well thank you very much Sara and to the two previous speakers I’ve got a lot to
two previous speakers I’ve got a lot to
two previous speakers I’ve got a lot to compete with now now I’m guessing that
compete with now now I’m guessing that
compete with now now I’m guessing that most of you in this room have heard an
most of you in this room have heard an
most of you in this room have heard an expression called mansplaining it’s when
expression called mansplaining it’s when
expression called mansplaining it’s when a man lectures a woman at great lengths
a man lectures a woman at great lengths
a man lectures a woman at great lengths and with great confidence about a
and with great confidence about a
and with great confidence about a subject that she knows more about than
subject that she knows more about than
subject that she knows more about than he does and it arose after an article
he does and it arose after an article
he does and it arose after an article written by a distinguished act academic
written by a distinguished act academic
written by a distinguished act academic historian called
historian called
historian called Rebecca Solnit now Rebecca Solnit had
Rebecca Solnit now Rebecca Solnit had
Rebecca Solnit now Rebecca Solnit had found herself at a party in Aspen and
found herself at a party in Aspen and
found herself at a party in Aspen and they’re slightly patronizing slightly
they’re slightly patronizing slightly
they’re slightly patronizing slightly older male host had asked her what her
older male host had asked her what her
older male host had asked her what her recent book was about now she was only
recent book was about now she was only
recent book was about now she was only halfway through the title which
halfway through the title which
halfway through the title which mentioned Victorian photographer called
mentioned Victorian photographer called
mentioned Victorian photographer called Eadweard Muybridge before he cut her off
Eadweard Muybridge before he cut her off
Eadweard Muybridge before he cut her off and said that now I wonder if you’ve
and said that now I wonder if you’ve
and said that now I wonder if you’ve read the very important book about
read the very important book about
read the very important book about Edward my bridge that came out this year
Edward my bridge that came out this year
Edward my bridge that came out this year and she was rather flummoxed by this
and she was rather flummoxed by this
and she was rather flummoxed by this because she thought blimey I didn’t know
because she thought blimey I didn’t know
because she thought blimey I didn’t know anyone else had written a book about
anyone else had written a book about
anyone else had written a book about this rather arcane subject so while she
this rather arcane subject so while she
this rather arcane subject so while she was wondering how to respond her friend
was wondering how to respond her friend
was wondering how to respond her friend who was next to her said to him well
who was next to her said to him well
who was next to her said to him well that’s her book he took no notice he
that’s her book he took no notice he
that’s her book he took no notice he carried on lecturing her about this very
carried on lecturing her about this very
carried on lecturing her about this very important book about Edward my bridge a
important book about Edward my bridge a
important book about Edward my bridge a hundred beckus knowledge soulmates
hundred beckus knowledge soulmates
hundred beckus knowledge soulmates friends had to say three or four times
friends had to say three or four times
friends had to say three or four times that’s her book before it sunk into him
that’s her book before it sunk into him
that’s her book before it sunk into him that he who hadn’t even read this very
that he who hadn’t even read this very
that he who hadn’t even read this very important book but had only read a
important book but had only read a
important book but had only read a review of it in the New York Times was
review of it in the New York Times was
review of it in the New York Times was explaining to the author of this very
explaining to the author of this very
explaining to the author of this very important book what it was apparently
important book what it was apparently
important book what it was apparently about now this misunderstanding arose
about now this misunderstanding arose
about now this misunderstanding arose because he couldn’t believe that a woman
because he couldn’t believe that a woman
because he couldn’t believe that a woman I mean a woman after all could have been
I mean a woman after all could have been
I mean a woman after all could have been the author of a terribly important book
the author of a terribly important book
the author of a terribly important book and as she wrote in this article
and as she wrote in this article
and as she wrote in this article afterwards it so confused the neat
afterwards it so confused the neat
afterwards it so confused the neat categories into which his world had been
categories into which his world had been
categories into which his world had been sorted now this is a problem that tends
sorted now this is a problem that tends
sorted now this is a problem that tends to reflect afflict all professional
to reflect afflict all professional
to reflect afflict all professional women I’m guessing I’ve certainly come
women I’m guessing I’ve certainly come
women I’m guessing I’ve certainly come across it I’m sure quite a lot of you
across it I’m sure quite a lot of you
across it I’m sure quite a lot of you have this sense of a man usually when
have this sense of a man usually when
