‘Granny’ taunts ignored

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 4

‘Granny’ taunts ignored

Political reporter

The member of Parliament for Pencarrow, Ms Sonja Davies, has vowed that taunts of “granny” from the Opposition will be ignored. Ms Davies, who is 64, said one younger member of the Opposition had already started calling her "granny.” “Can I say to him that for me it is a badge of honour, and certainly one that he will never attain. He hasn’t even got to first base.” For much of her maiden speech in Parliament, Ms Davies announced her advocacy of

women, especially those with children, and her determination to battle “rampant ageism.”

“As a feminist I am still not satisfied with the status of women in our society.” In a market economy there was a danger of losing sight of the value of the caring jobs that women did. Ms Davies called for a rethinking of priorities, criticising the pittance received by childcare workers. “So it is that all those caring institutions, because of other market forces, are becoming chronically short of

workers.” Ms Davies’ half-hour speech was warmly received by a very full public gallery, including several trade unionists.

“I come into this House as a feminist, a socialist, a trade unionist, and a peace activist, all of which are life-time commitments,” Ms Davies said.

She was dedicated to contributing to equitable policies, especially for those who found the pace of change difficult, and who were jobless. Women had played a prominent role in the

peace movement but the male power structures excluded them from deci-sion-making. “Dare we ask whether, if women had been present, the GorbachevReagan summits might have been more successful?” she said. Ms Davies also said that large sectors of the population were excluded from the power that came from status and money.

"We have to ask ourselves whether that is right — the power that gives many men the right to believe that they can beat women and severely abuse children.”