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GUARDIAN Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:00:06 GMT
Why do we have such a complicated relationship with keyboard skills?
'Can you touch-type?" It's a simple question, but when I ask around, I am struck by how many women say they taught themselves in secret. Some former grammar-school girls over 35 have even told me that they were told not to learn at all – they were supposed to become executives with secretaries. The teaching of typing in schools remains haphazard. How did we end up with such an odd relationship with the instrument at the heart of most modern jobs and communication? Especially one that was a tool of female emancipation, offering women a respectable line of work in offices.
The modern typewriter's QWERTY keyboard was designed by an American, James Densmore, in around 1870. Laid out to prevent keys jamming and improve flow rate, it remains the standard today, seeing off its only serious rival - the 1930s Dvorak, which claimed to require even less finger action than the QWERTY. Women's expected accomplishment at piano playing at the time was directly linked to the typewriter's 10 finger flow, and late 19th-century advertising for the first mass-produced models featured women demonstrating that even females could operate them with ease.
Historian Anna Davin has written that when the British civil service took over operating telegraph and postal offices in the 1870s, the official in charge, Frank Scudamore, sought out women clerks for their typing speed and dexterity. But crucially, Scudamore said the wages: "which will draw male operators from but an inferior class of the community, will draw female operators from a superior class." Women would spell and type better, raise the tone of the office, then marry and leave without requiring pensions.
So the trap of the over-educated but low-status secretary was born. The BBC's typing pool may have been the entry point for some successful female broadcasters and executives such as Natasha Kaplinsky, but in Rona Jaffe's Mad Men-era novel, The Best of Everything, sexual predators prowl its perimeter. In the seminal 80s film, Working Girl, the secretaries bemoan their job title – "I prefer personal assistant" – but the only way they can get taken seriously is by pretending to be an executive.
Male executives, meanwhile, were keen not to be seen at a keyboard. In the 1980s, IBM researchers found them hostile to the "secretarial" word-processor image of PCs. The advent of spreadsheet software is thought to be what first made office PCs acceptable to them. Then, as we entered the digital age, men were suddenly glued to the keyboard. In the mid 1990s, British tech entrepreneur Ed Maklouf arrived at Stanford University, in Silicon Valley. "If I had any residual idea about the supposed femininity of touch-typing," he says, "it disappeared the moment I walked into a room full of coders, and saw them all attacking the keys as though they were in battle."
Like generations of women before me, I learned to type on a black, spider-like manual machine, in a typing school. The positions of the letters embedded themselves into my finger muscle memory, ready for a lifetime of typing scripts and news copy. But for many women before me, it was a skill not to express one's own thoughts, but to take down and shape those of a male boss.
Women
Career choices
Samira Ahmed
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GUARDIAN Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:10:15 GMT
While Andrea Leadsom vows to carry on after Commons setback, without government backing her private bill is unlikely to get any further
In April last year we carried news of a proposal by Andrea Leadsom, the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, to introduce a specific offence of causing death by dangerous cycling.
Leadsom argued that a new law was necessary as the current offence of dangerous cycling has a maximum penalty of £2,500, with no possibility of prison. For someone who, to take a hypothetic example, ploughs recklessly into a pedestrian at speed on a pavement, this is insufficient, she said.
Hers was a private members bill and thus very unlikely to proceed very far without government backing. But then this apparently arrived: the roads safety minister, Mike Penning, promised Leadsom he would back it. The Department for Transport confirmed it would "consider the merits" of the new law.
On initial examination Leadsom's idea might seem to some uncontroversial. But cycling groups were alarmed. We ran a Comment is Free article explaining these worries at length. The main objection boiled down to this – pedestrian deaths from cyclists are so incredibly rare that the law would be both a near-irrelevance and a distraction from the enormously geater peril posed to pedestrians (and other road users) from motor vehicles.
In addition, while the only law covering the most serious cycling offences is a section of the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act, originally aimed at the "wanton or furious" driving of a horse-drawn carriage, this has been used for successful prosecutions in recent years.