have this sense of a man usually when you meet him for the first time under
you meet him for the first time under
you meet him for the first time under estimating your ability that his default
estimating your ability that his default
estimating your ability that his default assumption is you’re not actually going
assumption is you’re not actually going
assumption is you’re not actually going to be as good as in reality you are
to be as good as in reality you are
to be as good as in reality you are now this is a classic conversation I
now this is a classic conversation I
now this is a classic conversation I can’t tell you how many times certainly
can’t tell you how many times certainly
can’t tell you how many times certainly when I was younger any way that I would
when I was younger any way that I would
when I was younger any way that I would have this conversation I’m at a party I
have this conversation I’m at a party I
have this conversation I’m at a party I meet a man he says what do you do and I
meet a man he says what do you do and I
meet a man he says what do you do and I say I have to tell you first of all I’d
say I have to tell you first of all I’d
say I have to tell you first of all I’d spent 20 years working for The Times as
spent 20 years working for The Times as
spent 20 years working for The Times as a journalist and I was I’m not very seen
a journalist and I was I’m not very seen
a journalist and I was I’m not very seen but I’m just turning I was assistant
but I’m just turning I was assistant
but I’m just turning I was assistant editor and art said as a comment editor
editor and art said as a comment editor
editor and art said as a comment editor political lead writer political
political lead writer political
political lead writer political columnist and acting editor okay so what
columnist and acting editor okay so what
columnist and acting editor okay so what you do I’m a journalist
you do I’m a journalist
you do I’m a journalist freelance ah no starting at the bottom
freelance ah no starting at the bottom
freelance ah no starting at the bottom okay no actually I’m a staff journalist
okay no actually I’m a staff journalist
okay no actually I’m a staff journalist oh he says and who do you work for well
oh he says and who do you work for well
oh he says and who do you work for well I work for The Times oh he says and what
I work for The Times oh he says and what
I work for The Times oh he says and what did you do that and his voice rises in
did you do that and his voice rises in
did you do that and his voice rises in pitch well with everything I tell him
pitch well with everything I tell him
pitch well with everything I tell him and I think he thinks he’s being
and I think he thinks he’s being
and I think he thinks he’s being flattering that I should be flattered
flattering that I should be flattered
flattering that I should be flattered that he is impressed but actually I’m
that he is impressed but actually I’m
that he is impressed but actually I’m insulted because what he’s saying is I
insulted because what he’s saying is I
insulted because what he’s saying is I assumed you were going to be boring and
assumed you were going to be boring and
assumed you were going to be boring and junior and now it turns out that you’re
junior and now it turns out that you’re
junior and now it turns out that you’re not and I never used to have the
not and I never used to have the
not and I never used to have the confidence to say anything to this
confidence to say anything to this
confidence to say anything to this interlocutor until well I’ve you know it
interlocutor until well I’ve you know it
interlocutor until well I’ve you know it doesn’t happen so much now because I’m
doesn’t happen so much now because I’m
doesn’t happen so much now because I’m older but eventually I started saying
older but eventually I started saying
older but eventually I started saying just a lot of interest would you start
just a lot of interest would you start
just a lot of interest would you start the conversation in the same way if I’ve
the conversation in the same way if I’ve
the conversation in the same way if I’ve been a man and he usually looked you
been a man and he usually looked you
been a man and he usually looked you know a little bit shifty and said well
know a little bit shifty and said well
know a little bit shifty and said well no I probably wouldn’t have done so by
no I probably wouldn’t have done so by
no I probably wouldn’t have done so by no means all men are like this and in
no means all men are like this and in
no means all men are like this and in fact I’m pretty sure that the men in
fact I’m pretty sure that the men in
fact I’m pretty sure that the men in this room are meticulous in showing
this room are meticulous in showing
this room are meticulous in showing equal respect to their male and female
equal respect to their male and female
equal respect to their male and female colleagues and wouldn’t dream of
colleagues and wouldn’t dream of
colleagues and wouldn’t dream of mansplaining to anybody so please don’t
mansplaining to anybody so please don’t
mansplaining to anybody so please don’t take this personally a few guys that are
take this personally a few guys that are
take this personally a few guys that are here but there are just so many studies
here but there are just so many studies
here but there are just so many studies now that prove the existence of both
now that prove the existence of both
now that prove the existence of both conscious and unconscious bias against
conscious and unconscious bias against
conscious and unconscious bias against women of course against other minorities
