Is Gordon Brown a female friendly politician?
This could be a very short blog 
.
Looking at his male dominated Cabinet one might say not. Ask Harriet Harman if she feels out on a limb and I imagine she thinks yes, but she’ll still toe the party line and support Gordon.
Ask Baroness Scotland if she got his support when she needed it (to do with checking her au pair’s work status) and she’ll probably say she did, even after being in court to defend her action.
Ask the much maligned Gillian Duffy in Rochdale how she feels after yesterday’s dual encounter with Gordon Brown and I imagine she’ll put his off-stage comments down to his massive workload and being more of a workhorse than a show pony, to use Lord Mandelson’s turn of phrase.
Because many women are much more forgiving than many men.
And, if we’re honest, because most of us are used to being patronised… at home, in the workplace and out shopping in industries like the motor industry, not just by politicians (although being called a bigoted woman takes patronism a tad too far I’d say).
Which takes me back to the subject of women drivers being patronised in the motor trade and feeling intimidated and ill-at-ease. Much the same principle as Gordon’s encounter in Rochdale I’d say. Men who appear to listen to what we say and then rubbish our views when we aren’t there. They don’t have to wear a microphone for us to know that they are doing this, you can simply sense the ones that take a snapshot of you and form an instant opinion of who and what you are.
It’s not good for our confidence either…
Women like Gillian are likely to be motoring Grans (so let’s ingratiate her by asking about her grandchildren) and young women are often flirting fodder. I never did count (but wish I had) the number of exasperated young women to date who tell us that they explained what the car’s fault was to the guy (typically) at the garage reception desk, but he knew better. They even write the symptoms down (which is FOXY advice) but it still isn’t what he decides the problem is – and he may be right on many occasions of course 
. The end result is often a massive diagnostic bill and labour charge; so much time has been wasted because the man knew better. And, it has to be said, the woman driver clearly chose the wrong garage, but that’s another issue…
I’ll stop there because that’s the evidence in research. I can also vouch for the ripping off of motoring Grans and the flirting with students and young Mums from FOXY’s helpdesk stories.
And I am always surprised by the number of topless calendars I spot in many of the most respectable looking workshops, always behind the scenes. And in petrol station forecourts of course, even when they are on high shelves. How can men respect their female customers when the moment they have left the workplace they are distracted by sexy thoughts…
Nor did I ever feel the respect (or enjoy the customer service levels I now know to expect) when I drove an expensive company car and was responsible for a significant aftersales spend in East Grinstead – but that was in the 80s and is clearly history for that VW dealer.
The point is one of respect, and I think Nick Clegg is spot on here. Politicians and all business people, whether customer facing staff or not, MUST have respect for females.
If you want our money or our vote, you must earn our trust first.
FOXY calls this being a female friendly business. We think that businesses need to prove their credentials, not just say they treat women well. Oh that it wasn’t necessary to have such a status but it is and those that are the worst offenders always think they are doing it right…
Such is the male ego, often blind to the issue of business ethics and what is staring him in the face…
So if any men are reading this, remember the Gordon gaffe and find out how you might become a truly female friendly business in future. You’ll need a very large sheet of paper, time for some serious reading matter (ask me) and enough humility to ask the people that can help you if you listen…
FOXY Steph
Find out about the FOXY Promise which female friendly garages sign as part of their FOXY Choice marketing services.
