one thing but class equality is another thing altogether.
Antonia Romeo comes from the exact same privately educated in exclusive schools and Oxbridge route as all the boys in the club.
yes, absolutely fair comment - this would also be the classic critique of 'liberal feminism' - ignores the interaction of class & gender
@ChrisMayLA6 It's the wrong striation to pay attention to, it's one they'd like you to look at though because it isn't about the same aggressively sociopathic people being picked. The problem isn't the boys club but the people in the club.
I'm going to say this is not an either/or but a both issue.... I agree we should not ignore the individuals, but there is also (to my mind) a structural element as well - its the interaction of the two which compounds each
@ChrisMayLA6 She has history as a bully. It seems the women appointed to powerful or political roles in UK government are the worst - ones that out-macho men to get the post. Same in the USA.
Indeed, there is a certain sense that the women men promote are those that look most like the men promoting...
@ChrisMayLA6 @HarriettMB anyone willing to do what’s needed to get power …
