STANDING WITH ANGELA

The Woman’s Own columnist has her say on misogyny and folding your knickers

- DAWN NEESOM

We have all faced sexism at some point in our lives.

There’s probably only one thing that every woman has in common. Sexism. Even though you might not have been aware of it, at one point in your life the very fact that you’re a woman will have meant you’ll have been treated differently. And, sadly, usually worse.

Dramatic?

Nope. Just witness the recent misogynistic horrors emerging from our own politicians.

It all started with the feisty, fiery (of hair and temperament) and, yes, flirty Angela Rayner. A working-class girl, who left school after falling pregnant at 16 with zero qualifications and a job in a care home.

A woman who has achieved amazing things to become deputy leader of the Labour Party. And unlike many former female politicians, she’s refused to hide her feminine side with frumpy trouser suits and flat shoes. She’s embraced her femininity with skirts, heels and make-up.

A fact which led to the now-infamous Basic Instinct/Sharon Stone leg-crossing jibe aimed at her. Implication being that a working-class woman with zero education was no match for the Oxbridge-educated posh boys she had to debate against, unless she flashed the flesh.

Then it was alleged an MP was found to be regularly watching porn on his mobile phone during debates. He was accused by the woman who sat next to him.

And we pay these people to represent us?

Obviously, this has thrown open the whole sexism debate again with Harriet Harman, arliament’s most senior female MP, suggesting the Common’s Code of Conduct be changed to make misogyny an offence punishable by suspension.