Thank you so much to everyone who emailed us or posted on social media in reaction to C Davey’s letter in the Guernsey Press on 30 April.
The main Twitter thread, started by Zoe Lihou, is here and there is a wonderful response from the Guernsey Biological Records Centre here. There is also an extensive debate on Facebook on Deputy Tina Bury’s page and Guernsey People Have Your Say.
Here’s what we told the Press when they asked for our comments:
“Sadly, C Davey is not alone in their old-fashioned views. That’s why it was so heartening to see so many people – women and men – use social media to immediately reject the views in the letter. Our phones have not stopped pinging with notifications and emails all morning.
“We were particularly concerned about the writer’s use of the term ‘coercion’. Speaking for Women in Public Life, our focus is solely on inspiring and supporting women to stand for all forms of public office. If someone isn’t interested, that’s absolutely fine. But if you are interested in using your skills and experience to help Guernsey, we are here for you.
“We’d encourage anyone frustrated by the letter to take one simple action. Sign up to the Women in Public Life newsletter and keep an eye out for the public office role that suits you. Let’s turn frustration into inspiration”.
Signing up to our newsletter (here) is one suggestion for action, here are a few more:
– Find out more about the proposed new anti-discrimination legislation at www.equality.gg. Follow Equality Guernsey on Facebook and Twitter.
– Liberate includes, informs and supports the LGBTQ+ communities across the Channel Islands. Check out their website at www.liberate.gg.
– Read ‘A Women’s History of Guernsey 1850s to 1950s’ by Rose-Marie Crossan – it’s fascinating. Available at the Press Shop and Candie Museum.
