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A trio of champion women? Steady on, old girl… A trio of champion women? Steady on, old girl…
(7 months later)
In the 1900s, a young Lady Violet Bonham-Carter asked her governess how she would spend her life. She replied: "Until you are 18 you will do lessons. And afterwards – you will do nothing." If you wanted the adoration of men, and your father had a few million in the bank, it was the safest way.In the 1900s, a young Lady Violet Bonham-Carter asked her governess how she would spend her life. She replied: "Until you are 18 you will do lessons. And afterwards – you will do nothing." If you wanted the adoration of men, and your father had a few million in the bank, it was the safest way.
In A Century of Women, historian Sheila Rowbotham describes how women in the 20th century, from every class, again and again defied the convention that their sole functions were motherhood and marriage. They did so aware that, once they strayed into intellectual, political or physical pursuits, they would be punished, regarded as an oddity among their sex since these were serious pursuits best left to men.In A Century of Women, historian Sheila Rowbotham describes how women in the 20th century, from every class, again and again defied the convention that their sole functions were motherhood and marriage. They did so aware that, once they strayed into intellectual, political or physical pursuits, they would be punished, regarded as an oddity among their sex since these were serious pursuits best left to men.
How quaint, how historic – or maybe not? Last week, we witnessed not once, not twice, but three times that pat on the head, that slight murmur of surprise at what women can achieve.How quaint, how historic – or maybe not? Last week, we witnessed not once, not twice, but three times that pat on the head, that slight murmur of surprise at what women can achieve.
That Ripley's Believe It Or Not! round of applause came for Jo Pavey, 40, mother of two, who gloriously won gold in the 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships, becoming the oldest woman to do so, but certainly not the last, as motherhood continues to defy traditional chronology.That Ripley's Believe It Or Not! round of applause came for Jo Pavey, 40, mother of two, who gloriously won gold in the 10,000m at the European Athletics Championships, becoming the oldest woman to do so, but certainly not the last, as motherhood continues to defy traditional chronology.
Next was Professor Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields medal, akin to a Nobel prize for maths, for her work in complex geometry, although as Professor Dame Frances Kirwan, a member of the medal selection committee, reminded us, women have been contributing to mathematics for centuries (but mysteriously not winning prizes).Next was Professor Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to win the Fields medal, akin to a Nobel prize for maths, for her work in complex geometry, although as Professor Dame Frances Kirwan, a member of the medal selection committee, reminded us, women have been contributing to mathematics for centuries (but mysteriously not winning prizes).
And then there was the announcement of the retirement of the chess grandmaster Judit Polgar, now 38, a mother of two. At 15, she became the youngest grandmaster in history and went on to beat Boris Spassky and Magnus Carlsen. A report in the Times illustrates how strongly the traditional notion lingers on that there are some pursuits still best left to men: "Male grandmasters insist women do not have the logical hard wiring or the belligerence to succeed," it read. "Polgar has stood out like a third sex." Some tribute. And then there was the announcement of the retirement of the chess grandmaster Judit Polgar, now 38, a mother of two. At 15, she became the youngest grandmaster in history and went on to beat Boris Spassky and Magnus Carlsen. A report in the Times illustrates how strongly the traditional notion lingers on that there are some pursuits still best left to men: "Male grandmasters insist women do not have the logical hard wiring or the belligerence to succeed," it read. "Polgar has stood out like a third sex." Some tribute.
Of course, women breaking through is cause for celebration. But why is it still in the context of being seen as slightly freaky, an exception to the rule and therefore not quite human, never mind female? In the case of Polgar and Pavey, what is refreshing – and perhaps a signal of a little progress – is that unlike many of their predecessors who were first in their field, they have not had to forfeit motherhood. Once upon a time, spinsterhood was the price paid for success and for being considered by men too clever by half. Now, increasingly, prominent women are saying a family life isn't just important: it's a vital part of success.Of course, women breaking through is cause for celebration. But why is it still in the context of being seen as slightly freaky, an exception to the rule and therefore not quite human, never mind female? In the case of Polgar and Pavey, what is refreshing – and perhaps a signal of a little progress – is that unlike many of their predecessors who were first in their field, they have not had to forfeit motherhood. Once upon a time, spinsterhood was the price paid for success and for being considered by men too clever by half. Now, increasingly, prominent women are saying a family life isn't just important: it's a vital part of success.
History is littered with females who were "one-offs" and the seismic change they heralded never happened, partly because society was too resistant and partly because the cost of being childless and viewed as weird, and less of a woman, was too high a price to pay. In 1920 Crystal Eastman asked: "How to arrange the world so that women can be human beings with a chance to exercise their infinitely varied gifts in infinitely varied ways?" We await the answer. History is littered with females who were "one-offs" and the seismic change they heralded never happened, partly because society was too resistant and partly because the cost of being childless and viewed as weird, and less of a woman, was too high a price to pay. In 1920 Crystal Eastman asked: "How to arrange the world so that women can be human beings with a chance to exercise their infinitely varied gifts in infinitely varied ways?" We await the answer.