women of course against other minorities
women of course against other minorities or not that were minority but you know
or not that were minority but you know
or not that were minority but you know against I think minorities too that I
against I think minorities too that I
against I think minorities too that I really think it’s worth examining so
really think it’s worth examining so
really think it’s worth examining so let’s start with a very quick experiment
let’s start with a very quick experiment
let’s start with a very quick experiment hands up those of you who have read a
hands up those of you who have read a
hands up those of you who have read a book written by a female author in the
book written by a female author in the
book written by a female author in the last six months
last six months
last six months great now hands down if you’re female
great now hands down if you’re female
great now hands down if you’re female I salute you gentlemen because all the
I salute you gentlemen because all the
I salute you gentlemen because all the statistics showed that women will read
statistics showed that women will read
statistics showed that women will read roughly half and half books written by
roughly half and half books written by
roughly half and half books written by men and women men will read roughly 80%
men and women men will read roughly 80%
men and women men will read roughly 80% books written by men now Lisa Jardine
books written by men now Lisa Jardine
books written by men now Lisa Jardine who is the great historian at Queen Mary
who is the great historian at Queen Mary
who is the great historian at Queen Mary University she did a study she
University she did a study she
University she did a study she interviewed a hundred academics writers
interviewed a hundred academics writers
interviewed a hundred academics writers and critics so these are people really
and critics so these are people really
and critics so these are people really at the top of their game and she wanted
at the top of their game and she wanted
at the top of their game and she wanted to find out what sort of literary
to find out what sort of literary
to find out what sort of literary fiction they read and she found exactly
fiction they read and she found exactly
fiction they read and she found exactly those statistics and asked which novel
those statistics and asked which novel
those statistics and asked which novel by a woman they had read recently a
by a woman they had read recently a
by a woman they had read recently a majority of men couldn’t even answer now
majority of men couldn’t even answer now
majority of men couldn’t even answer now Esquire magazine drew up a list of they
Esquire magazine drew up a list of they
Esquire magazine drew up a list of they called it the 80 best books every man
called it the 80 best books every man
called it the 80 best books every man should read which they then described as
should read which they then described as
should read which they then described as the greatest works of literature ever
the greatest works of literature ever
the greatest works of literature ever published out of those 80 guess how many
published out of those 80 guess how many
published out of those 80 guess how many were written by man 79 and the one
were written by man 79 and the one
were written by man 79 and the one female book a one the woman had a
female book a one the woman had a
female book a one the woman had a gender-neutral first name so they
gender-neutral first name so they
gender-neutral first name so they probably didn’t even realize she was a
probably didn’t even realize she was a
probably didn’t even realize she was a woman and that is why of course female
woman and that is why of course female
woman and that is why of course female authors like George Eliot and JK Rowling
authors like George Eliot and JK Rowling
authors like George Eliot and JK Rowling have had to either change your disguise
have had to either change your disguise
have had to either change your disguise their names to get man and boys to read
their names to get man and boys to read
their names to get man and boys to read them so it’s not just that women’s
them so it’s not just that women’s
them so it’s not just that women’s voices aren’t taken seriously enough
voices aren’t taken seriously enough
voices aren’t taken seriously enough it’s that they’re often not even being
it’s that they’re often not even being
it’s that they’re often not even being listened to or read in the first place
listened to or read in the first place
listened to or read in the first place and how can you get your voice taken
and how can you get your voice taken
and how can you get your voice taken seriously if it’s not even being heard I
seriously if it’s not even being heard I
seriously if it’s not even being heard I don’t know whether those of you on
don’t know whether those of you on
don’t know whether those of you on Twitter notice there’s a big fast the
Twitter notice there’s a big fast the
Twitter notice there’s a big fast the Twittersphere got very excited and cross
Twittersphere got very excited and cross
Twittersphere got very excited and cross a few months ago when a big data company
a few months ago when a big data company
a few months ago when a big data company called listed ran an analysis of the ten
called listed ran an analysis of the ten
called listed ran an analysis of the ten most influential political journalists
most influential political journalists
most influential political journalists on Twitter during the general election
on Twitter during the general election
on Twitter during the general election campaign every single one was a man now
