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Mary? Mary Wollstonecraft? Welcome to 2020! Have people heard of you? Why yes, you’re something of a hero in certain circles. Ahead of your time in advocating for the rights of women. Welcome to London.
What’s happened since you passed away? Well, some nice family news! Your daughter, Mary Shelley, wrote a book that’s extremely well-known. It’s called Frankenstein. I think you’d enjoy it. It’s no A Vindication of the Rights of Woman -- but it’s certainly a page turner.
What else? Ah, yes. Women here can vote now! Since when? 1918. What’s that? Yes, more than 100 years after you died – but there was a lot going on in those hundred years, you know… Yes, I agree. We could have moved faster. Still, we’ve had TWO female Prime Ministers since then.
Who leads the main political parties in Westminster? At the moment? Well, those would all be men. But – more good news! Women can go to university now and receive degrees. Yes, there are even female professors! How many? Now you’ve got me...
...The last study I saw was from about five years ago but then women made up 45 percent of academic staff in higher education. How many of them were professors? Oh, about 22 percent I think.
What’s that? Yes, women do still make up about half the population. They even run businesses. Five of the UK’s top 100 companies are led by women! Oh yes, women get paid. The same amounts? Um, no.
Last year’s gender pay gap was 17.3 per cent, so women were paid about 83p for every £1 men were paid... Still, onward and upward, eh?
Anyway, we’re getting towards the end of our little walk. This is Newington Green–where you used to live! Yes, it has changed a bit. And this is a statue of you!Before you see it, you should know it’s designed by a woman and some really dedicated, amazing women campaigned for it.
No, you’re right. It doesn’t look like you. Apparently the sculptor wanted to go more for an ‘everywoman’ appeal. Yes, the woman is naked. And tiny. Tiny is quite fashionable now.
Yes, I know you wrote "Taught from their infancy that beauty is woman's sceptre, the mind shapes itself to the body, and, roaming round its gilt cage, only seeks to adorn its prison." But don’t you think she looks like she’s breaking out of prison?
No? You might have a point. You want a pen? And some paper? Might I suggest a computer? Come this way, Mary…