The other worry many people had was Leadsom's use of the death of Rhiannon Bennett as a prime argument as to why the new law was needed. Leadsom's explanation of the case, as explained both in the House of Commons and, in very similar words for a post she wrote for the Bike Blog, went as follows:
In 2007, Rhiannon Bennett was walking with friends on a pavement when a cyclist approached at speed yelling, "Move, because I'm not stopping." He hit Rhiannon who fell and smashed her head on the kerb. She was taken to hospital but died six days later.
While it is, without any doubt, a tragic and heartbreaking case, Leadsom's account of it seems to be a notable over-simplification. The court case heard conflicting evidence about whether the cyclist involved, Jason Howard, ever mounted the pavement, and whether Rhiannon and her friends might have been standing in the road. I spoke to two local newspaper reporters who covered the trial and they both told me they didn't recognise Leadsom's version of events.
I had a long debate with Leadsom's office about this, and they pointed to the conclusions of the subsequent inquest, where the coroner decided that "some part of Rhiannon was on the pavement" when she was hit.
Either way, I think there's an important point here: making a new law from a single event is generally bad policy; doing so from what some would call a misleading version of that event is even more the case.
But this might all become moot. Leadsom's bill was tabled for a second reading on Friday, but never made it to the chamber as MPs instead endlessly debated the issue of extended daylight saving.
Leadsom's office passed me the following statement from her today:
Despite the bill not receiving its second reading on Friday, I will not let this rest. I will continue to campaign for justice for Rhiannon and to update the 1861 Offences Against the Persons Act to ensure dangerous cycling can be dealt with in the same way as dangerous motoring. I will continue to keep pressure on the minister who I know takes a keen interest.
However, reading between the lines of a statement from the minister in question, Penning, which also arrived today, the Department from Transport is having second thoughts:
I am clear that everyone who uses the road – including cyclists - have a responsibility to behave safely and with........
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GUARDIAN Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:00:02 GMT
Not everyone called to the priesthood is also called to celibacy
Christians outside the Roman Catholic church, and very many inside, can see what a nonsense compulsory clerical celibacy is. Its effect is often malign, producing loneliness, alcoholism and, at worst, efforts at emotional compensation through irresponsible exercise of clerical power and unprincipled sexual activity. Critics say there is nothing wrong with celibacy as such; it's a fine vocation. But to mix up the vocation of celibacy with that of priesthood, tying them unavoidably together, is a category mistake, and it's time for the Church of Rome to sort it out. The Church of England and the rest of the Protestant world did this half a millennium ago, and the effects on Protestant Christianity have been unmistakably good.
Let Anglicans now just pause before patting themselves on the back too heartily, for the rectory drawing room houses a pachyderm. The Anglican communion has itself imposed compulsory celibacy on a large section of its clergy: those who recognise they are predominantly gay in sexual orientation. And surprise, surprise, many of the malign effects detectable in the celibate Catholic priesthood are equally detectable in this clergy group, plus often an equally malign problem: many gay clergy have conformed to peer pressure and entered a heterosexual marriage, thus endangering the happiness of not just one but at least two people and living out all sorts of lies alongside a ministry which is supposed to be characterised by truthfulness and integrity.
Others just organise their emotional life in various degrees of concealment. A very significant part of their personality is an embarrassment to their superiors, who seem to find promiscuous gay clergy who are furtive about their promiscuity easier to cope with than gay clergy living happily and faithfully with their partners. There's a grave danger that those observing such a partnership may think it works rather well; and then where would Anglican bishops be? Particularly those who are gay themselves. Actually, it's got worse in recent years. The selection process for ordination training is now obsessed with the sexuality of prospective ordinands, and devotes an inordinate amount of time to quizzing them about it.
All this activity is justified in the officially published "Criteria for selection for ordained ministry in the Church of England" by reference to a deeply flawed 20-year-old document entitled Issues in Human Sexuality which has no real official status in the church, but which bishops today treat with more reverence than they do the Thirty-Nine Articles.
