All Things Women!

Last Month I started to write a blog and realised that there was no 29^th of the month! This March, though, I have been celebrating all things female. 

 

It was my first time being a delegate for the United Nations concerning Women’s issues.  

 

 

It was an amazing opportunity and I was so proud to be a part of this. Women all over the world came together to see how much progress we have made, and how much further we still have to go. We discussed issues from child marriage to menopause, and I have to say it was incredibly enlightening, and sometimes a little sad to see how, in many areas, we are still rooted in the past. Only two weeks ago, I attended a medical appointment, which I waited four years for. I was greeted by a consultant who firstly held on to my hand far too long to be comfortable, then he complimented me on my smile. Now, I am not immune to compliments, but it seemed to be in appropriate for the situation. It was especially annoying when he said how much he liked my clothes, but refused to let me speak – about anything! It was essential that I spoke up about my medication and symptoms, but he shut me down. When I asked questions, he said, ‘I just told you,’ (which he had not!). There was a lot of information I needed to tell him, but he would not hear it and made a suspected diagnosis with no factual input at all. My husband, a medical professional himself, tells me that the most important thing a doctor can do is to listen to the patient, who will give you all the answers. Unfortunately, this one seemed fixated on my appearance and asserting his authority. Even the letter following the appointment was condescending, stating that it ‘may contain some technical information as it was professional to professional’ – basically, ‘don’t worry your pretty little head about it, dear!’

 

Thankfully, we women are still fighting the good fight. 

 

It leads me to the creative project I am involved in this month and next. I am appearing in the play, Operation Radar, by Suzanne Hawkes, which begins on April 1^st at Two Siters Arts Centre in Trimley. Even in 1939, people realised the importance of women, and the development of Radar at Bawdsey in Suffolk played a major part in winning the war. This play is the reason I am a little late with my upload this month, as I am involved in singing and acting the role of two women who were important at the time. 

 

It is 2025, so my dearest wish is that we can just see each other as people, regardless of gender. We all have a part to play in this world.

 

People don’t believe me when I say I don’t see gender, race, size age. I really don’t. Perhaps that is unusual, but I don’t think it should be. Last week I also went to prison again – don’t worry, I did not go because I committed a crime, I was working with prisoners who had read my book for their book club and also researching for my new novel. I told them I was only interested in what I saw in front of me that day. I didn’t want to know who they were when they were incarcerated – only who they were now. And what I saw were men young and old who were genuinely engaged, creative and articulate. 

 

So, before I embark on playing someone from the past, let’s have a hope for the future – that we one day find a world where we are all truly accepting of differences and look for the good in everyone. 

 

 

Operation Radar begins at Two Sisters Arts Centre on 1st April.