10 Women Who Shaped 2013

Amirani

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/26/opinion/ghitis-2013-women/?c=&page=1

Quite a good list I think. Malala Yousafzai for me has been incredibly inspiring, all the more so because of her age and the importance of what she's fighting for. I'd be quite surprised and somewhat disappointed if she doesn't win the Nobel Peace prize. Malala and Edward Snowden would be top of my people of the year list.

I think Haifaa Al-Mansour is a notable omission as Saudi Arabia's first female film director. I'd strongly recommend Wadjda to those who haven't seen it, it's a great watch. Quvenzhané Wallis deserves a mention also I think as the youngest ever nominee for the Best Actress Oscar at age 10.

Is there any other women who you think should have made the list?

Frito

I appreciate that the filibuster is contentious, but I'd like to think Wendy Davis could be acknowledged for her effort to protect access to abortion.

BMMachine

"Beyonce may be revolutionizing the music industry."



oh definitely. like, no one has ever done what shes done before. no way jose

iwantmydinner

I may not have thought this fully through, and her contribution is nowhere near as grave or important as most of the others on that list, but if Beyonce is on it, what the hell: Clare Balding. Obviously 2012 was a stand-out year for her but I really think it was the start of something really special in her career and she's really hit another level in 2013 on the back of the Olympics. I adore the fact that her knowledge and capacity is unquestionable and (largely - there's always one!) unquestioned.

I really hate that other female sports broadcasters are still dismissed as dollybirds and not taken seriously, especially young, attractive women. It boggles my mind. But I do think Balding is really paving the way for women to be admired and taken seriously in those roles.

I am open to debate about this, though... I readily admit to something of a bias!

iwantmydinner

iwantmydinner wrote: »

I may not have thought this fully through, and her contribution is nowhere near as grave or important as most of the others on that list, but if Beyonce is on it, what the hell: Clare Balding. Obviously 2012 was a stand-out year for her but I really think it was the start of something really special in her career and she's really hit another level in 2013 on the back of the Olympics. I adore the fact that her knowledge and capacity is unquestionable and (largely - there's always one!) unquestioned.

I really hate that other female sports broadcasters are still dismissed as dollybirds and not taken seriously, especially young, attractive women. It boggles my mind. But I do think Balding is really paving the way for women to be admired and taken seriously in those roles.

I am open to debate about this, though... I readily admit to something of a bias!

Honestly the majority of new female sports TV journos I've seen haven't seemed up to the job. The same is true of at least a large minority of male sports TV journos though.

iwantmydinner

Deleted User wrote: »

Honestly the majority of new female sports TV journos I've seen haven't seemed up to the job. The same is true of at least a large minority of male sports TV journos though.

Would that not be down to relative inexperience though?

iwantmydinner

iwantmydinner wrote: »

Would that not be down to relative inexperience though?

Like I said, applies to a lot of sports journos overall. The relatively smaller pool of women in the field along with it seemingly being a requirement to be very above-average looking shrinks that pool further.

GarIT

Why didn't they include Miley Cirus? The most talked about female online of 2013 must have shaped 2013 in some way especially more than some of the people on this list.

I'd consider myself well read especially in current affairs and have only previously heard much about maybe half of the list. I actually think the list is embarrassing they even have someone there because she is high up in Facebook, she has hardly done anything to shape 2013. There has to be more significant women than that.

Jerrica

GarIT wrote: »

I'd consider myself well read especially in current affairs and have only previously heard much about maybe half of the list. I actually think the list is embarrassing they even have someone there because she is high up in Facebook, she has hardly done anything to shape 2013. There has to be more significant women than that.

If you ever read Time or Forbes you'd certainly have heard of Sheryl Sandberg, and your comments are quite naive. Sandberg isn't there because she is high up in Facebook, she's there because she is the COO of Facebook, the first woman on their board and the author of the international bestseller "Lean In" (published early 2013), a widely praised commentary on the barriers still facing women in the workplace and how to strive for equality. It was a bestseller from the get-go and led to the LeanIn movement.

iwantmydinner

Deleted User wrote: »

Like I said, applies to a lot of sports journos overall. The relatively smaller pool of women in the field along with it seemingly being a requirement to be very above-average looking shrinks that pool further.

Just to preface: I genuinely want to tease this out, I'm not at all being argumentative here. What is it that makes you feel they're not up to the job?

iwantmydinner

iwantmydinner wrote: »

Just to preface: I genuinely want to tease this out, I'm not at all being argumentative here. What is it that makes you feel they're not up to the job?

Mispronouncing people's names, team names (for foreign sports), clearly not knowing rules of sports, talking about massive upsets, etc. etc. That applies to plenty of sports journalists both male and female and the smaller pool (and the fact that women have to be 8/10 on looks while men have to be 6/10 or be clueless ex-footballers) makes it less likely they're up to it.

