special needs 8 March 2009
I used to worry a lot about specialist competitions like Women’s Playwriting contests and so on, because I have always reasoned that if a play is good it is irrelevant that it was written by a woman or a man. Of course, subject matter might be dictated by the sex of the writer, though not necessarily, but the quality should have nothing to do with the author’s gender. I guess I have never wanted women to be seen as ‘special needs’ in any way. For this, I suppose, I have many groundbreaking feminists to thank: if you will, the bra burners of the 60s (though I myself could never burn mine – I need me underwire and would defend it to the last!) and back further to the suffragettes, actually. However, there are moments when it is probably good to segregate an issue and today may just be a case in point. So, Happy Women’s Day to all who’d like that shouted out to them. The reason I don’t feel this is too ‘special’ is that it serves as an important reminder of the plight of many in the world and is specifically aimed at highlighting gender violence this year. Violence against a person is unacceptable in any form and in many countries (including our own) violence against women is a huge problem and one that must be acknowledged, tackled and stopped. If a Women’s Day can go some of the way to helping solve the problem, I’m all for it. On top of that, fact is, women are GREAT – at the moment I am surrounded by some of the finest – writer Fiona Looney, actress Victoria Smurfit, producer Anne Clarke and me Mum is here to visit – good times.