campaign every single one was a man now
campaign every single one was a man now the most powerful political journalist
the most powerful political journalist
the most powerful political journalist in the country
in the country
in the country Laura Coons Berg the BBC political
Laura Coons Berg the BBC political
Laura Coons Berg the BBC political editor is female she didn’t even make
editor is female she didn’t even make
editor is female she didn’t even make the top ten so this company decided to
the top ten so this company decided to
the top ten so this company decided to delve a bit further to try and find out
delve a bit further to try and find out
delve a bit further to try and find out what the problem was and they discovered
what the problem was and they discovered
what the problem was and they discovered that male journalists were four to five
that male journalists were four to five
that male journalists were four to five times more likely to be retweeted than
times more likely to be retweeted than
times more likely to be retweeted than female ones
female ones
female ones now of course retweets are everything
now of course retweets are everything
now of course retweets are everything that’s that’s what gets you heard is you
that’s that’s what gets you heard is you
that’s that’s what gets you heard is you know spreading what you say through
know spreading what you say through
know spreading what you say through every
every
every what he else his followers too and this
what he else his followers too and this
what he else his followers too and this is true more generally there was an
is true more generally there was an
is true more generally there was an analysis done by Harvard Business Review
analysis done by Harvard Business Review
analysis done by Harvard Business Review which found that men are almost twice as
which found that men are almost twice as
which found that men are almost twice as likely to follow another man on Twitter
likely to follow another man on Twitter
likely to follow another man on Twitter than a woman even though women make up
than a woman even though women make up
than a woman even though women make up 55% of of Twitter users and they’re much
55% of of Twitter users and they’re much
55% of of Twitter users and they’re much more likely to retweet a man than a
more likely to retweet a man than a
more likely to retweet a man than a woman as well I’m sorry to say this is
woman as well I’m sorry to say this is
woman as well I’m sorry to say this is not corrected by women following other
not corrected by women following other
not corrected by women following other women because actually women also
women because actually women also
women because actually women also disproportionately follow men but not
disproportionately follow men but not
disproportionately follow men but not quite to the same degree now some of you
quite to the same degree now some of you
quite to the same degree now some of you might be secretly thinking maybe this is
might be secretly thinking maybe this is
might be secretly thinking maybe this is justified but maybe men and women you
justified but maybe men and women you
justified but maybe men and women you know they’re writing different things
know they’re writing different things
know they’re writing different things and saying different things and maybe
and saying different things and maybe
and saying different things and maybe women just aren’t as good or as
women just aren’t as good or as
women just aren’t as good or as interesting as men well it’s quite a
interesting as men well it’s quite a
interesting as men well it’s quite a good way of checking this so a group of
good way of checking this so a group of
good way of checking this so a group of researchers from Microsoft and IBM they
researchers from Microsoft and IBM they
researchers from Microsoft and IBM they got together they conducted an
got together they conducted an
got together they conducted an experiment in which they showed a series
experiment in which they showed a series
experiment in which they showed a series of tweets to participants and they just
of tweets to participants and they just
of tweets to participants and they just rotated the supposed gender of the
rotated the supposed gender of the
rotated the supposed gender of the author and they asked how credible was
author and they asked how credible was
author and they asked how credible was the information presented in these
the information presented in these
the information presented in these tweets well guess what both men and
tweets well guess what both men and
tweets well guess what both men and women found the tweets more credible
women found the tweets more credible
women found the tweets more credible when they were supposedly written by man
when they were supposedly written by man
when they were supposedly written by man than by a woman and this was even more
than by a woman and this was even more
than by a woman and this was even more pronounced when the tweets were about
pronounced when the tweets were about
pronounced when the tweets were about political topics and you got the same
political topics and you got the same
political topics and you got the same problem in academia similar sub a
problem in academia similar sub a
problem in academia similar sub a similar experiment was done where these
similar experiment was done where these
similar experiment was done where these academics wrote an abstract of a
academics wrote an abstract of a
academics wrote an abstract of a scientific article they showed it to
scientific article they showed it to
scientific article they showed it to scientists and they rotated the gender
