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Personal is Political |
2 Sep 2008 |
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The classic feminist slogan has come of age – but is this a positive development?
The phrase from the 1960s, ‘the personal is political’, stood for the idea that only by looking at people's private lives, as well as the public institutions of law, politics and work, can we understand why women are treated as unequal to men. Nowadays, the private and public spheres are interconnected as never before. Recently, the papers featured the holiday snaps of David Cameron and Gordon Brown. Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic Convention was given great prominence, and the French were captivated by Sarkozy’s marriage to Carla Bruni. As politicians tell us to tighten our belts during the credit crisis, and reduce our waistlines, we hear a lot about the ‘nanny state’. And with conflicting views on women’s ability to have children and hold down a job, there is increased attention on ‘work-life balance’.
So does this blurring between the public and the private spheres represent a victory for that generation of feminists who argued that the personal is political? Jenni discusses this with the writers Joan Smith, Jennie Bristow and Anthony Howard. |
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Jobless kidsWhat's the best way to support your son or daughter in their search for a job ? Chivvy them or leave them to their own devices? |
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