Classicist Professor Mary Beard talked about being patronised, why she sometimes points out her status on Twitter and why she doesn’t describe herself as clever in a special feature on BBC Radio 4.
The Newnham alumna was the first woman featured in the latest series of The Chain, an item on popular discussion programme Woman’s Hour, about notable women who then nominate another notable woman who has been an inspiration – the next link in the chain.
She was interviewed by journalist Jane Garvey who asked her when she first realised she was clever.
Professor Beard said: “I’m smart, I’m well read and I have been very well taught. But if someone told me to describe myself, I wouldn’t start with ‘I’m clever’. Perhaps it is a very female attitude to hold, perhaps it is a word like ambitious that women don’t like to use about themselves.”
The broadcaster and author went on to say that should sometimes could not resist pointing out her credentials in below the line comments on articles, or on social media.
She added: “Sometimes I occasionally assert status, when people are going on on Twitter talking real rubbish with utter, usually blokeish, confidence about my subject, I do sometimes dare to say ‘who is the Professor of Ancient History around here?'”
She talked about mansplaining and why all woman have experience of it ‘no woman in the world hasn’t been on the receiving end’ and she explained why she tries to keep the news of online death threats against her from her children.
Professor Beard nominated fellow Newnham alumna Professor MM McCabe, a Newnham Bye-Fellow and philosopher, who will be featured in The Chain tomorrow (January 17).
Professor Beard said: “In my first year at Cambridge when we were made to get a taste of every aspect of the classical world, MM tried to teach me some ancient philosophy. I wasn’t really good at philosophy but I did the reading and I came along to the class.”