When will the Church of England wake up to what has become apparent to the rest of the nation? Set up social mechanisms within which two people of the same gender can openly pledge to love and honour each other, let them get on with it and give them the social acceptance which heterosexual marriage has long enjoyed, and you find that their partnerships are no different, no better or worse, than heterosexual marriages. They laugh, argue, sulk and make up and go to the supermarket just like everyone else.
That simple realisation has caused a revolution in social attitudes in this country, but the church has just stuck its fingers in its ears and chanted la-la-la. Perhaps it should remember how shocked many good Christians were when Martin Luther broke his monastic vows and married a nun who had broken hers. And that was the start of all those happy, productive clerical households which have been the bedrock of Protestantism.
Marriage
Relationships
Religion
Catholicism
Christianity
Anglicanism
Gay rights
Civil partnerships
Diarmaid MacCulloch
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GUARDIAN Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:00:01 GMT
Progressive activists in the 'critical Muslim' movement are growing in strength and number
When I last logged into Facebook, I was delighted to see a surge of posters featuring a Muslim woman with the tagline "Occupy the mosque". This does not mean I support the physical occupation of prayer spaces across the UK (especially not when people are praying), but because I believe in dismantling the status quo – a status quo that many British Muslims, especially women, have had to pay a bitter price for.
A series of declarations were listed above the poster, including "Women have an Islamic right to hold leadership positions and as members of the board of directors and management committees", and "Women have an Islamic right to be full participants in all congregational activities."
As trivial as these rights may sound to the average secular ear, a fast-growing group of Muslim activists have proved their determination to fight for every single one. Campaigning sentiments are slowly spreading beyond the realm of private whinges, and into community centres and Twitter feeds. It goes without saying that progressive activists are still met with stiff resistance, which extends to threats and intimidation in some cases. Kalsoom Bashir, of Muslim women's consultancy Inspire, related that extremist films were published about her on YouTube after the Guardian documented her struggle for women's empowerment.
What is new about these critical voices is their level of organisation, and their willingness to collaborate with diverse groups. A prime example is the coalition of religious and non-religious groups who organised a counter-protest against the poppy-burners of Muslims Against Crusades (MAC) on Remembrance Day 2011 (MAC was banned the night before, rendering the counter-protest unnecessary, but that is a moot point).
This week I attended the launch of the Muslim Institute's new quarterly, Critical Muslim, which promises to usher in a new era of organised critical thought on issues relating to Islam and Muslims. Crucially, this criticism is constructive rather than personal. It is underpinned by values such as truth, justice, compassion and wisdom – values that are both Qur'anic and secular.
At the very least, contributors share a deep concern about the problems that 21st-century Muslims find ourselves mired in. There is often dissatisfaction with the lack of nuance and insight in traditional religious leaders' responses, but this is accompanied by a keen awareness of the numerous agendas that often hijack this discussion. While it would be too crude to label them all as "Islamophobic", many external hijackers do not necessarily have the best interests of Muslims at heart. Social media interactions have the advantage of making these respective intentions clear, sifting the sincere people from the obscurantists.
This brings me to another unique feature of the critical Muslim movement: we are taking control of our own destiny, without allowing external forces to dictate the terms. For example, the recent "Happy Christmas 4ALL" Facebook campaign was an organic response to the frustration of seeing "Muslims ban Christmas" fabrications in the press. It turned into a celebration of the diverse ways in which people of all faiths and none mark the season. One Muslim friend even shared a picture of her Christmas tree, with a twist – it was festooned with the "Ninety-nine Names of Allah". Actions like these are a testament to the values of the critical Muslim movement. Let us hope that journals like Critical Muslim further entrench open-mindedness, humility and mutual respect.
