How far do we have to go in identifying someone in a story like this? Do we care because there was a £1m jewel robbery? Do we care because a woman was beaten by the thieves? Do we care because the woman is married to a member of the House of Lords? Do we care because the woman used to be friendly with a former Prime Minister?
I'm not sure of the answer but, put together, this assortment of headings seems to devalue Carla Powell as a person - this is a woman who has been attacked by robbers in her own home and she's described as somebody's wife, somebody's friend. Only two use her name, and one of them gets it wrong.
She is Lady Powell, a title she has on account of her husband being a peer. She would have to be the daughter of a Duke or a Marquess to be Lady Carla.
Even her name relates to somebody else. That could be said of any woman who adopts her husband's surname, but this is a step beyond that: the honorific has nothing to do with her own abilities and is granted her because of her husband's achievements - or, if you are cynical, connections.
I'm not sure of the answer but, put together, this assortment of headings seems to devalue Carla Powell as a person - this is a woman who has been attacked by robbers in her own home and she's described as somebody's wife, somebody's friend. Only two use her name, and one of them gets it wrong.
She is Lady Powell, a title she has on account of her husband being a peer. She would have to be the daughter of a Duke or a Marquess to be Lady Carla.
Even her name relates to somebody else. That could be said of any woman who adopts her husband's surname, but this is a step beyond that: the honorific has nothing to do with her own abilities and is granted her because of her husband's achievements - or, if you are cynical, connections.
There is a welcome - and belated - focus on attitudes towards women in what is supposed to be a first-world society, but our newspapers are still run overwelmingly by a certain class of white men and there is a need to readjust our thinking. This applies not only to men, but also to women working in the macho environment of the newsroom where the culture can become ingrained by osmosis. I can't think of the last time I saw the word 'housewife' in a headline, so can we now progress a little further to avoid heads like the one above?
The #yesallwomen hashtag that was trending after Elliot Rodger's murderous assault on women at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was used opportunistically by some and to make valid points by others. But one thought came through loud and clear. We should all commit it to our brains:
The #yesallwomen hashtag that was trending after Elliot Rodger's murderous assault on women at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was used opportunistically by some and to make valid points by others. But one thought came through loud and clear. We should all commit it to our brains:
"She's someone's daughter, mother, sister, aunt, niece, wife..." NO. None of that matters. The point is SHE'S SOMEONE. #YesAllWomen
— Lizney Princess (@unluckystars695) May 28, 2014 
RSS Feed
