Over the last 24 hours, women in both the United States and the United Kingdom have taken a public stand about sexism in their respective fields of work. At the Golden Globe awards, women actors wore black and shared their platforms with activists as part of #metoo and Time’s Up. In London, the BBC’s China editor Carrie Graciequit her post in protest at the fact that she was not being paid the same as her male counterparts.
Now, this is all very well and good. In fact, scratch that, it’s great but, and there is always a but, it has left me wondering: where are the men? Sure, some of them are wearing Time’s Up lapel pins and saying all the right things - but what are they doing that’s comparable with the work women are having to do to ensure that the status quo has a chance of changing?
Women are investing their time, energy and money in both literal and symbolic protest and the cost of that should not be underestimated.
Think about all of the things women do: we remember your mum’s birthday so you don’t have to, we forgive you even when what you’ve done is unforgivable, we remind you to register with a doctor because you’re still on the books at a GPs surgery near your mum’s house, we buy washing up liquid even though the bottle is still about a quarter full just.in.case, we fake orgasms so you don’t have to, we tolerate your sexist ‘banter’ in the office and carry on doing good work, we think about when we’re going to get our periods and organise our waxes around our monthly cycles, we don’t just look – we see what’s going on - and we don’t just listen – we hear what people are saying. And then, when we are harassed, assaulted, undervalued or underpaid we take it upon ourselves to shine a light on it, take a stand and try to force change.
If all of the above was paid work women would be very, very rich but we are not. In fact, as empirical evidence emerges about the UK’s gender pay gap it is clear that we are on the whole far poorer than men despite our unpaid but essential emotional work and labour.
Emotional labour is not a new concept. First articulated by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in her 1983 bookThe Managed Heart, it has since become the subject of more research, feminist debate, clickbait and, you might even argue, J Lo’s seminal song ‘I Ain’t Your Mama’. What started as a way of talking about how emotional management is expected in the workplace, became a conversation about the all too often unpaid caring work carried out (on the whole) by women and then entered everyday conversation as we started to talk about the work we do, not as part of our jobs, but in all of our relationships.
Why don’t women just stop doing all of this work, you might ask? The answer is partly because we can’t afford to and, partly because, somehow, the pervasive sexism in our societies has spawned the idea that women are 'just better' are remembering, fixing and sorting stuff out. Indeed, in intersectional terms it’s worth noting that the less privilege you have the more you probably have to do. And so, as ever, it’s those women have the least who have to do the most.
Carrie Gracie's resignationis arguably necessary. Since the BBC’s gender pay gap was revealed last year, the situation hasn’t been resolved but, why would we expect it to be, the Equal Pay Act came into force decades ago and, yet, we’re still having this conversation. But, necessary or not, why should it fall on a woman to make a stand? Surely there are men at the BBC, perhaps some of them with daughters, who could do something about the future of pay parity?
In her resignation letter Gracie wrote:
‘It is painful to leave my China post abruptly and to say goodbye to the team in the BBC’s Beijing bureau. But most of them are brilliant young women. I don’t want their generation to have to fight this battle in the future because my generation failed to win it now’.
‘To women of any age in any workplace who are confronting pay discrimination, I wish you the solidarity of a strong sisterhood and the support of male colleagues’.
‘It is a century since women first won the right to vote in Britain. Let us honour that brave generation by making this the year we win equal pay’.
Golden Globes 2018 - Grazia
1 of 60Angelina Jolie
Attending with her son Maddox, Angelina Jolie chose a floaty sheer dress with voluminous feather-trimmed sleeves.
2 of 60Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander showed off her innate style in a high neck dress with keyhole cut-out back and embellishment detail.
3 of 60Michelle Williams and MeToo founder Tarana Burke
A Louis Vuitton clad-Michelle Williams was noticeably moved to be with #MeToo founder Tarana, saying: 'We're here because of Tarana, she started a movement, and it caught fire.' 'It's deeply humbling,' Tarana added, 'This is something I started out of necessity… this moment is so powerful.'
4 of 60Emma Stone and Billie Jean King
Emma Stone decided to invite Billie Jean King as her date to the Globes, the tennis pro and pioneer who she played in Battle of the Sexes. Stone looked typically fashion-forward in a lace, one-shouldered dress.
5 of 60Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson, who is a presenter at tonight's awards, wore a Gucci gown (what else!) with a stunning train featuring a silver sequin motif at the back.