It's to argue about this btw, I'm fine with it. :P It's just that low-quality journalism in general and sports journalism in particular bugbear of mine whether they're male or female.

iwantmydinner

Deleted User wrote: »

Mispronouncing people's names, team names (for foreign sports), clearly not knowing rules of sports, talking about massive upsets, etc. etc. That applies to plenty of sports journalists both male and female and the smaller pool (and the fact that women have to be 8/10 on looks while men have to be 6/10 or be clueless ex-footballers) makes it less likely they're up to it.

It's to argue about this btw, I'm fine with it. :P It's just that low-quality journalism in general and sports journalism in particular bugbear of mine whether they're male or female.

Jesus, it sounds like the hirers at the sports stations need to seriously reconsider their order of priorities. More Clare Baldings needed!

ETA: Channel 4 Racing have got it spot on with their on-air staff I reckon. Everyone knows their stuff and there's a good gender mix. Their's would be a good example to follow.

iwantmydinner

iwantmydinner wrote: »

Jesus, it sounds like the hirers at the sports stations need to seriously reconsider their order of priorities. More Clare Baldings needed!

ETA: Channel 4 Racing have got it spot on with their on-air staff I reckon. Everyone knows their stuff and there's a good gender mix. Their's would be a good example to follow.

Yeah I was thinking more about it and was thinking of yer one on C4 racing as being good, she must be on 20 years now but I remember as a kid that it was obvious she belonged. The one who does the horse racing on RTE isn't bad either from what I've seen, showing that nepotism can work out ok sometimes. :pac:
When it comes to Sky Sports and gender I guess the best way to put it is that it seems like something is up when male presenters seem to start at an average age of 30 after years of paying their dues doing other things (often kids TV) while a 6 month internship after a media degree for a good-looking 22 year old woman is good enough to get on screen. :pac:

newport2

Deleted User wrote: »

When it comes to Sky Sports and gender I guess the best way to put it is that it seems like something is up when male presenters seem to start at an average age of 30 after years of paying their dues doing other things (often kids TV) while a 6 month internship after a media degree for a good-looking 22 year old woman is good enough to get on screen. :pac:

Sky is terrible for this, sometimes anyway. I watch a lot of golf, Sky usually have good looking women knowing very little about golf (or at least pretending to) interviewing middle-aged men who are ex-pros. Really gives off a bad image that the pretty girl knows nothing about sport and so has to ask the men who do. There are loads of great women golfing pros out there, current and retired who would do a far better job giving their own analysis and opinions alongside the men, instead of sitting opposite them. When there's a large women's tournament on, they have these women on (with the men too) and a much better analysis is given. Rant over.

iwantmydinner

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah I was thinking more about it and was thinking of yer one on C4 racing as being good, she must be on 20 years now but I remember as a kid that it was obvious she belonged. The one who does the horse racing on RTE isn't bad either from what I've seen, showing that nepotism can work out ok sometimes. :pac:
When it comes to Sky Sports and gender I guess the best way to put it is that it seems like something is up when male presenters seem to start at an average age of 30 after years of paying their dues doing other things (often kids TV) while a 6 month internship after a media degree for a good-looking 22 year old woman is good enough to get on screen. :pac:

Well what Tracy Piggott (RTE) doesn't know about horse racing isn't worth knowing! She's a great asset to their coverage. No nepotism involved in her job though! You might be thinking of Jennifer Walsh, who's a producer on RTE racing. Could be accused of nepotism alright, but again, she's well qualified and lives and breathes racing.

iwantmydinner

iwantmydinner wrote: »

Well what Tracy Piggott (RTE) doesn't know about horse racing isn't worth knowing! She's a great asset to their coverage. No nepotism involved in her job though! You might be thinking of Jennifer Walsh, who's a producer on RTE racing. Could be accused of nepotism alright, but again, she's well qualified and lives and breathes racing.

Yeah it was Tracy Piggot I was thinking of. The nepotism thing is just because of her name and joking really, she knows what she's at. Same with Gabby Yorath/Logan.

adraigh

It's a good list!

Personally, something that impacted me greatly this was following the struggles of Marie Fleming, who passed away just before Christmas after an extremely tough journey with MS:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/marie-fleming-dies-after-long-battle-with-multiple-sclerosis-1.1635129

Although she and her husband lost their court case, I am sure that her legacy will not be forgotten in the battle being fought re: legislating for assisted suidicide here.

It reminds me to be thankful for my health, plus my ability to have a say in my future... something that she was denied by the Irish legal system.

May she rest in peace