Bev Murrill comments

Bev Murrill

I laughed ruefully as I empathised with the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton who was asked last week by a Congolese student what her husband's opinion was of the World Bank's interference in China's contracts with the Congo.

Mrs. Clinton reacted quickly and strongly, pointing out that it was she and not her husband who was Secretary of State and going further to say that although she was ready to give her own opinion, she was not about to channel her husband's opinion of the matter.

It put me forcibly in mind of several similar incidents in my own experience. One such was when a visitor to our home was engaging my husband in conversation while Rick was making breakfast. Picking up a photo of me on a stage with a microphone in my hand, he asked my husband 'Does she speak?' Rick was concentrating on the bacon and eggs and hadn't heard properly so the man repeated his question. 'Does she speak?' 'Oh yes' Rick replied, 'she speaks'. None of this would have been a problem had it not been for the fact that I was standing next to the man...ironically not invited to answer the question myself.

Being a female speaker has been an interesting journey over the years. Early in my career a senior man in our organisation came to visit on a regular basis. He had a similar way of thinking to my own and I looked forward to his visits because I wanted to engage in conversation with him and to learn from him. However, the guy was of a school that was not able to accommodate such questions from a woman. After listening politely to my questions he would turn to my husband and answer as if Rick had asked the question. This guy was a well-mannered and intelligent person and I don't think he had any idea he was being rude. Such was my desire to learn that I was willing to make the trade off of dignity for knowledge.

It's difficult to understand why such events take place. It's also difficult to know how to react when they do. Mrs. Clinton has come under a great deal of fire for her swift and ungracious reaction, but it's hard to blame her. Despite the fact that many people attribute Bill's rise to become the President of the United States to the political savvy of his wife, no one would ever think of asking him in an official context what his wife thought.

Some years ago I was invited to a conservative Christian radio station to be interviewed about my ministry role. The first question the interviewer asked me was 'So, where is your husband?' Taken by surprise, I also reacted awkwardly, simply because I was caught off guard by a question that had no relevance to the interview. I heard afterward that a male listener had written in to ask why such a question was asked of me when it would not be asked of a man.

The glass ceiling...is there such a thing? Most guys would say no and many younger women who are now enjoying the fruit of the breakthroughs made by their older sisters, might agree. However, the indignity of not being heard is something which many women have to learn how to swallow without rancour and still continue on to give their best.

It's encouraging to know that in many places these occasions happen less often, however, until we get a handle on living with mutual respect and giving each other the value that is due, regardless of gender, there will always be situations when people who are doing a great job are devalued because of the enculturised prejudices of the people around them.

C'mon people, it's the 21st century. It's time to judge the leader by their performance rather than their gender.