6 of 60Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson's looked even more stunning from the back.
7 of 60Jessica Chastain
The always superbly dressed Jessica Chastain aced the dress code in an Armani Prive velvet halterneck gown with silver crystal embroidery on the sides.
8 of 60Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake
Jessica Biel channelled Hollywood glamour in a nude gown with sheer black overlay and black sash detail, keeping things classy with a low chignon and diamond accessories. Husband Justin Timberlake opted for an all black suit.
9 of 60Kendall Jenner
Kendall Jenner had her Angelina Jolie moment posing in an asymmetrical dress with tiered skirts by Giambattista Valli.
10 of 60Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd
Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd posed together on the carpet, with the former in a high-necked, long-sleeved dress and the latter in a low-cut layered lace gown. Their appearance was poignant, as the two starred together in Frida, the film Hayek accused Harvey Weinstein of harassing her on.
11 of 60Claire Foy and Matt Smith
The Crown's stars posed together on the red carpet, with Claire Foy looking sensational in a low-cut tuxedo look teamed with slicked back hair and a bold red lip.
12 of 60Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones looked incredible in a daringly low-cut illusion dress with sheer skirt by who else than Zuhair Murad.
13 of 60Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel wore a black and white one-shouldered jumpsuit by Oscar de la Renta to celebrate her show The Handmaid's Tale's nomination.
14 of 60Allison Williams
Former Girls star Allison Williams brightened up her all-black ensemble with a pop of tangerine in this beaded strapless dress by Armani Prive.
15 of 60Sadie Sink
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink wore a Miu Miu prom dress with full skirt and sweetheart neckline for her first ever Golden Globes.
16 of 60Debra Messing
Will and Grace's Debra Messing wore a black embellished tunic-style dress with trousers.
17 of 60Catriona Balfe
Outlander's Catriona Balfe oozed glamour in a black dress with off-the-shoulder sheer detail by Chanel.
18 of 60Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie chose an oriental-inspired dress with beautifully intricate silver embroidery.
19 of 60Emma Watson and Marai Larasi
Emma Watson brought Marai Larasi as her date, the founder of Imkaan, a black feminist organisation in London.
20 of 60Meryl Streep and Ai-Jen Poo
Meryl Streep brought Director of Domestic Workers Alliance, Ai-Jen Poo, as her date to the Golden Globes.
21 of 60Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore opted for a sleek, column dress with halterneck detail, adding a pop of colour with a scarlet sash belt.
22 of 60Amy Poehler and Saru Jayaraman
Amy Poehler chose ROC co-founder Saru Jayaraman as her date for the Golden Globes.
23 of 60Alison Brie
Glow star and nominee Alison Brie wore an old Hollywood-esque strapless dress with full skirt and sweetheart neckline, choosing a beautiful diamond choker to complete the look.
24 of 60Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum chose a gown with an asymmetrical hemline and ostrich feather detail.
25 of 60Ewan McGregor
Fargo's Ewan McGregor stuck to the dress code in an all black tux - including his shirt - looking very dapper indeed.
26 of 60Christina Hendricks
Christina Hendricks, star of 2018's answer to Big Little Lies, Good Girls, chose a simple off-the-shoulder black gown.
27 of 60Kit Harington
Kit Harington aka Jon Snow aka King in the North looked very dapper in an all black tuxedo.
28 of 60Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth looked very un-Thor-like in his tux.
29 of 60Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson chose a highneck gown with pleated skirt.
30 of 60Jude Law
Jude Law joked on the red carpet in sunglasses.
31 of 60Zoe Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz looked typically cool in a simple but chic column dress teamed with sapphire earrings.
32 of 60Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Huppert looked very on-trend in an embellished metallic dress with sculptural shoulder detail.
33 of 60Gwendoline Christie
Game of Thrones and Star Wars actress Gwendoline Christie wore a ruffled black dress with sheer high neck.
34 of 60James and Dave Franco
The Disaster Artists' stars James and Dave Franco posed together in their tuxedos.
35 of 60Diane Kruger
Perennial best-dressed list member Diane Kruger looked like she'd stepped off the runway in a halterneck tulle gown with cape-like detail by Prada.
36 of 60Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown chose an 80s-esque backless dress with voluminous sleeves.
37 of 60Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington sparkled in an embellished strapless gown with thigh-high split.
38 of 60Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maggie Gyllenhaal was one of several stars who opted for strapless sequins.