Islam
Religion
Christmas
Women
Facebook
Twitter
Internet
Social networking
YouTube
Equality
Tehmina Kazi
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GUARDIAN Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:55:00 GMT
For centuries, homebound frost-nipped noses have twitched at the first delicious whiff of a stew simmering on the hearth
Where might we turn for something to tickle the taste buds in these dreary, dark, austere days? Perhaps to something as old and fundamental as the cooking pot: a hearty, rib-sticking stew. Archaeological evidence dates stew-making back 8,000 years to the first domesticated cattle. Aside from an absence of Latin and the addition of a more efficient energy source, a cook in ancient Rome would probably note little difference between the methodology as described in Apicius and Delia Smith's Complete Illustrated Cookbook. The word "stew" (from the Old French estuver) describes both the dish and the long, slow cooking which renders the cheapest, toughest and often tastiest cuts of meat as juicily tender as the best fillet, but a touch of stew magic can also be employed to transform vegetables, fish or fruit. Consider a ratatouille – the satisfying business of chopping the onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and aubergine; the grinding of spices; the slow cooking to a jewel-bright intensity of colour and flavour. It is heaven on a plate. Think of a tagine of fruit, honey, nuts and meat – a kaleidoscope of taste and texture. Or of a carbonade with velvety beer-enriched gravy. Or peperonata, goulash, yahni, cawl, gumbo, stroganoff, hotpot… Think dumplings! For centuries homebound frost-nipped noses have twitched at the first delicious whiff of a stew simmering on the hearth: surely the most perfect low-maintenance, idiot-proof dinner ever invented.
Food & drink
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GUARDIAN Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:37:00 GMT
Break out the bubbly: Wiley has produced a Christmas single, premiered here exclusively, which you can download for free. And Michael Cragg has asked him some festive questions …
Since grime pioneer Wiley emerged in 2003, he's released eight studio albums, given away countless songs for free online and for a period in late 2010 became the greatest thing about the internet thanks to Ustream. Having already released an album and an EP this year – and with a brand new album, Evolve Or Be Extinct, due on 19 January – the prolific rapper decided he'd follow the example of The Only Way Is Essex cast, and Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler, by releasing a Christmas single, premiered here exclusively.
Cheer Up, It's Christmas, as the title suggests, is all about making the most of the festive period and enjoying what you've got rather than moaning about what you don't have. Seeing as it's a time for giving, you can download the song for free from the SoundCloud link above. I thought it would be nice to chat with Wiley about Christmas, the single and, most importantly, whether he's been naughty this year.
What made you want to do a Christmas song?
I wanted a choir to sing it but we tried a few out and then time was running out so basically, I put the spitting chorus that I had originally … Really it would have worked for me if I'd had the choir because what I was trying to get across was that in that tune Christmas is a good time of year. But, and this isn't just in the black community – I suppose it's any poverty-driven community – we can either love [Christmas] and accept what's going on, or we envy our friends at school and we wish we had everything. That song is basically my uncle or someone trying to cheer me up at Christmas time, when I might be moping about because I didn't get my own way. But really since I've been doing music and started earning money, everyday has been like Christmas, so that's why I'm addressing that situation to try and let them know to just cheer up. It's not just an out and out "Christmas we love you, Santa bring us some stockings" song.
So it's more about what Christmas represents.
Yeah, Christmas time can be a sad time for some people, or they make it sad and they shouldn't because if they have a beer and have something nice to eat then the sadness goes away. Watch some old replays of some old Michael Douglas films!
Is that sense of community you mentioned more important than ever?
Well, to tell the truth most kids have got a phone, a Blackberry or whatever, even in poverty. Whatever comes out goes down [in price] to be able to be bought by whoever, do you know what I mean? Everyone's playing Gears of War or whatever it is on their computers. The poverty driven seem to have and they're moaning on top of having and I can't help but say that because it's just what I've experienced. I've sometimes moaned when I've already got stuff. When a human"wants" it's like mad – you can have a heart attack.
What was your favourite Christmas present?
