On 6/09/2010 4:09 PM, Carolyn Cleak wrote:
>
> I am broad minded and am also known as "one of the boys", BUT and this
> is a
> BIG BUT, I am tired of the women on TDU as not being acknowledged.
> There is
> more than one male on TDU who talks only about Gentlemen this and
> Gentlemen
> that, but no mention of the Ladies or what the Ladies think!!! We may not
> put many replies on TDU, but we are part of the group.
>
> It would be appreciated if instead of Gentlemen etc, that all TDU members
> be mentioned in general.
> I don't know how many women are in TDU, but we should be acknowledged.
>
> Someone who likes some recognition now and again.
>
Thanks Carolyn,
You've said something that needs to be said.
I'm pleased to note that other TDU listmembers have immediately
responded by saying that they will change their language in future
postings BUT I think more is needed.
I suspect that some of us are living in the Risson era.
When Bob Risson spoke at the TMSV dinner celebrating the 50th
anniversary of the MMTB he had just returned from a world trip looking
at trams and tramways.
He mentioned that in Russia they had WOMEN driving the trams ... and
they were 'jolly good drivers' (a direct quote if my memory serves me
right).
He was apparently genuinely surprised (or perhaps was spoiling for a
fight with the unions!)
I'm not sure whether women got to drive trams in his time, but they are
certainly equal partners in the workload of the industry - both regular
and heritage operations - in this era.
What is needed is not self-conscious care in gender specific technology,
rather we need to get into the thick (male) skull that both women and
men are involved at all levels and naturally be inclusive.
I'm very conscious of your contribution across a wide range of
activities, and have recently felt really threatened (just joking) by
the quality of Christine Sweetnam's delightful pics.
I don't want to lose the contributions that people like you and
Christine make by being an ignorant male and hope my fellow listmembers
feel likewise.
Mal Rowe - a partially reformed ignorant male
