Caroline

“There is an apocryphal tale that in the 1885 legislation re-criminalising male homosexuality, lesbianism was also due to become a crime, but Queen Victoria did not believe it existed in England, thinking instead it was some strange French perversion. Whether that is true or not, it is clear that the lack of legislature meant a degree of freedom for lesbians in their courtship that wasn’t there for gay men. Although, regrettably, it also meant that the history of lesbianism is also sadly lacking.”
― Tania O'Donnell, A History of Courtship: 800 Years of Seduction Techniques

“How is it that a country that gave us Emily Pankhurst and Margaret Thatcher is currently number twenty-eight in the list of countries offering equal pay – behind Bulgaria and Burundi? For every £1 earned by a man, a woman earns 85p. We are all aware of the heart-warming story of the female Dagenham workers who fought for equal pay in the 1960s. It is still happening. Why does a man working in the warehouse at Asda today earn more than a woman at the checkout, whose skills require numeracy and customer relations? Why do women earn, on average, 21 per cent less than men at corporate, managerial level? Why are there so few women at this level? There are mandatory quotas in France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Germany. Why is the UK so far behind? Institutionalized misogyny say the Fawcett Society, the campaigning group on equal pay. But, looking back at my own career and the regrets I have about family life, I ask whether women can and should try and compete.”
― Sue Lloyd Roberts, The War on Women

“And then there is the category ‘Mental Demands’. The Care Assistant scores 2 and the Waste Collector scores 3. ‘What is this about?’ asks Jackie. ‘We are the ones who have to deal with confused and scared old people, we are the ones who have to reassure their families and even cope with bereavements. It is a nonsense. I remember the council chappie coming with a clipboard to do the evaluations. He asked us a few questions and did not bother to stay long enough to watch us at work. I tell you it is the men all sticking together to get the best deals for the men.”
― Sue Lloyd Roberts, The War on Women

“seem to have the knack of annoying your aunt.”
― Jodi Taylor, The Nothing Girl