My favourite one is one I've bought myself. Since I've got my first record deal I've just bought everything. One Christmas I'll buy all the clothes, all the jewellery. I've bought a car. I used to just attack it with what we didn't have or what we might have lost. Obviously as I got older and I had a kid that calmed down. I tell you the truth, one year I bought myself an Alpha Romeo 1.7, when I was younger. They were quite rare. I got it, tinted it out and then I was rolling around Highgate, you know what I mean.
What's your favourite Christmas drink?
It's sherry! I hate it now, but when I was young I loved it. As I got older I was like "yuck".
Do you have a real or a fake tree?
I don't have a real one with all the bits, I've got a little artificial thing. A green one. It's up, but I just need to put all the other stuff on it. All the tinsel and all that shit. I might have a little Jesus on the top of it.
Do you think you'll be on the naughty or nice Christmas...
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GUARDIAN Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:00:05 GMT
A versatile and very filling dish with a wonderfully Italian flavourLentils with roast beetroot, pumpkin and goat's curd
Italians usually cook with lentils at New Year for good fortune, because they are thought to resemble coins. Italian winter cookery, therefore, is full of hearty lentil soups – a favourite of mine is made with cotechino (which is similar to salami).
This dish is just hearty, and if any of your guests don't like goat's curd, it is every bit as delicious with halloumi, too. Grill it and finish with a touch of lemon.
Serves 12-14
1.5kg raw beetroot
100ml red wine vinegar
A good pinch of salt
2tbsp sugar
200g puy lentils (or brown lentils)
1 carrot
1 onion
2 sprigs of thyme
2 sprigs of rosemary
1.5kg pumpkin, peeled and sliced into large pieces
300g goat's curd or grilled halloumi
4tbsp olive oil
For the vinaigrette
150ml olive oil
30ml red wine vinegar
2 tsp dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
Flat-leaf parsley, chopped
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Wash the beetroot lightly and cut the root off. Line a large oven dish with foil, leaving enough extra foil at two sides to fold over, close up and form a parcel. Add the beetroot, salt, sugar, red wine vinegar and 500ml of water. Close up your vegetable parcel and cook in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour, until a knife goes through the beetroot without resistance.
Then remove from the oven and allow to cool, then peel while still warm – just rub the beetroot with kitchen towel and the skin will come off easily.
Meanwhile, cook the lentils in a pan with enough water to cover them. Add the carrot, unpeeled, chopped in half, a sprig of thyme and a small onion, also unpeeled and chopped in half. Cook until soft and then season. If required, add extra water during cooking to keep the lentils covered in liquid. When cooked, drain and discard the carrot and onion.
Meanwhile, peel, de-seed and cut the pumpkin into large chunks. Add four tablespoons of olive oil to another large oven dish, along with the rosemary, the rest of the thyme and the pumpkin and cook for about 25 minutes in a hot oven, until soft.
To finish, mix the lentils with the pumpkin, beetroot and cheese, warming through in the oven if you need to. Mix the vinaigrette ingredients together and pour over the warm salad. Sprinkle over the parsley.
Christmas
Food & drink
Angela Hartnett
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GUARDIAN Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:00:46 GMT
The hi-tech stationary bike has been a big hit with top British cyclists. Max Walker tries it out
"It won't kill you, I promise," says Wattbike's Matt Moran, introducing me to the sleek lines of his company's hi-tech exercise bike at a swanky south London gym. OK, it has some zippy-looking red-and-white stripes, but what's so special about it? The answer is simple: it's what the professionals use. Developed by British Cycling and Wattbike, it has been a big hit with top British cyclists since development began in 2002.
It has, says Moran, been carefully designed to feel exactly like a road bike (I'm surprised to learn that's not the case with most stationary bikes). But the killer app is the software, which users can download free from the company's website. It gives an incredibly detailed breakdown of your cycling technique. There is, says Moran, a surprising amount of ignorance about good cycling technique, even among top cyclists, and the bike is designed to help anyone to.....
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