British Women Of Our Lifetime

Who is the greatest British Female?

  • The Queen

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Paula Radcliffe

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Maggie Thatcher

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Carol Vorderman

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Lady Diana

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
Once more (and yes, I know, I'm as guilty as anyone else!), a thread veers wildly off-course and crashes about in the undergrowth of irrelevancies. Now, considering that my lifetime began in 1944, if I'm being really serious about 'great' British women, then probably Helen McArthur would rate very highly for her skill, endurance, focus, and bravery. She faced extremes of weather and sea states, loneliness, sickness and disruptive sleep to set serious records. I realize she was incredibly well-supported by a team, but no more so than F1 blokes whizzing round a circuit for a few hours every now and then. Week after week with the noise of the sea, tiny against the massive rise and fall of the waves, she sailed on night and day, with always the thought that however well-planned and supported she was, something like a freak wave could wreck the vessel and take her life in a few seconds.

With so much research nowadays a planned team project, rather than the brilliant solo efforts of years gone by, it's hard to pick out a sole, outstanding female from the sciences. The sporting arena, now it's managed to get over its gender bias (apart from a couple of people on this forum!), looks to offer the majority of contenders for 'greatness', even if one views sport as a pointless luxury activity compared to world health issues.
 
Originally posted by krizon@Apr 24 2006, 12:39 AM

The sporting arena, now it's managed to get over its gender bias (apart from a couple of people on this forum!), looks to offer the majority of contenders for 'greatness', even if one views sport as a pointless luxury activity compared to world health issues.
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My bias stems from the fact that sport is about being faster, stronger, fitter etc etc and for me female sport will always be second rate.

Film and music are different though, from an artistic point of view women in those industries are just as talented as men. The two women below would get my vote as greatest British female.

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Obviously this wasn't intended to be a serious thread but in the spirit of seriousness that has (partly) developed I nominate:

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Marie Stopes (1880-1958)
 
And there was me thinking you were commenting on Ardross buying (or nearly buying) the Daily Mail!! :lol:
 
Thanks, ovverbruv - the very same!

Euronymous - you're being a bit silly now, if I may say so in a caring and entirely unabusive sort of way. :teeth: Women achieve their own levels of fitness, speed, endurance, etc., etc. against other women IN MANY BUT NOT ALL SPORTING ENDEAVOURS, in the same way that men achieve ditto against other men. You don't pit female weightlifters against male weightlifters because EVERYBODY knows that however muscular a female's development, body weight for body weight, a man's muscle mass will always be larger than a woman's. (Particularly between the ears, in some cases.) You are trying to compare apples to oranges and decide which is the tastiest fruit. No, you compare a Granny Smith to a Cox's, and decide which is the tastiest apple. The oranges you judge separately, but on their merits, not against the merits of apples. Dearie me, do I need to get out the the graph paper and a pencil? :brows:

Now, where women's physical fitness versus men's quite vividly DOES NOT MATTER A DAMN is in ocean-going yachting, golfing, ballooning, sailing, flying, parasailing, mountain climbing, potholing, gliding, carriage-driving, showjumping, event riding, dressage, skiing, ice-skating, and on and on and on... skill, ability, technique and experience count in determining the outcome of these events, rather than brute strength. Now, unless you're setting out to be a far-too- young, unreconstructed, Bernard Manningesque chauvinist, you really do have to concede on these points!

(And if you won't, then see me later for a spot of Sumo wrestling in the gym, where I'll personally demonstrate that Phil Waters' theory on weight not counting is a load of hot air! ) :o
 
I was fuming until I saw your post Ardross..... cheers for reminding me that some sanity remains in this otherwise crazy world. The ones in the poll are no more than non-event useless women with undeserved celebrity status compared to these three.

Emmeline Pankhurst is perhaps the greatest woman who ever lived. Did more for British women than Maggie could have done in a million lifetimes.

Emily Davison is one of the bravest the world's ever seen.

Surprised nobody nominated their own Mum! Mine rocks :)
 
I agree with that last sentence, B I !

In fact, those women who single-handedley support and bring up their families without complaining, encourage their children to become decent human beings, babysit their grandchildren and generally lend a hand in their communities are the real unsung heroines of our times....
 
Originally posted by krizon@Apr 21 2006, 09:51 PM
Marie Curie - whose work cannot be overestimated
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True, but she wasn't British. She was Polish (which is probably why Pierre took a shine to her).
 
I've only just read (skimmed, actually) through this thread.

I must say, yesterday's news that the women's championship at Wimbledon was worth only £30k less to the winner than the men's outraged me.

Women simply cannot compete with men at the top level therefore it cannot be argued that they are doing an equal job. The top women probably wouldn't make it into the top 30 of the men's game.

I'd offer them half the men's level of prize money. If they want more, let them take on the men or find another job/sport that will pay them as much.
 
I plan to attend a Madonna concert and a Robbie Williams concert this summer. Should I expect to pay less to see Madge?
 
Originally posted by an capall@Apr 26 2006, 01:29 PM
I plan to attend a Madonna concert and a Robbie Williams concert this summer. Should I expect to pay less to see Madge?
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More to the point, should you expect to pay to see Robbie Williams?!
 
Sorry to bring up such an old thread, but i notice that Mauresmo took 39 minutes to beat her opponent today, 6-0 6-0. Really deserves the same money as Roddick who lost the first set in his current match.
 
I was talking to my brother about this same topic today. I wonder how many of the first round female matches lasted longer than 15 games, there are so many mis-matches it is ridiculous. There is a case for starting the womens tournament in the second week and only allowing the top 32 to play, what is the point is turning up and playing for 38 minutes against someone who vastly outclasses you?
Some would argue that this is the point of sport but surely the second tier get disheartened by the beatings handed out
 
It is much much rarer for a mans match to be a whitewash, i actually can't remember the last whitewash in the wimbledon mens, whereas there was at least one in the ladies yesterday, along with more that only had 1 or 2 games won by the opposition
 
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