scientists and they rotated the gender
scientists and they rotated the gender suppose it gender of the author and if
suppose it gender of the author and if
suppose it gender of the author and if it was written by a man it was deemed to
it was written by a man it was deemed to
it was written by a man it was deemed to be of higher scientific quality than if
be of higher scientific quality than if
be of higher scientific quality than if it was written by a woman so it’s not
it was written by a woman so it’s not
it was written by a woman so it’s not about innate difference in ability okay
about innate difference in ability okay
about innate difference in ability okay and I sure you’ve all come across this
and I sure you’ve all come across this
and I sure you’ve all come across this thing about blind auditioning for
thing about blind auditioning for
thing about blind auditioning for symphony orchestras
symphony orchestras
symphony orchestras yeah because symphony orchestras used to
yeah because symphony orchestras used to
yeah because symphony orchestras used to be you know 98 percent male plus a
be you know 98 percent male plus a
be you know 98 percent male plus a harpist and the men would say oh well of
harpist and the men would say oh well of
harpist and the men would say oh well of course it’s absolutely no it’s entirely
course it’s absolutely no it’s entirely
course it’s absolutely no it’s entirely done on merit it’s nothing to do with
done on merit it’s nothing to do with
done on merit it’s nothing to do with discrimination it’s just frankly at the
discrimination it’s just frankly at the
discrimination it’s just frankly at the highest echelon of instrumental playing
highest echelon of instrumental playing
highest echelon of instrumental playing you know men are really rather better a
you know men are really rather better a
you know men are really rather better a little better at it than women so they
little better at it than women so they
little better at it than women so they introduced Blind Auditions
introduced Blind Auditions
introduced Blind Auditions now behind a curtain so that the
now behind a curtain so that the
now behind a curtain so that the auditioners couldn’t see who is playing
auditioners couldn’t see who is playing
auditioners couldn’t see who is playing it didn’t want to start with because
it didn’t want to start with because
it didn’t want to start with because they could hear from the footsteps
they could hear from the footsteps
they could hear from the footsteps whether the folk player was wearing
whether the folk player was wearing
whether the folk player was wearing heels or flats use so they said okay
heels or flats use so they said okay
heels or flats use so they said okay we’ll do it barefoot and guess what they
we’ll do it barefoot and guess what they
we’ll do it barefoot and guess what they started
started
started I earn 5% more women than men entirely
I earn 5% more women than men entirely
I earn 5% more women than men entirely on merit
on merit
on merit I’m not saying women are actually better
I’m not saying women are actually better
I’m not saying women are actually better at music men but we are at least as good
at music men but we are at least as good
at music men but we are at least as good okay there is one other way of testing
okay there is one other way of testing
okay there is one other way of testing whether women are innately worse at
whether women are innately worse at
whether women are innately worse at their jobs for men or whether some of us
their jobs for men or whether some of us
their jobs for men or whether some of us just assume that they are maybe even
just assume that they are maybe even
just assume that they are maybe even subconsciously assume they are and this
subconsciously assume they are and this
subconsciously assume they are and this one sounds really anecdotal but it
one sounds really anecdotal but it
one sounds really anecdotal but it because it only concerns two people but
because it only concerns two people but
because it only concerns two people but it’s actually incredibly scientific and
it’s actually incredibly scientific and
it’s actually incredibly scientific and I’ll explain why okay
I’ll explain why okay
I’ll explain why okay as it happens to Stanford professors
as it happens to Stanford professors
as it happens to Stanford professors have quite recently transitioned from
have quite recently transitioned from
have quite recently transitioned from one gender to the other in middle-age
one gender to the other in middle-age
one gender to the other in middle-age one of them has gone from being a woman
one of them has gone from being a woman
one of them has gone from being a woman to a man and the other has gone from
to a man and the other has gone from
to a man and the other has gone from being a man to a woman the one who
being a man to a woman the one who
being a man to a woman the one who changed from a woman to a man
changed from a woman to a man
changed from a woman to a man immediately found he was listened to
immediately found he was listened to
immediately found he was listened to more he was respected more and in fact
more he was respected more and in fact
more he was respected more and in fact someone who was unaware that he had
someone who was unaware that he had
someone who was unaware that he had changed gender was heard saying Ben
changed gender was heard saying Ben
changed gender was heard saying Ben Berry’s gave a great seminar today but
Berry’s gave a great seminar today but
Berry’s gave a great seminar today but then his works so much better than his
then his works so much better than his
