Watching the Prime Minister being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday morning was a painful experience.
Love or hate either of them, there were some stereotypical relationship dynamics being played out large between them.
There was his dogmatic energy, convinced and, indeed, saying more times than I could count that he was right and knew what you, me and the rest of the ‘public’ wanted.
Like not wanting 20 mph speed limits.
For feck’s sake, not one mention of people scared half to death about bills, feeding their family and keeping a roof over their heads and the millions relying on food banks.
Then the insult of saying that reducing the rate of inflation was ‘the best tax cut’ for the millions in need. I found myself shouting at the screen, ‘Do you think we’re all idiots?’
He blew billows of smoke, talked over and even told her she was wrong, totally avoiding an answer to her questions.
Heavily invested in his own agenda, he talked like a steamroller over-riding and demeaning her interventions. So determined to have his particular spin up front, he repeatedly hammered it irrespective of her question.
At one extreme, it was behaviour that could well be seen as gaslighting and at another extreme, if nothing else, paternalistic, patriarchal, and patronising.
Is there a woman alive who hasn’t been on the receiving end of a similarly toned barrage at some point in her life?
LK can be dogmatic herself. On this occasion, however, she doggedly asked and repeated her questions in order to get heard but to no avail. She kept her cool and continued to ask and challenge, exasperated, even incredulous, on occasions like the reduced-rate-of-inflation-equates-to-a-tax-cut moment.
She attempted to interrupt and talk loudly over him to get a word in edgeways but was consistently overpowered by his insisting and deeper voice. Was it ever thus?
Watching and hearing all of that, I felt resigned defeat.
And I wondered how many women might know something of that experience too; of fighting a losing battle.
Yes, I know it’s politics again…
AND every time this happens to a disabled person, a BAME person, an LGBTQ+ person OR A WOMAN, IT IS POLITICAL! It’s establishment and male entitlement in action again.
I admit I despair and, when I appeal to the divine feminine for a way to counteract this status quo, she simply tells me to BE POWERFUL!
My clenched fist is raised and my quill is sharp. So, as well as punching the patriarchy in the balls and biting them back, what else would you have me do, woman?
What else would you have me do?
Love and wild warm wishes…
From discontent to divine direction,revitalise who you are and where you’re going…
PS… I start researching and writing my book this month and I wonder if some of the above fire will influence it… Who knows! I’ll shortly invite you to be one of those special women who’ll join me on my book journey. In the meantime, if you’d love to do that, please let me know why… Drop me a line here now!
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6-Session Wild Soul Programme here…