39 of 60Michelle Pfeiffer
Comeback queen Michelle Pfeiffer chose a layered tulle dress which she wore with a short tuxedo jacket over the top.
40 of 60Lily James
Lily James went for full-on glamour in a black satin gown with ruffle details.
41 of 60Elisabeth Moss
The Handmaid's Tale's leading lady Elisabeth Moss wore a long-sleeved dress with Peter Pan collar.
42 of 60Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson played up her pixie crop with an ultra-feminine sheer, low-cut dress with strategically placed necklace.
43 of 60Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey lived up to her diva reputation in a fishtail gown with slashed neckline.
44 of 60Saoirse Ronan
Style maven Saoirse Ronan went for a futuristic black one-sleeved gown with silver accents.
45 of 60Natalie Portman and America Ferrera
Natalie Portman and America Ferrera attended the Golden Globes together, with Natalie choosing an elegant dress with boxy-neckline and sweetheart cut, while newly pregnant America chose a simple black dress worn with a blazer over it.
46 of 60Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman always rules the red carpet and tonight was no different in a floor-length lace gown with high neck.
47 of 60Greta Gerwig
Ladybird director Greta Gerwig chose a one-shouldered dress teamed with a gold choker.
48 of 60Halle Berry
Age-defying Halle Berry looked incredible in a sheer lace mini-dress.
49 of 60Emilia Clarke
Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke was miles away from her on-screen persona in a very modern strapless dress, which she wore with her trademark peroxide blonde locks and bold red lips.
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50 of 60Gal Gadot
Wonder Woman's Gal Gadot kept it simple in a black ruched column dress with an accompanying bolero by Tom Ford.
51 of 60Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige injected some fun into her LBD with one shimmering silver sleeve and panel in her skirt.
52 of 60Reese Witherspoon
Times Up kickstarter Reese Witherspoon opted for a simple yet chic one-shouldered gown with mermaid-skirt.
53 of 60Sally Hawkins
Nominee Sally Hawkins chose a full black skirt with asymmetrical velvet top.
54 of 60Penelope Cruz
Penelope Cruz - soon to be on our TV screen as Donatella Versace in American Crime Story - looked beautiful in an off-the-shoulder lace dress with a train by Ralph and Russo.
55 of 60Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell was a model red carpet attendee in floor-skimming black.
56 of 60Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker borrowed a dress from her Sex and the City alter-ego Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe.
57 of 60Eva Longoria
A low-cut, thigh-high black dress for Eva Longoria.
58 of 60Gillian Anderson
Gillian Anderson was another adherent to the asymmetrical dress theme, showing off a new peroxide crop.
59 of 60Laura Dern
Laura Dern chose an Armani Prive gown completely embroidered in crystals and featuring a sheer bodice and tulle train.
60 of 60Ava DuVernay
Director Ava DuVernay stuck to the dress code in a crystal-embroidered long-sleeved top and draped skirt both by Armani Prive.
Imagine that today we had woken up to the news that a man had resigned from a job he loved because he didn’t want future generations of women to spend their time worrying about the gender pay gap and, instead, wanted them to be paid fairly for their work from the off. Now, that would be news. Better still, imagine the news was that, like Iceland, Britain had just gone ahead and made it illegal to pay men more than women. Surely, it’s about time? We’ve had legislation saying that women and men’s pay should be equal for half a century but we still have a gender pay gap. Ruling out pay discrimination once and for all would save us all at least 10% of our daily brain space.
And then, once you’ve one that imaginary thinking pictures this: this morning we woke up to see pictures of women actors and activists wearing black and calling out sexism on the red carpet at the Golden Globes. Alongside them, men did not just stand silent (see Matt Smith alongside Clare Foy), they quietly waited their turn and then said they, too, were committed to ending rape culture, sexual harassment and gender inequality. Now, that really would be exciting.
It’s not that we shouldn’t applaud Carrie Green. Her composure and professionalism on this morning’s BBC Today programme (even when John Humphrys made a semi sexist remark about how she would be remembered for resigning over pay and not for her work as China editor), was exemplary. And, equally, it’s not that we shouldn’t replay the moment when Natalie Portman threw shade at an ‘all male’ nominee list or that we shouldn’t watch Oprah’s speech about Time’s Up on repeat and revel in the goosebumps.
We should do all of that and, while we’re doing it, we should ask ourselves how many men are doing the same? Let’s celebrate but let’s not forget that even in our fight for equality, we’re still doing all the heavy lifting.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.