then his works so much better than his sisters this was the same person with
sisters this was the same person with
sisters this was the same person with the same brain okay
the same brain okay
the same brain okay giving exactly the same seminar but it
giving exactly the same seminar but it
giving exactly the same seminar but it was seen to be so much better and he now
was seen to be so much better and he now
was seen to be so much better and he now says I’ve had the thought a million
says I’ve had the thought a million
says I’ve had the thought a million times
times
times I’m just taking more seriously now I
I’m just taking more seriously now I
I’m just taking more seriously now I mean while the one who changed from a
mean while the one who changed from a
mean while the one who changed from a man to a woman guess what found exactly
man to a woman guess what found exactly
man to a woman guess what found exactly the opposite suddenly she was being
the opposite suddenly she was being
the opposite suddenly she was being taken less seriously she was being
taken less seriously she was being
taken less seriously she was being talked over in meetings she was finding
talked over in meetings she was finding
talked over in meetings she was finding it almost impossible to get money for
it almost impossible to get money for
it almost impossible to get money for research and her salary started drifting
research and her salary started drifting
research and her salary started drifting down from being above average to being
down from being above average to being
down from being above average to being in the bottom 10% of professors so
in the bottom 10% of professors so
in the bottom 10% of professors so enough whinging actually I’m not really
enough whinging actually I’m not really
enough whinging actually I’m not really winning I’m just telling you what the
winning I’m just telling you what the
winning I’m just telling you what the facts are but what’s more important is
facts are but what’s more important is
facts are but what’s more important is what can we do about it because we can
what can we do about it because we can
what can we do about it because we can change things and the most important
change things and the most important
change things and the most important thing I think is to acknowledge that
thing I think is to acknowledge that
thing I think is to acknowledge that this bias exists even in ourselves even
this bias exists even in ourselves even
this bias exists even in ourselves even in women it exists but we can try to
in women it exists but we can try to
in women it exists but we can try to correct for it to build a bridge between
correct for it to build a bridge between
correct for it to build a bridge between our bias and what is actually the case
our bias and what is actually the case
our bias and what is actually the case so if you’re on Twitter for instance you
so if you’re on Twitter for instance you
so if you’re on Twitter for instance you have a look at who you’re following are
have a look at who you’re following are
have a look at who you’re following are you following many more men than women
you following many more men than women
you following many more men than women and if so ask yourself why maybe that
and if so ask yourself why maybe that
and if so ask yourself why maybe that the business you’re in is dominated by
the business you’re in is dominated by
the business you’re in is dominated by men but nonetheless it’s worth examining
men but nonetheless it’s worth examining
men but nonetheless it’s worth examining are you retweeting men more than women
are you retweeting men more than women
are you retweeting men more than women or is it roughly equal and what about
or is it roughly equal and what about
or is it roughly equal and what about the books and newspaper columnist
the books and newspaper columnist
the books and newspaper columnist the bloggers that you read are you
the bloggers that you read are you
the bloggers that you read are you according as much authority to two women
according as much authority to two women
according as much authority to two women as two men and and if you’re a man and
as two men and and if you’re a man and
as two men and and if you’re a man and you don’t think you’d enjoy for instance
you don’t think you’d enjoy for instance
you don’t think you’d enjoy for instance reading fiction written by women I can
reading fiction written by women I can
reading fiction written by women I can reassure you they’re not all Argus
reassure you they’re not all Argus
reassure you they’re not all Argus augers there are people like Hilary
augers there are people like Hilary
augers there are people like Hilary mantel and an AS Byatt out there who are
mantel and an AS Byatt out there who are
mantel and an AS Byatt out there who are really fabulous novelists and when
really fabulous novelists and when
really fabulous novelists and when you’re appointing people to jobs
you’re appointing people to jobs
you’re appointing people to jobs it’s also worth examining how you go
it’s also worth examining how you go
it’s also worth examining how you go about it a bunch of Harvard academics
about it a bunch of Harvard academics
about it a bunch of Harvard academics were puzzled by the fact that they seem
were puzzled by the fact that they seem
were puzzled by the fact that they seem to keep appointing men even though they
to keep appointing men even though they
to keep appointing men even though they were convinced that they weren’t biased
were convinced that they weren’t biased
were convinced that they weren’t biased themselves they didn’t want to be biased
themselves they didn’t want to be biased
themselves they didn’t want to be biased so they brought in an Assessor to have a
so they brought in an Assessor to have a
so they brought in an Assessor to have a look at their process what the Assessor
look at their process what the Assessor
look at their process what the Assessor pointed out was when a really promising
pointed out was when a really promising
pointed out was when a really promising young guy applied for a job and he met
young guy applied for a job and he met
young guy applied for a job and he met only three out of the four criteria that
only three out of the four criteria that
only three out of the four criteria that they had set down for the job they said
they had set down for the job they said
they had set down for the job they said oh look he’s so good at those three will
oh look he’s so good at those three will
oh look he’s so good at those three will forgive him it’s all right we’ll let him
forgive him it’s all right we’ll let him
forgive him it’s all right we’ll let him take the job but when a woman met only
take the job but when a woman met only
take the job but when a woman met only three out of the four criteria they
three out of the four criteria they
three out of the four criteria they disqualified her because she didn’t meet
disqualified her because she didn’t meet
disqualified her because she didn’t meet the fourth and that just changed the way
the fourth and that just changed the way
the fourth and that just changed the way they appointed their staff I’m really
they appointed their staff I’m really
they appointed their staff I’m really not too pessimistic actually because I’m
not too pessimistic actually because I’m
not too pessimistic actually because I’m sure that the young are innately less
sure that the young are innately less
sure that the young are innately less sexist than the older generation so I
sexist than the older generation so I
sexist than the older generation so I really do think things will improve over
really do think things will improve over
really do think things will improve over time and I also think that as as many
time and I also think that as as many
time and I also think that as as many more women get appointed to really
more women get appointed to really
more women get appointed to really senior jobs in this country which has
senior jobs in this country which has
senior jobs in this country which has been happening brilliantly I think in
been happening brilliantly I think in
been happening brilliantly I think in the last five years so you know you’ve
the last five years so you know you’ve
the last five years so you know you’ve got Queen the Prime Minister the Home
got Queen the Prime Minister the Home
got Queen the Prime Minister the Home Secretary the first secretary of
Secretary the first secretary of
Secretary the first secretary of Scotland had a Supreme Court
Scotland had a Supreme Court
Scotland had a Supreme Court commissioner of the Met Director of
commissioner of the Met Director of
commissioner of the Met Director of Public Prosecutions
Public Prosecutions
Public Prosecutions maybe our expectations of how capable
maybe our expectations of how capable
maybe our expectations of how capable and authoritative women can be will
and authoritative women can be will
and authoritative women can be will begin to adjust but in the meantime if
begin to adjust but in the meantime if
begin to adjust but in the meantime if you find yourself listening to a woman
you find yourself listening to a woman
you find yourself listening to a woman on the radio as I occasionally do and
on the radio as I occasionally do and
on the radio as I occasionally do and find that the tambour of her voice is
find that the tambour of her voice is
find that the tambour of her voice is getting in the way of you taking her
getting in the way of you taking her
getting in the way of you taking her seriously then just give herself a
seriously then just give herself a
seriously then just give herself a little slap on the hand and listen to
little slap on the hand and listen to
little slap on the hand and listen to the contents of what she’s saying I mean
the contents of what she’s saying I mean
the contents of what she’s saying I mean I do that a lot actually I’m ashamed to
I do that a lot actually I’m ashamed to
I do that a lot actually I’m ashamed to say because we all have this bias just
say because we all have this bias just
say because we all have this bias just as I you know I hate it when I I find
as I you know I hate it when I I find
as I you know I hate it when I I find myself walking down the street and a
myself walking down the street and a
myself walking down the street and a young black guys walking the other way
young black guys walking the other way
young black guys walking the other way and I find myself clutching my handbag
and I find myself clutching my handbag
and I find myself clutching my handbag and I think no don’t
and I think no don’t
and I think no don’t we can’t entirely get rid of our biases
we can’t entirely get rid of our biases
we can’t entirely get rid of our biases because they’re called subconscious for
because they’re called subconscious for
because they’re called subconscious for a reason
a reason
a reason we can at least correct for them and if
we can at least correct for them and if
we can at least correct for them and if I sound didactic I’m sorry because I
I sound didactic I’m sorry because I
I sound didactic I’m sorry because I hope I haven’t been women splaining to
hope I haven’t been women splaining to
hope I haven’t been women splaining to you
you
you [Applause]
”
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